Bryophytes for Beginners: The usability of a printed dichotomous key versus a multi-access computer-based key for bryophyte identification

Bryophytes are a rewarding study group in field biology and the UK bryophyte flora has international importance to biodiversity conservation. We designed an identification key to common woodland moss species and compared the usability of two formats, web-based multi-access and printed dichotomous key, with undergraduate students. The rate of correct species identification and identification speed both showed an advantage for the printed dichotomous key. Our findings suggest that, even in the digital age, printed keys remain valuable in biological education and that quality of key design is more important than presentation medium. We discuss the relative advantages of multi-access and dichotomous keys and how to approach bryophyte identification with beginners.     

Some ideas for activities involving the construction of computer-based identification keys

Conserving global biodiversity depends on public awareness, hence the vital role of education and the recent thinking that biodiversity conservation should form part of a new and general scientific literacy taught in schools. A crucial aspect of biodiversity conservation is species identification. Taxonomy in general, and identification keys in particular, are often seen as boring and outdated. Indeed, curricula focused on contemporary areas of biology tend to give a low priority to taxonomy or ignore it completely. However, concern for diminishing global biodiversity has provoked a renewed interest in both traditional and more innovative identification methods, including computer-aided taxonomy.

Some ideas for applying information and communication technology (ICT) to constructing identification keysare discussed. The use of linked web pages is proposed as the most easily used and readily accessible method for Year 8 pupils (ages 12 – 13). It is suggested that there is more educational value in pupils then testing and evaluating each other's keys rather than simply using them and that to facilitate this, web-based keys can easily be exchanged via a network.

It is concluded that this approach promotes a wide range of transferable ICT skills, but applies them in the context of a current problem facing real biologists, so illustrating how computer technology is assisting biodiversity research.     

Five new Lamiinae (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) from Bolivia in honor of James E. Wappes

Five new species of Lamiinae are described from Bolivia, all named after James E. Wappes: Xenofrea wappesi (Xenofreini); Anobrium wappesi (Pteropliini); Cotycicuiara wappesi, Nesozineus wappesi, and Psapharochrus wappesi (Acanthoderini). Anobrium wappesi, Cotycicuiara wappesi, and Nesozineus wappesi are included in known keys. A short note on the name and date of Anobrium oberthueri Belon, 1903 is provided.     

Diurnal Habitat Use by Lower Keys Marsh Rabbits

Abstract: We used radiotelemetry to locate daytime forms of endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbits (LKMRs; Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) throughout their range so we could determine habitat characteristics of diurnal cover. We typically found forms (n = 1,298) of 36 rabbits in brackish wetlands in patches of saltmarsh or buttonwoods. In freshwater wetlands, forms (n = 54) were located most often in patches of freshwater hardwoods embedded in or adjacent to freshwater marshes. Forms (n = 942) in brackish wetlands were characterized by thick groundcover (>75%), whereas those (n = 42) in freshwater wetlands had both thick groundcover and canopy vegetation. The mean minimum convex polygon around forms of 15 rabbits was 1.4 ha (SD = 1.7), with smaller ranges characterized by thick bunchgrasses or clump-forming sedges. To increase the amount of annual space usable by LKMRs, managers should provide more saltmarsh habitat interspersed with buttonwoods and enhance ground cover in existing habitat.     

Typification,taxonomy, and worldwide distribution of Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp. (Hedwigiaceae)

Diagnosis and illustrations are given for Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp., and a Humboldt and Bonpland specimen (BM) is selected as the lectotype. Also a collection by Arséne (BM) is designated as the lectotype for B. secunda var. crassiretis Thér. This variety is retained as synonym of B. secunda. The species concept of B. secunda is revised and a provisional key is provided to help in the identification of 23 species of Braunia, based on examination of herbarium specimens worldwide. About half of specimens from Mexico actually represent another species, B. andrieuxii Lorentz. All material examined from India, previously identified as B. secunda belongs to B. macropelma (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger, whereas collections from Africa are actually B. rupestris (Mitt.) A.Jaeger, B. entodonticarpa Müll.Hal., or B. diaphana (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger. These and other species should no longer be considered synonyms of B. secunda. The worldwide distribution of the species is documented for the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela, and Bolivia.     

CENTROCERAS INTERNITENS N. SP. (RHODOPHYCEAE,CERAMIACEAE) FROM THE WESTERN TROPICAL NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN1

Centroceras internitens n. sp. (Rhodophyceae, Ceramiaceae) was found in the Florida Keys and Bermuda only as an epiphyte on Ceramium nitens (C. Agardh) J. Agardh. It is described on the basis of many collections, including an abundance of reproductive material representing all stages of the life history. Laboratory culture has not been successful. The type locality is a well-known limestone platform on the Atlantic Ocean side of West Summerland Key, Florida Keys. In addition to living material, C. internitens was found on eight herbarium specimens of Ceramium nitens at the United States National Museum, thereby establishing records of its occurrence throughout the Caribbean Sea and dating back to 1887.     

Patterns of spread of coral disease in the Florida Keys

Reefs in the Florida Keys are experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of localities and number of species with coral disease. In extensive surveys from Key Largo to Key West in 160 stations at 40 randomly chosen sites, there has been a dramatic increase in (1) the number of locations exhibiting disease (82% of all stations are now affected, a 404% increase over 1996 values), (2) the number of species affected (85% of all species are now affected, a 218% increase over 1996 values), and (3) the rate of coral mortality (the deep fore-reef at Carysfort experienced a 60% reduction of living coral cover during the survey). Two null hypotheses (1) that the incidence of disease has remained constant through time and (2) that the apparent increase in disease is due to a lack of comparable earlier data, are both falsified. Different diseases exhibit different patterns of spread: some diseases (e.g. black band) exhibit low incidence and jump rapidly between sites; other diseases (e.g. white pox) exhibit patchy distributions and increase in frequency at affected sites from one year to the next. The central question of why so many corals are becoming simultaneously susceptible to a host of marine pathogens remains unanswered.     

LIDAR optical rugosity of coral reefs in Biscayne National Park,Florida

The NASA Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL), a temporal waveform-resolving, airborne, green wavelength LIDAR (light detection and ranging), is designed to measure the submeter-scale topography of shallow reef substrates. Topographic variability is a prime component of habitat complexity, an ecological factor that both expresses and controls the abundance and distribution of many reef organisms. Following the acquisition of EAARL coverage over both mid-platform patch reefs and shelf-margin bank reefs within Biscayne National Park in August 2002, EAARL-based optical indices of topographic variability were evaluated at 15 patch reef and bank reef sites. Several sites were selected to match reefs previously evaluated in situ along underwater video and belt transects. The analysis used large populations of submarine topographic transects derived from the examination of closely spaced laser spot reflections along LIDAR raster scans. At all 15 sites, each LIDAR transect was evaluated separately to determine optical rugosity (Ro_tran), and the average elevation difference between adjacent points (Av(E_ap)). Further, the whole-site mean and maximum values of Ro_tran and Av(E_ap) for the entire population of transects at each analysis site, along with their standard deviations, were calculated. This study revealed that the greater habitat complexity of inshore patch reefs versus outer bank reefs results in relative differences in topographic complexity that can be discerned in the laser returns. Accordingly, LIDAR sensing of optical rugosity is proposed as a complementary new technique for the rapid assessment of shallow coral reefs.     

Assessment of current rates of Diadema antillarum larval settlement

The generally slow and incomplete recovery of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, from the 1983–84 Caribbean-wide die-off, particularly in the Florida Keys, USA, raises the question of factors limiting population recovery. This study sought to quantify larval settlement rates as an indicator of larval supply at two sites in the Florida Keys, utilizing methods comparable to an historic study. Settlement at two sites in southwest Puerto Rico was also examined as a comparison of present-day settlement rates at a site where D. antillarum recovery has been moderate. Monthly settlement rates were low (max < 2 m⁻²) and did not differ between the two sites examined in the Florida Keys. Settlement was significantly higher at only one of the Puerto Rico sites (max 16 m⁻²), but still an order of magnitude lower than that reported for historic populations in Cura?ao (1982–83). Results are consistent with the hypothesis of low larval supply limiting D. antillarum recovery in the Florida Keys.     

Taxonomic study on the Phytosciara genus group (Diptera: Sciaridae) in Korea,including the description of a new species

The Phytosciara genus group (Diptera, Sciaridae: Phytosciara Frey, Dolichosciara Tuomikoski, and Prosciara Frey) are studied in the Korean peninsula. Dolichosciara koreaensis Shin & Menzel sp. n. is described and illustrated as new to science. Additionally, four species are reported as new to Korea: Dolichosciara orcina (Tuomikoski, 1960), Dolichosciara semiferruginea (Menzel, 1995), Prosciara producta (Tuomikoski, 1960), and Prosciara ussuriensis (Antonova, 1977). Identification keys are given for the genera of the Phytosciara genus group and for the Korean species of the genera Dolichosciara Tuomikoski and Prosciara Frey. The COI barcode for the new species is studied.     

Spatial and ontogenetic variation in growth of nursery-bound juvenile lemon sharks, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Negaprion brevirostris</Emphasis>: a comparison of two age-assigning techniques

Synopsis We compared growth rates of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, from Bimini, Bahamas and the Marquesas Keys (MK), Florida using data obtained in a multi-year annual census. We marked new neonate and juvenile sharks with unique electronic identity tags in Bimini and in the MK we tagged neonate and juvenile sharks. Sharks were tagged with tiny, subcutaneous transponders, a type of tagging thought to cause little, if any disruption to normal growth patterns when compared to conventional external tagging. Within the first 2 years of this project, no age data were recorded for sharks caught for the first time in Bimini. Therefore, we applied and tested two methods of age analysis: (1) a modified minimum convex polygon method and (2) a new age-assigning method, the cut-off technique. The cut-off technique proved to be the more suitable one, enabling us to identify the age of 134 of the 642 previously unknown aged sharks. This maximised the usable growth data included in our analysis. Annual absolute growth rates of juvenile, nursery-bound lemon sharks were almost constant for the two Bimini nurseries and can be best described by a simple linear model (growth data was only available for age-0 sharks in the MK). Annual absolute growth for age-0 sharks was much greater in the MK than in either the North Sound (NS) and Shark Land (SL) at Bimini. Growth of SL sharks was significantly faster during the first 2 years of life than of the sharks in the NS population. However, in MK, only growth in the first year was considered to be reliably estimated due to low recapture rates. Analyses indicated no significant differences in growth rates between males and females for any area.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the fourth authors email address and affiliation.     

处理植物分类学描述语言的国际标准——DELTA系统

DELTA系统是澳大利亚Dallwitz等人经过多年研究发出的一套用于分类学描述语言编码的国际标准。本文对该系统的主要功能,即自然语言描述、检索表、数据矩阵的自动生成、标本鉴定和信息检索以及分支分类运算和表征分类运算所需数据格式的转换等做了综述性介绍,以期促进该软件在我国广大植物分类学工作者中的推广与使用。     

The effect of a water gradient on the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal status of Lythrum salicaria L. (purple loosestrife)

 The mycorrhizal status of Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae) was assessed under growth room and field conditions. Growth room studies indicated that L. salicaria is facultatively mycorrhizal and capable of forming vesicular-arbuscular associations with six Glomus species, but not with Gigaspora margarita. Overall, hyphal and arbuscular colonization levels were significantly higher in the wet treatments than in the dry treatments (P<0.0001). However, taken individually, significant increases in arbuscular colonization (P<0.05) were found only in L. salicaria colonized with Glomus clarum, G. aggregatum, and G. versiforme and exposed to the wet treatments compared with the dry treatments, while significant increases in hyphal colonization were found in L. salicaria colonized with G. clarum, and G. versiforme exposed to the wet treatments. There was no overall effect of water availability on levels of vesicular colonization or differences in vesicular colonization levels within species under dry or wet conditions. In contrast, field studies along an existing water gradient revealed that hyphal and arbuscular colonization levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the dry and intermediate regions of the gradient than in the wet regions. Vesicular colonization was not significantly affected by the gradient. Total stem height was significantly affected by water availability, plot location and an interaction of the two (P<0.05), and was generally higher in the intermediate and wet plots. Accepted: 20 September 1995     

Changes in coral reef communities among the Florida Keys, 1996–2003

Hard coral (Scleractinia and Milleporina) cover data were examined from 37 sites surveyed annually from 1996 to 2003 in the Florida reef tract, USA. Analyses of species numbers and total cover showed that site-to-site differences were generally very much greater than differences among times within sites. There were no significant differences among different geographical areas within the reef tract (Upper, Middle and Lower Keys). Large-scale changes documented included a reduction in species numbers and total cover on both deep and shallow offshore reefs between 1997 and 1999 followed by no recovery in cover, and only scant evidence of any recovery in species numbers by 2003. These changes coincided with bleaching events in 1997 and 1998, and the passage of Hurricane Georges through the Lower Keys in 1998. The lack of recovery among offshore reefs suggests that they were no longer resilient. Multivariate analyses revealed that some sites showed relatively little temporal variation in community composition, essentially random in direction, while others showed relatively large year-on-year changes. There was little evidence of any major region-wide changes affecting assemblage composition, or of any events that had impacted all of the sampling sites in any single year. Instead, different sites exhibited differing patterns of temporal variation, with certain sites displaying greater variation than others. Changes in community composition at some sites are interpreted in the light of knowledge of events at those sites and the relative sensitivities of species to various stressors, such as changes in cover of Acropora palmata and Millepora complanata at Sand Key following the bleaching events and hurricane in 1998, and declines in Montastraea annularis at Smith Shoal following a harmful algal bloom in 2002. For most sites, however, it is impossible to determine the causes of observed variation.     

Patch-reef morphology as a proxy for Holocene sea-level variability,Northern Florida Keys,USA

A portion of the northern Florida Keys reef tract was mapped with the NASA Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL) and the morphology of patch reefs was related to variations in Holocene sea level. Following creation of a lidar digital elevation model (DEM), geospatial analyses delineated morphologic attributes of 1,034 patch reefs (reef depth, basal area, height, volume, and topographic complexity). Morphometric analysis revealed two morphologically different populations of patch reefs associated with two distinct depth intervals above and below a water depth of 7.7 m. Compared to shallow reefs, the deep reefs were smaller in area and volume and showed no trend in topographic complexity relative to water depth. Shallow reefs were more variable in area and volume and became flatter and less topographically complex with decreasing water depth. The knoll-like morphology of deep reefs was interpreted as consistent with steady and relatively rapidly rising early Holocene sea level that restricted the lateral growth of reefs. The morphology of shallow “pancake-shaped” reefs at the highest platform elevations was interpreted as consistent with fluctuating sea level during the late Holocene. Although the ultimate cause for the morphometric depth trends remains open to interpretation, these interpretations are compatible with a recent eustatic sea-level curve that hindcasts fluctuating late Holocene sea level. Thus it is suggested that the morphologic differences represent two stages of reef accretion that occurred during different sea-level conditions.     

Quantitative assessment of coral diseases in the Florida Keys: strategy and methodology

Natural incidences of disease among scleractinian corals are unknown, since most studies have been initiated in response to specific disease outbreaks. Our ability to distinguish elevated disease incidences influenced by anthropogenic and climatic factors is limited since current estimates are probably inflated for extrapolation to larger areas. In our study, we used quantitative assessment methods to characterize the distribution and frequency of scleractinian and gorgonian coral diseases in the south Florida region. This paper is the first in a series that will detail different aspects of our studies. In this paper, we examined the strategy and methodology developed over 2 years to optimize the experimental design of our study. Pilot surveys were conducted in 1997 to develop and test methods, select and determine suitability of sites, and obtain preliminary data to assess the variance and efficiency of the sampling design. Survey periods targeted late spring, the time when coral diseases are believed to emerge, and late summer, the time when coral diseases are believed to be most prevalent. Two strata were chosen to evaluate patterns of coral disease: the first, geographic area, consisted of reefs in the vicinity of Key West, New Grounds and the Dry Tortugas; and the second, reef type, consisted of back, fore and transitional reefs. Random radial arc transects (10 m diameter) were used to quantify 10 diseases affecting 18 species of stony corals and gorgonian sea fans over a large geographical region. During the pilot survey, we demonstrated that the outer 8–10 m segment (113 m²) was an adequate sampling area. The survey implemented important quality assurance measures for data quality control. Power analysis determined that future studies should adopt =0.10, =0.0383, and 1-=0.9617 in our experimental design. The highest prevalence of disease in our study was during the 1997 summer survey, with a mean percent coral disease (MPCD) of 28% occurring at Key West area reefs, or 55% of all back reef stations. Our results do not show a clear pattern of seasonality in coral diseases within either stratum, although differences in disease distribution between reef types and geographic areas were apparent in some of the spring and summer surveys.     

Spatial patch occupancy patterns of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit

Reliable estimates of presence or absence of a species can provide substantial information on management questions related to distribution and habitat use but should incorporate the probability of detection to reduce bias. We surveyed for the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) in habitat patches on 5 Florida Key islands, USA, to estimate occupancy and detection probabilities. We derived detection probabilities using spatial replication of plots and evaluated hypotheses that patch location (coastal or interior) and patch size influence occupancy and detection. Results demonstrate that detection probability, given rabbits were present, was <0.5 and suggest that naïve estimates (i.e., estimates without consideration of imperfect detection) of patch occupancy are negatively biased. We found that patch size and location influenced probability of occupancy but not detection. Our findings will be used by Refuge managers to evaluate population trends of Lower Keys marsh rabbits from historical data and to guide management decisions for species recovery. The sampling and analytical methods we used may be useful for researchers and managers of other endangered lagomorphs and cryptic or fossorial animals occupying diverse habitats. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.