Orchid bees in riparian and terra-firme forest fragments in an urban matrix in southwestern Brazilian Amazonia

ABSTRACT Riparian forests are important ecosystems that support an enormous biodiversity in Brazil. Despite being protected under Brazilian legislation, these forests suffer great impact from the fragmentation of habitats. Orchid bees are a key group of pollinators in the Neotropical region, yet few data are available on the assamblage structure of these bees in riparian forests. We evaluated the role of fragments of riparian and terra-firme forest on the conservation and maintenance of orchid bees in an urban landscape in the southwestern Amazon basin. Specifically, we evaluated whether bee assemblages in riparian and terra-firme forests differed significantly in abundance, species richness and composition. We also evaluated whether species richness and abundance of bees vary with the size of the forest fragment. Male bees were attracted using odoriferous baits and collected with entomological nets in 10 forest fragments. There was no significant difference between riparian and terra-firme fragments in species abundance, richness and composition, but there was a positive correlation between fragment size and species richness and abundance. Our results suggest that, in an urban landscape, the remaining riparian and terra-firme forest fragments still could maintain 62.7% of the orchid bee species known to occur in the region, reinforcing the conservation value of these forest remnants. Our findings indicate that these fragments provide a potentially important habitat for the maintenance of local bee populations in the landscape.

Download Full-text

Recuperation of theTerra FirmeForest Understory Bird Fauna Eight Years after a Wildfire in Eastern Acre, Brazil

International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1155/2015/324048 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tatiana Lemos da Silva ◽

Edilaine Lemes Marques ◽

Edson Guilherme

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bird Species ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Bird Fauna ◽

Components Analysis ◽

Species Richness And Abundance ◽

And Control

The present study evaluated the characteristics of the understory bird fauna of four fragments ofterra firmeforest in eastern Acre, Brazil, that were impacted by wildfires in 2005. The study investigated the species richness and the composition of trophic guilds using mist-netting on eight transects (four in burned plots and four in control plots in the same forest fragments). Eight plots (0.12 ha) were also established parallel to each transect to record the number of live trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm), palms, and dead trees. Bamboo stems were quantified in 0.024 ha subplots. No significant difference was found between burned and control plots in the species richness or abundance of birds, nor was any significant pattern found in the NMDS ordination of the composition of the communities or guilds. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) found that the burned plots were physiognomically distinct, due principally to the number of bamboo stems and dead trees. Multiple regressions based on the PCA scores and bird species richness and abundance found no significant trends. The findings of the present study indicate that the understory bird assemblage of the areas affected by a single wildfire in 2005 had almost totally recuperated eight years after this event.

Download Full-text

Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-014-0390-8 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 69 (7) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thomas Mérő ◽

Maja Janjatović ◽

Roland Horváth ◽

Katarina Mrkobrad ◽

Antun Žuljević

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Great Reed Warbler ◽

Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽

Reed Warbler ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Beetle Assemblages ◽

Potential Factors ◽

Spider Abundance ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractThe appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.

Download Full-text

Species richness and abundance of bats in fragments of the stational semidecidual forest, Upper Paraná River, southern Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842009000300026 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 69 (2 suppl) ◽

pp. 727-734 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. Ortêncio-Filho ◽

NR. Reis

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Paraná River ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Parana River ◽

Upper Paraná River Floodplain ◽

Upper Paraná River ◽

Species Richness And Abundance ◽

Artibeus Lituratus

The Upper Paraná River floodplain is inserted in a region of the Mata Atlântica biome, which is a critical area to preserve. Due to the scarcity of researches about the chiropterofauna in this region, the present study investigated species richness and abundance of bats in remnants from the stational semidecidual forest of the Upper Paraná River, southern Brazil. Samplings were taken every month, from January to December 2006, using 32 mist nets with 8.0 x 2.5 m, resulting in 640 m²/h and totaling a capture effort of 87,040 m²/h. In order to estimate the species richness, the following estimators were employed Chao1 and Jack2. During the study, a total of 563 individuals belonging to 17 species (Artibeus planirostris, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Platyrrhinus lineatus, Sturnira lilium, Artibeus fimbriatus, Myotis nigricans, Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus obscurus, Noctilio albiventris, Phylostomus discolor, Phylostomus hastatus, Chrotopterus auritus, Lasiurus ega, Chiroderma villosum, Pygoderma bilabiatum and Lasiurus blossevillii) were captured. The estimated richness curves tended to stabilize, indicating that most of the species were sampled. Captured species represented 10% of the taxa recorded in Brazil and 28% in Paraná State, revealing the importance of this area for the diversity of bats. These findings indicate the need to determine actions aiming to restrict human activities in these forest fragments, in order to minimize anthropogenic impacts on the chiropterofauna.

Download Full-text

Assessing sodium limitation as a resource for ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an area of the Amazonian Terra Firme Forest

Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi Ciências Naturais ◽

10.46357/bcnaturais.v15i1.269 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 135-143

Author(s):

Cristian Camilo Mendoza-Penagos ◽

Knut Olav Vadla Hessen ◽

Rony Peterson Santos Almeida

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Food Preferences ◽

Amazon Forest ◽

Terra Firme ◽

Foraging Patterns ◽

Nutritional Needs ◽

Terra Firme Forest

The availability of nutrients in the soil acts as a filter in the ants that inhabit this layer, affecting their foraging patterns and showing preferences or limitations on their nutritional needs. Especially in environments far from the ocean, the salt deficit can be a limiting resource in the environment. Here, we test whether changes in species richness and composition reveal food preferences for ants that inhabit the soil, using sugar and salt as attractions in an area of the Amazon Forest. In total, 21 species in nine genera were collected; all species were collected in sugar and only two in salt. In addition to the ant richness eleven times greater in sugar, the composition differed between the attractions. Our results indicate that the litter ants in the preserved forest are not limited by availability of sodium and they prefer sugar to salt as attractant, even with this environment far from the coast.

Download Full-text

Decline in Aboveground Biomass Due to Fragmentation in Subtropical Forests of China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050617 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 617

Author(s):

Chunyu Shen ◽

Nannan Shi ◽

Shenglei Fu ◽

Wanhui Ye ◽

Lei Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Forest Fragmentation ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Average Diameter ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Biomass Storage ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Fragmented Forests ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

Fragmentation has long been considered the primary cause for ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss worldwide. Forest fragmentation affects ecosystem functioning and biodiversity in multiple ways. Here, we ask how forest fragmentation influences aboveground biomass storage (AGB) in sub-tropical forests in China. We established 207 20 m × 20 m plots within 69 forest fragments of varying size. Forest fragmentation process simulation was carried out via repeated quadrat sampling using different sized quadrats in two non-fragmented stands. AGB was estimated and compared across forest fragments and quadrats with different sizes within two non-fragmented stands. Our results indicate that AGB is significantly lower in forest fragments than in quadrats within two non-fragmented forests. In addition, species richness and abundance were lower in fragmented stands, respectively. In fragmented forests, the average diameter at breast height (DBH) increased with decreasing patch size, while declined for non-fragmented plots. Species richness, abundance, and mean DBH have strongly positive effects on AGB. This was the case both in forest fragments and quadrats within two non-fragmented forests. Forest fragmentation leads to lower richness, lower abundance, and higher mean DBH in forest fragments than in the two non-fragmented forests. Our results suggest that forest fragmentation increases edge habitats, which drastically decreases forests aboveground biomass storage. These results show that land degradation not only reduces the area of forests, but also reduces the aboveground biomass carbon density of forests.

Download Full-text

Songbird diversity and movement in upland and riparian habitats in the boreal mixedwood forest of northeastern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x06-010 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 1149-1164 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Erin Mosley ◽

Stephen B Holmes ◽

Erica Nol

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Breeding Period ◽

Riparian Areas ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Avian Biodiversity ◽

Boreal Mixedwood Forest ◽

Riparian Habitats ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

Little is known about the importance of riparian areas in supporting avifaunal diversity in the boreal mixedwood forest, especially outside of the breeding season. Bird populations were sampled by mist netting 18 upland and 18 riparian sites along six streams in a forested region of northeastern Ontario. Riparian sites generally had more variable vegetation than upland sites. Some riparian sites formed distinctive habitats, while others were structurally and compositionally similar to upland sites. During spring and fall migration, there was no significant difference in bird abundance or species richness between riparian and upland habitats. During the breeding period, riparian areas had greater avian species richness and abundance and more insects than upland forests, suggesting that birds were selecting these habitats because they contain more food. More birds were captured in nets placed perpendicular to the stream than parallel during the breeding and fall migration periods, suggesting that riparian areas may function as movement corridors. A greater understanding of the importance of riparian habitats to songbird communities is needed if we are to maximize the effectiveness of these regions for conserving avian biodiversity in the boreal mixedwood forest.

Download Full-text

Urban fragmentation leads to lower floral diversity, with knock-on impacts on bee biodiversity

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-78736-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Panagiotis Theodorou ◽

Sarah-Christine Herbst ◽

Belinda Kahnt ◽

Patricia Landaverde-González ◽

Lucie M. Baltz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Floral Diversity ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractBees and flowering plants are two closely interacting groups of organisms. Habitat loss and fragmentation associated with urbanisation are major threats to both partners. Yet how and why bee and floral richness and diversity co-vary within the urban landscape remain unclear. Here, we sampled bees and flowering plants in urban green spaces to investigate how bee and flowering plant species richness, their phylogenetic diversity and pollination-relevant functional trait diversity influence each other in response to urban fragmentation. As expected, bee abundance and richness were positively related to flowering plant richness, with bee body size (but not bee richness and diversity) increasing with nectar-holder depth of flowering plants. Causal modelling indicated that bottom-up effects dictated patterns of bee-flower relationships, with urban fragmentation diminishing flowering plants richness and thereby indirectly reducing bee species richness and abundance. The close relationship between bees and flowering plants highlights the risks of their parallel declines in response to land-use change within the urban landscape.

Download Full-text

Bryophytes in fragments of Terra Firme forest on the great curve of the Xingu River, Pará state, Brazil 1 Part of Master's Dissertation of the first author.

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.02814bm ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 (3 suppl 1) ◽

pp. 238-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

ACC. Pantoja ◽

AL. Ilkiu-Borges ◽

ACC. Tavares-Martins ◽

ET. Garcia

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Habitat Conditions ◽

Terra Firme ◽

Xingu River ◽

Microclimatic Conditions ◽

Terra Firme Forest ◽

Made In

Abstract Microclimatic conditions of tropical forest favour the high richness of bryophytes, which by being sensitive to environmental changes, are important indicators of habitat conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the richness and species composition of the bryophyte flora in fragments of terra firme forest on the great curve of the Xingu River, Pará state, Brazil. The collections were made in August and September 2012 in 14 fragments, in which were installed two plots per fragment, one at the edge and one inside, measuring 10 × 10 m each. The results showed 77 species in 45 genera and 18 families. Lejeunea setiloba Spruce and Marchesinia brachiata (Sw.) Schiffn. are new records for Pará state. The richness families in this study were the ones typically found in tropical forest surveys. A high richness of rare species in comparison to common ones, a pattern usually observed for plants in tropical forests was not reported in this study, probably due to historical fragmentation and disturbance in the area. The richness and species composition were determined mainly by the physiognomic characteristics of the studied forest fragments.

Download Full-text

Effects of selective-logging, litter and tree species on forests in the Peruvian Amazon: seed predation, seed pathogens, germination

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science ◽

10.33494/nzjfs512021x153x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

Author(s):

Randall W. Myster

Keyword(s):

Seed Predation ◽

Tree Species ◽

Amazon Basin ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Selective Logging ◽

Terra Firme ◽

White Sand ◽

Sand Forest ◽

Terra Firme Forest ◽

Socratea Exorrhiza

Background: The Amazon basin contains mainly unflooded forests, and they are among the most important ecosystems in the world. Field experiments on seed processes are very important in order to understand the structure, function and dynamics of these forests. Methods: And so tree seeds of three species (Cecropia latiloba, Guarea macrophylla, Socratea exorrhiza) were set out in Amazon unlogged terra firme forest, in Amazon selectively-logged terra firme forest, in Amazon palm forest, and in Amazon white sand forest either on top of or beneath the litter layer, and after two weeks scored for seeds taken by predators, seeds destroyed by pathogens and seeds that germinated. Results: I found both terra firme forests (unlogged and selectively-logged) lost most of their seed to predators and the least of their seed to pathogens, white sand forests lost the least of their seed to predators and the most of their seed to pathogens, and the fewest seeds germinated in both terra firme forests and in palm forest. More specifically (1) within unlogged terra firme forest addition of litter reduced seed predation but increased seed losses to pathogens and germination, and C. latiloba lost the most seeds to pathogens, (2) within selectively-logged terra firme forest seeds showed the same trends as unlogged terra firme forest but without significant effects, (3) within palm forest addition of litter reduced predation but increased losses to pathogens, and S. exorrhiza lost the least seeds to pathogens, and (4) within white sand forests addition of litter increased germination. Combining the results from all forests together, predators took most of the seeds, pathogens took most of the seeds that escaped predation, and most of the seeds that survived predation and pathogens germinated. Conclusion: While such large losses of tree seed to predators and pathogens in these unflooded forests suggest limited recruitment, the variation demonstrated in these field experiments – among forest-types, among tree species, between litter situations on the forest floor – help to insure that recruitment does occur and that these unflooded forests continue to dominate the Amazon basin.

Download Full-text

Comparison of point and roadside transect methods to evaluate the abundance and richness of diurnal raptors in the arid region of Rajasthan

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0259805 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0259805

Author(s):

Govind Tiwari ◽

Puneet Pandey ◽

Rahul Kaul ◽

Hang Lee ◽

Randeep Singh

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Average Length ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Survey Method ◽

Point Count ◽

Point Counts ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Unidentified Species ◽

Species Richness And Abundance ◽

Point Count Method

Diurnal raptors show a wider distribution compared to other groups of birds including passerines, woodpeckers, and seriemas, but occur at lower-than-expected densities. Estimating the precise abundance is essential to achieve conservation goals but the methods used to estimate the populations of birds need to be appropriate to arrive at meaningful conclusions. We compared the two survey methods: roadside point count and strip transects, for estimating species richness and abundance of raptors in the arid landscape of Rajasthan. Roadside point counts and roadside strip transects were done on 50 transects between December 2019- February 2020 (with an average length of 20 km and a total distance of 3000 km) to assess the species richness and abundance of raptors. A total of 2954 observations of raptors belonging to 35 species were recorded using both methods. Mann Whitney U test result showed no significant difference in species richness and abundance estimates between both methods (p = 0.206). The point count method yielded a higher relative abundance of 2.79 individuals [10 km2]-1h-1 than the 1.90 individuals [10 km2]-1h-1 obtained during the strip transect. Also, the number of unidentified species were less for point counts. Extrapolation values indicated that both the methods do not differ much for the detection of unsampled species. The choice of survey method depends on the objectives of the study, but our results favor the use of point counts rather than strip transects to survey raptors in open habitats. The information generated from this study is expected to provide the most efficient method to study the abundance and distribution of raptors in similar landscapes.

Download Full-text