scholarly journals Variation in species richness, composition and herpetological community structure across a tropical habitat gradient of Palawan Island, Philippines

Herpetozoa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 95-111
Author(s):  
Christian E. Supsup ◽  
Augusto A. Asis ◽  
Uldarico V. Carestia Jr ◽  
Arvin C. Diesmos ◽  
Neil Aldrin D. Mallari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Habitat Gradient ◽  
Primary Habitat ◽  
Palawan Island ◽  
Pristine Forest

Information on species richness and community structure is invaluable for guiding conservation and management of biodiversity, but is rarely available in the megadiverse biodiversity conservation hotspot of Philippines – particularly for amphibians and reptiles. This study provides the first report and characterisation of amphibians and reptile communities across primary habitat types of the Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range on Palawan Island along the western edge of the archipelago. A total of 41 amphibian and reptile species were recorded throughout our sampling sites (n = 27 species) or in targeted habitat searches (14 species). A species richness estimator predicted that 35 species may be present in our sampling sites, suggesting that a significant proportion of secretive species may continue to be unrecorded, especially for reptiles. Higher species richness was found in secondary growth than in mixed-use agricultural areas or even pristine forest. The low species richness recorded from pristine forest types may be due to these forests now being restricted to higher elevations where species diversity has been documented to decrease. Our results also show that complex community structures (species assemblages) are to be equally expected in both secondary growth and pristine forests. Together, our results show how species richness and community assemblages may vary across habitats, highlighting that old growth forest does not always support higher species richness, particularly in high elevations.

Riparian bryophyte vegetation in the Cascade mountain range, Northwest U.S.A.: patterns at different spatial scales

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 744-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bengt Gunnar Jonsson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Stream Size

Riparian forests are productive and species rich ecosystems where the vegetation is structured by sharp environmental gradients. The study describes community patterns of bryophytes in stream-side forests, relates these patterns to major environmental gradients, and compares within-site factors with site level variables. Samples were collected from 360 plots 2 × 4 m in size distributed among 42 sites in old-growth Pseudotsuga–Tsuga forests. The sites ranged from 420 to 1250 m asl and stream size from 1st to 5th order streams. There were significant changes in species richness and composition along several environmental gradients. Richness within sites varied among different geomorphic surfaces with the highest number of species on areas periodically flooded. Richness was also higher in plots with high abundance of woody debris. No site level factors influenced richness at the sample plot level, while the highest species number at the site level was for large streams. The main gradients in the species composition within sites were changes with increasing distance from the stream and amount of woody debris. Both elevation and stream size significantly influenced species composition. The complex set of factors that influenced species richness and composition implies that management of riparian vegetation must be based on both coarse scale considerations such as regional distribution of different stream types and fine scale factors such as spatial availability of different substrate types. Key words: old-growth forest; CCA analysis; fluvial disturbance; bryophytes; elevation effects; coarse woody debris.

scholarly journals The Effect of Human Activity on Ant Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Richness at the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Jonathan Z. Shik ◽  
André Francoeur ◽  
Christopher M. Buddle
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Lasius Niger ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Tetramorium Caespitum ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Disturbed Habitats ◽  
Unique Species

The ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fauna of the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec, was surveyed in 2002 and 2003. Although overall species richness was high, 10 of 40 total ant species collected were limited to anthropogenically disturbed habitats within the reserve. While only 2 of these 10 species (Tetramorium caespitum (L.) and Lasius niger (L.)) can definitively be considered introduced, areas altered by human activity (representing a small fraction of the reserve’s total area) possess nearly as many unique species as the reserve’s old-growth forest. Although further research will be necessary to determine the consequences of such changes in community structure, this study shows the importance of specifying the extent of biodiversity surveys within protected habitats to more accurately monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Effect of fire on a monodominant floating mat of Cyperus giganteus Vahl in a neotropical wetland

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rocha ◽  
CC. Santos Júnior ◽  
GA. Damasceno-Júnior ◽  
VJ. Pott ◽  
A. Pott
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Characteristic Species ◽  
Cyperus Giganteus ◽  
Pantanal Wetland ◽  
Floating Mat ◽  
Adult Plants

The rhizomatous Cyperus giganteus, abundant in the Pantanal wetland, can dominate extense floodable areas as monodominant communities. The Jacadigo lake has a large area of C. giganteus, where we performed an evaluation on community structure during two months in 2010, before it was hit by a wildfire which top-killed the vegetation, compared to ten months post-fire. We utilized 40 plots of 1m × 1m, along permanent trails, assessing two strata: the upper, near the inflorescence of adult plants, and the lower, close to the water level. Our results show that fire does not affect dominance of C. giganteus, as it maintained the same cover as before fire; species richness is not much altered either - 28 before fire and 34 thereafter. Fire changed the floristic composition, due to the annual variation of species and the ability of some plants to colonize gaps and to regrow after fire from underground organs and seeds. The stratification of the vegetation with characteristic species of upper and lower strata was similar after fire.

scholarly journals Do syntopic host species harbour similar symbiotic communities? The case ofChaetopterusspp. (Annelida: Chaetopteridae)

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Temir A. Britayev ◽  
Elena Mekhova ◽  
Yury Deart ◽  
Daniel Martin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Symbiotic Community

To assess whether closely related host species harbour similar symbiotic communities, we studied two polychaetes,Chaetopterussp. (n = 11) andChaetopteruscf.appendiculatus(n = 83) living in soft sediments of Nhatrang Bay (South China Sea, Vietnam). The former harboured the porcellanid crabsPolyonyxcf.heokandPolyonyxsp., the pinnotherid crabTetriassp. and the tergipedid nudibranchPhestillasp. The latter harboured the polynoid polychaeteOphthalmonoe pettiboneae, the carapid fishOnuxodon fowleriand the porcellanid crabEulenaios cometes, all of which, exceptO. fowleri, seemed to be specialized symbionts. The species richness and mean intensity of the symbionts were higher inChaetopterussp. than inC.cf.appendiculatus(1.8 and 1.02 species and 3.0 and 1.05 individuals per host respectively). We suggest that the lower density ofChaetopterussp. may explain the higher number of associated symbionts observed, as well as the 100% prevalence (69.5% inC.cf.appenciculatus). MostChaetopterussp. harboured two symbiotic species, which was extremely rare inC.cf.appendiculatus, suggesting lower interspecific interactions in the former. The crab and nudibranch symbionts ofChaetopterussp. often shared a host and lived in pairs, thus partitioning resources. This led to the species coexisting in the tubes ofChaetopterussp., establishing a tightly packed community, indicating high species richness and mean intensity, together with a low species dominance. In contrast, the aggressive, strictly territorial species associated withC.cf.appendiculatusestablished a symbiotic community strongly dominated by single species and, thus, low species richness and mean intensity. Therefore, we suggest that interspecific interactions are determining species richness, intensity and dominance, while intraspecific interactions are influencing only intensity and abundance. It is possible that species composition may have influenced the differences in community structure observed. We hypothesize that both host species could originally be allopatric. The evolutionary specialization of the symbiotic communities would occur in separated geographical areas, while the posterior disappearance of the existing geographical barriers would lead to the overlapped distribution.

scholarly journals COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ECHINODERMS (ASTEROIDEA, OPHIUROIDEA, ECHINOIDEA AND HOLOTHUROIDEA) IN THE MARINE NATIONAL PARK EAST SULAWESI WAKATOBI

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 357-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Yusron
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Evenness Index ◽  
Different Types ◽  
High Level ◽  
Richness Index

A study on Echinoderms community structure in marine national parks of Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi was conducted in six locations, i.e., Waha Beach, Coastal Sombo, Beach Houses, Beach Kapota, Banakawa beach, and Umala beach in October 2013. All of the six parks were located the Wakatobi territorial waters with coordinates of 5°06'25" S and 123°124'10 E. The results showed of 18 species of echinoderms representing six different types of Asteroidea, two types of Ophiuroidea, six types of Echinoidea, and four types of Holothuroidea. Group of starfish or Asteroidea was the most prominent on seagrass area. Based on the six transects sites, it turned out that the group of starfish (Asteridea) occupied a relatively high level of species richness. From the quantitative analysis values, we obtained diversity index (H) of 1.105 in Sombu, the highest evenness index (J) of 0.989 was found in Umala, and the highest species richness index values (D) of 0.132 was obtained in kapota. It seemed that all echinoderm groups were generally like seagrass microhabitat (12 types). While, sand and dead coral habitats were only occupied by 8 (eight) echinoderm groups. Keywords: echinoderms, diversity, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi

scholarly journals Species Richness, Abundance and Functional Diversity of a Bat Community along an Elevational Gradient in the Espinhaço Mountain Range, Southeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo De Rodrigues Coelho ◽  
Adriano Pereira Paglia ◽  
Arleu Barbosa Viana-Junior ◽  
Luiz A. Dolabela Falcão ◽  
Guilherme B. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Mountain Range

Overlap in avian communities produces unimodal richness peaks on Bornean mountains

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Burner ◽  
Alison R. Styring ◽  
Chandradewana Boer ◽  
Frederick H. Sheldon
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Altitudinal Distribution ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Habitat Gradient ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Replicated Systems

Abstract:Altitudinal gradients provide tractable, replicated systems in which to study changes in species richness and community composition over relatively short distances. Previously, richness was often assumed to follow a monotonic decline with altitude, but recent meta-analyses show that more complex patterns, including mid-altitude richness peaks, are also prevalent in birds. In this study, we used point counts to survey birds at multiple altitudes on three mountains on the island of Borneo in Sundaland, an area for which quantitative analyses of avian altitudinal distribution are unavailable. In total we conducted 1088 point counts and collected associated habitat data at 527 locations to estimate species richness by altitude on Mt Mulu (2376 m), Mt Pueh (1550 m) and Mt Topap Oso (1450 m). On Mulu, the only mountain with an intact habitat gradient, bird species richness peaks at 600 m. Richness appeared to peak at 600 m on Totap Oso as well, but on Pueh it peaked several hundred metres higher. The richness peak on Mulu differs from that predicted by null models and is instead caused by the overlap of distinct lowland and montane avifaunas, supporting the faunal overlap hypothesis. This finding provides further evidence that a lack of coincidence between peak turnover and peak richness is not sufficient evidence to rule out faunal overlap as a causal factor.

scholarly journals Environmental conditions alter successional trajectories on an ephemeral resource: a field experiment with beetles in dead wood

Oecologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 205-219
Author(s):  
Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad ◽  
Tone Birkemoe ◽  
Rolf Anker Ims ◽  
Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Ephemeral Resources

Abstract Successional processes can be observed for many organisms and resources, but most studies of succession have focused on plants. A general framework has been proposed, advocating that successional patterns in species turnover are predominantly driven by competition, dispersal or abiotic limitation, and that the patterning of species accumulation over time gives clues to which process is most influential in a given system. We applied this framework to succession in communities of wood-living beetles, utilizing ephemeral resources in the form of 60 experimentally created dead aspen high stumps. High stumps were created at sun-exposed sites (high ambient temperature; favourable abiotic conditions) and shaded sites (low ambient temperature; abiotically limiting conditions). The sites were intermixed, ensuring similar dispersal opportunities. Beetle species richness and abundance were monitored with flight interception traps over four consecutive years. Consistent with predictions from the tested framework, several beetle functional groups accumulated species more slowly at the unfavourable shaded sites than at the favourable exposed sites. Species richness at the exposed sites increased rapidly to a plateau, consistent with a limiting effect of competition on community development. Similar results were obtained for beetle abundance and community structure. Part of the variance in beetle community structure was jointly explained by habitat and fungal community composition, suggesting that differences in the composition and developmental rate of fungal communities in the two habitats contributed to the observed patterns. Targeted experimental studies are now required to decisively establish what processes underlie the contrasting successional trajectories in the two environments.

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