scholarly journals The orthopterans of the rice agroecosystem in western Lomellina (Lombardy, Italy)

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e24203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Giuliano ◽  
Giuseppe Bogliani
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
Surrogate Habitat ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species

Rice fields represent a valuable surrogate habitat for many wetland species, playing an important role for biodiversity conservation in human-managed landscapes. Despite the fact that several taxonomic groups have been thoroughly investigated in this agroecosystem, little is known about the orthopteran fauna which lives in and around rice paddies, especially in Europe. In this paper, we provide a first description of the orthopteran assemblages hosted in the rice agroecosystems of northern Italy, trying to evaluate their conservation value through an analysis of species ecological traits (habitat specificity and dispersal capacity). During field samplings in summer 2016, we detected 25 orthopteran species. The 24% of the community was composed by habitat specialist species and the 56% of the sampled taxa was characterised by high dispersal capacities. Rice fields are an extremely dynamic ecosystem, characterised by the continuous succession of flooding and drying periods and conditioned by many other farming activities. Consequently, the orthopteran fauna in rice crops is mainly composed of species well adapted to sudden environmental changes. On the other hand, rice fields represent a particular biotope, providing a suitable habitat especially for hygrophilous species, which are otherwise restricted to scattered marsh areas. In order to preserve orthopteran diversity in rice agroecosystems, sustainable farming practices should be applied, especially by preserving and restoring marginal semi-natural habitats, by reducing grass management intensity on paddy banks and by discouraging rice cultivation in dry soils.

scholarly journals Turbelários límnicos (Platyhelminthes) em ecossistemas de arroz irrigado da Planície Costeira do sul do Brasil

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dioneia Conceição da Vara ◽  
Ana Maria Leal-Zanchet
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
Managed Ecosystems ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
High Level

Turbellarians occur in a variety of wetlands, being also abundant in temporary water bodies. Several turbellarians are top predators in their microhabitats, many of them feeding on zooplankton. However, they are seldom taken into account in biodiversity studies. Information on turbellarian diversity in Brazilian freshwater ecosystems mainly came from taxonomical studies. In southern Brazil, there are a high number of wetlands, most of them represented by rice fields. Despite their impact on natural areas, these managed ecosystems can play an important role in freshwater biodiversity conservation. The aim of the present work was to report on an inventory done in irrigated rice fields of three areas of the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil, viz. Cachoeirinha, Santo Antônio da Patrulha e Camaquã. We found 144 species of freshwater turbellarians, distributed in six taxonomic groups (Catenulida, Macrostomida, Lecithoepitheliata, Proseriata, Rhabdocoela, and Tricladida). Twenty-three species are recorded for the first time for Brazil. Catenulida showed the highest relative abundance in Cachoeirinha, followed by Rhabdocoela. In Santo Antônio and Camaquã, Tricladida had the highest relative abundance, followed by Catenulida. Results suggest that some turbellarian species show a high level of habitat specificity with only 38% of the registered turbellarians occurring in a single study area. Although there is a paucity of turbellarian inventories in Brazilian natural wetlands, hampering a comparison between natural and managed wetlands, results indicate high species richness in the areas studied.

scholarly journals Predicting suitable habitat of the Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii) using ecological niche modeling in the Qionglai Mountains, China

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wang ◽  
Yu Xu ◽  
Jianghong Ran
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Suitable Habitats

Understanding the distribution and the extent of suitable habitats is crucial for wildlife conservation and management. Knowledge is limited regarding the natural habitats of the Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii), which is a vulnerable Galliform species endemic to the high-montane areas of southwest China and a good candidate for being an umbrella species in the Qionglai Mountains. Using ecological niche modeling, we predicted current potential suitable habitats for the Chinese monal in the Qionglai Mountains with 64 presence points collected between 2005 and 2015. Suitable habitats of the Chinese monal were associated with about 31 mm precipitation of the driest quarter, about 15 °C of maximum temperature of the warmest month, and far from the nearest human residential locations (>5,000 m). The predicted suitable habitats of the Chinese monal covered an area of 2,490 km2, approximately 9.48% of the Qionglai Mountains, and was highly fragmented. 54.78% of the suitable habitats were under the protection of existing nature reserves and two conservation gaps were found. Based on these results, we provide four suggestions for the conservation management of the Chinese monal: (1) ad hoc surveys targeting potential suitable habitats to determine species occurrence, (2) more ecological studies regarding its dispersal capacity, (3) establishment of more corridors and green bridges across roads for facilitating species movement or dispersal, and (4) minimization of local disturbances.

Effects of anthropogenic environmental changes on amphibian diversity in the rain forests of eastern Madagascar

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 725-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Vallan
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Rain Forests ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Amphibian Species

Madagascar has one of the world's highest rates of human population increase, which is coupled with an increase of resource exploitation, particularly food and firewood. Forests are cleared and converted to rice fields or plantations (mainly Eucalyptus or pine). How does deforestation affect the amphibian diversity of the original biotope, the rain forest? To answer this question, the amphibian fauna of intact rain forests was compared with that of secondary forests, Eucalyptus plantations and rice fields. The main consequence of rain forest disturbance was loss of amphibian species. Compared with an intact forest, species richness in secondary forests, Eucalyptus plantations and rice fields were 54%, 46% and 12%, respectively. Species number and individual density increased with increasing structural complexity of the habitat and the presence of water bodies. The reproductive strategy of the species could be decisive for the presence or absence of single species in different habitats. With increasing degradation the percentage of species spawning in water increased. Correspondingly, Hyperoliidae and Raninae were characteristic of degraded habitats, whereas Microhylidae and Mantellinae were representative of natural habitats.

scholarly journals Ecological corridors for the amphibians and reptiles in the Natura 2000 sites of Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiberiu C. Sahlean ◽  
Monica Papeș ◽  
Alexandru Strugariu ◽  
Iulian Gherghel
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Danube River ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Landscape Resistance ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Abstract Landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation are key challenges for biodiversity conservation. As Earth’s landscape is increasingly dominated by anthropogenic land use, it is clear that broad-scale systems of nature reserves connected by corridors are needed to enable the dispersal of flora and fauna. The European Union currently supports a continent-wide network of protected areas, the Natura 2000 program, but this program lacks the necessary connectivity component. To examine whether a comprehensive network could be built in order to protect amphibians and reptiles, two taxonomic groups sensitive to environmental changes due to their physiological constrains and low dispersal capacity, we used species’ distribution maps, the sites of community interest (SCIs) in Romania, and landscape resistance rasters. Except Vipera ursinii rakosiensis, all amphibians and reptiles had corridors mapped that, when assembled, provided linkages for up to 27 species. Natura 2000 species were not good candidates for umbrella species as these linkages covered only 17% of the corridors for all species. Important Areas for Connectivity were identified in the Carpathian Mountains and along the Danube River, further confirming these regions as hot spots for biodiversity in Europe, where successful linkages are most likely. In the end, while such corridors may not be created just for amphibians and reptiles, they can easily be incorporated into more complex linkages with corridors for more charismatic species, therefore enhancing the corridors’ value in terms of quality and structure.

Two new Banksia species from pleistocene sediments in western Tasmania

1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
GI Jordan ◽  
RS Hill
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Extinct Species ◽  
The Third ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Subtribe Banksiinae of the Proteaceae was diverse in Tasmania in the early and middle Tertiary, but is now restricted to two species, Banksia marginata and B. serrata. Rapid and extreme environmental changes during the Pleistocene are likely causes of the extinction of some Banksia species in Tasmania. Such extinctions may have been common in many taxonomic groups. The leaves and infructescences of Banksia kingii Jordan & Hill, sp. nov. are described from late Pleistocene sediments. This is the most recent macrofossil record of a now extinct species in Tasmania. Banksia kingii is related to the extant B. saxicola. Banksia strahanensis Jordan & Hill, sp. nov. (known only from a leaf and leaf fragments and related to B. spinulosa) is described from Early to Middle Pleistocene sediments in Tasmania. This represents the third Pleistocene macrofossil record of a plant species which is now extinct in Tasmania.

Desmodium cajanifolium (tropical tick trefoil).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Vélez-Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Secondary Vegetation ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
Perennial Shrub ◽  
Weedy Species ◽  
Open Forests

Abstract Desmodium cajanifolium is a perennial shrub considered as invasive in Hawaii, USA, by Frohlich and Lau (2012), who reported it as a weedy species naturalised along roadsides, open forests and secondary vegetation on the Big Island and Kaua'i. At the same time, Benitez et al. (2012) report D. cajanifolium as a species that is rarely found along roadsides and in forests in Hawaii. D. cajanifolium is not listed as an invasive species on Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk (PIER, 2020). No details about its effects over other species or habitats are given.Desmodium cajanifolium is listed as potentially invasive in Cuba, being classified as a species with a tendency to proliferate in some areas and producing vast amounts of diaspores with a high dispersal capacity (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). It is considered as uncommon in parts of its native distribution (Flora of Nicaragua, 2020) and as scattered throughout its range (Flora of Panama, 2020).

scholarly journals Environmental filtering and spillover explain multi-species edge responses across agricultural boundaries in a biosphere reserve

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Schalkwyk ◽  
J. S. Pryke ◽  
M. J. Samways ◽  
R. Gaigher
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Induced Changes

Abstract To ensure integrity of protected areas we need to understand how species respond to anthropogenic borders. We investigate, from a metacommunity perspective, the direct and indirect mechanisms by which transformed areas affect distribution patterns of ground-living arthropod assemblages inhabiting an extensive protected area adjacent to fruit orchards in an important biosphere reserve. Arthropods and environmental variables were sampled along transects perpendicular to natural-orchard edges. Influence of distance from orchard boundary, degree of impermeability of the boundary, orchard habitat quality (local scale land-use intensity), and edge-induced changes in local environmental variables on arthropod species richness and composition in non-crop habitats were assessed. Arthropod groups were assessed in terms of habitat fidelity: species associated with natural habitat (stenotopic species), those within crop habitat (cultural species), and those showing no preference for either habitat (ubiquitous species). Spillover resulted in higher cultural species richness near edges, but not higher overall species richness. Environmental filtering was important for stenotopic species composition, which was influenced by edge-induced changes in environmental variables. Ubiquitous species composition was determined by orchard impermeability. Increased orchard habitat quality was associated with higher cultural and ubiquitous species richness. The effects of orchards on assemblages in natural habitats can be variable, but predictable when using species habitat specificity in conjunction with a metacommunity framework. High intensity orchards may act as sink habitats, especially for species that readily disperse between crop and natural habitats. Here we recommend that local buffer strips are > 85 m wide, which will reduce the influence of cultural species spillover on sensitive natural ecosystems.

scholarly journals Biology, Ecology, and Management of Erthesina fullo (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): A Review

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianqian Mi ◽  
Jinping Zhang ◽  
Elaine Gould ◽  
Juhong Chen ◽  
Zhitan Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Chinese Literature ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Stink Bug ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
High Dispersal

The yellow spotted stink bug (YSSB), Erthesina fullo Thunberg, is one of the most widely distributed phytophagous insect pests in Asia. YSSB is highly polyphagous and in China it feeds on over 57 host plants in 29 families, including some economically important fruit crops such as kiwifruit, pear, peach, apple, and pomegranate. With a primarily r-selected life history strategy, reproductive diapause, aggregation behavior, wide host range, high dispersal capacity, and close association with human-modified ecosystems, YSSB is a potentially invasive species that poses significant biosecurity threats to other countries outside its native range. This review summarizes basic and applied knowledge on the biology, ecology, and management of YSSB in China, with specific emphasis on its life history, host range, damage and impacts on economically important horticulture crops, and integrated pest management (IPM) approaches. The insights from the Chinese literature on this pest will help the countries outside its native range to conduct appropriate biosecurity risk assessments, develop a sound surveillance program, and develop an emergency response plan before its invasion of new geographic areas.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity and differentiation of Dendrolimus punctatus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) in Thousand Island Lake, China, based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lv ◽  
J.-R. Wang ◽  
T.-Q. Li ◽  
J. Zhou ◽  
J.-Q. Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Haplotype Diversity ◽  
Shape Index ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
High Dispersal

AbstractThousand Island Lake (TIL) is a typical fragmented landscape and an ideal model to study ecological effects of fragmentation. Partial fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene of 23 island populations of Dendrolimus punctatus in TIL were sequenced, 141 haplotypes being identified. The number of haplotypes increased significantly with the increase in island area and shape index, whereas no significant correlation was detected between three island attributes (area, shape and isolation) and haplotype diversity. However, the correlation with number of haplotypes was no longer significant when the ‘outlier’ island JSD (the largest island) was not included. Additionally, we found no significant relationship between geographic distance and genetic distance. Geographic isolation did not obstruct the gene flow among D. punctatus populations, which might be because of the high dispersal capacity of this pine moth. Fragmentation resulted in the conversion of large and continuous habitats into isolated, small and insular patches, which was the primary effect on the genetic diversity of D. punctatus in TIL. The conclusion to emphasize from our research is that habitat fragmentation reduced the biological genetic diversity to some extent, further demonstrating the importance of habitat continuity in biodiversity protection.

scholarly journals Characterization of Plastidial and Nuclear SSR Markers for Understanding Invasion Histories and Genetic Diversity of Schinus molle L.

Biology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Lemos ◽  
Cristiane Matielo ◽  
Dalvan Beise ◽  
Vanessa da Rosa ◽  
Deise Sarzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Whole Genome Sequencing Data ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Schinus Molle ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
History Of

Invasive plant species are expected to display high dispersal capacity but low levels of genetic diversity due to the founder effect occurring at each invasion episode. Understanding the history of invasions and the levels of genetic diversity of such species is an important task for planning management and monitoring strategy for these events. Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L.) is a pioneer tree species native from South America which was introduced in North America, Europe and Africa, becoming a threat to these non-native habitats. In this study, we report the discovery and characterization of 17 plastidial (ptSSR) and seven nuclear (nSSR) markers for S. molle based on low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data acquired through next-generation sequencing. The markers were tested in 56 individuals from two natural populations sampled in the Brazilian Caatinga and Pampa biomes. All loci are moderately to highly polymorphic and revealed to be suitable for genetic monitoring of new invasions, for understanding the history of old invasions, as well as for genetic studies of native populations in their natural occurrence range and of orchards established with commercial purposes.

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