scholarly journals A systematic survey of regional multi-taxon biodiversity: evaluating strategies and coverage

BMC Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg ◽  
Hans Henrik Bruun ◽  
Lars Brøndum ◽  
Aimée T. Classen ◽  
Lars Dalby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Taxonomic Group ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Soil Dna ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Abstract Background In light of the biodiversity crisis and our limited ability to explain variation in biodiversity, tools to quantify spatial and temporal variation in biodiversity and its underlying drivers are critically needed. Inspired by the recently published ecospace framework, we developed and tested a sampling design for environmental and biotic mapping. We selected 130 study sites (40 × 40 m) across Denmark using stratified random sampling along the major environmental gradients underlying biotic variation. Using standardized methods, we collected site species data on vascular plants, bryophytes, macrofungi, lichens, gastropods and arthropods. To evaluate sampling efficiency, we calculated regional coverage (relative to the known species number per taxonomic group), and site scale coverage (i.e., sample completeness per taxonomic group at each site). To extend taxonomic coverage to organisms that are difficult to sample by classical inventories (e.g., nematodes and non-fruiting fungi), we collected soil for metabarcoding. Finally, to assess site conditions, we mapped abiotic conditions, biotic resources and habitat continuity. Results Despite the 130 study sites only covering a minute fraction (0.0005%) of the total Danish terrestrial area, we found 1774 species of macrofungi (54% of the Danish fungal species pool), 663 vascular plant species (42%), 254 bryophyte species (41%) and 200 lichen species (19%). For arthropods, we observed 330 spider species (58%), 123 carabid beetle species (37%) and 99 hoverfly species (33%). Overall, sample coverage was remarkably high across taxonomic groups and sufficient to capture substantial spatial variation in biodiversity across Denmark. This inventory is nationally unprecedented in detail and resulted in the discovery of 143 species with no previous record for Denmark. Comparison between plant OTUs detected in soil DNA and observed plant species confirmed the usefulness of carefully curated environmental DNA-data. Correlations among species richness for taxonomic groups were predominantly positive, but did not correlate well among all taxa suggesting differential and complex biotic responses to environmental variation. Conclusions We successfully and adequately sampled a wide range of diverse taxa along key environmental gradients across Denmark using an approach that includes multi-taxon biodiversity assessment and ecospace mapping. Our approach is applicable to assessments of biodiversity in other regions and biomes where species are structured along environmental gradient.

scholarly journals A systematic survey of regional multitaxon biodiversity: evaluating strategies and coverage

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg ◽  
Hans Henrik Bruun ◽  
Lars Brøndum ◽  
Aimée T. Classen ◽  
Lars Dalby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Taxonomic Group ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Soil Dna ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

AbstractBackgroundIn light of the biodiversity crisis and our limited ability to explain variation in biodiversity, tools to quantify spatial and temporal variation in biodiversity and its underlying drivers are critically needed. Inspired by the recently published ecospace framework, we developed and tested a sampling design for environmental and biotic mapping. We selected 130 study sites (40 × 40 m) across Denmark using stratified random sampling along the major environmental gradients underlying biotic variation. Using standardized methods, we collected site species data on vascular plants, bryophytes, macrofungi, lichens, gastropods and arthropods. To evaluate sampling efficiency, we calculated regional coverage (relative to the known species number per taxonomic group), and site scale coverage (i.e., sample completeness per taxonomic group at each site). To extend taxonomic coverage to organisms that are difficult to sample by classical inventories (e.g., nematodes and non-fruiting fungi), we collected soil for metabarcoding. Finally, to assess site conditions, we mapped abiotic conditions, biotic resources and habitat continuity.ResultsDespite the 130 study sites only covering a minute fraction (0.0005 %) of the total Danish terrestrial area, we found 1774 species of macrofungi (54 % of the Danish fungal species pool), 663 vascular plant species (42 %), 254 bryophyte species (41 %) and 200 lichen species (19 %). For arthropods, we observed 330 spider species (58 %), 123 carabid beetle species (37 %) and 99 hoverfly species (33 %). Correlations among species richness for taxonomic groups were predominantly positive. Overall, sample coverage was remarkably high across taxonomic groups and sufficient to capture substantial spatial variation in biodiversity across Denmark. This inventory is nationally unprecedented in detail and resulted in the discovery of 143 species with no previous record for Denmark. Comparison between plant OTUs detected in soil DNA and observed plant species confirmed the usefulness of carefully curated environmental DNA-data. Species richness did not correlate well among taxa suggesting differential and complex biotic responses to environmental variation.ConclusionsWe successfully and adequately sampled a wide range of diverse taxa along key environmental gradients across Denmark using an approach that includes multi-taxon biodiversity assessment and ecospace mapping. Our approach is applicable to assessments of biodiversity in other regions and biomes where species are structured along environmental gradient.

The vascular plant diversity of Dzungarian Gobi in western Mongolia, with an annotated checklist

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-55
Author(s):  
SHUKHERDORJ BAASANMUNKH ◽  
BATLAI OYUNTSETSEG ◽  
CHULUUNKHUYAG OYUNDARI ◽  
KHURELPUREV OYUNDELGER ◽  
MAGSAR URGAMAL ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Endemic Plants ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
Western Mongolia ◽  
Comprehensive Survey

The Dzungarian Gobi (DzG), one of 16 phytogeographical regions in the country, is located in the southwestern part of Khovd province in western Mongolia. It comprises some of Mongolia’s largest reserves, namely the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area and the National Park Bulgan gol-Ikh Ongog. We conducted a comprehensive survey of the area’s floristic diversity between 2009 and 2019 by collecting vascular plants from different vegetation types in various seasons. In addition, we critically checked relevant published literature and material from the herbaria ALTB, GLM, GWF, HAL, KHU, LE, MW, NS, OSBU, UBA, and UBU to determine the occurrence of vascular plant species in the DzG region. Based on our collection data, a comprehensive checklist of DzG’s flora was compiled, representing 913 vascular plant taxa (including 34 subspecies and one variety) belonging to 329 genera and 70 families. Twenty-one taxa were newly found in the DzG region. We also investigated the conservation status of all species noted, and 19 endemic plants and 96 threatened species, including six critically endangered, 26 endangered, 57 vulnerable, and seven near threatened plants were recognized in this region. Eight rare species were newly assessed according to regional conservation status based on GeoCat and IUCN. The richest plant families found were Asteraceae (153 species), Fabaceae (77 species), Amaranthaceae (69 species), and Poaceae (68 species). Several uncertain endemic and non-endemic plants remain still discussion, such as Papaver baitagense and Rosa baitagensis; thus, further studies are needed on their taxonomic and conservation status. For each taxon, we provide its distribution in the region, elevation range, voucher number, and additional references. Finally, we analyzed species hotspots of DzG, based on three different plant species richness criteria: i. all recorded species, ii. endemic species, and iii. threatened species using our georeferenced records. The most diverse hotspot area in DzG is the Baitag Bogd Mountain area, which comprises the highest species number of all three richness criteria.

Plant diversity of Ghorkhod Protected Area, NE Iran

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARSHID MEMARIANI ◽  
MOHAMMAD REZA JOHARCHI ◽  
HOSSEIN AKHANI
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Transitional Zone ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Ne Iran

Ghorkhod Protected Area (GPA) is located in a transitional zone among different biogeographical units in North Khorassan Province, NE Iran. The study area is mainly a mountainous region in western extensions of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province. We investigated the floristic composition, life form spectrum and phytogeography of the study area through several random collection efforts and 200 vegetation samples (reléves) in selected vegetation types during 2007–2012. A total of 663 vascular plant species belonging to 367 genera and 81 families are recorded as native and naturalized in GPA. Angiosperms and Dicots are among the most diverse plant groups. The richest plant families are Asteraceae (88 species), Poaceae (78), Lamiaceae (45), Brassicaceae (43), Fabaceae (38), and Caryophyllaceae (32). The genera Allium L. (17 species), Astragalus L. (15) and Cousinia Cass. (12) are the richest ones, however, the majority of the species belongs to oligotypic and monotypic genera. Life form spectrum of the study area is dominated by hemicryptophytes (38.9%) and therophytes (23.4%). Allium transvestiens Vved., Agropyron desertorum Schult., Helictotrichon turcomanicum Czopanov and Piptatherum latifolium (Roshev.) Nevski are recorded as new to Iran. The core flora of the area has the Irano-Turanian origin. However, the wide-range and widespread elements are also well represented in the study area. GPA is inhabited by several endemic, rare and narrow-range plant species, indicating the biodiversity importance of the study area in NE Iran.

scholarly journals The Effect of Herb Layer on Nocturnal Macrolepidoptera (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera) Communities

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Bálint Horváth ◽  
Viktória Tóth ◽  
Gyula Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Quercus Petraea ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Forest Diversity ◽  
Sessile Oak ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Vegetation beneath the canopy might be an important factor for macromoth community composition in forest ecosystems, strongly determined by forest management practices. Herein, we compared nocturnal macrolepidoptera communities and herb layers in young and old sessile oak (Quercus petraea) dominated forest stands in the Sopron Mountains (Western Hungary). The investigation of Lepidoptera species was performed 15 times from the end of March to the end of October in 2011. Portable light traps were used, and a total of 257 species and 5503 individuals were identified. The Geometridae family was the most abundant, followed by Noctuidae and Notodontidae. To investigate vascular plant species in the herb layer, circular plots with a 10-m radius around the moth traps were used. In each plot, we estimated the abundance of plant species in 20 sub-plots with a 1-m radius from May to July of 2011. The abundance of macromoth species was higher in the old forest stand, which might be influenced by the trees’ higher foliar biomass. However, the mean abundance of herbs was lower in the old forest. Diversity of both the herb layer and the moth community were significantly higher in the young forest. However we found higher species richness of moths in the old forest. For additional analyses, moths feeding on plants in the herb layer were selected, but neither the difference in species number, neither mean abundance between the young and old forest were significant. Our results suggest that the herb layer is not a key factor for macrolepidoptera communities in Hungarian sessile oak forest stands.

DNA metabarcode choice and design

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Taberlet ◽  
Aurélie Bonin ◽  
Lucie Zinger ◽  
Eric Coissac
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Taxonomic Group ◽  
Taxonomic Resolution ◽  
Software Suite ◽  
Resolution Power ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Primer Annealing ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
The Ideal

Chapter “DNA metabarcode choice and design” develops the properties of the ideal metabarcode in a given context, including conservation of the primer annealing regions and resolution power across the target taxonomic group of interest. It also highlights the experimental constraints influencing the choice of a metabarcode in practice. A detailed tutorial illustrates how to design and test metabarcoding primers in silico with the programs ecoPrimers, ecoPCR, and the software suite OBITools. Command lines and example files are provided to design and test universal metabarcoding primers for Bacteria. Chapter 2 also gives statistics about the taxonomic resolution and primer conservation of more than 60 metabarcodes available for DNA metabarcoding analysis of a wide range of taxonomic groups.

scholarly journals Composition and changes in the spontaneous flora of the Wadi El Rayan Ramsar site, Fayoum, Egypt, in the last 20 years

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Abdelwahab A. Afefe
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Desert Ecosystems ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Continuous Survey ◽  
The Family ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Halophytic Plants

AbstractWadi El Rayan is located in Egypt in the Sahara ecoregion the Palearctic ecozone (the world’s largest hot desert). The total area of Wadi El Rayan is 1759km2. The aim of this work was to study the ecosystems, compare species composition, species richness and species diversity of the study sites in the Wadi El Rayan protected area and the distributions of plants in the different landform. The field observations found that there is a low diversity and number of plant species around the lakes, in particular a decline in vegetation cover in accordance with a dramatic decrease in the water level in the lakes compared to earlier studies. The reduction of water levels due to decreased water supply is considered the main threat facing ecosystems and biodiversity in the lake area which requires a continuous survey of flora and measures to be implemented to conserve the natural vegetation in the area. Based on investigations of the spontaneous flora of Wadi El Rayan in 2018, 18 taxa of vascular plants were recorded. This inventory was compared with published records of investigations made in 1998, 2002 and 2014. A total of 18 vascular plant species belonging to 14 families were recorded in the wetland and desert ecosystems around the lakes of Wadi El Rayan. The vegetation mainly consists of sparsely distributed xerophytic and halophytic plants except in the wetland ecosystem around the lakes where it is characterized by some hydrophytic and halophytic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Poaceae followed by Zygophyllaceae. The results showed that a higher number of species was recorded from the Lower Lake (13 species) than the Upper Lake (10 species) and (5 species) for the connecting channel. The most frequently recorded species were Phragmites australis, Tamarix nilotica, Juncus rigidus and Alhagi graecorum: the first two species were the most successful species as they grow in a variety of ecosystems and habitats.

scholarly journals Towards Conservation of the Remarkably High Number of Daisy Trees (Asteraceae) in Mexico

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 534
Author(s):  
Rosario Redonda-Martínez ◽  
Patricio Pliscoff ◽  
Andrés Moreira-Muñoz ◽  
Esteban Manuel Martínez Salas ◽  
Marie-Stéphanie Samain
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Climatic Suitability ◽  
Plant Family ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Modelling Approach

Mexico is floristically the fourth most species-rich country in the world, and Asteraceae is the most diverse vascular plant family in this country. The species exhibits a wide range of growth forms, but the tree-like habit, appropriately named daisy trees, is heavily underestimated, even though slightly different tree definitions are handled. Very little is known about their precise species number or conservation status in Mexico, so we update here the list of known Mexican daisy tree species, summarize their very diverse uses, present a general panorama of their present and future distribution, and discuss their conservation status. A bibliographic review and herbarium study were carried out, carefully curated taxonomical ocurrence maps were prepared for each species, and a climatic suitability modelling approach was used to characterise the spatial patterns of Mexican Asteraceae trees. With 149 daisy tree species, the country ranks second at a global level; within the country, their greatest diversity is found in central and western Mexico. A decrease in diversity is estimated in areas that currently host the highest species richness, whereas the hotspot regions are estimated to show an increase in species diversity, so climate change is not a threat to all Mexican daisy tree species.

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