Do bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) mounds influence terrestrial macroinvertebrate assemblages in agricultural riparian zones?

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Borchard ◽  
Ian A. Wright ◽  
Clare McArthur
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Riparian Ecosystems ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages ◽  
Ecological Variability ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Study Sites

Riparian ecosystems contain a complex mosaic of habitat structure types that can support distinct macroinvertebrate communities. Bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are often an integral component of agricultural riparian systems in south-eastern Australia. In these systems, wombats construct large burrow systems and mounds in the stream banks. Wombat mound structures vary markedly from the surrounding landscape and they may influence macroinvertebrate assemblages. We examined this ecosystem-engineering role of wombats as well as the ecological variability within our agricultural riparian study sites on the possible influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages. There were no detectable effects of wombat mounds on the richness or abundance of macroinvertebrates on the soil surface. At the site level, however, macroinvertebrate assemblages were most influenced by litter depth, upper canopy cover, cattle hoof prints and slope. The ecological variables within the study sites strongly affected macroinvertebrate assemblages. These findings reflect an influence of anthropogenic impact on communities of ground-dwelling invertebrates that have been found in other studies. It is possible that a finer resolution of taxa may highlight a unique pattern of macroinvertebrate use of wombat mounds.

The role of canopy cover on the recovery of periphyton and macroinvertebrate communities after a month-long flood

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 598 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall L. Fuller ◽  
Christine LaFave ◽  
Matthew Anastasi ◽  
Jennifer Molina ◽  
Hector Salcedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities

Macrophomina phaseolina in the Sonoran Desert

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Mihail ◽  
T. V. Orum ◽  
S. M. Alcorn ◽  
J. L. Stroehlein
Keyword(s):  
Sonoran Desert ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Macrophomina Phaseolina ◽  
Larrea Tridentata ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between microsclerotial populations of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. and selected perennial species was investigated at five native Sonoran Desert sites. The population level of M. phaseolina was found to have an inverse relationship with the presence of several plant species, including Acacia constricta and Larrea tridentata, as measured by canopy cover, plant counts, and proximity of the soil sampling point to the nearest individual. Microsclerotia of M. phaseolina were detected in 45% of the 500 quadrats (3.3 m2) sampled, with a maximum observed population of 233 microsclerotia per 20 g soil. The microsclerotial populations of the five study sites showed significant aggregation as measured by Morisita's index of dispersion. No relationship was found between microsclerotial populations and soil pH, soil nitrate, or total soil nitrogen. The frequency of detection and population level of this agriculturally important pathogen raises questions concerning the role of the fungus in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

The Influence of Benthic Biota on Copper Speciation and Distribution in Freshwater-Sediment Systems

1981 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Krantzberg ◽  
P.M. Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Sediment ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Copper Species ◽  
Copper Speciation ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Macro Benthos

Abstract An investigation was made of the effects exerted by benthic macroinvertebrate communities on copper speciation in sediments from a lake which is becoming acidified. In laboratory microcosms, benthic macroinvertebrate communities stimulated the flux of copper from sediment to water. The presence of the macro-benthos resulted in a redistribution of physico-chemical copper species within the sediment with a transfer from more strongly complexed forms (HC1 extractable) to adsorbed and cation exchangeable forms (MgCl2 extractable). The role of bio-turbation in copper transformations is discussed.

scholarly journals Insects in the City: Does Remnant Native Habitat Influence Insect Order Distributions?

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Mani Shrestha ◽  
Jair E. Garcia ◽  
Freya Thomas ◽  
Scarlett R. Howard ◽  
Justin H. J. Chua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Native Habitat ◽  
Insect Order ◽  
Insect Pollinator ◽  
Pollinating Insects ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

There is increasing interest in developing urban design principles that incorporate good ecological management. Research on understanding the distribution and role of beneficial pollinating insects, in particular, is changing our view of the ecological value of cities. With the rapid expansion of the built environment comes a need to understand how insects may be affected in extensive urban areas. We therefore investigated insect pollinator capture rates in a rapidly growing and densely urbanized city (Melbourne, Australia). We identified a remnant native habitat contained within the expansive urban boundary, and established study sites at two nearby populated urban areas. We employed standard pan trap sampling techniques to passively sample insect orders in the different environments. Our results show that, even though the types of taxonomic groups of insects captured are comparable between locations, important pollinators like bees and hoverflies were more frequently captured in the remnant native habitat. By contrast, beetles (Coleoptera) and butterflies/moths (Lepidoptera) were more frequently observed in the urban residential regions. Our results suggest that the maintenance of native habitat zones within cities is likely to be valuable for the conservation of bees and the ecosystem services they provide.

Alpine and Subalpine Wetland Vegetation on the Bogong High Plains, South-eastern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.-H. Wahren ◽  
R. J. Williams ◽  
W. A. Papst
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Wetland Vegetation ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Drainage Channels ◽  
Floristic Variation ◽  
Steep Slopes

The botanical composition and structure of wetland vegetation from seven sites in the alpine and subalpine tracts of the Bogong High Plains was sampled in 1995 and 1996. Sites were in the vicinity of Mts Nelse, Cope and Fainter. Sampling was based on contiguous 1-m2 quadrats along transects 20−70 m long across each wetland. Samples were ordinated using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Floristic variation was assessed both within selected individual wetlands, and between wetlands from different regions. The relationship between the ordinations and environmental variables such as soil surface texture, soil depth and the amount of bare ground was tested by fitting vectors. Three dominant vegetation assemblages were identified. Closed heath, of hygrophyllous, scleromorphic shrubs such as Richea continentis and Baeckea gunniana, the rush Empodisma minus and the moss Sphagnum cristatum occurred on the deeper peats. Low open heath of Epacris glacialis and Danthonia nivicola occurred on shallow peats. Herbfields of Caltha introloba and Oreobolus pumilio occurred on stony pavements in two different physiographic situations&horbar;on relatively steep slopes (10−20°) at the head of wetlands, and on flat ground (slope < 2°), below the head of wetlands. The pavements on the steeper sites appeared to be associated with periglacial features such as solifluction lobes and terraces. Those on the flatter ground appeared to have been derived more recently. Wetlands in the Mt Cope region consisted of closed heath, low open heath and pavement herbfield in various proportions. Wetlands on Mt Fainter, which are subject to heavy trampling by cattle, were in a degraded condition, with a low cover of major hygrophyllous mosses and shrubs, and a high cover of introduced species. Long-ungrazed wetlands in a 50-year exclosure at Rocky Valley had high cover of closed heath, no pavements, numerous ponds and virtually no entrenched drainage channels or exposed peat. The Caltha herbfields are significant features nationally, both floristically and geomorphologically. Alpine and subalpine wetlands have been listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and continued grazing by cattle is not compatible with the conservation objectives for this alpine vegetation type.

The role of forest deadwood in rockfall protection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Ringenbach ◽  
Peter Bebi ◽  
Perry Bartelt ◽  
Andrin Caviezel
Keyword(s):  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Runout Distance ◽  
In Situ Sensors ◽  
Efficient Protection ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Rockfall Protection

&lt;p&gt;Forests with a high density and basal area of living trees are known for their function as natural and cost-efficient protection against rockfall. The role of deadwood, however, is less understood. We address this knowledge gap in this contribution as we present the results of repeated real-scale experiments in a) a montane beech-spruce forest with and without deadwood and b) in a subalpine scrub mountain pine-spruce forest with deadwood. We used artificial rocks with either an equant or platy shape, masses between 45 kg and 800 kg (&amp;#8776; 0.3 m3), and equipped with in-situ sensors to gain insights into rotational velocities and impact-accelerations. Clusters of deadwood and erected root plates reduced the mean runout distance at both study sites. For site a), we found that more rocks were stopped behind lying than living trees and that the stopping effect of deadwood was greater for equant compared to platy rock shapes. Site b) revealed a braking effect of scrub mountain pines for relatively small (45 kg), but also a visible reduction in rotational velocities for the 800 kg rocks sensor stream. We conclude that deadwood must be taken into account in rockfall modeling and the management of rockfall protection forests.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Potential Applications of GNSS-R Observations over Agricultural Areas: Results from the GLORI Airborne Campaign

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrez Zribi ◽  
Erwan Motte ◽  
Nicolas Baghdadi ◽  
Frédéric Baup ◽  
Sylvia Dayau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
Vegetation Characteristic ◽  
Agricultural Areas

The aim of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of airborne Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) on soil surface and vegetation cover characteristics in agricultural areas. Airborne polarimetric GNSS-R data were acquired in the context of the GLORI’2015 campaign over two study sites in Southwest France in June and July of 2015. Ground measurements of soil surface parameters (moisture content) and vegetation characteristics (leaf area index (LAI), and vegetation height) were recorded for different types of crops (corn, sunflower, wheat, soybean, vegetable) simultaneously with the airborne GNSS-R measurements. Three GNSS-R observables (apparent reflectivity, the reflected signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), and the polarimetric ratio (PR)) were found to be well correlated with soil moisture and a major vegetation characteristic (LAI). A tau-omega model was used to explain the dependence of the GNSS-R reflectivity on both the soil moisture and vegetation parameters.

scholarly journals Assessment of diversity and physico-chemical parameters of cyanobacteria, diatoms and other algal species in the paddy fields of Belagavi district, Karnataka

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-382
Author(s):  
Santoshkumar Jayagoudar ◽  
Pradeep Bhat ◽  
Ankita Magdum ◽  
Duradundi Sakreppagol ◽  
Laxmi Murgod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Algal Species ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Range Estimation ◽  
The North ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Water And Soil Samples ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Good Range

Algae are the diverse group of organisms in the soil and aquatic environment. The role of them in soil fertility enhancement has been extensively studied worldwide. Belagavi is a tropical agricultural belt in the North Karnataka region with highly fertile soil. Water and soil samples were collected randomly from the paddy field of 15–20 well-distributed spots in 4 selected locations viz Kusumali, Jamboti, Kinaye and Piranwadi. The identification revealed the presence of 94 species and 71 genera in the investigated sites. Among all, 62 species belonged to Bacillariophyceae, 14 species to Chlorophyceae, 10 species to Cyanophyceae, 3 to Xanthophyceae, followed by Trebouxiophyceae and Zygnematophyceae (2 species each) and one species of Ulvophyceae. The maximum number of 62 species was recorded from Kusamali, followed by 49 species in Kinaye, 44 in Jamboti and 35 in Piranwadi. The month of February had the highest number of species (61), decreased to 45 in March, 42 in April and 37 in May. Among the physicochemical parameters analysed for the soil samples, it was found that the pH of the soil is slightly acidic in all the study sites ranged between 5.03–5.85. Further, the electrical conductivity (EC) varied from 0.27–0.345 dS/m, found to be in a good range. Estimation of available micro and macronutrients of soil were measured, and it was found to be at low to moderate levels. The present study indicates the extensive distribution of different classes of algae in the rice fields of four study locations in Belagavi.

scholarly journals Qualitative and Quantitative study of Epipelic algae in Tigris River within Baghdad City, Iraq

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1074-1082
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Lotic Ecosystems ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Tigris River ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Distributions ◽  
Number Species ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
One Year ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Study

The present study conducted to study epipelic algae in the Tigris River within Baghdad city for one year from September 2011 to August 2012 due to the importance role of benthic algae in lotic ecosystems. Five sites have been chosen along the river. A total of 154 species of epipelic algae was recorded belongs to 45 genera, where Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms) was the dominant groups followed by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The numbers of common types in three sites were 47 species. Bacillariophyceae accounted 88.31% of the total number of epipelic algae, followed by Cyanophyceae 7.14 % and Chlorophyceae 4.55%. A 85 species (29 genera) recorded in site 1, 103 species (34 genera) in site2, 112 species (35 genera) in site3, 96 species (32 genera) in site4, and 85 species (29 genera) in site5. Spatial and temporal distributions of epipelic algae were noticed in this study. The higher total number of epipelic algae (91504.01cell cm-2) was recorded at site 5 in spring 2012, while the lower was (37017.98cell cm-2) in summer 2012 at site1. Some genera have recorded higher number species during the study period; these genera were Nitzschia, Navicula, Cymbella, Gomphonema, Synedra, Achnanthes, Oscillatoria, and Lyngbya. The study revealed that Bacillariophyceae were more prominent within all study sites and followed by Cyanophyceae, while a few numbers of Chlorophyceae was appeared.

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