scholarly journals Balloniscus glaber (Crustacea, Isopoda, Balloniscidae), a habitat specialist species in a disturbed area of Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Costa Kenne ◽  
Paula Beatriz Araujo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Human Influence ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Human Interference ◽  
Disturbed Forest ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species ◽  
Favorable Conditions

ABSTRACT Balloniscus glaber Araujo & Zardo, 1995 (Balloniscidae), a Neotropical Oniscidea, has been recorded historically in environments with low or no human interference. In one of these areas, it was determined as aK-strategist. Recently, however, this species was documented in a disturbed forest within urban limits. The present work revealed that the population in the urban area has high density, high number of ovigerous females and mancae in the population, a long reproductive period, and early sexual maturity. These results suggest that modified environments may provide favorable conditions and that the species is not negatively affected by human influence.

The age of island-like habitats impacts habitat specialist species richness

Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1106-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Horsák ◽  
Michal Hájek ◽  
Daniel Spitale ◽  
Petra Hájková ◽  
Daniel Dítě ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species

scholarly journals A rapid survey of herpetofaunal diversity in Nijhum Dwip National Park, Bangladesh

2022 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Md. Fazle Rabbe ◽  
Nur Mohammad ◽  
Dipongkor Roy ◽  
M. Firoj Jaman ◽  
M Niamul Naser
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Human Habitation ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species ◽  
Riparian Landscapes ◽  
Forest Habitats

The ecological effects of habitat use by herpetofaunal species vary widely and recognizing relative habitat value will help to improve conservation theory and practice in a particular landscape. To understand how different habitat uses influence diversity in riparian landscapes, we studied reptile and amphibian assemblages across major habitats (agricultural land, forest, human habitation, and waterbodies) in Nijhum Dwip National Park, Bangladesh. A total of 35 herpetofaunal species were found; among them, 17 were directly observed and 18 were reported from a questionnaire survey. Among the observed species, the Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus was the most commonly seen (relative abundance 0.32). We found that forest habitat contained a greater diversity of herpetofauna than other habitats followed by agricultural land, human habitation, and waterbodies. We also found 8 habitat specialist species and 9 generalist species in this study. Our results show that different habitats support different species assemblages in Nijhum Dwip National Park, signifying the importance of diversified habitats for the herpetofaunal population. Understanding this importance is crucial for identifying matrix environments that can complement the forest habitats of sensitive as well as specialist herpetofaunal species.

scholarly journals Seed dispersal by dispersing juvenile animals: a source of functional connectivity in fragmented landscapes

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 20190264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan P. González-Varo ◽  
Sarah Díaz-García ◽  
Juan M. Arroyo ◽  
Pedro Jordano
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Fragmented Landscapes ◽  
Plant Dispersal ◽  
Link Functions ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Mobile Link ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species

Juvenile animals generally disperse from their birthplace to their future breeding territories. In fragmented landscapes, habitat-specialist species must disperse through the anthropogenic matrix where remnant habitats are embedded. Here, we test the hypothesis that dispersing juvenile frugivores leave a footprint in the form of seed deposition through the matrix of fragmented landscapes. We focused on the Sardinian warbler ( Sylvia melanocephala ), a resident frugivorous passerine. We used data from field sampling of bird-dispersed seeds in the forest and matrix of a fragmented landscape, subsequent disperser identification through DNA-barcoding analysis, and data from a national bird-ringing programme. Seed dispersal by Sardinian warblers was confined to the forest most of the year, but warblers contributed a peak of seed-dispersal events in the matrix between July and October, mainly attributable to dispersing juveniles. Our study uniquely connects animal and plant dispersal, demonstrating that juveniles of habitat-specialist frugivores can provide mobile-link functions transiently, but in a seasonally predictable way.

scholarly journals Taxonomy, habitat choice and distribution of Kimunpsocus flavonimbatus (Rostock, 1879) comb. n. (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Psocidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergely Várkonyi ◽  
Charles Lienhard
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Biology ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
The Other ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species ◽  
First Time ◽  
Bark Lice ◽  
A New Species

The bark lice Psocus flavonimbatus Rostock, 1879 and Ptycta chubsugulensis Günther, 1982 are assigned to the genus Kimunpsocus Yoshizawa, 2009. The male terminalia of K. flavonimbatus are described for the first time and compared to the corresponding structures of the other known species of the genus. Previously only known from the type locality in Estonia and the municipality of Kuhmo in Finland, K. flavonimbatus is now reported from 13 new sites and as a new species for four municipalities in eastern Central Finland. Analyses of an extensive material strongly suggest that K. flavonimbatus is a habitat-specialist species, confining its occurrence to pristine and semi-natural spruce-dominated forests. Nonetheless, its occurrence seems to be sporadic even in the old-growth forests. Forest structure of a subset of occupied and unoccupied sites is described and the conservation biology of K. flavonimbatus discussed.

scholarly journals Reproductive indicators of the endemic species Astyanax bifasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) in a tributary of the Lower Iguaçu River Basin, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. e47720
Author(s):  
Elton Celton de Oliveira ◽  
Alexandre Augusto Auache-Filho ◽  
Denis Damasio ◽  
Nédia de Castilhos Ghisi ◽  
Maria Antônia Michels-Souza
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
Maturation Stages ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Iguaçu River

The reproductive process promotes morphophysiological and behavioral changes in fish species throughout their life cycle. Its success is vital to define their resilience in the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive biology of the endemic fish species Astyanax bifasciatus in a tributary of the Lower Iguaçu River Basin, Paraná, Brazil. Fish were collected monthly at four sites along the Jirau Alto River in the city of Dois Vizinhos from October 2015 to September 2016. A standardized catch effort with gill nets and fish traps was used. In the laboratory, standard length and total weight were recorded. After anesthesia, the animals were sectioned to macroscopically determine the sex, sexual maturity stage, and presence of celomatic fat. The gonads and liver were removed to determine the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes, respectively. A total of 160 individuals (104 females and 56 males) were used. The gonadosomatic index, frequency of the gonadal maturation stages, and condition factor showed a long reproductive period with two investment cycles for both sex. Length at first sexual maturity was 4.57 cm for females and 3.56 cm for males. The reproductive data corroborate the generalist profile of the species and demonstrate a high degree of adaptive capacity, even in smaller tributaries.

scholarly journals Forest-type specialization strongly predicts avian responses to tropical agriculture

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1913) ◽  
pp. 20191724
Author(s):  
Jacob B. Socolar ◽  
David S. Wilcove
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species ◽  
Poor Soil

Species’ traits influence how populations respond to land-use change. However, even in well-characterized groups such as birds, widely studied traits explain only a modest proportion of the variance in response across species. Here, we show that associations with particular forest types strongly predict the sensitivity of forest-dwelling Amazonian birds to agriculture. Incorporating these fine-scale habitat associations into models of population response dramatically improves predictive performance and markedly outperforms the functional traits that commonly appear in similar analyses. Moreover, by identifying habitat features that support assemblages of unusually sensitive habitat-specialist species, our model furnishes straightforward conservation recommendations. In Amazonia, species that specialize on forests along a soil–nutrient gradient (i.e. both rich-soil specialists and poor-soil specialists) are exceptionally sensitive to agriculture, whereas species that specialize on floodplain forests are unusually insensitive. Thus, habitat specialization per se does not predict disturbance sensitivity, but particular habitat associations do. A focus on conserving specific habitats that harbour highly sensitive avifaunas (e.g. poor-soil forest) would protect a critically threatened component of regional biodiversity. We present a conceptual model to explain the divergent responses of habitat specialists in the different habitats, and we suggest that similar patterns and conservation opportunities probably exist for other taxa and regions.

scholarly journals Gonad development and reproduction of the ballyhoo half beak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-330
Author(s):  
MR. Oliveira ◽  
NB. Silva ◽  
ME. Yamamoto ◽  
S. Chellappa
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Batch Fecundity ◽  
Histological Studies ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Multiple Spawner ◽  
Maturation Stages

The gonad development and reproductive aspects of Hemiramphus brasiliensis from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil were verified. This paper presents data on the length-weight relationship, sex ratio, length at first sexual maturity, gonad development, reproductive period and fecundity of H. brasiliensis. Females of this species predominated in the sampled population and were larger in size than the males. The length at the first sexual maturation of males was 20.8 cm and that of females was 21.5 cm. The macroscopic characteristics of the gonads indicated four maturation stages. Histological studies of gonads of H. brasiliensis showed six phases of oocyte development and four phases of spermatocyte development. The batch fecundity of this species is 1153 (±258.22) oocytes for 50 g body weight of female. The microscopic characteristics of gonad development indicate that H. brasiliensis is a multiple spawner, with active reproductive period during the months of January to June and October. The reproductive period of this species is independent of the rainy period of the region.

scholarly journals Temporal Dynamics of Reproduction inHemiramphus brasiliensis(Osteichthyes: Hemiramphidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mônica Rocha de Oliveira ◽  
Sathyabama Chellappa
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Histological Studies ◽  
Multiple Spawner ◽  
Maturation Stages

The reproductive aspects ofHemiramphus brasiliensiswere analyzed with a view to verify the temporal dynamics of reproduction. This paper presents data on sex ratio, length at first sexual maturity, macroscopic and histological aspects of gonad development, gonadosomatic index (GSI), reproductive period, and fecundity ofH. brasiliensis. The fishes were captured from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Females of this species predominated in the sampled population and were larger in size than the males. The length at the first sexual maturation of males was 20.8 cm and that of females was 21.5 cm. The macroscopic characteristics of the gonads indicated four maturation stages. Histological studies of gonads ofH. brasiliensisshowed six phases of oocyte development and four phases of spermatocyte development. The batch fecundity of this species was 1153 (±258.22) mature oocytes for 50 g body weight of female. The microscopic characteristics of gonad development indicate thatH. brasiliensisis a multiple spawner, presenting a prolonged reproductive period during the whole year, with a peak in the month of April, and is considered as an opportunistic strategist.

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