Relaxed risk of predation drives parallel evolution of stickleback behaviour

The occurrence of similar phenotypes in multiple independent populations (viz. parallel evolution) is a testimony of evolution by natural selection. Parallel evolution implies that populations share a common phenotypic response to a common selection pressure associated with habitat similarity. Examples of parallel evolution at the genetic and phenotypic levels are fairly common, but the driving selective agents often remain elusive. Similarly, the role of phenotypic plasticity in facilitating early stages of parallel evolution is unclear. We investigated whether the relaxation of predation pressure associated with the colonization of freshwater ponds by nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) likely explains the divergence in complex behaviours between marine and pond populations, and whether this divergence is parallel. Using laboratory-raised individuals exposed to different levels of perceived predation risk, we calculated vectors of phenotypic divergence for four behavioural traits between habitats and predation risk treatments. We found a significant correlation between the directions of evolutionary divergence and phenotypic plasticity, suggesting that habitat divergence in behaviour is aligned with the response to relaxation of predation pressure. Finally, we show that this alignment is found across multiple pairs of populations, and that the relaxation of predation pressure has likely driven parallel evolution of behaviour in this species.

Description and taxonomic analysis of a tuberculated turtle leech from the Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA, provisionally identified as Placobdella multilineata Moore, 1953 (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae)

A tuberculated species of turtle leech is indigenous to the Great Dismal Swamp and environs of northeastern North Carolina, and differs from other known species of Placobdella. This study of hundreds of specimens for more than a decade documents its unexpected taxonomic complexity. In fact, this seemingly innocuous leech undergoes radical transformations in terms of morphology and behaviour, each adapted to a different phase of its life cycle. Biological observations reveal a progressive darkening with age which imposes taxonomic uncertainties. Furthermore, some commonly used characters are found to be unsound for taxonomic diagnosis in that they do not occur in all individuals of this species. The primary objective of this paper is a comprehensive description of this Albemarle turtle leech. The question is then asked, what distinguishes it from allied species? Toward this end, a formal taxonomic diagnosis is proposed based on details of the proboscis complex and crop-related tuberculation. This species is allied to the northern P. rugosa (Verrill, 1874) or its southern counterpart P. multilineata Moore, 1953. However, synonymy to either of these forms is problematical due to inadequacy of type descriptions. Nonetheless, in view of habitat similarity the Albemarle leech is provisionally identified as P. multilineata pending comparable studies of variability and development of other tuberculated Placobdella.

DIVERSITAS SERANGGA TANAH DI BERBAGAI TIPE TANAH PADA LAHAN REKLAMASI BEKAS TAMBANG KAPUR KABUPATEN TUBAN

<p><em>The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity of soil insect orders in the reclamation area of former limestone quarries in the top soil type, spoil and reject product used in the media for land reclamation processes. This research sampling technique uses a pitfall trap tool. This study used descriptive quantitative data analysis using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson dominance index, Pielou species evenness index, and index of Morisista-Horn habitat similarity. Based on the research that has been done it can be concluded that the reclamation land in 2010 with the dominant type of dust has a low diversity category and a high dominance category with the discovery of 4 orders. The reclaimed land in 2014 with the dominant clay type soil has a moderate diversity category and a low dominance category with 7 orders found. Whereas the reclamation land in 2016 with the dominant type of sand has a low diversity category and a high dominance category with the discovery of 8 orders. The spread of species in all three locations was categorized evenly and between locations did not have the same community. </em></p>

Floristic and microclimatic features of the Sovljak doline (Mt. Velika Kapela, Croatia)

The relation between floristic composition, microclimate and geomorphology of a large-sized karst doline was analysed in the area of the Sovljak doline located on the Mt. Velika Kapela. Habitat conditions in various parts of the doline, due to its morphology, were described in this work. Geomorphological observations, microclimatic measurements (including air temperature, relative humidity and dew point temperature data) and flora inventory were carried out. Ellenberg’s indicator values, life forms, chorological and taxonomical analyses were performed, as well as the analysis of habitat similarity. The doline slopes (northern and southern) appeared to offer different habitat conditions than its bottom, due to their morphological and microclimatic differences, which resulted in high taxa variability along short distances in the doline. Furthermore, the presence of temperature inversion promoted the development of the vegetation inversion, which is common in such large dolines.

Brazilian National Forest Inventory – a landscape scale approach to monitoring and assessing forested landscapes

The strategic importance of forest resources, both at the national and global level, as well as the scarcity of reliable qualitative and quantitative information about Brazilian forests are among the motivations that led to the implementation of a new national forest inventory in Brazil (IFN-BR). Beyond traditional field survey through clustered sampling, the IFN-BR incorporates Landscape Sample Units (LSU) as a geospatial component of the inventory. Landscape indicators and indices are generated through the analysis of land use/land cover in the LSUs, which provide information about composition, morphology, mosaic patterns, adjacent habitat similarity, connectivity, fragmentation, and state of riparian zones. In the current study, we describe the indicators selected to assess landscape using pilot LSUs established in Paraná State, as well as the calculation and composition of indices and scores.

Contribution of Plantation Forest on Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Pollinators Conservation in Mount Slamet, Central Java, Indonesia

<p class="IsiAbstrakIndo">Wild bee pollinators (Hymenoptera : Apiade) diversity and abundance were studied in three types of plantation forest on Mt. Slamet (Central Java Province, Indonesia). The aims of the research was to know the diversity and abundance of wild bee pollinators and to determine the possibility of plantation forest contribution on wild bees conservation. Sampling has been done at three stands: a pine forest (PF, with <em>Pinus merkusii</em>), an Agathis forest (AF, with <em>Agathis damara</em>) and a community forest (CF, with <em>Albizia falctaria</em>). Each habitat was divided into 5 line transect (100 x 5 m) and sweep nets were used to collect the wild bee samples. Sampling was done eah month from April to August 2015. The diversity of wild bees was high (12 species in 9 genera; members of the Apidae (7 species were dominant). <span lang="EN-GB">The most abundant species across the forests were </span><em>Apis cerana</em><span lang="EN-GB"> (343 individuals; 25.5% of total), </span><em>Trigona laeviceps</em><span lang="EN-GB"> (195 individuals; 14.5%), and </span><em>Megachille relativa </em><span lang="EN-GB">(165 individuals; 12.3%)</span>. Measurements of species diversity (<em>H</em>’), species evenness (<em>E</em>), habitat similarity (<em>Ss</em>) and species richness indicated that the wild bee species diversity in the region was relatively high <span lang="EN-GB">(</span><em>H</em>’ = <span lang="EN-GB">1.275)</span> to <span lang="EN-GB">(</span><em>H</em>’<span lang="EN-GB"> = 1.730);</span><span lang="EN-GB">(</span>E= <span lang="EN-GB">0.870)</span> to<span lang="EN-GB"> (</span>E = <span lang="EN-GB">0.93)</span>. The result showed that t<span lang="EN-GB">he </span>diversity of wild bees<span lang="EN-GB"> in three different plantation forest habitats on Mt. Slamet were similar </span>and can be concluded that plantation<span lang="EN-GB"> forest types were important for pollinator conservation, and an appropriate future preservation strategy should include of the areas of all </span>plantation <span lang="EN-GB">forest types.</span></p>

A comparison of the allometric growth in Uca leptodactyla (Crustacea: Brachyura: Ocypodidae) from two subtropical estuaries

The allometric growth of Uca leptodactyla from two distinct subtropical estuaries on the Brazilian coast was evaluated concerning its growth pattern and size at onset of sexual maturity. Females attained maturity at similar sizes in both sites (4·1 mm of carapace length in Indaiá and 4·2 mm in Ubatumirim), while males differed slightly. They reached the size at sexual maturity of 5·3 mm of carapace length in Indaiá and 4·6 mm in Ubatumirim. Growth pattern is usually similar among crabs from distinct sites while size at sexual maturity is frequently different. However, in the case of U. leptodactyla it did not occur, probably due to the strong habitat similarity and intrinsic features of this species.