The Association Erysimo - Trifolietum Micev. 1977 in Bulgaria and Some Remarks on its Mediterranean Character

The AssociationErysimo - TrifolietumMicev. 1977 in Bulgaria and Some Remarks on its Mediterranean CharacterWe endeavor to enlarge the knowledge about Bulgarian vegetation diversity. Data on seminatural grasslands containing 344 relevés, collected in Southeast Bulgaria were analyzed by the combine method, using TWIN-SPAN and the Cocktail method. TheErysimo diffusii-Trifolietum angustifoliiassociation and the allianceTrifolion cherleriwere established for the first time in Bulgaria. So far the presence of this association was known for Macedonia. The aims of our study are to present more data about theErysimo-Trifolietumin Bulgaria and to make some comments about its affiliation toHelianthemetea guttati.The association is characterized ecologically and floristically. Analysis of the floristic elements shows that the most numerous are sub-Mediterranean species. Analysis of the life forms shows that these communities are hemicryptophyte-therophytic. A review of syntaxonomical systems and association assignment to higher syntaxa were made. According to current European vege-tation surveys the association should be related to classHelianthemetea guttati.Our results reveal an intermediate character of the studied vegetation - closed dry grasslands, with distinct presence ofFestuco-Brometeaspecies with a high percent of therophytes and Mediterranean floristic elements related toHelianthemetea guttatias well.

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New data on the ecological peculiarities and the distribution in Bulgaria of the vulnerable habitat F3.1d Balkan-Anatolian submontane genistoid scrub from the European Red List of Habitats

Hacquetia ◽

10.2478/hacq-2018-0015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 271-287

Author(s):

Georgi Kunev ◽

Rossen Tzonev

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Type ◽

Volcanic Rocks ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Life Forms ◽

Plant Life Forms ◽

Area Of Occupancy ◽

Floristic Elements ◽

First Time ◽

Floristic Structure ◽

East Mediterranean Region

Abstract The study presents new data on the habitat dominated by the species complex of Genista lydia/G. rumelica in Bulgaria. It is based on 129 phytocoenological relevés and provides information on the chorology, ecology and floristic structure of these communities. This habitat type occupies substrates composed by different volcanic rocks. The floristic structure is very rich in species. The phytogeographical relationships with the East Mediterranean region are considerable, which is proved by the high occurrence of floristic elements with Mediterranean or sub-Mediterranean origin. The plant life-forms analysis demonstrates that the therophytes, geophytes and chamephytes prevail in their floristic structure, which is also typical for the shrub communities in this region. During the field study this vegetation type has been mapped and its total area of occupancy has been calculated. For a first time it is proposed this habitat to be divided into three habitat sub-types due to the established differences in the environmental factors. Some recommendations have been proposed on the conservation management and also complements on the habitat‘s descriptions in EUNIS habitat classification.

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Endemic plants in the flora of Shutman (Sharri Mountain), Kosovo – an analysis of phytogeographical elements and life forms

Natura Croatica ◽

10.20302/nc.2021.30.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Haxhi Halilaj ◽

◽

Lirika Kupe ◽

Avdyl Bajrami ◽

Pirro Icka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endemic Species ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Life Forms ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Herbaceous Perennials ◽

Floristic Elements ◽

Endemic Plant Species ◽

First Time ◽

Distribution Record

This paper aims to present the diversity of endemic plants in the Shutman area and an analysis of chorological groups and life forms. The flora of Shutman comprises 31 endemic plant species. Among them, there are 20 Balkan endemics, 1 stenoendemic and 5 sub-endemic species. They belong to 20 genera and 13 families. The richest among the endemics are families Asteraceae and Caryophyllaceae, both with 4 species. All endemics are herbaceous perennials. Hemicryptophytes dominate among life forms, accounting for 58.06%. Most of the species are Balkan floristic elements (20 species or 64.52%), followed by Southeast European and South European floristic elements, both with 3 taxa (9.68%). A total of 27 species have national or international conservation status. Reporting of Ranunculus degenii Kümmerle & Jav. for the first time in Shutman makes this area the second distribution record of this plant in Kosovo.

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Testing the potential of pollen assemblages to capture composition, diversity and ecological gradients of surrounding vegetation in two biogeographical regions of southeastern Europe

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany ◽

10.1007/s00334-021-00831-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Papadopoulou ◽

Ioannis Tsiripidis ◽

Sampson Panajiotidis ◽

Georgios Fotiadis ◽

Daniel Veres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Structure ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Life Forms ◽

Ecological Gradients ◽

Vegetation Diversity ◽

North Central ◽

Plant Life Forms ◽

Pollen Diagrams ◽

Biogeographical Regions ◽

Species Specific

AbstractDue to the complex relationship between pollen and vegetation, it is not yet clear how pollen diagrams may be interpreted with respect to changes in floristic diversity and only a few studies have hitherto investigated this problem. We compare pollen assemblages from moss samples in two southeastern European forests with the surrounding vegetation to investigate (a) their compositional similarity, (b) the association between their diversity characteristics in both terms of richness and evenness, and (c) the correspondence of the main ecological gradients that can be revealed by them. Two biogeographical regions with different vegetation characteristics, the Pieria mountains (north central Greece) and the slopes of Ciomadul volcano (eastern Romania), were chosen as divergent examples of floristic regions, vegetation structure and landscape openness. Pollen assemblages are efficient in capturing the presence or absence, rather than the abundance in distribution of plants in the surrounding area and this bias increases along with landscape openness and vegetation diversity, which is higher in the Pieria mountains. Pollen assemblages and vegetation correlate better in terms of richness, that is, low order diversity indices. Relatively high correlation, in terms of evenness, could be potentially found in homogenous and species poor ecosystems as for Ciomadul. Composition and diversity of woody, rather than herb, vegetation is better reflected in pollen assemblages of both areas, especially for Pieria where a direct comparison of the two components was feasible, although this depends on the species-specific pollen production and dispersal, the openness of landscape and the overall diversity of vegetation. Gradients revealed by pollen assemblages are highly and significantly correlated with those existing in vegetation. Pollen assemblages may represent the vegetation well in terms of composition, diversity (mainly richness) and ecological gradients, but this potential depends on land use, vegetation structure, biogeographical factors and plant life forms.

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Terrestrial Molluscs in the Dry Grasslands of the DNIPRO Upland (Central Ukraine): New Records, Rare Species and Conservation Potential

Vestnik Zoologii ◽

10.2478/vzoo-2018-0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 3-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

I. Balashov ◽

O. Vasyliuk ◽

D. Shyriaieva ◽

Z. Shvydka ◽

O. Oskyrko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Species ◽

New Records ◽

National Level ◽

Red List ◽

The Other ◽

Rock Outcrops ◽

Dry Grassland ◽

Dry Grasslands ◽

First Time ◽

High Diversity

Abstract Thirty-six species of terrestrial molluscs were found in the dry grasslands and rock outcrops of the study area, including three that were not previously known for Central Ukraine: Granaria frumentum, Pupilla bigranata and Mediterranea inopinata. These species are relics related to dry open habitats and require conservation in Ukraine on the national level, G. frumentum is already listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, and the other two should be listed in its next edition. It is proposed to create the new protected areas in the most important newly revealed locations of these species. These rocky areas also retain the high diversity of land molluscs in the region. The invasive snail Xeropicta derbentina was found for the first time on the DNIPRO Upland, on the edge of natural dry grassland. The rare native snail Morlina glabra was recorded for the first time in Kyiv Region, it is proposed to be included into the regional red list.

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Bryophytes of the upper reaches of the Western Bug River (Lviv Region, Ukraine)

Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia Naturae ◽

10.24917/25438832.5.1 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 7-24

Author(s):

Yura Drach ◽

Zvenysvala Mamchur

Keyword(s):

Development Strategy ◽

Life Forms ◽

Wetland Ecosystems ◽

Substrate Preferences ◽

Ecological Features ◽

The Development Strategy ◽

Cold Tolerant ◽

A Minor ◽

First Time ◽

Minor Extent

In the article, the bryophytes of the upper reaches of the Western Bug River, which is physically and geographically located within Male Polissya, partly Roztochia, and to a minor extent in the Gologoro-Voronyatsky denudo-structural hills, have been studied. Based on our survey, a list of the bryophytes has been compiled for the first time. Ecological features, substrate preferences and life forms of the bryophytes have been analysed. According to the ecological features, subheliophytes (30.9%) and hemisciophytes (30.9%) predominate in the spectrum of heliomorphs; mesophytes (29.7%), hygromesophytes (21.2%) and xeromesophytes – in the spectrum of hydromorphs (19.4%); cold-tolerant species (59.4%) – in the spectrum of thermomorphs. Based on the analysis of the substrate preferences of the bryophytes, the following groups were identified: epigeans (116 species), epixils (56 species), epiphytes (46 species), epiliths (43 species), aquatic (22 species). The prevailing life forms are turf (30.3%), rough mat (18.2%), weft (15.2%), tuft (10.3%) and smooth mat (9.7%). 3 species that are officially recognised as rare and 16 species that are recognized as regionally rare have been found. In the group of bryophytes associated with wetland ecosystems, 2 officially rare and 6 regionally rare species were found in the study area. Given the large areas of drained land in Lviv Region, these species are of particular value, especially in the context of conservation of the biodiversity and protection of the valuable natural areas in accordance with the Development Strategy of Lviv Region by 2027.

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Temporal, diel and spatial variability of decapod larvae from St Paul's Rocks, an equatorial oceanic island of Brazil

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315409990890 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 90 (6) ◽

pp. 1227-1239 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Andrea G. Koettker ◽

Andrea S. Freire ◽

Paulo Y.G. Sumida

Keyword(s):

Surface Waters ◽

Larval Density ◽

Ecological Systems ◽

Scaling Analysis ◽

Diel Variation ◽

Multidimensional Scaling Analysis ◽

Species Analysis ◽

The Mean ◽

First Time ◽

Decapod Larvae

Temporal, spatial and diel variation in the distribution and abundance of organisms is an inherent property of ecological systems. The present study describes these variations and the composition of decapod larvae from the surface waters of St Paul's Rocks. The expeditions to the archipelago were carried out in April, August and November 2003, March 2004 and May 2005. Surface plankton samples were collected during the morning and dusk periods, inside the inlet and in increasing distances around the archipelago (~150, 700 and 1500 m). The identification resulted in 51 taxa. Seven species, six genera and larvae of the families Pandalidae and Portunidae were identified for the first time in the area. The mean larval density varied from zero to 150.2±69.6 individuals 100 m−3 in the waters surrounding the archipelago and from 1.7±3.0 to 12,827±15,073 individuals 100 m−3 inside the inlet. Significant differences on larval density were verified between months and period of the day, but not among the three sites around the archipelago. Cluster and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that the decapod larvae community was divided into benthic and pelagic assemblages. Indicator species analysis (ISA) showed that six Brachyura taxa were good indicators for the inlet, while three sergestids were the main species from the waters around the archipelago. These results suggest that St Paul's Rocks can be divided into two habitats, based on larval composition, density and diversity values: the inlet and the waters surrounding the archipelago.

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Hg Levels in Marine Porifera of Montecristo and Giglio Islands (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy)

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10124342 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4342

Author(s):

Camilla Roveta ◽

Daniela Pica ◽

Barbara Calcinai ◽

Federico Girolametti ◽

Cristina Truzzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Total Mercury ◽

Additional Data ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Mercury Content ◽

Mediterranean Species ◽

Direct Mercury Analyzer ◽

Mercury Analyzer ◽

Main Input ◽

First Time

Porifera are filter-feeding organisms known to bioaccumulate different contaminants in their tissues. The presence of mercury (Hg) has been reported in different Mediterranean species, mainly collected in the southern coast of France. In the present study, mercury concentrations in the tissue of the sponges of Montecristo and Giglio, two islands of Tuscany Archipelago National Park (TANP), are presented for the first time. Analyses of total mercury content were performed by Direct Mercury Analyzer. Statistical differences have been reported in the Hg concentrations of species collected in both islands, but they do not appear related to the anthropic impacts of the islands. Among the collected species, a high intra- and inter-variability have been recorded, with Cliona viridis showing the lowest concentration (0.0167–0.033 mg·kg−1 dry weight), and Chondrosia reniformis and Sarcotragus spinosulus the highest (0.57 ± 0.15 and 0.64 ± 0.01 mg·kg−1 dry weight, respectively). The variability of Hg measured did not allow us to identify sponges as bioindicators of toxic elements. Anyway, these results improve knowledge on the ecosystem of the TANP, underlining the species-specificity of metal concentrations for Porifera, and providing additional data to address the main input of the Marine Strategy guidelines to protect coasts, seas and oceans.

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Temporary freshwater wetlands floristics in central Mexico highlands

Botanical Sciences ◽

10.17129/botsci.1532 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 138 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tatiana Lobato-de Magalhães ◽

Mahinda Martínez

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Life Form ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Life Forms ◽

Freshwater Wetlands ◽

Central Mexico ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Temporary Wetlands ◽

First Time ◽

Economic Use

Background: Mexico has a high diversity of aquatic and subaquatic plants that occur between 1,000 and 2,500 m of elevation, although a larger proportion of aquatic plants is concentrated at lower altitudes. Temporary wetlands harbor close to 73 % of the aquatic species in Mexico. These systems are under a strong anthropogenic pressure and suffer constant degradation.Questions: i) How many species grow in highland temporary wetlands? ii) Are they floristically similar? iii) Is there a latitudinal pattern of species richness?Studied groups: Charophyta, Pteridophyta, Angiosperms.Study site and years of study: Central Mexico (39 wetlands) from 2015 to 2016.Methods: We collected in 39 temporary wetlands for two years. We made a presence/absence list of species per locality, and calculated floristic similarities and correlations between wetlands. We include data characterizing life form, plant use, and conservation status.Results: We found 126 species belonging to 80 genera and 38 families. The richest families were Cyperaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. As to genera, Eleocharis, Cyperus, and Juncus had more species. Species with the widest distributions were Persicaria mexicana, Marsilea mollis, Luziola fluitans, Heteranthera peduncularis, and Nymphoides fallax. We found five different life forms – all herbaceous, including 27 threatened species, 24 species with economic use, 48 endemic species, and 19 cosmopolitan species. In addition, we found 20 species recorded for the first time in some states included in our study, and two species of Eleocharis that might represent undescribed species. The richest wetland harbors 40 species, the poorest has only five. Wetlands were comparable to each other in species composition, and species richness increases towards the south.Conclusions: Temporary wetlands harbor a high floristic diversity and are similar to each other. Lower latitudes host higher numbers of species.

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An updated catalogue of the Histeridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of the Arabian Peninsula, with biogeographical remarks

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1157.1.1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 1157 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

FABIO PENATI ◽

PIERPAOLO VIENNA

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Arabian Peninsula ◽

Transitional Zone ◽

Distributional Pattern ◽

Mediterranean Species ◽

Public And Private ◽

Palearctic Species ◽

First Time ◽

Private Collections

The histerid fauna of the Arabian Peninsula is evaluated. As a result of the study of specimens recently collected in Oman by the scientific expeditions of the Museum of Natural History and Territory of Calci (University of Pisa, Italy), and compiling new data from 15 public and private collections, and literature records, the total number of Histeridae known from the Arabian Peninsula now stands at 67 species, without taking into account dubious species and undetermined taxa (9).Of these 67 species, in total 18 are reported for the first time: 4 for the Arabian Peninsula [Teretrius (Neotepetrius) parasita Marseul, Saprinus (Saprinus) flexuosofasciatus Motschulsky, Chalcionellus hauseri (Schmidt), Hypocacculus (Nessus) hosseinius (Théry)], 9 for Oman [Pachylister luctuosus (Marseul), Hister castus Lewis, Atholus bimaculatus Linnaeus, Atholus scutellaris (Erichson), Saprinus (Saprinus) splendens (Paykull), Hypocacculus (Colpellus) praecox (Erichson), Hypocacculus (Hypocacculus) harmonicus (Marseul), Hypocacculus (Hypocacculus) metallescens (Erichson), Hypocaccus (Hypocaccus) fochi (Auzat)], 2 for Yemen [Saprinus (Saprinus) tenuistrius tenuistrius Marseul, Chalcionellus tunisius (Marseul)] and 3 for Kuwait [Saprinus (Saprinus) moyses Marseul, Pholioxenus mesopotamicus Olexa, Paravolvulus syphax (Reitter)].Histeridae are now known for four national states (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and Kuwait), while there are no records for Qatar or United Arab Emirates. An updated comprehensive catalogue of the histerid fauna of the Arabian Peninsula is provided.Analysis of faunal affinities shows that it mostly consists of Palearctic species (24 species, equal to 35.9%), followed by Afrotropical and Afrotropico-Mediterranean species (22 species, 32.8%), and cosmopolitan/subcosmopolitan species (7 species, 10.4%); endemics stand at 5 species (7.5%), while species of undefined chorology at 9 (13.4%). On the whole these numbers fit well the largely accepted biogeographical assumption that indicates the Arabian Peninsula as a transitional zone between the Regions Palearctic, Afrotropic and, to a lesser degree, Indo-Malay (e.g., Büttiker 1979). Moreover, a distinctive distributional pattern has been recognised: “Afrotropical” Histeridae are almost exclusively present in the southern and south-western parts of the peninsula, while “Palearctic” Histeridae are mostly present in the inner central and south-eastern parts of the peninsula.Finally, the synonymy Saprinus (Saprinus) osiris Marseul, 1862 = Saprinus (Saprinus) ornatus Erichson, 1834 stated by Müller (1933), but neglected by Mazur (1976, 1984, 1994, 1997), is considered valid.

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Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from Slovenia, with descrip-tion of a new Aphidius species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3456.1.2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3456 (1) ◽

pp. 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

KATARINA KOS ◽

STANISLAV TRDAN ◽

ANDJELJKO PETROVIĆ ◽

PETR STARÝ ◽

NICKOLAS G. KAVALLIERATOS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Plants ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Mediterranean Species ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Eastern Deciduous Forest ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Faunal Complexes ◽

Far Eastern ◽

First Time ◽

Tamarix Gallica

Over the period 2006–2010, 40 species of primary parasitoids belonging to eleven genera were found and reared from 50 species of host aphids, from a total of 106 host plants collected from 62 localities all around Slovenia. Over 230 tritrophic associations have been reviewed, including four associations which are reported for the first time; Ephedrus plagiator/ Staticobium limonii/ Limonium angustifolium, Praon necans/ Staticobium limonii/ Limonium angustifolium, Aphidius sussi/Delphinobium sp./Aconitum maximum and Ephedrus persicae/Brachyunguis tamaricis/ Tamarix gallica. The parasitoid species from Slovenia have been grouped in seven faunal complexes according to their origin, e.g. 11 species from European deciduous forest, 3 species from Far Eastern deciduous forest, 20 species from Eurasian Steppes, 1 Mediterranean species, 2 species from Holarctic Forest Tundra, 2 species from Boreal Europe, and 1 Nearctic species. Also, a new aphid parasitoid species Aphidius staticobii sp.n. Tomanović and Petrović has been described from the association Staticobium limonii/ Limonium angustifolium.

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