scholarly journals Exotic earthworm (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) assemblages on a landscape scale in central Canadian woodlands: importance of region and vegetation type

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 935-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Choi ◽  
Tara E. Sackett ◽  
Sandy M. Smith ◽  
M. Isabel Bellocq
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Earthworm Species ◽  
South Central

A growing understanding about the impacts of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) on ecosystem processes and forest restoration necessitates an examination of their role in Canadian forests where they have become invasive. Little is known about the landscape-scale responses of earthworm populations to different regional characteristics and vegetation types within Canada’s central woodlands. We examined the regional variation of earthworm species richness, biomass, and assemblage composition across a range of four municipal regions (from south to north: Halton, Wellington, York, and Simcoe) and four habitat types (deciduous forest, mixed forest, tree plantation, and meadow) with varying soil characteristics in woodlands of south-central Ontario, Canada. In general, earthworm communities differed by region but not by habitat type. The most southern regions supported the highest earthworm species richness, biomass (i.e., Lumbricus and Octolasion), and density, and this was associated with a south–north gradient in soil characteristics. Assemblage composition differed by region but not by habitat type. The observed south–north gradient suggests an underlying effect of invasion spread associated with human settlement and density. Our results provide baseline information about earthworm communities in south-central Ontario forests and will enable managers to plan for the increasing role of earthworms in Canada’s future forests.

scholarly journals Species Richness of Breeding Birds at a Landscape Scale: Which Habitat Type is the Most Important?

2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Skórka ◽  
Rafał martyka ◽  
Joanna D. Wójcik
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Breeding Birds

scholarly journals Earthworm species occurrence in agroecosystems in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-425
Author(s):  
Thembeka C. Nxele ◽  
Tarombera Mwabvu ◽  
Inam Yekwayo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Lumbricus Rubellus ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Earthworm Species ◽  
Aporrectodea Trapezoides ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Little is known about the species composition of earthworms in agroecosystems in South Africa even though earthworms provide soil ecosystem services and are useful biological indicators of changes in the habitats. Given the land use and management impact biodiversity, the aim of this study was to document earthworm species that occur under cultivated land in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. A survey of nine farms that practise conservation agriculture was carried out between 2018 and 2020. Twelve earthworm species belonging to four introduced families: Acanthodrilidae (Dichogaster bolaui), Rhinodrilidae (Pontoscolex corenthrurus), Lumbricidae (Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea, Aporrectodea trapezoides, Lumbricus rubellus, Octolasion cyaneum, Octolasion lacteum), Megascolecidae (Amynthas aeruginosus, Amynthas corticis, Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas rodericensis) and juveniles from an indigenous family Tritogeniidae were recorded from cultivated fields. The type of crop (habitat) affected both species richness and abundance of earthworms significantly. However, post hoc results showed differences in species richness between the soya and the maize only, with greater species richness in the maize. Our results demonstrate that habitat type has a major influence on communities of earthworms in agroecosystems.

scholarly journals Wood Pastures: A Transitional Habitat between Forests and Pastures for Dung Beetle Assemblages

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
László Somay ◽  
Viktor Szigeti ◽  
Gergely Boros ◽  
Réka Ádám ◽  
András Báldi
Keyword(s):  
Functional Group ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

Wood pastures are home to a variety of species, including the dung beetle. Dung beetles are an important functional group in decomposition. Specifically, in terms of livestock manure, they not only contribute to nutrient cycling but are key players in supporting human and animal health. Dung beetles, however, are declining in population, and urgent recommendations are needed to reverse this trend. Recommendations need to be based on solid evidence and specific habitats. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of an intermediate habitat type between forests and pastures. Wood pastures are key areas for dung beetle conservation. For this reason, we compared dung beetle assemblages among forests, wood pastures, and grasslands. We complemented this with studies on the effects of dung type and season at three Hungarian locations. Pitfall traps baited with cattle, sheep, or horse dung were used in forests, wood pastures, and pasture habitats in spring, summer, and autumn. Dung beetle assemblages of wood pastures showed transient characteristics between forests and pastures regarding their abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, assemblage composition, and indicator species. We identified a strong effect of season and a weak of dung type. Assemblage composition proved to be the most sensitive measure of differences among habitats. The conservation of dung beetles, and the decomposition services they provide, need continuous livestock grazing to provide fresh dung, as well as the maintenance of wood pastures where dung beetle assemblages typical of forests and pastures can both survive.

scholarly journals Sheep nemabiome diversity and its response to anthelmintic treatment in Swedish sheep herds

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Halvarsson ◽  
Johan Höglund
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Anthelmintic Treatment ◽  
Host Age ◽  
Larval Culture ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
South Central ◽  
Nematode Diversity

Abstract Background A novel way to study the species composition and diversity of nematode parasites in livestock is to perform deep sequencing on composite samples containing a mixture of different species. Herein we describe for the first time the nematode community structures (nemabiomes) inhabiting Swedish sheep and how these are/were affected by host age and recent anthelmintic treatments. Methods A total of 158 fecal samples were collected (n = 35 in 2007 and n = 123 in 2013–2016) and cultured from groups of sheep on 61 commercial farms in the south-central part of the country where most animals are grazed. Among the samples, 2 × 44 (56%) were paired collections from the same groups pre- and post-treatment with anthelmintics such as macrocyclic lactones, benzimidazoles or levamisole. Samples were analyzed for their nemabiome using the PacBio platform followed by bioinformatic sequence analysis with SCATA. Species richness and diversity were calculated and analyzed in R. Results Nematode ITS2 sequences were found in all larval culture samples except two, even though the fecal egg counts were below the McMaster threshold in 20 samples. Sequencing yielded, on average, 1008 sequences per sample. In total, 16 operational taxonomical units (OTU), all with ≥ 98 % identity to sequences in the NCBI database, were recognized. The OTUs found represented nematode species of which ten are commonly associated with sheep. Multiple species were identified in all pre-anthelmintic treatment larval culture samples. No effects on nematode diversity were found in relation to host age. On the other hand, recent anthelmintic treatment lowered species richness, especially after use of ivermectin and albendazole. Interestingly, despite zero egg counts after use of levamisole, these samples still contained nematode DNA and especially H. contortus. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence that nemabiome analysis combined with diversity index analysis provides an objective methodology in the study of the efficacy of anthelmintic treatment as both high and low abundant species were detected.

An ecosystem engineer, the beaver, increases species richness at the landscape scale

Oecologia ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin P. Wright ◽  
Clive G. Jones ◽  
Alexander S. Flecker
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Landscape Scale

scholarly journals Second floor, please: the fish fauna of floating litter banks in Amazonian streams and rivers

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucelia Nobre Carvalho ◽  
Luana Fidelis ◽  
Rafael Arruda ◽  
Andre Galuch ◽  
Jansen Zuanon
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Carnivorous Species ◽  
Ephemeral Habitat ◽  
Dead Plant

Floating litter banks are an ephemeral habitat consisting of branches, twigs, flowers, seeds, and fruits that are trapped on the stream water surface by a variety of retention mechanisms. These heterogeneous materials form a deep layer of dead plant matter that is colonized by a variety of organisms, including fish that forage on the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in this unique habitat. In this study, we aimed to characterize which fish species occupy the floating litter banks and their trophic characteristics, as well as determine if fish assemblage composition and species richness can be predicted by the size of the floating litter banks. Fish sampling was conducted in five rivers located in the Amazon basin. Of the 31 floating litter banks sampled that contained fish, 455 individuals were recorded and were distributed within 40 species, 15 families and five orders. Siluriformes were the most representative order among the samples and contained the largest number of families and species. The fish fauna sampled was mainly composed of carnivorous species that are typically found in submerged litter banks of Amazonian streams. The fish assemblage composition in the kinon can be predicted by the volume of the floating litter banks using both presence/absence and abundance data, but not its species richness. In conclusion, kinon banks harbor a rich fish assemblage that utilizes this habitat for shelter and feeding, and may function as a refuge for the fishes during the peak of the flooding season.

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