浙江七星列岛海洋特别保护区主要鱼类功能群划分及生态位分析

为揭示七星列岛省级海洋特别保护区鱼类群落现状, 于2014年秋季(11月)和2015年春季(5月)进行底拖网调查。利用生态位测度、非度量多维标度排序和等级聚类等方法对该海域鱼类功能群组成及生态位特征进行了研究。结果表明, 该区鱼类可划分为浮游生物食性、底栖动物食性、游泳动物食性、浮游生物/底栖动物食性、底栖动物/游泳动物食性和杂食性6个功能群。浮游生物食性、底栖动物食性和底栖动物/游泳动物食性功能群是秋季优势功能群, 浮游生物食性、游泳动物食性和杂食性是春季优势功能群。秋季, 主要鱼类生态位宽度值变化范围为0.28-3.84, 其中龙头鱼(Harpodon nehereus)、六指马鲅(Polydactylus sexfilis)、赤鼻棱鳀(Thrissa kammalensis)、红狼牙鰕虎鱼(Odontamblyopus rubicundus)、海鳗(Muraenesox cinereus)、尖头黄鳍牙鱼或(Chrysochir aureus)和叫姑鱼(Johnius belengerii)的生态位宽度值较高; 春季生态位宽度值变化范围为0.36-3.16, 其中带鱼(Trichiurus lepturus)、日本鳀(Engraulis japonicus)、蓝圆鲹(Decapterus maruadsi)、刺鲳(Psenopsis anomala)、龙头鱼和镰鲳(Pampus echinogaster)的生态位宽度值较高。秋季, 主要鱼类生态位重叠值在0-0.94之间波动; 春季, 主要鱼类生态位重叠值在0-0.92之间波动。以丰度数据平方根为基础, 利用非度量多维标度排序和等级聚类分析, 主要鱼类秋季可以分为4组, 而春季可以分为3组。上述结果表明, 保护区鱼类群落的营养结构和空间结构较好。     

长江源区同域分布兔狲、藏狐和赤狐的时空重叠度

兔狲(Otocolobus manul)、藏狐(Vulpes ferrilata)和赤狐(V. vulpes)是青藏高原三江源区域分布的重要小型食肉兽。本研究于2014年6月至2019年9月在青海省长江源区沱沱河和通天河沿岸选取208个位点布设红外相机, 通过所获取的时空分布数据比较了上述3种同域分布小型食肉兽的时空利用情况。通过空间重叠度系数的比较分析, 兔狲和藏狐、兔狲和赤狐以及藏狐和赤狐之间的空间重叠度系数分别为0.25、0.48和0.17, 这表明兔狲、藏狐和赤狐三者在空间利用上存在一定的差异。通过核密度估计方法分析, 兔狲和藏狐属典型的昼行性动物, 而赤狐以夜行性活动为主。兔狲、藏狐和赤狐每个物种在冷暖两季的日活动节律重叠指数分别为0.83、0.78和0.88。两两比较分析表明, 兔狲和藏狐二者的日活动节律重叠指数最高(0.84), 兔狲和赤狐在夜间活动时段存在一定重叠(0.63), 而藏狐和赤狐的时间生态位分化最明显, 重叠指数最低(0.48)。此外, 在暖季, 两两物种之间的日活动节律重叠指数均小于其冷季的重叠指数。综上所述, 长江源区兔狲、藏狐和赤狐3种小型食肉兽可通过空间和时间资源的利用差异来降低物种间的干扰和竞争, 从而达到同域物种共存的目的。     

浙江南部近海主要虾类的时空生态位及种间联结性

根据2015年11月(秋季)、2016年2月(冬季)、5月(春季)、8月(夏季)在浙江南部近海的调查数据,运用生态位宽度、生态位重叠值、方差比率法、卡方检验、联结系数以及种对共同出现百分率对主要虾类间的关系进行研究.结果表明:1)在时间维度上,扁足异对虾的生态位宽度值最大;在空间维度上,中华管鞭虾的生态位宽度值最大;在时空二维上,扁足异对虾的生态位宽度值最大;2)在时间维度上,假长缝拟对虾和细巧仿对虾的生态位重叠值最高,拥有最大的时间生态位重叠值(>0.99);在空间维度上,凹管鞭虾、中国对虾、假长缝拟对虾和滑脊等腕虾的生态位重叠值最高(0.96);在时空二维上,中国对虾和凹管鞭虾的生态位重叠值最高;3)方差比率法分析表明,主要虾类总体呈显著正关联,其中有13个种对间的联结性达到显著水平(χ²≥3.841),联结系数(AC)和共同出现百分率(PC)表明种间联结性趋于正相关.本研究结果为探讨虾类的生态位分化、种间竞争及对环境的适应性研究提供了数据资料.     

乐清湾主要游泳动物空间生态位及其分化

基于2016年5月至2017年2月在乐清湾进行的4个航次渔业资源调查数据,计算乐清湾主要游泳动物的相对重要性指数(IRI)、生态位宽度及生态位重叠值(Q_ik).结果表明:乐清湾全年主要游泳动物(IRI>100)共27种,季节间更替率较高,生态位宽度值差异较大,相对重要性指数与生态位宽度值呈极显著正相关.全年游泳动物的生态位重叠值总体较低,秋季生态位重叠值最高,Q_ik>0.6的种对有14对,占总种对数的15.4%;春季最低,Q_ik>0.6的种对有5对,占总种对数的7.6%.冗余分析表明,温度、盐度和浑浊度是影响乐清湾主要游泳动物分布的重要因素,主要游泳动物在这些环境因子上存在生态分化现象.     

南麂列岛东侧海域主要游泳动物生态位及种间联结性

根据2017年秋季和2018年春季在南麂列岛东侧海域进行的渔业资源调查所获数据,应用相对重要性指数、生态位宽度、聚类分析、生态位重叠值、基于2×2数据矩阵的χ²检验、方差比率、联结系数、共同出现百分率和点相关系数等,分析了主要游泳动物的种间关系和生态联系.结果表明: 在调查的30种主要游泳动物中,优势种有龙头鱼、三疣梭子蟹和口虾蛄3种,它们的生态位宽度较宽.采用生态位宽度聚类分析,可以将主要游泳动物划分为广生态位种、中生态位种和狭生态位种3个类型.生态位重叠值分布区间为[0, 0.98],说明物种对资源利用的相似性存在差异,生态位出现分化并伴随种间竞争现象.根据方差比率和W检验得出主要游泳动物间总体为显著正相关.χ²检验结果显示,联结性显著的有76个种对(χ²≥3.841),这与群落结构稳定性、物种共存现象存在一定关联.联结系数(AC)、共同出现百分率和点相关系数检验结果表明,物种间联结性较强,总体趋于正相关关系.     

温州南部沿岸海域主要鱼类的生态位及种间联结性

国内对生态位和种间关联性的研究主要集中于植物、鸟类和游泳动物群落等方面,而针对鱼类生态位和种间关联性研究鲜有报道.本文基于2015年春季(5月)和秋季(9月)温州南部沿岸海域渔业资源调查与渔获物分析,运用生态位测定、方差比率(VR)、χ²检验、联结系数(AC)、种对共同出现百分率(PC)和点相关系数(Ф)等方法对主要鱼类间的关系进行研究.结果表明: 该海域共鉴定出鱼类47种,隶属于9目27科41属,其中优势种4种,重要种9种,共占17%.通过生态位宽度聚类分析,按生态位宽度将主要鱼类划分为2类:第1类广生态位种包括龙头鱼、棘头梅童鱼、日本鳀、镰鲳、白姑鱼、六指马鲅、蓝圆鲹和带鱼;第2类狭生态位种包括海鳗、六丝矛尾鰕虎鱼、宽体舌鳎、小黄鱼和鳓.主要鱼类间的生态位重叠值为0～0.90,表明物种对资源利用的相似程度存在差异.生态位宽度较窄的宽体舌鳎和海鳗,其重叠值相对较高,说明两个物种间存在一定的竞争.利用VR分析得出主要鱼类间的关联性呈显著正相关.鉴于Ф值能降低χ²检验、联结系数(AC)、种对共同出现百分率(PC)对联结性分析的影响,故采用Ф值测定,得出63个种对为正联结,种间联结性和生态位两者分别与群落结构稳定和群落更替具有不同程度的相关性.     

韭山列岛自然保护区虾类优势种生态位

根据韭山列岛自然保护区2015年11月, 2016年2月、5月、8月的调查资料, 运用相对重要性指数(index of relative importance, IRI)、生态位宽度以及生态位重叠指数等生态指标, 对调查海域的优势种虾类进行生态位特征分析, 以了解该海域内虾类组成及优势种间的关系。结果表明, 保护区共调查到虾类16种, 隶属8科12属, 均属暖温种或暖水种, 其中优势种(IRI > 500)有7种, 隶属于4科5属; 虾类相对资源量呈春秋季高, 夏冬季低的季节性分布特征。除脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)外, 优势种的时空生态位宽度值(时间生态位宽度与空间生态位宽度的乘积)均大于非优势种。日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicus)和细巧仿对虾(Parapenaeopsis tenella)的时空二维生态位重叠值最大, 表明其对资源的利用具有相似性; 安氏白虾(Exopalaemon annandalei)和哈氏仿对虾(Parapenaeopsis hardwickii)的时空生态位重叠值最小, 说明二者相关性低。通过计算得知, 相对重要性指数(IRI)与生态位宽度对物种重要性排序结果有异: 时空生态位宽度值最大的为葛氏长臂虾(Palaemon gravieri), 而IRI值最高的为日本鼓虾。与相对重要性指数(IRI)相比, 生态位宽度指数不仅能反映物种对资源的利用能力, 还能反映物种分布是否均匀, 但这两者均不能反映生物量的多少。     

Species delimitation of North American Nyssa species

The development of next-generation sequencing technologies allows researchers to address complex problems in species delimitation, especially for non-model organisms. The taxonomic status of North American Nyssa species has long been debated and remains controversial. To elucidate the genetic structure and phylogenetic relationships of the five currently recognized North American Nyssa species, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of representative individuals and identified genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by utilizing the recently released chromosome-level assembly of Nyssa sinensis genome. Population genetic and phylogenetic analyses consistently inferred four well-supported genetic clusters from our sampled individuals, that is, N. aquatica, N. ogeche, N. sylvatica, and N. biflora–N. ursina. Although the identification of N. biflora and N. ursina is primarily based on the morphological characteristics of leaves and drupes, the present evidence, including our principal components analysis of leaf morphological traits, strongly supports the taxonomic designation of N. biflora and N. ursina as a single species. In addition, these four genetic clusters were grouped into two major clades, that is, clade 1 (N. aquatica and N. ogeche) and clade 2 (N. sylvatica and N. biflora–N. ursina). Despite the fact that no evidence of widespread gene flow was found between these two major clades, our analyses revealed the possibility of introgression from N. sylvatica into N. biflora, albeit at a relatively low frequency. This study demonstrates the use of whole-genome sequences as a promising avenue for delimiting species boundaries and further advocates for an integrative approach in the assessment of species delimitation.     

甘肃祁连山脉雪豹及其同域分布大型食肉动物时间生态位关系

<正>群落内多物种如何共存是群落生态学和生物多样性研究的核心内容之一。经典物种共存理论强调物种之间的生态位分化,侧重于物种对环境的需求,Hutchinson (1957)提出超体积生态位概念,认为物种适合度是由多个因素共同决定,即物种只有在满足其生态位需求的多维空间,     

Roles of endothermy in niche differentiation for ball-rolling dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) along an altitudinal gradient

Abstract.  1. An analysis of whether niche differentiation in ball-rolling dung beetles can be explained by the way in which they regulate their body temperature was conducted.
2.  A priori assumptions were: (i) if thermoregulation affects niche partitioning, sympatric species must have different endothermic strategies that minimise encounters; or, alternatively (ii) if two co-occurring species show the same thermoregulation pattern and their flight periods overlap, they might be avoiding competition by exhibiting different resource preferences or different food relocation behaviour.
3. The ball-rolling dung beetles studied showed a hierarchical structure based on the species' endothermic capacity, measured as temperature excess [ T _ex= difference between body temperature ( T _b) and ambient temperature ( T _a)]. Those with a high T _ex (10–15 °C) were located exclusively at altitudes >1000 m a.s.l. On the coastal plains, species with a high T _ex were restricted to flying at night when the T _a was lower. Species with a lower T _ex (less than 10 °C higher than T _a) were found in the coastal plains zone.
4. Where there was sympatry with similar trophic habits, the species involved showed very different thermal niches, and where there was significant overlap of thermal niches between sympatric species, trophic habits of species were very different.
5. The results suggest that it is possible to use the concept of the thermal niche as a tool to explain interspecific interactions and the spatial distribution of species.     

南海北部近海头足类优势种及其生态位特征

为了解南海北部近海头足类优势种的种间关系,根据2014—2015年该海域4个季节底拖网渔业资源调查,应用相对重要性指数、生态位宽度和重叠指数从时空维度分析头足类优势种的生态位特征。结果表明: 该海域4个季节的头足类优势种共5种,分别为剑尖枪乌贼、中国枪乌贼、火枪乌贼、金乌贼和杜氏枪乌贼,前两种是4个季节的共同优势种。与历史数据相比,头足类优势种的种类组成已发生改变。头足类资源时空分布格局明显,海南岛南部至粤东海域资源密度高于北部湾,季节变化呈夏季高而冬季低特征。时空生态位分析表明,优势种的时间和空间生态位宽度没有一致位序,剑尖枪乌贼和中国枪乌贼分别占据最大的时间(1.32)和空间生态位宽度(3.90),而时间和空间生态位宽度最小的物种分别是金乌贼(0.98)和杜氏枪乌贼(2.04)。虽然时间生态位重叠在数值上显著高于空间生态位重叠,但二者均是在中国枪乌贼、剑尖枪乌贼、火枪乌贼等种对间有较高重叠,而杜氏枪乌贼与其余4个优势种的重叠较低。相关分析表明,在时空尺度上生态位宽度与丰度的变化均呈极显著负相关。生态位可反映物种资源量时空变化信息,丰富了传统渔业群落研究方法。     

观光木群落优势树种生态位和种间联结

为了解君子峰自然保护区极小种群观光木群落的种间关系和生态联系,加强观光木野生资源的保护,对群落优势树种的生态位特征和种间联结性进行研究。结果表明: 观光木、浙江润楠、木荷、赤杨叶的生态位宽度优势明显,是主要建群种;20个优势树种的190组种对中,有50.5%的种对生态位重叠值大于0.5,物种间生态位分化程度一般;观光木与其他19个物种生态位重叠度普遍较高,当资源不足时,有竞争风险;优势树种的总体联结性表现为显著正联结,群落处于相对稳定的演替后期;χ²检验、联结系数和Pearson相关系数检验结果均显示,种间联结性的显著率极低,种间独立性较强;种间联结性与生态位重叠之间呈正相关。君子峰观光木群落较为成熟,资源利用充分,种间关系稳定,为促进观光木种群恢复和壮大,可适当限制与观光木生态位重叠度大、有显著负联结的种群规模,提高与之有正相互作用的物种比例,为观光木营造良好的生境。     

Biochemical systematics and evolutionary genetics of the common shiner species group

Electrophoretic analyses were performed on blood proteins of the five members of the Notropiscornutus species group. The protein systems included two plasma esterases, transferrin, a pre-albumin and hemoglobin. Plasma protein polymorphism within and between taxa was common. Hemoglobin appeared to be a more consistent and conservative character for assessing phylogenetic relationships. As deduced by both biochemical and morphological evidence, N. cerasinus is the most primitive member of the species group. Uniqueness for several biochemical characters suggests that the striped shiner should be afforded full species recognition as N. isolepis but additional study is needed concerning its relationship with N. cornutus chrysocephalus. The closest biochemical similarity was between the forms interpreted here as subspecies N. cornutus cornutus and N. c. chrysocephalus. N. albeolus clearly evolved from N. c. cornutus but early hybridization with N. cerasinus resulted in limited introgression from that species.     

舟山长白海域主要游泳动物生态位及其分化研究

基于2016年10月（秋季）和2017年4月（春季）舟山长白海域的渔业资源调查数据,运用生态位宽度、生态位重叠及冗余分析等方法,研究了主要游泳动物的生态位,种间生态关系及生态位分化。结果显示：春、秋季主要游泳动物分别11种与8种,两季生态位宽度值差异均较大,其中春季广生态位种、中生态位种均为3种,而秋季均为2种,窄生态位种分别为5种与4种。相对重要性指数（IRI）与生态位宽度值（B_i）之间呈显著正相关。生态位重叠程度不均衡,秋季主要游泳动物的生态位重叠程度较高,O_ik > 0.6的种对数占总种对数的42.86%;春季的重叠程度较低,仅占总种对数的21.82%。RDA分析得出温度、盐度为影响主要游泳动物分布的直接因素,而溶解氧、悬浮物和pH等则为重要因素,主要游泳动物在这些资源维上存在生态分化现象。综上,分布在毗邻杭州湾口且位于著名的岱衢洋的主要游泳动物种类总体营养级较低却生态宽度值较大,大黄鱼（Larimichthys crocea）、黄姑鱼（Nibea albiflora）等一些传统的高营养级、典型特色经济种类却沦为生态位宽度极小的一般种或少有种,群落种类显著减少,资源量下降,群落结构与功能退化,稳定性下降。因此,加强游泳动物资源修复、保护与管理十分迫切且具有重要意义。     

Not all dung beetles feed on dung: Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) attracted to different carrion types in contrasting habitats at Brazilian Amazon

By understanding how assemblages segregate according to food types, it is possible to depict and understand species distribution and exploitation of similar food resources. Although it is well known that dung beetles may feed on carrion, but the attractiveness of different carrion types for these beetles is still poorly understood. In this study, we compared the dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) diversity attracted to two carrion types in different habitats in an Amazonian landscape. Dung beetles were captured by using pitfall traps baited with decaying cattle beef and cattle liver in native forest, peach palm plantation, teak plantation and exotic pasture. Overall, we captured 582 dung beetles of 43 species, where Canthidium aff. lentum was classified as a specialist of cattle beef, Deltochilum sp. One was considered specialist of liver carrion, 11 were considered generalists and for the 30 remaining species, it was not possible to determine their carrion preference due to the low number. Abundance, but not species richness, was affected by carrion type, and a higher number of beetles was recorded in beef-baited traps compared to liver-baited traps. According to functional groups, endocoprid beetles were more abundant in traps baited with decaying beef, while paracoprid and telecoprid beetles did not show preference for any carrion type. This study suggests a novel scenario of intra-resource segregation, where species vary their preferences depending to the part of the dead corpse being exploited. The amount of food resource, the maintenance of stable populations and trophic preference mediated by chemical cues are some mechanisms that may explain the segregation of dung beetles among carrion types.     

Revision of the genus Noculacia Mayer, 1903 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidea) with the description of two new species

The genus Noculacia Mayer, 1903 is reviewed. Two new species, N. africana n. sp. and N. australiensis n. sp., are described based on material collected from southeast Africa and western-southern Australia, respectively. Noculacia bullata Mayer, 1903, the type species of the genus, is redescribed. Noculacia bogisa Mayer, 1903 is transferred to the genus Pseudoprotella Mayer, 1890 mainly on the basis of the presence of a well developed molar, the structure of pereopods 3 and 4, and the setal formula of the mandibular palp being 2-x-1. The genus Noculacia is presently composed of three species: N. africana n. sp., N. australiensis n. sp, and N. bullata Mayer, 1903. The genus Pseudoprotella is composed of P. bogisa (Mayer, 1903), P. inermis Chevreux, 1927, and P. phasma (Montagu, 1804).     

A study on the niches of the state’s key protected plants in Bawangling,Hainan Island

Aims An understanding on the living communities of the state’s key protected wild plants and the ability in utilizing resources and occupying ecological spaces by different populations is essential to the protection and propagation of rare and endangered plant species. We use our findings to highlight the knowledge gaps in the conservation strategies for the endangered species.
Methods Field investigations were conducted during 2009-2011. Based on the survey data on 70 forest plots in the Bawangling protected area, the niche breadths and overlaps of 12 species listed as the state’s key protected plants were calculated and analyzed.
Important findings The 12 species, by their niche breadth values in descending order, include Aquilaria sinensis, Nephelium topengii, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Alseodaphne hainanensis, Keteleeria hainanensis, Podocarpus imbricatus, Firmiana hainanensis, Parakmeria lotungensis, Cephalotaxus mannii, Michelia hedyosperma, Ixonanthes reticulata, Dacrydium pierrei. The niche breadth value of a species is closely related to its range of geographical distribution; both Dacrydium pierrei and Parakmeria lotungensis had a narrow niche breadth corresponding to their narrow ranges of altitudinal distribution. In general, the niche overlap value is higher between species with greater niche breadth; the highest niche overlap value of 0.872 was found between Camellia sinensis var. assamica and Keteleeria hainanensis. However, the niche overlap value between species with smaller niche breadth could also be high; e.g. the niche overlap value was relatively high (0.693) between two species with smaller niche breadth, Michelia hedyosperma and Firmiana hainanensis, indicating that niche overlap value is dependent upon the biological characteristics and requirements for environmental resources of the species of comparison. Some species with low niche breadth values (e.g. Michelia hedyosperma and Ixonanthes reticulata) were found to have smaller populations. Due to lack of suitable community and habitats, these plant species are in dire need of more attention and prioritization for conservation. In conclusion, for the better protection and propagation of these endangered plants in the future, we should combine knowledge of their biological characteristics with that of their living communities such as the montane rainforests, etc.     

海南岛霸王岭国家重点保护植物的生态位研究

为进一步了解国家重点野生保护植物的生存群落及不同种群利用资源和占据生态空间的能力, 为制定国家重点保护植物种群的保护措施提供依据, 2009-2011年, 对霸王岭有国家重点保护植物分布的70个样地进行群落调查, 研究了霸王岭保护区内12种国家重点保护植物的生态位宽度以及物种间的生态位重叠。结果表明: (1)生态位宽度值从大到小依次为: 土沉香(Aquilaria sinensis)、海南韶子(Nephelium topengii)、普洱茶(Camellia sinensis var. assamica)、油丹(Alseodaphne hainanensis)、海南油杉(Keteleeria hainanensis)、鸡毛松(Podocarpus imbricatus)、海南梧桐(Firmiana hainanensis)、乐东拟单性木兰(Parakmeria lotungensis)、海南粗榧(Cephalotaxus mannii)、香子含笑(Michelia hedyosperma)、粘木(Ixonanthes reticulata)和陆均松(Dacrydium pierrei); (2)物种生态位宽度值的大小与其自身的地理分布范围密切相关, 如: 陆均松、乐东拟单性木兰等生态位宽度较小的原因与其分布的海拔范围狭窄有关。生态位宽度较大的种群对资源的利用能力较强, 与其他物种的生态位重叠一般较大, 如: 生态位宽度较大的普洱茶与海南油杉的生态位重叠值最大, 为0.872, 而一些生态位宽度较小的物种生态位重叠值较高, 如: 香子含笑的生态位宽度较小, 但与海南梧桐的生态位重叠较大, 为0.693。因此, 种群间的生态位重叠值与它们对环境资源利用的相似程度以及物种自身的生物学特性密切相关; (3)香子含笑、粘木等的生态位宽度较小, 而且个体数量较少, 适宜其生存的群落和生境极少, 应该给予更多的关注和优先保护; (4)未来对濒危植物的保护不仅要考虑各物种自身的生物学特性, 还应从植物群落的角度考虑。只有保护好这些濒危植物的生存群落, 如山地雨林等, 才能实现对濒危植物的有效保护。     

Niche overlap and diet composition of three sympatric coastal dolphin species in the southwest Atlantic Ocean

Sympatric species are expected to differ in ecological requirements to minimize niche overlap and avoid competition. Here we assess the trophic interactions among three coexisting dolphin species from southern Brazil: the franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), and the Lahille's bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus). We evaluated temporal variation in carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope values of bone collagen to examine potential dietary shifts resulting from increased fishing activity over the past three decades. We estimated the degree of niche overlap among these species and the contribution of potential prey sources to their diet. δ¹⁵N values were consistent among species and across years, while δ¹³C values increased for Guiana dolphins and decreased for bottlenose dolphins, suggesting changes in diet and/or foraging habitats through time. The similar δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values and the high niche overlap between Guiana and bottlenose dolphins indicate that these species are primarily feeding on demersal prey. The franciscana diet is primarily composed of pelagic prey, resulting in a lower niche overlap in comparison with the other dolphin species. Our study provides further information about the foraging ecology of this unique dolphin community in southern Brazil with implications for its management and conservation.     

A comparison of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) attraction to native and exotic mammal dung

Although the preference of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) for specific types and conditions of dung has been given substantial attention, little has been done to investigate the potential effects of exotic mammal introduction for game farms or rewilding projects. We used pitfall traps baited with various native and exotic herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore dung to evaluate dung beetle preference in the Great Plains of North America. Additionally, we analyzed of the nutrient quality of each dung type. In total, 9,089 dung beetles from 15 species were captured in 2 yr of sampling. We found significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean dung beetle capture among omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore dung, as well as differences in individual species preference for dung type. Omnivore dung was the most attractive with chimpanzee and human dung having the highest mean capture (291.1 ± 27.6 and 287.5 ± 28.5 respectively). Carrion also was highly attractive with a mean of 231.9 ± 20.6 beetles per trap (N = 8). Our results suggest definitive local preference of carrion in Phanaeus vindex Macleay and Onthophagus hecate (Panzer), while the congener, O. pennsylvanicus (Harold), was rarely captured in carrion and highly preferred omnivore dung. Preference for a specific bait type does not appear to be correlated with dung quality, mammalian diet, or origin of mammal. Results suggest niche segregation by dung type among dung beetle species.