scholarly journals Diversity of Testate Amoebae as an Indicator of the Conservation Status of Peatlands in Southwest Europe

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Rafael Carballeira ◽  
Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Testate Amoebae ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Testate Amoeba ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Peat Formation

Testate amoebae are one of the most studied groups of microorganisms in Sphagnum peatland ecosystems and, therefore, one of the most reliable bioindicators of their ecological status. Peatland ecosystems are supported by a delicate biogeochemical balance that leads to the formation of peat, one of the main sinks of C, as a result of soil–atmosphere interaction, but currently they are one of the most threatened wetland types at their southern distribution limit. In the European continent, where climatic conditions limit peat formation, they have endured significant anthropic pressure for centuries, and the risk of loss of biodiversity linked to these ecosystems is critical. In addition, peatlands are poorly known ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula compared with other wetlands; therefore, we have studied the chemical parameters of water and the diversity patterns of testate amoebae in the western Iberian Peninsula to better understand the current status of these ecosystems. The analysis of testate amoeba communities showed an inverse relationship between the diversity and conservation status of these peatlands, both in relation to chemical parameters (i.e., pH, electrical conductivity, phosphates) and to the proportion of anthropized area, with a marked geographical pattern in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance.

scholarly journals Unveiling the conservation status of the sessile oak forest for their protection and management in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e70549
Author(s):  
Jordi Bou ◽  
Lluís Vilar
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Current Conservation ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Sessile Oak ◽  
Characteristic Species

The sessile oak forests found on the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula are ascribed to the Lathyro-Quercetumpetraeae association and play a key role in understanding the ecology of this habitat, as this region represents its xeric limit. For this reason, we analysed the biodiversity patterns and current conservation status of the sessile oak forests in the region. To do so, we collected Braun-Blanquet inventories of 34 plots randomly distributed throughout the sessile oak forests. The results showed a relationship between the climatic conditions and the biodiversity variables. While the richness of the community increased with decreasing temperatures, the characteristic species found within the community decreased at these same temperatures. This result was due to the presence of most companion species in the cool zones at high elevations.Sessile oaks are found close to other communities, such as silver birches and Scot pine forests.On the other hand, in the warm areas at low elevations, the sessile oak community was more established, with plants typical of this type of forest. These slightly warmer zones with sessile oaks are very important in terms of conservation and more vulnerable to climate change and the thermophilization of the community, as has been studied. As such, protecting and managing these forests is key to conserving this community. Nevertheless, as current protection measures do not safeguard most of these forests, it is essential to define a conservation strategy to preserve them. Using the conservation status, we have established criteria to improve the conservation strategy for sessile oak forest on the NE Iberian Peninsula.

scholarly journals Soil mesostigmatid mites as a potential tool for bioindication concerning ecological status of forest

Acarologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
Adina Călugăr
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Danube Delta ◽  
Gamasid Mite ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Horizontal And Vertical Distributions ◽  
Mite Communities

Free-living predatory mesostigmatid soil mites from five different forests from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) were analyzed in order to get information for defining the conservation status of the investigated sites. On the whole, in the five studied sites 32 species of Mesostigmata belonging to 22 genera and 11 families were recorded. The analyzed material includes new species of Romanian fauna as well as rare and less cited species from Romania. A quarter of the identified species were formerly found in the Danube Delta, two species being identified only within DDBR territory. The particular conditions of each stand (vegetation, type of soil etc.) as well as climatic conditions influence both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the structure of the mesostigmatid mites communities. Horizontal and vertical distributions and the aspects of demographic structure are discussed and the degree of similarity of the gamasid mite communities from the five sites were analyzed on the basis of specific composition and quantitative parameters.

Past testate amoeba communities in landslide mountain fens (Polish Carpathians): The relationship between shell types and sediment

The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362199464
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Marcisz ◽  
Krzysztof Buczek ◽  
Mariusz Gałka ◽  
Włodzimierz Margielewski ◽  
Matthieu Mulot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Testate Amoebae ◽  
Mineral Matter ◽  
Testate Amoeba ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Depth To Water Table ◽  
Polish Carpathians ◽  
The Relationship

Landslide mountain fens formed in landslide depressions are dynamic environments as their development is disturbed by a number of factors, for example, landslides, slopewash, and surface run-off. These processes lead to the accumulation of mineral material and wood in peat. Disturbed peatlands are interesting archives of past environmental changes, but they may be challenging for providing biotic proxy-based quantitative reconstructions. Here we investigate long-term changes in testate amoeba communities from two landslide mountain fens – so far an overlooked habitat for testate amoeba investigations. Our results show that abundances of testate amoebae are extremely low in this type of peatlands, therefore not suitable for providing quantitative depth-to-water table reconstructions. However, frequent shifts of dominant testate amoeba species reflect dynamic lithological situation of the studied fens. We observed that high and stable mineral matter input into the peatlands was associated with high abundances of species producing agglutinated (xenosomic) as well as idiosomic shells which prevailed in the testate amoeba communities in both analyzed profiles. This is the first study that explores testate amoebae of landslide mountain fens in such detail, providing novel information about microbial communities of these ecosystems.

scholarly journals BIOLOGICAL METHOD OF STRUGGLE AGAINST THE BASIC WRECKERS OF THE SWEET CORN IN R. OF MOLDOVA

1970 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asea Timus ◽  
N. Croitoru
Keyword(s):  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Biological Method ◽  
Trichogramma Evanescens ◽  
Biological Methods ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
The Given ◽  
Harmful Species

Every year, the demand of ecological products in the world is increasing more and more. Republic of Moldova also aspires to expand the areas of agricultural crops to get production with the "ecological" status. The sweet corn, is one of these cultures and every year the areas increase. However, because of the considerable develop of harmful insects on cultural fields, the damage reaches up to 15-20 % and more it is necessary to take measures of struggle. One of these, is a biological method and in this case it has appeared effective. For the period of sweet corn cultivation, excepting for the technology observance of cultivation of the given culture, there have been used biological methods of struggle against harmful insects. Depending on climatic conditions of each zone of the country where it is grown up this culture, different species of harmful insects develop. In R. Moldova, begining with year 2000, have been registered the following harmful species of insects on sweet corn: Aphis spp. (Aphididae); Agrotis spp. (Elateridae); Blaps halophila Fisch. (Tenebrionidae); Phylotreta spp. (Chrysomelidae); Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Noctuidae) Ostrinia nubilalis Hb. (Pyraustidae). The constant useful fauna which develops due to these harmful species is: Nabis spp. (Miridae); Chrysopa spp., (Chrysopidae); Coccinella spp. (Coccinelidae) and others. That is why, annually are let out individuals from species Trichogramma evanescens W., to reduce the number of harmful species H. armigera Hubner. This species annually damages on different cultures, including on sweet corn. The results on released trichogrammas in 2005, for struggle against harmful species H. armigera Hubner, are presented in this work.

scholarly journals Cladocera remains and vegetation types to assess the state of oxbows

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
István Gyulai ◽  
Csilla Lakatos ◽  
János Tamás Kundrát ◽  
Zsuzsanna Balogh ◽  
Edina Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Freshwater Lakes ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Cladocera Remains ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical And Chemical

We assessed the usefulness of Cladocera remains for establishing the ecological status of oxbows and also tested the association of Cladocera species with various vegetation types. Cladocera remains were collected from the surface sediment of four habitat types (tangled vegetation, open water, reeds and tunnels) and 15 physical and chemical parameters of surface water were studied. In the surface sediment samples, we identified 32 Cladocera taxa. There was a significant difference in the number of species amongst habitat types as per ANOVA. The benthic and plant associated Cladocera communities of reeds, tangled vegetation, open water and tunnels were clearly separated from each other by NMDS ordination. CCA showed that habitat types had characteristic Cladocera species: Pleuroxus species were frequent in the tangled vegetation habitat, while Chydorus species were frequent in the open water. Remarkably, in reeds, Bosmina species were frequent, although these species are usually common in open water. Specimens of the Alona genus were found everywhere. Our findings suggest that the remains of Cladocera species may be useful indicators to assess and monitor the structure of freshwater lakes.

scholarly journals Satellite Remote Sensing of Precipitation and the Terrestrial Water Cycle in a Changing Climate

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Levizzani ◽  
Elsa Cattani
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Water Vapor Transport ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Active Sensors ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Terrestrial Water ◽  
Life On Earth

The water cycle is the most essential supporting physical mechanism ensuring the existence of life on Earth. Its components encompass the atmosphere, land, and oceans. The cycle is composed of evaporation, evapotranspiration, sublimation, water vapor transport, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration and percolation, groundwater flow, and plant uptake. For a correct closure of the global water cycle, observations are needed of all these processes with a global perspective. In particular, precipitation requires continuous monitoring, as it is the most important component of the cycle, especially under changing climatic conditions. Passive and active sensors on board meteorological and environmental satellites now make reasonably complete data available that allow better measurements of precipitation to be made from space, in order to improve our understanding of the cycle’s acceleration/deceleration under current and projected climate conditions. The article aims to draw an up-to-date picture of the current status of observations of precipitation from space, with an outlook to the near future of the satellite constellation, modeling applications, and water resource management.

scholarly journals Aquatic Worm Assemblages along the Danube: A Homogenization Warning

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2612
Author(s):  
Ana Atanacković ◽  
Ferdinand Šporka ◽  
Vanja Marković ◽  
Jaroslav Slobodnik ◽  
Katarina Zorić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Danube River ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Longitudinal Surveys ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Main Factors

In this study, we analyzed the impacts of different environmental conditions on aquatic worm communities along the Danube River, based on two longitudinal surveys, the Joint Danube Surveys 2 and 3 (JDS; 2007 and 2013). We identified the most important environmental factors (among analyzed groups) that shape worm communities: hydromorphlogical alterations, flow velocity and substrate (HYMO group), dissolved oxygen, nitrates and nitrites (physico-chemical parameters), zinc and nickel (metals), monobutyltin cation, benzo(b) fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene, polychlorinated biphenyls PCB 77 and PCB 118 (selected chemical determinants—organotin compounds, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs and PCBs). A homogenization of species composition of Oligochaeta assemblages along the Danube was confirmed. As one of main factors related to biotic homogenization, hydromorphological alterations represented by similar changes in flow velocity and substrates along Danube’s course could be singled out. Our results indicate that Oligochaeta could be used for the identification of the level of hydromorphological degradation in large rivers (homogenization), rather than for stressors classified as nutrient and organic pollutants. Our results provide additional evidence in risk assessment of the environment, contributing in water management and monitoring of the ecological status as proposed by the Water Framework Directive.

Development of a fish-based index to assess the ecological status of oceanic-temperate streams in the Northern Iberian Peninsula

2017 ◽  
Vol 189 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-327
Author(s):  
Begoña Gartzia de Bikuña ◽  
Jesús Arrate ◽  
Aingeru Martínez ◽  
Alberto Agirre ◽  
Iker Azpiroz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Temperate Streams ◽  
Northern Iberian Peninsula

scholarly journals Current status and conservation of the Endangered Przewalski's gazelle Procapra przewalskii, endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlin Li ◽  
Zhigang Jiang ◽  
Xiaoge Ping ◽  
Jing Cai ◽  
Zhangqiang You ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Qinghai Lake ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Procapra Przewalskii

AbstractIn 2008 Przewalski's gazelle Procapra przewalskii, endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China, was recategorized from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is still, however, threatened, and the human population and accompanying domestic livestock are increasing around Qinghai Lake. Here we provide up-to-date information on the distribution and population size of the species, evaluate its current conservation status and discuss the difficulties of protecting this gazelle species. We used both distance sampling and total counts to survey 16 sites where the species has been reported and found it at 13 of these, occupying a total area of c. 250 km2. Population size estimated from distance sampling (1,635) and total counts (1,544) was similar. About 20% of the gazelles located were in newly discovered areas for the species. The results indicate an overall growth in the population of Przewalski's gazelle since 2003, although some subpopulations have declined or been extirpated. In spite of conservation efforts Przewalski's gazelle is still threatened by habitat degradation and loss, habitat fragmentation, fencing, intensified competition with domestic livestock and predation. Further growth of this gazelle population is constrained by limited habitat availability and human–gazelle conflict. We recommend that management and conservation strategies need to incorporate comprehensive knowledge of the gazelle, long-term monitoring, and captive breeding of injured and orphaned gazelles to form a potential pool of individuals for future reintroductions to the historical range of the species outside the Qinghai Lake basin.

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