Delimiting species boundaries for endangered Canary Island grasshoppers based on DNA sequence data

Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I and nuclear ITS2 sequences were surveyed from Canary Islands threatened species of the genera Purpuraria and Acrostira (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae). Phylogenetic and population analyses show that the two previously recognized Purpuraria erna subspecies are not valid as conservation units, and that there is a new unrecognized species of Purpuraria, coincident with recently discovered morphological variation within the genus. In addition, mitochondrial introgression seems to occur between the two Purpuraria species in southwest Lanzarote. Species-delimitation based on the morphological taxonomy of Acrostira, which recognizes four single-island endemics, is only partially supported by the genetic data. It shows that currently admitted species from the central and western islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma are closely related, with evidence of recent gene flow between the Tenerife and La Gomera populations. MtDNA variation also showed that A. euphorbiae, currently considered as the most critically endangered grasshopper species in the Canaries, has lower population diversity than its close relatives.     

Assessing habitat suitability for the translocation of Ochrosia tahitensis (Apocynaceae), a critically endangered endemic plant from the island of Tahiti (South Pacific)

Reintroduction or translocation of threatened plant species, as part of in situ conservation efforts, often failed because of the lack or the poor quality of remaining natural habitats due to human disturbances and invasion by alien species, especially in island ecosystems. We conducted a study on Ochrosia tahitensis (Apocynaceae), a critically endangered endemic small tree in the tropical high volcanic island of Tahiti (French Polynesia, South Pacific) to find the most suitable sites for future translocation. Distribution models were produced based on climate, topography, and plant community inventories (i.e. species composition and abundance, canopy height and openness, basal area of woody species) of the few remnant populations. Results show that this species, comprising 32 reproductive trees within 16 populations known in the wild, remains restricted to a few ecological refuges representing a very small part of its potential ecological range located on the northwest side of the island, and shares its current habitats with a set of more common native woody species found in mesic-wet forests. The use of native plant communities as a proxy for habitat suitability along with species distribution modelling can enhance translocation success in island ecosystems, but only if the major threats causing population decrease, mainly forest destruction and fragmentation and invasive alien species, are effectively managed.     

Ecology,not distance,explains community composition in parasites of sky-island Audubon’s Warblers

Haemosporidian parasites of birds are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems, but their coevolutionary dynamics remain poorly understood. If species turnover in parasites occurs at a finer scale than turnover in hosts, widespread hosts would encounter diverse parasites, potentially diversifying as a result. Previous studies have shown that some wide-ranging hosts encounter varied haemosporidian communities throughout their range, and vice-versa. More surveys are needed to elucidate mechanisms that underpin spatial patterns of diversity in this complex multi-host multi-parasite system. We sought to understand how and why a community of avian haemosporidian parasites varies in abundance and composition across elevational transects in eight sky islands in southwestern North America. We tested whether bird community composition, environment, or geographic distance explain haemosporidian parasite species turnover in a widespread host that harbors a diverse haemosporidian community, the Audubon’s Warbler (Setophaga auduboni). We tested predictors of infection using generalized linear models, and predictors of bird and parasite community dissimilarity using generalized dissimilarity modeling. Predictors of infection differed by parasite genus: Parahaemoproteus was predicted by elevation and climate, Leucocytozoon varied idiosyncratically among mountains, and Plasmodium was unpredictable, but rare. Parasite turnover was nearly three-fold higher than bird turnover and was predicted by elevation, climate, and bird community composition, but not geographic distance. Haemosporidian communities vary strikingly at fine spatial scales (hundreds of kilometers), across which the bird community varies only subtly. The finer scale of turnover among parasites implies that their ranges may be smaller than those of their hosts. Avian host species should encounter different parasite species in different parts of their ranges, resulting in spatially varying selection on host immune systems. The fact that parasite turnover was predicted by bird turnover, even when considering environmental characteristics, implies that host species or their phylogenetic history plays a role in determining which parasite species will be present in a community.     

贮食动物的盗食与反盗食行为策略

食物贮藏是许多动物应对食物短缺、保障其生存和繁衍的一种适应性行为。保护好贮藏食物以供食物短缺期利用,是食物贮藏成功的标志和进化动力。同种或异种动物盗食是贮藏食物损失的重要原因。嗅觉、视觉与空间记忆、随机搜寻等是动物搜寻和盗取食物的重要手段;避免盗食、阻止盗食和容忍盗食是动物反盗食的重要策略。动物通常采用多种行为策略进行盗食和反盗食,分配食物资源,形成相对稳定的种内、种间关系。盗食与反盗食互作及其对贮食行为进化的意义已成为行为生态学的研究热点和前沿之一,针对鸟类和哺乳类动物的研究尤为丰富。本文总结了贮食动物常见的盗食和反盗食行为策略及其相互作用的研究进展,主要内容涉及贮食动物利用嗅觉、视觉与空间记忆、随机搜寻等盗取其他个体食物的盗食策略,以及通过隐藏、转移、保卫、容忍等方式减少被盗食,保护贮藏食物的行为策略。针对现有研究状况,从种间盗食与反盗食及其与物种共存的关系,种间非对称盗食关系及其适应意义,盗食与反盗食最适行为策略及其与贮食动物适合度的关系等方面对今后研究提出了建议。     

广东丹霞山国家级自然保护区 蝙蝠物种多样性调查

于2017年至2018年对广东丹霞山国家级自然保护区的翼手目动物进行调查,主要采用日栖息地与夜栖息地、捕食区网捕等调查方法,共调查到翼手目5科13属23种,其中蝙蝠科(Vespertilionidae)9属15种,菊头蝠科(Rhinolophidae)1属4种,蹄蝠科(Hipposideridae)1属2种,假吸血蝠科(Megadermatidae)1属1种,犬吻蝠科(Molossidae)1属1种。从区系组成来看,以东洋界为主(19种),其次为广布种(3种),古北界仅1种。从栖息类型上看,分为洞栖型、树栖型及建筑物栖息型,以洞栖型为主(15种),建筑物栖息型其次(12种),树栖型最少(5种),但其中9个物种的栖息地类型同时包含了上述3种栖息类型中的2种。本研究在广东丹霞山发现中国蝙蝠新分布记录1种,为卡氏伏翼(Hypsugo cadornae);而中印鼠耳蝠(Myotis indochinensis)为中国分布的再次确认。     

广州闽楠-樟人工混交林物种组成与多样性研究

为了解人工混交林群落结构特征和物种多样性关系,对广州龙眼洞林场内闽楠(Phoebebournei)-樟(Cinnamomum camphora)人工混交林进行群落结构分析。结果表明, 0.37 hm2样地内共有128种植物9 563株,隶属于57科99属;其中乔木35种,灌木61种,草本98种。在乔木层中,重要值排名前5的植物分别是山乌桕(Triadica cochinchinensis)(33.86%)、闽楠(17.24%)、樟(12.96%)、三桠苦(Melicopepteleifolia)(7.92%)和山苍子(Litseapungens)(3.70%);灌木层以茜草科(Rubiaceae)植物为主;草本层以禾本科(Poaceae)植物为主。乔木层、灌木层和草本层的Shannon-Wiener指数分别为1.230、1.708和1.754,Simpson指数分别为0.635、0.680和0.707,表明该人工混交林下草本物种丰富。非度量多维尺度分析(NMDS)表明,不同样方的物种组成相似性并不一致,部分样方含有偶见种。群落的径级结构呈倒“J”型,其中11.64%为幼苗,苗木占比6....     

Influence of the Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) on hematological and biochemical parameters of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

The acute toxicity of household detergent (Ariel) on blood parameters and histology of Oreochromis niloticus was investigated using static bioassay for 96 h. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant widely used in detergents and cleaners, both in industrial and household applications. LAS contaminating aquatic ecosystems as a potential toxic pollutant, was investigated in the present study for acute toxicity. The fish samples were divided into six groups, including 20 fish in each group. Normal feed was given to control group without detergents treatment. Hematological parameters (RBC count, Hb, Ht and platelets) were significantly declined, while WBC count showed a highly significant increase. Compared with the control group, significant elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was recorded in fish treated with different concentrations of detergent. Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and Reduced Glutathione (GSH) concentration showed a highly significant reduction. Total proteins showed significant decrease, while total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides significantly increased. The mean lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for 96 h of Ariel was at concentration 10 mg/L. Relative percentage of detergent residues in fish muscles was increased with higher detergent concentrations. In conclusion, exposure to detergents resulted in great alterations in the histological structure of liver and gills.