scholarly journals Variation in Seagrass-Associated Macroinvertebrate Communities Along the Gulf Coast of Peninsular Florida: An Exploration of Patterns and Ecological Consequences

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savanna C. Barry ◽  
A. Challen Hyman ◽  
Charles A. Jacoby ◽  
Laura K. Reynolds ◽  
Michal Kowalewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Estuarine Systems

Seagrasses form vast meadows of structurally complex habitat that support faunal communities with greater numbers of species and individuals than nearby unstructured habitats. The Gulf coast of peninsular Florida represents a natural laboratory ideally suited to the study of processes that shape seagrass-associated invertebrate and fish communities within meadows of a single species of seagrass, Thalassia testudinum. This suitability arises from a pronounced structural and chemical gradient that exists over ecologically relevant spatial and temporal scales, as revealed by extensive monitoring of water quality and seagrass. We hypothesized that seagrass-associated invertebrate communities would vary across five estuarine systems spread along a spatial gradient in phosphorus concentration, an important driver of seagrass and phytoplankton growth in this region. The quantitative results based on data acquired at 25 stations (75 samples, 52,086 specimens, and 161 taxa) indicated that each of the five estuarine systems were distinct with regard to species composition and differences among systems were driven by abundant or relatively common species. In addition, we found evidence to indicate food webs in seagrass meadows along this gradient may differ, especially in the relative dominance of algal grazers and predatory invertebrates. These changes in species composition and trophic roles could be driven by phosphorus directly, through increases in rates of primary production with higher concentrations of phosphorus, or indirectly, through nutrient-mediated changes in the physical structure of the seagrass canopy. Our results suggest that differences in the habitat created by T. testudinum under differing phosphorus supplies lead to ecologically significant shifts in macroinvertebrate communities.

scholarly journals Fish from urban tributaries to the Vermelho River, upper Paraguay River Basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Check List ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valdeci Antonio de Oliveira ◽  
Lucia Aparecida Mateus ◽  
Simoni Loverde-Oliveira ◽  
William Pietro-Souza
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Urban Streams ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Paraguay River ◽  
Fish Species Composition

The fish fauna of urban streams is still poorly known, it difficult to assess the effects of urbanization expansion on fish species composition, for this reason the aim of this study was to provide a checklist of species that compose the ichthyofauna of six urban streams, tributaries to the Vermelho River, upper Paraguay River Basin, Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The samples were performed with seine nets on a spatial gradient of 75 m, and with sieves for a period of 15 minutes in each site. A total of 56 species belonging to five orders, Characiformes, Siluriformes, Gymnotiformes, Cyprinodontiformes, and Perciformes, 21 families and 44 genera were sampled. The most common species were Astyanax asuncionensis Géry, 1972, Astyanax abramis (Jenyns, 1842), Odontostilbe pequira (Steindachner, 1882), Odontostilbe paraguayensis Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903, Characidium zebra Eigenmann, 1909 and Hypostomus sp. This checklist brings additional knowledge on fish that inhabit tributaries to the major rivers of northern Pantanal.

Ecological processes maintaining differential tree species distributions in an Australian subtropical rain forest: implications for models of species coexistence

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Debski ◽  
David F. R. P. Burslem ◽  
David Lamb
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Differential Mortality ◽  
Mixed Composition ◽  
Large Scale Disturbance

All stems ≥ 1 cm dbh were measured, tagged, mapped and identified on a 1-ha plot of rain forest at Gambubal State Forest, south-east Queensland, Australia. The spatial patterns and size class distributions of 11 common tree species on the plot were assessed to search for mechanisms determining their distribution and abundance. The forest was species-poor in comparison to many lowland tropical forests and the common species are therefore present at relatively high densities. Despite this, only limited evidence was found for the operation of density-dependent processes at Gambubal. Daphnandra micrantha saplings were clumped towards randomly spaced adults, indicating a shift of distribution over time caused by differential mortality of saplings in these adult associated clumps. Ordination of the species composition in 25-m × 25-m subplots revealed vegetation gradients at that scale, which corresponded to slope across the plot. Adult basal area was dominated by a few large individuals of Sloanea woollsii but the comparative size class distributions and replacement probabilities of the 11 common species suggest that the forest will undergo a transition to a more mixed composition if current conditions persist. The current cohort of large S. woollsii individuals probably established after a large-scale disturbance event and the forest has not attained an equilibrium species composition.

scholarly journals Squamata reptiles of a fragment of tropical dry forest in northwestern Venezuela (Lake Maracaibo region)

Check List ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junior T. Larreal ◽  
Gilson A. Rivas ◽  
Carlos Portillo-Quintero ◽  
Tito R. Barros
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
Maracaibo Basin ◽  
Lake Maracaibo

We present a commented taxonomic list of the reptiles found during herpetological surveys carried out in an isolated fragment of tropical dry forest located in the municipality of San Francisco, Zulia state, northwestern Venezuela between January-December 2011. We report a total of 24 species belonging to the order Squamata, distributed in 12 families and 21 genera. Colubridae is the most diverse family with six species, followed by Dipsadidae (four species), Boidae, Gymnophthalmidae, Phyllodactylidae and Teiidae with two species each, and finally Dactyloidae, Iguanidae, Elapidae, Gekkonidae, Sphaerodactylidae and Viperidae with a single species each. The species composition at this site matches what would be expected in a tropical dry forest in the region. Our study suggests that this isolated tropical dry forest fragment is the last refuge of the herpetofauna that once occupied much of the dry forests of the northern Maracaibo basin and should therefore be considered for conservation purposes.

Distribution of moss-inhabiting diatoms along an altitudinal gradient at sub-Antarctic Îles Kerguelen

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niek J.M. Gremmen ◽  
Bart van de Vijver ◽  
Yves Frenot ◽  
Marc Lebouvier
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Cross Validation ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Diatom Species ◽  
Expected Species Richness

Altitudinal gradients provide excellent opportunities to study relationships between species distribution and climatic variables. We studied the species composition of 39 samples of moss-inhabiting diatoms, collected at 50 m intervals from 100–650 m above sea level. The samples contained a total of 130 diatom species, of which 51 occurred in 10 or more samples. Altitude appeared to be the most important variable explaining variation in species composition. Of the 51 common species, 33 showed a significant relationship with altitude. Although the majority of the latter declined with increasing altitude, for nine species the probability of occurrence first increased with increasing elevation, but decreased again at higher altitudes, and four species increased systematically with elevation. As a result, expected species richness per sample decreased from an estimated 43 at 100 m to 25 species per sample at 650 m. Diatom distribution patterns proved to be suitable predictors of the altitudinal position of sample sites. Cross-validation yielded a strong relationship between predicted and observed altitudes.

scholarly journals Generation and Characterization of Indoor Fungal Aerosols for Inhalation Studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 2479-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Mette Madsen ◽  
Søren T. Larsen ◽  
Ismo K. Koponen ◽  
Kirsten I. Kling ◽  
Afnan Barooni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Inhalation Exposure ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Exposure System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Water Damage

ABSTRACTIn the indoor environment, people are exposed to several fungal species. Evident dampness is associated with increased respiratory symptoms. To examine the immune responses associated with fungal exposure, mice are often exposed to a single species grown on an agar medium. The aim of this study was to develop an inhalation exposure system to be able to examine responses in mice exposed to mixed fungal species aerosolized from fungus-infested building materials. Indoor airborne fungi were sampled and cultivated on gypsum boards. Aerosols were characterized and compared with aerosols in homes. Aerosols containing 107CFU of fungi/m3air were generated repeatedly from fungus-infested gypsum boards in a mouse exposure chamber. Aerosols containedAspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus niger,Aspergillus ustus,Aspergillus versicolor,Chaetomium globosum,Cladosporiumherbarum,Penicillium brevicompactum,Penicillium camemberti,Penicillium chrysogenum,Penicillium commune,Penicillium glabrum,Penicillium olsonii,Penicillium rugulosum,Stachybotrys chartarum, andWallemia sebi. They were all among the most abundant airborne species identified in 28 homes. Nine species from gypsum boards and 11 species in the homes are associated with water damage. Most fungi were present as single spores, but chains and clusters of different species and fragments were also present. The variation in exposure level during the 60 min of aerosol generation was similar to the variation measured in homes. Through aerosolization of fungi from the indoor environment, cultured on gypsum boards, it was possible to generate realistic aerosols in terms of species composition, concentration, and particle sizes. The inhalation-exposure system can be used to study responses to indoor fungi associated with water damage and the importance of fungal species composition.

scholarly journals Ecology of Cladocera species from Central America based on subfossil assemblages

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1S) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Wojewódka ◽  
Edyta Zawisza ◽  
Sergio Cohuo ◽  
Laura Macario-González ◽  
Antje Schwalb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Central America ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Quantitative Composition ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Mountain Regions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Lowland Lakes

<p>Cladocera species composition was analyzed in surface sediments of 29 lakes in Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras). The material studied was collected with an Ekman grab in autumn 2013 from lakes located in lowland, highland and mountain regions. The study revealed high variability in qualitative and quantitative composition of subfossil Cladocera. A total of 31 Cladocera species (5 planktonic and 26 littoral) were identified, as well as 4 morphotypes that could not be identified (NRR<em> </em>1-4). Planktonic Bosminidae<em> </em>and<em> </em>Daphniidae were the most abundant families. Daphniidae were restricted to water bodies in mountain regions, whereas Bosminidae were widely distributed in lakes with different abiotic conditions. Moreover, Bosminidae species also occurred in highly mineralized waters (&gt; 900 µS cm<sup>-1</sup>). The great majority of the identified Cladocera species belonged to the littoral family Chydoridae. <em>Chydorus </em>cf.<em> sphaericus</em> was the most common species (found in 20 lakes), which probably reflects its tolerance to a wide spectrum of habitat conditions. Cluster analysis discriminated 6 groups of Cladocera species with a high correlation level within groups (≥0.8), which showed different types of correlation with lake characteristics and environmental variables. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that altitude and secondly water electrical conductivity were the most important drivers of Cladocera species composition in the region studied. Furthermore, CCA analysis indicated lowland lakes with low water transparency were also characterized by peculiar species assemblages. <strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals Ecology of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a restricted focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis en Northern Venezuela: I. Description of the study area, catching methods and species composition

1987 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dora Feliciangeli
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Phlebotomine Sandfly ◽  
Phlebotomine Sandflies ◽  
The Common ◽  
Catching Methods

A study on the ecology of phlebotomine sandfly fauna in a restricted focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Venezuela was undertaken in order to investigate the species responsible for the transmission. The study area and catching methods for phlebotomine sandflies are described. A total of 9,061 females and 1,662 males were collected during a year-term study. 12 species of Lutzomya and 1 species of Brumptomya sp. were identified. Absolute and relative abundance and ocurrence for each species were determined. The rel ative occurrence allowed to distinguish the common species, viz. L. panamensis, L. ovallesi, L. gomezi, L. tinidadensis, L. atroclavata, L. cayennensis, L. shannoni and L. olmeca bicolor from the rare species vis., L. punctigeniculata, L. rangeliana, L. evansi and L. dubitans. General comments on the species composition of the sandfly fauna in this locality are made.

scholarly journals Calibrating a global three-dimensional biogeochemical ocean model (MOPS-1.0)

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Kriest ◽  
Volkmar Sauerland ◽  
Samar Khatiwala ◽  
Anand Srivastav ◽  
Andreas Oschlies
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Biogeochemical Model ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Ocean Models ◽  
Biogeochemical Tracers ◽  
Parameter Values

Abstract. Global biogeochemical ocean models contain a variety of different biogeochemical components and often much simplified representations of complex dynamical interactions, which are described by many ( ≈ 10 to  ≈ 100) parameters. The values of many of these parameters are empirically difficult to constrain, due to the fact that in the models they represent processes for a range of different groups of organisms at the same time, while even for single species parameter values are often difficult to determine in situ. Therefore, these models are subject to a high level of parametric uncertainty. This may be of consequence for their skill with respect to accurately describing the relevant features of the present ocean, as well as their sensitivity to possible environmental changes. We here present a framework for the calibration of global biogeochemical ocean models on short and long timescales. The framework combines an offline approach for transport of biogeochemical tracers with an estimation of distribution algorithm (Covariance Matrix Adaption Evolution Strategy, CMA-ES). We explore the performance and capability of this framework by five different optimizations of six biogeochemical parameters of a global biogeochemical model, simulated over 3000 years. First, a twin experiment explores the feasibility of this approach. Four optimizations against a climatology of observations of annual mean dissolved nutrients and oxygen determine the extent to which different setups of the optimization influence model fit and parameter estimates. Because the misfit function applied focuses on the large-scale distribution of inorganic biogeochemical tracers, parameters that act on large spatial and temporal scales are determined earliest, and with the least spread. Parameters more closely tied to surface biology, which act on shorter timescales, are more difficult to determine. In particular, the search for optimum zooplankton parameters can benefit from a sound knowledge of maximum and minimum parameter values, leading to a more efficient optimization. It is encouraging that, although the misfit function does not contain any direct information about biogeochemical turnover, the optimized models nevertheless provide a better fit to observed global biogeochemical fluxes.

scholarly journals Interannual variation in the metazoan parasite communities of bigeye trevally Caranx sexfasciatus (Pisces, Carangidae)

Parasite ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Violante-González ◽  
Scott Monks ◽  
Yesenia Gallegos-Navarro ◽  
Nataly G. Santos-Bustos ◽  
Princessa J. Villalba-Vasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Metazoan Parasites ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Local Fluctuations ◽  
Low Diversity ◽  
Abiotic Environmental Factors

Parasite communities in Caranx sexfasciatus were characterized and analyzed to determine any interannual variations in structure and/or species composition. In total, 422 C. sexfasciatus were collected from Acapulco Bay, Mexico, between May 2016 and March 2019. Thirty-two taxa of metazoan parasites were identified: five Monogenea, thirteen Digenea, one Acanthocephala, one Cestoda, three Nematoda, seven Copepoda, and two Isopoda. Monogeneans were the most frequent and abundant parasite species in all sampling years. Parasite species richness at the component community level varied significantly from 8 (May 2016) to 25 (March 2019) and was similar to previous reports for other species of Carangidae. The component communities and infracommunities in C. sexfasciatus were characterized by low parasite species numbers, low diversity, and dominance of a single species (the monogenean Neomicrocotyle pacifica). Parasite community structure and species composition varied between sampling years and climatic seasons. Seasonal or local fluctuations in some biotic and abiotic environmental factors probably explain these variations.

The effect of thermal effluent, before and after macrophyte harvesting, on standing crop and species composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Lake Wabamun, Alberta

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 3196-3205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Standing Crop ◽  
Tubifex Tubifex ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Plant Detritus ◽  
Chironomid Species ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Heated Area

The heated area of Lake Wabamun prior to macrophyte harvesting had higher submerged macrophyte production, greater amounts of plant detritus in the sediment, and a higher standing crop of benthic macroinvertebrates than the unheated area. Species composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was also much different in the heated area with the warmest areas supporting a community dominated by tubificid oligochaetes (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex), and the moderately heated areas supporting a community dominated by large Chironomus species (Chironomus plumosus and Chironomus atroviridis). Benthos of the unheated parts of the lake consisted mainly of smaller chironomid species such as Chironomus maturus, C. (cf.) staegeri, Polypedilum nubeculosum, Cladotanytarsus spp., and Tanytarsus spp. The heated area was subjected to mechanical macrophyte harvesting which removed the majority of the submerged macrophytes. This reduced the amount of plant detritus within the sediment and also the standing crop of benthic macroinvertebrates in the heated area. Species composition of the oligochaete-dominated community was not affected by harvesting. Species composition of the Chironomus-dominated area was greatly affected by harvesting and became more similar to that of the unheated area; densities of the large Chironomus species were reduced to low levels, while the densities of smaller chironomid species increased.

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