Monitoring of small rock pools reveals differential effects of chronic anthropogenic disturbance on birds and mammals in the Calakmul region, southern Mexico

Great attention has been drawn to the impacts of habitat deforestation and fragmentation on wildlife species richness. In contrast, much less attention has been paid to assessing the impacts of chronic anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife species composition and behaviour. We focused on natural small rock pools (sartenejas), which concentrate vertebrate activity due to habitat’s water limitation, to assess the impact of chronic anthropogenic disturbance on the species richness, diversity, composition, and behaviour of medium and large-sized birds and mammals in the highly biodiverse forests of Calakmul, southern Mexico. Camera trapping records of fauna using sartenejas within and outside the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) showed that there were no effects on species richness, but contrasts emerged when comparing species diversity, composition, and behaviour. These effects differed between birds and mammals and between species: (1) bird diversity was greater outside the CBR, but mammal diversity was greater within and (2) the daily activity patterns of birds differed slightly within and outside the CBR but strongly contrasted in mammals. Our study highlights that even in areas supporting extensive forest cover, small-scale chronic anthropogenic disturbances can have pervasive negative effects on wildlife and that these effects contrast between animal groups.

Larvae ecology and adult activity of Aedes mariae (Diptera: Culicidae) in a touristic rock-pool area of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean)

Mosquitoes are vectors of several diseases of medical concern such as malaria or dengue and can also negatively affect tourism and the life-quality of the neighbourhood. The species Aedes mariae (Sergent and Sergent, 1903) is a poorly studied mosquito that breeds in rock-pools of the Mediterranean coast. General Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) were used to determine drivers affecting the presence and abundance of this species. Abiotic and biotic factors were recorded in rock-pools with the presence of Ae. mariae sub-adults across a supralittoral area of Majorca Island (Balearic Islands, Spain) from July 2018 to June 2019. We tested how abiotic factors affected the presence of larvae, while the biotic factors were used to check their effect on larvae abundance. human landing collection was also conducted to assess the adult activity of this species. Valuable data were recorded to improve our knowledge about the bioecology of Ae. mariae in a touristic area of the island of Majorca. Salinity and pH were the most explanatory variables for the presence of Ae. mariae larvae. The presence of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile 1813 leaves negatively affected the abundance of Ae. mariae larvae while the presence of other fauna enhanced it. Adult females of Ae. mariae were active for 26 min after sunset in June and its host-seeking activity decreased during autumn months. Control methods against this species should be focussed on rock-pools and planning treatments according to tides, waves and precipitation.

Vanishing waters: water chemistry of temporary rock pools of the Western Ghats, India

The freshwater rockpools support high endemic biodiversity but are poorly studied habitats in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. These freshwater rock pools are situated on outcrops at various elevations in the Western Ghats and are composed of different bedrocks such as laterite and basalt. We aimed to analyze the water quality, geographical position based differences in the water chemistry and the role of bedrock in determining the water chemistry of the rock pools. Our study showed a wide range of water quality variables such as pH, conductivity, and ionic contents that attributed to the natural variation. We observed a drastic variation in the anions and cations at low elevation pools. Rock type and precipitation are influencing the ionic concentration, for example, Calcium and Bromide could be attributed to the seasonal precipitation and geomorphology. This documentation of physicochemical properties of the Western Ghats rock pools can form a baseline for further detailed studies.

On some additions to the amphibians of Gunung Inas Forest Reserve, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia

A survey on amphibian fauna was conducted in compartments 15, 16, and 17 of Gunung Inas Forest Reserve (GIFR), Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia for a period of two-and-a-half years, starting from January 2016 to May 2018, with a total of 20 visits. Observations and collections of amphibian species were carried out in and along the rivers, forest streams, forest pools, rock pools, cascade areas, waterfalls, ditches, temporary pools, forest floors, and forest trails. In total, 41 species of amphibians, belonging to 25 genera, and seven families were collected over the survey period. Of these, 11 species were ranids, followed by 10 dicroglossids, seven rhacophorids, six microhylids, four bufonids, two megophryids, and a single ichthyophiids (Ichthyophis sp.). From these observations, it is being pointed out that 15 species of amphibians represent new records for GIFR, while two species were not detected. This increases the known amphibian diversity of Gunung Inas Forest Reserve from 28 to 41 species.

Why Are Barnacles Common on Intertidal Rocks but Rare in Rock Pools? Effect of Water Temperature, Salinity, and Continuous Submergence on Barnacle Survival in Indian Ocean Rock Pools

Barnacles are less common in rock pools of the rocky intertidal zone than on open rock surfaces adjacent to those pools. Rock pools on the Andaman coastlines of Thailand showed diurnal variations in water temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen level, peaking in the afternoon. Multivariate analysis showed that water temperature and salinity (not pH and dissolved oxygen) can affect barnacle abundance in rock pools. The present study tests the hypothesis that a lack of recruitment or pool environmental conditions (continuous submergence, water temperature, and salinity extremes) affect the abundance of barnacles (Chthamalus malayensis and Amphibalanus amphitrite) in rock pools. During the recruitment season, recruits were found in a number of rock pools, but at significantly lower abundances than those in adjacent open rock surfaces. In a laboratory experiment, C. malayensis and A. amphitrite that were continuously submerged had a lower survival (80%) than the controls (simulated tide conditions; >90% survivals). Under different water temperature and salinities treatments, barnacles had low survival (<50%) in the low salinity (0‰) and high temperature treatment (40°C). The present study suggests that C. malayensis and A. amphitrite can recruit into rock pools, and the interplay of continuous submergence, high water temperature and low salinity in rock pools can bring about mortality in barnacles.

Persistence of a population of palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus in a saline environment on the west coast of Scotland

A six year survey of a palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) population in rock pools on the west coast of Scotland indicates that this species has some tolerance of saline conditions. The newts were living with a mean salinity (conductivity) of 382 ppm (range 30.7 ppm to >4995 ppm). Other interesting observations include a variation in mating behaviour, in which normal open water behaviour is confined to crevices, and the occurrence of ‘pelvic bumps’ in some individuals that may indicate reduced body condition.

Tigriopus iranicus sp. nov., a new species of Harpacticidae (Copepoda, Crustacea) from Iran, with a redescription of T. raki Bradford, 1967

The first representative of Tigriopus Norman, 1869 from the north-western Indian Ocean is described from rock pools on the Iranian coast. Tigriopus iranicussp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners by i) the possession of two maxillary endites, each with two setae; ii) a two-segmented mandibular endopod; iii) P1enp-3 with one pinnate claw, a well-developed geniculate spine and a small seta; and iv) female P6 with two setae. Additionally, we present a complete redescription of Tigriopus raki Bradford, 1967 on the basis of paratype material and a key to the species of the genus.