scholarly journals Assembly Mechanisms of Neotropical Butterfly Communities Along an Environmental Gradient

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F. Checa ◽  
David Donoso ◽  
Elisa Levy ◽  
Sebastián Mena ◽  
Jaqueline Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Habitat Filtering ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
Variable Environments ◽  
Species Similarity ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Seasonal Forests

AbstractOur goal was to test the hypothesis that assembly processes that limit species similarity (i.e., competition) predominantly occur in more ‘stable’ abiotic environments, whereas habitat filtering (i.e., habitat characteristics) is a major driver of community composition within more variable environments at regional (e.g., aseasonal vs seasonal forests) and local scales (e.g., understory vs. canopy). A combined approach of phylogenetic- and functional trait-based analyses using forewing length and aspect ratio as traits, were used to this hypothesis.A 3-year survey was carried out at three sites (i.e., wet, transition and dry forests) across a climatic gradient in western Ecuador. Transition and dry forests were considered as seasonal, whereas wet forest were considered aseasonal. Butterflies were sampled using traps baited with rotting banana and prawn every two months from Nov 2010 to Sep 2013. Traps were set up at two heights, in the understory and canopy. DNA was extracted to sequence the barcode’ section of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) for phylogenetic analyses. Measurements of morphological traits, forewing length and aspect ratio were done using digital photographs of specimens.A total of 6466 specimens representing 142 species of Nymphalidae were recorded. Based on phylogenetic- and trait-based analyses, we rejected the hypothesis that assembly processes that limit species similarity (i.e., competition) are likely to predominantly occur in more ‘stable’ abiotic environments, whereas habitat filtering can be a major driver of community composition within more variable environments at regional (i.e., aseasonal forest vs seasonal forests) and local scales (i.e., understory vs. canopy). My study of assembly mechanisms revealed the opposite pattern, with stronger evidence for the action of ecological filters in the assembly of butterfly communities from the wet aseasonal forests, and competition likely to be a major assembly process within dry seasonal forests. The present study therefore provided new insights into community assembly mechanisms in one of the richest butterfly faunas worldwide.

Consistent differences in macroparasite community composition among populations of three-spined sticklebacks,Gasterosteus aculeatusL.

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (11) ◽  
pp. 1478-1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOB DE ROIJ ◽  
ANDREW D. C. MacCOLL
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Geographical Distances ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Relative Differences

SUMMARYParasite ecologists are often interested in the repeatability of patterns in parasite communities in space and/or time, because of implications for the dynamics of host-parasite interactions. Field studies usually examine temporal and spatial variation in isolation or limit themselves to a small number of host populations. Here, we studied the macroparasite communities of 12 populations of three-spined stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatusL., on North Uist, Scotland, separated by small geographical distances, during the breeding season in 2 consecutive years (2007 and 2008) to determine: (1) the extent of spatial variation in macroparasite communities, (2) whether this variation is consistent across years, and (3) whether habitat characteristics can explain differences in macroparasite community composition among populations. We found substantial variation in parasite communities among populations. Generally, measures of parasite community composition were higher in 2008 than in 2007, but this effect of year was consistent across populations, such that the relative differences in these measures among populations changed little between years. These data suggest that there is short-term stability in the spatial variation in macroparasite communities of North Uist sticklebacks. However, none of the 5 habitat characteristics measured explained spatial variation in any measure of parasite community composition.

scholarly journals Rainfall as a significant contributing factor to butterfly seasonality along a climatic gradient in the neotropics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F. Checa ◽  
Elisa Levy ◽  
Jaqueline Rodriguez ◽  
Keith Willmott
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Climatic Gradient ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Seasonal Forests

AbstractWe analyzed the dynamics of multi-species butterfly communities along a climatic gradient with varying precipitation regimes for three consecutive years, and determine how climatic variables associate with observed butterfly seasonality. To provide a baseline for future studies of how climate change might affect these butterfly populations, we additionally explored the role of butterfly seasonality as a potential contributing factor for their susceptibility to climate variation. As far as we know, this represents the first study that simultaneously sampled and described seasonality patterns of tropical butterfly communities across ecosystems with varying climatic seasonality. A 3-year survey was carried out at three sites (i.e., wet, transition and dry forests) across a climatic gradient in western Ecuador. Butterflies were sampled using traps baited with rotting banana and prawn every two months from Nov 2010 to Sep 2013. Traps were set up at two heights, in the understory and canopy. In total, 7046 individuals of 212 species were sampled over 180 sampling days.Butterfly communities exhibited conspicuous intra and inter-annual variation in temporal dynamics with certain elements (e.g., maximum abundance recorded) of seasonality patterns likely synchronized in seasonal forests (i.e., transition and dry forest) across years but not in aseasonal forests (i.e., wet forest). In addition, the highest numbers of species and individuals occurred during the wet season across all study sites and years; indeed, rainfall was significantly positively associated with temporal abundance. Likewise, butterfly species displaying stronger seasonality were significantly associated with higher rainfall periods in seasonal forests. Variation in precipitation regimes might significantly affect more seasonal species.

scholarly journals Relationship between moth (night active Lepidoptera) diversity and vegetation characteristics in southern Sweden

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1005-1015
Author(s):  
Torbjörn Tyler
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Vegetation Composition ◽  
Vascular Plant Diversity ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Tree Canopy Cover ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract The diversity and community composition of moths (both macro- and micromoths) at 32 sites, representing a wide range of habitat types (forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural and urban areas) within a restricted region in central Scania, southern-most Sweden, was investigated by use of light moth traps and compared with vascular plant species richness and habitat characteristics. The results revealed a highly significant general association between vegetation composition and the composition of the moth community and multivariate (CCA) analyses indicated light availability and soil fertility parameters (pH and macronutrients) to be the habitat characteristics that best correlated with moth community composition. Less strong, but still significant, positive relationships between moth abundance and local vascular plant diversity were also revealed. Moth species richness was positively correlated with diversity of woody plant genera in the neighborhood, but not with local vascular plant diversity in general. As for more general site characteristics, there were tendencies for higher moth richness and abundance at sites with more productive soils (well-drained, high pH, high nutrient availability), while shading/tree canopy cover, management, soil disturbance regimes and nectar production appeared unrelated to moth community parameters. It is concluded that local moth assemblages are strongly influenced by site characteristics and vegetation composition. Implications for insect conservation: The results show that obtaining moth data on a local scale is useful for conservation planning and does not need to be very cumbersome. Local moth assemblages monitored are indeed related to local site characteristics of conservation relevance.

scholarly journals Lepidoptera are Relevant Bioindicators of Passive Regeneration in Tropical Dry Forests

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Legal ◽  
Marine Valet ◽  
Oscar Dorado ◽  
Jose Maria de Jesus-Almonte ◽  
Karime López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
Study Zone ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Passive Regeneration ◽  
Different Levels

Most evaluations of passive regeneration/natural succession or restoration have dealt with tropical rain forest or temperate ecosystems. Very few studies have examined the regeneration of tropical dry forests (TDF), one of the most damaged ecosystem types in the world. Owing to their species diversity and abundance, insects have been widely used as bioindicators of restoration. Butterflies were among the most abundant and useful groups. We sampled four sites with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance in a Mexican TDF (Morelos State) and compared butterfly communities. A first goal was to examine whether adult butterflies were significant bioindicators owing to their specificity to restricted habitats. A second aim was to determine if differences exist in butterfly communities between some fields abandoned from 4–8, 8–15 and 15–30 years and a reference zone considered as primary forest. We found 40% to 50% of the species of butterflies were specifically related to a habitat and/or a level of anthropogenic disturbance. The time it takes for passive regeneration and recovery of the Mexican tropical dry forest is much higher than 25 years (our older zone), considering that almost none of the butterflies found in our conserved reference zone were present in our 25 year aged study zone.

Diversity of fungi associated with macroalgae from an estuarine environment and description of Cladosporium rubrum sp. nov. and Hypoxylon aveirense sp. nov.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tânia F. L. Vicente ◽  
Micael F. M. Gonçalves ◽  
Cláudio Brandão ◽  
Cátia Fidalgo ◽  
Artur Alves
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Fungal Community ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Novel Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Its Region ◽  
Fungal Communities ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Culture Dependent

Fungal communities associated with macroalgae remain largely unexplored. To characterize algicolous fungal communities using culture dependent methods, macroalgae were collected from different sampling sites in the Ria de Aveiro estuary, Portugal. From a collection of 486 isolates that were obtained, 213 representative isolates were selected through microsatellite-primed PCR (MSP-PCR) fingerprinting analysis. The collection yielded 33 different genera, which were identified using the ITS region of the rDNA. The results revealed that the most abundant taxa in all collections were Acremonium-like species: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Leptobacillium and Penicillium. The fungal community composition varied with macroalgae species. Through multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, tub2, tef1-α and actA sequences, in addition to detailed morphological data, we propose Cladosporium rubrum sp. nov. (type strain=CMG 28=MUM 19.39) and Hypoxylon aveirense sp. nov. (type strain=CMG 29=MUM 19.40) as novel species.

scholarly journals Different in the dark: The effect of habitat characteristics on community composition and beta diversity in bromeliad microfauna

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. e0191426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Busse ◽  
Pablo A. P. Antiqueira ◽  
Alexandre S. Neutzling ◽  
Anna M. Wolf ◽  
Gustavo Q. Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Habitat Characteristics

scholarly journals Geographic drivers of diversification in loliginid squids with an emphasis on the western Atlantic species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Genty ◽  
Carlos J Pardo-De la Hoz ◽  
Paola Montoya ◽  
Elena A. Ritschard
Keyword(s):  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Marine Organisms ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Adjacent Area ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

ABSTRACTAimIdentifying the mechanisms driving divergence in marine organisms is challenging as opportunities for allopatric isolation are less conspicuous than in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we aim to estimate a dated phylogeny of the squid family Loliginidae, and perform ecological niche analyses to explore biogeographic and evolutionary patterns giving rise to extant lineages in this group, with particular focus on cryptic species with population structure along the western Atlantic coast.LocationWorld-wide.TaxonClass Cephalopoda, Family LoliginidaeMethodsWe used three loci to infer gene trees and perform species delimitation analysis to detect putative cryptic speciation events. We then estimated a dated species tree under the Bayesian multispecies coalescent and used it to reconstruct ancestral distributions based on the currently known ranges of the species. Also, we tested the hypothesis of niche divergence in three recently diverged species subpopulations of the northwestern and southwestern Atlantic Ocean by ecological niche modeling and niche overlap measurement from occurrence data.ResultsThe phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly for the current twenty-six species of the Loliginidae family. Our ancestral area reconstruction and divergence estimation revealed the origin and geographical dispersal of loliginid lineages. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis and the species delimitation analysis supported geographic structure within D. pleii, D. pealeii and L. brevis. The ecological niche models revealed unsuitable habitat in the immediately adjacent area of the Amazonian Orinoco Plume, yet suitable habitat characteristics beyond this area.Main conclusionsOur study allowed us to confirm the monophyly of all currently recognized species within the Loliginidae family and we corroborate the biogeographical origin being the Indo-Pacific region in the Cretaceous. We found a possible new cryptic lineage and show evidence of the Amazon-Orinoco Plume as an ecological barrier, which influenced the diversification of this particular group of marine organisms.

scholarly journals Changes in Bacterioplankton Composition under Different Phytoplankton Regimens

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 6753-6766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarone Pinhassi ◽  
Maria Montserrat Sala ◽  
Harry Havskum ◽  
Francesc Peters ◽  
�scar Guadayol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Phytoplankton Blooms ◽  
The Family

ABSTRACT The results of empirical studies have revealed links between phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, such as the frequent correlation between chlorophyll a and bulk bacterial abundance and production. Nevertheless, little is known about possible links at the level of specific taxonomic groups. To investigate this issue, seawater microcosm experiments were performed in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Turbulence was used as a noninvasive means to induce phytoplankton blooms dominated by different algae. Microcosms exposed to turbulence became dominated by diatoms, while small phytoflagellates gained importance under still conditions. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragments showed that changes in phytoplankton community composition were followed by shifts in bacterioplankton community composition, both as changes in the presence or absence of distinct bacterial phylotypes and as differences in the relative abundance of ubiquitous phylotypes. Sequencing of DGGE bands showed that four Roseobacter phylotypes were present in all microcosms. The microcosms with a higher proportion of phytoflagellates were characterized by four phylotypes of the Bacteroidetes phylum: two affiliated with the family Cryomorphaceae and two with the family Flavobacteriaceae. Two other Flavobacteriaceae phylotypes were characteristic of the diatom-dominated microcosms, together with one Alphaproteobacteria phylotype (Roseobacter) and one Gammaproteobacteria phylotype (Methylophaga). Phylogenetic analyses of published Bacteroidetes 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that members of the Flavobacteriaceae are remarkably responsive to phytoplankton blooms, indicating these bacteria could be particularly important in the processing of organic matter during such events. Our data suggest that quantitative and qualitative differences in phytoplankton species composition may lead to pronounced differences in bacterioplankton species composition.

scholarly journals Local Habitat Characteristics Determine Butterfly Diversity and Community Structure in a Threatened Kihansi Gorge Forest, Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfan Abeid Rija
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Udzungwa Mountains ◽  
Butterfly Community ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Local Habitat

Abstract Background Many species inhabiting Kihansi gorge ecosystem in Southern Udzungwa mountains, Tanzania are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss caused by constructed hydropower plant that diverted over 90% of the water off the Kihansi River. Understanding ecological correlates and structure of an animal community in perturbed ecosystems is an important way to enhancing species conservation particularly in this system where several species are already threatened with extinction. This study assessed influences of local habitat characteristics on the butterfly abundance, species richness and diversity and examined how the butterfly community structures across three structurally heterogeneous habitats in the Kihansi gorge forest. Butterfly abundance data were collected using baited traps and measured environmental variables in the field where trapping occurred. To understand the diversity and butterfly richness, these parameters were computed under Primer software. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of community similarity were used to analyse the butterfly community structure. Further, the generalized linear models were used to assess how the measured variables explained observed species diversity, abundance, and richness. Results In total, 72 species of butterfly in five families were recorded. Butterfly, species diversity and richness did not vary across the habitat types or elevation gradient but showed strong correlation with some habitat characteristics. Also, there was evidence of butterfly communities structuring into distinct groups that showed greater separation associated with the habitat characteristics they utilise. Further, across the study area, butterfly species diversity was mostly likely to increase in high canopy and in trees with smaller diameter at breast height and at lower ground cover. Similarly, abundance significantly increased in the woodland and wooded grassland habitats, where there was high canopy and where tree density was high. Furthermore, butterfly species richness was strongly positively associated with high canopy cover and was mostly likely to increase in sites closer to water source. Conclusion Assessing habitat correlates of the butterfly communities provide important information on what components of the habitats are most useful to target when planning conservation especially in threatened ecosystems. This also helps to reveal existing gaps in important knowledge that would be useful to improving long-term monitoring of biodiversity in in fragile systems such as the Kihansi gorge forest.

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