scholarly journals Bat Species Richness and Community Composition along a Mega-transect in the Okavango River Basin

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina M. Weier ◽  
Mark Keith ◽  
Götz G. Neef ◽  
Daniel M. Parker ◽  
Peter J. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Miombo Woodlands ◽  
Human Land Use ◽  
Functional Community ◽  
Okavango River

The Okavango River Basin is a hotspot of bat diversity that requires urgent and adequate protection. To advise future conservation strategies, we investigated the relative importance of a range of potential environmental drivers of bat species richness and functional community composition in the Okavango River Basin. During annual canoe transects along the major rivers, originating in the central Angolan highlands, we recorded more than 25,000 bat echolocation calls from 2015 to 2018. We corrected for possible biases in sampling design and effort. Firstly, we conducted rarefaction analyses of each survey year and sampling appeared to be complete, apart from 2016. Secondly, we used total activity as a measure of sample effort in mixed models of species richness. Species richness was highest in the Angola Miombo Woodlands and at lower elevations, with higher minimum temperatures. In total, we identified 31 individual bat species. We show that even when acoustic surveys are conducted in remote areas and over multiple years, it is possible to correct for biases and obtain representative richness estimates. Changes in habitat heterogeneity will have detrimental effects on the high richness reported here and human land-use change, specifically agriculture, must be mediated in a system such as the Angolan Miombo Woodland.

scholarly journals α- and β-Diversity Patterns of Macrophytes and Freshwater Fishes are Driven by Different Factors and Processes in Lakes of the Unexplored Southern Balkan Biodiversity Hotspot

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1984
Author(s):  
Anthi Oikonomou ◽  
Konstantinos Stefanidis
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Compositional Variation ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Α Diversity

Disentangling the main drivers of species richness and community composition is a central theme in ecology. Freshwater biodiversity patterns have been poorly explored; yet, it has been shown that different freshwater biota have different, often contrasting responses to environmental gradients. In this study, we investigated the relative contribution of geographical and environmental (habitat-, climate- and water quality-related) factors/gradients in shaping the α- and β-diversity patterns of macrophytes and fish in sixteen natural freshwater lakes of an unexplored Balkan biodiversity hotspot, the Southern Balkan Peninsula. We employed generalized linear modeling to identify drivers of α-diversity, and generalized dissimilarity modeling to explore commonalities and dissimilarities of among-biota β-diversity. Species richness of both biota was significantly associated with lake surface area, whereas macrophytes had an inverse response to altitude, compared to fish. Both species turnover and nestedness significantly contributed to the total β-diversity of macrophytes. In contrast, species turnover was the most significant contributor to the total fish β-diversity. We found that the compositional variation of macrophytes is primarily limited by dispersal and ultimately shaped by environmental drivers, resulting in spatially structured assemblages. Fish communities were primarily shaped by altitude, highlighting the role of species sorting. We conclude that among-biota diversity patterns are shaped by different/contrasting factors, and, thus, effective/sustainable conservation strategies should encompass multiple aquatic biota.

scholarly journals Avian Breeding Season Diversity and Community Composition in Camden White Gum and Slash Pine Plantations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J Messick ◽  
Christopher E Comer ◽  
Michael A Blazier ◽  
T Bently Wigley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Pinus Elliottii ◽  
The United States ◽  
Slash Pine ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantation ◽  
Short Rotation Woody Crops ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantations

Abstract In the southern United States, some landowners have established plantations of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) and are managing them on short rotations (<15 years) to provide wood for fiber and other potential uses. Establishment of short-rotation woody crops dominated by nonnative species has implications for resident fauna in the United States that are largely unknown. We compared avifauna abundance, diversity, and community composition in newly established Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii) plantations with slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations of the same age and height (one to two and six to seven years old, respectively) in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Species richness, diversity, and community composition in newly established eucalyptus plantations and six- to seven-year-old pines were similar. More birds were observed, and bird detections varied less in eucalyptus plantations. Indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) and other shrub-associated species were detected more often in eucalyptus stands. In contrast, species that inhabit herbaceous-dominated communities, such as eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), or that were associated with a dense graminoid community (e.g., Bachman’s sparrow [Peucaea aestivalis]) were detected less often in eucalyptus. Overall, breeding bird communities in eucalyptus plantations one to two years postestablishment differed little from plantations dominated by slash pine. Study Implications Compared with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Englem) plantations of similar age and height (one to two years and six to seven years old, respectively) we found one- to two-year-old eucalyptus (Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage) plantations supported similar avian species richness and diversity to six- to seven-year-old pine stands. Furthermore, we found these eucalyptus plantations (E13) supported an avian community that was intermediate to similar aged pine (S13) and pine of similar height (S08). However, avian communities will likely change as eucalyptus plantations age (Christian et al. 1997). Continued monitoring and assessment of community composition, richness, and abundance is important for determining the magnitude of this change. Future investigations focused on nest success, fecundity, postfledging monitoring, and survivorship compared with other types of planted forests and native cover types would help us better understand eucalyptus plantation effects on avifauna demographics (Van Horne 1983, Martin 1998, Jones 2001, Wood et al. 2004, Sage et al. 2006, Riffell et al. 2011).

scholarly journals Genetic Investigation of Four Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso, L.) Broodstocks for its Reintroduction in the Po River Basin

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Caterina M. Antognazza ◽  
Isabella Vanetti ◽  
Vanessa De Santis ◽  
Adriano Bellani ◽  
Monica Di Francesco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Huso Huso ◽  
Po River ◽  
Beluga Sturgeon ◽  
Po River Basin

The reintroduction of the extinct beluga sturgeon (Huso huso L.), an anadromous species with economic and traditional relevance, is a priority in next conservation strategies in Northern Italy. The EU-LIFE NATURA project aims to reintroduce the beluga sturgeon in the Po River basin through a captive breeding program. Critical requirements for the success of the program are river connectivity and knowledge of genetic diversity of the selected broodstocks to ensure self-sustainability of reintroduced populations. Here, the four broodstocks used for the reintroduction of beluga sturgeon have been genetically screened, genotyping 13 loci and sequencing mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene and the entire mitochondrial DNA control region (D-Loop). The four broodstocks showed a medium-high level of nuclear genetic variability and the presence of two sub-populations, evidencing a total level of inbreeding coefficients able to sustain the good potential as future breeders. Mitochondrial analyses showed a genetic variability comparable to wild populations, further strengthening the positive potential of the investigated broodstock. Therefore, this study, showed how the degree of genetic diversity found within the four broodstocks used for H. huso reintroduction in the Po River basin could be suitable to ensure the success of the program, avoiding the inbreeding depression associated with founder effect and captive breeding.

Patterns of fish species richness in the Seine River basin, France

Hydrobiologia ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Oberdorff ◽  
Eric Guilbert ◽  
Jean-Claude Lucchetta
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Seine River ◽  
Seine River Basin

scholarly journals Plant community composition and species richness in the High Arctic tundra: From the present to the future

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (23) ◽  
pp. 10233-10242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Nabe-Nielsen ◽  
Signe Normand ◽  
Francis K. C. Hui ◽  
Laerke Stewart ◽  
Christian Bay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Arctic Tundra ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Plant Community Composition ◽  
The Future

scholarly journals Nitrate leaching in irrigated inorganic agriculture: A case study of Mashare commercial farm in Namibia, Okavango River Basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (31) ◽  
pp. 2871-2881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vushe Andrea ◽  
von Landsberg Loffie ◽  
Groengroeft Alexander ◽  
A Mashauri Damas
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Commercial Farm ◽  
Okavango River

scholarly journals Increased mosquito abundance and species richness in Connecticut, United States 2001–2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya A. Petruff ◽  
Joseph R. McMillan ◽  
John J. Shepard ◽  
Theodore G. Andreadis ◽  
Philip M. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Total Species

Abstract Historical declines in multiple insect taxa have been documented across the globe in relation to landscape-level changes in land use and climate. However, declines have either not been universally observed in all regions or examined for all species. Because mosquitoes are insects of public health importance, we analyzed a longitudinal mosquito surveillance data set from Connecticut (CT), United States (U.S.) from 2001 to 2019 to identify changes in mosquito community composition over time. We first analyzed annual site-level collections and metrics of mosquito community composition with generalized linear/additive mixed effects models; we also examined annual species-level collections using the same tools. We then examined correlations between statewide collections and weather variables as well as site-level collections and land cover classifications. We found evidence that the average trap night collection of mosquitoes has increased by ~ 60% and statewide species richness has increased by ~ 10% since 2001. Total species richness was highest in the southern portion of CT, likely due to the northward range expansion of multiple species within the Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Psorophora genera. How the expansion of mosquito populations in the northeast U.S. will alter mosquito-borne pathogen transmission in the region will require further investigation.

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