scholarly journals The influence of habitat type on the distribution of carabid beetles in traditionally managed “dehesa” ecosystems in NW Spain

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Taboada ◽  
Johan Kotze ◽  
José Salgado ◽  
Reyes Tárrega
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Nw Spain ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Traditional Management ◽  
Specialist Species

We investigated the responses of carabid beetles to habitat type at the local scale in traditionally managed “dehesa” ecosystems in NW Spain. The beetles were sampled from two habitat types (central grassland and surrounding forested zone) of five “dehesa” ecosystems, from May to October 2004. Atotal of 4,374 carabid individuals and 55 species were captured using pitfall trapping. Most of the species were collected from both habitat types, probably due to open spaces created between old-growth trees in the forested zone. Differences in carabid assemblage composition were found mainly due to Harpalus species characteristic from the central grassland and a few forest specialist species exclusively found in the forested zone. The maintenance of the “dehesa” structure may be of importance for carabid species adapted to the variety of habitats created, and requires the continuation of traditional management practices.

scholarly journals Pitfall trap efficiency: do trap size, collecting fluid and vegetation structure matter?

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Koivula ◽  
Johan Kotze ◽  
Laura Hiisivuori ◽  
Hannu Rita
Keyword(s):  
Propylene Glycol ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Trap Size

Apart from experimental design, the selection of pitfall trap size, collecting fluid and habitat type sampled may also influence the capture efficiency of the method. We combined three field studies from two very different geographic areas, in which the efficiency of pitfall traps, using carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is evaluated. First, we showed that ethylene-glycol is a more efficient collecting fluid compared to commercial anti-freeze, paraffin and salt water in collecting beetles in a forest patch in South Africa. Second, we showed that larger traps (90 mm mouth diameter) are more efficient in collecting carabids than small traps (65 mm) in a meadow in Finland. We also showed that for these large traps, commercial vinegar was a better collecting fluid than propylene-glycol, but that for small traps, propylene-glycol was superior to vinegar in collecting carabids. Finally, we showed that the trappability of Pterostichus oblongopunctatus and Carabus hortensis differed in enclosures placed into two different habitat types (a forest and a clear-cut in Finland), while trappability did not differ significantly for two other species (Calathus micropterus and Pterostichus niger) in these habitat types. However, for the two Pterostichus species studied, the catches in traps placed in the centre of the enclosures were slightly higher in the clear-cut, compared to the forest, and catches were higher in enclosures with rich field-layer vegetation, compared to enclosures with poor vegetation. The three studies re-emphasise the uncertainties of using pitfall traps in ecological studies. However, with careful planning and standardisation to help avoid erroneous interpretations, pitfall trapping is an invaluable method for the field ecologist.

scholarly journals A preliminary investigation of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages and vegetation community structure in Calluna vulgaris heathlands in NW Spain

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cuesta ◽  
Angela Taboada ◽  
Leonor Calvo ◽  
José Salgado
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Calluna Vulgaris ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Natural Evolution ◽  
Nw Spain

We present results of a primary survey of carabid beetles in Calluna vulgaris heathlands in the Cantabrian mountain range, NW Spain. We selected four heathland sites and captured carabids during July–August 2004 by randomly placing 48 pitfall traps per site (192 traps in total). The mature heathland carabid assemblage was mostly characterised by generalist, open habitat species, brachypterous andmedium-sized species. Several endemic species were also found. Dominant species were the same in the four heathland sites, but differences in the total number of species were due to rarely collected ones. Differences in carabid assemblage composition between heathland sites indicate that care should be taken when selecting a priori heathland replicates for future research. Results from this study are mainly exploratory, showing that there is a characteristic carabid assemblage for these mature heathlands, different from other shrub communities of the same area. Preservation of heathlands in amature stage would require management practices to avoid its natural evolution to a degenerative phase and the possible disappearance of the adapted carabid species.

Effect of habitat type and pitfall trap installation on captures of epigaeic arthropod assemblages in the boreal forest

2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Colin Bergeron ◽  
John R. Spence ◽  
W. Jan A. Volney ◽  
Jaime Pinzon ◽  
Dustin J. Hartley
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Ecosystem Classification

AbstractIt is unrealistic to achieve high-resolution biodiversity inventories required to support local conservation strategies over large areas; however, benchmark associations between arthropods and ecosystem classification can support landscape scale biomonitoring. We investigated habitat associations of ground-dwelling spiders (Araneae), staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), and carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three forest ecosystems in northwestern Alberta, Canada and also studied the effect of variation in depth of pitfall trap installation on catch. Composition and diversity of all three taxa were correlated with the ecosystem classification map, and 20 species were strong indicators of particular habitats. The black spruce (Picea mariana(Miller) Britton, Sterns, and Poggenburg; Pinaceae) bog supported fewer species and individuals of beetles but this trend was not observed for spiders because of natural history traits associated with their performance in this environment. Pitfall trapping biases were constant among habitats enabling proper comparison of ground-dwelling invertebrate assemblages. Three species of beetles (Agonum retractumLeConte (Coleoptera: Carabidae),Pterostichus brevicornis(Kirby) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), andQuedius veloxSmetana (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)) were disproportionally active beneath the soil surface, as catches were greater in pitfall traps with the lip situated 15–25 cm below the soil surface. Thus, even highly standardised trap placement will influence the concept of biodiversity achieved through pitfall trapping, because some target organisms are disproportionately active in subterranean zones.

Biodiversity of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae) across a tallgrass prairie – aspen forest ecotone in southern Manitoba

2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Roughley ◽  
Darren A. Pollock ◽  
David J. Wade
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Aspen Forest ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Forest Ecotone

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess the similarities and differences between selected bioindicator groups within tallgrass prairie and adjacent aspen forest. Based on pitfall trapping from 1998 to 2000, species richness and abundance of ground beetles and spiders were examined across a tallgrass prairie – aspen forest ecotone located near Winnipeg, Manitoba. The abundance of spiders and ground beetles was higher in the forested portion of the transect than in the prairie section. There were 639 specimens of ground beetles collected, representing 53 species; 19 species were found only on the prairie, 19 species were found only in the forest, and 15 species were found in both habitats, although the abundance of most species was too low to confidently assign them to either habitat type. Excluding single records in any sampling year yielded 9 prairie species, 5 forest species, and 10 species found in both aspen forest and tallgrass prairie. The five most abundant species of ground beetles were Agonum placidum (Say), Pterostichus caudicalis (Say), P. femoralis (Kirby), P. melanarius (Illiger), and Synuchus impunctatus (Say). There were 4499 specimens of spiders collected, representing 92 species; 25 species were found only in the prairie, 15 species were unique to the aspen forest, and 52 species were found in both habitats. Excluding single records in any sampling year yielded 26 prairie species, 15 forest species, and 22 species found in both habitats. The five most abundant species of spiders were Pardosa moesta Banks, P. distincta (Blackwall), Agroeca ornata Banks, Centromerus sylvaticus (Blackwall), and Alopecosa aculeata (Clerck). Our study concurs with other studies in demonstrating that there are distinct assemblages of both groups of predators in each of the two habitat types.

scholarly journals Habitat and Landform Types Drive the Distribution of Carabid Beetles at High Altitudes

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Mauro Gobbi ◽  
Marco Armanini ◽  
Teresa Boscolo ◽  
Roberta Chirichella ◽  
Valeria Lencioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Taxonomic Distinctness ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Sampling Points

The high altitude mountain slopes of the Dolomites (Italian Alps) are characterized by great habitat and landform heterogeneities. In this paper, we investigated the effect of a Nature 2000 habitat and landform types in driving the high altitude ground beetle (Carabidae) distribution in the Western Dolomites (Brenta group, Italy). We studied the carabid assemblages collected in 55 sampling points distributed in four Nature 2000 habitat types and four landform types located between 1860 and 2890 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Twenty-two species, half of them Alpine endemics, were sampled. Species richness and taxonomic distinctness did not show any significant difference among habitat types; conversely, these differences became significant when the landform type was considered. Total activity density and the frequency of brachypterous, endemic and predatory species showed significant differences between both habitat and landform types. An indicator species analysis identified twelve species linked to a specific habitat type and thirteen species linked to a specific landform type. A canonical correspondence analysis showed that altitude and vegetation cover drove the species distribution in each habitat and landform type while the aspect had a weak effect. Our results highlight the need for a geomorphological characterization of the sampling points when high altitude ground-dwelling arthropods are investigated.

scholarly journals Ground-dwelling arthropod response to fire and clearcutting in jack pine: implications for ecosystem management

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1614-1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A. Venier ◽  
T.T. Work ◽  
J. Klimaszewski ◽  
D.M. Morris ◽  
J.J. Bowden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
Forest Floor Disturbance

We tested the response of species composition of three dominant litter-dwelling arthropod taxa (carabid beetles, spiders, and rove beetles) to wildfire and harvest. This study was conducted in north-central Ontario (47°42′N, 83°36′W) in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) dominated stands in 2013 using pitfall trapping. Using 222 species (12 015 individuals), we compared the effects of disturbance using recently burned (3 years since fire) and clearcut sites (3 years since harvest; tree length, full tree, stump removal, and blading), as well as older, closed-canopy stands that have regenerated following clearcutting (51 years since harvest) and fire (92 years since fire), with multivariate regression trees. Taxa were more similar in the three controls (including recent fire) than between controls and harvest treatments, with increased forest floor disturbance in harvested plots being a likely explanation. In addition, taxa were different in the younger (51 years) harvest-origin plots than in the older (92 years) fire-origin plots, suggesting that communities had not yet recovered from the harvest disturbance possibly due to insufficient coarse woody debris in the younger stand. These results indicate that forest management practices that match natural forest floor disturbance could ameliorate short-term effects, whereas the maintenance of more coarse woody debris could reduce the recovery time of epigaeic communities.

scholarly journals Do the assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates in nearshore waters of Western Australia vary among habitat types, zones and seasons?

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.D. Wildsmith ◽  
I.C. Potter ◽  
F.J. Valesini ◽  
M.E. Platell
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Environmental Characteristics ◽  
Deposit Feeding ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled seasonally in the subtidal and upper and lower swash zones at two sites in each of six nearshore habitat types on the lower west coast of Australia. The habitat types, which differed mainly in the extent of their exposure to wave activity and whether sea grass and/or nearshore reefs were present, had been distinguished quantitatively using values for a suite of seven statistically-selected enduring environmental characteristics (Valesini et al., 2003). The core samples yielded 121 species representing eight phyla, among which the Polychaeta, Malacostraca and Bivalvia were the most speciose classes, contributing ∼38, 23 and 10%, respectively, to the total number of individuals. The total number of species and mean density of macroinvertebrates at the most protected habitat type (1), i.e. 70 and 209·2 individuals 0·1 m−2, respectively, were far greater than in any other habitat type. Habitat type influenced species composition to a greater extent than either zone or season. Furthermore, the extents of the differences among the species compositions of the six habitat types statistically matched the extents of the differences among the values for the suite of enduring environmental characteristics that distinguished each of those habitat types. Overall, the species composition at habitat type 1 was the most distinct, containing five abundant species of polychaetes that were adapted to deposit-feeding in calm waters with high levels of organic material and which were rare in all other habitat types. In contrast, the fauna at the most exposed habitat type was characterized by four crustacean species and a species of bivalve and polychaete, whose mobility and tough external surface facilitated their survival and feeding in turbulent waters. The zonal differences in faunal compositions among habitat types were greatest in the case of the subtidal zone. The faunal compositions differed among zones and seasons only at the most protected habitat type.

Distribution and habitat preference of protected reindeer lichen species (Cladonia arbuscula, C. mitis and C. rangiferina) in the Balaton Uplands (Hungary)

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-282
Author(s):  
Mónika Sinigla ◽  
Erzsébet Szurdoki ◽  
László Lőkös ◽  
Dénes Bartha ◽  
István Galambos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Cladonia Rangiferina

AbstractThe maintenance of protected lichen species and their biodiversity in general depends on good management practices based on their distribution and habitat preferences. To date, 10 of the 17 protected lichen species of Hungary have been recorded in the Bakony Mts including the Balaton Uplands region. Habitat preferences of three protected Cladonia species (C. arbuscula, C. mitis and C. rangiferina) growing on underlying rocks of red sandstone, basalt, Pannonian sandstone and gravel were investigated by detailed sampling. We recorded aspect, underlying rock type, soil depth, pH and CaCO3 content, habitat type (as defined by the General National Habitat Classification System Á-NÉR), all species of lichen, bryophyte and vascular plants as well as percentage cover of exposed rock, total bryophytes, lichens, vascular plants and canopy, degree of disturbance and animal impacts. Sporadic populations of these species mostly exist at the top of hills and mountains in open acidofrequent oak forests, but they may occur in other habitats, such as closed acidofrequent oak forests, slope steppes on stony soils, siliceous open rocky grasslands, open sand steppes, wet and mesic pioneer scrub and dry Calluna heaths. Cladonia rangiferina was found to grow beneath higher canopy cover than either C. arbuscula or C. mitis in the Balaton Uplands. Furthermore, there were significant differences in canopy cover between occupied and unoccupied quadrats in the case of all three species. Cladonia rangiferina is a good indicator species of natural habitats in Hungary due to its restricted distribution and low ecological tolerance. These results may lead to the adoption of effective conservation methods (e.g. game exclusion, artificial dispersal) in the future.

scholarly journals Recent Invasion of the Endemic Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni at The Strait of Bali: Assessment of the Habitat Type and Population Structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Nyoman Giri Putra ◽  
I Dewa Nyoman Nurweda Putra
Keyword(s):  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Marine Organisms ◽  
Aquarium Trade ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Weight Relationship ◽  
Narrow Bay ◽  
Sexually Mature

The demands of marine organisms for the aquarium trade are remain high and seems continue to increase. Consequently, many of marine organisms has been spread out from its natural habitat as in the case of endemic Banggai cardinalfish, (Pterapogon kauderni). That has invaded “new” habitat since it being trade in 1995. In recent years, a small populations of P. kauderni is known to be exist in a narrow bay near the Gilimanuk harbor, Bali. An underwater visual fish census survey was conducted on June 2018 to estimate the habitat types and densities of P. kauderni.  Additionally, 23 specimens of P. kauderni were collected randomly in order to assess biological parameters such as the length-weight relationship. We successfully recorded 30 groups of P. kauderni that inhabit a shallow areas with a depth range between 0.5m to 2m. Of these, more than 90% of the groups were found to be associated with sea urchin (Diadema sp.) while the rest were found to live together with branching coral (Acropora sp.) and branching sponge (Ptylocaulis sp.). Total number of fish observed during the survey were 381 individuals. The fish density is 0.76 individu.m-2. Length-weight relationship showed that P. kauderni exhibit is negative allometry (b<3) which mean that the increase in length is faster than the weight gain. Interestingly, from the 23 specimens collected, none of these were sexually mature (SL<41 mm) which may indicated that the population of P. kauderni in Bali are under serious threats of exploitation.     

scholarly journals Diet of otters (Lutra lutra) in various habitat types in the Pannonian biogeographical region compared to other regions of Europe

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2266 ◽  
Author(s):  
József Lanszki ◽  
István Lehoczky ◽  
Antoinette Kotze ◽  
Michael J. Somers
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Type ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Lutra Lutra ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Biogeographical Region ◽  
Study Sites

Knowledge of the effect of habitat type and region on diet and feeding behaviours of a species facilitates a better understanding of factors impacting populations, which contributes to effective conservation management. Using spraint analysis and relative frequency of occurrence data from the literature, we described the dietary patterns of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in 23 study sites within the Pannonian biogeographical region in Hungary. Our results indicated that diet composition varied by habitat type and is therefore context dependant. The differences among habitat types were however lower than expected. We noticed a decline in the fish consumption with a concomitant increase in trophic niche breadth and amphibian consumption in rivers, ponds (fish farms), backwaters, marshes and small watercourses. The main differences in diet were not attributed to the consumption of primary and secondary food types (fish and amphibians), but rather to differences in other, less important food types (mammals, birds). Using hierarchical cluster analysis, rivers and ponds could clearly be separated from other habitat types. We found the main fish diet of otters in most of these areas consisted of small (<100 g), eurytopic, littoral and non-native, mostly invasive species. Dietary studies from 91 sites in six European biogeographical regions showed that fish are consumed most frequently in the Atlantic and Boreal, less in the Continental and Pannonian, and least in the Alpine and Mediterranean regions. Comparative analysis indicated that the Mediterranean region (with frequent crayfish consumption) and Alpine region (frequent amphibian consumption) cluster separate from the other regions.

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