scholarly journals Integrative ecological and molecular analysis indicate high diversity and strict elevational separation of canopy beetles in tropical mountain forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Floren ◽  
Thomas von Rintelen ◽  
Paul D. N. Hebert ◽  
Bruno Cancian de Araujo ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
...  

Abstract Tropical mountain forests contribute disproportionately to terrestrial biodiversity but little is known about insect diversity in the canopy and how it is distributed between tree species. We sampled tree-specific arthropod communities from 28 trees by canopy fogging and analysed beetle communities which were first morphotyped and then identified by their DNA barcodes. Our results show that communities from forests at 1100 and 1700 m a.s.l. are almost completely distinct. Diversity was much lower in the upper forest while community structure changed from many rare, less abundant species to communities with a pronounced dominance structure. We also found significantly higher beta-diversity between trees at the lower than higher elevation forest where community similarity was high. Comparisons on tree species found at both elevations reinforced these results. There was little species overlap between sites indicating limited elevational ranges. Furthermore, we exploited the advantage of DNA barcodes to patterns of haplotype diversity in some of the commoner species. Our results support the advantage of fogging and DNA barcodes for community studies and underline the need for comprehensive research aimed at the preservation of these last remaining pristine forests.

2001 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Frehner

The article shows that knowledge of the site of a particular forest stand, together with research results and experience, can provide information that is important for the cultivation of mountain forests, including knowledge of the composition of the tree species and the structure and growth capacity of natural forest. Furthermore, certain sites can, thus, be characterized by factors that influence restocking, such as snow mould,lush ground vegetation or low temperature. The guidelines«minimale Pflegemassnahmen» – «Minimal tending of protection forests» (WASSER und FREHNER, 1996) are based on this principle. For individual sites, warnings about natural dangers such as rock fall or statements concerning nature conservation can be made (e.g., the occurrence of tree species, suitability as a biotope for Capercaille). In conclusion, two research projects on the relationship between site and natural dangers will be presented.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do Thi Ngoc Le ◽  
Nguyen Van Thinh ◽  
Nguyen The Dung ◽  
Ralph Mitlöhner

The effects of disturbance regimes on the spatial patterns of the five most abundant species were investigated in three sites in a tropical forest at Xuan Nha Nature Reserve, Vietnam. Three permanent one-ha plots were established in undisturbed forest (UDF), lightly disturbed forest (LDF), and highly disturbed forest (HDF). All trees ≥5 cm DBH were measured in twenty-five 20 m × 20 m subplots. A total of 57 tree species belonging to 26 families were identified in the three forest types. The UDF had the highest basal area (30 m2 ha−1), followed by the LDF (17 m2 ha−1) and the HDF (13.0 m2 ha−1). The UDF also had the highest tree density (751 individuals ha−1) while the HDF held the lowest (478 individuals ha−1). Across all species, there were 417 “juveniles,” 267 “subadults,” and 67 “adults” in the UDF, while 274 “juveniles,” 230 “subadults,” and 36 “adults” were recorded in the LDF. 238 “juveniles,” 227 “subadults,” and 13 “adults” were obtained in the HDF. The univariate and bivariate data with pair- and mark-correlation functions of intra- and interspecific interactions of the five most abundant species changed in the three forest types. Most species indicated clumping or regular distributions at small scale, but a high ratio of negative interspecific small-scale associations was recorded in both the LDF and HDF sites. These were, however, rare in the UDF.


Ecography ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Lenoir ◽  
Jean-Claude Gégout ◽  
Jean-Claude Pierrat ◽  
Jean-Daniel Bontemps ◽  
Jean-François Dhôte

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Scaccabarozzi ◽  
Kingsley W Dixon ◽  
Sean Tomlinson ◽  
Lynne Milne ◽  
Björn Bohman ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite their diversity and the potential for specialized pollination systems, Australian Fabaceae have received little attention in pollination studies. In the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR), a recognized biodiversity hotspot, co-occurring and abundant species of Faboideae exhibit a range of floral colours and forms, suggestive of adaptation to different groups of pollinators. For four communities of Fabaceae in the SWAFR we investigated whether co-occurring species overlap in pollinator genera, whether these pollinators show differences in behaviour on the pea flower and whether variations in stamen length and nectar composition among species are associated with different pollinator types. Species of Fabaceae were visited by one to four genera of native bees, suggesting varying levels of ecological specialisation. In Fabaceae with more specialized interactions, co-occurring species showed marked differences in the bee genera attracted. Unexpectedly, some Fabaceae frequently attracted beetles, which may play an important role in their pollination. There was no evidence for an association between stamen length or nectar composition and the type of pollinator. The introduced honeybee, visited all studied species of Fabaceae, suggesting that they may act both as a pollinator and a potential competitor with native pollinators.


2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Groen ◽  
Frank van Langevelde ◽  
Claudius A.D.M. van de Vijver ◽  
Navashni Govender ◽  
Herbert H.T. Prins

Abstract:In this paper, we investigate which factors determine tree clustering in Southern African savannas. This was tested by measuring clustering of trees using the T-squared sampling method in plots of the Kruger National Park experimental burning programme in South Africa. Fire return interval is the main treatment in these plots, but also several auxiliary determining parameters like clay content in the soil, diameter of tree canopies, understorey composition, tree species diversity and average annual rainfall were measured while sampling. In the Kruger National Park 48 plots distributed over four different landscape types and with three different burning treatments (never, once every 3 y and annually) were sampled. First, we related the clustering of trees to these environmental variables. When looking at the most abundant species in each plot, the analysis revealed that clustering is mainly correlated with clay content in the soil. This analysis also showed that fire frequency had a positive effect on the clustering of tree species that are not very abundant. We suggest that less abundant species might be less resistant to fire and therefore adopt a mechanism of clustering to exclude grass fires under their canopy. Finally, we tested the effect of clustering on the impact of fire on trees by analysing the relationship between the distance of a tree to its nearest neighbour and its canopy diameter. We found that clustering reduces the damaging effect of fire on trees. Our study contributes to understanding of savanna functioning by showing which processes are relevant in the distribution of savanna trees.


Karstenia ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 215-240
Author(s):  
Tetiana Kryvomaz ◽  
Alain Michaud ◽  
Steven L. Stephenson

The checklist provided herein contains 143 species and infra-specific taxa of myxomycetes representing six orders, 12 families and 29 genera known from the Seychelles Islands. These records are the result of 878 field collections and 468 samples processed with the use of the moist chamber techinque. The overall study involved expeditions to the granitic group of islands Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse, Félicité, and data from the literature for the coral Aldabra atoll. The taxonomic structure of the myxomycete biota for the islands studied indicates a predominance of members of the order Physarales (74 taxa). Th e main genera are <em>Physarum</em> (38 species and two varieties), <em>Didymium</em> (17 species), <em>Cribraria</em> (11 species), <em>Arcyria</em> (eight species) and <em>Stemonitis</em> (six species and two varieties). For all six islands only a single species of myxomycete (<em>Physarum crateriforme</em>) was shared in common. For the total assemblage of species recorded from all of the islands, 4% species were abundant, 12% species were common, 29% were found occasionally, 42% were rare, and 13% species had only a single record. The most abundant species were <em>Arcyria cinerea</em>, <em>A. denudata</em>, <em>Diderma effusum</em>, <em>Hemitrichia calyculata</em>, <em>Physarum compressum</em>, and <em>P. melleum</em>. Based on data from 50 different localities with 90 collecting plots, 32% of all specimens were associated with coastal vegetation, 30% with lowland localities, 19% with intermediate forests, 9% with riverine forests, 8% with mountain forests, and only 2% with mangrove swamps. In general, this annotated checklist clearly shows that isolated tropical islands can support a diverse assemblage of myxomycetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Denis Gradinarov ◽  
Ognyan Sivilov ◽  
Danail Doychev

The saproxylic species Pediacus dermestoides (Fabricius, 1792) is reported from forest habitats located in five mountains in Bulgaria. The adult beetles were found under the bark of several host tree species or captured with flight interception traps. It seems that P. dermestoides might be widespread in the mountain forests in Bulgaria.


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