The role of the landscape in structuring immature mosquito assemblages in wetlands

The distribution of mosquito populations is spatially heterogeneous and influenced by factors acting at a wide range of scales. The aim of this study was to assess the role of environmental heterogeneity at the landscape level in shaping the composition of immature mosquito communities inhabiting surface water habitats. The Paraná Lower Delta (Argentina) is a temperate wetland that extends along a 1º north–south gradient and presents high landscape heterogeneity, due to the combined action of geomorphology, hydrology and human intervention. Immature mosquitoes were collected every 2 weeks (Nov 2011–April 2012) from surface water habitats within 11 peridomestic areas interspersed along a 75 km north–south transect. The environment was quantified by 24 variables regarding the geomorphology, geography, economic use, climate, landcover and topography of each site and its surroundings at three radii. The association between the mosquito assemblage and the environment was tested by two multivariate approaches, the community-based outlying mean index and by-species generalized linear models. The former explained 93.6 % of the marginality of all taxa as a function of the type and diversity of landcover, precipitation, presence of cattle and altitude. The niche of six species, most of which were floodwater mosquitoes of the genera Ochlerotatus and Psorophora, deviated significantly from uniformity. The by-species approach rendered significant models for four species as a function of landcover type and precipitation. Both methodologies were broadly consistent in pointing that landscape elements affect the distribution of immature mosquitoes, thereby shaping the composition of the mosquito assemblage in peridomestic environments within wetlands.     

Strategies for effective mosquito control in constructed treatment wetlands

Constructed wetlands hold considerable promise for providing water quality and wildlife habitat benefits. At the same time, constructed wetlands have been described as “mosquito-friendly habitats” and may raise potential conflicts with neighboring human populations. Conflicts arise because some design features, such as shallow water and emergent vegetation that are essential for optimizing water quality polishing, can result in undesirable increases in mosquito production. The attraction of large numbers of birds to constructed wetlands could also increase the risk of transmission of mosquito-borne viral infections to humans in the vicinity of the wetland. The potential for conflict is typically highest in arid regions where natural mosquito populations have limited abundance and are found near newly urbanizing areas.The creation of wildlife habitat is a significant goal of many treatment wetlands. Humans are also welcome in many treatment wetlands for recreational and educational activities. Risks of disease transmission to humans and livestock as well as the inconvenience of mosquitoes as pests must be offset by the economic savings of inexpensive water quality enhancement and the resulting reduction in pollution that also poses a risk to society’s health and well-being. Ecological risks associated with the use of mosquito control chemicals must be offset by the increased habitat benefits provided by these constructed wetlands. The right balance between these competing goals can be recognized by the design that provides the greatest net environmental and societal benefit. This paper describes these tradeoffs between mosquito control and the constructed wetland technology and provides a synthesis of information that can be used to optimize the benefits of these wetland systems. Basic research is recommended to better define the cost-effectiveness of the various design and management options.     

The influence of water level and salinity on plant assemblages of a seasonally flooded Mediterranean wetland

We studied the key environmental variables shaping plant assemblages in Mediterranean abandoned ricefields with contrasting freshwater inputs over saline sediments. Plant species cover, water levels and soil variables were studied following a stratified random sampling design. Multivariate analysis identified water regime, particularly summer and autumn irrigation, as the most important environmental variable associated with vegetation composition. Distribution of annual and emergent macrophytes was not associated to salinity as found at the study site (0.57–4.1 mS/cm). Increased soil salinity, caused by summer irrigation near the soil surface did affect shallow-marsh assemblage distribution. These key environmental characteristics allowed us to identify six main assemblages. Annual macrophytes (such as Zannichellia palustris) were defined by high (over 10 cm) annual mean water level (MWL) and early successional conditions; emergent macrophytes (such as Typha spp., Scirpus lacustris) by annual MWL of 10 to − 25 cm and continuous shallow flooding in summer and autumn (MWL of 0–10 cm). The shallow-marsh group, correlated with annual MWL − 25 to − 100 cm, separated into two subgroups by salinity: grassland (including Paspalum distichum) with summer and autumn MWL below − 25 cm and brackish (with Juncus subulatus or Agrostis stolonifera) with summer and autumn MWL just below the soil surface (0 to − 25 cm). Water levels for the grassland subgroup may equate with a salinity ‘refuge’ for P. distichum. Time was a further determinant of variation in the full data set. Abundance of a large group of agricultural annuals (such as Sonchus tenerrimus) and damp ground annuals (including ricefield weeds such as Ammania robusta) decreased with time as bare ground disappeared. Maintenance of spatial vegetation heterogeneity in abandoned ricefields is contingent on continued water regime management.     

Classification of water beetle assemblages in arable fenland and ranking of sites in relation to conservation value

SUMMARY. 1. Water beetles were recorded from 157 sites around the Wash, England, in 1986. Most sites were ditches in arable land. Eight main types of water beetle assemblage were identified by multivariate analysis. The habitats of these assemblages were characterized by measurement of a range of physical and chemical factors.
2. Of the 130 species recorded, four are listed in the British Red Data Book and a further thirty-five are rated as Nationally Notable. Records from 1904 to 1938 for the same area indicate that only three species have been lost in the subsequent period of intensification of water management and arable farming. A rich water beetle fauna can thus survive in drainage systems in arable fen.
3. Vegetation management was important in maintaining the 'species quality score', proposed as a measure of conservation value, of larger ditches but management reduced the species quality of one type of assemblage associated with smaller ditches. One type of assemblage was found only in ditches subject to management.     

Aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in mitigated and natural wetlands

Many wetlands have been constructed in West Virginia as mitigation for a variety of human disturbances, but no comprehensive evaluation on their success has been conducted. Macroinvertebrates are extremely valuable components of functioning wetland ecosystems. As such, benthic and water column invertebrate communities were chosen as surrogates for wetland function in the evaluation of 11 mitigation and 4 reference wetlands in West Virginia. Mitigation wetlands ranged in age from 4 to 21 years old. Overall familial richness, diversity, density and biomass were similar between mitigation and reference wetlands (p > 0.05). Within open water habitats, total benthic invertebrate density was higher in reference wetlands, but mass of common taxa from water column samples was higher in mitigation wetlands (p < 0.05) Planorbidae density from benthic samples in emergent habitats was higher in reference than mitigated wetlands. Benthic Oligochaeta density was higher across open water habitats in mitigation wetlands. All other benthic taxa were similar between wetland types. Among the most common water column orders, Isopoda density was higher in reference wetlands, but Physidae density was higher in mitigation wetlands. Within mitigation wetlands, emergent areas contained higher richness and diversity than open areas. These data indicate that mitigation and reference wetlands generally support similar invertebrate assemblages, especially among benthic populations. The few observed differences are likely attributable to differences in vegetative community composition and structure. Mitigation wetlands currently support abundant and productive invertebrate communities, and as such, provide quality habitat for wetland dependent wildlife species, especially waterbirds and anurans.     

Multi-scale response of wetland bird assemblages to landscape patterns on a Neotropical island: when wetland type matters more than size

Wetlands Ecology and Management - Understanding wetland bird responses to landscape patterns is central for wetland management and bird conservation. This is particularly relevant on islands, where...     

Aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in wetlands of Northeastern China

Hydrobiologia - Lake Malaŵi cichlids have evolved rapidly, extensively, and in some cases iteratively to fill an array of ecological niches; however, neither species richness nor trophic...     

Structure of aquatic assemblages of Coleoptera and Heteroptera in relation to habitat type and flood dynamic structure

The abundance and taxonomic composition of the aquatic insect fauna were investigated, with focus on adult water bugs, water beetles and water scavenger beetles (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha and Gerromorpha, and Coleoptera: Hydradephaga and Hydrophilidae) in two different freshwater habitats: (1) a periodically flooded area of the Special Zoological Reserve in Kopa?ki rit Nature Park, Croatia; and (2) melioration canals in the wider area of the Nature Park during 2005. Aquatic insects are generally abundant in various water systems, including floodplains that are exposed to water level fluctuations. Our aims were (1) to determine abundance and species richness in relation to habitat type; (2) to determine the influence of high flood peaks and oscillations during high water levels on the diversity of aquatic Coleoptera and Heteroptera in the flooded area; and (3) to identify characteristic species associated with each habitat type. We collected 71 species; 41 were captured at canals and 64 at the flooded area. Diversity of the two habitat types varied depending on the months but there were remarkable differences in species pool and their abundance. Both high and low water levels as well as oscillations during high water levels had major influence on species assemblages at the flooded area. Diversity of aquatic Coleoptera and Heteroptera was higher when the water level decreased after high water level peaks. A total of 11 species fulfilled the criteria for specificity and were sufficiently abundant to be suitable species characteristic for these two habitats. A higher proportion of significant characteristic species was present in the flooded area than in the canals. The presence of two Red List species of water beetles (Graphoderus bilineatus De Geer, 1774 and Berosus geminus Reiche et Saulcy, 1856) and nine significant characteristic species at the flooded area clearly indicates that the contribution of floodplains in maintaining freshwater biodiversity is not only important regionally but also at the international level. Also, our results suggest that the power of high water levels is an important factor that can be used in analyses on aquatic Coleoptera and Heteroptera assemblages, showing the uniqueness of large floodplain areas.     

Nestedness and successional trajectories of macroinvertebrate assemblages in man-made wetlands

Current successional models, primarily those based on floral succession, propose several distinct trajectories based on the integration of two key hypotheses from succession theory: convergence versus divergence in species composition among successional sites, and progression towards versus deviation from a desired reference state. We applied this framework to faunal succession, including differential colonization between active and passive dispersers, and the nested patterns generated as a consequence of this peculiarity. Nine man-made wetlands located in three different areas, from 0–3 years from wetland creation, were assessed. In addition, 91 wetlands distributed throughout the region were used as references for natural macroinvertebrate communities. We predicted the following: (1) highly nested structures in pioneering assemblages will decrease to lower mid-term values due to a shift from active pioneering taxa to passive disperser ones; (2) passive idiosyncratic taxa will elicit divergent successional trajectories among areas; (3) the divergent trajectories will provoke lower local and higher regional diversity values in the mid-term assemblages than in pioneer assemblages. Our results were largely congruent with hypotheses (1) and (2), diverging from the anticipated patterns only in the case of the temporary wetlands area. However, overall diversity trends based on hypothesis (3) did not follow the expected pattern. The divergent successional trajectories did not compensate for regional biodiversity losses that occurred as a consequence of pioneering colonizer decline over time. Consequently, we suggest reconsidering wetland construction for mitigation purposes within mid-term time frames (≤3 years). Wetlands may not offset, within this temporal scenario, regional biodiversity loss because the ecosystem may not support idiosyncratic taxa from natural wetlands.     

Carabid beetle assemblages on urban derelict sites in Birmingham, UK

Brownfield sites are thought to support a minimum of 12–15% of Britain's nationally scarce and rare invertebrates. The amount of derelict land in Britain is set to decrease dramatically under current home-building and regeneration policies. There is therefore a pressing need for research into the potential importance of brownfield sites for invertebrates. In this study we sampled the carabid fauna of 26 sites, with ages varying between 2–20 years since their formation, to assess whether vegetation succession was an important determinant of invertebrate diversity the West Midlands of England. The work was carried out over the course of one growing season (in 1999), with concurrent surveys of the soil characteristics, vegetation type and land-use history. 63 carabid species were found including 2 nationally scarce species. The most species rich assemblages are found on early successional sites, which persist for 6 years on graded sites and up to 20 years on compacted substrates.     

Landscape and area effects on beetle assemblages in Ontario

We compared beetles collected from eight forest fragments in a suburban-agricultural setting and one contiguous forest in south-central Ontario. Samples were collected by pan traps from the interior of continuous forest and upland deciduous forest fragments ranging in size from 43 to 2350 ha. The pooled sample was composed of 4561 individuals from 117 species. Differences in beetle assemblages was primarily due to variation in patch isolation, although actual fragment size had a significant effect on the abundance of native and forest specializing carabid species, and the amount of forest interior habitat had a significant effect on the total number of beetle species and ground beetle species richness (family Carabidae). Fragments which were less isolated on a local scale (within a 2 km radius) had a species composition most similar to that found in continuous forest, regardless of whether the actual forest area was small or large. Marked differences in abundance and biomass were also attributed to variation in the amount of local forest cover. We suggest that a reduction in patch isolation may be an appropriate conservation strategy to improve beetle diversity and abundance in fragmented landscapes.     

Diving pattern and performance in relation to foraging ecology in the gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua

We present data on diving pattern and performance (dive depth, duration, frequency and organization during the foraging trip) in gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua , obtained using time-depth recorders ( n = 9 birds, 99 foraging trips). These data are used to estimate various parameters of foraging activity, e.g. foraging range, prey capture rates, and are compared in relation to breeding chronology. Foraging trip duration was 6 h and 10 h, and trip frequency 1.0/day and 0.96/day, during the brooding and creche periods, respectively. Birds spent on average 52%of each foraging trip diving. Dive depth and duration were highly bimodal: shallow dives (< 21 m) averaged 4 m and 0.23 min, and deep dives (> 30 m) 80 m and 2.5 min, respectively. Birds spent on average 71%and 25%of total diving time in deep and shallow dives, respectively. For deep dives, dive duration exceeded the subsequent surface interval, but shallow dives were followed by surface intervals 2–3 times dive duration. We suggest that most shallow dives are searching/exploratory dives and most deep dives are feeding dives. Deep dives showed clear diel patterns averaging 40 m at dawn and dusk and 80–90 m at midday. Estimated foraging ranges were 2.3 km and 4.1 km during the brood and creche period, respectively. Foraging trip duration increased by 4 h between the brood and creche periods but total time spent in deep dives (i.e. time spent feeding) was the same (3 h). Of 99 foraging trips, 56%consisted of only one dive bout and 44%of 2–4 bouts delimited by extended surface intervals > 10 min. We suggest that this pattern of diving activity reflects variation in spatial distribution of prey rather than the effect of physiological constraints on diving ability.     

Alfa and beta diversity of reptilian assemblages in Zapatosa wetland complex, Colombia

Diversity is a property of community that can described, characterized, and understood according to the functioning of ecosystems. To study the richness and local abundance and species replacement between habitats around the Zapatosa's wetland complex (El Cesar Department), I carried out four field trips between November of 2006 and October of 2007. A total of 640 sampling hours/man analyzed five habitat types chasmophyte forest, dry forest, riparian forest, palm-grove and tree-lined savanna; with the exception of the palm-grove sampled at its 75%, the others were sampled up to their 80%. I found 847 reptiles that were distributed in 48 species. The group with the highest number of species was Colubridae with 14, followed by Gekkonidae with five. Five endemic species and eight with some conservation threat grade at a national level are reported. The riparian forest was the richest and most abundant habitat with 34 species and 196 individuals. For each habitat, Colubridae had the highest number of species, followed by the families Polychrotidae, Gekkonidae and Teiidae, in that order. The reptile species composition was not different between the tree-lined savanna and the chasmophyte forest, but differed among the tree-lined savanna and the riparian forest, palm-grove and dry forest habitats. The most important differences in the species composition among almost all the habitats were influenced by the species Anolis tropidogaster and Gonatodes albogularis, and the higher occurrence of Stenocercus erythrogaster in the chasmophyte forest. The species replacement had an average value of 50%; the biggest amounts of shared species were the lizards, while the snake Leptodeira septentrionalis was the only one present in all habitat types. The forest grows-among-rocks showed the biggest complementarity and number of unique species compared to the other habitats. The wetland complex provides two thirds of the reptile's species reported until now for the Caribbean region, and more than 80% of those reported for the El Cesar department. This wetland complex seems to behave as a center for low land species concentration as it hosts a high proportion of species from those places.     

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types in Sabah, Malaysia

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types (primary forest, logged forest, acacia plantation and oil palm plantation) in Sabah, Malaysia was investigated using three different methods based on habitat levels (Winkler sampling, flight-interception-trapping and mist-blowing). The overall diversity was extremely high, with 1711 species recorded from only 8028 individuals and 81 families (115 family and subfamily groups). Different degrees of environmental changes had varying effects on the beetle species richness and abundance, with oil palm plantation assemblage being most severely affected, followed by acacia plantation and then logged forest. A few species became numerically dominant in the oil palm plantation. In terms of beetle species composition, the acacia fauna showed much similarity with the logged forest fauna, and the oil palm fauna was very different from the rest. The effects of environmental variables (number of plant species, sapling and tree densities, amount of leaf litter, ground cover, canopy cover, soil pH and compaction) on the beetle assemblage were also investigated. Leaf litter correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of subterranean beetles. Plant species richness, tree and sapling densities correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of understorey beetles while ground cover correlated only with the species richness and abundance of these beetles. Canopy cover correlated only with arboreal beetles. In trophic structure, predators represented more than 40% of the species and individuals. Environmental changes affected the trophic structure with proportionally more herbivores (abundance) but fewer predators (species richness and abundance) in the oil palm plantation. Biodiversity, conservation and practical aspects of pest management were also highlighted in this study.     

Design and management of free water surface constructed wetlands to minimize mosquito production

Constructed wetland technology has broad applications for the treatment of many types of wastewaters and provides an ecological approach to mitigate the release of nutrients and toxic materials into the environment. However, design features, maintenance activities and the characteristics of the wastewater undergoing treatment contribute differentially to potential levels of mosquito production and, consequently, to threats to human and animal health from mosquito-borne pathogens. Of the variables typically considered when designing free-water surface constructed wetlands for the improvement of water quality of municipal and agricultural wastewaters, organic loading (i.e., biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and the configuration and maintenance of emergent vegetation can have strong effects on mosquito production. The production of Culex vectors of encephalitides and filarial worms is directly related to loading rates of organic matter and bottom-up enrichment of larval mosquito resources and their interaction with design features and management practices that reduce the physical and biological factors causing mortality of immature mosquitoes. As loading rates of organic matter and nutrients decline, the diversity of mosquitoes produced by treatment wetlands tends to increase and the relative abundance of Anopheles species, which are capable of vectoring the causative agents of malaria, increases in temperate man-made wetlands. Habitat features and management practices that create intermittently inundated substrate can lead to the production of other mosquitoes (i.e., Aedes, Psorophora) with floodwater life histories. Constructed wetland technology is expected to play an increasing role in water treatment and reclamation in tropical and subtropical countries where virulent mosquito-borne pathogens already cause significant levels of morbidity and mortality.     

内蒙古武川县农田退耕还草对粪金龟子群落的影响

2006年5-9月,诱捕法采集粪金龟子,以农田为对照,选择内蒙古武川县不同农田退耕管理方式为研究样地,分析了农田退耕后采取不同管理方式对粪金龟子群落的影响,以为农田退耕还草管理措施生态效应的评价和完善提供依据.共捕获粪金龟子21671头,隶属于3科5属25种.优势种为直蜉金龟(Aphodius rectus)和蜉金龟属(Aphodius sp.7),占总捕获量的比例分别为59.34％和11.71％.几种退耕管理方式都导致粪金龟子群落物种丰富度、生物量和多度提高,且具有显著的季节特征.Pearson相关分析表明,粪金龟子群落的物种丰富度、生物量和种数以及不同功能群和主要种的个体数与退耕年限、平均草高和植物群落盖度的变化存在显著正相关关系(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).由于长期农业耕作以及缺少大型食草动物和较大面积放牧草地,研究地区的粪金龟子群落组成以功能群Ⅱ和Ⅲ为主,功能群Ⅰ的多度和物种丰度较低.可以认为,在研究地区以农田景观为主要基质的区域,采取多样化的农田退耕管理方式,提高了生境的空间异质性,在减少人为耕作活动对粪金龟子影响的基础上,对粪金龟子物种丰度和多度的维持起到了促进作用.农田退耕、保留适当面积放牧草地或适当数量大型放牧家畜将有利于功能群Ⅰ物种丰度和多度的提高,有益于粪金龟子群落物种多样性和整体生态功能的维持.