Effects of landscape cover and local habitat characteristics on visiting bees in tropical orchards

Littoral macroinvertebrates in acidified waterbodies are affected by the interaction of acidification and local environmental conditions. Understanding the interplay of these factors in the structuring of communities is essential for interpreting responses to and/or recovery from acidification. Here, we analyse the species composition and richness of littoral macroinvertebrates in a range of acidified montane standing waters in relation to water chemistry, littoral characteristics and fish stock. The main species composition gradients were related to pH and conductivity; however, considerable variation along these gradients was associated with local habitat characteristics (changing water levels and littoral structure) and concentration of ionic aluminium and dissolved organic carbon. Although fish stock effects were confounded by correlated acidity, we observed a significant decline in abundance of macroinvertebrates vulnerable to fish predation at sites with fish stock. Overall, littoral macroinvertebrates of acidic waterbodies were diverse due to the heterogeneity of local habitat properties, despite they were dominated by acid-tolerant species. Acidic humic sites with dense, heterogeneous littoral vegetation were species-rich, hosting numerous habitat specialists and rare species, while chronically acidified lakes with high aluminium concentrations and sparse littoral vegetation had species-poor assemblages, characteristic of strong acid-stress. Water level manipulation resulted in serious assemblage impoverishment, overriding the effects of more favourable water chemistry. This study shows that the littoral fauna of acidic waterbodies is structured by complex effects induced by local factors in addition to acidity, resulting in acid-stressed assemblages with relatively high variability, emphasising a need to analyse local habitat factors when evaluating the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrates.

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Interactive effects of urbanization and local habitat characteristics influence bee communities and flower visitation rates

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-019-04416-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 190 (4) ◽

pp. 715-723 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Justin D. Burdine ◽

Kevin E. McCluney

Keyword(s):

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Flower Visitation ◽

Visitation Rates ◽

Bee Communities ◽

Local Habitat

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Carabid community structure in northern China grassland ecosystems: Effects of local habitat on species richness, species composition and functional diversity

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e6197 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Noelline Tsafack ◽

François Rebaudo ◽

Hui Wang ◽

Dávid D. Nagy ◽

Yingzhong Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Composition ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Northern China ◽

Regional Level ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Environmental Characteristics ◽

Local Habitat

Background Most carabid beetles are particularly sensitive to local habitat characteristics. Although in China grasslands account for more than 40% of the national land, their biodiversity is still poorly known. The aim of this paper is to identify the main environmental characteristics influencing carabid diversity in different types of grassland in northern China. Methods We investigated the influence of vegetation (plant biomass, cover, density, height and species richness), soil (bulk density, above ground litter, moisture and temperature) and climate (humidity, precipitation and temperature) on carabid community structure (species richness, species composition and functional diversity—measured as body size, movement and total diversity) in three types of grasslands: desert, typical and meadow steppes. We used Canonical correspondence analysis to investigate the role of habitat characteristics on species composition and eigenvector spatial filtering to investigate the responses of species richness and functional diversities. Results We found that carabid community structure was strongly influenced by local habitat characteristics and particularly by climatic factors. Carabids in the desert steppe showed the lowest richness and functional diversities. Climate predictors (temperature, precipitation and humidity) had positive effects on carabid species richness at both regional and ecosystem levels, with difference among ecosystems. Plant diversity had a positive influence on carabid richness at the regional level. Soil compaction and temperature were negatively related to species richness at regional level. Climatic factors positively influenced functional diversities, whereas soil temperature had negative effects. Soil moisture and temperature were the most important drivers of species composition at regional level, whereas the relative importance of the various environmental parameters varied among ecosystems. Discussion Carabid responses to environmental characteristics varied among grassland types, which warns against generalizations and indicates that management programs should be considered at grassland scale. Carabid community structure is strongly influenced by climatic factors, and can therefore be particularly sensitive to ongoing climate change.

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Local habitat characteristics influence abundance and community structure of rodents in a regenerating Lulanda reserved forest, southern Tanzania

Restoration Ecology ◽

10.1111/rec.13501 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Burton S. Mwasapi ◽

Alfan A. Rija

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Local Habitat

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

10.21203/rs.3.rs-811050/v1 ◽

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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