Influence of Habitat Fragmentation on the Genetic Variability in Leaf Litter Ant Populations in Tropical Rainforests of Sabah, Borneo

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias O. Bickel ◽  
Carsten A. Brühl ◽  
Jürgen R. Gadau ◽  
Bert Hölldobler ◽  
K. Eduard Linsenmair
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tropical Rainforests

scholarly journals Biodiversity hanging by a thread: the importance of fungal litter-trapping systems in tropical rainforests

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake L. Snaddon ◽  
Edgar C. Turner ◽  
Tom M. Fayle ◽  
Chey V. Khen ◽  
Paul Eggleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Dramatic Reduction ◽  
Experimental Removal ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Vital Resource

The exceptionally high species richness of arthropods in tropical rainforests hinges on the complexity of the forest itself: that is, on features such as the high plant diversity, the layered nature of the canopy and the abundance and the diversity of epiphytes and litter. We here report on one important, but almost completely neglected, piece of this complex jigsaw—the intricate network of rhizomorph-forming fungi that ramify through the vegetation of the lower canopy and intercept falling leaf litter. We show that this litter-trapping network is abundant and intercepts substantial amounts of litter (257.3 kg ha −1 ): this exceeds the amount of material recorded in any other rainforest litter-trapping system. Experimental removal of this fungal network resulted in a dramatic reduction in both the abundance (decreased by 70.2 ± 4.1%) and morphospecies richness (decreased by 57.4 ± 5.1%) of arthropods. Since the lower canopy levels can contain the highest densities of arthropods, the proportion of the rainforest fauna dependent on the fungal networks is likely to be substantial. Fungal litter-trapping systems are therefore a crucial component of habitat complexity, providing a vital resource that contributes significantly to rainforest biodiversity.

Are leaf-litter anurans with aquatic reproduction affected by distance to forest edge and presence of predators?

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabricio Simões Correa ◽  
Lenise Chagas Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Breeding Activity ◽  
Anuran Species ◽  
Aquatic Predators ◽  
Predator Abundance

Both habitat fragmentation and predator abundance are known to affect habitat use. The current study analyzed the use of ponds by leaf-litter anurans in relation to distance to the forest edge and presence of aquatic predators in a forest fragment in Eastern Amazon. We selected three trails perpendicular to the forest edge, and in each trail we positioned nine plastic basins on the forest floor at different distances from the forest edge. From November 2011 to July 2012, each basin was surveyed monthly for presence of evidence of anuran breeding activity and aquatic predators. We recorded 112 instances of use of basins by four anuran species. While we did not observe any influence of distance to the forest edge on use of basins by Rhinella gr. margaritifera and Ameerega trivittata, there was differential use of basins by both species in relation to the presence of aquatic predators. In both cases, species used basins more often when aquatic predators were absent, suggesting that these species adopt strategies that reduce effects of predation and ensures the survival of some tadpoles, either by carrying tadpoles to ponds without predators or producing larger clutches.

scholarly journals Nutrient scarcity strengthens soil fauna control over leaf litter decomposition in tropical rainforests

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1910) ◽  
pp. 20191300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guille Peguero ◽  
Jordi Sardans ◽  
Dolores Asensio ◽  
Marcos Fernández-Martínez ◽  
Albert Gargallo-Garriga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Soil Fauna ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Microbial Decomposition ◽  
Ecosystem Level ◽  
C And N Cycling

Soil fauna is a key control of the decomposition rate of leaf litter, yet its interactions with litter quality and the soil environment remain elusive. We conducted a litter decomposition experiment across different topographic levels within the landscape replicated in two rainforest sites providing natural gradients in soil fertility to test the hypothesis that low nutrient availability in litter and soil increases the strength of fauna control over litter decomposition. We crossed these data with a large dataset of 44 variables characterizing the biotic and abiotic microenvironment of each sampling point and found that microbe-driven carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses from leaf litter were 10.1 and 17.9% lower, respectively, in the nutrient-poorest site, but this among-site difference was equalized when meso- and macrofauna had access to the litterbags. Further, on average, soil fauna enhanced the rate of litter decomposition by 22.6%, and this contribution consistently increased as nutrient availability in the microenvironment declined. Our results indicate that nutrient scarcity increases the importance of soil fauna on C and N cycling in tropical rainforests. Further, soil fauna is able to equalize differences in microbial decomposition potential, thus buffering to a remarkable extent nutrient shortages at an ecosystem level.

Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on the Genetic Variability of Silvery Marmosets, Mico argentatus

2003 ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evonnildo C. Gonçalves ◽  
Stephen F. Ferrari ◽  
Artur Silva ◽  
Paulo E. G. Coutinho ◽  
Elytânia V. Menezes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Genetic Variability

First described Patu spiders (Araneae, Symphytognathidae) from Asia

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2154 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-68
Author(s):  
YUCHENG LIN ◽  
SHUQIANG LI
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Web Structure ◽  
Seychelles Islands ◽  
Building Behavior ◽  
Web Building ◽  
First Time

Five new species of the spider family Symphytognathidae (Araneae) are described and illustrated from southern China: Patu bicorniventris spec. nov., P. nigeri spec. nov., P. quadriventris spec. nov., P. shiluensis spec. nov. and P. spinathoraxi spec. nov. These spiders were collected in the leaf litter and tree canopy of tropical rainforests by sieving and fogging. The genus Patu Marples, 1951, known from Colombia, Hispaniola, Oceania, and African Seychelles Islands, except that web structure and web-building behavior of undescribed Patu species were reported before, is described from Asia for the first time.

scholarly journals Enzymatic Bioprospecting of Fungi Isolated from a Tropical Rainforest in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Karla Peraza-Jiménez ◽  
Susana De la Rosa-García ◽  
José Javier Huijara-Vasconselos ◽  
Manuela Reyes-Estebanez ◽  
Sergio Gómez-Cornelio
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Laccase Activity ◽  
Tropical Environment ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Fusarium Spp ◽  
Daedalea Flavida ◽  
High Diversity

The humid tropical environment provides an ideal place for developing a high diversity of plants; this is why it is an interesting site for the enzymatic bioprospecting of fungi that are responsible for the recycling of organic matter in an efficient and accelerated way and whose enzymes could have multiple biotechnological applications. For this study, 1250 isolates of macroscopic and microscopic fungal morphotypes were collected from soil, leaf litter, and wood. One hundred and fifty strains (50 from each source) were selected for the enzymatic screening. From the first phase, 51 strains with positive activity for laccase, protease, amylase, xylanase, and lipase enzymes were evaluated, of which 20 were isolated from leaf litter, 18 from the soil, and 13 from wood. The 10 best strains were selected for the enzymatic quantification, considering the potency index and the production of at least two enzymes. High laccase activity was detected for Trametes villosa FE35 and Marasmius sp. CE25 (1179 and 710.66 U/mg, respectively), while Daedalea flavida PE47 showed laccase (521.85 U/mg) and protease activities (80.66 U/mg). Fusarium spp. PH79 and FS400 strains had amylase (14.0 U/mg, 49.23 U/mg) and xylanase activities (40.05 U/mg, 36.03 U/mg) respectively. These results confirm the enzymatic potential of fungi that inhabit little-explored tropical rainforests with applications in industry.

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