scholarly journals Revision of the calcareous fen arachnofauna: habitat affinities of the fen-inhabiting spiders

ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 67-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Štokmane ◽  
Inese Cera
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Calcareous Fens ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
Calcareous Fen ◽  
Alkaline Environments ◽  
Habitat Affinities ◽  
Sweep Net

Calcareous fens are one of the most species-rich habitats of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. In spite of this species richness, however, calcareous fens are still rather poorly investigated. Consequently, the data of the fen-associated spider fauna are also largely lacking. The aim of the research was to study the spider fauna of the calcareous fens of Latvia and to draw conclusions about what kind of spider species and ecological groups typically inhabit calcareous fen habitats. Spiders were sampled in the summer months of 2010, 2011, and 2012 at nine different calcareous fens of the coastal lowland of Latvia. The spider collection was performed by pitfall traps and a sweep net. The examined material comprised 6631 adult spider individuals representing 21 families and 149 species. The main spider ecological groups that dominated in the studied calcareous fens were hygrophilous and photophilous species which largely reflect the main properties of our studied habitats, all of which were wet, open mire habitats. Nevertheless, the fen arachnofauna consisted also of spider groups which are less typical for moist, sun-exposed, and alkaline environments, like xerophilous, sciophilous, and sphagnophilous species, respectively. Finally, several spider species collected in this study have not been previously reported for the spider fauna of Latvia, and many more might still be undiscovered in these unique and poorly investigated habitats. Therefore, it is suggested that calcareous fens deserve special attention and they should definitely be investigated further.

Restoration mowing of a calcareous fen – response of species to re-applied management measures

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dobromil Galvánek ◽  
Marta Mútňanová ◽  
Daniel Dítě
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Calcareous Fens ◽  
Calcareous Fen ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
High Calcium

AbstractCalcareous fens are habitats that are well-adapted to extreme ecological conditions (water with a very high calcium content). The vegetation response following the application of restoration measures (mowing, removal of shrubs) in a calcareous fen (site Sliačske travertiny, western Carpathians) was observed over six years in six permanent plots. Three plots were established in an area strongly invaded by reeds (Phragmites australis), where restoration mowing was introduced, and three plots were established in an area overgrown by willows, where the shrubs were partly removed at the beginning and no other management measures were subsequently applied. Indirect and direct gradient analyses (Principal Component Analysis and Redundancy Analysis) and General Linear Models showed that species composition in the mown reed area evolved towards the typical composition of calcareous fens, although reeds were still dominant in the canopy. The overall species richness, as well as number of fen indicator species increased here, especially on the most-detailed scale of 0.25 × 0.25 m. In contrast, the species composition in the unmown area with willows developed towards a higher abundance of wetland generalists. The species richness of vascular plants increased on the scale of 2 × 2 m, but the number of bryophyte species decreased on the scale of 0.25 × 0.25 m and the number of fen indicators species remained unchanged. Our survey showed that mowing can be used for the restoration of calcareous fens invaded by reed, but the total supression of reed can not be achieved in short time period. Furthermore, the occasional removal of shrubs on overgrown calcareous fens is not a feasible method of habitat management.

scholarly journals The effect of fragmentation on spider richness (Arachnida: Araneae) in montane semideciduous seasonal forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Eduardo Vilas Boas Júnior ◽  
Amanda Da Silva Ferreira ◽  
Marcos Magalhães De Souza
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Fragmentation Process ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
Semideciduous Seasonal Forest ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Environmental Functions

The fragmentation process that has altered natural environments has been widely discussed, as it causes changes in communities and compromises different environmental functions. In this sense, this study was based on the evaluation of fragmentation on araneofauna of semideciduous seasonal forest fragments, phytophysiognomy belonging to the Atlantic Forest. The study was conducted in three fragments in the municipality of Inconfidentes, southern Minas Gerais, from April 2014 to March 2015. The results showed that there is a similarity in the composition of spider species among the sampled fragments and that the size of the fragment is positively correlated with species richness. Our data show that smaller fragments must be preserved and that agricultural areas maintain the integrity of adjacent forest areas to benefit from the predation dynamics that spiders exert on pests that affect plantations.

scholarly journals Algae and Cyanobacteria Diversity and Bioindication of Long-Term Changes in the Hula Nature Reserve, Israel

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 583
Author(s):  
Sophia Barinova ◽  
Alla Alster
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Organic Pollution ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
International Importance ◽  
First Time ◽  
Lake Hula

Lake Hula, the core of one of the most extensive wetland complexes in the Eastern Mediterranean, was drained in 1951–1958. However, about 350 hectares of papyrus marshes were allocated in the southwestern part of the previous lake and became the Hula Nature Reserve status, the first of two wetlands in Israel included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The list of algae and cyanobacteria species of Lake Hula was compiled by us for the first time based on data from publications of 1938–1958, as well as our research in the Hula Nature Reserve, obtained within the framework of the monitoring program for 2007–2013. The list includes 225 species and intraspecies of algae and cyanobacteria belonging to eight phyla. The dynamics of the species richness of algae and cyanobacteria flora for 1938–2013 are shown. Species-bioindicators of water quality have been identified, and the change in their composition by ecological groups for a period of about a hundred years has been shown. Based on the species richness of algae communities, water quality indices were calculated with particular attention to changes in trophic status during the study period. The algae flora of Lake Hula and Hula Nature Reserve was found to be similar, but bioindication has revealed an increase in salinity and organic pollution in recent years.

scholarly journals Effect of post-harvest forestry residue management practices on the diversity of epigeal coleopterans

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 8069-8075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Ramírez Aliaga ◽  
Amanda Huerta Fuentes ◽  
Jaime Eduardo Araya Clericus
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Harvest Residue

The aim of this work was to study the effect of post-harvest forestry residue management practices on the epigeal coleopterans diversity and abundance in a 1-yr old Pinus radiata plantation. Approximately 25-yr old P. radiata plantation was available, which was harvested by clear-cutting at the beginning of 2010 in Constitución, central Chile. Three post harvest residue management treatments were installed in a fully randomized design in blocks: 1) a control, where residues were intact left; 2) residue removed (> 2.5 cm diameter); and 3) burned. The coleopterans were sampled in spring and summer, using linear transects with pitfall traps. The abundance and richness, and diversity index of coleopterans were determined. A total of 23 species of 13 families were obtained. Both in the springand summer, the treatment with residues left registered significantly greater abundance and species richness. In the residue management, the practices of intact leaving residue should be considered as the least impacting on diversity and abundance of epigeal coleopterans and is recommended for creating refugee areas to promote diversity of beetles in this area of study.

scholarly journals First standardized inventory of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the natural grasslands of Paraná: New records for Southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weslly Franco ◽  
Rodrigo Machado Feitosa
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
New Records ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Taxonomic Novelties ◽  
First Time ◽  
Ant Diversity

Despite the large number of studies investigating ant diversity in Brazilian biomes, no ant-related studies have been carried out in Campos Gerais, a grassland physiognomy in Paraná state. The present study is the first inventory of the ant fauna in one of the few conservation units protecting the Campos Gerais landscape, the Guartelá State Park (PEG). Sixty samples were collected from different habitats within PEG using pitfall traps. Qualitative samples of leaf litter were collected from forest fragments and submitted to Winkler extractors. In addition, manual qualitative sampling was carried out in the various physiognomies within the PEG. A total of 163 species was collected and sorted into 43 genera and nine subfamilies. Five genera and 28 species were recorded for the first time in the state of Paraná. Out of these, 17 species were also recorded for the first time in the Southern Region of Brazil and two were recorded for the first time to the country. The significant species richness in the PEG and the high number of new records is a strong sign of this ecosystem’s potential to reveal taxonomic novelties. These results suggest that PEG, and the Campos Gerais as a whole, should be the target of greater conservation efforts to preserve native remnants.

scholarly journals Relationship between Species Richness, Biomass and Structure of Vegetation and Mycobiota along an Altitudinal Transect in the Polar Urals

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Anton G. Shiryaev ◽  
Ursula Peintner ◽  
Vladimir V. Elsakov ◽  
Svetlana Yu. Sokovnina ◽  
Denis A. Kosolapov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Polar Urals ◽  
Crown Density ◽  
Aphyllophoroid Fungi ◽  
The Polar Urals

Aboveground species richness patterns of vascular plants, aphyllophoroid macrofungi, bryophytes and lichens were compared along an altitudinal gradient (80–310 m a.s.l.) on the Slantsevaya mountain at the eastern macroslope of the Polar Urals (Russia). Five altitudinal levels were included in the study: (1) Northern boreal forest with larch-spruce in the Sob’ river valley habitats; (2–3) two levels of closed, northern boreal, larch-dominated forests on the slopes; (4) crook-stemmed forest; (5) tundra habitats above the timberline. Vascular plant or bryophyte species richness was not affected by altitudinal levels, but lichen species richness significantly increased from the river valley to the tundra. For aphyllophoroid macrofungi, species richness was highest at intermediate and low altitudes, and poorest in the tundra. These results indicate a positive ecotone effect on aphyllophoroid fungal species richness. The species richness of aphyllophoroid fungi as a whole was neither correlated to mortmass stocks, nor to species richness of vascular plants, but individual ecological or morphological groups depended on these parameters. Poroid fungal species richness was positively correlated to tree age, wood biomass and crown density, and therefore peaked in the middle of the slope and at the foot of the mountain. In contrast, clavarioid fungal species richness was negatively related to woody bio- and mortmass, and therefore peaked in the tundra. This altitudinal level was characterized by high biomass proportions of lichens and mosses, and by high litter mortmass. The proportion of corticoid fungi increased with altitude, reaching its maximum at the timberline. Results from the different methods used in this work were concordant, and showed significant patterns. Tundra communities differ significantly from the forest communities, as is also confirmed by nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyses based on the spectrum of morphological and ecological groups of aphyllophoroid fungi.

Dolichopodidae of riverbeds and springs in Croatia with an updated checklist of Croatia (Diptera)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4455 (3) ◽  
pp. 401
Author(s):  
MARC POLLET ◽  
MARIJA IVKOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Emergence Traps ◽  
Plitvice Lakes ◽  
Invertebrate Surveys ◽  
Pan Traps ◽  
Sweep Net

Several invertebrate surveys in Croatia conducted between 2005 and 2014 and including; e.g., Plitvice Lakes, produced 123 bycatch samples of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) from 68 sampling sites collected at 36 localities in seven counties. Seventy-seven were retrieved from emergence traps, six from pan traps and 40 were collected with sweep net and/or aspirator. They contained 420 dolichopodid flies that belonged to 64 species in 22 genera. Four species, Campsicnemus umbripennis, Hercostomus chetifer, Liancalus virens and Syntormon pallipes, accounted for over half of the yields. Contrary to most species that were found in largest numbers in rivers, and their beds in particular, S. pallipes and Hercostomus gracilis were considerably more abundant at springs. Fifty-five species could be added to the national checklist which raises the total number to 94 species. All species records are given, the habitat of each species is described, if possible, and taxonomic notes are provided for some dubious species. Finally, elements are presented to support the assumption that the extant dolichopodid species richness of Croatia is at least three- to fourfold of the current number.

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