Negative effects of urbanisation on diurnal and nocturnal pollen-transport networks

Pollinating insects are declining due to habitat loss and climate change, and cities with limited habitat and floral resources may be particularly vulnerable. The effects of urban landscapes on pollination networks remain poorly understood, and comparative studies of taxa with divergent niches are lacking. Here, for the first time, we simultaneously compare nocturnal moth and diurnal bee pollen-transport networks using DNA metabarcoding and ask how pollination networks are affected by increasing urbanisation. Bees and moths exhibited substantial divergence in the communities of plants they interact with. Increasing urbanisation had comparable negative effects on pollen-transport networks of both taxa, with significant declines in pollen species richness. We show that moths are an important, but overlooked, component of urban pollen-transport networks for wild flowering plants, horticultural crops, and trees. Our findings highlight the need to include both bee and non-bee taxa when assessing the status of critical plant-insect interactions in urbanised landscapes.     

Peat,horticulture and environment

Peat-based growing media underpin the horticultural industry in the UK, although production sites cover less than 0.5% of the total peatland area. In recent years Peat Producer's Association members have released over 20% of their holdings to English Nature, representing virtually all the areas of current conservation value. The Association is now engaged in the assessment and development of restoration measures.     

Multiple pathways for invasion of anurans on a Pacific island

Since 1937, thirteen species of non-indigenous anurans have made their way to Guam. Of these, at least six have established breeding populations. Various pathways led to the introduction of these species to the island. The only anuran intentionally introduced was Chaunus marinus (formerly Bufo marinus ), which was brought to Guam as a biocontrol agent. Kaloula picta, K. pulchra, Polypedates leucomystax , and probably Litoria fallax arrived as stowaways via maritime or air-transport vessels. Eleutherodactylus coqui and Euhyas (formerly Eleutherodactylus ) planirostris appear to have entered Guam through the horticultural trade. Specimens of Pseudacris regilla were found among agricultural products and Christmas trees. Five species have been transported to Guam via the aquacultural trade. The importation of tilapia, milkfish, and white shrimp from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines was associated with the introduction to Guam of Fejervarya cancrivora, F. limnocharis sensu lato, Microhyla pulchra, Polypedates megacephalus , and Sylvirana guentheri (formerly Rana guentheri ). Presently, no quarantine or containment guidelines have been established for Guam's aquacultural industry.     

The Role of Uncomposted Materials,Composts, Manures,and Compost Extracts in Reducing Pest and Disease Incidence and Severity in Sustainable Temperate Agricultural and Horticultural Crop Production—A Review

This review evaluates evidence of the impactof uncomposted plant residues, composts, manures, and liquid preparations made from composts (compost extracts and teas) on pest and disease incidence and severity in agricultural and horticultural crop production. Most reports on pest control using such organic amendments relate to tropical or arid climates. The majority of recent work on the use of organic amendments for prevention and control of diseases relates to container-produced plants, particularly ornamentals. However, there is growing interest in the potential for using composts to prevent and control diseases in temperate agricultural and horticultural field crops and information concerning their use and effectiveness is slowly increasing. The impact of uncomposted plant residues, composts, manures, and compost extracts/teas on pests and diseases is discussed in relation to sustainable temperate field and protected cropping systems. The factors affecting efficacy of such organic amendments in preventing and controlling pests and disease are examined and the mechanisms through which control is achieved are described.     

The in vitro propagation of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp. Hybrids)

Summary A new, rapid technique for the propagation of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp. hybrids) by means of tissue culture is reported. Leaf bases, scapes, peduncles, inner bulb scales and ovaries were cultured successfully in vitro and plantlets were induced readily at various concentrations of growth regulators. Some plantlets also were produced in the absence of growth regulators. The most productive tissues for propagation were inverted scapes and peduncles, cultured in a modified Murashige and Skoog salt solution with added organic constituents and 1 mg per 1 (4.5μM) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg per 1 (4.4μM) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Plantlets induced axenically also grew roots on the generalized shoot-inducing medium so that no special rooting medium was required. Although friable callus was obtained from ovary tissue cultured on a medium containing 2 mg per 1 (11μM) naphthaleneacetic acid and 4 mg per 1 (18μM) BAP, it produced shoots after 8 weeks of further subculture on the same medium. An average of 10 rooted plantlets was obtained from each scape or peduncle explant on the shoot-propagating medium. Thus, if 45 explants are obtained from each bulb, 450 rudimentary plantlets could be obtained from each mother bulb in 8 weeks of culture. This is a substantial increase over present propagation methods. This work was supported by a grant-in-aid of research, to Bruce G. Cumming, from the National Research Council of Canada.