Diversity, species richness distribution and centers of endemism of Lycianthes (Capsiceae, Solanaceae) in Mexico

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 514 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-60
Author(s):  
MARCO ANTONIO ANGUIANO-CONSTANTE ◽  
ELLEN DEAN ◽  
THOMAS STARBUCK ◽  
AARÓN RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
GUADALUPE MUNGUÍA-LINO
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Centers Of Endemism

Spatial patterns of plant diversity matter. Identifying areas of high species richness and endemism are crucial for understanding the evolution of plant diversity and community assemblages as well establishing sustainablility and conservation priorities. Lycianthes is the third most species-rich genus in the Solanaceae with 187 taxa (152 species, 10 subspecies and 25 varieties) native to the Americas and Asia-Pacific region. However, the distributions of the taxa are uneven and usually concentrated along mountain ranges in the Neotropic. In Mexico, the main mountain chains are known as the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ), so we expected the highest species richness and endemism to be found there. Our aims were twofold; first, to determine the Lycianthes species richness in Mexico; and second, to analyze the spatial patterns. We used 2305 georeferenced records obtained from specimens examined in herbaria, electronic specimen databases and specimens cited in the literature. Then, we analyzed species richness and endemism using a grid-cell of 50 × 50 km, political divisions, biogeographic provinces, vegetation types, and elevation. In addition, endemism was quantified using weighted endemism (WE) and corrected weighted endemism (CWE). In Mexico, there were 48 taxa of Lycianthes, which included 44 species and four varieties. Of these, 20 species and two varieties were endemic. We found 14 cells of high species richness and eight centers of endemism, all located across the MTZ. The pine-oak forest resulted in the richest plant community followed by the cloud forest along an elevational gradient of 1000–2000 m. Likewise, endemism was found within the pine-oak forest of the MTZ, between 1000–2000 m of elevation. The geological history and climatic conditions of the MTZ could explain the diversity of Lycianthes there.

scholarly journals Biodiversity hanging by a thread: the importance of fungal litter-trapping systems in tropical rainforests

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake L. Snaddon ◽  
Edgar C. Turner ◽  
Tom M. Fayle ◽  
Chey V. Khen ◽  
Paul Eggleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Dramatic Reduction ◽  
Experimental Removal ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Vital Resource

The exceptionally high species richness of arthropods in tropical rainforests hinges on the complexity of the forest itself: that is, on features such as the high plant diversity, the layered nature of the canopy and the abundance and the diversity of epiphytes and litter. We here report on one important, but almost completely neglected, piece of this complex jigsaw—the intricate network of rhizomorph-forming fungi that ramify through the vegetation of the lower canopy and intercept falling leaf litter. We show that this litter-trapping network is abundant and intercepts substantial amounts of litter (257.3 kg ha −1 ): this exceeds the amount of material recorded in any other rainforest litter-trapping system. Experimental removal of this fungal network resulted in a dramatic reduction in both the abundance (decreased by 70.2 ± 4.1%) and morphospecies richness (decreased by 57.4 ± 5.1%) of arthropods. Since the lower canopy levels can contain the highest densities of arthropods, the proportion of the rainforest fauna dependent on the fungal networks is likely to be substantial. Fungal litter-trapping systems are therefore a crucial component of habitat complexity, providing a vital resource that contributes significantly to rainforest biodiversity.

The structural characteristics and climatic and human impacts of deciduous oak forests in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoping Chen ◽  
Qiong Cai ◽  
Wenjing Fang ◽  
Yuhao Feng ◽  
Jiangling Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Aims Deciduous oak forest is one of the typical vegetation types in temperate and subtropical mountain zones in China. However, the patterns and determinants of the structural characteristics of these forests remain poorly understood. Methods We investigated 682 oak forest plots across China to characterize the community structures of the oak forests and analyze the underlying factors controlling their spatial patterns. Important Findings Across all plots, the overall mean values were 13.7 cm, 10.0 m, 1468 stems/ha, and 24.3 m 2/ha for the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, stem density and total basal areas (TBA) of trees, respectively. The average species richness was 6 species/600 m 2, 10 species/100 m 2, and 4 species/1 m 2 for the tree, shrub and herb layers, respectively. As latitude increased, the mean tree height, stem density, TBA, tree species richness and shrub species richness decreased, and the mean DBH did not show a significant trend, while species richness of herbs increased significantly. Climatic and anthropogenic variables could explain more variations in mean DBH, mean tree height, TBA, tree species richness, shrub species richness than those in stem density and herb species richness. Further analysis showed that precipitation-related climatic factors were major factors shaping the spatial patterns of community structures. Our findings provide a basis for recognizing the biogeographic patterns of oak forest structures and their responses to global change in China.

Threat patterns and conservation status of endemic vascular flora in Argentina: a quantitative perspective

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 520 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-39
Author(s):  
DIEGO L. SALARIATO ◽  
CHRISTIAN ZANOTTI ◽  
FERNANDO O. ZULOAGA
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Species Extinction ◽  
Species List ◽  
Vascular Flora ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces ◽  
Threat Levels

Global warming, coupled with habitat destruction and human activity, are accelerating the rates of species extinction worldwide. Species-extinction risk assessment, using the IUCN Red List categories, together with the study of the spatial patterns of biodiversity, are fundamental approaches to identify conservation priorities and targeting government decisions to mitigate impacts on biodiversity. Here, we analyzed threat levels of endemic species for the entire Argentinean vascular flora. Accordingly, we classified species following the IUCN threat categories and analyze threat levels on the different families, plant life-forms, and biogeographic regions of the country. We also analyzed spatial patterns of threat by means of macroecological modeling techniques, and explored the effectiveness of current protected areas in relation to the threatened endemics they actually included. The results showed that of the 1683 Argentinean endemic taxa, 800 species were here categorized under threat (VU, EN, or CR) (~47%). Families with the highest number of threatened species were also those with the highest number of endemics; herbs and climbing plants presented significantly higher threat levels, and among biogeographic provinces, the most affected in terms of threat proportion were the Altoandina, Yungas, and Paranaense. In addition, different hotspots of threatened endemism were detected, mainly associated with mountainous areas with high altitudinal heterogeneity; of these, only nearly half are included, at least partially, within a protected area. An up-to-date species list of Argentinean endemics, including their proposed conservation status, is also provided. This work seeks to contribute to the knowledge on geographical patterns of the Argentinean flora and its conservation, complementing the information published in the Flora of Argentina.

scholarly journals Coleoptera of Genting Highland, Malaysia: species richness and diversity changes along the elevations

2019 ◽  
pp. 123-144
Author(s):  
M. M. Musthafa ◽  
F. Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

The objective of this study was to measure beetle richness and diversity in Genting Highland at four major elevations (500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and 1,800 m). Beetles were collected using light traps, malaise traps and pitfall traps. Altogether, 1,499 beetle samples representing 156 morphospecies were collected. Light trap and pitfall traps were more effective than Malaise trap. The 500 m elevation band displayed high species richness, abundance and diversity with all indices showing a decreasing pattern. The species accumulation curve displayed a progressive asymptote for all the altitudinal transects, showing the sampling effort was sufficient for this study. A long-term monitoring program of beetle diversity and distribution is useful to test abiotic factors that might influence biodiversity. This study also serves as a benchmark for further studies on this highly disturbed montane cloud forest in Peninsular Malaysia and will be useful to implement effective conservation management, particularly under the threat of climate change.

Plant diversity and species richness of Ljubljana marsh grasslands under the influence of different cutting and fertilizing regimes

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Sinkovč
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Significant Negative Effect ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Cutting Regimes ◽  
N Rates ◽  
Exploitation Intensity ◽  
Plot Design

The botanical composition of grasslands determines the agronomic and natural values of swards. Good grassland management usually improves herbage value, but on the other hand it frequently decreases the plant diversity and species richness in the swards. In 1999 a field trial in a split-plot design with four replicates was therefore established on the Arrhenatherion type of vegetation in Ljubljana marsh meadows in order to investigate this relationship. Cutting regimes (2 cuts — with normal and delayed first cut, 3 cuts and 4 cuts per year) were allocated to the main plots and fertiliser treatments (zero fertiliser — control, PK and NPK with 2 or 3 N rates) were allocated to the sub-plots. The results at the 1 st cutting in the 5 th trial year were as follows: Fertilising either with PK or NPK had no significant negative effect on plant diversity in any of the cutting regimes. In most treatments the plant number even increased slightly compared to the control. On average, 20 species were listed on both unfertilised and fertilised swards. At this low to moderate level of exploitation intensity, the increased number of cuts had no significant negative effect on plant diversity either (19 species at 2 cuts vs. 20 species at 3 or 4 cuts). PK fertilisation increased the proportion of legumes in the herbage in the case of 2 or 3 cuts. The proportion of grasses in the herbage increased in all the fertilisation treatments with an increased numbers of cuts. Fertiliser treatment considerably reduced the proportion of marsh horsetail ( Equisetum palustre ) in the herbage of the meadows. This effect was even more pronounced at higher cut numbers. The proportion of Equisetum palustre in the herbage was the highest in the unfertilised sward with 2 cuts (26.4 %) and the lowest in the NPK-fertilised sward with 4 cuts (1.4%).

Seasonality in a taxocoenosis of molluscs from soft bottoms in the Bay of Cádiz (southern Spain)

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. Rueda ◽  
Manuel Fernández-Casado ◽  
Carmen Salas ◽  
Serge Gofas
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Soft Bottom ◽  
Soft Bottoms ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Bay Of Cadiz ◽  
Bay Of Cádiz ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The macrofauna of molluscs associated with soft bottoms in the Bay of Cádiz (southern Spain) was studied monthly from February 1994 to January 1996. The number of species (63) is high for a soft bottom and is related to environmental characteristics (growth of macrophytes) and the biogeographical setting of the studied area. Corbula gibba (∼90%) was the dominant species in this taxocoenosis together with the gastropod Nassarius pygmaeus and the bivalves Pandora inaequivalvis, Parvicardium exiguum and Macoma melo. The most frequent species during the two years was also the bivalve Corbula gibba (100%) followed by the gastropods Nassarius pygmaeus, Tricolia tenuis, Rissoa membranacea and the bivalve Macoma melo. Total abundance of the taxocoenosis in both years reached higher values in spring. The dynamics of the ecological indices such as diversity or evenness, and the species richness showed a similar pattern in both years, with low values of diversity and evenness together with high species richness in spring and summer months and the reverse in autumn and winter. The qualitative correspondence analysis of monthly samples shows an ordination related to seasonality in both studied years, however the values of Jaccard's coefficient do not indicate significant boundaries among the monthly samples. The quantitative correspondence analysis shows an ordination and grouping of samples related to the biology of species, particularly with the recruitment of C. gibba, the dominant species. The existence of similar trends in the structure of the taxocoenoses over both years, and the seasonality highlighted by the qualitative correspondence analysis, seems to indicate a certain stability of the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Species delimitation at a global scale reveals high species richness with complex biogeography and patterns of symbiont association in Peltigera section Peltigera (lichenized Ascomycota: Lecanoromycetes)

Taxon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 836-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Magain ◽  
Camille Tniong ◽  
Trevor Goward ◽  
Dongling Niu ◽  
Bernard Goffinet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
High Species Richness

scholarly journals Is polychaete diversity in the deep sublittoral of an Antarctic fiord related to habitat complexity?

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Pabis ◽  
Jacek Siciński
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Soft Bottom ◽  
Admiralty Bay ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
South Shetlands ◽  
High Species Richness

Is polychaete diversity in the deep sublittoral of an Antarctic fiord related to habitat complexity?Seventy-six species of Polychaeta were found in 19 quantitative samples collected in the deep sublittoral (200-500 m) of Admiralty Bay (South Shetlands). Three assemblages were distinguished by similarity analysis (clustering, nMDS). The soft bottom in depths from 200 to 300m was strongly dominated byMaldane sarsi antarcticaand had very low species richness and diversity. The second assemblage was distinguished in the areas of the sea floor in the same depth range but with aggregations of Ascidiacea and Bryozoa. It was again characterized by high abundance ofMaldane sarsi antarctica, but showed significantly higher species richness and diversity. Diversity of polychaete feeding guilds was also high in these areas. This pattern was probably associated with an increased habitat complexity due to the presence of dense aggregations of large suspension feeders. High species richness and diversity was also noted in the third assemblage, associated with the deepest sublittoral (400-500 m) of Admiralty Bay. This is the area characterized by very stable environmental conditions, where the assemblage was dominated byTharyx cincinnatus, Sternaspissp.,Maldane sarsi antarctica, andAsychis amphiglypta.

scholarly journals Arctiinae moths (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) of the Emas National Park, Goiás, Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Moreno ◽  
Viviane G Ferro
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
National Park ◽  
New Records ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Cerrado Biome ◽  
Center Of Diversity ◽  
High Species Richness

Arctiinae are a species-rich subfamily of moth, with approximately 1,400 species in Brazil and 723 recorded in the Cerrado biome. A list of species of these moths was compiled during three years of sampling in four vegetation types within the Emas National Park. A total of 5,644 individuals belonging to 149 species were collected. About 67% of these species are new records for the Emas National Park, 31% for the State of Goiás and 9% for the Cerrado biome. Cerrado sensu stricto and semideciduous forests have higher species richness, followed by campo cerrado and campo sujo. The vegetation type with the highest number of exclusive species was the semideciduous forest, followed by cerrado sensu stricto, campo cerrado and campo sujo. The high species richness and the high proportion of new species records for Goiás and Cerrado reinforce the importance of the Emas National Park region as a center of diversity for this group of moths. The conservation of areas not yet cleared around the Park, including the creation of new protected areas, and the establishment of ecological corridors between these areas and the Park would be strategies to preserve the fauna of these moths.

scholarly journals Do syntopic host species harbour similar symbiotic communities? The case ofChaetopterusspp. (Annelida: Chaetopteridae)

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Temir A. Britayev ◽  
Elena Mekhova ◽  
Yury Deart ◽  
Daniel Martin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Symbiotic Community

To assess whether closely related host species harbour similar symbiotic communities, we studied two polychaetes,Chaetopterussp. (n = 11) andChaetopteruscf.appendiculatus(n = 83) living in soft sediments of Nhatrang Bay (South China Sea, Vietnam). The former harboured the porcellanid crabsPolyonyxcf.heokandPolyonyxsp., the pinnotherid crabTetriassp. and the tergipedid nudibranchPhestillasp. The latter harboured the polynoid polychaeteOphthalmonoe pettiboneae, the carapid fishOnuxodon fowleriand the porcellanid crabEulenaios cometes, all of which, exceptO. fowleri, seemed to be specialized symbionts. The species richness and mean intensity of the symbionts were higher inChaetopterussp. than inC.cf.appendiculatus(1.8 and 1.02 species and 3.0 and 1.05 individuals per host respectively). We suggest that the lower density ofChaetopterussp. may explain the higher number of associated symbionts observed, as well as the 100% prevalence (69.5% inC.cf.appenciculatus). MostChaetopterussp. harboured two symbiotic species, which was extremely rare inC.cf.appendiculatus, suggesting lower interspecific interactions in the former. The crab and nudibranch symbionts ofChaetopterussp. often shared a host and lived in pairs, thus partitioning resources. This led to the species coexisting in the tubes ofChaetopterussp., establishing a tightly packed community, indicating high species richness and mean intensity, together with a low species dominance. In contrast, the aggressive, strictly territorial species associated withC.cf.appendiculatusestablished a symbiotic community strongly dominated by single species and, thus, low species richness and mean intensity. Therefore, we suggest that interspecific interactions are determining species richness, intensity and dominance, while intraspecific interactions are influencing only intensity and abundance. It is possible that species composition may have influenced the differences in community structure observed. We hypothesize that both host species could originally be allopatric. The evolutionary specialization of the symbiotic communities would occur in separated geographical areas, while the posterior disappearance of the existing geographical barriers would lead to the overlapped distribution.

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