Habitat associations and breeding bird community composition within the city of Bristol,UK

Capsule Different urban breeding bird communities are associated with different habitat types, but, although community species diversity varies significantly, total bird density does not.

Aims To investigate the association between breeding bird communities and habitats within Bristol, UK and how these communities vary in terms of species diversity and total bird abundance.

Methods Breeding density data for 70 species in the metropolitan area of Bristol, UK were subjected to de‐trended correspondence analysis to identify the number of different communities present and their indicator species. These data were then used to identify patterns of habitat association with each community and differences in species richness and total bird density.

Results Three communities were identified: a rural community associated with woodland, managed grassland and inland water; a suburban community associated with buildings and residential gardens; and an intermediate community that shared some of these habitat characteristics. Species richness, but not total bird abundance, was lowest in the suburban community.

Conclusion The diversity of species in urban areas appears to be most dependent upon the availability of patches of natural and semi‐natural habitats. Residential gardens support fewer species, but those species that are present may be found at high densities.     

云南高原湖泊杞麓湖冬季可培养酵母菌多样性分析

【目的】探究云南杞麓湖酵母菌群落结构及其与环境因子的相互关系。【方法】采用原位培养方法对杞麓湖14个水样进行酵母菌分离,应用26S r DNA D1/D2区域序列分析,并结合形态及生理生化指标将对分离获得的酵母菌进行鉴定,运用软件bio-dap和Canoco分析酵母菌类群的丰富度及其与环境因子间的相互关系。【结果】从杞麓湖中分离得到321株酵母菌,鉴定为14个属27个种和1个潜在的新类群。Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae和出芽短梗霉(Aureobasidium pullulans)是优势种,分别为总菌株数的29.6%和16.8%。水体总磷含量是影响产色素红冬孢酵母属(Rhodosporidium)分布的重要环境因子,而p H为隐球酵母属(Cryptococcus)分布的一个重要选择条件。【结论】杞麓湖酵母菌具有较为丰富的群落多样性。     

The effect of woodland area on avian community composition in a fragmented southern UK landscape and associated management recommendations

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Smaller woodlands not only support fewer species but also show different avian community composition due to loss of woodland interior and an increase in edge habitat.

Aims: To use observed community composition changes, rather than traditional total species richness-area relationships, to make area-specific management recommendations for optimizing woodland habitat for avian communities in fragmented landscapes.

Methods: 17 woodlands were selected in Oxfordshire, UK, with areas between 0.2 and 120 ha. Three dawn area searches were conducted in each woodland between 1st April and 28th May 2016 to record encounter rates for each species. The impact of internal habitat variation on woodland comparability was assessed using habitat surveys.

Results: Woodlands with area less than 3.6 ha showed a significant positive relationship between total avian species richness and woodland area. Woodlands with area over 3.6 ha were all consistent with a mean (± se) total richness of 25.4?±?0.6 species, however the number of woodland specialists continued to increase with woodland area. Woodland generalists dominated the total encounter rate across the area range, however the fractional contribution of woodland specialists showed a significant positive correlation with woodland area, while the fractional contribution of non-woodland species significantly decreased. Non-woodland species numbers peaked in mid-sized woodlands with enhanced habitat heterogeneity.

Conclusions: Community composition analysis enabled more targeted recommendations than total species richness analysis, specifically: large woodlands (over 25?ha) in southern UK should focus conservation efforts on providing the specific internal habitats required by woodland specialists; medium-sized woodlands (between approximately 4 and 25?ha) should focus on promoting internal habitat variety, which can benefit both woodland species and non-woodland species of conservation concern in the surrounding landscape; small woodlands (under 4?ha) should focus on providing nesting opportunities for non-woodland species and on improving connectivity to maximize habitat for woodland generalists and facilitate movement of woodland specialists.     

Long-term changes in numbers and distribution of wintering waterbirds in the Czech Republic, 1966–2008

Capsule?Of 26 species of wintering waterbirds, 18 showed an increase in numbers, five showed a decrease and two showed no change.

Aim?To assess long-term trends in the numbers and distribution of the 26 most abundant wintering waterbird species in the Czech Republic.

Methods?We used International Waterbird Census data from between 48 and 639 wetland sites which had been counted annually in the Czech Republic from 1966 to 2008. From these data long-term changes in numbers and distributions were determined. Log-linear Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate missing data using trim software. The distribution of each species was described as the ratio of the number of sites occupied by that species to the total number of sites investigated.

Results?Increasing trends were found for 18 species, five species were found to be declining, one species was stable and two species were found with uncertain trends. Wintering distributions (the ratio of sites occupied by a given species to the total number of sites counted) increased in 16 species and decreased in two species, broadly correlated with the species changes in numbers.

Conclusion?In most species changes in numbers as well as changes in distribution followed the Western Palearctic population trends. Those species which increased were mainly piscivores and included geese, ducks and gulls. Scarcer species also exhibited an increase in numbers. The changes in numbers (both positive and negative) were more frequent among species associated with running water, whereas species which showed uncertain trends were more frequently recorded on standing water, which is more affected by variable weather conditions.     

羊卓雍措水体可培养酵母菌多样性及其与理化因子相关性

【目的】开展羊卓雍措水体可培养酵母菌多样性研究,探究影响其多样性的主要理化因子。【方法】采用膜过滤平置培养法分离纯化酵母菌,并结合rRNA ITS区域序列分析与经典分类法对酵母菌菌株进行鉴定。运用SPSS 20.0和CANOCO 5分析可培养酵母菌多样性及其与理化因子之间的关系。【结果】羊卓雍措水体可培养酵母菌为16个属25个种,优势属为Vishniacozyma,优势物种为Vishniacozyma victoriae。Pearson相关系数显示,pH、电导率、总溶解固体量、盐度与各样点可培养酵母菌种数和属数呈显著正相关;总磷与各样点及各区域可培养酵母菌属数呈显著负相关,与各样点种数呈显著负相关。冗余分析显示,pH和总磷是影响羊卓雍措水体可培养酵母菌分布的主要环境因子。【结论】羊卓雍措水体酵母菌资源比较丰富且存在明显的空间异质性,人类活动对酵母菌分布有较大影响。酵母菌分布与人类活动的关系值得进一步研究。     

Stand- and plot-level changes in a boreal forest understory community following wildfire

Background: Boreal forest understory plant communities are known to be resilient to fire – the species composition of stands after a fire is quite similar to the pre-fire composition. However, we know little about recovery of individual plants within particular locations in forest stands (i.e. plot-level changes) since we usually do not have pre-fire data for plots.

Aims: We wanted to determine whether species recruited into the same or different locations in a Pinus banksiana stand that experienced a severe wildfire.

Methods: We used pre-existing permanent plots to evaluate the cover of understory after an unplanned wildfire.

Results: Across the entire stand nine of 47 species showed a significant change in cover. The largest change in a plant functional group was in the mosses, with all species present before fire being eliminated. There was no change in species diversity or total cover. At the plot level, species composition showed a much greater change. An average of 47% of the species present in a plot before the fire were absent in the same plot after the fire, and the total species turnover in plots was 88% of the species present before the fire. The plots showed a similar shift in species composition.

Conclusions: These results confirm that boreal forest communities show a high degree of resilience to fire, but within a forest stand species will be found in different locations following fire, potentially exposing them to a different set of biotic and abiotic conditions in these new locations.     

海水来源的548株真菌的近海及远海分布模式及其抑菌活性分析

[目的]海洋真菌是新颖天然产物的理想来源.本研究旨在加深对可培养海洋真菌多样性的了解,以及挖掘具有应用潜力的海洋真菌.[方法]采用膜过滤法分离近海和远海海水样品中的真菌,通过菌株分离纯化、ITS基因序列测序,分析浅海带、半深海带和深海带海水样品中可培养真菌的多样性.在此基础上,采用固体平板法筛选具有抑菌活性的菌株.[结...     

内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中乳酸菌的多样性分析

【目的】对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品中乳酸菌资源的生物多样性进行研究。【方法】采用纯培养和16S rRNA基因序列分析法对内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳中的乳酸菌进行多样性分析。【结果】从8份传统发酵乳制品(6份酸牛奶和2份酸马奶)样品中分离到24株乳酸菌,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析和系统进化关系分析将24株乳酸菌鉴定为2株Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens、2株Lactobacillus kefiri、5株Lactobacillus paracasei、3株Lactobacillus plantarum、1株Lactobacillus rhamnosus、6株Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis、2株Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.dextranicum、2株Streptococcus thermophilus和1株Enterococcus faecium。【结论】Lactococcus lactis subsp.lactis为内蒙古呼伦贝尔地区传统发酵乳制品的优势菌种,占总分离株的25%,其次为Lactobacillus paracasei,占总分离株的20.83%。     

Combining archive territory mapping data and aerial photography to investigate bird–habitat relationships: a case study from the Lincolnshire coast

Capsule Habitat associations of breeding birds in a complex coastal environment are clear, interpretable and mostly consistent between years.

Aims To match archive territory mapping data with historical aerial photographs and develop data handling and analytical techniques for the study of bird–habitat relationships.

Methods Bird registrations were digitized from archive British Trust for Ornithology Common Birds Census maps and habitat characteristics from contemporaneous aerial photographs. The resulting maps were overlaid and ranks of habitat preference for 15 species calculated using compositional analysis. Similarity analysis identified species with consistent habitat profiles across years. Cluster analysis identified groups of species with similar patterns of habitat use.

Results A total of 5400 registrations of 15 species in 14 habitats were analysed. Of these, 13 species showed stable patterns of habitat association across survey years. Clear differences and similarities in habitat preferences among the species were identified. The results may be used to inform conservation and management programmes in this and similar environments.

Conclusions Extensive archives of bird survey data can be used to study bird–habitat relationships and to measure the effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental change if contemporaneous aerial photographs can be sourced.     

Metagenomic sequencing reveals viral abundance and diversity in mosquitoes from the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region,China

BackgroundMosquitoes host and transmit numerous arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause disease in both humans and animals. Effective surveillance of virome profiles in mosquitoes is vital to the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases in northwestern China, where epidemics occur frequently.MethodsMosquitoes were collected in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region (Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) of China from June to August 2019. Morphological methods were used for taxonomic identification of mosquito species. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis were used to characterize mosquito viromes.ResultsA total of 22,959 mosquitoes were collected, including Culex pipiens (45.7%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (40.6%), Anopheles sinensis (8.4%), Aedes (5.2%), and Armigeres subalbatus (0.1%). In total, 3,014,183 (0.95% of clean reads) viral sequences were identified and assigned to 116 viral species (including pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus and Getah virus) in 31 viral families, including Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Phasmaviridae, Phenuiviridae, and some unclassified viruses. Mosquitoes collected in July (86 species in 26 families) showed greater viral diversity than those from June and August. Culex pipiens (69 species in 25 families) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (73 species in 24 families) carried more viral species than Anopheles sinensis (50 species in 19 families) or Aedes (38 species in 20 families) mosquitoes.ConclusionViral diversity and abundance were affected by mosquito species and collection time. The present study elucidates the virome compositions of various mosquito species in northwestern China, improving the understanding of virus transmission dynamics for comparison with those of disease outbreaks.     

Habitat preferences of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus in urban environments: an ambiguous effect of pollution

Capsule The occurrence of the Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus in an urbanized habitat is determined by the number of trees and pollutant emissions. Air pollution may weaken trees and increase the number of insects inhabiting them.

Aims To determine the habitat preferences of the Syrian Woodpecker in the highly urbanized environment of the city of Kraków.

Methods A set of 13 habitat and environmental parameters of 50 breeding territories and 50 random points were evaluated. A logistic regression was used to determine the probability of species occurrence, and Akaike's information criterion was used for model selection.

Results The number of trees, coverage of woody vegetation, total vegetation cover and level of pollutant emissions were significantly higher in Syrian Woodpecker breeding territories than in the random points. The model best explaining the probability of species occurrence consisted of four parameters: the number of trees, coverage of the total built-up area, total vegetation cover and pollutant emissions. The parameters best explaining a high probability of species occurrence were high number of trees and high pollutant emissions.

Conclusion Air pollution may weaken trees and potentially increase the number of insects inhabiting them, an important component of the Syrian Woodpecker's diet. However, the negative impact of air pollution on birds may impact on their condition. Urban habitats could, therefore, act as an ecological trap for this species.     

Identification of Malassezia species isolated from patients with extensive forms of pityriasis versicolor in Siena,Italy

BackgroundPityriasis versicolor (PV) is an infection caused by various species of Malassezia yeast. There is no agreement in the literature concerning the species of Malassezia and the demographic, clinical, and mycological data.AimsTo prospectively identify Malassezia species isolated from lesions of patients with extensive, long standing and recurrent forms of PV and to estimate the relationship between Malassezia species and the demographic and clinical data of the patients.MethodsAll patients with PV were enrolled over a four-year period. Malassezia species were isolated in cultures and identified by morphological features and physiological tests. In the last 2 years a PCR-based technique was used to confirm the species’ identification.ResultsA total of 74 patients (43 males and 31 females, mean age 39.5 years) were enrolled. Only one species was isolated in 45 patients, and more than one species were identified in the remaining 28 patients (38%). M. globosa was the most frequently isolated (60.3%) species. There was a significant association between the isolation of 2 or more species and the presence of at least one predisposing factor. In the last 29 cases, which were subjected to PCR, there were no differences in the identification of isolated species as compared to traditional methods.ConclusionsThe isolation of more than one species in a single lesion is not infrequent in PV and is related to the presence of one predisposing factor. The isolated species isolated were not influenced by demographic and clinical features. The traditional and more recent (PCR) procedures gave the same results in the isolated species.     

Effects of environmental heterogeneity on species diversity and composition of terrestrial bryophyte assemblages in tropical montane forests of southern Ecuador

Background: Most studies on tropical bryophytes deal with epiphytic species. This is the first ecological study of tropical forests that focuses specifically on terrestrial bryophytes.

Aim: To investigate the differences between slope and ridge environments in upper montane forests of southern Ecuador in terms of species diversity (richness, abundance), species composition and life forms of terrestrial bryophytes.

Methods: We used Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) to group bryophyte relevés by study location, habitat type and exposure class. Species indicator values were calculated and compared for different habitats.

Results: In total, 140 species were recorded, the majority being liverworts. NMDS analyses and Mantel correlations clearly separated between slope and ridge relevés, and between sunny and shaded microhabitats on ridges. Bryophyte life forms also showed different distribution patterns in slope and in ridge habitats. Mosses were more prominent in sunny than in shaded microhabitats.

Conclusions: Environmental differentiation between ridges and slopes, and small-scale variation in microclimatic conditions caused by differences in exposure, were stronger predictors of species richness and composition than geographical distance between study sites.     

Oral Candida carriage of patients attending a dental clinic in Braga,Portugal

BackgroundThe ability of the Candida species to colonize surfaces can be considered as a risk factor for oral infection.AimsTo establish oral Candida carriage in patients attending a dental clinic in Braga, Portugal.MethodsA total of 97 patients were analysed. Swab samples were collected and directly cultured onto CHROMagar Candida. Representative yeasts were identified by polymerase chain reaction.ResultsFrom the samples analysed 54.6% (n=53) were Candida positive, and Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species, accounting for 79% of all the species identified. Non-C. albicans Candida (NCAC) species recovered included Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida guilliermondii. There was a lack of association between the presence of C. albicans or NCAC species, and age, gender, or prostheses wearing in this population. In 17% of the cases (n=9), polymicrobial cultures, with two different Candida species, were identified.ConclusionsThis study shows a high Candida carriage rate among this population, thus pointing to the relevance of an accurate diagnostic approach in Candida species identification.     

Variation of plant diversity components in different scales in relation to grazing and climatic conditions

Background: Understanding the role of livestock grazing on plant diversity can be improved by an accurate measurement of diversity at all hierarchical scales due to the changeability of diversity components in space.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of grazing on plant species diversity at different scales of all common and rare species in two regions that have different climatic conditions (arid vs. semi-arid).

Methods: In each region, we collected abundant data of plant species from a nested sampling design that consisted of local (80 plots) and regional (16 sites) scales. We partitioned total species diversity (γ) into within plots (α_l), among plots (β_l) and among sites (β₂) using the additive partitioning.

Results: Diversity among sites contributed the most to total diversity for all and rare plant species in both regions. In addition, α₁ and β₁ diversities in ungrazed areas were greater than those in grazed areas for all and common species in both climates.

Conclusion: Abandonment of grazing after 10 years resulted in significant regeneration of common species at the local scale, with no change in rare species. We conclude that low grazing intensity is likely to be an important tool for conservation of plant diversity in which all scales should be considered.     

Floristic diversity and the richness of locally endangered plant species of semi-natural grasslands under different management practices,southern Kyushu,Japan

Background: The rapid decline of semi-natural grasslands in Japan threatens many relic and endemic plant species. There is insufficient knowledge on how the impacts of land-use changes and management of grasslands have been affecting grassland ecosystems and what conservation measures may be taken to conserve as much of the existing plant diversity as possible.

Aim: We assessed the existing management regimes for their suitability for conserving Red Data Book (RDB) species.

Methods: We conducted our study in four districts of Kushima, Kyushu, south-west Japan, with different land-use histories. We compared species richness, plant density and abundance in six grassland types: regularly burnt, regularly mown, paddy levee, roadside, landslip and wetland communities in a total of 289 1 m x 1 m quadrats, recorded in172 grassland patches. Species richness plant density and abundance were analysed with special reference to RDB species under different land use history.

Results: Species richness of grasslands did not differ across different land use histories, yet our analysis showed that the reduced area of grasslands markedly affected the density of RDB species. Grassland types differed in their ability to support RDB species: regularly burnt grasslands were the richest in RDB species and poorest in alien species, followed by regularly mown grasslands, paddy levees, landslip, wetland and roadside communities.

Conclusions: Traditional management regimes, such as regular burning or mowing of grasslands have the best potential for conserving RDB species, and thus should be part of conservation management practices of semi-natural grasslands.     

Identifying important bird habitats in a sub-arctic area undergoing rapid land-use change

Capsule Habitats in lowland South Iceland sustain bird populations of international importance, with highest densities in wet habitats.

Aims In areas important for biodiversity there is an urgent need to assess large-scale variation in the biodiversity value of habitats to inform management. We carried out a large-scale survey to assess the conservation value of sub-arctic, Icelandic bird habitats.

Methods Bird counts were carried out on 200 transects in the five most common vegetated habitat types in South Iceland. Based on these counts, breeding bird density and diversity were compared between habitats and total population sizes of common species in these habitats were calculated.

Results Overall, eight species (seven waders and Meadow Pipit) composed over 95% of all birds counted. The combined density of those species exceeded 275 birds/km² in all habitats. The two wettest habitat types had the highest density of birds.

Conclusion Wet habitats in lowland South Iceland held particularly high densities of breeding birds, notably waders, which constitute populations of international importance. Wet habitat types are generally of higher value for more species, than dryer ones.     

Giant stem rosettes have strong facilitation effects on alpine plant communities in the tropical Andes

ABSTRACT

Background: Giant rosettes constitute one of the most distinctive growth-forms in tropical alpine ecosystems. However, their interactions with other plant species remain unexplored in high Andean páramos.

Aims: Quantify the effect of a dominant rosette (Coespeletia timotensis) on soil and microclimatic conditions and relate the impacts to plant community structure.

Methods: We analysed topsoil temperatures, soil organic matter (SOM) and plant species cover in areas adjacent to C. timotensis and paired areas outside, at three sites (4250–4360 m a.s.l.) in La Culata National Park, Venezuela. Species richness, total vegetation cover and percent cover of each species near and away from the rosettes were compared.

Results: Topsoil temperature amplitudes were lower and SOM greater near C. timotensis stems, compared to areas away from them. C. timotensis had a consistent positive effect on species richness, vegetation cover and the cover of many abundant species (including cushions and herbs).

Conclusions: The facilitation effects of C. timotensis on abiotic conditions and community structure indicate they play a key role as nurse plants, pointing to giant rosettes as foundation species for the maintenance of plant diversity in the alpine tropics.     

异龙湖湿地修复后可培养酵母菌的多样性及其与理化因子的相关性

【目的】研究湿地修复后异龙湖中可培养酵母菌多样性及其与理化因子的相关性。【方法】对异龙湖湖水中可培养酵母菌进行DNA提取和测序,通过分析26SrRNA基因的D1/D2区域和形态以及生理生化特征对酵母菌进行鉴定,测定各个水样点的总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、总硬度(TH)和电导率(Cond),运用R 4.0.5、Canoco 5软件来分析异龙湖湖水中可培养酵母菌多样性和与理化因子的相关性。【结果】从湿地修复后的异龙湖湖水中分离获得519株可培养酵母菌,鉴定为24个属42个种和1个潜在的新种,胶红酵母(Rhodotorula mucilaginosa)、皮肤皮状新丝孢酵母(Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis)以及产黑色素短梗霉(Aureobasidium melanogenum)是异龙湖中的优势种,分别分离到了320株(52.29%)、40株(7.71%)和37株(7.13%)。【结论】湿地修复后的异龙湖具有丰富的可培养酵母菌资源,其群落结构较湿地修复前有了明显的变化,湖区西北部的可培养酵母菌多样性要比湖区东南部丰富。TN与异龙湖中可培养酵母菌多样性...     

西藏拉鲁湿地水体酵母菌多样性及其与理化因子相关性

【目的】开展拉鲁湿地水体酵母菌多样性研究,探究理化因子与酵母菌群落结构的相互关系。【方法】采用原位培养法从拉鲁湿地11个水样中分离酵母菌,应用26S r RNA D1/D2区域序列分析,并结合经典分类法对获得的菌株进行分类鉴定,运用SPSS和CANOCO软件分析酵母菌多样性及其与环境因子相关性。【结果】从拉鲁湿地水体中分离得到169株酵母菌,鉴定分属为15个属31个种。优势种为Ustilentyloma graminis和Filobasidium magnum,优势属为Naganishia、Ustilentyloma、Filobasidium和Cystofibasidium。统计分析结果表明,化学需氧量(COD)是影响拉鲁湿地水体酵母菌数量的显著因素,另外,此理化因子是影响Ustilentyloma分布的重要环境条件。【结论】西藏拉鲁湿地酵母菌资源比较丰富,且存在明显的空间异质性。