Soil mite (Acari, Mesostigmata) biomass, species richness and diversity in soil and decayed logs of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1576-1588
Author(s):  
Jacek Kamczyc ◽  
Daniel Szemis ◽  
Cezary K. Urbanowski ◽  
Jacek Malica ◽  
Emilia Pers-kamczyc
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Soil Mite ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Adjacent Soil ◽  
Mite Communities

The European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a dominant tree species in European forests and it has a huge ecological significance and high economic value. Due to its large dimensions, it can produce large amounts of decayed wood (CWD) which may be critical for maintaining the population of many rare species including mites. Many studies focused on mite (Mesostigmata) abundance, species richness, or diversity in CWD, however, our knowledge on mite biomass is still scarce. Therefore, the main aim of that study was to recognize the Mesostigmata biomass in logs and adjacent soil. In total, 90 samples (125 cm3, 5 cm depth) were collected from European beech logs and soil with litter thickness. Soil samples were collected from ecotone zone (soil near the log) and further three distances—0.5 m, 1.0 m, 1.5 m away from the log. Body length and width were measured for each individual of rare species and in the case of common species at least for 10 individuals. Our study revealed the highest mite biomass in CWD and soil near to the log (ecotone). Total male biomass was the highest in CWD and differed significantly from all other soil microhabitats. Female biomass did not differ between soil and CWD, whereas deutonymphs biomass differed between CWD and soil 1.0 m away from the log. Mean abundance, species richness, and diversity did not differ between the microhabitats. Decaying logs were dominated by Janietella pulchella whereas soil by Veigaia nemorensis. In conclusion, decayed European beech logs maintain the highest male and deutonymph biomass when compared to adjacent soil. Beech logs are important microhabitats for Mesostigmata mite communities, where they reached the highest abundance. 

scholarly journals Mite Communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the Initially Decomposed ‘Litter Islands’ of 11 Tree Species in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Kamczyc ◽  
Marcin K. Dyderski ◽  
Paweł Horodecki ◽  
Andrzej M. Jagodziński
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Soil Mesofauna ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Mite Communities

Replacement of native deciduous forests by coniferous stands was a common result of former European afforestation policies and paradigms of forest management and led to considerable ecological consequences. Therefore, the most popular management strategy nowadays in multi-functional forestry is the re-establishment of mixed or broadleaved forests with native species on suitable habitats. However, our knowledge about the effects of tree species introduced into coniferous monocultures on soil mesofauna communities is scarce. We investigated abundance, species richness and diversity of Mesostigmata mite communities in decomposed litter of seven broadleaved (Acer platanoides L., A. pseudoplatanus L., Carpinus betulus L., Fagus sylvatica L., Tilia cordata Mill., Quercus robur L., Q. rubra L.) and four coniferous (Abies alba Mill., Larix decidua Mill., Picea abies [L.] Karst., Pinus sylvestris L.) species. We collected 297 litterbags after 6, 12 and 18 months of exposition in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) monocultures in Siemianice Experimental Forest (SW Poland). Generally, species richness and diversity in litter samples were much lower than in the soil mite pool. The highest abundance was found in P. sylvestris and A. alba litter, while the lowest was found in A. platanoides. The most abundant families were Zerconidae, Parasitidae, Veigaiidae, and Trachytidae. Our study revealed that neither species richness nor diversity were affected, but that mite abundance was affected, by the tree species (litter quality). The mite communities were similarly comprised in both high- and low-quality litter and mite abundance decreased during the decomposition process in nutrient-poor Scots pine forests. Moreover, few mite species benefited from the decomposed litter. Additionally, a litter of various tree species was inhabited mainly by eu- and hemiedaphic mite species. Mite assemblages in A. alba, P. sylvestris, and Q. robur litter had higher abundances. Exposition time seems to be an important driver in shaping the mite community during the early stages of litter decomposition.

Composition and structure of Orthopteran faunas in cereal crops in Ethiopia

1992 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tibebu Habtewold ◽  
Jan Landin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Black Soil ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Light Soil ◽  
Composition And Structure

AbstractAdult grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea, Tetrigioidea Tettigonioidea) assemblages were sampled at four localities in south-eastern Shoa, around Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, between August 1986 and September 1988. Three localities were followed for the whole period but the fourth locality was followed only between August 1986 and July 1987. Samples were taken fortnightly from both black and light soil fields of tef and wheat crops, each in three replicates. The fauna consisted of twenty-nine taxa of both short- and longhorned grasshoppers, twenty-six of which are identified to species. Over 70% of the species belong to Acrididae and most of them are either pests or potential pests of cereal crops. Species richness, diversity and dominance within and between sites and seasons did not differ much during the two year period. The composition and structure of the assemblage was relatively constant. Despite fluctuation in abundance, dominant and common species remained common and rare species rare. Aiolopus longicornis Sjöstedt was most dominant. Some species are more abundant on black soil than on light soil and vice versa. The results are compared to grasshopper assemblages studied elsewhere.

scholarly journals Faunistic Study on Butterflies in the Lowland Forests of Central Surigao del Sur, Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-95
Author(s):  
ARTURO GASCON GRACIA JR. ◽  
LAURENCE PINGOL ALBIOS ◽  
ROMART LLOYD BALBUENA ALVERO
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Intensive Study ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Lowland Forests

The province of Surigao del Sur is among the areas in the Philippines with limited wildlife studies, especially on lepidopteran fauna. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the butterfly congregation and diversity in Gamut and Mat-e, areas which are underexplored for lepidopteran surveys. It also aimed to assess the conservation and ecological status of the species. Sweep netting for a total of 196 person-hours was carried out to document the species. The results revealed a total of 29 species belonging to four families. Among the families, Nymphalidae was the most represented, comprising 48% of the total richness. The species Gandaca harina mindanaensis and Junonia hedonia ida were the most dominant in both sites representing 12% (each) of the total population. Species richness and diversity (H’) were relatively higher in Mat-e (n=22; H’=1.22) than in Gamut (n=15; H’=1.00). The total endemicity was 31%, but higher endemism was observed in Mat-e (36%) compared with Gamut (20%). The noteworthy findings are the listing of the nationally and globally assessed as rare species (Acrophtalmia leto ochine and Jamides celeno), but were locally assessed as common in Mat-e. One recorded butterfly (Atrophaneura semperi aphtonia) was assessed to be a threatened species. Based on the results, the two habitats showed a poor representation of butterfly assemblage, however, these results are highly affected by the limitations of the observation. Thus, it is recommended that an intensive study on butterflies in the area should be considered.

Diversity of poroid and some corticoid wood-inhabiting fungi along the rainfall gradient in tropical forests, Costa Rica

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
IRENE LINDBLAD
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Moist Forest ◽  
One Year ◽  
Species Richness Gradient

The influence of a rainfall gradient on the distribution and species richness of some groups of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes was explored in Costa Rican tropical forests. The relationships between these fungi and wood size and decay stage were also studied. Basidiocarps of all poroid and some corticoid fungi were recorded in three plots of 30 logs in each of dry, moist, and wet forests. The logs were surveyed three times during one year, covering all seasons. The species richness gradient was inversely related to the rainfall gradient, with most species in the dry forest (51), least in the wet forest (37), and intermediate in the moist forest (44). A total of 102 species were identified. Only six species occurred at all three sites. Two of the four most common species were new to science. The composition of wood-inhabiting fungal species in the dry forest varied from both the moist and the wet forest, while species composition in the two latter forest types was difficult to distinguish. Both frequent and rare species utilized the different decay stages as expected from availability of substrate. Perennials and rare species tended to occur on large logs in the dry forest, while all species tended to occur on large logs in the moist forest, but not in the wet forest.

Ecology of small mammals in tropical forest habitats of southern India

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali Chandrasekar-Rao ◽  
Melvin E. Sunquist
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Teak Plantation ◽  
Forest Sites

ABSTRACTFive species of rodent (Rattus rattus wroughtoni, Mus platythrix, Funambulus tristriatus, Cremnomys blanfordi and Golunda ellioti) were live-trapped over a period of eight months in three different habitat types (moist evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest and teak plantation) in Anaimalais Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India. Small mammal densities ranged between 16.3 individuals ha−1 and 20.7 ha−1 for the natural forest sites and were 10.4 ha−1 in the teak plantation. Moist deciduous forest had the highest species richness and diversity scores. Although the teak plantation site had the same mammal species richness as the moist evergreen forest, numbers of individuals and overall small mammal biomass in the plantation was far lower than on the natural forest sites. Compared to moist deciduous forest, species richness and diversity were significantly lower on the teak plantation. R. r. wroughtoni and M. platythrix were the two most common species captured on all three sites. R. r. wroughtoni was the most common small mammal species captured, reaching densities of 14.5 ha−1 in moist evergreen forest. G. ellioti was the least common species, present only in moist deciduous forest. Demographic patterns and microhabitat selection were examined for R. r. wroughtoni, M. platythrix, and F. tristriatus. Only M. platythrix appeared to show any distinct seasonality in reproduction, with an increase in capture of breeding individuals towards the end of the wet season. Discriminant analysis did not reveal any distinct microhabitat preferences for any of the species. However, R. r. wroughtoni showed a significant association with bamboo, and F. tristriatus was associated with areas of higher canopy height and density in moist deciduous forest.

Epiphytic lichens of tree-line forests in the Central-Eastern Italian Alps and their importance for conservation

2006 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juri NASCIMBENE ◽  
Stefano MARTELLOS ◽  
Pier Luigi NIMIS
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Italian Alps ◽  
Epiphytic Lichen ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Subalpine Belt ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Central Eastern

135 infrageneric taxa of epiphytic lichen were found in 20 stands of tree-line forests of the Central-Eastern Italian Alps. Three forest types were considered: (1) late successional stands with several large trees, (2) pioneer stands on abandoned pastures without large trees, and (3) open and grazed stands. They were compared on the basis of four main criteria: (1) species richness, (2) number of rare species, (3) number of species that are exclusive to the subalpine belt in Italy, and (4) number of species that are exclusive to the Alps in Italy. Species richness is higher in the late successional stands, which also host a higher share of rare and exclusive species. The total number of rare species per site is correlated with the total number of species, as well as with the number of common species, and with the total number of macrolichens. Rare macrolichens are correlated with common macrolichens. Two main groups of target species with decreasing conservation priority are identified. Letharia vulpina is suggested as signal species for sites worthy of conservation. The guild of macrolichens may be used as an indicator of both species richness and of the occurrence of rare species.

Lichens on down wood in logged and unlogged forest stands

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1033-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred L. Bunnell ◽  
Toby Spribille ◽  
Isabelle Houde ◽  
Trevor Goward ◽  
Curtis Björk
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Decay Class ◽  
Lichen Cover ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Crustose Lichens

Lichen communities of forests often appear to be negatively affected by timber harvest presumably because of reduction of suitable substrate and increased desiccation. We examined species richness and composition of lichens on wood of logs of the same decay class in unlogged stands (>140 years old) and logged, 20- to 30-year-old stands. There was no significant difference in species richness or mean lichen cover between logged and unlogged stands, but species composition differed, including species that were unique to either logged or unlogged stands. Crustose lichens accounted for 71% of rare species and all of the species occurring more commonly in unlogged stands; macrolichens accounted for 82% of common species and 60% of the species occurring more commonly in logged stands. Diameter at breast height and decay characteristics of down wood were the best predictors of lichen richness. Among lichen-rich, decay class 3 logs, relatively small amounts of retained down wood sustained lichen richness equivalent to unlogged stands. It appears important to ensure that decay classes favourable to lichens are retained after harvest.

scholarly journals How Does Radial Growth of Water-Stressed Populations of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees Vary under Multiple Drought Events?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Tamalika Chakraborty ◽  
Albert Reif ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis ◽  
Somidh Saha
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Neighborhood Competition

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in European beech in response to droughts. We aimed to find the impact of multiple droughts on beech trees’ annual radial growth at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability in the forest. Besides, we quantified the influence of competition and canopy openness on the mean basal area growth of beech trees. We carried out this study in five near-natural temperate forests in three localities of Germany and Switzerland. We quantified available soil water storage capacity (AWC) in plots laid in the transition zone from oak to beech dominated forests. The plots were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) and ‘less-dry’ (AWC > 60 mL). We performed dendroecological analyses starting from 1951 in continuous and discontinuous series to study the influence of climatic drought (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) on the radial growth of beech trees in dry and less-dry plots. We used observed values for this analysis and did not use interpolated values from interpolated historical records in this study. We selected six drought events to study the resistance, recovery, and resilience of beech trees to drought at a discontinuous level. The radial growth was significantly higher in less-dry plots than dry plots. The increase in drought had reduced tree growth. Frequent climatic drought events resulted in more significant correlations, hence, increased the dependency of tree growth on AWC. We showed that the recovery and resilience to climatic drought were higher in trees in less-dry plots than dry plots, but it was the opposite for resistance. The resistance, recovery, and resilience of the trees were heterogeneous between the events of drought. Mean growth of beech trees (basal area increment) were negatively impacted by neighborhood competition and positively influenced by canopy openness. We emphasized that beech trees growing on soil with low AWC are at higher risk of growth decline. We concluded that changes in soil water conditions even at the microsite level could influence beech trees’ growth in their drought limit under the changing climate. Along with drought, neighborhood competition and lack of light can also reduce beech trees’ growth. This study will enrich the state of knowledge about the ongoing debate on the vulnerability of beech trees to drought in Europe.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document