Birds of a feather winter together: migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

To investigate migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, we analysed (1) all available sub-Saharan ringing recoveries and (2) stable isotopes in feathers grown in Africa sampled at 17 European breeding sites across a migratory divide. A cluster analysis of ringing recoveries showed remarkable connectivity between breeding and non-breeding grounds. Two main clusters represented populations taking the two main migratory routes [southwesterly (SW) and southeasterly (SE)]. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the separation of wintering areas of SW- and SE-migrating populations. Higher δ¹⁵N values in feathers of SE-migrating birds indicated that they occupied more xeric biome types. Values of δ¹³C that did not differ significantly among populations were higher than those from feathers of known European origin and indicated a C4 biome. Three populations with an unknown migratory direction were assigned to the SE-migrating populations on the basis of δ¹⁵N values.     

Plastic bet-hedging in an amphicarpic annual: an integrated strategy under variable conditions

Amphicarpy is a form of diversified bet-hedging expressed mostly in annual plants, where two types of offspring are produced with two distinct ecological roles: long-range aerial dispersers and highly competitive subterranean, sedentary fruit. Emex spinosa is a semi-arid, amphicarpic annual, inhabiting habitats with different levels of environmental variation. We tested the hypothesis that, in E. spinosa, bet-hedging may be “fine-tuned” by plasticity in the phenotype ratio (aerial/subterranean fruit mass) as a function of environmental conditions. We conducted a greenhouse experiment, manipulating nutrient availability and intraspecific density, to determine the pattern of ratio shifts. In order to determine whether the integrated strategy is an adaptation to variable habitats, a similar common garden experiment was conducted, comparing two natural populations differing in environmental variability. The offspring ratio shifted in response to both nutrient availability and plant density. In pots containing single plants the ratio increased steeply with nutrient availability, while in pots containing eight plants a more moderate increase occurred. These shifts were the result of plasticity in allocation to both achene types, as well as ontogenetic effects on aerial achene production. The degree of response increased with the heterogeneity of the habitat of origin. We found evidence for an adaptive integrated strategy, with bet-hedging “fine-tuned” by phenotypic plasticity. Strenuous conditions tended to shift the offspring ratio towards securing subterranean reproductive success, while favorable conditions resulted in a shift towards dispersible achenes. The authors Asaf Sadeh and Hagai Guterman contributed equally to this study.     

The Brazilian Cerrado Vegetation and Threats to its Biodiversity

The Brazilian cerrado (savanna) biome covers 2 million km²representing23% of the area of the country. It is an ancient biome withrich biodiversity, estimated at 160000 species of plants, fungiand animals. There are about 800 species of trees and largeshrubs in the savanna vegetation and several times that numberof ground species (herbs and subshrubs). When the flora of galleryforests, mesophytic forests and other habitats occurring inthe biome are included, the total number of vascular plant speciesis estimated to reach about 10000. During the last 25 yearsmodern agriculture has been developed in the cerrado to producesoya, maize, rice, etc and enormous numbers of cattle are raisedin planted pastures. Charcoal production for the Brazilian steelindustry also causes great destruction of the cerrado. By 1994an estimated 695000 km²of cerrado (representing 35% of its area)had been converted to ‘anthropic landscape’. Thiscompares to the destruction of about 400000 km²of BrazilianAmazonian forest representing 12 or 13% of the area of thisbiome. Conservation initiatives are now desperately needed.Only 1.5% of the cerrado biome is preserved as Federal Reservesand this area needs to be at least tripled. Surveys of the vascularflora aimed at discovering biogeographic patterns are now inprogress with the objective of choosing representative areasand biodiversity ‘hot spots’ for conservation. Brazil; cerrado; biodiversity; conservation     

Zornia subsessilis (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Dalbergieae), a new species from Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Zornia subsessilis, a new species from Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, is described and illustrated on the basis of field and herbarium studies. It belongs to Zornia section Zornia of subgenus Zornia and it appears to be restricted to “campo rupestre” (rocky fields) within the “cerrado” biome. This new species is characterized by its sessile to subsessile leaves, fruits with articles 4 to 5 mm long and with bristles up to 3.5 mm long.     

Functional Manganese Requirement and its use as a Critical Value for Diagnosis of Manganese Deficiency in Subterranean Clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Seaton Park)

The effects of manganese supply on plant growth and on photosynthesisand manganese concentrations in young leaves were examined inSeaton Park subterranean clover in three glasshouse water cultureexperiments. Plants werc grown initially with a copious supply of manganese,and transferred to solutions either with or without manganese.Sequential harvests were taken to determine the effects of developingmanganese deficiency on dry matter (DM) yield of whole plantsand selected characteristics [manganese, chlorophyll and photosyntheticoxygen evolution (POE)] of youngest open leaf blades (YOL).In addition, the deffect of leaf age and iron supply on POEwerc examined. Manganese concentrations and POE in YOL declined markedly andrapidly in plants transferred to solutions without manganese,while chlorophyll concentrations of YOL and plant DM yield respondedmore weakly and more slowly. As a result, a level of manganesedeficiency which depressed POE in young leaves by more than50 per cent had no effed on DM production. In youngleaves (YOL, YOL + 1, YOL–1), POE declined whentheir manganese concentrations were < 20 µg g^–1DM. Iron supply did not affect this rdationship. When learnwith < 20 µg Mn g^–1 DM were detached and incubatedfor 24 h in solutions containing high concentrations of manganese,their POE increased to normal rates; leaves with higher manganeseconcentrations did not respond. It is suggested that the valueof 20 µg Mn g^–1 DM is the functional manganese requirementfor POE in young subterranean clover leaves It is also suggestedthat this value may be used as a critical value for indicatingmanganese deficiency in subterranean clover. Functional nutrient requirements determined in this way by correlationof nutrient concentrations in young leaves with their biochemicalor physiological activities appear to offer more accurate andconsistent standards for use an critical values for diagnosisof plant nutrient status than do the critical values determinedin the usual way by correlation with plant dry weight. Trifolium subterraneum L. subterranean clover, manganese, functional requirements, deficiency diagnosis, nutrient requirements, critical values, photosynthetic oxygen evolution     

Comparative respiratory strategies of subterranean and fossorial octodontid rodents to cope with hypoxic and hypercapnic atmospheres

Subterranean rodents construct large and complex burrows and spend most of their lives underground, while fossorial species construct simpler burrows and are more active above ground. An important constraint faced by subterranean mammals is the chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia of the burrow atmosphere. The traits, regarded as “adaptations of rodents to hypoxia and hypercapnia”, have been evaluated in only a few subterranean species. In addition, well-studied subterranean taxa are very divergent to their sister groups, making it difficult to assess the adaptive path leading to subterranean life. The closely related sister genera Octodon and Spalacopus of Neotropical rodents offer a unique opportunity to trace the evolution of physiological mechanisms. We studied the ventilatory responses of selected octodontid rodents to selective pressures imposed by the subterranean niche under the working hypothesis that life underground, in hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions, promotes convergent physiological changes. To perform this study we used the following species: Spalacopus cyanus (the subterranean coruros) and Octodon degus (the fossorial degus) from central Chile. Ventilatory tidal volume and respiratory frequency were measured in non-anaesthetized spontaneously breathing animals. Acute hypoxic challenges (O₂ 1–15%) and hypercapnia (CO₂ 10%) were induced to study respiratory strategies using non-invasive whole body pletismography techniques. Our results show that coruros have a larger ventilatory response to acute hypoxia as than degus. On the other hand, hypercapnic respiratory responses in coruros seem to be attenuated when compared to those in degus. Our results suggest that coruros and degus have different respiratory strategies to survive in the hypoxic and hypercapnic atmospheres present in their burrows.     

Does a General Temperature-Dependent Q10 Model of Soil Respiration Exist at Biome and Global Scale?

Soil respiration (SR) is commonly modeled by a Q10 (an indicator of temperature sensitivity)function in ecosystem models. Q10is usually treated as a constant of 2 in these models, although Q10 value of SR often decreases with increasing temperatures. It remains unclear whether a general temperaturedependent Q10 model of SR exists at biome and global scale. In this paper, we have compiled the long-term Q10 data of 38 SR studies ranging from the Boreal, Temperate, to Tropical/Subtropical biome on four continents.Our analysis indicated that the general temperature-dependent biome Q10 models of SR existed, especially in the Boreal and Temperate biomes. A single-exponential model was better than a simple linear model in fitting the average Q10 values at the biome scale. Average soil temperature is a better predictor of Q10 value than average air temperature in these models, especially in the Boreal biome. Soil temperature alone could explain about 50% of the Q10 variations in both the Boreal and Temperate biome single-exponential Q10 model. Q10 value of SR decreased with increasing soil temperature but at quite different rates among the three biome Q10 models. The k values (Q10 decay rate constants) were 0.09, 0.07, and 0.02/℃ in the Boreal, Temperate, and Tropical/Subtropical biome, respectively, suggesting that Q10 value is the most sensitive to soil temperature change in the Boreal biome, the second in the Temperate biome, and the least sensitive in the Tropical/Subtropical biome. This also indirectly confirms that acclimation of SR in many soil warming experiments probably occurs. The k value in the "global" single-exponential Q10 model which combined both the Boreal and Temperate biome data set was 0.08/℃. However, the global general temperature-dependent Q10model developed using the data sets of the three biomes is not adequate for predicting Q10 values of SR globally.The existence of the general temperature-dependent Q10 models of SR in the Boreal and Temperate biome has important implications for modeling SR, especially in the Boreal biome. More detail model runs are needed to exactly evaluate the impact of using a fixed Q10 vs a temperature-dependent Q10 on SR estimate in ecosystem models (e.g., TEM, Biome-BGC, and PnET).     

An Ecogeographical Regionalization for Biodiversity in China

Ecogeographical regionalization is the basis for spatial differentiation of biodiversity research. In view of the principle of international ecogeographical regionalization, this study has applied multivariate analysis and GIS method and based on some ecogeographical attributes limited to the distribution of plant and vegetation, including climatic factors, such as minimum temperature, mean temperature of the coldest month, mean temperature of the wannest month, annual average temperature, precipitation of the coldest month, precipitation of the wannest month, annual precipitation, CV of annual precipitation, biological factors such as vegetation types, vegetation division types, NPP, fiorisitic types, fauna types, abundance of plant species, genus and endemic genus; soil factors such as soil types, soil pH;topographical factors as longitude, latitude and altitude etc. The ecogeographical regionalization for biodiversity in China was made synthetically by using fuzzy cluster method. Four classes of division were used, viz., biodomain, subbiodomain, biome and bioregion. Five biodomains, seven subbiodomains and eighteen biomes were divided in China as follows: Ⅰ Boreal forest biodomain. Ⅰ A Eurasian boreal forest subbiodomain. Ⅰ A1 Southern Taiga mountain cold-temperate coniferous forest biome; Ⅰ A2 North Asian mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forest biome. Ⅱ Northern steppe and desert biodomain. Ⅱ B Eurasian steppe subbiodomain. Ⅱ BI Inner Asian temperate grass steppe biome; Ⅱ B2 Loess Plateau warm-temperate forest/shmb steppe biome. Ⅱ C Asia-Mrica desert subbiodomain. Ⅱ C1 Mid-Asian temperate desert biome; Ⅱ C2 Mongolian/Inner Asian temperate desert biome. Ⅲ East Asian biodomain. Ⅲ D East Asian deciduous broad-leaved forest subbiodomain. Ⅲ D1 East Asian deciduous broad-leaved forest biome, Ⅲ E East Asian evergreen broad-leaved forest subbiodomain. Ⅲ El East Asian mixed deciduous-evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ E2 East Asian evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ E3 East Asian monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest biome; Ⅲ FA Western East Asian mountain evergreen broadleaved forest biome. Ⅳ Palaeotropical subdomain. IV F India-Malaysian tropical forest subbiodomain.Ⅳ Fl Northern tropical rain forest/seasonal rain forest biome; Ⅳ F2 Tropical island coral reef vegetation biome. Ⅴ Asian plateau biodomain. Ⅴ G Tibet Plateau subbiodomain. Ⅴ G1 Tibet alpine highcold shrub meadow biome;Ⅴ G2 Tibet alpine high-cold steppe biome; Ⅴ G3 Tibet alpine high-cold desert biome; Ⅴ G4 Tibet alpine temperate steppe biome; Ⅴ G5 Tibet alpine temperate desert biome.     

Does a General Temperature-Dependent Q10 Model of Soil Respiration Exist at Biome and Global Scale？

Soil respiration （SR） is commonly modeled by a Q10 （an indicator of temperature sensitivity） function in ecosystem models. Q10 is usually treated as a constant of 2 in these models, although Q10 value of SR often decreases with increasing temperatures. It remains unclear whether a general temperature- dependent Q10 model of SR exists at biome and global scale. In this paper, we have compiled the long-term Q10 data of 38 SR studies ranging from the Boreal, Temperate, to Tropical/Sublropical biome on four continents. Our analysis indicated that the general temperature-dependent biome Q10 models of SR existed, especially in the Boreal and Temperate biomes. A single-exponential model was better than a simple linear model in fitting the average Q10 values at the biome scale. Average soil temperature is a better predictor of Q10 value than average air temperature in these models, especially in the Boreal biome. Soil temperature alone could explain about 50% of the Q10 variations in both the Boreal and Temperate biome single-exponential Q10 model. Q10 value of SR decreased with increasing soil temperature but at quite different rates among the three biome Q10 models. The k values （Q10 decay rate constants） were 0.09, 0.07, and 0.02/℃ in the Boreal, Temperate, and Tropical/Subtropical biome, respectively, suggesting that Q10 value is the most sensitive to soil temperature change in the Boreal biome, the second in the Temperate biome, and the least sensitive in the Tropical/ Subtropical biome. This also indirectly confirms that acclimation of SR in many soil warming experiments probably occurs. The k value in the ＂global＂ single-exponential Q10 model which combined both the Boreal and Temperate biome data set was 0.08/℃. However, the global general temperature-dependent Q10 model developed using the data sets of the three biomes is not adequate for predicting Q10 values of SR globally. The existence of the general temperature-dependent Q10 models of SR in the Boreal and Temperate biome has important implications for modeling SR, especially in the Boreal biome. More detail model runs are needed to exactly evaluate the impact of using a fixed Q10 vs a temperature-dependent Q10 on SR estimate in ecosystem models （e.g., TEM, Biome-BGC, and PnET）.     

Distributional dynamics of a specialized subterranean community oppose the classical understanding of the preferred subterranean habitats

Troglobionts are organisms that are specialized for living in a subterranean environment. These organisms reside prevalently in the deepest zones of caves and in shallow subterranean habitats, and complete their entire life cycles therein. Because troglobionts in most caves depend on organic matter resources from the surface, we hypothesized that they would also select the sections of caves nearest the surface, as long as environmental conditions were favorable. Over 1 year, we analyzed, in monthly intervals, the annual distributional dynamics of a subterranean community consisting of 17 troglobiont species, in relation to multiple environmental factors. Cumulative standardized annual species richness and diversity clearly indicated the existence of two ecotones within the cave: between soil and shallow subterranean habitats, inhabited by soil and shallow troglobionts; and between the transition and inner cave zones, where the spatial niches of shallow and deep troglobionts overlap. The mean standardized annual species richness and diversity showed inverse relationships, but both contributed to a better insight into the dynamics of subterranean fauna. Regression analyses revealed that temperatures in the range 7–10°C, high moisture content of substrate, large cross section of the cave, and high pH of substrate were the most important ecological drivers governing the spatiotemporal dynamics of troglobionts. Overall, this study shows general trends in the annual distributional dynamics of troglobionts in shallow caves and reveals that the distribution patterns of troglobionts within subterranean habitats may be more complex than commonly assumed.     

Antioxidant activity in Spalax ehrenbergi: a possible adaptation to underground stress

The blind subterranean mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies has evolved adaptive strategies to cope with underground stress. Hypoxia is known to stimulate reactive oxygen species generation; however, mechanisms by which Spalax counteracts oxidative damage have not been investigated before. We studied in Spalax the oxidative status of the Harderian gland (HG), an organ which is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress in many rodents. With regard to the sexual dimorphism found in this gland, differences between males and females were determined and compared to the surface-dwelling Syrian hamster. Our results show, for the first time, that Spalax exhibits remarkably low biomolecular damage, which implies the existence of physiological strategies to avoid oxidative damage under fluctuating O₂ and CO₂ levels existing in the mole rat’s subterranean niche. Correspondingly, main antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione reductase (GR), exhibited high activities in both genders; in particular, remarkably high levels were measured in SOD. SOD and GR activities showed statistically significant differences between sexes. Melatonin, an important circadian agent is also a very important antioxidant molecule and is synthesized in the Harderian glands (HGs) of Spalax. Therefore, the possible interaction between antioxidant enzymes and melatonin is suggested.Joint senior authorship: Aaron Avivi and Ana Coto-Montes     

Types of enrichment axes in Poaceae

The objective of this review work is to characterize the enrichment axes in Poaceae, especially integrating into that analysis of those species with basal or subterranean cleistogamous spikelets. We recognize five types of enrichment axes: paraclades of the unit of inflorescence (UIF), paraclades of the trophotagma (TT) with exposed UIF; paraclades of the trophotagma with not exposed UIF; subterranean paraclades on short rhizomes and subterranean paraclades upon plagiotropic axes of long internodes. According to the enrichment axes, we differentiate six types of synflorescences. The different types of enrichment axes and synflorescences types are characterized; their differences determine in some cases the existence of fruit heteromorphism.     

Defining functional biomes and monitoring their change globally

Biomes are important constructs for organizing understanding of how the worlds’ major terrestrial ecosystems differ from one another and for monitoring change in these ecosystems. Yet existing biome classification schemes have been criticized for being overly subjective and for explicitly or implicitly invoking climate. We propose a new biome map and classification scheme that uses information on (i) an index of vegetation productivity, (ii) whether the minimum of vegetation activity is in the driest or coldest part of the year, and (iii) vegetation height. Although biomes produced on the basis of this classification show a strong spatial coherence, they show little congruence with existing biome classification schemes. Our biome map provides an alternative classification scheme for comparing the biogeochemical rates of terrestrial ecosystems. We use this new biome classification scheme to analyse the patterns of biome change observed over recent decades. Overall, 13% to 14% of analysed pixels shifted in biome state over the 30‐year study period. A wide range of biome transitions were observed. For example, biomes with tall vegetation and minimum vegetation activity in the cold season shifted to higher productivity biome states. Biomes with short vegetation and low seasonality shifted to seasonally moisture‐limited biome states. Our findings and method provide a new source of data for rigorously monitoring global vegetation change, analysing drivers of vegetation change and for benchmarking models of terrestrial ecosystem function.     

Identification of Priority Conservation Areas and Potential Corridors for Jaguars in the Caatinga Biome,Brazil

The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a top predator with the extant population found within the Brazilian Caatinga biome now known to be on the brink of extinction. Designing new conservation units and potential corridors are therefore crucial for the long-term survival of the species within the Caatinga biome. Thus, our aims were: 1) to recognize suitable areas for jaguar occurrence, 2) to delineate areas for jaguar conservation (PJCUs), 3) to design corridors among priority areas, and 4) to prioritize PJCUs. A total of 62 points records of jaguar occurrence and 10 potential predictors were analyzed in a GIS environment. A predictive distributional map was obtained using Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) as performed by the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Areas equal to or higher than the median suitability value of 0.595 were selected as of high suitability for jaguar occurrence and named as Priority Jaguar Conservation Units (PJCU). Ten PJCUs with sizes varying from 23.6 km² to 4,311.0 km² were identified. Afterwards, we combined the response curve, as generated by SDM, and expert opinions to create a permeability matrix and to identify least cost corridors and buffer zones between each PJCU pair. Connectivity corridors and buffer zone for jaguar movement included an area of 8.884,26 km² and the total corridor length is about 160.94 km. Prioritizing criteria indicated the PJCU representing c.a. 68.61% of the total PJCU area (PJCU # 1) as of high priority for conservation and connectivity with others PJCUs (PJCUs # 4, 5 and 7) desirable for the long term survival of the species. In conclusion, by using the jaguar as a focal species and combining SDM and expert opinion we were able to create a valid framework for practical conservation actions at the Caatinga biome. The same approach could be used for the conservation of other carnivores.     

Effects of global climatic warming on the boreal forest

On the basis of the predictions of the global climatic warming induced by anthropogenic activities, as provided by climatologists, current state of knowledge regarding possible ecological consequences of the warming on the boreal biome was discussed. A 600 to 700 km northward advance of the biome along with the warming was predicted. Such a shift could take place for half a century or so, which would be an unprecedentedly fast rate of progression. This might cause a serious disorder in species composition of the biome, particularly in the boundary regions. As to the carbon sink or source issues, considerable uncertainties and knowledge gaps existed. Elevated temperature and CO₂ levels would stimulate photosynthesis to result in an increase of CO₂ uptake, while the temperature increase would promote decomposition of organic matter especially that stored in the soils to release CO₂ to the atmosphere. Behaviors of northern peat bogs, whereca. 700 Gt of organic matter was thought to be accumulated, would seriously affect the balance. However, overall ecosystematic carbon balance was yet to be fully studied. It was realized that multifunctional approaches needed to be developed so as to integrate pieces of various information into a holistic picture. Need for international collaboration research efforts was also addressed.     

RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND REPRODUCTION IN POPULATIONS OF AMPHICARPUM PURSHII (GRAMINEAE)

Five New Jersey populations of Amphicarpum purshii (an annual panicoid grass) were investigated as to total allocation of biomass to reproduction and its distribution between aerial chasmogamous and subterranean cleistogamous inflorescences. Germination of both types of seed was documented, for the first time, in not only the field but under three laboratory temperature regimes. Overall, approximately 29 % of the shoot biomass was allocated to reproduction. On a population basis, subterranean inflorescences accounted for 37–100 % of the reproductive biomass, and these seed (5 × heavier but fewer in number) were the source of most surviving seedlings. Subterranean spikelets contained caryopses significantly more frequently than aerial spikelets. The ratio of the number of viable aerial seed to the number of viable subterranean seed increased from 0/4 to 4/2 with recentness and/or frequency of disturbance. As a pioneer species in secondary succession, Amphicarpum purshii produces a larger subterranean propagule, with greater seedling vigor and a higher probability of local reproductive success, and also a smaller aerial propagule in larger numbers with potentially greater genetic variability.     

Divergence of Eurosta solidaginis in response to host plant variation and natural enemies

We tested the hypothesis that forest and prairie populations of the gall-inducing fly, Eurosta solidaginis, have diverged in response to variation in selection by its host plant Solidago altissima, and its natural enemies. A reciprocal cross infection design experiment demonstrated that fly populations from the prairie and forest biomes had higher survival on local biome plants compared to foreign biome host plants. Flies from each biome also had an oviposition preference for their local plants. Each fly population induced galls of the size and shape found in their local biome on host plants from both biomes indicating a genetic basis to the differences in gall morphology. Solidago altissima from the prairie and forest biomes retained significant morphological differences in the common garden indicating that they are genetically differentiated, possibly at the subspecies level. The populations are partially reproductively isolated as a result of a combination of prezygotic isolation due to host-associated assortative mating, and postzygotic isolation due to low hybrid survival. We conclude that E. solidaginis is undergoing diversifying selection to adapt to differences between prairie and forest habitats.     

A new cavefish species, Sinocyclocheilus brevibarbatus (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), from Guangxi, China

A new species of the cavefish genus Sinocyclocheilus is described based on six specimens collected from a subterranean river in Du’an County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China. Sinocyclocheilus brevibarbatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characteristics: a completely scaled body with well-developed eyes and a strongly-humped back; an almost straight lateral line possessing 49–51 perforated scales; seven soft rays on the dorsal fin; a relatively large eyeball (3.3–5.7% of SL) and short maxillary and rictal barbels (1.7–5.7% and 4.5–7.0% of SL, respectively).     

Conservation of the fynbos biome in the Cape Floral Region: the role of biological control in the management of invasive alien trees

Fynbos is a vegetation type in the Cape Floral Region (CFR), at the southern tip of Africa. Portions of the CFR are recognised as a ‘serial’ World Heritage site and acclaimed by UNESCO as the world’s ‘hottest hot spot’ for plant species richness and endemism. Habitat degradation and species losses through human intrusion in the CFR include transformations brought about by introduced invasive alien tree species. Since 1970, ten invasive tree species in the fynbos biome have been subjected to biological control, namely: six Acacia species and Paraserianthes lophantha (Mimosaceae), Hakea sericea (Proteaceae) and Leptospermum laevigatum (Myrtaceae), all from Australia, and Sesbania punicea (Fabaceae) from South America. A total of 19 species have been deployed as biological control agents, including nine weevil species (eight Curculionidae and one species in the family Brentidae: Apioninae), a seed-feeding moth species (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae), two species of bud-gallers (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), two species of flower-gallers (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and a gall-forming rust fungus (Uredinales: Pileolariaceae). Most of these agents primarily reduce seed production, directly or indirectly, but some also cause die-back and mortality of their host plants. The overall result, often in combination with mechanical clearing and herbicide applications, has been a substantial decline in the abundance and/or aggressiveness of most of the targeted host-plants. In this review, four representative but contrasting case studies are used to show that biological control is an indispensible supplement to other management practices for long-term conservation of the remnants of the fynbos biome.     

The first troglobitic species of freshwater flatworm of the suborder Continenticola (Platyhelminthes) from South America

Brazilian cave diversity, especially of invertebrates, is poorly known. The Bodoquena Plateau, which is located in the Cerrado Biome in central Brazil, has approximately 200 recorded caves with a rich system of subterranean water resources and high troglobitic diversity. Herein we describe a new troglobitic species of Girardia that represents the first obligate cave-dwelling species of the suborder Continenticola in South America. Specimens of the new species, which occur in a limestone cave in the Bodoquena Plateau, in the Cerrado biome, are unpigmented and eyeless. Species recognition in the genus Girardia is difficult, due to their great morphological resemblance. However, the new species can be easily recognized by a unique feature in its copulatory apparatus, namely a large, branched bulbar cavity with multiple diverticula.