Peer Review #2 of "Carabid community structure in northern China grassland ecosystems: Effects of local habitat on species richness, species composition and functional diversity (v0.1)"

Background Most carabid beetles are particularly sensitive to local habitat characteristics. Although in China grasslands account for more than 40% of the national land, their biodiversity is still poorly known. The aim of this paper is to identify the main environmental characteristics influencing carabid diversity in different types of grassland in northern China. Methods We investigated the influence of vegetation (plant biomass, cover, density, height and species richness), soil (bulk density, above ground litter, moisture and temperature) and climate (humidity, precipitation and temperature) on carabid community structure (species richness, species composition and functional diversity—measured as body size, movement and total diversity) in three types of grasslands: desert, typical and meadow steppes. We used Canonical correspondence analysis to investigate the role of habitat characteristics on species composition and eigenvector spatial filtering to investigate the responses of species richness and functional diversities. Results We found that carabid community structure was strongly influenced by local habitat characteristics and particularly by climatic factors. Carabids in the desert steppe showed the lowest richness and functional diversities. Climate predictors (temperature, precipitation and humidity) had positive effects on carabid species richness at both regional and ecosystem levels, with difference among ecosystems. Plant diversity had a positive influence on carabid richness at the regional level. Soil compaction and temperature were negatively related to species richness at regional level. Climatic factors positively influenced functional diversities, whereas soil temperature had negative effects. Soil moisture and temperature were the most important drivers of species composition at regional level, whereas the relative importance of the various environmental parameters varied among ecosystems. Discussion Carabid responses to environmental characteristics varied among grassland types, which warns against generalizations and indicates that management programs should be considered at grassland scale. Carabid community structure is strongly influenced by climatic factors, and can therefore be particularly sensitive to ongoing climate change.

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Species Composition and Species Richness in the Hetao Irrigation Region Drainage Ditches, Northern China

Arid Land Research and Management ◽

10.1080/15324982.2012.721857 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 167-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yang Zhao ◽

Xin-rong Li ◽

Zhi-shan Zhang ◽

Yi-gang Hu ◽

Pan Wu

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Northern China ◽

Drainage Ditches

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Corrigendum to: Fish in the matrix: effects of landscape on community-structure patterns of the ichthyofauna of streams in Cerrado

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf19281_co ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (9) ◽

pp. 1219

Author(s):

Thiago Bernardi Vieira ◽

Leandro Schlemmer Brasil ◽

Naiara Raiol Torres ◽

Tatiana Lima de Melo ◽

Elto Aparecido Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Composition ◽

Indicator Species ◽

Matrix Effects ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Generalist Species ◽

The Matrix ◽

Structure Patterns

This study aims to identify species richness and composition patterns of the ichthyofauna in different landscape matrices (forest, pasture and eucalypt crops) and to evaluate the variation of species composition in different matrices, identifying possible indicator species. We selected 21 streams; 7 were surrounded by native vegetation, 9 surrounded by pasture and 5 by eucalypt crops. We tested whether there was difference in the composition and species richness. In addition, we used the indicator value (IndVal) to verify if there were species faithful and specific to some land use and land cover. Streams located in forest presented the highest estimated species richness, followed by streams in pasturelands and eucalypt matrices. There was no difference between the composition of fishes in different matrices, but we observed a relationship between Phenacorhamdia somnians (Mees, 1974) and pasture matrix. The results indicated that the change in land use may benefit some generalist species such as Phenacorhamdia somnians.

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Fish in the matrix: effects of landscape on community-structure patterns of the ichthyofauna of streams in Cerrado

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf19281 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (9) ◽

pp. 1211 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thiago Bernardi Vieira ◽

Leandro Schlemmer Brasil ◽

Naiara Raiol Torres ◽

Tatiana Lima de Melo ◽

Elto Aparecido Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Composition ◽

Indicator Species ◽

Matrix Effects ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Generalist Species ◽

The Matrix ◽

Structure Patterns

This study aims to identify species richness and composition patterns of the ichthyofauna in different landscape matrices (forest, pasture and eucalypt crops) and to evaluate the variation of species composition in different matrices, identifying possible indicator species. We selected 21 streams; 7 were surrounded by native vegetation, 9 surrounded by pasture and 5 by eucalypt crops. We tested whether there was difference in the composition and species richness. In addition, we used the indicator value (IndVal) to verify if there were species faithful and specific to some land use and land cover. Streams located in forest presented the highest estimated species richness, followed by streams in pasturelands and eucalypt matrices. There was no difference between the composition of fishes in different matrices, but we observed a relationship between Phenacorhamdia somnians (Mees, 1974) and pasture matrix. The results indicated that the change in land use may benefit some generalist species such as Phenacorhamdia somnians.

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The Community of Strongylids (Nematoda, Strongylida) of Working Donkeys (Equus Asinus) in Ukraine

Vestnik Zoologii ◽

10.2478/v10058-008-0004-4 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. e-18-e-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T. Kuzmina ◽

Yu. Kuzmin

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Composition ◽

Equus Asinus

The Community of Strongylids (Nematoda, Strongylida) of Working Donkeys (Equus Asinus) in UkraineThe aim of our work was to study the species composition of the strongylid community of donkeys and to explore the influence of anthelmintic treatments on the community structure. Strongylid nematodes were collected by the diagnostic deworming technique from 33 donkeys from the riding school "Chudo-oslik" (Crimea) (25), from Kharkiv (3) and Kyiv zoos (2) and Kyiv riding schools (3). Seventeen species were found in donkeys studied: 16 species of Cyathostominae and 1 of Strongylinae. Between 2 and 7 species were found per donkey (average of 4.2 ± 2.8). Cyathostomum tetracanthum, C. catinatum, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi and C. longibursatus) dominated in the community; they were found in 80-100% animals studied and comprised 91.7% of the total number of strongylids collected. Two species C. tetracanthum and Cylicocyclus auriculatus were found to be specific for donkeys. The results obtained showed a reduction of the species richness of the strongylid community in donkeys from riding schools and zoos caused by lack of grazing and by regular anthelmintic treatments.

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Variations in the community structure of biofilm-dwelling protozoa at different depths in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315417001680 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 99 (1) ◽

pp. 43-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mamun Abdullah Al ◽

Yangyang Gao ◽

Guangjian Xu ◽

Zheng Wang ◽

Henglong Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Yellow Sea ◽

Northern China ◽

Marine Ecosystems ◽

Artificial Substrates ◽

The Yellow Sea ◽

Individual Species ◽

Protozoan Community

Biofilm-dwelling protozoa are a primary component of microbiota and play important roles in the functioning of microbial food webs such as the mediation of carbon and energy flux from plankton to benthos in marine ecosystems. To demonstrate the vertical pattern of the protozoan communities, a 1-month baseline survey was carried out in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China. A total of 40 samples were collected using glass slides as artificial substrates at four depths: 1, 2, 3.5 and 5 m. A total of 50 species were identified, comprising seven dominant and eight commonly distributed species. Species richness and individual species abundances showed a clear decreasing trend down the water column from 1 to 5 m, although the former peaked at a depth of 2 m. Multivariate approaches revealed that protozoan community structure differed significantly among the four depths, except for those at 2 and 3.5 m. Maximum values of species richness, diversity and evenness generally decreased with depth although they peaked at either 2 or 3.5 m. These results suggest that water depth may significantly shape the community patterns of biofilm-dwelling protozoa in marine ecosystems.

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Local Habitat Characteristics Determine Butterfly Diversity and Community Structure in a Threatened Kihansi Gorge Forest, Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

10.21203/rs.3.rs-811050/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alfan Abeid Rija

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Community Structure ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Heterogeneous Habitats ◽

Udzungwa Mountains ◽

Butterfly Community ◽

Butterfly Communities ◽

Local Habitat

Abstract Background Many species inhabiting Kihansi gorge ecosystem in Southern Udzungwa mountains, Tanzania are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss caused by constructed hydropower plant that diverted over 90% of the water off the Kihansi River. Understanding ecological correlates and structure of an animal community in perturbed ecosystems is an important way to enhancing species conservation particularly in this system where several species are already threatened with extinction. This study assessed influences of local habitat characteristics on the butterfly abundance, species richness and diversity and examined how the butterfly community structures across three structurally heterogeneous habitats in the Kihansi gorge forest. Butterfly abundance data were collected using baited traps and measured environmental variables in the field where trapping occurred. To understand the diversity and butterfly richness, these parameters were computed under Primer software. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of community similarity were used to analyse the butterfly community structure. Further, the generalized linear models were used to assess how the measured variables explained observed species diversity, abundance, and richness. Results In total, 72 species of butterfly in five families were recorded. Butterfly, species diversity and richness did not vary across the habitat types or elevation gradient but showed strong correlation with some habitat characteristics. Also, there was evidence of butterfly communities structuring into distinct groups that showed greater separation associated with the habitat characteristics they utilise. Further, across the study area, butterfly species diversity was mostly likely to increase in high canopy and in trees with smaller diameter at breast height and at lower ground cover. Similarly, abundance significantly increased in the woodland and wooded grassland habitats, where there was high canopy and where tree density was high. Furthermore, butterfly species richness was strongly positively associated with high canopy cover and was mostly likely to increase in sites closer to water source. Conclusion Assessing habitat correlates of the butterfly communities provide important information on what components of the habitats are most useful to target when planning conservation especially in threatened ecosystems. This also helps to reveal existing gaps in important knowledge that would be useful to improving long-term monitoring of biodiversity in in fragile systems such as the Kihansi gorge forest.

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Influence of Climate and Local Habitat Characteristics on Carabid Beetle Abundance and Diversity in Northern Chinese Steppes

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11010019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Noelline Tsafack ◽

Yingzhong Xie ◽

Xinpu Wang ◽

Simone Fattorini

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Northern China ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Scale Factors ◽

Grassland Ecosystems ◽

Northern Chinese ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Insect Group

Carabids are an important insect group in grassland ecosystems and are involved in numerous ecosystem services. Steppes are the most widespread ecosystems in China, but they are under increasing degradation. Despite their importance, little is known about the relationships between environmental variables and carabid community structure in Chinese steppes. We studied the effects of fine-scale factors (soil and vegetation) and coarse-scale factors (climate) on carabid community parameters (abundance, richness, diversity, dominance, and evenness) in three types of steppes (desert, typical, and meadow steppes) in northern China. Carabid communities responded to environmental factors in different ways according to the type of steppe. Climate factors were the most important drivers of community structure, whereas the effects of soil and vegetation were less important. Desert steppe showed the lowest carabid abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness, and the highest dominance. This community is relatively simple and strongly dominated by a few species adapted to the severe conditions of this environment. Typical and meadow steppes showed carabid communities with a more complex structure. As expected on the basis of environmental severity, the most severe ecosystem (i.e., the desert) was only influenced by climatic factors, whereas a certain influence of biotic factors emerged in the other ecosystems.

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