Predatory arthropod community composition in apple orchards: Orchard management,landscape structure and sampling method

Studies on predatory arthropods in agricultural areas seldom include Diptera other than hoverflies, partly because common sampling methods are less effective for capturing species that easily fly off when disturbed. To study the effect from this bias when describing the predator community, we compared traditional beat sampling of branches and suction sampling for describing the community of predatory arthropods in Swedish apple orchards, both organic orchards and orchards using integrated pest management (IPM). Our results indicate that the proportion of both predatory dipterans and parasitic hymenopterans increase dramatically when using suction sampling (Diptera: 32% vs. 20%, Hymenoptera: 25% vs. 7%). In fact, predatory dipterans were the most abundant predatory group when using suction sampling, in contrast to beat sampling where spiders were the most abundant group. One group of predatory flies that was particularly rich in both species and individuals in the surveyed apple orchards was dance flies in the family Hybotidae. Even though the bias of sampling method was evident, it was encouraging that the method choice did not affect the conclusions concerning management on predatory arthropod communities. With both methods, dipteran and coleopteran predators were more abundant in organic apple orchards whereas opilionids were more abundant in orchards managed according to IPM. The inclusion of landscape variables further indicated effects of landscape diversity and of deciduous forest cover, but the response varied in sign between predatory groups. Whereas both Coleoptera and Heteroptera were more abundant in orchards surrounded by more complex landscapes (high landscape diversity and/or high deciduous forest cover), spiders, opilionids and dipterans were rather less abundant in these orchards. To conclude, our study points to the potential importance of predatory dipterans in apple orchards, and we highly recommend future studies of arthropod predators in apple and other crops to actively include predatory Diptera.     

Mycorrhizal associations in the Patagonian steppe,Argentina

The mycorrhizal status of plant species in north-west Patagonia was examined. Communities representative of Patagonian steppe and marshes were compared with respect to the mycorrhizal status of their species.Most of both native and exotic plant species sampled were arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM). The percentage of species with mycorrhizal association was higher for perennial herbs and shrubs than for annual herbs. The higher ratio of mycorrhizal/nonmycorrhizal (NM) species found for dicotyledons than for monocotyledons, could reflect the presence of a considerable number of NM monocotyledons in the marsh. The mycorrhizal status of plants differed slightly between the steppe and the marsh. In the steppe, native AM species were more frequent than in the marsh. In contrast, in the marsh, the NM species were proportionally more represented than in the steppe. The Juncaceae and Cyperaceae, which include hydrohytic NM plants, accounted for many of these differences. Moreover, the dominant species in the marshes, Juncus arcticus, is a NM species.In the present study, most of species belonging to the same taxonomic family tended to have the same mycorrhizal associations, in agreement with studies on plants from other regions. Exceptions to this general behaviour were observed in the families Cyperaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Berberidaceae and Amaryllidaceae. The most represented families in which mycorrhizal behaviour differed between species of the same family were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. Senecio neaei (Asteraceae) and Boopis australis (Calyceraceae) showed facultative mycorrhizal behaviour.     

Plant genetic determinants of arthropod community structure and diversity

To test the hypothesis that genes have extended phenotypes on the community, we quantified how genetic differences among cottonwoods affect the diversity, abundance, and composition of the dependent arthropod community. Over two years, five major patterns were observed in both field and common-garden studies that focused on two species of cottonwoods and their naturally occurring F1 and backcross hybrids (collectively referred to as four different cross types). We did not find overall significant differences in arthropod species richness or abundance among cottonwood cross types. We found significant differences in arthropod community composition among all cross types except backcross and narrowleaf cottonwoods. Thus, even though we found similar richness among cross types, the species that composed the community were significantly different. Using vector analysis, we found that the shift in arthropod community composition was correlated with percent Fremont alleles in the host plant, which suggests that the arthropod community responds to the underlying genetic differences among trees. We found 13 arthropod species representing different trophic levels that were significant indicators of the four different cross types. Even though arthropod communities changed in species composition from one year to the next, the overall patterns of community differences remained remarkably stable, suggesting that the genetic differences among cross types exert a strong organizing influence on the arthropod community. Together, these results support the extended phenotype concept. Few studies have observationally and experimentally shown that entire arthropod communities can be structured by genetic differences in their host plants. These findings contribute to the developing field of community genetics and suggest a strategy for conserving arthropod diversity by promoting genetic diversity in their host plants.     

The structure of the arthropod community on bracken

The species of herbivorous arthropods known to feed on bracken in Britain are listed and the seasonal changes in the structure of this arthropod community are discussed.     

不同经营管理方式对锥栗林节肢动物群落结构与多样性的影响

通过对不同经营管理方式下锥栗林节肢动物群落的调查,研究了生产上典型的5种经营管理方式对锥栗林节肢动物群落结构与多样性的影响.结果表明:5种不同经营管理方式下锥栗林节肢动物群落结构和多样性有较大差别,管理精细未用药型的锥栗林物种多样性和稳定性最高,植食性集团的多样性指数最高,天敌功能集团的相对丰盛度最高,对害虫的自然控制效能高,不利于优势害虫的暴发;相比管理撂荒型,精细的经营管理会提高林冠层物种多样性,而化学农药的使用降低了各功能集团的物种多样性、均匀度,提高了植食性集团的相对丰盛度.     

香蕉园害虫和捕食性节肢动物群落结构及动态研究

报道了南宁市香蕉园害虫,捕食性节肢动物和中性昆虫亚群落结构,由18目74科181种组成,害虫和蜘蛛是构成香蕉园节肢动物群落组成及功能作用的主要群落,香蕉冠网蝽（Stephanitis typica),袋蛾类（Psychidae),广西抚蛛（Uloborus guangxiensis),草间钻头蛛（Hylyphantes graminicola),幼豹蛛（Pardosa pusiola),布立毛蚁（Paratrechina bourbonica)是群落的主体,且分析了香蕉园4个亚群落的时,空结构,数量波动及其与蕉园生态环境的相互关系。     

Mesoscale oceanographic meanders influence protist community function and structure in the southern Indian Ocean

The interface between the nutrient-rich Southern Ocean and oligotrophic Indian Ocean creates unique environmental conditions that can strongly influence biological processes. We investigated protist communities across a mesoscale meander of the Subtropical Front within the Southern Indian Ocean. 18S V9 rDNA metabarcoding suggests a diverse protist community in which the dinoflagellates and parasitic Syndiniales were abundant. Diversity was highest in frontal waters of the mesoscale meander, with differences in community structure inside and outside the meander. While the overall community was dominated by mixotrophic taxa, the frontal boundary of the meander had increased abundances of heterotrophic taxa, with potential implications for net atmospheric CO₂ drawdown. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorimetry revealed significant differences in the photophysiology of phytoplankton communities inside and outside the meander. By using single-cell PAM microscopy, we identified physiological differences between dinoflagellate and coccolithophore taxa, which may have contributed to changes in photophysiology observed at community level. Overall, our results demonstrate that frontal areas have a strong impact on the composition of protist communities in the Southern Ocean with important implications for understanding biological processes in this region.     

吡虫啉对烟田节肢动物群落的影响研究

利用群落参数分析了吡虫啉对烟田节肢动物群落及其各亚群落的影响。结果表明,施药后对烟田节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落的物种数有一定的影响,对天敌昆虫和蜘蛛亚群落物种数的影响不明显。5月23日施药后至6月13日施药区(Ⅱ)和对照区节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落个体数均下降,下降程度施药区大于对照区。6月14日施药后施药区节肢动物群落、害虫亚群落个体数下降,对照区显著上升。两次施药对天敌昆虫和蜘蛛亚群落个体数的影响不明显,施药后一段时间内优势种烟蚜种群个体数量显著下降,使节肢动物群落和害虫亚群落优势集中性下降,多样性指数和稳定性增加。     

Plant genetics predicts intra-annual variation in phytochemistry and arthropod community structure

With the emerging field of community genetics, it is important to quantify the key mechanisms that link genetics and community structure. We studied cottonwoods in common gardens and in natural stands and examined the potential for plant chemistry to be a primary mechanism linking plant genetics and arthropod communities. If plant chemistry drives the relationship between plant genetics and arthropod community structure, then several predictions followed. We would find (i) the strongest correlation between plant genetic composition and chemical composition; (ii) an intermediate correlation between plant chemical composition and arthropod community composition; and (iii) the weakest relationship between plant genetic composition and arthropod community composition. Our results supported our first prediction: plant genetics and chemistry had the strongest correlation in the common garden and the wild. Our results largely supported our second prediction, but varied across space, seasonally, and according to arthropod feeding group. Plant chemistry played a larger role in structuring common garden arthropod communities relative to wild communities, free-living arthropods relative to leaf and stem modifiers, and early-season relative to late-season arthropods. Our results did not support our last prediction, as host plant genetics was at least as tightly linked to arthropod community structure as plant chemistry, if not more so. Our results demonstrate the consistency of the relationship between plant genetics and biodiversity. Additionally, plant chemistry can be an important mechanism by which plant genetics affects arthropod community composition, but other genetic-based factors are likely involved that remain to be measured.     

Patterns of nitrogen conservation in shrubs and grasses in the Patagonian Monte,Argentina

We analysed the main plant strategies to conserve nitrogen in the Patagonian Monte. We hypothesized that the two main plant functional groups (xerophytic evergreen shrubs and mesophytic perennial grasses) display different mechanisms of nitrogen conservation related to their structural and functional characteristics. Evergreen shrubs are deep-rooted species, which develop vegetative and reproductive growth from spring to late summer coupled with high temperatures, independently from water inputs. In contrast, perennial grasses are shallow-rooted species with high leaf turnover, which display vegetative growth from autumn to spring and reproductive activity from mid-spring to early-summer, coupled with precipitation inputs. We selected three evergreen shrubs (Larrea divaricata Cav., Atriplex lampa Gill. ex Moq. and Junellia seriphioides (Gilles and Hook.) Moldenke) and three perennial grasses (Stipa tenuis Phil., S. speciosa Trin. and Rupr. and Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud.), characteristic of undisturbed and disturbed areas of the Patagonian Monte. N concentration in expanded green and senesced leaves was estimated in December 1997 (late spring) and June 1998 (late autumn). Deep-rooted evergreen shrubs displayed small differences in N concentration between green and senesced leaves (low N-resorption efficiency), having high N concentration in senesced leaves (low N-resorption proficiency). Shallow-rooted perennial grasses, conversely, showed high N-resorption efficiency and high N-resorption proficiency (large differences in N concentration between green and senesced leaves and very low N concentration in senesced leaves, respectively). The lack of a strong mechanism of N resorption in evergreen shrubs apparently does not agree with their ability to colonize N-poor soils. These results, however, may be explained by lower N requirements in evergreen shrubs resulting from lower growth rates, lower N concentrations in green leaves, and lower leaf turnover as compared with perennial grasses. Long-lasting N-poor green tissues may, therefore, be considered an efficient mechanism to conserve N in evergreen shrubs in contrast with the mechanism of strong N resorption from transient N-rich tissues displayed by perennial grasses. Evergreen shrubs with low N-resorption efficiency provide a more N-rich substrate, with probably higher capability of N mineralization than that of perennial grasses, which may eventually enhance N fertility and N availability in N-poor soils.     

Habitat characteristics and climatic factors influence microhabitat selection and arthropod community structure in a globally rare central Appalachian shale barren

1. The central Appalachian shale barrens, a globally unique habitat type restricted to the eastern United States, presents an insular and physiologically stressful environment with sparse vegetation and extreme ground surface and air temperatures. Despite the high levels of plant species endemism within these systems, information on invertebrate communities and habitat preferences is extremely limited.
2. Through this study, we aimed to better understand a shale barren arthropod community, microhabitat selection, and the influence of habitat characteristics and climatic factors. We employed pitfall traps to sample epigeic arthropods during the 2016 growing season in a shale barren habitat.
3. Arthropod community composition was driven by overstory trees, mediated through accumulated leaf litter and availability of shaded microhabitats. Ambient air temperature also influenced the surface activity of various taxa with spiders decreasing at higher temperatures and ants, crickets, flies, and harvestmen all increasing in relative abundance.
4. Habitat integrity of the central Appalachian shale barrens is threatened by forest succession and mesophication, encroaching invasive plant species, and rising ambient air temperatures, all of which can alter the extent of overstory vegetation and availability of shaded microhabitats. These biotic and physical pressures will subsequently affect epigeic arthropod community composition, depending on adaptive capacity of individual taxa.
5. To the authors’ knowledge, these findings constitute only the second published work on arthropod communities and the first to focus on epigeic taxa in this globally rare habitat type. Continued conservation of these unique, insular habitats and their adapted inhabitants requires a multifaceted approach that considers current and future conditions.

     

Selenium and Mercury in Native and Introduced Fish Species of Patagonian Lakes,Argentina

A survey of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) contents was performed in fish collected from lakes located in two National Parks of the northern patagonian Andean range. Two native species, catfish (Diplomystes viedmensis) and creole perch (Percichthys trucha), and three introduced species, brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), were caught from lakes Nahuel Huapi, Moreno, Traful, Espejo Chico, and Guillelmo belonging to Nahuel Huapi National Park and from lakes Futalaufquen and Rivadavia, Los Alerces National Park. In lake Moreno, fish diet items were analyzed and rainbow trout grown in a farm. Hg and Se were measured in muscle and liver tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The average concentrations in muscle of Hg for all species, ages, and lakes are between 0.4 to 1.0 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) with a few fish, mainly native, exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency health advisory for freshwater fish limited consumption, and from 0.8 to 1.5 μg g⁻¹ DW for Se. Average concentrations in liver of Hg in all species range from 0.4 to 0.9 μg g⁻¹ DW. Brown trout, the top predator in these lakes, showed the lowest average Hg burden in both tissues. Se concentrations in the liver of brown and rainbow trout, up to 279 μg g⁻¹ DW, are higher than those expected for nearly pristine lakes, exceeding 20 μg g⁻¹ DW, the threshold concentration associated with Se toxicity. These species show lower Hg contents in muscle, suggesting a possible detoxification of Hg by a Se-rich diet. Creole perch and velvet catfish livers have lower Se concentrations, with a narrower span of values (2.3 to 8.5 μg g⁻¹ and 3.3 to 5.5 μg g⁻¹ DW respectively).     

Leaf litterfall, fine-root production, and decomposition in shrublands with different canopy structure induced by grazing in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Selective sheep grazing in the Patagonian Monte induces the reduction of total and perennial grass cover, species replacement within life forms, and the increase in dominance of long-lived evergreen woody plants with slow growth rates and high concentration of secondary compounds in leaves. We hypothesized that these changes in the canopy structure induced by sheep grazing will affect the mass, chemistry and decomposability of leaf litter and fine roots. We selected two sites in the Patagonian Monte, representative of ungrazed and grazed vegetation states. At each site, we assessed canopy structure (total cover and absolute and relative grass and shrub cover), monthly leaf litterfall, and fine-root biomass and production in the upper soil (15 cm). We also estimated the rates of mass, C, soluble phenolics, lignin and N decay in litterbags containing both leaf litter and fine roots of each site under field conditions during two consecutive years. The ungrazed site exhibited higher total plant cover, absolute and relative grass- and shrub-cover than the grazed one. Leaf litterfall was lower at the grazed site than at the ungrazed site. Fine-root production did not vary between sites. Leaf litter and fine root tissues had higher concentration of secondary compounds at the grazed than at the ungrazed site. However, fine roots showed lower mass and C decay than leaf litter, attributable to the predominant secondary compound (lignin and soluble phenolics, respectively). Leaf litter decomposed slower but released more N during decay at the ungrazed than at the grazed site, probably due to its low concentration of secondary compounds. We concluded that changes in canopy structure induced by grazing disturbance such as those explored in our study could reduce leaf litterfall mass and increase the concentration of secondary compounds of both leaf litter and fine roots leading to slow N release to soil during decay.     

蚜虱净对苜蓿田节肢动物群落结构及动态的影响

以物种丰富度(S)、个体数量(N)、香农指数(Shannon’sindex,H′)和均匀度指数(E)作为多样性指标,研究了蚜虱净对苜蓿田节肢动物群落结构和季节动态的影响.结果表明:蚜虱净对天敌亚群落物种数的影响大于害虫亚群落,使总群落和害虫亚群落的优势集中性显著增加,但5月底施药对传粉蜜蜂类亚群落的优势集中性无显著影响.喷药初期,蚜虱净显著降低了蚜虫、蓟马等害虫数量,7d后蚜虫、蓟马等种群数量迅速回升,40d后超过对照;施药初期天敌亚群落的物种数大幅减少,多样性和均匀度指数较低,7d后天敌的物种数逐渐回升,到后期与对照田基本一致,但个体数量一直未恢复至对照水平.     

渤海中、南部大型底栖动物的群落结构

在对渤海中、南部大部分海区 3个航次的大型底栖动物现存量、生产力和物种多样性研究的基础上 ,对群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了分析。结果表明 ,种群的相对重要性存在着年份和季节的差异 ,与大型底栖动物群落关系最为密切的环境因子为水深和底层水中的硝酸盐浓度。底层水中的 NO3-N和 PO4-P含量、N∶ P值及大型底栖动物的类群组成显示 ,渤海已成为典型的富营养化海域 ,有些群落已有受到污染或富营养化扰动的趋势 ,但总体上污染尚未给研究海域的大型底栖动物群落结构带来明显影响。与 2 0世纪 80年代初相比 ,渤海大型底栖动物群落组成发生了一些变化 ,高速的富营养化进程、渔业活动的加剧以及底栖动物捕食者的改变 ,可能是造成变化的原因     

不同管理措施对毛竹林节肢动物群落结构和组成的影响

通过对不同管理措施下毛竹林Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens节肢动物群落的系统调查,研究了垦复施肥、垦复、劈草、化学除草和撂荒5种典型管理措施对群落结构和组成的影响。结果表明,与撂荒林相比,其他各管理措施均降低了群落竹冠层和林下层类群的丰富度,在林下层主要表现为蜘蛛目、膜翅目、半翅目和鞘翅目物种的减少,在竹冠层主要表现为膜翅目和鞘翅目物种的减少,这些减少的物种主要是偶见种（相对丰盛度小于0.01）。垦复施肥、垦复和劈草增加了林下层中性功能群和减少了捕食性功能群的个体数量,垦复施肥、垦复、劈草和化学除草增加了竹冠层捕食性功能群和减少了植食性功能群的个体数量。总体上各种管理措施均降低了林下层和提高了竹冠层类群的多样性和均匀度,但化学除草对林下层的影响较小,垦复对竹冠层的影响较小。长期撂荒和垦复林毛竹叶部害螨的优势度较高,长期撂荒、劈草和化学除草林蠕须盾蚧Kuwanaspis vermiformis的优势度较高,长期垦复施肥、垦复和劈草林刚竹毒蛾Pantana phyllostachysae的优势度较高,说明长期的单一管理措施可能导致特定种类害虫的暴发。因此提出在毛竹林的管理中,应避免长期采用单一方式,注重不同年份多种管理措施的轮换。     

不同管理方式下荔枝园节肢动物群落的调查

2004年-2005年对珠海市斗门区有机荔枝园、失管荔枝园和常规荔枝园节肢动物群落进行了调查。结果表明,三种荔枝园的节肢动物差异较大。节肢动物科、种数以失管荔枝园（有机荔枝园（常规荔枝园。有机荔枝园、失管荔枝园和常规荔枝园害虫个体百分率分别为44.59%、40.86%和36.67%,捕食性天敌个体百分率分别为12.14%、11.02%、5.85%,寄生性天敌个体百分率分别为23.29%、9.38%、8.25%。有机管理下荔枝园节肢动物群落的变化较小,天敌尤其是捕食性天敌数量较高。常规荔枝园由于频繁地使用化学农药,控制害虫的同时也大量地杀伤天敌,特别是捕食性天敌,而且对其他类群的节肢动物也有影响。     

Leaf growth dynamics in four plant species of the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Studying plant responses to environmental variables is an elemental key to understand the functioning of arid ecosystems. We selected four dominant species of the two main life forms. The species selected were two evergreen shrubs: Larrea divaricata and Chuquiraga avellanedae and two perennial grasses: Nassella tenuis and Pappostipa speciosa. We registered leaf/shoot growth, leaf production and environmental variables (precipitation, air temperature, and volumetric soil water content at two depths) during summer-autumn and winter-spring periods. Multiple regressions were used to test the predictive power of the environmental variables. During the summer-autumn period, the strongest predictors of leaf/shoot growth and leaf production were the soil water content of the upper layer and air temperature while during the winter-spring period, the strongest predictor was air temperature. In conclusion, we found that the leaf/shoot growth and leaf production were associated with current environmental conditions, specially to soil water content and air temperature.