Seasonal changes in the canopy arthropod fauna in Rinorea beniensis in Budongo Forest,Uganda

Arthropods were collected by insecticidal tree fogging on the understorey tree species Rinorea beniensis Engler (Violaceae) in Budongo Forest, a seasonal rain forest in Uganda. Eight trees were fogged in adjacent plots of primary, selectively logged and swamp forest during the wet season and again in the dry season. In all forest types, Psocoptera, parasitoid Hymenoptera, and especially Formicidae and Auchenorrhyncha were more abundant during the dry season, while Ensifera, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera were more abundant during the wet season. Seasonal change in arthropod composition was very low in the swamp forest located near a stream, where permanent water supply is crucial for the development of the distinct swamp vegetation, with comparatively constant microclimatic conditions all over the year. Seasonal change increased in the primary forest, and shows most significant changes of athropod abundance between dry and wet season in the selectively logged forest which also had the highest heterogeneity in forest structures. Especially small and soft bodied arthropods probably accumulate along a humidity gradient in the dense canopies of Rinorea during the dry season, when the forest floor outside the swamp forest is dry. This effect, which is also strongest in the selectively logged forest, leads to a much higher density of canopy dwelling arthropods during the dry season.     

Influence of forest type and tree species on canopy ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Budongo Forest, Uganda

The arboreal ant fauna was investigated in Budongo Forest, a seasonal rain forest in Uganda, using the insecticidal fogging technique. Ants were collected from 61 trees, between 7 and 33 m in height, belonging to four tree species. Trees were growing in adjacent plots of forests characterized by different use and structure: an old primary forest, a primary swamp forest along a small river, and a secondary forest where selective logging was carried out for 30 years. A total number of 37,065 ants, belonging to 161 species in 30 genera were collected. Considering the high number of species found only once, the completeness of the canopy ant fauna was relatively high and of relatively similar magnitude as samples from the Neotropics or the Oriental region. Up to 37 ant species on a single tree, with an average of 18.2 species per tree, were found. Forty-four ant species (28.1%) were found only once, less than ten individuals were found for each of 88 species (54.7%), but 64.0% of all individuals belonged to one of five species. Considering the high numerical dominance of a few ant species like a Pheidole sp., Tetramorium aculeatum (Mayr) and a Crematogaster sp., there is some evidence for an ant mosaic in the lower canopy of the Budongo Forest. Individual numbers of ants were strongly correlated with nests in the fogged tree, though the ants were not homogeneously distributed in the tree crowns. Diversity measures that strongly depend on individual numbers such as the Morisita-Horn index or rarefaction methods were calculated, but results were not concordant with those of incidence-based estimates such as jack-knife calculations. Differences in ant species richness and faunal composition between tree species were low, but more significant between forest types. The ant fauna in the secondary forest was less diverse with 12.6% fewer species compared to the primary forest sites. The average number of ant species per tree was significantly lower in the secondary forest (<20% of the species; F=8.03, df=59, P<0.01) than in the undisturbed forest types. Cataulacus, Leptothorax, Tetraponera, and Polyrhachis, which are typical canopy-dwelling ant genera, had a significantly higher diversity and frequency in the two primary forest types (F=4.17, df=53, P<0.05). Secondary forest trees are often younger, lacking dead branches and epiphytes which are important requisites for ant colonization on trees.     

Influence of Forest Types and Effects of Forestry Activities on Species Richness and Composition of Chrysomelidae in the Central Mountainous Region of Japan

Species richness and composition of the Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) were studied in larch (Larix kaempheri [Lamb.] Carrière) plantations, secondary forests, and primary forests. In addition, the effects of forest management practices, such as thinning and long rotation, were examined in the larch plantation. The species richness of Chrysomelidae was higher in the larch plantation than in the secondary forest or in the primary forest. Among the larch plantations, the species richness in old-aged plantations was higher than that in middle-aged plantations. The composition of the beetle assemblages in the larch plantation differed from that in the secondary forest or in the primary forest. Exosoma akkoae (Chujo), Batophila acutangula Heikertinger, and Calomicrus nobyi Chujo were caught with a bias toward the larch plantation. Longitarsus succineus (Foudras) and Sphaeroderma tarsatum Baly were caught more in the secondary forest and the primary forest, respectively. More B. acutangula and S. tarsatum were caught in stands where their host plants occurred at higher rates. Species richness of understory plants was an important factor for chrysomlid species richness, and frequency of host occurrence affected the number of individuals of leaf beetles examined. It seems that forest types and forest management practices affect host plants as well as Chrysomelidae, and that these effects on the host plants also influence chrysomelid assemblages.     

Chromosome numbers of Coleoptera from Argentina

A list is presented containing data on chromosome numbers and sex determining mechanisms of 90 species of Argentina beetles, belonging to the families Staphylinidae (2 spp.), Meloidae (3 spp.), Elateridae (1 sp.), Coccinellidae (5 spp.), Tenebrionidae (11 spp.), Scarabaeidae (30 spp.), Cerambycidae (3 spp.), Chrysomelidae (27 spp.), Curculionidae (7 spp.) and Lampyridae (1 sp.), Asphaera t-album (Chrysomelidae) had n=10+X+6y; in Epicauta atomaria (Meloidae) individuals with 2 n=22, 21 and 20 were found.This work was supported by grants of National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET) and SUBSYT.     

Rainforest conversion to smallholder cash crops leads to varying declines of beetles (Coleoptera) on Sumatra

Southeast Asian arthropod biodiversity is in rapid decline, but the variability of responses within taxa has received little attention. Using canopy fogging, we collected ~50,000 beetles (Coleoptera) in (1) lowland rainforest, (2) jungle rubber (rubber agroforest), and smallholder monoculture plantations of (3) rubber and (4) oil palm in Sumatra, across two landscapes and seasons. On average, beetle abundance was more than 50%, and biomass over 75%, lower in rubber and oil palm plantations than in rainforest and jungle rubber. This pattern was influenced by landscape and season. Abundance and biomass declines were similar in Chrysomelidae, Elateridae, and Staphylinidae, but differed in Curculionidae, which were most abundant in oil palm due to the introduced oil palm pollinator Elaeidobius kamerunicus. Across beetle families, species richness in monocultures was reduced by at least 70% compared to rainforest, with beetle richness in jungle rubber being similar to rainforest. Community composition in oil palm plantations differed markedly from the other land-use systems for Chrysomelidae and Curculionidae, but less for Elateridae and Staphylinidae. Turnover contributed more to overall beta diversity than nestedness for all families and land-use systems. Likely undersampling of the beetle community in rainforest suggests that declines of beetle density and diversity are much more severe than reported here, especially for beetle families with many concealed species, such as Staphylinidae. This study provides first evidence that negative responses of beetles to tropical land-use change vary among families, and is the first report of its kind from heavily understudied Sumatra.     

大巴山北坡地表甲虫的物种多样性

采用巴氏罐诱法取样,对大巴山北坡3种主要林型（林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林和农耕区人工林）地表甲虫的类群组成、数量分布进行了分析,并采用对应趋势分析和聚类分析法,研究了3种林型地表甲虫类群组成和数量分布的相似性.结果表明：2002年8月9—13日,研究区共捕获地表甲虫1094号,其中,隐翅虫科和叶甲科分别占40.59%和33.18%,步甲科、球蕈甲科、金龟科、象甲科、蚁甲科和缨甲科均各占1%以上,这8科地表甲虫是该地区常见的类群;地表甲虫的个体数量从林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林到农耕区人工林依次减少;农耕区人工林的科丰富度指数明显低于林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林.大巴山北坡农耕区天然次生林地表甲虫的类群组成和数量分布与林区人工林差异明显,农耕区人工林与林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林各有部分相似性.     

四川蜂桶寨国家自然保护区地表甲虫物种多样性

在四川雅安蜂桶寨国家自然保护区（102°48′～103°18′ E,30°42′～30°54′ N）及其周边地区,就森林片段化和生态恢复程度的不同,选择4个代表地点,即位于保护区核心地带、以阔叶混交林为主的蜂桶寨天然林区（海拔1680～2080 m）,受到经济开发干扰但植被类型丰富的锅巴岩天然林区（海拔2 280～3 340 m）、以人工针叶林进行生态恢复的蚂蝗沟人工林区（海拔2430～2525 m）,以及森林高度片段化的双石镇农耕区（海拔870～1 165 m）,共设26块样地,以巴氏罐诱法为主研究地表甲虫的群落组成和多样性变化。本研究共采集甲虫标本 2.338 号,隐翅虫数量最多,占39.6%;步甲次之,占29.3%,拟步甲、象甲和叶甲的数量也各在5% 以上,它们共同构成该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。锅巴岩物种的个体数量和丰富度（S）以及多样性指数（H′）较高;蚂蝗沟均匀度指数（J）较高,丰富度较低;蜂桶寨天然林区个体数量较少;双石镇农耕区的多样性和均匀度指数较低。锅巴岩、蜂桶寨和蚂蝗沟间物种分布都有一定程度的相似性,但后两者相似性程度更高,双石镇物种分布与其他3个地点差异较大,这反映了不同地点间的生境异质性和森林植被片段化程度的差异。整个鞘翅目、隐翅虫科和步甲科的个体数量分布在针叶林内较多,在阔叶林内较少;拟步甲科的数量分布在高山灌丛内较多;叶甲科的数量分布在针叶林较多;象甲科除了竹林外,在其他植被内的数量均较多。在总体趋势上,随着海拔的升高,在蜂桶寨和锅巴岩两个邻近的天然林地点,整个鞘翅目以及优势甲虫类群的种类和个体数量也逐渐增多。比较蜂桶寨林区内的个体数量、丰富度和多样性指数,北坡均大于南坡。以上结果表明,物种多样性与海拔、坡向以及生境类型密切相关,森林片段化和生态恢复对物种多样性有显著的影响。因此,在改善森林片段化进行生态恢复时,采取合理措施,增加生境异质性,有助于提高该地区地表甲虫物种多样性。     

紫胶林-农田复合生态系统甲虫群落多样性

在云南绿春县牛孔乡采用网扫法调查了紫胶林-农田复合生态系统(LPFE)中稻田(Ⅰ)、旱地(Ⅱ)、天然紫胶林(Ⅲ)、人工紫胶林(Ⅳ)的甲虫群落.采集标本3569号,隶属26科358种;象甲科种类最丰富,占全部种类的17.0%;瓢虫科数量最丰富,占个体总数的22.9%.虎甲科、隐翅甲科等物种数和个体数量在Ⅰ～Ⅳ中的分布没有明显差异;而叩甲科、粗角叩甲科、朽木甲科、伪叶甲科、瓢虫科、天牛科、负泥虫科、叶甲科和象甲科等有明显差异.LPFE、Ⅰ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ甲虫物种多度分布符合对数级数模型,Ⅱ符合分割线段模型.Ⅰ～Ⅳ的甲虫多样性为:Ⅲ>Ⅳ>Ⅰ>Ⅱ.指出了栖息于植物上的甲虫群落能度量不同土地利用生境的区别,不同类群的甲虫对于生境的指示作用不同:叩甲等可以指示农田和林地的差异,而朽木甲、天牛、叶甲和象甲可以用于指示天然林和人工林生境的区别.LPFE具有区域内土地利用方式多样化的特点,对维持甲虫的多样性水平具有积极作用.Ⅲ在当地生物多样性保护中具有重要作用,Ⅱ在系统中具有很低的多样性.     

吉林蛟河阔叶红松林地表甲虫多样性时间动态分析

阔叶红松林是长白山林区代表性植被类型,具有较高的生物多样性。研究吉林蛟河阔叶红松林中地表甲虫多样性的时间动态,比较优势类群对时间变化的响应,为森林中地表甲虫的保护与利用提供科学依据。在2012—2013年5月中旬至8月下旬整个地表甲虫的活跃期,利用巴氏罐法在吉林蛟河阔叶红松林4个样地中共采集地表甲虫9849头,隶属于22个科79种,步甲科Carabidae、埋葬甲科Silphidae和隐翅虫科Staphylinidae为优势类群。地表甲虫的物种数、个体数和多样性指数均在7月上旬时达到最高,时间对个体数有显著影响(P0.05)。地表甲虫多样性各指数间相关性较低,个别种类对环境变化比较敏感。步甲科个体数在7月上旬显著高于其他时间,物种数与个体数的时间动态不一致,步甲科对8月上旬的适应能力强于埋葬甲科和隐翅虫科。埋葬甲科在7月上旬个体数量极显著高于其他各时间(P0.01),物种数与个体数的时间动态相一致。埋葬甲科对7月下旬适应能力强于隐翅虫科,其对时间变化的反应最敏感,当环境条件适宜时,其数量能够迅速增加。不同时间隐翅虫科的物种数与个体数变化相对较小,对时间变化的敏感程度最低。由于生活习性的特殊化,使得捕食性和腐食性地表甲虫活跃的高峰期也可能与被捕食者在各时期的数量有关。     

Diversity of pselaphine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in eastern Thailand

Pselaphine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) are cosmopolitan, species‐rich, and yet poorly studied, particularly in the tropics. We sampled beetles in three types of primary forest and two types of disturbed forest habitats in eastern Thailand to assess the utility of pselaphine beetles as bioindicators of forest disturbance. We simultaneously measured leaf litter mass, soil moisture, soil acidity and canopy cover at each site to infer which environmental factors affect pselaphine beetle diversity and abundance. At each site, pselaphine beetles were extracted from ten 1 m² samples of leaf litter and soil with Tullgren funnels. We sampled 1867 adult beetles representing six supertribes, 51 genera and 114 morphospecies; 7% of the genera and 92% of the species were undescribed. Forest types differed significantly in species richness, abundance, diversity and evenness. Primary forest had greater numbers of species and individuals, and higher diversity indices (H′). Teak plantation and secondary forest had substantially fewer individuals and species of pselaphine beetles. Species composition differed between primary and degraded forests. Canopy cover, soil moisture, and leaf litter mass positively correlated with beetle species richness and abundance. Leaf litter mass and soil moisture were the two most important factors affecting the diversity of pselaphine beetle assemblages. Among the 114 morphospecies collected, 43 morphospecies were specific to two or three habitats and 64 morphospecies were found only in a single habitat. Thus pselaphine beetles appear to have rather narrow habitat requirements and their presence/absence was correlated with environmental differences. These traits make pselaphine beetles a suitable bioindicator taxon for assessing forest litter diversity and monitoring habitat change.     

横断山区东部四种林型地表甲虫的物种多样性

2001年7月8—14日在横断山区东部选择皆伐后经过管理的人工次生林(MSF)、无人管理的农耕区次生林(USF)、邻近天然的冷杉林(NAF)和杜鹃矮曲林(NRF)4种林型,共设置样地20块,以巴氏罐诱法收集地表甲虫的物种组成和数量数据,并以地表甲虫的种类和数量分布为属性做主成分分析和聚类分析,研究森林皆伐和管理行为对地表甲虫物种多样性的影响。共采集地表甲虫标本4292号,步甲科、觅葬甲科和隐翅虫科分别占总数46．8％、13．1％和11．4％,是数量最多的类群;金龟科、象甲科和拟步甲科的数量也各在5％以上,为常见类群。其中,步甲科的个体数量在NRF显著多于其他林型,在USF显著少于其他林型;觅葬甲科在两个天然林显著多于两个次生林;拟步甲科在NRF显著多于其他林型;花萤科在MSF和NAF显著多于USF;叩甲科在USF显著多于MSF和NAF;象甲科在NRF和MSF明显多于USF;叶甲科在NRF明显多于USF。地表甲虫的个体数量从USF、MSF、NAF到NRF逐渐增多,而均匀度指数则逐渐降低;MSF内物种丰富度和多样性指数分别显著高于USF和NRF。主成分分析和聚类分析表明,除了USF与其他林型有明显差异外,其他林型间有一定的相似性,但MSF与天然NAF间相似性较低。以上结果表明,森林砍伐后并种植人工林措施改变了该地区地表甲虫群落的物种分布格局,有助于恢复物种多样性。     

Specialization of rainforest canopy beetles to host trees and microhabitats: not all specialists are leaf‐feeding herbivores

Reliable estimates of host specificity in tropical rainforest beetles are central for an understanding of food web dynamics and biodiversity patterns. However, it is widely assumed that herbivores constitute the majority of host specific species, and that most herbivore species feed on leaves. We tested the generality of this assumption by comparing both plant host‐ and microhabitat‐specificity between beetle communities inhabiting the foliage (flush and mature), flowers, fruit, and suspended dead wood from 23 canopy plant species in a tropical rainforest in north Queensland, Australia. Independent of host tree identity, 76/77 of the most abundant beetle species (N ≥ 12 individuals) were aggregated on a particular microhabitat. Microhabitat specialization (measured by S_m and Lloyd's indices) was very high and did not differ between flower and foliage communities, suggesting that each newly‐sampled microhabitat has a large additive effect on total species richness. In accordance with previous studies, host specificity of foliage‐inhabiting beetles was most pronounced among herbivorous families (Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae). By contrast, host specificity among flower‐visitors was equally high among herbivorous and nonherbivorous families (e.g. Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Cleridae). Effective specialization (F_T) measures showed that traditional correction factors used to project total species richness in nonherbivorous groups fail to fully capture diversity in the flower‐visiting beetle fauna. These results demonstrate that host specialization is not concentrated within folivores as previously assumed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 215–228.     

Changes in avian communities of Budongo Forest Reserve after 70 years of selective logging

Owiunji, I. 2000. Changes in avian communities of Budongo Forest Reserve after 70 years of selective logging. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 216–219.

Budongo Forest Reserve, located in the west of Uganda, has been selectively logged for timber for over 70 years, and has a well documented management history. Changes in the avian community, species diversity and relative densities were assessed in two unlogged and three logged and arboricidally treated compartments. Tree-species diversity was highest in the disturbed forest. Over 100 forest bird species were recorded (including a new record for East Africa, Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli. Both point counts and mist-netting showed that bird species diversity was higher in the logged and treated than in the unlogged forest. Five species had significantly higher densities in logged forest, three species had significantly higher densities in unlogged forest and 14 species showed no significant change in densities. The response of Budongo Forest birds to disturbance was species-specific.     

东灵山地区地表甲虫群落组成及季节变化

本文研究东灵山地区地表甲虫群落的物种组成和季节变化,取样选择在11种不同生境类型内,分别代表该地区的植被类型与环境变化。1999～2000年的野外取样共获得甲虫标本10874号,其中步甲、隐翅虫、叶甲、象甲、拟步甲、金龟和叩甲等7科的个体数量较多,合计占个体总数的83.36%,为该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。选择40个最常见物种统计种类和数量,对生境进行主成分分析排序（PCA）和系统聚类分析,可以将东灵山地区的11种生境类型划归为3类：即梨园岭退耕区的灌丛类型、小龙门林区的森林类型和东灵山主峰区的亚高山植被类型,梨园岭退耕区的辽东栎萌生丛被合并到小龙门林区森林植被类型中,反映了植被类型、海拔高度及受干扰程度可能是决定该地区地表甲虫群落组成和分布的主要因素。研究地表甲虫的季节变化发现其活动高峰多出现在6月和7月,而且在不同生境类型内,优势类群的组成和季节变化有很大差异;小龙门林区内数量分布高于梨园岭退耕区内的分布,尤其在落叶松林和阔叶混交林内的数量优势更加明显。如果按营养层次划分功能群,捕食性类群比例最高,植食性类群次之,腐食性类群最少,捕食性类群的季节活动曲线滞后于植食性类群的活动曲线。     

Phenology of figs in Budongo Forest Uganda and its importance for the chimpanzee diet

This paper reports on the phenological patterns of figs in Budongo Forest, Uganda, and how it relates to chimpanzee food availability in different seasons. In addition, we analysed the dung of chimpanzees to understand the composition of fruits in their diet. The aim of our study was to assess Ficus phenology and how it affects chimpanzee diet. Fifteen species of figs were monitored for fruit (syconium) and leaf phenology between June 2000 and 2001. Ficus fruit production varied significantly between and within species, and also with tree trunk and crown diameters. Fig fruit production was asynchronous and individual fig trees produced crops from one to five times in a year. In addition to fruits, chimpanzees fed on young leaves of some Ficus species. Shedding of old Ficus leaves coincided with the dry season, followed by appearance of young leaves. The dry season in Budongo is a period of general fruit scarcity. The combination of fig fruits and young leaves make up the most important food in the diet of chimpanzees. From the chimpanzee dung, more than 78% of seeds comprised fig ‘seeds’ (nutlets) and the rest of the diaspores were from other tree species. Our findings suggest that chimpanzees disperse large number of diaspores in their dung, thereby serving as important agents of natural forest regeneration.     

Different effects of coarse woody material on the species diversity of three saproxylic beetle families (Cerambycidae, Melandryidae, and Curculionidae)

The relationships between coarse woody material (CWM) and the diversity of three saproxylic beetle families (Cerambycidae, Melandryidae, and Curculionidae) were investigated. These three families responded differently toward the quality and quantity of CWM. The species richness of cerambycid beetles increased in forests with more CWM in the early stage of decomposition. The richness of saproxylic curculionids increased in stands with more tree species. No clear trend was evident for melandryid diversity. The CWM differed in quality and quantity among three forest types [middle-aged larch (Larix kaempferi [Lamb.] Carrière) plantation, secondary forest, and old-growth forest] and between two forest-management practices (thinning and long rotation). Forest type and management practices affected CWM and the number of tree species, and CWM and the number of tree species influenced the diversity of saproxylic families differently. Because each decomposition stage is considered to be important for saproxylic beetles at the species level, a constant supply of CWM is necessary to maintain a suitable balance of CWM through these decomposition stages in forests to maintain the diversity of saproxylic beetles.     

Census,habitat preference,and polyspecific associations of six monkeys in the Lomako Forest,Zaire

This paper reports preliminary data on a number of poorly known cercopithecids inhabiting the Lomako Forest, Zaire. Data include those on density, biomass, group size, the relationship between group type (mono vs. polyspecific) and forest type (mixed primary, secondary, monodominant primary, and swamp), and vertical stratification. Species examined are Colobus angolensis, Cercocebus aterrimus, Cercopithecus wolfi, Cercopithecus ascanius, Cercopithecus neglectus, and Allenopithecus nigroviridis. The density and biomass for the Lomako Forest anthropoids (excluding Cercopithecus neglectus and A. nigroviridis) are 165 ind/km² and 1,034 kg/km², respectively. Cercopithecus wolfi and Colobus angolensis are found in group sizes similar to those reported from other sites while Cercopithecus ascanius, Cercocebus aterrimus, and A. nigroviridis display group sizes unique to the Lomako. While Colobus angolensis, Cercocebus aterrimus, Cercopithecus ascanius and Cercopithecus wolfi were found, to varying extents, in all four forest types, Cercopithecus neglectus and A. nigroviridis inhabited only swamp forest. The different species sort out along vertical continua both within and between the four forest types. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fungi Vectored by the Bark Beetle Ips typographus Following Hibernation Under the Bark of Standing Trees and in the Forest Litter

The bark beetle Ips typographus has different hibernation environments, under the bark of standing trees or in the forest litter, which is likely to affect the beetle-associated fungal flora. We isolated fungi from beetles, standing I. typographus-attacked trees, and forest litter below the attacked trees. Fungal identification was done using cultural and molecular methods. The results of the two methods in detecting fungal species were compared. Fungal communities associated with I. typographus differed considerably depending on the hibernation environment. In addition to seven taxa of known ophiostomoid I. typographus-associated fungi, we detected 18 ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi, five wood-decaying basidomycetes, 11 yeasts, and four zygomycetes. Of those, 14 fungal taxa were detected exclusively from beetles that hibernated under bark, and six taxa were detected exclusively from beetles hibernating in forest litter. The spruce pathogen, Ceratocystis polonica, was detected occasionally in bark, while another spruce pathogen, Grosmannia europhioides, was detected more often from beetles hibernating under the bark as compared to litter. The identification method had a significant impact on which taxa were detected. Rapidly growing fungal taxa, e.g. Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Ophiostoma, dominated pure culture isolations; while yeasts dominated the communities detected using molecular methods. The study also demonstrated low frequencies of tree pathogenic fungi carried by I. typographus during its outbreaks and that the beetle does not require them to successfully attack and kill trees.     

Fruiting phenology of fig trees in Kalinzu Forest,Uganda

The study determined the abundance and species composition of fig trees that fruited in the different forest types of Kalinzu Forest Reserve (KFR), Uganda. It also assessed the seasonal variations in abundance and species composition of the fig trees, the relationships between the fruiting patterns and rainfall and the figs’ inter‐ and intraspecific patterns of fruiting episodes. Sixteen fig species represented by 515 individuals were monitored monthly from December 2007 to January 2010. Most individuals and species that fruited were in the secondary forest types (the Musanga‐ and Parinari‐dominated secondary forests) and abundances of individuals of the different species were significantly associated with particular forest types. One colonizing species (Ficus sur) was the most abundant species that fruited and was mostly recorded in the secondary forests. Species composition and abundances of trees that fruited varied seasonally, and only the abundances of two canopy species (Ficus lingua and Ficus sansibarica) were significantly related with monthly rainfall. Most species experienced at least four fruiting phases, and F. sur displayed the longest episode covering 22 months. The results suggest that the past intensive logging in KFR promoted the regeneration of a diversity of fig species, and most species generally experience community‐wide asynchronous fruiting.     

Reproductive Biology of the Monoecious Understory Palm Prestoea schultzeana in Amazonian Ecuador1

Prestoea schultzeana is a monoecious, protandrous palm in the forest understory of Amazonian Ecuador. We studied its leaf production, population density, sexual expression, phenology, pollination, and the specificity of the floral visitors. On average, 1.4 leaves and 0.9 inflorescences are produced per individual per year. The number of staminate flowers per inflorescence is relatively constant compared with the number of pistillate flowers which varies greatly. Flowering occurs in staminate and pistillate phases of approximately 19 and 0–7 days duration, respectively. Flowers open in the morning, and staminate flowers abscise in the afternoon of the same day whereas pistillate flowers last for two days. Flowers are whitish-yellow with a sweet odor and produce nectar. They were visited by Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Nitidulidae, Ptiliidae, Staphylinidae), Hemiptera, Diptera (Drosophilidae, Syrphidae, Ceratopogonidae), Lepidoptera (Nymphalidae), and Hymenoptera (Formicidae, Halictidae). All examined individuals of the syrphid fly Copestylum sp. visiting pistillate flowers carried 100–500 grains of P. schultzeana pollen. Pollen occurred on all body parts, but especially on the legs, and this makes Copestylum sp. the most important pollinator. Most floral visitors were also frequent on the flowers of co-occurring plant species; notably the palm Hyospathe elegans shared most visitor species with P. schultzeana.