scholarly journals Population characteristics, habitat, and conservation status of Rhododendron ferrugineum L. (Ericaceae), a glacial relict new to Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Malicki ◽  
Wojciech Pusz ◽  
Michał Ronikier ◽  
Tomasz Suchan

The first reliable information on the occurrence of <em>Rhododendron ferrugineum</em> in the Karkonosze Mts (excluding spots of directly acknowledged anthropogenic origin) was provided by A. Boratyński in 1983, but the status and origin of the plants were unknown. A recent phylogeographical study proved the natural character and relict status of the aforementioned population, which makes it the northernmost and most isolated site within the whole distribution of the species. In this study, we characterized the basic aspects of the ecology and conservation status of the population and, more specifically, focused on assessing the size of the population, general health of individuals, generative propagation ability, habitat conditions, and potential threats for the species. The population persists in the Sowia Dolina (east part of the Karkonosze Mts), in a microtopographically controlled, treeless microrefugium. Shrubs of <em>R. ferrugineum</em> are part of an acidophilous dwarf-heath plant community, similar to those occurring in the Alps and the Pyrenees, although less species-diverse. The plant community in the Karkonosze Mts has been preliminarily classified into the <em>Genisto pilosae-Vaccinion</em> alliance. The <em>R. ferrugineum</em> population consists of 68 individuals: 57 fully grown and juvenile and 11 seedlings. In 2017, 10 individuals flowered, seven of which developed fruits, while in 2018, 15 individuals produced flowers and eight developed mature fruits. Seeds collected in 2017 germinated in high numbers. Plants in the Karkonosze population hosted some fungal parasites typically found in <em>Rhododendron</em> species, but no intense disease symptoms strongly influencing plant fitness were observed. A combination of significant isolation, genetic distinctness, and high genetic diversity implies a high conservation priority for the <em>R. ferrugineum</em> population in Karkonosze. Despite the theoretical threats, including stochastic risks, the <em>R. ferrugineum</em> population seems to have been stable for a long time and, importantly, it is composed of individuals of different ages, from large flowering plants to seedlings.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2130
Author(s):  
Ante Ivanković ◽  
Giovanni Bittante ◽  
Miljenko Konjačić ◽  
Nikolina Kelava Ugarković ◽  
Mateja Pećina ◽  
...  

The Croatian Posavina horse (CPH) is native Croatian breed under a conservation program and under various programs of economic use (ecosystem services, agrotourism, and meat production). The aim of this study was to analyze the status of the CPH population through an analysis of their pedigree (28,483 records), phenotype (292 licensed stallions, 255 mares), and genetic structure (292 licensed stallions). The average generation interval was 8.20 years, and the number of complete generations was 1.66. The effective number of founders and ancestors was 138 and 107, respectively, with a ratio of 1.29, and the genetic conservation index was 4.46. As for the morphometric characteristics, the average withers height of the stallions was 142.79 cm, the chest circumference was 194.28 cm, and the cannon bone circumference was 22.34. In mares, the withers height, chest, and cannon bone circumference were lower (139.71 cm, 190.30 cm, and 20.94 cm, respectively). Genetic microsatellite analysis of the 29 sire-lines showed high genetic diversity, expressed as the mean allele number (7.7), allele richness (4.0), and expected heterozygosity (0.740). There was no evidence of high inbreeding or a genetic bottleneck. The genetic and phenotypic data indicate that the CPH is an important and diverse reservoir of genetic diversity and can be conserved because of its special characteristics (adaptability).


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgardo Lillo ◽  
ARCHIEBALD B. MALAKI ◽  
STEVE MICHAEL T. ALCAZAR ◽  
BERNARDO R. REDOBLADO ◽  
JOHN LOU B. DIAZ ◽  
...  

Abstract. Lillo EP, Malaki AB, Alcazar SMT, Redoblando BR, Diaz JLB, Pinote JP, Rosales R, Buot IE Jr. 2020. Native trees in Nug-as forest Key Biodiversity Area, Cebu, Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 4162-4167. Threatened species, by definition, have a high probability of extinction, and so each of their populations significantly contributes to their survival. This paper presents a list of threatened Native trees in Nug-as forest of the Municipality of Alcoy, Cebu. A list of indicators was used to identify the conservation status of the Native trees at the local level. A total of 135 native trees from 48 families and 105 genera were recorded. Most species belong to the families of Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Moraceae, Clusiaceae, Myrtaceae, Meliaceae, Fabaceae, and Rutaceae. In this study, 62 species were categorized as threatened, and 72 species as Least Concern, while in IUCN classification 19 threatened species were recorded, and 111 taxa considered as Least Concern respectively. Using the DENR method of classification 15 threatened species were recorded, and 115 taxa considered as Not Evaluated. The Nug-as forest was degraded by illegal cutting, kaingin, hunting and charcoal making. Based from Beynen and Townsend analysis, Nug-as forest was categorized as moderately disturbed. While DENR and IUCN declaration on the status of the Philippine native trees take a very long time, threatened plant species would be gone before we know it, considering the destruction rate in the Philippines.


Author(s):  
Jindřich Roháček

Abstract Crumomyia parentela (Séguy, 1963) (Sphaeroceridae) is recorded from the Czech Republic for the first time, based on specimens collected in the cave Cyrilka in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. They are affiliated to subspecies C. p. alpicola (Roháček, 1980) but because of more reduced eyes and shorter wings than have other specimens known from the Alps and Carpathians this population is concluded to have survived as a glacial relict in the cave habitat for a long time. The cavernicolous fauna of Sphaeroceridae in the Czech Republic is surveyed and its members (15 species) are classified according to their affiliation to the cave milieu. No trogloxenous or troglobiont species were found; most species (12) are hemitroglophilous and only 3 are troglophilous, viz. Crumomyia p. alpicola, Herniosina bequaerti (Villeneuve, 1917) and Terrilimosina racovitzai (Bezzi, 1911). It is presupposed that some additional hemitroglophilous, possibly one more troglophilous but no troglobiont species could be found in cave systems in the Czech Republic in the future.


Author(s):  
O. Havrylenko ◽  
Ye. Tsyhanok

The purpose of the study is to identify the expediency and validity of creating a certain category of Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) in the specific conditions of the urban environment in accordance with the functions and criteria established by the current legislation of Ukraine on the example of Partyzans’ka Slava Regional Landscape Park (RLP) in Kyiv. To achieve this goal, the peculiarities of urban protected areas creation in accordance with the criteria and tasks established are considered. Materials and methods. The following research algorithm is applied to determine the conformity of the Partyzans’ka slava RLP (henceforth: Park) territory to the requirements, according to legislative and regulatory documents. A Digital Elevation Model had been developed and after its filtering, a hypsometric map was constructed. Based on the obtained relief morphometric parameters, collected information, analysis of satellite images and field studies, using the GIS software packages, a landscape structure map of the RLP territory was been created. Main research results. A significant inconsistency of the RLP functioning with the existing requirements and its actual transformation into an ordinary shopping and entertainment complex is revealed. The fulfilment of the main functions of the Park for 25 years from the moment of granting the status of a nature conservation institution of local importance is analysed. Unsatisfactory implementation of the legal objectives of RLP creation, including huge disproportions in the allocation of functional zones is established. Unreasonable Park zoning leads, among other things, to illegal construction, land grabbing and deforestation throughout its territory. In addition, the actual absence of a reserved functional zone in no way contributes to the Park’s fulfilment of its tasks as an institution of the NRF of Ukraine. For a quarter of a century, no special administration has been established in the Park. That means that the RLP does not have a statutory management body. As a result of a governing body absence, Project for its territory organization is not updated and approved in the Park. The species diversity of flora and fauna of the Park turned out to be quite poor. Also, none of the typical and rare plant groups included in the Green Book of Ukraine has been discovered on the Park territory. Due to insufficient provision of the conditions for the population organized rest, uncontrolled recreation violated the integrity of the soil and vegetation, and the whole territory of the RLP is heavily littered. Based on the revealed problems of the RLP functioning, a weak perception of the Park status by the society is substantiated, which contributes to the further degradation of natural complexes and makes it inappropriate to keep its territory as a nature protected institution of the NRF of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the study is to carry out landscape analysis and to create a map of the Park territory landscape structure for the first time. The analysis of this map allows refuting the idea of high landscape value within the Park. Practical value. Considering that none of the legal functions of the RLP has been performed for a long time, it is proposed to improve the management quality of this protected area by integrating it into the urban infrastructure. It is justified to review the Park’s conservation status and its transfer from the category of NRF institution to a regular urban culture and recreation park with increased access for visitors in order to ensure their daily contact with nature. At the same time, valuable natural objects, in particular centenary trees, must be preserved and protected. According to the concept of nature and the city organic unity, such a park will contribute to the creation of an urbanized space that is comfortable for residents and safe for the environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-151
Author(s):  
Andrea Circolo ◽  
Ondrej Hamuľák

Abstract The paper focuses on the very topical issue of conclusion of the membership of the State, namely the United Kingdom, in European integration structures. The ques­tion of termination of membership in European Communities and European Union has not been tackled for a long time in the sources of European law. With the adop­tion of the Treaty of Lisbon (2009), the institute of 'unilateral' withdrawal was intro­duced. It´s worth to say that exit clause was intended as symbolic in its nature, in fact underlining the status of Member States as sovereign entities. That is why this institute is very general and the legal regulation of the exercise of withdrawal contains many gaps. One of them is a question of absolute or relative nature of exiting from integration structures. Today’s “exit clause” (Art. 50 of Treaty on European Union) regulates only the termination of membership in the European Union and is silent on the impact of such a step on membership in the European Atomic Energy Community. The presented paper offers an analysis of different variations of the interpretation and solution of the problem. It´s based on the independent solution thesis and therefore rejects an automa­tism approach. The paper and topic is important and original especially because in the multitude of scholarly writings devoted to Brexit questions, vast majority of them deals with institutional questions, the interpretation of Art. 50 of Treaty on European Union; the constitutional matters at national UK level; future relation between EU and UK and political bargaining behind such as all that. The question of impact on withdrawal on Euratom membership is somehow underrepresented. Present paper attempts to fill this gap and accelerate the scholarly debate on this matter globally, because all consequences of Brexit already have and will definitely give rise to more world-wide effects.


Author(s):  
Shuhei Nomura ◽  
Yuta Tanoue ◽  
Daisuke Yoneoka ◽  
Stuart Gilmour ◽  
Takayuki Kawashima ◽  
...  

AbstractIn the COVID-19 era, movement restrictions are crucial to slow virus transmission and have been implemented in most parts of the world, including Japan. To find new insights on human mobility and movement restrictions encouraged (but not forced) by the emergency declaration in Japan, we analyzed mobility data at 35 major stations and downtown areas in Japan—each defined as an area overlaid by several 125-meter grids—from September 1, 2019 to March 19, 2021. Data on the total number of unique individuals per hour passing through each area were obtained from Yahoo Japan Corporation (i.e., more than 13,500 data points for each area). We examined the temporal trend in the ratio of the rolling seven-day daily average of the total population to a baseline on January 16, 2020, by ten-year age groups in five time frames. We demonstrated that the degree and trend of mobility decline after the declaration of a state of emergency varies across age groups and even at the subregional level. We demonstrated that monitoring dynamic geographic and temporal mobility information stratified by detailed population characteristics can help guide not only exit strategies from an ongoing emergency declaration, but also initial response strategies before the next possible resurgence. Combining such detailed data with data on vaccination coverage and COVID-19 incidence (including the status of the health care delivery system) can help governments and local authorities develop community-specific mobility restriction policies. This could include strengthening incentives to stay home and raising awareness of cognitive errors that weaken people's resolve to refrain from nonessential movement.


Author(s):  
Neil O. M. Ravenscroft

AbstractThe marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is declining across Europe and is of high conservation interest. Its ecology has been defined and its conservation status assessed primarily from the affinities and populations of young caterpillars in the autumn, before hibernation and high winter mortality. The possibility that caterpillars of E. aurinia can overwinter more than once was investigated on the Isle of Islay, Scotland after caterpillars were found to occur at some locations in the spring despite a pre-hibernation absence. Closely-related species in North America and Northern Europe can prolong larval development by diapausing for a year as does E. aurinia in Scandinavia. Measurements of development and manipulations of distribution confirmed that some caterpillars do extend the life-cycle in Scotland and may occur in areas devoid of larvae in their first year. Caterpillars attempting this life-cycle develop slowly in spring, attain the normal penultimate spring instar and then enter diapause while other caterpillars are pupating. They moult just before diapause, construct highly cryptic webs and on emergence the following spring are 5–6 times heavier than larvae emerging in their first spring, or the equivalent of a month or so ahead. They attain a final, extra instar as larvae in their first spring reach the penultimate instar. Knowledge of this life-cycle is confined in the UK to Islay but its occurrence in this mild climate implies that it is more widespread.Implications for insect conservation Conditions that permit long diapause are probably precise and may not be reflected in recognised qualities of habitat. The species may also be present despite a perceived absence in autumn, the standard period for monitoring. Assessments of the prevalence of the life-cycle and its contribution to the persistence of E. aurinia are required. Populations of E. aurinia are known to fluctuate greatly and do occur below the observation threshold for long periods.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Sparholt ◽  
Robin M. Cook

The theory of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) underpins many fishery management regimes and is applied principally as a single species concept. Using a simple dynamic biomass production model we show that MSY can be identified from a long time series of multi-stock data at a regional scale in the presence of species interactions and environmental change. It suggests that MSY is robust and calculable in a multispecies environment, offering a realistic reference point for fishery management. Furthermore, the demonstration of the existence of MSY shows that it is more than a purely theoretical concept. There has been an improvement in the status of stocks in the Northeast Atlantic, but our analysis suggests further reductions in fishing effort would improve long-term yields.


2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura I. Weber ◽  
Cintia G. Hildebrand ◽  
Anderson Ferreira ◽  
Gustavo Pedarassi ◽  
José A. Levy ◽  
...  

A genetic study of the neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818), which has an unknown conservation status, was carried out at the Taim Ecological Station and the margins of the Vargas stream, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Faecal samples were collected, and DNA was extracted using a silica-guanidine method. Five microsatellite loci were amplified using PCR with heterologous primers previously described for Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758). Sixteen faecal samples out of 29 from Taim and 11 out of 14 from Vargas stream margins contained enough DNA for genetic analysis. A total of 49 different alleles were found at both localities, from which 18 were exclusively found in individuals from Taim and 17 were exclusives from Vargas individuals. The most common allele was the same at both locations for three loci (Lut715, Lut733, and Lut818). A high level of genetic diversity was found at both sites (NeTaim=4.1, HoTaim=0.299, HeTaim=0.681; NeVargas=4.9, HoVargas=0.355, HeVargas=0.724), being higher at the Vargas stream site. A high and significant level of heterozygote deficiency was observed at most loci according to the χ2 test. The homogeneity χ2 test (P<0.001) showed that there were significant differences in the allele frequencies between the two locations. Genotyping for more than one locus was possible in 81.5% of samples, from which only 37% were possible to genotype for more than three loci. A low degree of relatedness was found among individuals from Taim (R=0.055±0.310), but an even lower value of relatedness was found at the Vargas site (R= -0.285±0.440). The significant degree of differentiation (I=0.890; F ST=0.059) found between Taim and Vargas individuals suggests that there is more than one population of otters in the southern extreme of Brazil, which probably are associated with the water body systems found in this region, the Mirim and the Caiuvá/Flores/Mangueira Lagoons. The high genetic diversity and low relatedness found at the Vargas stream, lead us to believe that the Vargas stream may be acting as a corridor between these water bodies for otter dispersion.


Biologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 1631-1641
Author(s):  
Janina Bennewicz ◽  
Tadeusz Barczak

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the role of field margin habitats in preserving the diversity and abundance of ground beetle assemblages, including potentially entomophagous species and those with conservation status in Poland. Research material was collected in 2006–2007 in four types of margin habitats – a forest, bushes, ditches and in two arable fields. Insects were captured into pitfalls, without preservation liquid or bait added to the traps. Traps were inspected twice a week, between May and August, and one sample was a weekly capture. In field margin habitats the most abundant species were Limodromus assimilis, Anchomenus dorsalis, Pterostichus melanarius and Carabus auratus. A lower abundance of species was noted on fields, with dominant Poecilus cupreus and P. melanarius. The group of zoophagous carabids found in our study includes 30 species from field margin habitats, i.e. 37.5% of all captured Carabidae taxa and 58.3% of all specimens. The share of aphidophagous species was 84.9% among bushes, 86.7% near ditches, and 88.0% in the forest habitat. Several species captured during the study are under protection in Poland. These include the partly protected Carabus convexus, which also has the status of near threatened species, the partly protected Calosoma auropunctatum, and Broscus cephalotes. Considering all the investigated field margin habitats, ground beetles were most numerous in the oak-hornbeam habitat, defined as bushes, formed predominantly by Prunus spinosa, Crataegus leavigata, Sambucus nigra and Rosa canina. Thus, this habitat was the most important reservoir/refugium for the ground beetles.


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