Forest Long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the park of the Forest Research Institute with new records for Bulgaria and notes on habitat affinity

The paper gives information for 17 dolichopodid species collected from the park of the Forest Research Institute, Sofia. Two species (Lamprochromus kowarzi and Syntormon pseudospicatum) are recorded as new for the fauna of Bulgaria. Habitat preferences of the identified species are discussed. Two species dominate the study area: Hercostomus nanus dominates from early June to mid-July and then Sybistroma obscurellus dominates from mid-July to the second half of October.

Composition and behavior of mixed-species foraging groups of reef fish in the Lakshadweep islands, India

Mixed-species foraging groups of reef fishes, although relatively common in occurrence, have historically received little attention. Most studies on this topic have been descriptive accounts of specific associations. In this study, we collected data on mixed-species foraging groups seen in the Lakshadweep islands, resulting in a dataset of 1289 groups. Data was collected from both reefs and lagoons of three islands (Kadmat, Kavaratti, and Agatti) within the Lakshadweep Archipelago over a period of three years. Cluster analysis revealed nine categories based on species composition in groups: parrotfish, juveniles, surgeonfish (small), surgeonfish (large), Anampses spp., wrasses, Parupeneus macronema, Parupeneus barberinus, and other goatfish groups. The clusters are named based on the nuclear species or most frequently seen species within the groups. These groups are distinct not only in terms of composition but also other parameters such as behavior (shoaling or attendant groups), habitat affinity, and group cohesion. Groups comprising herbivorous species such as parrotfish and surgeonfish were almost entirely shoaling in nature (large groups without nuclear individuals), whereas goatfish and wrasses tended to form smaller attendant associations. Groups also occupied different habitat types; for example, parrotfish and P. barberinus groups were seen mostly in lagoons while surgeonfish, wrasses, and P. macronema groups were more abundant on reefs. Our findings suggest that mixed-species foraging groups in fishes are comprised of distinct compositional categories that vary in behavior, cohesion, and habitat affinity.

The Permeability of Natural versus Anthropogenic Forest Edges Modulates the Abundance of Ground Beetles of Different Dispersal Power and Habitat Affinity

Forest edges are formed by natural or anthropogenic processes and their maintaining processes cause fundamentally different edge responses. We evaluated the published evidence on the effect of various edges on the abundance of ground beetles of different habitat affinity and dispersal power. Our results, based on 23 publications and 86 species, showed that natural forest edges were impenetrable for open-habitat species with high dispersal power, preventing their influx into the forest interiors, while forest specialist species of limited dispersal power penetrated and reached abundances comparable to those in forest interiors. Anthropogenic edges, maintained by continued disturbance were permeable by macropterous open-habitat species, allowing them to invade the forest interiors, while such edges (except the forestry-induced ones) deterred brachypterous forest specialists. Different permeability of forest edges with various maintaining processes can affect ecosystem functions and services, therefore the preservation and restoration of natural forest edges are key issues in both forest ecology and nature conservation.

Inferences on the role of coral bleaching or seasonality on cross-habitat movement of nekton assemblages in adjacent coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove habitats

We investigated shifts in nekton assemblages in coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove habitats that coincided with a coral bleaching event in June 2016. The study was conducted in May 2016 (prebleaching), July 2016 (bleaching), October 2016 (4-mo postbleaching), and February 2017 (7-mo postbleaching) in relatively undisturbed coastal areas in Busuanga, Palawan, western Philippines. We used triangular trap nets to capture nekton samples from each habitat. In coral reef and mangrove habitats, there were increases in nekton abundance and biomass from the prebleaching to the bleaching period. After the bleaching event, however, there were reductions in nekton abundance and biomass at the coral reefs until 7-mo postbleaching. Species composition changed at all sites where shifts in dominant species, habitat affinity, and trophic category were observed. The postbleaching increase in nekton abundance in mangroves coincided with the decreased nekton abundance in the coral reef, suggesting a cross-habitat movement, likely due to the reduced suitability and/or food in the bleached coral reef. The changes in the nekton assemblage may also have been due to seasonal fluctuations in environmental parameters, especially salinity. Our study presents evidence of the possible role of coral bleaching or seasonal changes on cross-habitat movements of nekton assemblages, which can be inferred as an indicator of disturbance. The presence of adjacent vegetated habitats may provide refuge for the affected nekton assemblage of the coral reef.