Structure of a herbivore–parasitoid community: Are parasitoids shared by different herbivore guilds?

Plant–herbivore–parasitoid interactions are a common occurrence in terrestrial food webs. Few parasitoids are thought to be shared by host insects of different feeding guilds because different parasitism strategies are required to use hosts of different feeding types. However, this assumption has rarely been tested using data from nature. To clarify whether parasitoids are shared among host guilds, I examined the structure of parasitoid communities on herbivore guilds associated with two Rhododendron species (Ericaceae) in a temperate secondary forest in central Japan. Leaf- and flower-feeding insects were collected from Rhododendron reticulatum and Rhododendron macrosepalum shrubs and reared in the laboratory for 3 years from April 1999 to March 2002. In total, 79 species of holometabolous herbivores (Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera) were recorded, with 62 species on R. reticulatum and 51 species on R. macrosepalum. A total of 81 parasitoid species (Hymenoptera and Diptera) was recorded from the sampled herbivores, with 48 species from those on R. reticulatum and 50 species from those on R. macrosepalum. In total, 36 herbivore species were parasitised by 1–18 parasitoid species per host species, although the number of parasitoid species was strongly affected by sample size. Parasitoids that had two or more host species frequently attacked herbivore species from different families or on different host plants, whereas they did not attack species from different herbivore guilds; no parasitoids were shared between external feeders and rollers. Therefore, my results support the hypothesis that few parasitoids are shared among herbivores of different feeding guilds.     

Local filters limit species diversity,but species pools determine composition

In a series of three experiments, we tested for effects of species pools, resource stress, and species interactions on four aspects of community structure: species richness, evenness, species composition, and functional group composition. We also examined whether the impacts of species interactions on the community varied with resource availability or species pool. Communities of sand dune annuals grew from seed bank samples collected from two sites in three different years, so that the species pool differed at two levels: the source site and the year of seed bank collection. Communities experienced one of three irrigation treatments and a range of sowing densities, which varied resource supply (stress) and the potential for species interactions, respectively.Species richness and evenness were most affected by local factors: higher densities and lower water availability decreased species diversity. In contrast, species composition was influenced most by the species pool. Functional group composition had an intermediate response, and was affected by both species pools and local filters.Resource stress and species interactions strongly filtered species from the community, but the identity of species remaining was variable. Furthermore, the magnitude of species interaction effects on richness and evenness varied with species pools. Thus, the outcome of species sorting among biotic and abiotic environments was dependent on the pool of available species. Contrary to predictions from theory, the effects of species interactions on the community did not vary consistently with resource levels.     

福州地区粉虱种类初步调查

通过田间采集调查、室内饲养和鉴定,得出福州地区48种植物上的粉虱17种,5种为福建新记录。其中果树上的粉虱有11种,农作物上的粉虱3种,花卉上的粉虱7种,其他植物上的粉虱10种。     

中国热带黏菌的已知种类

我国广东、广西、云南和台湾4省区的南部及海南、香港和澳门全境均在北回归线以南,属于地理上的热带。为了全面系统地开展我国热带地区黏菌资源的多样性和分类学研究,文中通过标本采集、鉴定和复核以及文献考证研究了已知的发生于中国热带地区的黏菌种类,对一些物种分类地位和名称变化进行了更新,同时记述了每个物种的生境和在我国热带地区的分布。结果表明:中国热带地区现知黏菌6目13科35属160种,其中,广东南部为23种,广西南部为61种,海南为33种,云南南部为67种,台湾南部为26种,香港为66种,澳门为10种。从黏菌的目级水平来看,中国热带地区现知黏菌鹅绒菌目1种,刺轴菌目5种,无丝菌目22种,团毛菌目32种,绒泡菌目73种,发网菌目27种。     

黄海鱼类组成、区系特征及历史变迁

本文根据中国科学院海洋研究所标本馆馆藏标本、采集记录及相关文献资料,分析了黄海鱼类的种类组成、区系特征和历史变迁.结果表明:黄海海域共出现鱼类113科321种.从适温类型来看,暖温性种类最多,有139种;暖水性种类次之-107种;冷温性种类70种;冷水性种类5种.从栖所类型来看,绝大多数为大陆架浅水底层鱼类,有193种,大陆架岩礁性、大陆架浅水中上层、大陆架浅水中底层、大陆架大洋洞游性中上层和大洋深水底层鱼类分别为41、34、29、15和9种.纵观历史文献资料,发现黄海鱼类群落结构和数量发生了很大变化,目前以鳀鱼占绝对优势,传统经济鱼类如小黄鱼(Larimichthys polyactis)、太平洋鳕(Gadus macrocephalus)、太平洋鲱(Clupea pallasii)、蓝点马鲛(Scomberomorus niphonius)、鲐(Scomber japonicus)、带鱼(Trichiurus lepturus)、镰鲳(ampus　echinogaster)、鲆鲽类等在渔获物中所占的比例降低,昔日占优势的大型经济鱼类,逐渐被小黄鱼幼鱼、皮氏叫姑鱼(Johnius belangerii)、六丝钝尾虾虎鱼(Amblychaeturichthys hexanema)、细纹狮子鱼(Liparis tanakae)、方氏云鳚(Pholis fangi)、玉筋鱼(Ammodytes personatus)等经济价值较低的种类所取代,鱼类物种多样性和资源量呈下降趋势.因此,加强黄海渔业资源管理和多样性保护工作显得尤为重要.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acroptilon repens</Emphasis>, an Asian invader,has stronger competitive effects on species from America than species from its native range

The ability to competitively suppress native species is key to successful invasion. Since invasions involve an increase in abundance or dominance of a species in its non-native range, competitive effects might be expected to be stronger in the non-native range of an invader; however, there have been few comparisons of the competitive effects of invasive plants on species from invaded ranges versus species from native ranges. We compared the competitive and allelopathic effects of Acroptilon repens on native North American species to effects on related species from the native range of Acroptilon in Uzbekistan. We also compared the competitive interactions among these North American and Eurasian species, in the absence of Acroptilon, examining the hypothesis that particular regional species pools may show differences in competitive ability. The results showed that Acroptilon had stronger competitive effects against native North American species than against species native to Uzbekistan. There was no difference in the competitive effects among Eurasians and North Americans. The effects of leachates collected from Acroptilon roots were weak but more negative on species from North America than on species from Uzbekistan. Our results suggest that inherently stronger competitive and allelopathic effects of Acroptilon on North American plants than on plants from its native range may contribute to its invasive success.     

Effects of grazing,competition, disturbance and fire on species composition and diversity in grassland communities

Abstract. The effects of grazing, physical disturbance, interspecific competition, and fire on populations of individual species and on the structure and diversity of grassland communities were investigated in short-, mid-, and tall-grasslands in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The treatments included deep and shallow artificial disturbances, early dry-season burning, and removal of dominant grass species from 2m² plots located inside and outside of large-mammal-proof exclosures. Species-cover data were collected for five years and analyzed by analysis of variance and diversity indices. In all three communities, protection from grazing and physical disturbance had greater impacts on species cover and diversity than removal of dominant species or fire. More species were significantly affected (positively and negatively) by disturbance and protection from grazing (50 - 100%) than by species removals and fire (< 41%). In most cases, the cover of tall, perennial species increased following protection from grazing while the cover of annual and short, perennial species decreased. Over the five years of the study, vegetatively reproducing species benefited more than sexually reproducing species from protection from grazing, and tall rhizomatous species benefited more than tall stoloniferous species. Disturbance caused annual and short perennial species to increase and tall perennials to decrease in cover. Following species removals, tall species were either unaffected or they increased in cover while some short species increased and others decreased in cover. Species diversity in two of the three communities decreased when the communities were protected from grazing but increased when disturbed, when dominant species were removed, and when burned.     

Regional species pools of hay meadows: A case study

Questions: Is it possible to render the species pool concept operational for cultural landscape management and restoration? Location: Hordaland and Sogn & Fjordane counties, western Norway. Methods: An initial regional species list, based on information on the distribution of species and habitats in the Norwegian flora, was filtered using information on target communities and species lists from 95 sites in the region. Owing to the importance of both mowing and grazing Ellenberg indicator values were not used in the identification process. Results: The final regional species pool consisted of 227 species, of which 194 were extracted from the flora, while 33 agricultural landscape species were added from the actual pool or from a list of species in additional hay meadows. Some of the 33 species were regular inhabitants of hay meadows, others were rare in the region. The regional species pool list includes information on each species on demands when hydrology, nutrients and base saturation in the soil is concerned, and whether or not they are characteristic for either of the boreal or boreo‐nemoral vegetation zones. Conclusions: Specialist knowledge was an advantage when adding cultural landscape species other than meadow species of the flora; 77 species were documented only by the flora, interesting from the point of view of restoration as this part of the pool would not have been found by just adding species lists. The diversity of the now isolated hay meadow sites in the region may be kept up by replacing the lost natural invasion by an artificial one, using local seed mixtures and transplants.     

Taxonomic revision of hispaniola tiger beetles in the genus brasiella rivalier 1954 (coleoptera, carabidae, cicindelinae)

The Brasiella tiger beetle fauna on Hispaniola, the second largest island of the Greater Antilles, has more species diversity than currently recognized as all populations previously have been assigned to the insular endemic Brasiella dominicana (Mandl). A comparative study of adult morphology, particularly male genitalic and female abdominal characters, for available Brasiella specimens from populations on Hispaniola, proposes eight additional new species also endemic to this island. Except for three sympatric species in the Sierra de Baoruco in southern Dominican Republic occurring in different habitats, all the Brasiella on Hispaniola appear to be allopatric. Most species occur in the major mountainous regions of Hispaniola. Two species, however, are known only from river floodplains in the southern coastal plain of the Dominican Republic. Brasiella dominicana (Mandl) and Brasiella ocoa, new species, occur along river floodplains emanating from the eastern end of the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic. Two new Brasiella species, Brasiella bellorum, and Brasiella philipi, occur in the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic, the former species from central portions, and the latter species from north slopes of this mountain range, respectively. Three new Brasiella species, Brasiella rawlinsi, Brasiella iviei, and Brasiella youngi, are isolated in the Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic, where each occupies a different habitat along an altitudinal gradient. The two new Brasiella species in Haiti are Brasiella darlingtoniana, in the Massif de la Selle, and Brasiella davidsoni, in the Massif de la Hotte. All nine Brasiella species on Hispaniola, along with Brasiella viridicollis (Dejean) and its two subspecies on Cuba, belong to the viridicollis species group of the genus Brasiella based on criteria presented in earlier published phylogenetic studies of Brazilian and West Indian tiger beetles. The subspecies Brasiella viridicollis fernandozayasi (Kippenhan, Ivie and Hopp) may represent a distinct species within this species group, whereas removal of Brasiella wickhami (W. Horn) from this species group seems warranted based on evidence presented. A general overview of species relationships for the Brasiella on Hispaniola are discussed, along with the current and ancestral geographic distributions of the Brasiella viridicollis species group in the West Indies.     

Are species lists derived from modeled species range maps appropriate for macroecological studies? A case study on data from BIEN

Because survey-based species lists for fine-scale areas are generally lacking, ecologists have been using species lists derived from modeled range maps in macroecological studies. Here I evaluate whether it is appropriate to use species lists derived from modeled range maps in macroecological studies. I compared species lists derived from about 90,000 range maps in the Botanical Information and Ecology Network (BIEN) for over 180 geographic regions (12 broad regions covering the whole of the New World; 172 smaller regions, i.e. Taxonomic Databases Working Group units) with those representing complete or nearly complete species lists obtained from the literature for the regions. I determined the completeness of native species composition and proportion of false presences and exotic (non-native) species in species lists derived from range maps in BIEN. I determined whether errors in species lists derived from modeled range maps affect macroecological inferences by comparing the relationships of α- and β-diversity with geographic and climatic variables between different datasets (i.e. species lists derived from range maps versus complete or nearly complete species lists derived from the literature). The completeness for native species lists derived from range maps was 60–74%, depending on spatial scale. On average, 65% of the species in a species list derived from BIEN for a geographic area are false presences or non-native species to the area. The relationships of α- and β-diversity derived from the BIEN dataset with geographic and climatic variables differ significantly from those derived from complete species lists. This study shows that the results of a macroecological study based on species lists derived from modeled range maps may be substantially incorrect due to high percentages of missing native species, and high numbers of non-native species and false presences. Thus, it may not be appropriate to use species lists derived from modeled range maps in the macroecological studies that require complete or nearly complete species lists.     

A new citrus-feeding psyllid from the Comoro Islands, with a review of the Diaphorina amoena species group (Homoptera)

ABSTRACT. Analysis of host plant data for the seventy-one species of Diaphorina shows the genus to be unusually polyphagous, the species developing on eighteen families of dicotyledonous angiosperms. Apart from the common Asian citrus pest, Diaphorina citri , a second citrus-feeding species is described and discussed. This species belongs to the amoena species-group which is defined and a key to nine of the ten included species is given. Seven new species are described: flavipennis sp.n. and nigripennis sp.n. from East Africa on Strychnos usambarensis; huila sp.n. from Angola on Ptaeroxylon obliquum; turned sp.n., from South Africa (host unknown); orantimina sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown); auberti sp.n. from Comoro Islands on citrus trees; and bispinulata sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown).     

Marine biodiversity of Costa Rica: Crustacea: Infraorder Anomura

The anomuran crabs are among the best known crustacean groups from the Pacific coast. However, this group is poorly known from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. In this compilation based on the literature and the collection at the Zoology Museum, Biology School, University of Costa Rica, we report the presence of 114 species of the Infraorder Anomura for Costa Rica, 20 species from the Caribbean, 96 species from the Pacific (two are present on both coasts). Twenty-nine species are new reports for Costa Rica, 15 from the Caribbean coast (74% of the total of species from that coast) and 14 from the Pacific (15% of the total from the Pacific). The range often species is extended to Costa Rica, siete from the Caribbean and three from the Pacific. Six species are reported for the first time from Cocos Island, where there are also four endemic species.     

Kazachstania jiainicus sp. nov., an ascomycetous yeast species isolated from soil in Taiwan

A new ascomycetous yeast species, Kazachstania jiainicus, is proposed based on two strains isolated from soil in Taiwan. The species is characterized by forming one or two globose spores in each ascus, fermenting glucose and galactose and assimilating few carbon and nitrogen compounds. Genus assignment and distinction of the strains from recognized species is based on ascosporulation and phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences from domains D1/D2 of the large subunit (26S) rRNA gene. Sequence analysis showed that the species was phylogenetically related to the genus Kazachstania. The species was distinct from recognized species of Kazachstania on the basis of carbon and nitrogen assimilation patterns. Based on the characteristics described above, the species is recognized as a novel species of the genus Kazachstania, and the name Kazachstania jiainicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SF1S05T (=CBS10587T=NBRC 102655T=BCRC 23098T), which was isolated from soil in Jiain, Hualein, Taiwan.     

What is Meant by “95% of Species”? An Argument for the Inclusion of Rapid Tolerance Testing

It is increasingly common for water quality guidelines and risk assessments to consider the proportion of species at risk from a particular toxicant, based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) for that toxicant. There is a premise that the sensitivity data from species included in the SSD are sufficient to predict the effect on species for which there are no data. We discuss and review assumptions that follow this premise and find that for most toxicant SSDs include too few species, and that component species are biased toward particular taxonomic groups, common species and species from North America and western Europe. Consequently, protecting a given percentage, for example, 95%, of species in an SSD will likely protect more or less than 95% of species in nature, by an unknown amount. For the assumptions of SSDs to be better met, there is a need for tolerance data on more species, from more taxonomic and other groups, including rare species and those from widespread localities. In order to achieve this, we argue for the inclusion of rapid tests, which we define as toxicity tests designed to require less effort to conduct, relative to traditional tests, so sensitivity can be quickly and approximately determine in many species. Their use will allow for more species, more representative of natural communities, to be tested and therefore allow the construction of less biased SSDs and thus more accurate guidelines and assessments of risk.     

Effects of species partition on explanatory variables in direct gradient analysis - a case study from Senegal

Abstract. Species-environment data from Senegal, West Africa, are used to study the effects of partition of a large species data set into subsets corresponding to rare and common species respectively. The original data set contains 129 woody plant species from 909 plots and 60 explanatory variables. By applying Canonical Correspondence Analysis to data subsets, marked differences in the forward-selected variables were detected. The highest resemblance was found between the complete species set and the common species subset. Only one of eight selected variables was common to all species and the rare species groups. These findings were tested with partial ordination, applying the selected variables from the original species group (Vb), as variables and covariables to the analyses of common and rare species. For the common species this application resulted in a constrained ordination with higher eigenvalues as compared to the set of variables selected with reference to the common species group. Using the rare species group, the application of Vb gave a much lower sum of eigenvalues than did the ordination with selected variables based on the rare species group only. Evidently, the set of variables selected on the basis of the rare species data were more significant. Hence, the resulting gradients depend on the frequency of the species. Gradient analysis is apparently only valid for groups of species with closely resembling characteristics. This implies that different functional types of species, with different distributions and abundances, respond individually to environmental variation. Extrapolating deduced gradients from one species group to another maybe risky, particularly when used in vegetation modelling.     

A new species of Acanthostigma (Tubeufiaceae, Dothideomycetes) from the southern hemisphere

A new species belonging to the Dothideomycete genus Acanthostigma is described from bark of two Nothofagus species from Argentina. Its identity as a new species is based on both morphology and molecular sequence data. Acanthostigma patagonica differs from other species in the genus by having larger ascomata and setae and wider, asymmetrical ascospores. An amended key to Acanthostigma species is provided along with a discussion of other species previously described from South America.     

广州市花地湾市场龟鳖类调查

通过对广州市花地湾花鸟鱼虫市场贸易龟鳖类进行为期3年27次调查,共记录了9科29属41种或亚种,包括鳖科(Trionychidae)2属2种,两爪鳖科(Carettochelyidae)1属1种,龟科(Emydidae)4属5种,淡水龟科(Geoemydidae)10属18种,侧颈龟科(Chelidae)3属3种,动胸龟科(Kinosternidae)2属3种,鳄龟科(Chelydridae)2属2种,陆龟科(Testudinidae)4属6种,海龟科(Cheloniidae)1属1种。其中,国内龟鳖类共13种,外来物种共28种。受保护种类30种,所占比例达73.17%,部分龟类来源为野外捕捉。大量实体商家转入互联网进行精确营销,尤其是针对高价值的濒危种类,未来将着重对该隐蔽领域进行深入调查。     

Biodiversity of Asterina species on Neotropical host plants: new species and records from Panama

Two new species of the genus Asterina are described from living leaves collected in provinces Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro in western Panama. Asterina alloplecti on Alloplectus ichtyoderma (Gesneriaceae) differs from other Asterina on Gesneriaceae by its stalked appressoria and host relationship. Asterina compsoneurae on Compsoneura sprucei (Myristicaceae) can be distinguished from other members of Asterina on Myristicaceae by its larger ascomata, larger, prominently spinose ascospores and host relationship. New records for Panama are Asterina corallopoda from a new host plant species (Solanum trizygum, Solanaceae), A. diplopoda, A. ekmanii from a new host plant species (Gonzalagunia rudis, Rubiaceae), A. siphocampyli from a new host plant genus and species (Burmeistera vulgaris, Campanulaceae) and A. styracina from a new host-plant species (Styrax argenteus, Styracaceae). This study increases the number of species of Asterina known for Panama from 12 to 19 and the number of Asterinaceae from 14 to 21. Asterina corallopoda, A. diplopoda, A. ekmanii, A. siphocampyli and A. styracina are illustrated for the first time. A phylogeny inferred from the analysis of LSU rDNA sequences of species of Asterina is presented. The diversity and host-plant patterns of known Neotropical species of Asterina are discussed.     

Global patterns of fern species diversity: An evaluation of fern data in GBIF

Despite that several studies have shown that data derived from species lists generated from distribution occurrence records in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) are not appropriate for those ecological and biogeographic studies that require high sampling completeness, because species lists derived from GBIF are generally very incomplete, Suissa et al. (2021) generated fern species lists based on data with GBIF for 100 km × 100 km grid cells across the world, and used the data to determine fern diversity hotspots and species richness–climate relationships. We conduct an evaluation on the completeness of fern species lists derived from GBIF at the grid–cell scale and at a larger spatial scale, and determine whether fern data derived from GBIF are appropriate for studies on the relations of species composition and richness with climatic variables. We show that species sampling completeness of GBIF is low (<40%) for most of the grid cells examined, and such low sampling completeness can substantially bias the investigation of geographic and ecological patterns of species diversity and the identification of diversity hotspots. We conclude that fern species lists derived from GBIF are generally very incomplete across a wide range of spatial scales, and are not appropriate for studies that require data derived from species lists in high completeness. We present a map showing global patterns of fern species diversity based on complete or nearly complete regional fern species lists.     

A review of bopyrid isopods infesting crabs from China

Isopod parasites of the subfamilies Ioninae and Pseudioninae infest the branchial chambers of brachyuran crabs. In total, 19 species of parasitic isopods infest crabs from China; they belong to 6 genera from the Ioninae and 1 genus from the Pseudioninae. Specifically, the following genera are represented: Allokepon Markham, 1982 (three species), Apocepon Nierstrasz and Brender à Brandis, 1930 (three species), Cancricepon Giard and Bonnier, 1887 (one species), Dactylokepon Stebbing, 1910 (four species), Gigantione Kossmann, 1881 (four species), Onkokepon, An et al. 2006 (two species) and Tylokepon Stebbing, 1906 (two species). The new species Tylokepon biturus from Menaethius monoceros (Latreille) collected in China is distinguished from other members of the genus by the striking shape of the head, two mid-dorsal projections on Pereomere 6, and entire pleopods and uropods without any tubercules on their surface. A list of all bopyrid species (19 species in seven families) along with their hosts and localities, is presented.