Assessment of the seaweed-seagrass resource of Mararison Island,Culasi, Antique,Philippines*

A bimonthly sampling of the seaweed-seagrass resource of Mararison Island, Culasi Antique, was undertaken over 1 year to assess the species composition, similarity of taxa, and biomass (dry weight [d.w.] g m^?2) at seven localities. A total of 45 species was identified: 17 Chlorophyta, seven Phaeophyta, 15 Rhodophyta, one Cyanophyta and five seagrasses. Except for some Rhodophyta and Syringodium isoetifolium (Ascherson) Dandy, the occurrence of species between stations was not significantly different; however, differences in biomass between sampling time (month) were significant. Identical taxa between stations were determined. The highest (40) and lowest (22) number of species collected were in May and July, respectively. The species were most abundant from March to May (dry months) and sparse from July to September (wet months). The most abundant species were: Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh (399 g m^?2) (Phaeophyta), Dictyosphaeria cav-ernosa (Forsskat) Borgesen (43.1 g m^?2) (Chlorophyta), Acanthopeitis japonica Okamura (97.2 gm^?2) (Rhodophyta) and Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenberg) Ascherson (1370 g m^?2; seagrass). The Phaeophyta were abundant in March, and the Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta in May, while the seagrasses were abundant in September. Some species occurred only during the dry months: two Phaeophyta, nine Chlorophyta and five Rhodophyta. All the seagrasses were found year-round. Almost all of the seaweeds (39/45) were found associated with seagrass. The number of seaweeds in Mararison Island was higher than for seagrasses but the total biomass of the latter was much higher than the combined biomass of the seaweeds.     

Detection of a colonizing, aquatic, non-indigenous species

Detecting the presence of rare species has interested ecologists and conservation biologists for many years. A particularly daunting application of this problem pertains to the detection of non-indigenous species (NIS) as they colonize new ecosystems. Ethical issues prevent experimental additions of NIS to most natural systems to explore the relationship between sampling intensity and the detection probability of a colonizing NIS. Here we examine this question using a recently introduced water flea, Cercopagis pengoi , in Lake Ontario. The species has biphasic population development, with sexually-produced 'spring morphs' developing prior to parthenogenetically-produced 'typical' morphs. Thus, this biphasic morphology allows distinction between new colonists (spring morphs) from subsequent generations. We repeatedly sampled Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario for the presence of both spring and typical morphs. Probability of detection was positively related to both the number of samples taken and animal density in the lake; however, even highly intensive sampling (100 samples) failed to detect the species in early spring when densities were very low. Spatial variation was greatest when densities of Cercopagis were intermediate to low. Sub-sampling, which increased space between adjacent samples, significantly decreased the number of samples required to reach greater, calculated detection probabilities on these dates. Typical sampling protocols for zooplankton have a low probability (< 0.2) of detecting the species unless population density is high. Results of this study suggest that early detection of colonizing, aquatic NIS may be optimized through use of a risk-based sampling design, combined with high sampling intensity in areas deemed most vulnerable to invasion, rather than less intensive sampling at a wider array of sites.     

Human land use, agriculture, pesticides and losses of imperiled species

Aim  Anthropogenic habitat loss is usually cited as the most important cause of recent species' extinctions. We ask whether species losses are in fact more closely related to habitat loss than to any other aspect of human activity such as use of agricultural pesticides, or human population density (which reflects urbanization).
Location  Canada.
Methods  We statistically compared areas in Canada where imperiled species currently occur, versus areas where they have been lost. Using multiple regressions, we relate the numbers of species that had suffered range reductions in an ecoregion to variables that represent present habitat loss, pesticide use and human population density.
Results  We find high losses of imperiled species in regions with high proportions of agricultural land cover. However, losses of imperiled species are significantly more strongly related to the proportion of the region treated with agricultural pesticides. The relationship between species losses and area treated with pesticides remains significant after controlling for area in agriculture.
Main conclusions  Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that agricultural pesticide use, or something strongly collinear with it (perhaps intensive agriculture more generally), has contributed significantly to the decline of imperiled species in Canada. Habitat conversion per se may be a less important cause of species declines than how that converted habitat is used.     

Land use history, hurricane disturbance, and the fate of introduced species in a subtropical wet forest in Puerto Rico

Tropical forests are suffering from increasing intensities and frequency of disturbances. As a result, non-native species accidentally introduced or intentionally planted for farming, plantations, and ornamental purposes may spread and potentially invade undisturbed native forest. It is not known if these introduced species will become invasive, as a result of recurrent natural disturbances such as hurricanes. Using data from three censuses (spanning 15 years) of a 16-ha subtropical wet forest plot, we investigated the impact of two hurricanes on populations of plant species that were planted in farms and plantations that were then abandoned and from the natural spread of species introduced into Puerto Rico in the past. The populations of four species (Citrus paradis, Mangifera indica, Musa sp., and Simarouba glauca) changed little over time. Six species (Artocarpus altilis, Calophyllum calaba, Genipa americana, Hibiscus pernambucensis, Syzygium jambos, and Swietenia macrophylla) declined between the first two censuses after Hurricane Hugo, then increased again in Census 3 after Hurricane Georges. Spathodea campanulata gradually increased from census to census, while Coffea arabica declined. These introduced species represent only a small part of the forest basal area and few show signs of increasing over time. The number of stems per plant, new recruits, and the growth rates of these introduced species were within the ranges of those for native plant species. The mortality rates over both census intervals were significantly lower for introduced species (<5% year⁻¹) than for native ones (15% year⁻¹). Many new recruits established after Hurricane Hugo (prior to this study) had opened the forest canopy and these high mortality rates reflect their death as the canopy recovered. Only Swietenia macrophylla and Syzygium jambos showed an increase in stem numbers in the closed canopy area of forest that had suffered limited human disturbance in the past. A future increase in frequency of disturbance may enable greater stem numbers of introduced species to establish, while lower-mortality rates compared to native species, may allow them to persist during inter-hurricane intervals. An increase in the population of introduced species, especially for those that grow into large trees, may have an impact on this tropical forest in the future.     

Increasing numbers of bird species result from taxonomic progress,not taxonomic inflation

The impact and significance of modern taxonomy on other fields in biology have been subjects of much debate. It has been proposed that increasing numbers of vertebrate species are largely owing to ‘taxonomic inflation’. According to this hypothesis, newly recognized species result from reinterpretations of species limits based on phylogenetic species concepts (PSCs) rather than from new discoveries. Here, I examine 747 proposals to change the taxonomic rank of birds in the period 1950–2007. The trend to recognize more species of birds started at least two decades before the introduction of PSCs. Most (84.6%) newly recognized species were supported by new taxonomic data. Proposals to recognize more species resulted from application of all six major taxonomic criteria. Many newly recognized species (63.4%) were not based exclusively on PSC-based criteria (diagnosability, monophyly and exclusive coalescence of gene trees). Therefore, this study finds no empirical support for the idea that the increase in species is primarily epistemological rather than data-driven. This study shows that previous claims about the causes and effects of taxonomic inflation lack empirical support. I argue that a more appropriate term for the increase in species is ‘taxonomic progress’.     

Influence of settlement time, human population, park shape and age, visitation and roads on the number of alien plant species in protected areas in the USA

Abstract. I examined a data set of 77 protected areas in the USA (including national and state parks) to determine which of the following variables most strongly influence alien plant species richness: park area, climate (temperature and precipitation), native species richness, visitation rate, local human population size, total road length, park shape and duration of European settlement. Many of these predictor variables are intercorrelated, so I used multiple regression to help separate their effects. In support of previous studies, native species richness was the best single predictor of alien species richness, probably because it was a good estimator of both park area and habitat diversity available for establishment of alien species. Other significant predictors of alien species richness were years of occupation of the area by European settlers and the human population size of adjacent counties. Climate, visitation rate, road length and park shape did not influence alien species richness. The proportion of alien species (alien richness/native richness) is inversely related to park area, in agreement with a previous study. By identifying which variables are most important in determining alien species richness, such findings suggest ways to reduce alien species establishment.     

贵州兴义实蝇类昆虫多样性特征

【目的】掌握贵州兴义实蝇的种类组成和不同生境中的发生规律及多样性变化。【方法】2010-2011年,在贵州兴义 5个不同生境的监测点,采用性诱剂、食物引诱剂及被害瓜果培养法对实蝇类昆虫种类和数量进行了系统调查和监测,并对监测数据进行分析。【结果】贵州兴义实蝇优势种包括桔小实蝇 Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)、瓜实蝇 B. cucurbitae (Coquillett)、南瓜实蝇 B. tau (Walker)及具条实蝇 B. scutellata (Hendel),且不同年份各监测点实蝇优势种及相似性系数(0.33~0.89)存在差异;但其年种群动态相似。聚类分析结果显示,两个农村生境果园中实蝇种群关系最近,城市混合果园与其他生境果园中实蝇种群关系最远;各监测点的多样性指数在不同年份也不同,监测的2年间 Simpson 指数、Shannon 指数和均匀度指数分别在0.11~0.68、0.28~1.25和0.18~0.62之间。【结论】贵州兴义实蝇种类丰富,种群发生规律与气候、寄主、生态位竞争等因素有关;相近生境混合果园诱捕到的实蝇种数和数量大于单一果园;离城区越近,实蝇发生期越早,数量越大。研究结果为了解该地区实蝇种类分布以及预防实蝇危害提供了科学依据。     

Evolutionary systematics of the Australian Cyzicidae (Crustacea,Branchiopoda, Spinicaudata) with the description of a new genus

In Australia's arid and semi‐arid zone, most aquatic habitats are nonpermanent. Although approximately 70% of its land surface belongs to these zones, very little is known of the iconic ‘large branchiopods’ that inhabit these important and widespread habitats. In the present study, we investigated 737 Australian specimens of the spinicaudatan taxa Caenestheria and Caenestheriella with a combination of one mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I; COI) and three nuclear (elongation factor 1α, internal transcribed spacer 2, and 28S) markers to assess the diversity of species, their phylogenetic relationships, and phylogeographical history. The initial species delimitation was based on COI employing a combination of phylogenetic analyses and two automated approaches to species delimitation (general mixed Yule coalescent model and Automated Barcode Gap Discovery). The outcome was tested by the nuclear markers and considered under differing species concepts. The number of delineated species ranged from 14–27, in no case being in full agreement with any of the two automated approaches. The lower numbers resulted if inferred reproductive isolation, as required for the biological or Hennigian species concept, was employed. Although nuclear markers did not indicate ongoing reproduction, the lack of sympatric co‐occurrences inhibited inferences of definitive reproductive isolation in several instances. If monophyly or an ‘independent evolutionary fate’ was employed, as required for the phylogenetic or evolutionary species concepts, the species' distribution was of no importance and up to 27 species could be delimitated. Because the Australian representatives of both studied genera could not be clearly separated from each other but constitute a single monophyletic clade separated from all available non‐Australian representatives of these genera, we describe a new spinicaudatan genus Ozestheria gen. nov. to accommodate these species. Populations revealed relatively small levels of genetic differentiation over large areas of central and eastern Australia. By far the most pronounced levels of genetic differentiation were observed towards the north‐eastern regions, a pattern possibly explainable by ecological conditions and the movement of nomadic water birds that disperse resting eggs. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Endemism, diversity, and the threat of tropical moist forest extinctions

Extinction rates have risen to perhaps 10⁴ the background rate. Much of this increase is due to projected influences of habitat loss on regions of the world with tropical moist forest. This ecosystem, home to a disproportionate amount of global biodiversity and a major regulator of regional and global climate, also faces disproportionately severe threats. In this study, we collect diversity and endemism data for tropical forested countries of the world, along with areal and socioeconomic data. While a correlation between overall numbers of species and endemic species per country is expected, we demonstrate that endemism patterns among birds and mammals remain very strongly convergent even after statistically rendering all countries equal in size and overall species richness and after adjusting for spatial autocorrelation. On a per country basis, mammals are generally more threatened than birds in these tropical moist forested countries. Human population growth rates and rising debt among these nations should be viewed as priorities for amelioration by the developed countries. Reserve network extent is not related to numbers of endemic mammals or birds at this large spatial scale.     

中国南部亚热带森林地表植被动态变化

系统研究了南方5个亚热带森林生态系统地表植被的动态变化情况.研究方法是:在每个研究区域内,按照地形梯度分别布设50个1m2 的样方,记录样方内所有物种的频度及相关的环境变量,5个研究区域共设250个样方,每个样方分别调查两次.通过单元及多元统计方法分析表明:维管植物物种频度在一个区域明显下降,另二个区域显著增加;苔藓物种频度在一个区域有明显下降,另一个区域明显增加;苔藓物种数量在3个区域显著增加,另二个区域显著下降;维管植物物种数量显著增加在二个区域;物种组成沿着第一个植被梯度轴DCA 1没有显著变化,沿着第二个植被梯度轴DCA 2在二个区域有显著变化.综合分析表明,苔藓对气候变化及其波动反映敏感,是较好的气候变化及气候波动生物指示因子,而管植物数量及频度的变化没有明显证据显示与土壤酸化和大气污染有紧密关系.     

石门台自然保护区蝴蝶特种多样性研究

1999年6月～2003年4月间,对广东石门台自然保护区的蝴蝶进行了调查,共记录到蝴蝶361种,分隶于11科190属。其中中国特有种51 种,占总数的14.1%;国家保护种10种,占我国两次颁布（1989和2000年）的保护物种名录中蝴蝶总数量（83种）的12.0%。通过以人工林生境为主的试验区、次生林生境为主的缓冲区和原生林生境为主的核心区等3个功能区中选择样点进行的蝴蝶多样性分析表明,缓冲区的物种多样性及科、属多样性均较高,且有众多的珍稀物种,是一个重要的蝴蝶生息地,应加强管制。进一步说明了保护蝶类的根本在于护林,进而为保护好广东省目前面积最大的自然保护区——石门台自然保护区的生物多样性及不可多得的自然遗产——热带亚热带低地森林提供依据。此外,本文将科、属多样性与物种多样性综合起来考虑,同时使用Shannon-Wiener指数与G-F指数,较为全面地评价了该保护区蝴蝶的群落多样性。     

Structure of two macrolepidopteran assemblages on Salix nigra (Marsh) and Acer negundo L.: abundance,diversity, richness,and persistence of scarce species

1. Most insect species occur at low abundance but a greater research effort has been devoted to so‐called outbreak species and little research is available on scarce (low abundance) species that are typical of most insect species. 2. Larval free‐feeding macrolepidoptera of two riparian trees Salix nigra (Marsh) (black willow) and Acer negundo L. (box elder) were sampled and sorted by species and abundance. 3. Data collected established that the majority of species in the assemblages in each tree species occurred at low abundance in each of the 5 years when larvae were sampled. 4. Species in the Noctuidae and Geometridae dominated both assemblages. 5. On both trees, assemblages were dominated numerically by relatively few species, a pattern that has been observed for insect assemblages on plants in managed and unmanaged habitats.     

Aspects of the ecology of the prickly sculpin,Cottus asper Richardson,a persistent native species in Clear Lake,Lake County,California

Synopsis The biology of the prickly sculpin was investigated in Clear Lake, Lake County, California in order to determine how it has persisted in the face of introductions of numerous exotic species when most other native species have declined in abundance or have become extinct. Sculpins over 15 mm SL inhabited all types of benthic habitats in the lake, while post larval sculpins were pelagic when the postlarvae of exotic species were absent. The feeding ecology of sculpins was distinct from the other fishes in the lake in that they fed largely on amphipods and chironomid midge larvae regardless of the time of year, time of day, or habitat. Sculpins were uncommon in the stomachs of piscivorous fishes, except juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). It is concluded that prickly sculpins have persisted in Clear Lake in part because they are ecologically distinct from the exotic species and are not preyed upon by them to any great extent, and in part because they have managed to survive other man-related perturbations of this ecosystem.     

Revision of the Chaetocnema picipes species-group (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae,Alticini) in China,with descriptions of three new species

The Chinese Chaetocnema picipes species-group is revised. It contains 5 species including 3 new species: C. cheni sp. n., C. constricta sp. n. and C. kingpinensis sp. n. The lectotype of C. fortecostata is designated. A key to all known species of this group from China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A distribution map of species is given.     

云南西双版纳的淡水蟹类 (软甲纲:十足目:束腹蟹科:溪蟹科)

本文记述西双版纳６种淡水蟹类的种类组成及分布,其中包括二新种的描述。     

Age, Growth, and Gonadal Characteristics of Adult Bighead Carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, in the Lower Missouri River

Bighead carp were introduced into Arkansas in 1973 to improve water clarity in production ponds. Bighead carp subsequently escaped aquaculture facilities in the early 1980's and dispersed into the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The first documentation of bighead carp reproduction in the Mississippi River system was in 1989. The population has increased in the Missouri River as is evident in their increased proportion in the commercial harvest since 1990. The effect of this exotic planktivore on native ecosystems of the U.S. has not been examined. Basic biological data on bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis in the Missouri River are needed to predict potential ecological problems and provide a foundation for manipulative studies. The objectives of this study were to assess age, growth, and gonadal characteristics of bighead carp in the Missouri River. Adult bighead carp in our sample varied from age 3 to age 7 and length varied from 475 to 1050mm. There was a large variation in length at age, and overall bighead carp exhibited fast growth. For example, mean back-calculated length at age 3 was 556mm. The sample was dominated by bighead carp from the 1994 year class. There was no difference in gonad development (i.e., gonadal somatic index, egg diameter) between winter and spring samples. Length of male bighead carp and GSI were not significantly correlated; however, females exhibited a positive linear relationship between length and GSI. In each ovary, egg diameter frequencies exhibited a bimodal distribution, indicating protracted spawning. Mean fecundity was 226213, with a maximum fecundity of 769964. Bighead carp in the Missouri River have similar life history characteristics to Asian and European populations. They have become well established in the Missouri River and it is likely that dispersal and population density will increase.     

Population structure of Hylobates concolor in Bawanglin Nature Reserve,Hainan, China

The Hainan gibbon continues to survive in Bawanglin Nature Reserve in four social groups totalling 21 individuals. Twelve births have occurred since 1982, and 11 of these individuals survive in 1989. Only three of these 12 births have been females, however. The total female population consists of 6 adult females, two of which are at least 19 years old, and three juvenile females born since 1985. Two of the four social groups have only one adult female each and no juvenile females. All four groups are well protected, but their survival is precarious.     

Species diversity of freshwater shrimp in Henan Province,China, based on morphological characters and COI mitochondrial gene

Freshwater shrimp are a rich species group, with a long and problematic taxonomic history attributed to their wide distribution and similar morphological characteristics. Shrimp diversity and species identification are important cornerstones for fisheries management. However, identification based on morphological characteristics is a difficult task for a nonspecialist. Abundant freshwater shrimp species are distributed in the waters of Henan Province, but investigations of freshwater shrimp are limited in this region, especially concerning molecular features. Here, we combined morphology and DNA barcodes to reveal the species diversity of freshwater shrimp in Henan province. A total of 1,200 freshwater shrimp samples were collected from 46 sampling sites, and 222 samples were chosen for further microscopic examination and molecular delimitation. We used tree‐based methods (NJ, ML, and bPTP) and distance‐based methods (estimation of the paired genetic distances and ABGD) to delimit species. The results showed that there were nine morphospecies based on morphological characteristics; all could effectively be defined by molecular methods, among which bPTP and ABGD defined 13 and 8 MOTUs, respectively. The estimation of the paired genetic distances of K2P and the p‐distances had similar results. Mean K2P distances and p‐distances within species were both equal to 1.2%. The maximum intraspecific genetic distances of all species were less than 2%, with the exception of Palaemon modestus and M. maculatum. Various analyses have shown that P. modestus and M. maculatum have a large genetic differentiation, which may indicate the existence of cryptic species. By contrast, DNA barcoding could unambiguously discriminate 13 species and detect cryptic diversity. Our results demonstrate the high efficiency of DNA barcoding to delimit freshwater shrimp diversity and detect the presence of cryptic species.