Control of meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria through a change of management from grazing to mowing at an English floodplain meadow.

Floodplain meadow grassland is a diverse habitat which has become increasingly rare throughout Europe. Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, is a characteristic species of its plant community, however it can become overly dominant in the sward resulting in detrimental effects on the community as a whole. High abundance can reduce both the diversity of the sward, by shading out low growing species, and the quality of the hay crop. An eight-year management trial (2011-2019) was undertaken at Fancott Woods and Meadows SSSI by the BCN Wildlife Trust and the Floodplain Meadows Partnership, to test whether it was possible to reduce the dominance of meadowsweet through an annual hay cut with aftermath grazing instead of grazing management only, across three blocks of experimental treatments. A secondary aim of the trial was to investigate whether a change in management could also increase the plant-species diversity. Three plots were cut in June and then aftermath grazed, compared to three control plots that were only grazed from July onwards. The study found that cover of meadowsweet decreased from 55% to 6% under the annual cut and aftermath grazing treatment compared to a decrease from 58% to 35% in the control (grazed only) areas. This was accompanied by an increase in plant-species diversity in the cut areas compared to control plots. The study concluded that annual cutting can be used to control coarse and dominant meadowsweet effectively, and that cutting followed by aftermath grazing in a floodplain meadow delivers greater botanical diversity compared to grazing alone.

Vishniacozyma alagoana sp. nov. a tremellomycetes yeast associated with plants from dry and rainfall tropical forests

Plants are important reservoirs of described and undescribed species of yeast. During a study of yeasts associated with bromeliads from the Northeast region of Brazil (collected in 2013–2017), analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region identified eleven strains of yeasts as representing an unknown species of the genus Vishniacozyma. The species may have a diverse habitat in Brazil as a strain was collected from a flowering plant (Acanthaceae) in 1994. As a consequence, we propose Vishniacozyma alagoana sp. nov. as a member of the tremellomycetes yeasts (Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota). Vishniacozyma alagoana sp. nov. was found in Atlantic Forest (a tropical rainforest) and the Caatinga (a seasonally dry tropical forest) associated with bromeliads in northeast and southeastern Brazil. The proposed novel species is related to Vishniacozyma taibaiensis and distinguished by eight nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and seventeen in the ITS region. In addition, Vishniacozyma alagoana sp. nov. differs from V. taibaiensis by the ability to assimilate ribitol. The holotype is CBS 15966T.

DIVERSITY OF SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (BLATTODEA: TERMITOIDEA) ON VARIOUS TYPES HABITAT AROUND IPB UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, BOGOR, INDONESIA

Termites are social insects that play an important role in ecosystem. Habitat is a crucial factors determining diversity of termites. IPB University campus has quite diverse habitat types. In this research, we study the diversity and abundance of termite species around IPB University campus. Two methods used for data collection, i.e. baiting system with pine wood and transect survey within 10 x 10 m area. Six species of termites found belongs to two families, Termitidae (Macrotermes gilvus, Odontotermes javanicus, Microtermes insperatus, and Capritermes mohri) and Rhinotermitidae (Schedorhinotermes javanicus and Coptotermes curvignathus). The most diverse with the high abundance of these termites are found in the rubber trees area, Faculty of Fisheries (FPI) and the forest behind the main administration building, Rectorate (REK) because this area provides an abundant source of cellulose as a food source for termites. While the building areas tend to have a lower diversity and abundance index because food sources for termites are not always available due to human activities. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis shows that the termites species composition is different between study area.

Diversity of Earthworms in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Studies reveal that not up to 50% of earthworm species have been described in the world and the understanding of earthworm diversity is finite in most countries including Nigeria. The study was aimed at evaluating the diversity of earthworms and environmental factors affecting their abundance. Earthworms were collected from three (3) different sampling locations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Descriptive statistics and estimation of species abundance, dominance and diversity were used to analyze the data obtained from the study. From the study, four (4) species of earthworms were identified and recorded from the three sampling locations. Eudrilus eugeniae (54.9%) was the most abundant species followed by Hyperidrilus africanus (20.3%), Libyodrilus violaceous (19.6%) and Alma millsoni (6.3%) with the least abundant species. The result of the diversity indices showed Science village (1.13) as the most diverse habitat followed by Emelda hostel (0.86) and Boys’ hostel (0.84) with the least diversity of species. Soil pH ranged from 2.25 to 4.06 and total organic matter ranged from 14.10 to 16.36%. Soil temperature was uniform with an average value of 27°C for the three sampling locations. The soil moisture content ranged from 11.19 to 14.12%. The conductivity recorded the lowest value (25.60μS/cm) in Emelda Hostel and highest value (111.8 μS/cm) in Science village. The study provided understanding into the patterns of earthworm populations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the need for the conservation of earthworm diversity. Better understanding about habitat and living conditions of earthworms is required to provide suitable and enhanced production of vermicompost in different geographic conditions.

Seasonal occurrence, abundance and flight activities of anisopterous dragonflies

The dragonflies were studied as indicators for healthy environment and good atmosphere based on the seasonal occurrence, abundance and flight activities aspects at National Kandawgyi Gardens (NKGs) from June 2008 to September 2011. The 30 species of dragonflies are distributed among three families. Dragonflies belonging to order Odonata are a well- known group of insects that are widely distributed all over the world and many people appreciate their striking colours and acrobatic flights. They are widely distributed in variable habitats such as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and canals of all sizes. Since NKGs is diverse habitat, such as a lake, ponds, freshwater swamp, peat swamp, etc., different habitats are suitable for feeding, mating, perching and reproduction of many dragonfly species. The present research pursued to support the combination of conservation measures to ensure the continued survival of dragonflies and NKGs not only attracts human but a variety of living assets, including the dragonflies.

Ruderal vegetation in Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine) – the class of Robinietea

The present paper studies the ruderal vegetation of the class of Robinietea in Kryvyi Rih. We present the spontaneous woody vegetation of parks and other artificial plantations. Urban landscapes remain unstudied phytosociologically despite the highly diverse habitat niches. We have carried out the comparisons of communities from other regions of Ukraine and adjacent territories. In total, four associations and one derivate community, belonging to three alliances, were identified and categorized as follows: Chelidonio-Acerion negundi (synanthropic tree communities with Acer negundo), Chelidonio majoris-Robinion pseudoacaciae (artificial and spontaneous plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia), Geo-Acerion platanoidis (artificial plantations of broad-leaved tree species). The ordination analysis indicates ecological differentiation of syntaxa investigated in Kryvyi Rih. The most important of them are soil aeration (Ae), the cryo-climate (Cr) and nitrogen content in soil (Nt). Critical revision of the class Robinietea syntaxonomy demands further current research.

Waterbirds from the mudflats of Thane Creek, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India: a review of distribution records from India

Thane creek is one of the coastal and marine protected sites located in Mumbai which declared as a sanctuary recently in 2015. Creek region provides diverse habitat to birds for feeding, nesting and resting, making it a potential bird watching sight for ornithologists and enthusiasts. This article presents some interesting observations of waterbird species recorded from mudflats of Thane creek near Bhandup Pumping Station, Mumbai and also reviewed their previous records from various states of India.