A Gondwanan record of the extinct genus Cretobibio (Diptera: Bibionidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
ELENA DMITRIEVNA LUKASHEVICH ◽  
DALTON DE SOUZA AMORIM ◽  
GUILHERME CUNHA RIBEIRO
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Separate Family ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Extinct Genus

The Bibionidae or march flies are a dipteran family with a worldwide distribution, presently including over 750 species in the extant faunas (Hesperininae sometimes treated as a separate family) (Pape et al., 2009). Emergence of adults is markedly seasonal, and adults are often observed visiting flowers, apparently feeding on nectar, pollen, and honeydew (Fitzgerald, 2009). Larvae are mainly phyto-saprophagous, found on superficial soil layers, decaying organic matter, leaf litter, dung, and rotten wood (Krivosheina & Mamaev, 1967; Pinto & Amorim, 2000; Fitzgerald, 2009). Larvae of Bibionidae usually occur in dense aggregations in suitable habitats and adults emerge synchronously in huge numbers and often form dense mating aggregations (Skartveit, 2017).

scholarly journals Carbon and biomass stocks in a fragment of cerradão in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

CERNE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinícius Augusto Morais ◽  
José Roberto Soares Scolforo ◽  
Carlos Alberto Silva ◽  
José Marcio de Mello ◽  
Lucas Rezende Gomide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Forest Inventory ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Study Laboratory

This study aimed at quantifying carbon (C) and biomass stocks in shoot portion, leaf litter, roots and soil within a fragment of dense savanna 'cerradão', 158.5 ha in area, located in Minas Gerais state. Measures were quantified using dendrometric parameters obtained during the forest inventory and collection of leaf litter, root and soil samples. Furrows were dug in the soil each 100 cm long, 50 cm wide and 100 cm deep in order to collect root samples at depths of 0-30 cm, 30-50 cm and 50-100 cm, and soil samples from the layers 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm and 60-100 cm, as well as any leaf litter from the surrounding surface. Analyses were performed in the Organic Matter Study Laboratory (DCS/UFLA) to determine C contents in the above matrices, using an Elementar analyzer model Vario TOC Cube. Higher C contents and stocks and lower density were noted in topmost soil layers. In cerradão, shoot portion was found to be the matrix contributing the most to biomass production, followed by roots and leaf litter. Carbon stock in the fragment was 139.7 Mg ha-1. Soil was the matrix contributing the most to stocked C (64.8%), followed by the shoot portion (26.3%), roots (5.2%) and leaf litter (3.7%).

scholarly journals Reactivation of nutrient cycling in an urban tropical dry forest after abandonment of agricultural activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-365
Author(s):  
Juan D. León-Peláez ◽  
◽  
William Caicedo-Ruiz ◽  
Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Mean Residence Time ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Leaf Litterfall ◽  
Passive Restoration ◽  
Standing Litter

Introduction: Standing leaf litter represent an essential source of organic matter and nutrients to dynamize biogeochemical processes at the ecosystem level. Objectives: To characterize the accumulation and decomposition of organic materials and flow of nutrients from standing litter in an urban dry tropical forest in a successional stage, after 10 years of abandonment of agricultural activities, and to determine the potential use of three species in future active restoration activities. Materials and methods: Standing litter samples were collected from a forest fragment in Santa Marta, Colombia, separating leaves, reproductive material, woody material and other residues. Additionally, leaves of three species of interest for ecological restoration (Albizia niopoides Spruce ex Benth., Cordia alba [Jacq.] Roem. & Schult. and Machaerium milleflorum Dugand G. A.) were separated and Ca, Mg, K, N and P concentrations were determined. Results and discussion: Total standing litter was 8.3 Mg∙ha-1 with a mean residence time of two years. The leaves represented 20% of the standing litter, with a mean residence time of 1.4 years. Based on the decomposition constant (kj = 0.73) and the rate of leaf litterfall, organic matter returns accounted for 3.4 Mg∙ha-1∙year-1. Leaf decomposition rate decreased in the following order C. alba > M. milleflorum > A. niopoides. P represented the greatest limitation with low release rates (0.1 to 1.2 kg∙ha-1∙year-1). Conclusions: The passive restoration strategy allowed reactivation of biogeochemical cycle via fine leaf litter. Cordia alba showed potential for inclusion in restoration activities, with lower values for leaf N/P ratio, and higher rates for leaf litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient release.

scholarly journals Comparison of wheat and safflower cultivation areas in terms of total carbon and some soil properties under semi-arid climate conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1007-1024
Author(s):  
B. Turgut
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. The aim of this study was to compare the soils of the wheat cultivation area (WCA) and the safflower cultivation area (SCA) within semi-arid climate zones in terms of their total carbon, nitrogen, sulphur contents, particle size distribution, aggregate stability, organic matter content, and pH values. This study presents the results from the analyses of 140 soil samples taken at two soil layers (0–10 and 10–20 cm) in the cultivation areas. At the end of the study, it has been established that there were significant differences between the cultivation areas in terms of soil physical properties such as total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total sulphur (TS) contents and pH, while only the TN content resulted in significantly different between the two soil layers. Moreover significant differences were identified in the cultivation areas in terms of soil physical properties including clay and sand contents, aggregate stability and organic matter content, whereas the only significant difference found among the soil layers was that of their silt content. Since safflower contains higher amounts of biomass than wheat, we found higher amounts of organic matter content and, therefore, higher amounts of TN and TS content in the soils of the SCA. In addition, due to the fact that wheat contains more cellulose – which takes longer to decompose – the TC content of the soil in the WCA were found to be higher than that of the SCA. The results also revealed that the WCA had a higher carbon storage capacity.

scholarly journals Contributions of organic matter and nutrients via leaf litter in an urban tropical dry forest fragment

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza ◽  
Juan Diego León-Peláez ◽  
Rosalba Armenta-Martínez ◽  
Willinton Barranco-Pérez ◽  
William Caicedo-Ruíz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
One Year ◽  
Degraded Ecosystems

The litterfall and decomposition represent the main transfer of organic matter and nutrients from the vegetation to the soil surface and determine positive trajectories in the process of rehabilitating and restoring degraded ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contributions of organic materials and nutrients through the characterization of fine litter in an urban dry forest fragment. Litter production was monitored for one year by collecting 29 traps (0.5 m2). To evaluate leaf nutrient resorption, green leaves were collected from 5-10 individuals that represented the dominant tree species. Litter-bags (20 x 20 cm, 2 mm pore) were used for six months to evaluate the decomposition of leaf litter. Annual fine litter production was found to be 8 574 kg ha-1, with the Cordia alba species contributing the most leaf litter (1 134 kg ha-1) and nutrients (N: 6.16; P: 0.21; Ca: 4.72; Mg: 0.47; K: 1.27 kg ha-1). Decomposition rates (k constant) followed the decreasing order: C. alba (k: 4.6) > Machaerium milleflorum (k: 3.5). M. milleflorum and Albizia niopoides presented a pattern of rapid N and P release in the first 30 days, with more than 80 % and 60 % released from M. milleflorum and C. alba, respectively, by the end of the experiment. The litterfall monitoring carried out in this urban dry forest fragment revealed some important aspects of the functioning of an ecosystem as seriously threatened as the tropical dry forest. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 571-585. Epub 2018 June 01. 

A simple, low-cost device for collecting mushroom-dwelling Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5071 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-298
Author(s):  
ELISA VON GROLL ◽  
SERGIO ALOQUIO ◽  
CRISTIANO LOPES-ANDRADE
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Active Search ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Collecting Techniques

The shining fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) comprise more than 1800 described species, which are usually small (≅0.84–14.30 mm long) (Tang et al. 2014 ; Löbl & Ogawa 2016) and found on bracket and resupinate fungi, mushrooms and slime molds (Newton 1984; Löbl & Leschen 2003; Löbl 2018). They are known to be diverse in forests of tropical and subtropical regions, which contrast to the low number of species currently known from Brazil: only 34 species and two subspecies from seven genera (Löbl 2018; von Groll & Lopes-Andrade, 2021). Any active search for Scaphidiinae in the Brazilian Atlantic forest reveals a considerable abundance and diverse of these organisms (pers. obs.), but they disperse rapidly if disturbed, and the success of field collections relies on the collectors’ skills, luck and collecting techniques and devices. The most common methods and devices for collecting shinning fungus beetles are sifting leaf litter, rotten wood and fungi, flight intercept (FIT) and V-flight intercept (V-FIT) traps, aspirators, sweeping, and hand collecting (Löbl & Leschen 2003; Tang et al. 2014; Löbl et al. 2021). Hand collecting is considered the best method, because the host fungi and larvae can be collected together to make associations (Löbl & Leschen 2003).  

Soil contents and stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Finnish farmland and feedbacks on management patterns

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sichu Wang ◽  
Oona Uhlgren ◽  
Anna-Reetta Salonen ◽  
Jussi Heinonsalo
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Combustion Method ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Soil Columns ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
C:N:P Stoichiometry ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Soil C

<p>The coupled cycles and interactions of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are fundamental for soil quality and soil organic matter (SOM) formation. Low C:N ratios through nitrogenous fertilizer addition may accelerate SOM cycling and promote C mineralization in soil, whereas P limitations may decline C storage by reducing plant and microbial biomass production. Deeper soil layers’ C-N-P stoichiometry has an important role in regulating SOM formation in subsoils. However, there is little information on soil C:N:P stoichiometry in deep soil layers of farmland. In this study, soil columns up to one meter were collected from 32 farms distributing across Finland with different soil texture and agricultural management history. The one-meter soil columns were cut into 10 cm deep slices and analyzed for the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) by dry combustion method and total phosphorus (TP) contents by aqua regia digestion and ICP-OES method. Overall, the TOC, TN and TP contents all dropped sharply in 30-40 cm soil layers, but TP contents rose again in deep soil. The role of agricultural management practice (including crop rotation, crop cover, crop diversity and fertilization) on soil C:N:P stoichiometry as well as organic matter accumulation in the deep soil layers were explored. The preliminary results will be presented in the poster. The data deepens our understanding of soil C, N and P coupling and interaction related to soil C sequestration.</p>

Stabilisation of soil organic matter in invertebrate faecal pellets through leaf litter grazing

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1202-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Rawlins ◽  
Ian D. Bull ◽  
Philip Ineson ◽  
Richard P. Evershed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Faecal Pellets

scholarly journals Detrital Subsidies in the Diet of Mytilus edulis; Macroalgal Detritus Likely Supplements Essential Fatty Acids

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrianus Both ◽  
Carrie J. Byron ◽  
Barry Costa-Pierce ◽  
Christopher C. Parrish ◽  
Damian C. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Mytilus Edulis ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Spartina Alterniflora ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Saccharina Latissima ◽  
Detrital Material ◽  
Abundant Phytoplankton ◽  
Pennate Diatoms

Detritus is a frequent, poorly defined, component of bivalve growth and carrying capacity models. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportional contributions of detrital material derived from primary producers (phytoplankton, macroalgae, Spartina alterniflora, and terrestrial leaf litter) to particulate organic matter (POM) and blue mussel’s (Mytilus edulis) diet within a temperate bay (Saco Bay, ME, United States). We assessed which detrital sources, if any, warranted incorporation into modeling efforts. Stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and fatty acid biomarkers (FA) of mussels, size fractionated (<100 μm) POM, and primary producer endmembers (phytoplankton, Saccharina latissima, Ascophyllum nodosum, Chondrus crispus, Spartina alterniflora and leaf litter) collected between 2016 and 2017 were used to estimate endmember contributions to POM and mussel diets. Based on FAs dinoflagellates were the most abundant phytoplankton in Saco Bay, even during the fall diatom bloom. Diatoms within the bay were primarily centric, but pennate diatoms were at times present in the water column (e.g., in September). Following abundances of dinoflagellates, and centric and pennate diatoms, 22:6ω3 (DHA) was the most abundant essential FA (8.6 ± 0.1% total FAs), followed by 20:5ω3 (EPA: 7.0 ± 0.1%) and 20:4ω6 (ARA: 0.3 ± 0.1%). On average, phytoplankton derived organic matter contributed 22.1 ± 0.3% of the total POM in the bay. The concentration of non-fresh phytoplankton organic matter, or remaining organic matter (REMORG), was positively correlated with all endmember biomarkers. However, the proportion (%) of vascular plant, macroalgal, and detrital FAs was negatively correlated with the concentration of REMORG. This finding suggests in periods of low productivity, vascular plant and macroalgal detritus are proportionally more important contributors to POM. Mussels were broad spectrum omnivores, consuming phytoplankton, zooplankton, and detrital material. Detrital contributions to mussel diets were important (minimum of 16% of diet). Although small, macroalgae’s dietary contribution (8%) to M. edulis may be important. Macroalgal detritus contained essential FAs (20:5ω3 and 20:4ω6) that could supplement mussel diets, as M. edulis in Saco Bay were likely limited by 20:5ω3. Consideration of how macroalgal detritus affects the availability of essential FAs in POM may be useful to incorporate into aquaculture site selection.

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