White-faced monkey (Cebus capucinus) ecology and management in neotropical agricultural landscapes during the dry season

Habitat use by a C. capucinus troop was studied in an agricultural landscape during late dry season (March-April 1994) in northwest Costa Rica. Riparian forests, palm canals and living fence rows accounted for 82% of observations, significantly more than the other six habitats present. The study troop consumed 24 species of plants and five animals. Feeding concentrated on the introduced African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) (33.6%) and mango (Mangifera indica) (27.2%), found mostly in palm canals and mango orchards respectively. The troop rested between 0930-1330 hr and fed and moved between 0530-0930 hr and 1330-1730 hr. Living fence rows were used as travel routes or corridors and less intensively for other activities.     

Parasitic hymenoptera fauna on agromyzidae (diptera) colonizing weeds in ecological compensation areas in northern Italian agroecosystems

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with agromyzid leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) were studied in three rural farms located in northern Italy. The parasitoids were reared from mined foliage of weeds growing in field margins. We reared 998 Hymenoptera specimens, representing five families, 23 genera, and 53 species, from leafminers infesting weeds. Eulophidae was the most abundant family (67.64%), followed by Braconidae (28.86%), Eucoilinae (1.40%), Tetracampidae (1.40%), and Pteromalidae (0.7%). Braconids was the most species rich family, accounting for 28 species; eulophids were represented by 19 species, pteromalids by four species, and eucoilins and tetracampids by one species each. The dominant parasitoid was the eulophid Pediobius metallicus (Nees), representing 18.17% of the total, followed by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (12.73%), and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (10.82%). The most abundant braconid parasitoid was Dacnusa maculipes Thomson (9.62%). More than 80% of parasitoids were recovered from 10 plant species: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Plantago lanceolata L., Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Papaver rhoeas L., Picris echioides L., Lactuca serriola L., Myagrum perfoliatum L., Ranunculus velutinus Tenore, Arctium lappa L., and Medicago sativa L. The retention and the management of wild plants within field margins can be crucial tools to enhance the populations of biological control agents of agromyzids and to conserve rare parasitic wasp species.     

Benthic macrofauna associated to Thalassia testudinum in Bahía de Mochima, Sucre, Venezuela

Diversity and abundance of benthic macrofauna associated to Thalassia testudinum were studied at Ensenada de Reyes, Mochima Bay, in the northeastern coast of Venezuela. Samples were taken monthly in six stations, three at 1 m in depth and three at 6 m, between December 1992 and February 1994, using a quadrat of 0.25 m2 for collecting plants and sediment; each sample was washed with seawater through a 1 mm sieve. The specimens were fixed in 6% formaldehyde. A total of 1722 organisms (6 888 ind x m2) and 127 species of macroinvertebrates were collected. Mollusks dominated with 53 species, followed by polychaetes (40), crustaceans (18) and echinoderms (8). Remaining groups were represented by 1-2 species. The highest abundance was in October (214 specimens), and the lowest in December 1993 (79 specimens). Specific richness was between 47 species in October and 18 in May 1993. Mean species diversity was 2.79-1.36 bits/ind. There were differences (ANOVA p<0.01) in number of specimens at the two depths but not throughout the 15 month study period (p>0.05). There were more specimens and species at the lowest depth and in stations with higher Thalassia testudinum biomass.     

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of weeds on vacant land

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in weeds of vacant land were examined in spring and autumn. In total, 33 plant species belonging to 28 genera in 13 families were examined. The number of plant species with Arum-type AM was higher than those with Paris- or intermediate types in both seasons. Thus, Arum-type colonization may be beneficial for fast-growing plant species on vacant land. There was a strong relationship between plant identity and AM morphological type, as the colonization types were mostly distinguished at the plant family level.     

Impact of food abundance, diet and food quality on the breeding of the fruit pigeon, Parea Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis, on Chatham Island, New Zealand

Breeding and diet of Parea Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis were studied in relation to food abundance and quality on Chatham Island from 1991 to 1994. Although pairs were found breeding in all months, they nested predominantly during winter and spring (June-November). The timing of the nesting season, the proportion of pairs that bred and the number of chicks reared per pair varied between nesting seasons. During the 1992–1993 and 1994–1995 nesting seasons, all pairs nested, and many pairs reared two chicks, often involving clutch overlap (58% of 12 cases in 1992–1993, 37% of eight cases in 1994–1995). In 1993–1994, when fruit was scarce, nesting began 2 months later, only 44% of pairs nested and no pairs attempted to rear a second chick. Prior to and during the productive nesting seasons (1992–1993, 1994–1995), the diet of Parea consisted mainly of fruit, particularly that of Matipo Myrsine chathamica in autumn (March-May) and Hoho Pseudopanax chathamicus in winter and spring. Nutrient analyses of the main Parea foods showed that the pulp of these fruit were rich in lipids and available carbohydrates compared with those in foliage foods. Heavy fruiting of Matipo and Hoho promoted early nesting and prolonged nesting for 6 months, including nesting during winter.     

Diversity of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in apple orchards of southern Quebec,Canada

This study reports the Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species collected from two blocks of apple trees from 1993 to 1994 in southern Quebec, Canada. The habitat management block (HMB) had companion flowering plants within the block, whereas the control had no flowering plants. Thirty-six Microgastrinae species were identified including three new records for Canada: Apanteles tischeriae Viereck, Cotesia crambi Weed, Diolcogaster bakeri Muesebeck. The number of microgastrine varied considerably between the two blocks and years. Species numbers were similar between the two blocks, but the Shannon diversity and Evenness similarity indices indicated that HMB had a more diverse and balanced population of Microgastrinae. Matching our microgastrine identifications with literature records showed that the wasps could potentially parasitize over one-third of the lepidopteran pests of apples and/or other lepidopteran species recorded within this agro-ecosystem. The inclusion of four Asteraceae companion plant species in the HMB enhanced the diversity of Microgastrinae.     

The influence of herbivory on plant cover and species composition in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range,USA

We investigated the effects of short- and long-term ungulate grazing on plant species cover and composition in arid lowland and more mesic upland communities of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR). Measurements were taken over two years which differed significantly in growing season precipitation. Interannual differences in plant cover were significantly greater than differences between grazed and ungrazed communities. In the arid lowlands total plant cover decreased from 47% in 1993, a relatively wet year, to 29% in 1994, a relatively dry year. In the more mesic uplands total plant cover decreased from 107% in 1993 to 56% in 1994. The magnitude of change in cover was greatest in the grasses, especially for Pseudoroegneria spicata, the most abundant species in the lowland communities, which decreased from 21% cover in 1993 to 11% in 1994. There was not a consistent effect of herbivory on plant cover across sites, but its effects, particularly on the dominant perennial grasses, were conspicuous at some sites. For instance, in the lowlands cover of P. spicata was 3–12% in long-term grazed sites and 9–28% in short- to long-term ungrazed sites. Our study indicates that abiotic factors (e.g., precipitation) are more likely than grazing to affect abundances of key plant species, and hence ecosystem dynamics, in the PMWHR, and that the effects of herbivory are more localized and more prevalent in the lowland grasses than in the other plant functional groups.     

长期有机无机肥配施对稻田杂草生长动态的影响

利用中国农业科学院红壤实验站红壤稻田长期定位试验,于2011年研究了在以无机肥(化肥NPK)与有机肥(M)氮磷钾养分等量条件下,长期有机无机肥配施水稻生育期间杂草种类和生物量变化。结果表明:30a后,早稻和晚稻施肥处理中:PK+M处理下杂草种类最多,NPK+M处理下杂草种类和优势杂草种类较少,且种类数量稳定,早稻和晚稻杂草种类数量前者比后者分别高出19.7%和9.8%;施肥处理中:两季杂草总生物量NPK+M处理最高,NP+M处理最低,且NPK+M、NK+M、PK+M和CK处理比NP+M处理分别高出31.3%、26.5%、8.3%和5.6%,早稻NPK+M处理杂草总生物量和浮生杂草总生物量最多,NK+M处理湿生杂草总生物量最多,晚稻NK+M处理杂草总生物量和湿生杂草总生物量最多,NPK+M处理浮生杂草总生物量最多;土壤碱解氮和有效磷与杂草总生物量、湿生杂草总生物量、浮生杂草总生物量显著正相关(相关系数依次分别为0.508*和0.578**、0.552*和0.453*、0.410*和0.802**),p H值与三者显著负相关(相关系数依次分别为-0.516*、-0.531*和-0.698*)。土壤p H受土壤有效磷和碱解氮及其他因子的共同作用对杂草总生物量产生影响。通过施肥措施调节土壤适宜p H及碱解氮和有效磷含量,能有效调控农田中湿生和浮生杂草生长,使杂草种类和生物量在农业生产中达到有益平衡。     

Seasonal timing of inundation affects riparian plant growth and flowering: implications for riparian vegetation composition

Changes to the timing of peak river flows caused by flow regulation affect riparian vegetation composition, but the mechanisms driving such vegetation changes are not well understood. We investigated experimentally the effects of timing of inundation on riparian plant growth and flowering. We collected 168 sods from 14 sites across five lowland rivers in south-eastern Australia. Plant cover and flowering within the sods were surveyed each season for a year. During this period, sods were inundated for 6 weeks in either early spring or in summer. Terrestrial plant taxa (which included most exotic species) senesced in response to inundation, regardless of its timing. In contrast, native amphibious species (particularly amphibious forbs) responded favourably to inundation in spring, but were unaffected by inundation in summer. Native and exotic emergent macrophytes responded favourably to inundation regardless of timing, and flowered frequently in both the spring- and the summer-inundation treatments. In contrast, many native annuals flowered only in the spring-inundation treatment, while more exotic grasses flowered in the summer-inundation treatment. In temperate climates, inundation in early spring followed by non-flooded conditions is likely to be important for promoting the growth of amphibious forbs and the recruitment and flowering of riparian annuals. Without inundation in spring, many terrestrial exotic weeds may flourish and set seed prior to any subsequent inundation (e.g. in summer). We contend that natural seasonal timing (i.e. winter-early spring) of flow peaks is important for the maintenance of native riverbank vegetation and reducing the extent of terrestrial exotic species within the riparian zone.     

Response of a Native Perennial Grass Stand to Disturbance in California's Coast Range Grassland

To assess the potential for enhancing an existing stand of native perennial grasses on a California Coast Range Grassland site, we experimentally manipulated the seasonal timing and presence of grazing for 3 years (1994 through 1996) and of autumn burning for 2 years (1994 and 1995) and measured species cover for 6 years (1993 through 1998). We subjected the species matrix to classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (CCA) and tested the ordination site scores as well as diversity indices with linear mixed effects models. Four distinct plant community groups emerged from the classification. Two of these were dominated by annual grasses and two by perennial grasses. No treatment effects were observed on diversity. For composition, temporal and spatial random effects were important mixed effects model parameters, as was the fixed effect covariate, pre‐treatment CCA site score, indicating the importance of random environmental variation and initial starting conditions. Incorporation of these random effects and initial condition terms made for more powerful tests of the fixed effects, grazing season, and burning. We found no significant burning effects. Grazing removal imparted a shift in plant community from more annual‐dominated toward more perennial‐dominated vegetation. Individual perennial grass species responded differently according to genus and species. Nassella spp. increased gradually over time regardless of grazing treatment. Nassella pulchra (purple needlegrass) increase was greatest under spring grazing and N. lepida (foothill needlegrass) was greatest with grazing removal. Danthonia californica (California oatgrass) had little response over time under seasonal grazing treatments, but increased with grazing removal. Under relatively mesic weather conditions it appears that grazing removal from Coast Range Grasslands with existing native perennial grass populations can increase their cover. However if N. pulchra is the sole existing population, spring season‐restricted grazing should be equally effective at enhancing cover of the native grass species.     

Wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in an urban botanical garden in Buenos Aires,Argentina

We assessed bee diversity and abundance in a botanical garden in the city of Buenos Aires during two consecutive spring–summer periods. Every 15 days, we collected by hand-netting bee specimens seen foraging on flowers during five-minute censuses at every entomophilous herbaceous plant. A total of 66 bee species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) were recorded. Richness and abundance of native, generalist, and above-ground nesting (cavities) species were higher than that of exotic, specialist, and below-ground (soil) nesting ones, respectively. Social bees were more abundant, while the richness of solitary species was higher than that of social bees. Cleptoparasitic species were represented by a high number of species, even though only a few individuals were captured. Our results suggest that the studied area is an important bee reservoir within the city.     

The role of litter in an old-field community: impact of litter quantity in different seasons on plant species richness and abundance

Summary We studied the effect of removing and adding plant litter in different seasons on biomass, density, and species richness in a Solidago dominated old-field community in New Jersey, USA. We removed all the naturally accumulated plant litter in November (658 g/m²) and in May (856 g/m²) and doubled the amount of litter in November and May in replicated plots (1 m²). An equal number of plots were left as controls. Litter removal and addition had little impact on total plant biomass or individual species biomass in the growing season following the manipulations. Litter removal, however, significantly increased plant densities but this varied depending upon the season of litter removal, species, and life history type. Specifically, the fall litter removal had a much greater impact than the spring litter removal suggesting that litter has its greatest impact after plant senescence in the fall and prior to major periods of early plant growth in spring. Annual species showed the greatest response, especially early in the growing season. Both spring and fall litter removal significantly increased species richness throughout the study. Litter additions in both spring and fall reduced both plant densities and species richness in June, but these differences disappeared near the end of the growing season in September. We concluded than in productive communities where litter accumulation may be substantial, litter may promote low species richness and plant density. This explanation does not invoke resource competition for the decline in species richness. Finally, we hypothesize that there may be broad thresholds of litter accumulation in different community types that may act to either increase or decrease plant yield and diversity.     

Parasitoid Wasps in Flower Heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian Cerrado: Taxonomical Composition and Determinants of Diversity

This study provides the first survey of the parasitoid fauna reared in flower heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian cerrado. We investigated the relative importance of herbivore richness and plant species commonness to differences in parasitoid species richness among the plant species. A total of 15,372 specimens from 192 morphospecies belonging to 103 genera of Hymenoptera were reared from the flower heads of 74 Asteraceae species. Chalcidoidea and Ichneumonoidea were the most common superfamilies, with Eulophidae and Braconidae as the main families of parasitoid wasps. Singletons and doubletons accounted for 45% of total parasitoid species richness. The number of parasitoid species per plant species ranged from 1 to 67, and the variation in parasitoid species richness among plants was mainly explained by the number of sites in which the plants were recorded. This study shows that there is a highly diversified fauna of Hymenoptera parasitoids associated with flower heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian cerrado. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of parasitoid species on plants is mainly determined by the regional commonness of plant species rather than the number of herbivore species associated with the plants.     

Shifting season of fire and its interaction with fire severity: Impacts on reproductive effort in resprouting plants

Fire regimes shape plant communities but are shifting with changing climate. More frequent fires of increasing intensity are burning across a broader range of seasons. Despite this, impacts that changes in fire season have on plant populations, or how they interact with other fire regime elements, are still relatively understudied. We asked (a) how does the season of fire affect plant vigor, including vegetative growth and flowering after a fire event, and (b) do different functional resprouting groups respond differently to the effects of season of fire? We sampled a total of 887 plants across 36 sites using a space‐for‐time design to assess resprouting vigor and reproductive output for five plant species. Sites represented either a spring or autumn burn, aged one to three years old. Season of fire had the clearest impacts on flowering in Lambertia formosa with a 152% increase in the number of plants flowering and a 45% increase in number of flowers per plant after autumn compared with spring fires. There were also season × severity interactions for total flowers produced for Leptospermum polygalifolium and L. trinervium with both species producing greater flowering in autumn, but only after lower severity fires. Severity of fire was a more important driver in vegetative growth than fire season. Season of fire impacts have previously been seen as synonymous with the effects of fire severity; however, we found that fire season and severity can have clear and independent, as well as interacting, impacts on post‐fire vegetative growth and reproductive response of resprouting species. Overall, we observed that there were positive effects of autumn fires on reproductive traits, while vegetative growth was positively related to fire severity and pre‐fire plant size.     

Emergence Pattern of Sorghum Midge and its Major Parasitoids on Midge-resistant and Susceptible Genotypes

Studies were conducted on the species composition of parasitoids of sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola Coquillett (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), emergence pattern and level of parasitism. They took place at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Asia Centre using three midge-resistant (ICSV 745, ICSV 89058 and IS 10712) and three susceptible (Swarna, CSH 9 and ICSV 112) genotypes during the 1992-93 post-rainy and 1993 rainy seasons. The species of parasitoids collected were Aprostocetus gala Walker, A. coimbatorensis Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Eupelmus spp. (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). The species composition varied with the season, but was unaffected by varietal resistance and susceptibility to the midge. Although both species of Aprostocetus were present in rainy and post-rainy seasons, A. gala was predominant during the rainy season whereas A. coimbatorensis was predominant in the post-rainy season. There was no significant difference in the pattern of parasitoid emergence or the level of midge parasitization between resistant and susceptible genotypes. These results indicate that resistance to midge in the genotypes studied was not antagonistic to parasitoid activity, and that there is potential to interface biological control with host-plant resistance in the management of this insect.     

珠海鹤洲北其他种入侵人工恢复红树林群落的季节动态

通过设置固定样地,在不同的季节对鹤洲北人工种植的木榄(铲除杂草,整平滩涂种植1年)、秋茄(铲除杂草,整平滩涂种植1年)、无瓣海桑(种植3年)群落进行调查,分析各样地群落物种数量、群落优势度、无瓣海桑林下幼苗更新的季节动态。调查分析结果如下:①各样地物种数量随季节变化波动明显,种类组成不稳定。木榄样地薇甘菊的入侵直接提高了物种数量随季节变化的波动幅度。②人工种植的木榄和秋茄的优势度随时间的推移直接降低,无季节性消长,薇甘菊和其他禾本科植物的入侵降低了两者的成活率。③无瓣海桑优势度季节变化明显,禾本科和菊科等入侵的植物种无法定居,群落生境稳定,为其他红树植物的生长提供了有利的生存环境。     

Spatial structure of fish assemblages in a tropical estuarine lagoon: combining multivariate and geostatistical techniques

The spatial structure and seasonal changes of estuarine fish assemblages in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) were analysed based on four seasonal comprehensive surveys conducted in 1993-1994 and 1997. Geostatistical and multivariate techniques were used to: (a) determine seasonal changes in spatial distribution of the species richness, and (b) identify assemblages of estuarine fish and their relation to abiotic factors. Potential biotic interactions affecting the assemblage structure were also explored. A total of 11075 individuals representing 39 species were collected, with Eugerres plumieri, Diapterus rhombeus, Micropogonias furnieri, Mugil incilis, Cathorops spixii, Elops saurus and Anchovia clupeoides as dominant species between seasons. Spatial distribution of fish richness differed between rainy and dry seasons in each year, whereas species mapping showed spatial patchiness in 1993-1994 and gradients during 1997. Strong evidence of species saturation was found in all seasons, suggesting biotic interactions limiting species richness at a threshold density of ca. 50 ind./5000 m². Marine, marine-estuarine and freshwater species were classified in each season according to their capability to cope with salinity fluctuations. Associations defined by functional feeding guilds were also identified. Empirical and statistic evidence showed that fish assemblages differed between seasons within each year, and each assemblage was always dominated by a small number of species, notably E. plumieri in both years 1993-1994 and 1997. Between-season differences in fish assemblage structure in the CGSM seem to be driven by abiotic factors; however, evidence of species saturation could suggest the existence of density-dependent factors operating together.     

城市郊区外来杂草生态位特点及对生物多样性影响研究

采用样方法调查金华市郊春夏季节非农田生境的外来杂草和主要"土著性"杂草的种类和分布,分析外来杂草和其他主要杂草的生态位关系,定量分析了外来杂草对城市郊区植物多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)50个样地中共出现21种外来杂草,其中以野塘蒿、一年蓬、北美车前的生态位宽度最大,分别达到0.7819、0.6915、0.5237;(2)大致可将50种杂草分成3大类,其中21种外来杂草根据其对环境资源利用的差异又可分为4组;(3)人为干扰因素和土壤水分条件是影响外来杂草分布、危害的主要因素;(4)样地聚类群VI、I、III、II的外来杂草丰富度递增,并与物种丰富度成正比,说明外来杂草在一定程度上丰富了局部环境的物种多样性;(5)外来杂草重要值与物种丰富度呈线性显著负相关,表明金华市郊外来杂草的入侵对生物多样性有不利的影响;(6)外来杂草重要值较外来杂草丰富度更为适合衡量外来杂草对生物多样性的影响。     

Winter and spring abundance of Frankliniella spp. and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysan., Thripidae) on weed host plants in Turkey

Abstract:  The species composition of thrips and abundance of three pestiferous thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) (Thysan., Thripidae) on weed species during winter and spring time were studied in vegetable production and polycultured areas in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey in years 2002 and 2003. Of a total of 61 543 thrips extracted from 8933 samples collected, 77% were adults. F. occidentalis was collected from all of 49 weed species sampled and F. intonsa was detected on 18 plant species between May and June. T. tabaci was collected from 42 of a total of 49 weed species. Immature thrips were extracted from 42 of a total of 49 weed species. Four weed species of a total 35 weed species sampled between April and May in the sampling areas hosted 63% of larvae and approximately 50% of F. occidentalis collected. A total of 23 thrips species was recorded from weeds sampled in this study. F. occidentalis accounted for 83% of a total 47 640 adult thrips collected and followed by low rates of T. tabaci and F. intonsa (9 and 1%, respectively). Melanthrips spp. accounted for 3.54% of total numbers of adult thrips. Flower-inhabiting thrips species and T. tabaci were most abundant on weeds between April and May when the number of weed species in bloom was greatest, then decreased to low levels after May. Most pestiferous thrips on weeds species were collected from vegetable production areas. F. occidentalis was the predominant thrips comprising over 80% in most months in the vegetable grown area. In polycultured area, the composition of adult thrips shifted monthly. While Melanthrips was the more prevailing thrips by rates 53% in February and 81% in March, F. occidentalis was the predominant thrips with 60 to 62% in spring, respectively.     

Plant attributes determining the regional abundance of weeds on central European arable land

Aim Several recent studies have aimed to identify the biological, ecological and distributional attributes that determine the regional abundance of plant species. Here we aim to assess the relationships between regional abundance and species attributes in weeds on arable land. Location Czech Republic, central Europe. Methods The relationships between regional abundance and species attributes were studied with a data set of 381 weed species occurring on arable land in the Czech Republic. Regional species abundances were estimated from their occurrence frequency in vegetation plots distributed across the country. Using regression tree models, abundance was related to the biological traits, ecological indicator values, geographical distribution and habitat range of species. The models were calculated for the entire country and separately for weeds in cereals, root crops, lowlands and uplands. The effects of phylogenetic relatedness among species on their regional abundance were quantified and compared with the effects of species attributes. Results The results were similar for the whole data set and its particular subsets. Phylogeny explained 11.2–14.9% and species attributes 16.1–56.9% of the variation in regional abundance of weed species. Removal of the phylogenetic signal did not result in important changes in the effects of particular attributes. The most abundant species were those flowering in pre‐spring and early spring, adapted to low temperatures, relatively shade tolerant and with high nutrient requirements. The high regional abundance of these species positively correlated with their broad geographical (often circumpolar) distribution and broad habitat ranges. Main conclusions The regional abundance of weeds can, to some extent, be explained by their attributes. The most important attributes are those that enable weeds to grow and reproduce in the cool season when there is limited competition with crop plants, and those that are adaptations to growth in dense vegetation stands and highly productive habitats.