Higher temperature variability increases the impact of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and shifts interspecific interactions in tadpole mesocosms

The emergence of amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has led to the decline and extinction of numerous amphibian species. Multiple studies have observed links between climatic factors and amphibian declines apparently caused by Bd. Using outdoor experimental mesocosms, we tested the response of red‐legged frog (Rana aurora) tadpoles to increased variation in temperature, a component of climate linked to amphibian declines, and Bd exposure. We included tadpoles of a sympatric competitor species, Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), in a fully factorial design to test the effects of Bd and temperature on interspecific interactions. We found that higher variation in temperature had numerous effects in mesocosms, including interacting with Bd presence to decrease the condition of R. aurora, shifting the relative performance of competing P. regilla and R. aurora, and accelerating the development of P. regilla relative to R. aurora. Our results demonstrate that increased variation in temperature can affect amphibians in multiple ways that will be contingent on ecological context, including the presence of Bd and competing species.     

Phylogeography of the endemic St. Lucia whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus vanzoi: Conservation genetics at the species boundary

Vicariance and isolation leading to speciation of reptiles on islands is well exemplified in a number of taxa in the Caribbean. The St. Lucia whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi), considered a single species, is found on two small islets (Maria Major and Maria Minor) off the main island of St. Lucia. From lizards collected from both localities, we gathered morphological measurements and analysed the genetic divergence between populations, using a molecular survey of ∼ ∼2800 mtDNA base pairs and 8 microsatellites. There are significant differences in body size and general form and fixed but small mtDNA differences between island populations. Microsatellites reveal low diversity within populations but very high differentiation between islands with non-overlapping allele size ranges at all except one microsatellite and two loci exhibiting single-base polymorphism, fixed between islands. Based on these results, we examine published criteria to determine whether the studied island forms could be considered true species. According to the phylogenetic species concept and Moritz’s evolutionary significant unit (ESU) criteria, the two lizard populations can be considered separate entities. Crandall et al.’s (2000, Trends Ecol. Evol., 15, 290–295) broader categorization of population distinctiveness, based on concepts of ecological and genetic exchangeability, produces conflicting results depending on the interpretation of the observed ecological data. Following Fraser and Bernatchez’s (2001, Mol. Ecol., 10, 2741–2752) framework for management decisions when ecological data are not sufficient we propose that the lizard populations on the Maria islands are on differing evolutionary trajectories and thus at the species boundary. The populations are of high priority to conservation, thus meriting separate management.     

Licheni Nuovi O Interessanti Delle Coste Italiane

Abstract

New or interesting Lichens of italian coasts. — The autor describes a lichen new to Italy, Acarospora microcarpa (Nyl) Wedd, a mediterranean species, found in southern France only hitherto. The lichen was gathered on the tufs rocks of the Isle of Procida; so the species is classed among the cryptogamic flora of phlegrean tufs.

The presence of Acarospora trachytica Jatta on the isle of Procida is therefore indicated, a species that is somewhat rare and known so far only on the Island of Ischia and Vesuvius.

Some new places for the marine lichen, Verrucaria symbalana Nyl. are reported, and the particular ecological interest of the species and its full geographical placement considered.

Finally, new places for Lichina confinis Ag., in Italy are given. This is a marine species of considerable ecological interest.     

Philopotaminae of Madagascar (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The Malagasy fauna includes two genera of Philopotaminae: Wormaldia McLachlan 1865 and an endemic new genus, Ranarijaodes n. gen. The Malagasy and African (sensu stricto) lineages of Wormaldia are distinct. Apomorphic characters (the shape of the phallic apparatus for the African species and the splitting of the median lobe of the tenth tergite for the Malagasy species) confirm their separation. New captures are reported for two of the four previously known species of Wormaldia. Seven new species are described: Wormaldia ambahibeae n. sp., W. faharoa n. sp., W. fahatelo n. sp., W. randriamasimananai n. sp., W. fahefatra n. sp., W. legrandi n. sp. and W. fahadimy n. sp. Ranarijaodes n. gen. is close to Dolophilodes Ulmer 1909. It is described for the three new species Ranarijaodes fiana n. sp., R. angapi n. sp. and R. atsimo n. sp. The 14 Malagasy species of Philopotaminae are endemics of the island. Their geographical distributions and ecological preferences are described and discussed.     

Evidence for declines in populations of grassland-associated birds in marginal upland areas of Britain

Capsule We report large declines among summer populations between 1968–80 and 2000.

Aim To assess changes in the status of breeding populations of birds in pastoral uplands.

Methods Volunteer observers revisited 13 areas of marginal upland in Britain where Common Birds Census data were collected during 1968–80. This allowed the status of 35 bird species to be examined over about 20 years and to make a comparison between grassland-based and woodland-based species.

Results For 12 species the decline in abundance was significant, particularly among passerines, such as Skylark Alauda arvensis, Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, each of which declined by over 80%. Redshank Tringa totanus, Yellow Wagtail, Dipper Cinclus cinclus, Whinchat, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus and Yellowhammer were found on less than half the number of plots on which they were originally recorded. Most declining species were associated with grassland for nesting and foraging, compared to those species that increased (Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba, Carrion Crow Corvus corone, Jackdaw C. monedula and Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis) that were less specialized in their habitat requirements. Woodland or woodland edge species showed no significant change in status, suggesting that population declines among grassland species were not due to lower observer effort between recording periods.

Conclusion Long-term changes to grassland ecosystems in marginal upland areas of Britain may have influenced the status of bird populations.     

Counting birds on farmland habitats in winter

Capsule Perimeter counts underestimate the number of birds using agricultural fields.

Aims To determine the degree to which farmland birds may be undercounted on field surveys and the factors influencing this.

Methods In a study of 96 fields, birds in the field were counted during a walk of the perimeter. Afterwards transects were walked across the field to determine the number of birds missed. Additionally in a national survey we looked at the birds seen in field transects expressed as a proportion of the total seen in the transect and on perimeter counts.

Results To obtain an accurate count of birds on a field requires the use of the whole-area search methodology especially for species such as Grey Partridge Perdix perdix, Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Skylark Alauda arvensis and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. However, for a large number of species, including thrushes, flocking finches and buntings, over 90% of individuals can be recorded using the much less time-consuming perimeter count method.

Conclusions Perimeter counts are likely to be reliable for most species but special efforts may be required for a few cryptic species.     

A revision of the South African Chaetocnema gahani speciesgroup,with descriptions of four new flea beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Chaetocnema gahani species-group from Southern Africa is herein analyzed and revised. It includes C. gahani Jacoby 1897, C. brincki (Bechyné 1959), C. capeneri n. sp., C. danielssoni n. sp., C. sudafricana n. sp., and C. tuckeri n. sp. A key to all the species is presented. Line drawings of male and female genitalia and scanning electron micrographs of six diagnostic morphological characters are also included, along with ecological and zoogeographical data. Finally, discriminant analyses using the six morphological characters supports the close affinity of the six species within the C. gahani group.     

Interspecific interference and the functional response of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

1. A previous study compared the functional responses to their prey and intraspecific interference in mature larvae of Perlodes microcephalus, Isoperla grammatica, Dinocras cephalotes and Perla bipunctata. The present study extends this work by assessing interspecific interference between pairs of these species in equal numbers (one, two or three larvae per species) to provide total predator densities of two, four or six larvae. Baetis larvae as prey were replaced as they were eaten, and their density per predator was varied between 20 and 200 larvae. 2. The number of prey eaten by each competing species increased curvilinearly with prey density, the relationship being well described by a Type II model. Of the two constants in the model, handling time varied considerably between species, mean values being shortest for Perlodes, slightly higher for Isoperla, and much higher for Dinocras and Perla. It was not affected significantly either by predator density or the identity of the competing species. 3. Attack rate also varied between species and decreased with predator density. This decrease was slight for Perlodes, and also for Dinocras and Perla in competition with Isoperla. The decrease in Dinocras and Perla was similar to that for intraspecific interference. 4. The decrease in attack rate was described by a convex curve for Perlodes with the other three species and for Dinocras/Perla with Isoperla, but by a concave curve (negative power function) for Isoperla competing with the other three species, and for both Dinocras and Perla in competition with Perlodes. Prey consumption also decreased with predator density, the severity of competition with different species reflecting that for attack rate. 5. A comparison with previous results for intraspecific interference showed that the latter was dominant for Perlodes in all contests and for Dinocras or Perla competing with Isoperla, whilst interspecific interference dominated for Isoperla in all contests and for Dinocras and Perla competing with Perlodes. Both types of interference were applicable to competition between Dinocras and Perla. Isoperla was the least, and Perlodes the most, aggressive of the four species with Dinocras and Perla intermediate.     

Plinthus persicus n. sp. with biogeographic considerations on the P. illotus species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)

Plinthus persicus n. sp. is described; type locality: Iran, Mazandaran, 10 km SW of Rudbarak. The new species belongs to the group of Plinthus illotus, composed of some species distributed in Armenia and Transcaucasus; it expands the range of the genus to northern Iran. Some biogeographical and ecological notes are discussed. A key to the P. illotus species group is added.     

Effects of the winter beechmast crop on bird occurrence in British gardens

Capsule Woodland birds were significantly less likely to occur in gardens in years of high beechmast crop.

Aim To test the hypothesis that woodland species that feed on beechmast will have significantly lower occurrence rates at garden feeders in mast years.

Methods Weekly winter occurrence rates at garden feeders between 1970/71 and 1999/2000 for 40 species were analysed in relation to annual beechmast abundance, classified into low, medium and high years. A repeated-measures logistic regression model was used to assess whether beechmast abundance explained further significant variation additional to underlying seasonal and annual trends.

Results Seven species that commonly feed on beechmast showed significantly lower occurrence in gardens in years of highest beechmast abundance: Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major, Woodpigeon Columba palumbus, Great Tit Parus major, Coal Tit Periparus ater, Nuthatch Sitta europaea, Jay Garrulus glandarius and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. Blackbird Turdus merula and Siskin Carduelis spinus, which showed similar significant patterns, are likely to take beechmast as elements of their diet. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba was the only insectivorous species to show significant effects, but occurrence was lowest in years of intermediate beechmast abundance. For the latter species, this may have been due to confounding effects of temperature, but there were no such confounding effects of either temperature, or the number of bird feeders provided in gardens, for the other nine species.

Conclusion Use of artificial food sources by birds in gardens is influenced by resources in the surrounding countryside, suggesting that food provided in gardens may play a significant part in the population dynamics of these species, that population monitoring without consideration of the garden habitat may be deficient, and that volunteer-based garden bird recording may provide data that can be used as an indicator of changes in the wider countryside.     

Cedar forest communities in Western Antalya (Taurus Mountains,Turkey)

Abstract

The most extensive and magnificent forests of Cedrus libani A. Rich. in the world are on the Taurus Mountains in Turkey. They cover an area of about 400,000 hectares. C. libani forms either pure stands or mixed stands with other tree species, such as Abies cilicica, Pinus nigra, P. brutia, Quercus species (Q. cerris, Q. infectoria, Q. libani etc.), Juniperus excelsa and J. foetidissima. In this work, the floristic composition of the cedar forests in Western Antalya has been investigated and the ecological factors have been measured. The main forest types have been established and correlated with the ecological factors. In total, 201 relevés were analyzed by numerical methods and classified into five groups of C. libani forests and one group of Q. coccifera scrublands. It was observed that the topographical gradient mainly determines the differentiation patterns of cedar forests in Western Antalya.     

宁夏贺兰山青海云杉根系共生真菌的分离与鉴定

[背景]青海云杉(Picea crassifolia)是中国特有植物,具有极高的生态价值,是西北地区重要的森林更新树种和荒山造林树种,其生长发育及其抗逆性与根系共生真菌多样性密切相关.[目的]从青海云杉根系分离并鉴定定殖的可培养共生真菌,阐明青海云杉根系可培养共生真菌的种类组成,为共生真菌在青海云杉育苗、造林及生态恢复...     

Bryophyte response surfaces along ecological and climatic gradients

Bivariate response surfaces were fitted to abundance data for 6 mire bryophyte species in ecological and climatic space in western Canada. Response surfaces were derived by gridding data, eliminating outliers, and reducing effects of overly influential abundance values. Predicted values at each grid node were calculated as distance-weighted means of all observed values within a predetermined radius of each node. Response surfaces accurately delimited species ecological and climatic ranges. The gridding process consistently underestimated observed abundance values, and paired t-tests indicated significant differences between predicted and observed values for Sphagnum fuscum and Tomenthypnum nitens in ecological space, and for Sphagnum fuscum, Tomenthypnum nitens, and Scorpidium scorpioides in climatic space. Predicted values were significantly different only for those species that had large data sets, and for species that had clusters of points with an inordinately large number of data points within them. However, with the exception of Sphagnum tenellum, predicted and observed values were significantly correlated for all species in both ecological and climatic space. R ² analyses for the linear relationship between predicted and observed values can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the effectiveness of the gridding process to accurately predict observed abundance values.Abbreviations p statistical probability     

Ecological release in lizard assemblages of neotropical savannas

We compare lizard assemblages of Cerrado and Amazonian savannas to test the ecological release hypothesis, which predicts that niche dimensions and abundance should be greater in species inhabiting isolated habitat patches with low species richness (Amazonian savannas and isolated Cerrado patches) when compared with nonisolated areas in central Cerrado with greater species richness. We calculated microhabitat and diet niche breadths with data from 14 isolated Cerrado patches and Amazon savanna areas and six central Cerrado populations. Morphological data were compared using average Euclidean distances, and lizard abundance was estimated using the number of lizards captured in pitfall traps over an extended time period. We found no evidence of ecological release with respect to microhabitat use, suggesting that historical factors are better microhabitat predictors than ecological factors. However, data from individual stomachs indicate that ecological release occurs in these areas for one species (Tropidurus) but not others (Ameiva ameiva, Anolis, Cnemidophorus, and Micrablepharus), suggesting that evolutionary lineages respond differently to environmental pressures, with tropidurids being more affected by ecological factors than polychrotids, teiids, and gymnophthalmids. We found no evidence that ecological release occurs in these areas using morphological data. Based on abundance data, our results indicate that the ecological release (density compensation) hypothesis is not supported: lizard species are not more abundant in isolated areas than in nonisolated areas. The ecology of species is highly conservative, varying little from assemblage to assemblage. Nevertheless, increases in niche breadth for some species indicate that ecological release occurs as well. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Nesting biology,life cycle,and interactions between females of Manuelia postica,a solitary species of the Xylocopinae (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The Xylocopinae contains four tribes with species which show a range of nesting habits, from solitary to social. The Manueliini is the sister group to all other Xylocopine tribes, with one genus, Manuelia, of three species found mainly in Chile. This is a solitary genus, whose biology is scarcely known for two species, M. gayatina and M. gayi, and so far completely unknown for M. postica. This paper reports on nesting substrates, nest architecture, nesting behaviours, life cycle, and interactions between females at nesting sites, for M. postica. The results indicate that M. postica presents some features which are typical of solitary life, and also some features which are unusual in solitary bees but have been reported in phylogenetically more apical social species. Our findings open interesting questions on the ecological scenarios involved in the evolution of sociality within the Xylocopinae.     

Diversity and distribution of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) of the Oued Charef basin,North-Eastern Algeria

Summary. As part of the study of the Chironomidae fauna in lotic waters of North-Eastern Algeria, nine sampling stations in the Oued Charef basin were visited monthly during a study cycle. This work collected 7615 specimens forming a list of 75 species divided into four subfamilies. For North Africa, 23 species are reported for the first time, including six species of Tanypodinae (Paramerina vaillanti, P. berkana, Procladius lugens, Thienemannimyia zousfana, Trissopelopia longimana, Trissopelopia sp. and Zavrelimyia berberi), eight species of Chironominae (Cladotanytarsus vanderwulpi, Cryptochironomus obreptans, C. supplicans, Cryptotendipes usmaensis, Polypedilum sordens, Micropsectra fallax, M. contracta and Tanytarsus sylvaticus), and nine species of Orthocladinae (Cricotopus tibialis, Chaetocladius insolitus, C. piger, Tokunagaia rectangularis, Heterotrissocladius subpilosus, Limnophyes gurgicola, Nanocladius bicolor, Rheotanytarsus distinctissimus and Smittia sp.). In Algeria, 34 species are reported for the first time: seven Tanypodinae, 15 Chironominae and 12 Orthocladinae. In addition to the species reported as new for North Africa, the following ones can be added: Macropelopia nebulosa, Harnischia curtilamellatus, Microtendipes chloris, M. confinis, Polypedilum convictum, Stictochironomus sp., Paratanytarsus dissimilis, Cricotopus fuscus, C. trifascia and Pseudosmittia sp. This study has highlighted factors that control the distribution of the Chironomidae depending on characteristics of each site and the study season. The results have shown that the occurrence and diversity of chironomid species in these streams are significantly influenced by conductivity, temperature, current velocity and the type of substratum, while altitude had no significant effect on chironomid occurrence and distribution. The Motomura analysis and the ecological indices comparison have shown that the sampled stations are widely different. Despite the extreme environmental conditions undergone by streams of this area (eutrophication, high temperatures, drought in summer and water abstraction), Oued Chaniour was the richest and most balanced community, comprising 40 mostly stenotopic species, which require undisturbed conditions.     

“Made in Brazil”: Human Dispersal of the Brazil Nut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bertholletia excelsa</Emphasis>, Lecythidaceae) in Ancient Amazonia<Superscript>1</Superscript>

“Made in Brazil”: Human Dispersal of the Brazil Nut ( Bertholletia excelsa , Lecythidaceae) in Ancient Amazonia. The Brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa, is a colossal tree of terra firme forest whose seeds represent the most important non-timber forest product in Amazonia. Its peculiarly inefficient dispersal strategy and discontinuous distribution have led some to hypothesize anthropogenic origins, but evidence to date has been inconclusive. Here we present results of a multidisciplinary study addressing this question. A review of the geographic distribution of B. excelsa and comparison with that of similar Lecythis species suggest a number of anomalies that are consistent with a recent and wide colonization of Bertholletia. Published studies and field observations indicate that anthropogenic disturbance facilitates Brazil nut regeneration. Recent genetic studies showing no sequence diversity and no geographical structuring of within-population variability support a rapid and recent irradiation from an ancestral population. Historical linguistic analysis of indigenous terms for Brazil nut suggests a northern/eastern Amazonian origin for Bertholletia, with a concomitant spread of Brazil nut distribution or cultivation to the south and west. Such an expansion would have been particularly facilitated by the emergence of intensive bitter manioc cultivation and networks of interethnic trade beginning in the first millennium C.E. Together, ecological, phytogeographic, genetic, linguistic, and archeological data reinforce the hypothesis that ancient Amazonian peoples played a role in establishing this emblematic and economically important rainforest landscape.     

Revision of the western Palaearctic Mesoleptus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

The western Palaearctic species of the genus Mesoleptus Gravenhorst 1829 are redescribed and keys are given for their identification. Also a key for the identification of the three stilpnine genera (Atractodes, Mesoleptus, and Stilpnus) is given and the biology of the genus is discussed shortly. The following species are described as new: Mesoleptus hispanicus n. sp., M. sawoniewiczi n. sp. and M. tunisiensis n. sp. The male of Mesoleptus tobiasi Jonaitis is described for the first time. New combinations is M. incessor (Haliday). New synonyms number 143 and 34 lectotypes are chosen.     

Two new African species of Lejeuneaceae

Abstract

At present, the available information about the liverworts of Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. mires from South America is very limited. The main aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive study of the liverwort flora of this habitat, as well as details on the chorology and ecology of the taxa involved. Four different environmental units were examined, based on the water table level and plant cover, in three representative raised bogs from Tierra del Fuego National Park Ushuaia. Floristic relevs were recorded in 93 square plots 050050m², distributed at random in the environmental units. Twentyfour liverwort species have been identified the majority have a Subantarctic distribution and there were a remarkable number of Magellanean endemics 11 species. Among the rare species, there were two new records for the Argentinian Province of Tierra del Fuego, Cephaloziella byssacea and Chiloscyphus notophyllus. The ecological preferences of the species were analysed based on their frequencies in the four environmental units examined. Only six species demonstrated significant correlation with some of the environmental units. Riccardia pallidevirens, R. georgiensis, R. alcicornis, and Cephaloziella varians, showed a preference for waterlogged and wet habitats, while Calypogeia sphagnicola and Cephalozia chilensis were linked to dense carpets of Sphagnum magellanicum.