scholarly journals The importance of isolated patches for maintaining local bird biodiversity and ecosystem function: a case study from the Pernambuco Center of Endemism, Northeast Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila F. A. S. Campos ◽  
Bruno P. Teixeira ◽  
Márcio A. Efe
Keyword(s):  
Species Abundance ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Highly Sensitive

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest has been highly fragmented, with the Pernambuco Center of Endemism (PCE) one of the priority areas for conservation. The Mata do Cedro forest, located in Alagoas state, northeastern Brazil, is a forest fragment within the PCE surrounded by a matrix of sugarcane that acts as a refuge for several threatened bird species, some of which are endemic to the region. Here, we characterize the bird community in Mata do Cedro using measures of species abundance, frequency of occurrence, habitat use and sensitivity to human disturbance. The functional role of species was investigated with a functional dendrogram. We registered 111 species, most resident and forest dependent. The most representative trophic categories were insectivores followed by frugivores. Of the species found, 11 are highly sensitive to human disturbances and 11 are endemic to the PCE. The bird community of the fragment is highly diversified, with endemic taxa and balanced trophic categories typical of preserved tropical forests. This community structure together with the occurrence of threatened species reinforces the importance of Mata do Cedro for the maintenance of local biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

scholarly journals Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Silva ◽  
FA Hernandes ◽  
M Pichorim
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Visual Examination ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

scholarly journals Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Cereus jamacaru DC. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae) in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
VGN Gomes ◽  
ZGM Quirino ◽  
HFP Araujo
Keyword(s):  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Germination Process ◽  
Mean Germination Time ◽  
Dispersal Agents ◽  
Viable Seeds

Studies of the dispersal modes of plants aid our understanding of the dynamics of resource and its availability for dispersal agents. The present work sought to characterize the fruiting patterns of the native Caatinga (dryland) cactus Cereus jamacaru, identify its principal dispersers, and evaluate the effects of seed passage through digestive tract of dispersers on its germination. Cereus jamacaru present an annual fruiting pattern and fruiting peaks occurred during June/2009 and February/2010. A total of 135 visits by nine species of resident Caatinga bird species were recorded. The most frequent visiting bird species were Paroaria dominicana and Euphonia chlorotica. Length of bird visits varied from 15 seconds to 4 minutes and seeds removed by birds travelled 10.6 ± 11.2 m until dispersers make the first landing perch, in some cases more than 40 meters away. Germination tests show birds had a high quantity of viable seeds of C. jamacaru in its feces. Seeds that passed through the digestive tract of birds showed a similar germinability of the seeds of the control group. However, the seeds dispersed by birds showed lowest mean germination time related to the control group seeds. This study highlights the potential role of birds as seed dispersers of C. jamacaru, swallowing the whole seeds and defecating intact seeds, accelerating the germination process and transporting seeds away from the mother plant.

scholarly journals Awareness of Air Pollution and Ecosystem Services Provided by Trees: The Case Study of Warsaw City

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10611
Author(s):  
Karolina Kais ◽  
Marlena Gołaś ◽  
Marzena Suchocka
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Social Awareness ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
The City

One of the consequences of the constant urban development in numerous countries is a growing concentration of air pollution, which adversely affects both the environment and people’s health. One of the ways of changing this negative trend is to maintain green areas and trees within cities, as they serve many ecosystem functions, including biological absorption of particles and other types of air pollution. This article provides the findings of a study carried out among the residents of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in order to assess social awareness of air pollution and the importance of trees. The study of the residents’ awareness was supplemented with the assessment of the parameters of the trees’ capacity for pollution absorption in selected locations performed with the help of the i-Tree Eco tool, which allowed the authors to compare the residents’ impressions on the role of trees in the process of absorption of pollution with their actual potential. The analyses showed that the majority of city residents are concerned with the problem of air in the city, but at the same time failing to notice its negative impact on their health. The majority of respondents were not aware of the role the trees play in the process of pollution absorption, suggesting that there is a real need for raising social awareness of functions served by trees and green areas in urban spaces. The comparison of the city residents’ opinions on the importance of trees in the process of pollution absorption with objective data obtained with the help of i-Tree Eco tool shows that the majority of people’s impressions of pollution absorption by trees in urban areas is correct.

scholarly journals On the Variability of Ligand pKa during Homogeneously Catalyzed Aqueous Methanol Dehydrogenation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitish Govindarajan ◽  
Hugo Beks ◽  
E.J. Meijer
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic System ◽  
Aqueous Methanol ◽  
Methanol Dehydrogenation ◽  
Molecular Catalyst ◽  
Water Solvent ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Explicit Water

<p>Using DFT based molecular dynamics simulations</p><p>incorporating explicit water solvent, we elucidate the varying behaviour of the ligand pKa of a molecular catalyst for methanol dehydrogenation, using the Ru(PNP) catalytic system</p><p>as a case study. The pKa of the amido ligand moiety in this catalytic system is highly sensitive to the species adsorbed on the metal</p><p>center, resulting in a substantial variation of the ligand pKa along the catalytic cycle. Since the ligand pKa is an important characteristic that determines the exact role of the ligand during aqueous methanol dehydrogenation, this characteristic has important implications on metal ligand cooperative pathways.</p>

Pristine semi-arid areas in northeastern Brazil remain mainly on slopes of mountain ranges: a case study based on bird community of Serra de Santana

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Pichorim ◽  
Damião Valdenor de Oliveira ◽  
Tonny Marques de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Thanyria Pollyneide França Câmara ◽  
Érica Patrícia Galvão do Nascimento
Keyword(s):  
Bird Community ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals On the Variability of Ligand pKa during Homogeneously Catalyzed Aqueous Methanol Dehydrogenation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitish Govindarajan ◽  
Hugo Beks ◽  
E.J. Meijer
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic System ◽  
Aqueous Methanol ◽  
Methanol Dehydrogenation ◽  
Molecular Catalyst ◽  
Water Solvent ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Explicit Water

<p>Using DFT based molecular dynamics simulations</p><p>incorporating explicit water solvent, we elucidate the varying behaviour of the ligand pKa of a molecular catalyst for methanol dehydrogenation, using the Ru(PNP) catalytic system</p><p>as a case study. The pKa of the amido ligand moiety in this catalytic system is highly sensitive to the species adsorbed on the metal</p><p>center, resulting in a substantial variation of the ligand pKa along the catalytic cycle. Since the ligand pKa is an important characteristic that determines the exact role of the ligand during aqueous methanol dehydrogenation, this characteristic has important implications on metal ligand cooperative pathways.</p>

scholarly journals Bird Communities In Seblat Nature Recreation Park (SNRP) North Bengkulu, Bengkulu

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Eki Susanto ◽  
Yeni Aryati Mulyani ◽  
Bambang Suryobroto
Keyword(s):  
Species Abundance ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Biology Education ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Community Similarity ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Net Method ◽  
Logged Forest ◽  
Vegetation Structures

<p>Bird communities are the composition of several bird species that live together in the same place, time and interact with other birds. The diversity of birds in an area can be used as an indicator of stabilizing an area. Changes of vegetation structures due to logging practices can affect the availability of resources for bird communities. The objective of the research was to examine diversity, richness, bird species abundance and bird community similarity at HS1 (logged forest 1974), HS2 (logged forest 1989/1990) and HS3 (fully logged forest 1989/1990) in Seblat Nature Recreation Park (SNRP). The research was conducted in July – September 2013. Data collection was conducted by point count method (total 36 points) and mist net method (total 4752 nets hours). The Research showed 85 bird’s species from 33 families were recorded. HS2 was highest value of diversity and richness (H ‘= 3.63, DMG = 10.07). The highest relative abundance species in HS1 was Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), while HS2 and HS3 were Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca). The bird community similarity was highest in HS2 and HS3 (ISj = 0.58).</p><p><strong>How to Cite</strong></p><p>Susanto, E., Mulyani, Y. A., &amp; Suryobroto, B. (2016). Bird Communities In Seblat Nature Recreation Park (SNRP) North Bengkulu, Bengkulu. <em>Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology &amp; Biology Education</em>, 8(1), 25-32.</p>

scholarly journals Communities and Attachment Networks Associated with Primary, Secondary and Alternative Foundation Species; A Case Study of Stressed and Disturbed Stands of Southern Bull Kelp

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads S. Thomsen ◽  
Paul M. South
Keyword(s):  
Species Abundance ◽  
Foundation Species ◽  
System Level ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Abundance Patterns ◽  
Control Community ◽  
Ecological Differences

Southern bull kelps (Durvillaea spp., Fucales) are ‘primary’ foundation species that control community structures and ecosystem functions on temperate wave-exposed rocky reefs. However, these large foundation species are threatened by disturbances and stressors, including invasive species, sedimentation and heatwaves. It is unknown whether ‘alternative’ foundation species can replace lost southern bull kelps and its associated communities and networks. We compared community structure (by quantifying abundances of different species) and attachment-interaction networks (by quantifying which species were attached to other species) among plots dominated by Durvillaea spp. and plots where Durvillaea spp. were lost either through long-term repeated experimental removals or by recent stress from a marine heatwave. Long-term experimental removal plots were dominated by ‘alternative’ foundation species, the canopy-forming Cystophora spp. (Fucales), whereas the recent heatwave stressed plots were dominated by the invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales). A network analysis of attachment interactions showed that communities differed among plots dominated by either Durvillaea spp., Cystophora spp. or U. pinnatifida, with different relationships between the primary, or alternative, foundation species and attached epiphytic ‘secondary’ foundation species. For example, native Cystophora spp. were more important as hosts for secondary foundation species compared to Durvillaea spp. and U. pinnatifida. Instead, Durvillaea spp. facilitated encrusting algae, which in turn provided habitat for gastropods. We conclude that (a) repeated disturbances and strong stressors can reveal ecological differences between primary and alternative foundation species, (b) analyses of abundances and attachment-networks are supplementary methods to identify linkages between primary, alternative and secondary foundation species, and (c) interspersed habitats dominated by different types of foundation species increase system-level biodiversity by supporting different species-abundance patterns and species-attachment networks.

scholarly journals Role of Ficus spp. in the avifauna conservation of Jahangirnagar University campus

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Sameer Ranjan Mahanta ◽  
Mohammed Mostafa Feeroz ◽  
Md Kamrul Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Ficus Benghalensis ◽  
Common Myna ◽  
The Mean

A study was conducted on Ficus species to evaluate its role in avifauna conservation Jahangirnagar University campus from December 2012 to September 2013. Ficus benghalensis and Ficus rumphii were found to provide food and shelter to the bird community of Jahangirnagar University throughout the year because of their asynchronous fruiting. A total of twenty four Ficus trees were selected for the study. Number of fruit providing trees varied in different months (? = 11.6, range = 4-22, sd ± 6.29). Twenty seven species of birds were recorded from Ficus spp. throughout the year. Dependency of bird species on Ficus varied in different months ( ? = 18.1, sd ± 2.42, range = 16-22). Common Myna was found to visit Ficus tree more frequently while Oriental White Eye was less frequent. The height of the studied Ficus benghalensis ranged from 17 – 45 feet with the mean ? = 26.67 ± 7.51 while Ficus rumphii ranged from 30-48 feet with the mean ? = 39.33 ± 9.0.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 3(2): 9-16, 2014 (December)

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