Fine-scale habitat preferences influence within-river population connectivity: a case-study using two sympatric New ZealandGalaxiasfish species

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Waters ◽  
Christopher P. Burridge
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chancellor ◽  
David Scheel ◽  
Joel S Brown

ABSTRACT In a study of the foraging behaviour of the giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini, we designed two types of experimental food patches to measure habitat preferences and perceptions of predation risk. The first patch successfully measured giving-up densities (GUDs), confirmed by octopus prey presence and higher foraging at sites with historically greater octopus presence. However, nontarget foragers also foraged on these experimental food patches. Our second floating patch design successfully excluded nontarget species from subtidal patches, and from intertidal patches at high tide, but allowed for foraging by E. dofleini. The second design successfully measured GUDs and suggested that octopus preferred foraging in a subtidal habitat compared to an intertidal habitat. We ascribe the higher GUD in the intertidal habitat to its higher predation risk relative to the subtidal habitat. The second patch design seems well suited for E. dofleini and, in conjunction with a camera system, could be used to provide behavioural indicators of the octopus's abundance, perceptions of habitat quality and predation risk.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 2333-2341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Ovenden ◽  
Bree J. Tillett ◽  
Michael Macbeth ◽  
Damien Broderick ◽  
Fiona Filardo ◽  
...  

Abstract We report population genetic structure and fine-scale recruitment processes for the scallop beds (Pecten fumatus) in Bass Strait and the eastern coastline of Tasmania in southern Australia. Conventional population pairwise FST analyses are compared with novel discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) to assess population genetic structure using allelic variation in 11 microsatellite loci. Fine-scale population connectivity was compared with oceanic features of the sampled area. Disjunct scallop beds were genetically distinct, but there was little population genetic structure between beds connected by tides and oceanic currents. To identify recruitment patterns among and within beds, pedigree analyses determined the distribution of parent–offspring and sibling relationships in the sampled populations. Beds in northeastern Bass Strait were genetically distinct to adjacent beds (FST 0.003–0.005) and may not contribute to wider recruitment based on biophysical models of larval movement. Unfortunately, pedigree analyses lacked power to further dissect fine-scale recruitment processes including self-recruitment. Our results support the management of disjunct populations as separate stocks and the protection of source populations among open water beds. The application of DAPC and parentage analyses in the current study provided valuable insight into their potential power to determine population connectivity in marine species with larval dispersal.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 866
Author(s):  
Jerzy Błoszyk ◽  
Katarzyna Buczkowska ◽  
Anna Maria Bobowicz ◽  
Alina Bączkiewicz ◽  
Zbigniew Adamski ◽  
...  

The study presented in this research paper is the first taxonomic investigation focusing on Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites with a brief discussion of the genetic differences of two very closely related species from the genus Oodinychus Berlese, 1917, i.e. O. ovalis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and O. karawaiewi (Berlese, 1903). These two morphologically similar species are quite common and they have a wide range of occurrence in Europe. They also live in almost the same types of habitat. However, O. ovalis usually exhibits higher abundance and frequency of occurrence. The major aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the systematic position, morphological and biological differences, as well as habitat preferences and distribution of O. ovalis and O. karawaiewi. The next aim was to ascertain whether the differences in number and frequency of these species may stem from the genetic differences at the molecular level (16S rDNA and COI). The study shows that O. ovalis, which is a more abundant species than O. karawaiewi, turned out to be genetically more polymorphic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1825-1835
Author(s):  
Jerzy Michalczuk

Abstract Non-forest tree stands are important habitats for many species of birds in the agricultural landscape. They are also the main habitat of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus, whose numbers have been decreasing in recent years in some parts of Europe. Recognition of the habitat requirements of this species may help better planning of its protection in the context of the treed agricultural landscapes. During this study, the habitat preferences of the Syrian Woodpecker were determined in the agricultural landscape of South-Eastern Poland. A set of 12 habitat parameters of tree stands located in the breeding territories of the Syrian Woodpecker (n = 122) and in randomly chosen control areas (n = 122) located outside the range of the breeding territories of this species were characterized. The number and species diversity of trees was significantly higher in stands located in Syrian Woodpecker territories than in the random control areas. Stands occupied by breeding pairs also had trees of worse health condition and a larger proportion of fruit trees. The model best explaining the probability of the occurrence of the species indicates that the Syrian Woodpecker requires mainly the presence of tree stands with a greater species diversity of trees, as well as tree stands in worse health condition. When planning the protection of this species’ habitats in the agricultural landscape, the characteristics of non-forest tree stands noted above should be taken into account.


2019 ◽  
Vol 191 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Carnicero ◽  
Peter Schönswetter ◽  
Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽  
Mercè Galbany-Casals

Abstract Evolution does not always result in dichotomous phylogenetic trees. For instance, in anacladogenetic speciation, where a new species originates by budding, the ancestral taxon is often initially paraphyletic. Here we study Cymbalaria muelleri (Plantaginaceae), a chasmophytic species endemic to Sardinia, a major island in the Mediterranean Basin. Its distribution range is divided into two well-delimited geographical groups with some morphological differences. Using a combination of morphology, molecular data (amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting) and relative genome size, we found that the two geographical groups should be considered two separate taxa, which split through anacladogenesis. Accordingly, we formally describe the new paraphyletic subspecies C. muelleri subsp. villosa as the ancestor, from which C. muelleri subsp. muelleri originated by budding. Morphological analyses support the differentiation of the two subspecies, and there are strong diagnostic characters to differentiate them. In addition to morphology and genetics, slightly divergent habitat preferences and the disjunct distribution of the two subspecies also support the recognition of two taxa. Genome size data obtained for the two subspecies are consistent with the previously established hexaploidy of C. muelleri.


Author(s):  
Andrew Curtis ◽  
Jason Blackburn ◽  
Sarah Smiley ◽  
Minmin Yen ◽  
Andrew Camilli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

Environments ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Arfan ◽  
Guy Pe’er ◽  
Bianca Bauch ◽  
Josef Settele ◽  
Klaus Henle ◽  
...  

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