scholarly journals A fresh look at the biodiversity lexicon for fiddler crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae). Part 2: Biogeography

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Fiddler Crabs ◽  
Species Ranges ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Coastal Species ◽  
As Species ◽  
Local Patterns ◽  
Global And Local

Abstract Fiddler crabs (Ocypodidae Rafinesque, 1815) occupy most tropical and semitropical coastlines worldwide where they are keystone species and ecosystem engineers. I present updated ranges for all 105 species and explore both global and local patterns to establish a baseline distribution as species ranges begin to shift with climate change. Globally, the average number of species per occupied coastline is five, with only limited allopatry observed within the group. Cohesive species assemblages were used to define four zoogeographic fiddler realms containing 24 provinces and transitional zones. These regions can serve as units of study when trying to explore which factors influence the distribution of coastal species.

scholarly journals Foliage-browsing Lepidoptera (Insecta) in deciduous forests of Ukraine for the last 70 years

2021 ◽  
pp. 173-179
Author(s):  
Valentyna Meshkova
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Mass Propagation ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Leaf Miners ◽  
Trophic Relations ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
As Species

As insect development depends on temperature, so the change in biology, behavior habits, frequency, and severity of outbreaks of foliage-browsing insects considered pests can follow the climate change. The reactions of species to the same climate changes can be specific, therefore, an unpredictable change in their ratio in the community will affect the consequences of climate change. The details of such changes must be studied to quantitatively assess future trends and the threats to deciduous forests. The aim of this research was to evaluate the representation in deciduous forests the foliage-browsing lepidopterous insects if different groups of size, lifestyle, voltinism, trophic relations, and ability to mass propagation in different periods of assessment for recent 70 years. In the analysis, we used a list of 118 lepidopterous species of foliage-browsing insects of deciduous forests, compiled on the basis of archival data from 1940–1975, and in the course of our own field research from 1975 to the present in the forests of Ukraine. Following trends were expected to be confirmed for these time intervals: to increase the number of species of small size, the number of species with hidden lifestyle, multivoltine species, polyphagous species, and so-called indifferent species. For each species, all these parameters were identified and proportions of species of each category for certain time intervals (1940–1950, 1960–1970, 1980–1990, and 2010–2020). Their distribution for size, voltinism, lifestyle, trophic features, and outbreak potential at these time intervals was compared using χ2-test. Among lepidopterous foliage-browsing insects of deciduous forests of Ukraine, the increase for recent 70 years was proved for the proportion of indifferent species (do not able to mass propagation), small species (with wingspan below 20 mm), as well as species with hidden (leaf-miners) and semi-hidden lifestyle (leaf-rollers). All trends are expressed the most obviously in 1940–1950 and further periods. The hypothesis about decrease the proportion of the univoltine and monophagous species for this period is not supported statistically.

Madness of growth

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Hieronimus
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Technological Progress ◽  
Species Extinction ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Relevant Today ◽  
As Species ◽  
Technological Growth ◽  
Military Conflicts

The progress of technology is considered by the majority as a reasonable endeavor. Nevertheless, the author tries to show that technological progress, in spite of its benefits, causes a variety of absurd dangers because of its uncontrolled growth. The author introduces the leading thinkers of a movement known as “Decroissance” which argues for a “philosophy of degrowth”. Degrowth means the undoing of technological growth and demands an end of its philosophy of “faster, wider, higher and more”. A destructive power can be seen in this, causing overexploitation in nature as well as the annihilation of humankind, not just by the machinery of war. Indeed, in view of the ecological and economical crises of our time, such as species extinction, the contaminations of the soil, the air and the sea, climate change and its impact on many societies, military conflicts due to scarce resources, then a return to more simplicity, frugality and reserve seems quite reasonable and absolutely essential in order to put an end to the madness. Hence the idea of “Decroissance” is quite relevant today and this article gives an instructive overview.

scholarly journals Testing Farmers’ Perception of Climate Variability: A Case Study from Kirtipur of Kathmandu Valley

2012 ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Jiban Mani Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
Climate Fluctuations ◽  
Global And Local

In the 21st century, global climate change has become a public and political discourse. However, there is still a wide gap between global and local perspectives. The global perspective focuses on climate fluctuations that affect the larger region; and their analysis is based on long-term records over centuries and millennium. By comparison, local peoples’ perspectives vary locally, and local analyses are limited to a few days, years, decades and generations only. This paper examines how farmers in Kirtipur of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, understand climate variability in their surroundings. The researcher has used a cognized model to understand farmers’ perception on weather fluctuations and climate change. The researcher has documented several eyewitness accounts of farmers about weather fluctuations which they have been observing in a lifetime. The researcher has also used rainfall data from 1970-2009 to test the accuracy of perceptions. Unlike meteorological analyses, farmers recall and their understanding of climatic variability by weather-crop interaction, and events associating with climatic fluctuations and perceptions are shaped by both physical visibility and cultural frame or belief system.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v11i1.7200 Hydro Nepal Special Issue: Conference Proceedings 2012 pp.30-34

scholarly journals Diversity and species turnover on an altitudinal gradient in Western Cape, South Africa: baseline data for monitoring range shifts in response to climate change

Bothalia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Agenbag ◽  
K. J. Elser ◽  
G. F. Midgley ◽  
C. Boucher
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Moisture Gradient ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Succulent Karoo ◽  
Species Ranges

A temperature and moisture gradient on the equator-facing slope of Jonaskop on the Riviersonderend Mountain. Westem Cape has been selected as an important gradient for monitoring the effects of climate change on fynbos and the Fynbos- Succulent Karoo ecotone. This study provides a description of plant diversity patterns, growth form composition and species turnover across the gradient and the results of four years of climate monitoring at selected points along the altitudinal gradient.The aim o f this study is to provide data for a focused monitoring strategy for the early detection of climate change-related shifts in species’ ranges, as well as gaining a better understanding of the role of climate variability in shaping species growth responses, their distributions, and other ecosystem processes.

The Ecology of Juvenile Salmon in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Regional Comparisons

2007 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
California Current ◽  
Minor Component ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Juvenile Salmon ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Coastal Species ◽  
Night And Day ◽  
Associated Species

Abstract.—We compared epipelagic fish assemblages associated with juvenile (ocean-age 0) Pacific salmon <em>Oncorhynchus </em>spp. from neritic waters of the California Current and Alaska Current regions in the spring–summer and summer–fall periods of 2000–2004. Catches originated from rope trawl surveys conducted between latitudes 37°N and 60°N and spanned more than 1,100 km in the coastal and inshore habitats of each region. Catch data were used from the epipelagic sampling of waters from near surface to depths of about 18 m, primarily over the continental shelf. Catch composition, frequency of occurrence, and density were evaluated between regions and habitats for day sampling. Diel (night and day) catch comparisons were also made at a few localities in each region. In day catches from both regions, a total of 1.69 million fish and squid representing 52 fish families and 118 fish species were sampled from 2,390 trawl hauls. Ninety-seven percent of the daytime catch was composed of 11 fish families and squid in coastal and inshore habitats of each region: clupeids dominated catches in the California Current (72% and 76% of catch, respectively), and salmonids dominated catches in the Alaska Current (46% and 62% of catch, respectively). Juveniles comprised 81–99% of salmon sampled in both coastal and inshore habitats of each region. Frequencies of occurrence were highest for juvenile salmon in both regions, but average densities were highest for Pacific herring <em>Clupea pallasii </em>and Pacific sardine <em>Sardinops sagax </em>in the California Current region. Cluster analyses revealed distinct geographic breakpoints in coastal species assemblages off central Vancouver Island and in inshore species assemblages in southeastern Alaska. Species were found to cluster into six groups from coastal localities and four groups from inshore localities. Indicator species analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that most species of juvenile salmonids were located in northern localities. Although juvenile salmon had the most uniform distribution of any species group, their densities relative to associated species were dramatically lower in the California Current, suggesting a higher degree of interactions between juvenile salmon and other species in this region. Diel comparisons in both regions indicated substantially higher catches at night, particularly of clupeids, osmerids, and gadids. Salmonids were a relatively minor component of the night catch in both regions due to dramatic diel shifts in community structure. Additional study of diel interactions of juvenile salmon and associated species is needed to quantify habitat utilization dynamics in marine ecosystems.

Consequences of Deforestation and Climate Change on Biodiversity

2011 ◽  
pp. 24-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Cochard
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Species Extinctions

Ever since their evolution, forests have been interacting with the Earth’s climate. Species diversity is particularly high in forests of stable moist tropical climates, but patterns of diversity differ among various taxa. Species richness typically implies high ecosystem resilience to ecosystem disturbances; many species are present to fill in newly created niches and facilitate regeneration. Species loss, on the other hand, often entails environmental degradation and erosion of essential ecosystem services. Until now species extinction rates have been highest on tropical islands which are characterized by a high degree of species endemism but comparatively low species richness (and therefore high vulnerability to invasive species). Deforestation and forest degradation in many countries has lead to forest fragmentation with similar effects on increasingly insularized and vulnerable forest habitat patches. If forest fragments are becoming too small to support important keystone species, further extinctions may occur in cascading ways, and the vegetation structure and composition may eventually collapse. Until now relatively few reported cases of species extinctions can be directly attributed to climate change. However, climate change in combination with habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation may lead to new waves of species extinctions in the near future as species are set on the move but are unable to reach cooler refuges due to altered, obstructing landscapes. To mitigate the future risks of extinctions as well as climate change, major efforts should be undertaken to protect intact large areas of forests and restore wildlife corridors. Carbon sequestration may be seen as just one of many other environmental services of forest biodiversity that deserve economic valuation as alternatives to conversion to often unsustainable agricultural uses.

7. The future of the world’s reptiles

2019 ◽  
pp. 117-124
Author(s):  
T. S. Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Considerable Reduction ◽  
Commercial Exploitation ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The Future ◽  
Important Approach

The world’s reptile fauna is facing the threat of a considerable reduction in the number of species. One estimate is that by 2050 over 500 species, around 5 per cent, will have been lost. By 2080, the figure will have grown to 20 per cent, which is approximately 2,000 species. ‘The future of the world’s reptiles’ explains that the threats to reptiles are: commercial exploitation for food, medicines, and ornament; habitat destruction; global climate change; and pollution. Any comprehensive effort to conserve needs to address all of these. By far the most important way to conserve reptiles is setting up and regulating various kinds of protected area. Another important approach is legislation to control trade in reptiles.

scholarly journals Australia?s Biodiversity and Climate Change

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
David Goodall
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Natural Resources Management ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Ministerial Council

This volume is the result of an initiative by the Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council, to assess the vulnerability of Australia?s biodiversity to climate change. It may be said at once that this remit is interpreted, not as referring to changes in ?biodiversity? as usually understood ? the number of species present ? but rather as covering all responses of organisms and the ecosystems in which they participate to the climate changes now in progress and in prospect. This extension of ?biodiversity? is clarified by the statement that ?modern biodiversity conservation . . . should ensure . . . the maintenance of ecological processes and the delivery of ecosystem services?.

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