Changed avian assemblage of Savitribai Phule Pune University campus in last four decades

Savitribai Phule Pune University is known for its biodiversity in Pune. In the present study, we have analyzed changes which have occurred on the campus and surrounding area over the last 40 years. Of the 90 bird species reported in the campus and Khadki pond in 1976, we failed to notice 34 species in 2018. A major reason for the decline in bird diversity could be changes in the campus habitat from low scrub jungle, fallow lands and grassland to buildings, roads, and exotic plantations. Increase in human settlement surrounding the campus may also be a contributing factor. Replacing exotic plants by indigenous plant species and control of land use can prevent further loss of biodiversity.

Phytophthora acaciivora sp. nov. associated with dying Acacia mangium in Vietnam

Acacia mangium plantations account for more than 50 % of the exotic plantations in Vietnam. A new black butt symptom was discovered in 2012, followed by the wilting sign in Acacia seedlings in Tuyen Quang Province. Isolations recovered two Phytophthora species, the well-known Acacia pathogen P. cinnamomi, and an unknown species. The new species is described here as Phytophthora acaciivora sp. nov. Phylogenetically this species resides in clade 2d and is most closely related to P. frigida. Phytophthora acaciivora is a heterothallic species, oospores are aplerotic and antheridia are amphigynous. It produces predominantly elongated ovoid, semi papillate, persistent sporangia, no hyphal swellings and no chlamydospores. Optimum temperature for the growth is 25–30 °C and the maximum temperature is over 37.5 °C. Studies are underway to determine the impact of this new species on Acacia plantations in Vietnam.

Bird species richness in High-Andean forest fragments: habitat quality and topography matter

Montane forests worldwide are known centers of endemism and biodiversity but are highly threatened by fragmentation processes. Using data collected in 15 Polylepis forest remnants covering 2000 hectares, we investigated how bird species richness and bird community composition, particularly for species of conservation concern, are influenced by habitat quality and topography in the Tunari National Park in the High Andes of Bolivia. Bird species richness was highest in topographically complex, low-elevation Polylepis patches located in areas with a high potential to retain rainwater. Bird communities differed strongly between Polylepis lanata and P. subtusalbida remnants, each supporting different threatened and endemic species. Within the P. subtusalbida forest, high-elevation fragments characterized by high amounts of sunlight and low anthropogenic disturbance were more likely to contain threatened species. Surprisingly, we found no effect of fragment size on the diversity or composition of bird communities or the presence of bird species of conservation concern. The presence of exotic plantations (Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp.) in or outside forest remnants was negatively associated with the number of bird species as well as with occurrence of the endangered Cochabamba-mountain finch (Compsospiza garleppi). To support the different communities found in Polylepis forests, these results suggest that conservation efforts should be directed towards both forest types (P. subtusalbida and P. lanata) present in the area. For an efficient management of avian diversity, exotic plantations should be established away from native remnants while existing patches should be managed to maintain or increase habitat quality. Finally, the importance of local topography in determining avian species richness and community composition in forest fragments, mainly through topographic controls on moisture distribution and the amount of sunlight received by the fragments, should be considered when planning conservation and reforestation schemes.

Regional-scale variation on Dromiciops gliroides occurrence, abundance, and activity patterns along a habitat disturbance gradient

Habitat structure may have a significant influence on the occurrence, abundance, and activity patterns of forest mammals. However, anthropogenic habitat disturbance changes habitat structure, which may alter those patterns of activity. We assessed occurrence, relative abundance, and activity patterns of Dromiciops gliroides, an arboreal marsupial endemic to the temperate rainforests of southern South America, contrasting four forest conditions at a regional scale: old-growth, second-growth, and logged forests, and abandoned exotic plantations. We conducted a camera-trap assessment in two consecutive austral summers across most of the Chilean range of D. gliroides, and compared habitat structure along a disturbance gradient. All structural features assessed differed among forest conditions. Dromiciops gliroides was present in all forest conditions, but its abundance decreased and activity got narrower as disturbance increased, being significantly lower in the exotic plantations. Activity patterns were variable among forest conditions and months, and were significantly more restricted temporally at exotic plantations. Although D. gliroides is tolerant to habitat disturbance, we show that structural alteration results in lower abundances and narrower activity patterns.

Effect of Land Use/Cover Change on the Hydrological Response of a Southern Center Basin of Chile

Several impacts over ecosystem services have been produced by land use/cover changes, placing it as one of the main factors driving global environmental change. In the present study, the SWAT model was used to assess the effect of land use/cover changes on the hydrology response in the Andalien river basin from the south-central zone of Chile. Three land use/cover scenarios (LU_1986, LU_2001, and LU_2011) were compared over a period of 30 years (1984–2013) to remove the effect of climate variability on hydrology. The results show a significant decrease in total annual flows among the three LU scenarios. The greater differences in the annual flows of 25.05 m3/s were observed between LU_1986 and LU_2011 scenarios. The hydrological cycle dynamics in the basin show an increasing trend of evapotranspiration and surface flows with a significant decrease in percolation and lateral flow on a monthly and seasonal scale. This behavior can be explained by the increasing percentage of the basin area covered by exotic plantations, from 35.22% to 63.93% during the period. The evidence of these changes and the evaluation of their effects are particularly relevant for the long-term sustainable management of water resources.