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Forest ground vegetation may serve as an early warning system for monitoring anthropogenic global-change impacts on temperate forests. Climate warming may induce a decline of cool-adapted species to the benefit of more thermophilous plants. Nitrogen deposition has been documented to potentially result in soil eutrophication or acidification, which can increase the proportion of species with higher nutrient requirements and species impoverishment caused by competitive exclusion. Abiotic forest disturbances are changing the light conditions in the forest understorey environment. In this resurvey study, we tested the magnitude and direction of change in alpha (species richness) and beta (within-site dissimilarity) diversity and composition of forest ground vegetation in forests of different types in Slovenia over fifteen years. Using plant-derived characteristics (Ellenberg-type indicator values) and by testing a priori predictions concerning expected effects of environmental drivers, we show that the magnitude and direction of forest ground vegetation diversity and floristic changes varies greatly between forest sites. Divergent responses at different sites resulted in low net change of alpha and beta diversity and a weak overall environmental signal. The largest decrease in species number was observed in lowland oak-hornbeam forests, which were also among the sites with the greatest compositional shifts. Changes in beta diversity did not show any consistent trend, and anticipated floristic convergence was not confirmed when all sites were considered. Thermophilization was mainly detected in montane beech sites and alpine spruce forests whereas eutrophication signal was most significant on nutrient-poor sites. Vegetation responses were strongly dependent on initial site conditions. Shrinkage of ecological gradients (process of ecological homogenization) suggests that sites positioned at the ends of the gradients are losing their original ecological character and are becoming more similar to mid-gradient sites that generally exhibit smaller changes. Our results point to the importance of local stand dynamics and overstorey disturbances in explaining the temporal trends in forest ground vegetation. Ground vegetation in Slovenian forests is changing in directions also dictated by multiple regional and global change drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the hypothesis that bioclimatic conditions affect the species richness, abundance, and diversity of sand flies in neighboring physiographic regions with endemic transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis. A sampling program was performed in southeastern Mexico in the High Plateau of Chiapas and the Eastern Mountains physiographic regions, between April 2009 and March 2011. CDC light traps were placed in five randomly selected houses, four CDC traps in four transects in the surrounding vegetation zones, and a modified Magoon trap baited with one protected person was installed at the periphery of the villages at each study site. A total of 12,349 sand flies were identified as species, of which 98.2% were collected in the Eastern Mountains and the rest in the High Plateau of Chiapas. The Eastern Mountains region recorded a significantly higher diversity (H' = 2.04), with a species richness of 27 sand flies species and a higher evenness index (J´ = 0.62) compared to the High Plateau of Chiapas region (H' = 1.02, S = 10, J´ = 0.31). Psychodopygus panamensis (Shannon) (Diptera: Psychodidae) and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) ovallesi (Ortiz) were the most abundant species in the Eastern Mountains, whereas Lutzomyia (Tricholateralis) cruciata (Coquillett) was most abundant in the High Plateau of Chiapas. We conclude that the differences in species richness, diversity, and abundance of sand flies between these two physiographic regions are due to the bioclimatic effects that in the Eastern Mountains are favorable for the formation of microhabitats due to the warm-warm conditions and the humid-temperate conditions which act as limiting factors in the High Plateau of Chiapas region. In addition, changes in land use due to anthropogenic activities significantly affected the structure of sand fly communities in both regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanoparticles, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2-NPs), has increased substantially over the years. Some of them will end up in the soil, where their effect on plants and the soil bacterial community needs to be studied to determine their possible environmental risks. In this paper, beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were cultivated in soil with 0, 150, or 300 mg TiO2-NPs kg−1. Plant development, nodule formation, chlorophyl content, and the bacterial community were monitored in uncultivated, non-rhizosphere, and rhizosphere soils. TiO2-NPs did not affect the beans' growth and their chlorophyl content, but they did increase bacterial diversity and had a significant effect on the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere, but not in the bulk and non-rhizosphere soil. Although the relative abundance of most bacterial groups varied with the TiO2-NP application rate, the cultivation of the bean plants, or the exposure time, that of Acidobacteria decreased, while that of Planctomycetes increased in the TiO2-NP-amended soil. Many bacterial groups were affected by the cultivation of the bean plants, i.e., the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Deltaproteobacteria, and Firmicutes mostly decreased in the rhizosphere independent of the application of TiO2-NPs or the time of exposure, while most groups belonging to Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Rhizobiaceae, Phyllobacteriaceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were enriched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Understanding the impact of neighbor tree diversity on soil biodiversity at the individual tree scale and clarifying which facets of neighbor tree diversity have a decisive impact on soil biodiversity. Methods: We collected and identified soil nematodes underneath 256 individual trees of 16 species at four species-richness levels (1, 2, 4, 8 species) in a large tree diversity experiment in southeast China. We analyzed how the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of the nematode community were influenced by neighbor tree diversity. Results: Our analyses showed that nematode alpha diversity at the individual tree scale decreased with increasing neighbor tree richness while beta diversity increased at taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional levels. Nematode alpha diversity at the plot scale increased with increasing neighbor tree richness. Secondly, we found that reducing redundant species and increasing distinct species led to the differentiation of nematode communities under different individual trees in high-richness plots. Finally, our data revealed that the functional diversity of the neighbor tree community had the largest effects on the diversity of the local nematode community. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes that there is a significant influence from neighboring trees, mainly the functional traits of the trees, even though they are spaced at distances multitudes greater than the distance over which soil nematodes can move. Hence it is important to consider these broader spatial aspects when examining the plant and soil biotic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal sampling resolution of eDNA-based fish monitoring needs refinement. • We empirically assessed sampling intensity at multiple scales in three rivers. • Downstream eDNA transport facilitates species detection versus electrofishing. • Include upstream sites to capture diverse habitats and environmental factors. • Key sampling site locations vary minimally within small-scale transects. Effective conservation management of river systems requires a comprehensive understanding of local and regional biodiversity, necessitating accurate characterization of species communities. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a pivotal tool for assessing aquatic organisms, especially fish communities. However, optimal sampling resolution and site positioning to obtain robust fish diversity indices across heterogeneous river systems remain inadequately understood. This study empirically evaluates the optimal number of eDNA samples needed to accurately capture diversity both locally and stream-wide across three distinct river systems, comparing eDNA metabarcoding results to traditional electrofishing data. Habitat and landscape factors were characterized to interpret the localisation of key sampling sites contributing most to the overall species richness. We detected 30 fish species via eDNA metabarcoding, compared to 28 species by electrofishing, with eDNA requiring fewer sampling sites per river system. To reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness, eDNA analyses required between one and nine sites across three river systems spanning ten kilometres each. In the most diverse river, a single eDNA sampling site even achieved a higher species richness (n = 20 species) compared to the nine required sites to reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness via electrofishing (n = 9 species). To account for eDNA particle dilution and degradation over larger distances (>1 km), sampling at both upstream and downstream sites may be crucial, with strategic site selection further refined by factors like adjacent stream inflows, substrate type, and river discharge rate, all of which influence species-specific habitat occupancy. On a smaller scale, the location of key sampling sites only moderately differs within 100-meter transects therewith informing on the precise placement of those sampling sites. Our work highlights the robustness and cost-effectiveness of eDNA analyses for riverine biodiversity assessment, demonstrating strong potential for enhancing various conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwaters are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate warming, with projected temperature increases over the coming decades leading to significant losses of aquatic biodiversity. Experimental studies that directly warm entire natural ecosystems in the tropics are needed, for understanding the disturbances on aquatic communities. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to test the impacts of predicted future warming on density, alpha diversity, and beta diversity of freshwater aquatic communities, inhabiting natural microecosystems—Neotropical tank bromeliads. Aquatic communities within the tanks bromeliads were experimentally exposed to warming, with temperatures ranging from 23.58 to 31.72°C. Linear regression analysis was used to test the impacts of warming. Next, distance‐based redundancy analysis was performed to assess how warming might alter total beta diversity and its components. This experiment was conducted across a gradient of habitat size (bromeliad water volume) and availability of detrital basal resources. A combination of the highest detritus biomass and higher experimental temperatures resulted in the greatest density of flagellates. However, the density of flagellates declined in bromeliads with higher water volume and lower detritus biomass. Moreover, the combination of the highest water volume and high temperature reduced density of copepods. Finally, warming changed microfauna species composition, mostly through species substitution (βrepl component of total beta‐diversity). These findings indicate that warming strongly structures freshwater communities by reducing or increasing densities of different aquatic communities groups. It also enhances beta‐diversity, and many of these effects are modulated by habitat size or detrital resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding contributions of different environmental drivers to the structure and function of river biota is critical for biodiversity and environmental conservation. Yet, there is no consensus on which drivers have the greatest impact on fish diversity, especially in watersheds disturbed by multiple human activities. Fish taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity at both alpha and beta dimensions and their environmental drivers were studied in a total of 84 river sites from three watersheds, Huai River watershed (HRW), Sui River watershed (SRW), and Yishusi River watershed (YRW) in the Eastern Huai River Basin of China. Results showed that rivers in the three watersheds had no significant difference in both taxonomic and functional alpha diversity. Rivers in the HRW had significantly higher phylogenetic alpha diversity. For taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity, the overall beta diversity and turnover component were significant higher in the HRW. For functional beta diversity, the overall beta diversity was significantly lower in the HRW. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that local (e.g., nutrients, dissolved oxygen, river width, transparency), regional (e.g., wetland), climate (e.g., temperature), and spatial variables structured alpha and beta fish diversity. Variation partitioning analysis indicated that the pure contributions of local and spatial variables were more important than that of climate and regional variables, which suggested that spatial effects and local environmental filtering were the main factors driving the beta diversity of fish assemblages in these rivers. The current study highlights the importance of considering multidimensional diversity and multiple environmental factors for conserving river fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how human‐modified landscapes affect the phylogenetic composition and assembly mechanisms of biological communities is critical for effectively managing and restoring tropical ecosystems. We evaluated how forest coverage loss, fragmentation and landscape heterogeneity affect the phylogenetic diversity of dung beetles and their assembly mechanisms in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, a protected but highly fragmented tropical landscape.We calculated Faith's phylogenetic diversity, mean pairwise phylogenetic distance and mean nearest taxon distance for 5,388 individuals in 36 species. The standardised effect sizes of these metrics were estimated to control their correlation with species richness. Phylogenetic diversity was also assessed separately for each dung beetle functional group. Finally, we compared the mean functional and phylogenetic pairwise distance and mean nearest taxon distance and measured the phylogenetic signal among dung beetle functional traits to determine the influence of niche conservatism on the phylogenetic structure of species assemblages.Faith's phylogenetic diversity of dung beetles was positively correlated with forest coverage, while their mean phylogenetic and nearest taxon distance values decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation. Necrophagous beetles and forest specialists responded most negatively to forest coverage loss and fragmentation.Alpha and beta diversity values showed phylogenetic overdispersion but functional convergence and weak phylogenetic signals in their functional traits, suggesting low niche conservatism. Landscapes with moderate forest coverage (≥40%) favoured higher phylogenetic beta diversity, whereas phylogenetic and functional beta diversity decreased significantly in landscapes with low forest coverage (<30%).Synthesis and applications. Forest habitats in fragmented landscapes are essential for safeguarding the evolutionary history of dung beetles, reducing biotic homogenisation processes by favouring phylogenetic overdispersion and complementarity between sites. Therefore, to secure the phylogenetic diversity of dung beetles within fragmented tropical reserves, we recommend protecting the existing forests, preventing further fragmentation of continuous forest areas and increasing matrix quality by implementing biodiversity‐friendly production systems. Finally, managers should consider assessing different functional groups in other species, as their response to landscape disturbance may not be phylogenetically similar. The above will allow more effective management practices to protect the species most susceptible to disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Brejos de altitude' is an ecosystem that has been subjected to severe exploitation, leading to an intense reduction in Brazil. Understanding the patterns of bryophyte diversity and composition, particularly of specialized species such as the epiphylls, to anthropic and abiotic variables is crucial for implementing protection measures.We investigated the relationship between composition and diversity of epiphyllous bryophytes and anthropic (edge effects) and abiotic (altitude) variables at local (within each 'Brejo') and regional (set of three 'Brejos') scale. Abiotic and anthropic variables were correlated with alpha and beta diversity (decomposed into species replacement and richness differences) using GLM. Their effects on species composition were evaluated using PERMANOVA.The localities at higher elevations harboured a richer bryoflora and overall beta diversity patterns were associated with altitude and locality, which acted over different scales. Regionally, the contribution of richness differences was limited with increasing altitude. Yet, dissimilarities among localities were associated with richness differences and replacement, denoting the importance of local factors. The composition was explained by local factors interacting with the regional altitudinal gradient. Anthropic activity was significant only when interacting with local factors and altitudinal gradient.Environmental filtering associated with altitude played a more important role in shaping the diversity and composition of epiphyllous bryophytes, at both regional and local scales. Each 'Brejo' acts as an ecological refuge, harbouring part of the whole environmental gradient, and presents a unique floristic composition. Moreover, partitioning beta diversity highlighted the interplay of local and regional forces shaping diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban waters are often neglected in biodiversity research; nonetheless, the number of aquatic microhabitats present in a city and the surrounding urban area is impressive. Twenty-two waterbodies in the Belgrade functional urban area (FUA) were investigated for faunistic and diversity patterns and to assess the effects of environmental factors on the differentiation of Chironomidae assemblages. A total of 66 chironomid taxa within four subfamilies was identified. Water quality at the studied sites, expressed by the water pollution index (WPI), varied significantly. K-means clustering gave four homogenous groups of chironomid assemblages, which showed clear preferences to specific habitat conditions and tolerance to anthropogenic pressures. These groups had high values of alpha and beta diversity components. The main component of beta diversity was species turnover. Waterbody type, water temperature, pH, nutrients and overall pollution were the most important factors influencing the distribution and composition of chironomid assemblages, which revealed clear preferences of each assemblage type to the category of waterbody type and tolerances to environmental pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper continues the studies on the role of bacteria in the environment of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum), focusing on ascomata at three sites in the Nida Basin (southern Poland). Bacterial taxa and the number of OTU sequences identified were determined based on analysis of peridium and gleba collected in 2017 and 2018. The aim of the presented work is to learn the structure of bacterial communities associated with the ascomata of the summer truffle T. aestivum forming in specific stands in south Poland and fine roots of surrounding trees. Sanger DNA sequencing, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used. NGS sequencing platforms short-read (300 bases) was selected, using a MiSeq Illumina. The Kruskall-Wallis test was used for alpha diversity analysis and the PERMANOVA test for beta diversity. Alpha and beta biodiversity analyzes were performed using various indices (Chao1, Simpson, Shannon, Faith's phylogenetic, observed OTUs, Heip's evenness measure - alpha diversity; UniFrac, Jaccard, Bray–Curtis - beta diversity). The Sanger method identified six bacterial taxa that were dominant in the community: Bacillus (86.7 %), Pseudomonas (51.5 %), Stenotrophomonas (15.5 %), Paenibacillus (7.9 %), Rhizobium (7.3 %), and Chryseobacterium (8.5 %). In contrast, NGS results showed the dominance (at OTUs >10,000) of taxa: Bradyrhizobiaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Yersiniaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Comamonadaceae. The PERMANOVA test for the Bray-Curtis and Jaccard indices showed dissimilarities between samples from two of the sites with respect to beta diversity. Significant differences were found in the bacterial communities colonizing the ascomata of T. aestivum and in the root communities with T. aestivum ectomycorrhizae the purpose of this study. The results obtained may be helpful in selecting and monitoring sites suitable for the formation of ascomata of T. aestivum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiomes play an essential role in host survival and local adaptation and thus can facilitate the invasion of host species. Biological invasions have been shown to be linked to the genetic properties of alien host species. It is thus plausible that the holobiont, the host, and its associated microbiome act as an entity to drive invasion success. The bighead carp and silver carp (bigheaded carps), invasive species that exhibit extensive hybridization in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB), provided a unique model to test the holobiont hypothesis of invasion. Here, we investigated the microbiomes of foreguts and hindguts in bigheaded carps and their reciprocal hybrids reared in aquaculture ponds using 16S amplicons and the associated gene prediction. We found an admixed pattern in the gut microbiome community in bigheaded carp hybrids. The hybrid gut microbiomes showed special characteristics such as relatively high alpha diversity in the foregut, an increasing dissimilarity between foreguts and hindguts, and a remarkable proportion of genes coding for putative enzymes related to their digestion of main food resources (Cyanobacteria, cellulose, and chitin). The pond‐reared hybrids had advantageous features in genes coding for putative enzymes related to their diet. The above results collectively suggested that the gut microbiomes of hybrids could be beneficial to their local adaptation (e.g., food resource utilization), which might have facilitated their invasion in the MRB. The gut microbial findings, along with the intrinsic genomic features likely associated with life‐history traits revealed in our recent study, provide preliminary evidence supporting the holobiont hypothesis of invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representative samples of biota collected relative to environmental gradients are important for measuring present distributions and predicting shifts in distribution of taxa in response to climate change or reduced river connectivity. Based on river ecology theory and established measures of species diversity, we present a method to identify suitable river segments for sampling and monitoring changes in taxon diversity. Alpha and beta diversities of selected aquatic macroinvertebrates were assessed in seven South African rivers. Data were drawn from historical and field samples and represented longitudinal species patterns down longitudinal river axes. Representative sampling sites were identified using a logistic regression model to predict the probability of site pairs that were more than 50% similar as a function of up-/downstream distance. Alpha diversities peaked in the upper third of river lengths; beta diversities showed predictable exponential decay rates down river axes up to and excluding the start of estuarine conditions. Application of the model to a 370-km long river indicated that 14 sites should be selected for sampling to capture overall biodiversity patterns. Additional factors, such as confluences tributaries, which influence alpha diversity at sites, are identified and incorporated into site selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total of 26, 22 and 32 sites in Konya, Antalya and West Mediterranean basins in Turkey, respectively, were sampled twice during 2017 to compare the non-marine ostracod diversity. A total of 1787 individuals belonging to 31 species were recorded from all basins. Of which, nine species are common among basins when Fabaeformiscandona fragilis is new for Turkey. High species diversity was found at middle elevational intervals. The highest and lowest Shannon diversity index values were recorded for both Konya (H = 2.19) and Antalya (H = 1.90) basins, respectively. The highest beta diversities values are encountered between closed the Konya and other open basins. Species and environmental variables composition among basins and elevational intervals showed significant differences (p < 0.05, ANOSIM). Of species, cosmopolitans (e.g., Candona neglecta, Ilyocypris bradyi, Psychrodromus olivaceus) provide an important contribution to the differences in diversities among basins and elevational intervals. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis, elevation appeared to be the common influential variables in all basins. Results suggest that alpha diversity is under the control of local and regional factors when beta diversity is primarily affected by regional factor. Although cosmopolitan species are positive indicators, they seem to make a significant contribution to alpha and beta diversities of ostracods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding how spatial distributions of rare and common species are associated with environmental and spatial processes is essential to understanding community assembly. We addressed the following questions: (a) does the relative importance of space and topography vary from rare to common tree species? (b) Are the contributions of topography and space equal? (c) Are the variances explained by topography or space correlated with elevational ranges (ER) at the local scale? (d) Does cell‐size influence those postulated associations? Location: China and the Americas. Major taxa studied: Tree species. Methods: We partitioned the variation in species richness and composition of rare and common tree species by topography and space across a range of extents and grain sizes in eight communities. We calculated contribution ratio (CR) between space and topography to quantify their relative importance. We employed Kendall's rank correlation to determine the relation between CR and commonness. Mixed effect models were used to identify the influence of cell‐size on the results. Results: The majority of CR values were positively related to increasing commonness, especially for composition. The explained variances by space were always higher than that by topography regardless of commonness. At local scale, variances explained by space or topography were not correlated with ER. Main conclusions: Our results indicate that the relative importance of space compared to topography increases from rare to common species across forests. We suggest that future studies of community assembly need to account for both space and topography to adequately describe differences in rare and common species assembly mechanisms at range of spatial extents and grain sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At 1039 metres, Gunung Tebu is one of the highest hills in NE Peninsular Malaysia and the highest in Terengganu, surrounded by selectively logged community forest. Human disturbance and infrastructure development have been associated with a reduction in floral and faunal diversity. Sampling of butterflies and moths was carried out in July 2012 in two principal regions; comprising low altitude disturbed recreational forest and the higher-altitude, relatively undisturbed, forest of Gunung Tebu itself. A total of 113 individuals belonging to 101 species in 20 lepidopteran families were collected. The family Geometridae was the richest in terms of species (25%), followed by Erebidae (20%), and several families were each represented by only a single species. The Simpson Diversity Index (D) of species diversity was 1.963 x 10-3 and Fisher's alpha (α) index was 458.1 overall indicating very high diversity in Lepidoptera in the forest. For the two sites individually, D was 6.585 x 10-4 for Lata Belatan forest and 4.545 x 10-3 for Gunung Tebu forest. The Fisher's alpha, Shannon-Weiner Index and Species Evenness (E') for Lata Belatan forest were also higher than for Gunung Tebu forest. Presented here are the full results of this sampling, in tabular form, along with the outcomes of various diversity indices and a discussion of their implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: We investigated habitat heterogeneity and patterns of avian taxonomic and functional diversity change across a decreasing patch‐size gradient in a critically endangered, fragmented forest‐system to elucidate: (1) habitat patch‐size and structural drivers of avian diversity change, (2) potential patch‐size thresholds at which avian diversity and habitat heterogeneity changes occurred and (3) avian species/communities within thresholds that indicated distinct patch‐size categories. Location: Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, South Africa. Methods: We conduced habitat‐structure and fixed‐radius point‐count surveys during the avian breeding season across 123 habitat patches (range 0.06–386.9 ha). We calculated taxonomic and functional diversity/patch (α) using a distance matrix of all traits present in the avian community (γ) and described community change across the patch‐size gradient (β). We compared linear regressions of patch‐size effects on avian functional α‐diversity and habitat‐structural heterogeneity to segmented regression at five bands, determined by mean patch sizes responsible for provisioning avian functional α‐diversity at <50%, 50%–62.5%, 62.5%–75%, 75%–87.5% and 87.5%–100% of avian functional γ‐diversity to explore patch‐size thresholds, and tested for significant avian indicator species of categories identified. Results: Avian taxonomic and functional α‐diversity significantly decreased with decreasing patch size and habitat heterogeneity; correlations between taxonomic and functional diversity declines and a positive significant influence of habitat heterogeneity on avian functional diversity indicated selective extinction pressure on niches and concomitant functional traits. Species turnover significantly increased in smaller patches. Segmented regressions of patch size‐effect on avian functional diversity and habitat heterogeneity out‐performed linear regressions at three patch‐size thresholds (157, 96 and 9 ha). Forest‐dependent specialists were significant indicators of high‐diversity patches >90 ha. Species characterizing small patches <9 ha were generalists, but many were also present in larger patches, highlighting nested‐community subsets of γ‐diversity. Main conclusions: Specialized niches and concomitant species became locally extinct at patch‐size thresholds. We present replicable methodology and recommendations for conservation of forest systems using a critically endangered biome containing disproportionately high avifauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we determined that genetic and environmental factors contributed equally towards rosacea in twins. To assess an environmental factor, we characterized the malar cheek bacterial microbiome from twins discordant for rosacea. We found no significant difference in facial microbiome alpha and beta diversity between related twins discordant for rosacea. However, the relative percentage abundance of Gordonia and Geobacillus, low-abundant genera, was positively and negatively associated with rosacea severity, respectively. Our data demonstrate a significant correlation between facial microbiome and severity of rosacea in genetically matched twins and importantly that overall microbiome composition is largely unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macrofungi thrive in different four areas namely Vansda, Waghai, Kaprada, Aamolia region. Maximum Microbial diversity was observed in sample collected from waghai location includes, Taxa_S-31, Individual-31, Dominance_D-0.032 , Simpson_1-D-0.96, Shannon_H-3.434 , Evenness- 1, Brillouin-2.519, Menhinick-5.568, Margalef-8.736, Equitability J-1, Fisher Alpha-0, Berger-Parker-0.322,Chao-496. The decrease numbers of specimens consistently found with the location Waghai, Whittaker- 0.16129, Harrison- 0.0046083, Cody- 4, Wilson-shmida- 4.6452, Mourelle- 0.13272 followed by Kaparada and Vansda region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammals play innumerous ecological functions in terrestrial ecosystems and are in decline in the Atlantic Forest. Using a biogeography approach with tools to analyze metacommunities, this study aimed to understand how mammal diversity would vary spatiotemporally across the Atlantic Forest. Secondary data about mammal communities was obtained using search engines. A nestedness analysis and spatial autocorrelations were used to evaluate the spatial patterns of richness. Metacommunity models were used based on species-neutral diversity to measure partitioning and estimate and compare diversity at different spatial and temporal scales, and regression models were made to evaluate the diversity variation obtained in relation to biogeographical predictors. The richness of mammals had intermediary nestedness and a spatial autocorrelation. We obtained high beta diversity for the entire Atlantic Forest, which was similar to simulated values and decreased at smaller spatial and temporal scales. The diversity of medium- to large-bodied mammals along the Atlantic Forest is composed of a nested summary of local to regional diversities, yet the tropical region was very important to the composition of the overall diversity. The different multiscale approaches and results may contribute to better understanding the diversity of medium- to large-bodied mammal communities and how they vary in the Atlantic Forest. Both the neutral paradigm and other metacommunity paradigms have complementary strengths in species diversity at several scales. We conclude that conservation strategies should consider all scales in the Atlantic Forest, because the diversity of mammals is dependent both the local and regional pool of mammals. Some of the most important standing issues are to find out whether dispersal across regional landscapes occurs for most species and, if it does, to ensure that this is maintained or increased, to maintain species diversity and ecological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation practices in Europe frequently attempt to perpetuate or mimic the 'traditional' forms of management of semi-natural habitats, but with a limited understanding of what these entailed., We review the emerging understanding of ecological processes, structures and management interventions that enhance biodiversity (wildlife) at diverse scales. These are then examined in the context of pre-industrial ( c. 1200-1750) land management systems in lowland England, in order to identify historic practices which are likely to have provided important wildlife resources, but which are relatively neglected in current conservation management., Principles enhancing alpha and beta diversity and the conservation status of threatened species include structural complexity and heterogeneity at nested spatial scales; physical disturbance and exposure of mineral substrate; nutrient removal; lengthened successional rotations; and spatial variation in grazing regimes., The available evidence suggests that pre-industrial land management was generally characterized by intense resource exploitation and significant levels of biomass harvest; complex nested structural heterogeneity both between and within landscape elements; overlaying of multiple land uses; and spatial and temporal variability in management, rendering the concept of long-lived 'traditional' practice problematic. Grazing patterns are poorly understood, but intensive grazing was probably the norm in most contexts, potentially resulting in simplified sward structures and suppressed ecotonal vegetation., In much of the pre-industrial period, early-successional and disturbed microhabitats were widespread, but ungrazed or lightly grazed herb-rich vegetation may have been limited, the converse of current conservation management. The key change since then has been homogenization at multiple scales, coupled with reduction of specific niches and conditions., Synthesis and applications. In adopting perceived 'traditional' management practices, modern conservation rarely achieves the range and complexity of conditions that were present in the past. A better understanding of past practices allows more favourable management of those surviving semi-natural habitats where historic assemblages persist - with greater emphasis on physical disturbance and variability in prescriptions both temporally and spatially. When creating or restoring habitats, after interruption of management sufficiently long for dependent assemblages to be lost, better appreciation of historic management encourages novel forms of intervention to enhance biodiversity, with emphasis on complex structural and spatial heterogeneity at nested scales, biomass removal and nutrient reduction. These strongly management-based approaches are complementary to the use of large herbivores to create and maintain dynamic ecotonal mosaics in the manner advocated by some proponents of 'rewilding'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's five largest freshwater lakes (Poyang, Dongting, Taihu, Hongze, and Chaohu) are all located in lowland regions and differ greatly in lake morphology, hydrology, and water chemistry. However, basic knowledge of diversity patterns and factors driving macroinvertebrate community structure is lacking. We analyzed the composition and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and evaluated the roles of environmental factors and dispersal processes in determining beta diversity at both the lake and regional scales. The two Yangtze-connected lakes (i.e., Lakes Poyang and Dongting) were highest in taxonomic diversity. Differences in taxonomic composition were evident among the five lakes, with the two Yangtze-connected lakes dominated by bivalves and/or gastropods, while Lake Taihu showed great changes in taxonomic composition among sites in accordance with its high habitat heterogeneity. Lake Hongze was dominated by polychaetes, crustaceans, and bivalves. The eutrophic-hypertrophic Lake Chaohu was exclusively dominated by chironomids and oligochaetes. At the lake scale, total γ-diversity was mainly attributed to β -diversity (among sites) ranging from 57.9 to 87.6%. The total γ-diversity at the regional scale was primarily related to higher β-diversity, with β and β (among lakes) accounting for 30.4 and 58.8% of total taxa richness, respectively. Environmental conditions appear to be important in structuring benthic macroinvertebrate communities at both the lake and regional scale. Dispersal does not appear to affect distribution of macroinvertebrates at the lake scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silvicultural management of coppicing has been very common in deciduous forests in many European countries. After decades of decline of this practice, socio-economic changes might induce a revival valuing the biomass as a resource. New insights in the ecological processes that regulate plant diversity are relevant for a sustainable forest management. While studies on long-term changes are available, the short-term dynamics of the coppice forest understorey has not yet been explored. In this context, it is interesting to evaluate the species compositional changes, including the processes of species turnover and species impoverishment (nestedness) and to investigate the role of plant functional traits. For this purpose, we resampled a chronosequence of complex coppice beech forests of the Central Apennines (Italy) monitoring the short-time species dynamics of five years (i.e. from 2006 to 2011) in three age classes, i.e. post-logged, recovering and old coppice stands (0-16, 17-31 and > 32 years, respectively). In contrast to our expectation, declining species richness appeared only in the recovering stands, while the landscape scale (between-stand) heterogeneity, except for post-logged and recovering stands in 2011, did not change over five years. Significant temporal nestedness was found in each stage of succession. However, the rate of species turnover and species impoverishment do not significantly differ among the three age classes, indicating their constant importance along the forest regeneration after disturbance. Only in the early stage of forest regeneration after coppicing, species compositional changes are reflected by functional changes with surviving understorey species having clonal regeneration traits. Our results suggest an overall landscape-scale stability (and sustainability) of this coppice forest system. We conclude with management indications, highlighting the importance of maintaining the traditional local approach (coppicing with standards in small 0.5-1.0 ha sized management units with a ca 30-year rotation cycle) where active coppice parcels are interspersed by abandoned stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Patterns and driving factors of fish biodiversity in metacommunities were quantified. • Almost all indices of alpha and beta diversity decreased during the 1980 s-2010 s. • Land use contributed more to biodiversity decline than other stressors. Understanding patterns and driving factors of freshwater fish biodiversity in metacommunities is essential for biological conservation but rarely studied in regions experiencing rapid land use changes. We examined changes of both alpha and beta fish diversities in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic facets during the 1980 s to 2010 s, and quantified contributions from natural and human drivers in lakes located in China's fastest economic development region. Results showed that almost all indices of alpha and beta diversity decreased through time. For alpha diversity, taxonomic and functional richness declined by 13 to 15%. Rheophilic and piscivorous fish species declined by 50 and 36%, respectively. For beta diversity, the decline of overall functional (-31%) diversity was greater than taxonomic (-17%) and phylogenetic (-19%) diversity. The decline of multiple facets of beta diversity indicated that fish communities in these lakes have homogenized through time. Land use (i.e., increased urban land and aquaculture ponds), hydrology (i.e., increased water level), climate (i.e., increased air temperature), and fishing (i.e., increased lake fishery catch) factors all made significant contributions to both alpha and beta fish diversity decline in multiple facets. The overall contribution from land use to the decline of multidimensional fish diversity was greater than those of other stressors. While attention should be given to both local human disturbance and regional climate factors, in regions experiencing rapid economic development and land use changes, local disturbances should be considered as a priority in biodiversity management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agriculture-dominated landscapes, agricultural intensification and associated landscape homogenization have caused large declines in farmland biodiversity. This study was aimed at determining how agricultural landscape composition drives community diversity and composition of farmland birds in the characteristic bocage landscape in Brittany (NW France) on a broad scale. Using bird atlas data from the region (2004–2008; 10 × 10 km), we analyzed the importance of different components of agricultural landscape composition (types of crops, amount of semi-natural covers and elements, and artificial lands) on the alpha diversity and beta diversity of farmland birds of different functional groups, defined depending on the degree of farmland specialization and ecological requirements. Agricultural landscape composition features explained a small amount of variation in alpha and beta diversity, particularly for specialists and residents. Cereal crops were negatively correlated with alpha diversity of all the functional groups considered whereas rotational grasslands were negatively associated with migrant and insectivorous alpha diversity. Although shrublands are not common in Brittany, they were positively associated with the occurrence of some species and particularly with alpha diversity of all the functional groups but specialists and residents. At the spatial grain of analysis, community composition was mainly driven by a gradient of alteration of the bocage . To conclude, we claim for the consideration of regional idiosyncrasies in far-reaching planning schemes to prevent future biodiversity loss in agriculture-dominated landscapes due to agricultural intensification. In view of the observed large-scale trends gathered from atlas data analysis and the small amount of explained variation, we also advocate for subsequent finer scale bespoke surveys to determine the biodiversity status associated with the valuable bocage agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chironomidae are typically abundant in freshwater habitats and can be good indicators of ecological health. Coastal rock pools of barrier islands were sampled to determine how communities varied spatially between two horizontal zones, defined by wave disturbance and distance from shore, and from island-to-island. Pupal exuviae were collected monthly from pool surfaces to assess species composition, true community richness, and alpha and beta diversity. Cluster analyses were used to determine geographic community variation. A majority of species were rare, while three species dominated relative abundances. Zonal differences were significant, diversity was greater in near-shore pools overall, and few species occurred in both zones. Communities were more species-rich than expected based on prior studies in similar habitats. Community clusters were not strongly differentiated but suggested increased dispersal challenges at wider gaps between islands. Higher diversity near the shore and geographic clustering of communities are important to consider when planning for remediation activities following pollution events such as ship groundings or oil spills. In general, baseline coastal studies and conservation planning should consider aquatic invertebrates when pool habitats are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To describe the structural and floristic diversity of New Caledonian mixed tropical rain forest and investigate its environmental determinants. Location New Caledonia ( SW Pacific), a biodiversity hotspot. Methods Structural (stem density, basal area) and floristic characteristics (composition, species richness and dissimilarity) were investigated along environmental gradients (elevation, rainfall and slope) on different substrates (ultramafic and non-ultramafic) through the New Caledonian Plant Inventory and Permanent Plots Network ( NC- PIPPN, 201 plots each measuring 20 m x 20 m). Results A total of 28,640 trees (DBH ≥5 cm) belonging to 749 species, 240 genera and 92 families were inventoried in the NC-PIPPN. The New Caledonian mixed rain forest studied was characterized as having high stem density, basal area and species richness, and many small stems (60% of the trees <10 cm DBH and almost a quarter of species did not exceed this threshold). More than one-third of the species were rare (i.e. inventoried in less than three plots or represented by fewer than three individuals) in the plot network and floristic dissimilarity was high (Bray-Curtis index >0.70). The presence of ultramafic (UM) and non- ultramafic substrates (non-UM) combined with altitudinal and rainfall gradients were the main drivers of floristic dissimilarity, whereas the effect of geographic distance between the plots was surprisingly low. Floristic dissimilarity was very high between UM and non-UM substrates from species up to family level. About 75% of the species occurred on a single substrate type. The mixed rain forest on UM and non-UM substrates differed in floristic composition but not in structure. Conclusions NC-PIPPN proved to be an effective tool for investigating the woody species richness of New Caledonia as containing ca. 46% of its non-herbaceous species. However, the network's design, and more specifically its small plots, restricts its capacity to capture beta diversity and forest structure. High species richness and floristic dissimilarity confirm that New Caledonian mixed rain forest is exceptionally rich. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cacti are important elements of the flora in many ecosystems of the Americas. However, the factors that determine their richness and composition are not well known, particularly at the regional scale. The aim of this work was to study the patterns of cactus richness (both species and growth forms) and composition in the Sierras del Norte mountain range (Córdoba Province, Argentina). Species presence was recorded at 55 sites covering an altitudinal gradient from 203 to 970m. Twenty four species from eight genera were recorded in the area. Total species richness and growth form richness decreased with increasing altitude. The richness of columnar and short columnar species decreased with increasing altitude, whereas richness of globose species increased. Opuntioid richness did not respond to altitude. Species composition was strongly related to altitude. Gymnocalycium bruchii and Parodia erinacea occurred at sites located at higher altitudes, whereas at sites at lower altitudes, Gymnocalycium schickendantzii, Stetsonia coryne and Cleistocactus baumannii, among other species, were present. Our results highlight the importance of altitude in shaping the distribution of species and growth forms in the Sierras del Norte Mountains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Only a few studies comparing flea composition on the coast and in the mountains have been conducted. We investigated differences in flea communities infesting small mammals in selected habitats in northern, central, and southern Poland. We predicted (1) a greater number of flea species in the southeastern Poland and a lower number in the north, (2) a greater number of flea species in fertile and wet habitats than in poor and arid habitats, and (3) a low similarity of flea species between flea communities in western and eastern Poland. We found a negative effect of increasing latitude on flea species richness. We suppose that the mountains providing a variety of environments and the limits of the geographic ranges of several flea subspecies in southeastern Poland result in a higher number of flea species. There was a positive effect of increasing wetness of habitat on flea species richness. We found a high diversity in flea species composition between western and eastern Poland (beta diversity = 11) and between central and eastern Poland (beta diversity = 12). Re-colonization of Poland by small mammals and their ectoparasites from different (western and eastern) refugees can affect on this high diversity of flea species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

arabicHierarchical partitioning of diversity is an effective tool in determining at what spatial scales diversity is generated. arabicThis has important implications for managing diversity as we may wish to determine the appropriate scale for conservation activities. arabicWe studied whether ant assemblages are compositionally distinct between different vegetation units and at which hierarchical scale (regional vs local) diversity is being generated. We did this in an attempt to determine at what spatial scales land use management and conservation activities for ants (and therefore invertebrates) should take place. arabicWe sampled ants in 4 vegetation units in North West Province, South Africa, as part of a research expedition for the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA); 92 ant species (Formicidae) were sampled in 25 genera within 6 subfamilies. arabicPartitioning of diversity showed that alpha diversity was high for points (sampling units) and extremely high for sites, but both were not significantly different from the random model. Although small relative to alpha diversity, beta diversity among points contributed significantly more than expected to overall diversity whereas turnover among vegetation units was significantly lower than expected from the null model. arabicThese results indicate that turnover between points within vegetation units is relatively high; turnover at a regional scale was however very low, supported by the few number of species that were site specific. The lack of any spatial structure within sites might suggest that the studies’ grain was too fine or that ant assemblages in a vegetation unit are homogenous in space. arabicThe high turnover observed in the study between points may be exactly that, and if so may well be attributed to habitat quality and ant dispersal mechanisms – supported by other studies. It may, however, simply be an artefact of incomplete sampling. The low beta diversity observed between vegetation types may be attributed to the fact that ants are extremely good dispersers. arabicDifferent colony founding mechanisms could explain why some species contributed more to the turnover between points. arabicOur results indicate that management activities for conservation of ants are sufficient at scales as fine as 400 m×400 m, yet we caution that small conservation areas should be nested within larger reserves in order to maintain landscape connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Diversity is a property of community that can described, characterized, and understood according to the functioning of ecosystems. To study the richness and local abundance and species replacement between habitats around the Zapatosa's wetland complex (El Cesar Department), I carried out four field trips between November of 2006 and October of 2007. A total of 640 sampling hours/man analyzed five habitat types chasmophyte forest, dry forest, riparian forest, palm-grove and tree-lined savanna; with the exception of the palm-grove sampled at its 75%, the others were sampled up to their 80%. I found 847 reptiles that were distributed in 48 species. The group with the highest number of species was Colubridae with 14, followed by Gekkonidae with five. Five endemic species and eight with some conservation threat grade at a national level are reported. The riparian forest was the richest and most abundant habitat with 34 species and 196 individuals. For each habitat, Colubridae had the highest number of species, followed by the families Polychrotidae, Gekkonidae and Teiidae, in that order. The reptile species composition was not different between the tree-lined savanna and the chasmophyte forest, but differed among the tree-lined savanna and the riparian forest, palm-grove and dry forest habitats. The most important differences in the species composition among almost all the habitats were influenced by the species Anolis tropidogaster and Gonatodes albogularis, and the higher occurrence of Stenocercus erythrogaster in the chasmophyte forest. The species replacement had an average value of 50%; the biggest amounts of shared species were the lizards, while the snake Leptodeira septentrionalis was the only one present in all habitat types. The forest grows-among-rocks showed the biggest complementarity and number of unique species compared to the other habitats. The wetland complex provides two thirds of the reptile's species reported until now for the Caribbean region, and more than 80% of those reported for the El Cesar department. This wetland complex seems to behave as a center for low land species concentration as it hosts a high proportion of species from those places. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (2): 935-968. Epub 2011 June 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Landscape simplification and habitat fragmentation may cause severe declines of less mobile and habitat specialist species and lead to biotic homogenization of species communities, but large-scale empirical evidence on biotic homogenization remains sparse. 2. We sampled butterfly and day-active geometrid moth communities within 134 differently fragmented landscapes in Finland situated in five geographical regions. Overall species richness was partitioned into alpha and beta diversity and butterflies were assigned a species-specific mobility rank and habitat specificity score based on published ecological trait classifications. 3. Alpha and beta diversity of butterflies and geometrid moths decreased with increasing agricultural intensity, independently of geographical position. The responses were either linear or nonlinear with accelerating decrease of diversity when arable field cover exceeded 60%. 4. Mobility rank and percentage generalists of butterfly communities increased linearly with increasing field cover. 5. In landscapes with high agricultural intensity (>60% field coverage), the decrease in beta diversity of butterflies was strongly associated with an increasing proportion of habitat generalists and increasing average mobility in the butterfly communities. However, there was no such relationship in landscapes with low or moderate agricultural intensity. 6. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate that biotic homogenization caused by land-use change arises as a consequence of the loss of habitat specialists and poor dispersers in intensively cultivated landscapes with simplified landscape structure. Agri-environment schemes will therefore be inefficient in protecting high beta diversity unless they explicitly increase habitat availability and connectivity for habitat specialists and poor dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baetic ranges are one of the major hot-spots of biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. The prominent Baetic plant richness is based mostly on the variety of ecological gradients, including the geological substrates such as dolomites. Dolomitic outcrops are not uncommon in the area, and they produce genuine edaphic islands inducing a peculiar flora and vegetation with high endemicity levels. Indeed, the habitats from these outcrops have been included in the Habitats Directive by the EU. This paper deals with the biogeographical relations between the dolomitophilous flora of the Baetic ranges. The presence/absence of those species was recorded in each of the Baetic ranges and the most interesting relations were revealed by means of two complementary strategies: Cluster Analysis and PAE. Using the current biogeographical classification of Rivas-Martinez to describe the results, the ranges of the Rondean Sector appear separated from the rest of the Baetic chorological province, since they comprise the most distinct flora. This division could be explained by the fact that this sector was separated from the Iberian Peninsula during the Messinian age (7.2-5.3 Ma) and, simultaneously, connected to Africa. The rest of the ranges belong to one of the following two groups: (1) the Malacitan-Almijarensean Sector and the western sub-Baetic territories; (2) the eastern territories of the sub-Baetic Sector. The ranges of the Guadician-Bacensean and Alpujarrean-Gadorensean Sectors behave as “satellite” ranges of the two above-mentioned groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. To provide reliable tools for landscape management in tropical regions, it is important to recognise the emergent properties of landscape heterogeneity and to understand their influence on different components of biodiversity. 2. The effects of habitat type, patch size and shape, canopy cover, distance between habitats, and elevation were examined on the partitioned diversity (alpha, beta and gamma) of dung beetles in a transformed landscape in southern Mexico. 3. In total, 4109 individuals belonging to 28 species of dung beetle were recorded in the entire landscape. Alpha diversity was similar among habitats, although species composition was more similar between forest remnants and living fences than between living fences and pastures. Beta diversity was related to differences in elevation and distance between habitats. The distance between fragments was significantly correlated with the mean number of beetle captures and species richness per site. Gamma diversity depended more on species turnover (beta diversity) than on local species richness. 4. In general, living fences and pastures with trees, and small forest patches retain a significant proportion of the fauna typically associated with pristine forest habitats. The remaining tracts of forest, along with the contemporary landscape elements may offer suitable habitats for future recolonisation by other insect species in heavily disturbed landscapes in tropical Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the impact of grazing on dung beetle diversity at the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve, a xeric ecosystem in central Mexico with a long history of use by humans. We compared the community structure, as well as the alpha and beta diversity between two cover conditions (open and closed vegetation) that represent the impact of grazing within a habitat, and between habitat types (submountainous and crassicaule scrublands). From 576 samples we collected 75,605 dung beetles belonging to 20 taxa. While mean species richness and diversity were different between habitat types, cumulative species richness was not. The effects of grazing on vegetation structure influenced the cumulative species richness and diversity of dung beetles in the submountainous scrubland, where grazing has created land mosaics of a grassland matrix with scrubland patches. This was not the case in the crassicaule scrubland where the impact of grazing is not as evident. Beta diversity significantly responds to the effects of grazing on habitat conditions. We discuss the ecological factors that may promote these responses by landscape diversity components. We also identify the species that could act as useful indicators to monitor the effect of land management on biodiversity. Our results indicate cattle farming maintains a diversified land mosaic, and these areas support more diverse dung beetle ensembles than homogeneous areas of closed, shrubby vegetation cover. Thus, controlled grazing activity could certainly favour the conservation of dung beetle biodiversity and improve ecosystem functioning by maintaining dung decomposition rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Differences in alpha and beta bat diversity among montane rainforest and five shaded coffee plantations under different management regimes, as well as some environmental factors and vegetation parameters influencing bat richness, were evaluated for the first time in southeastern Chiapas, Mexico. In each site, bats were captured every 2 months from March 2004 to July 2005, with six mist-nets, during two nights, using the capture–recapture method. We captured 2970 individuals of 43 bat species. Montane rainforest had the greatest alpha diversity (H′=2.681; n =37), whereas alpha diversity was similar among coffee plantations (H′=2.229–2.364; n =23–26). The number of frugivorous and nectarivorous species was similar among the sites; the greatest exchange in species composition (beta diversity) occurred for insectivorous bats, which reduce their number in coffee plantations as pesticides are incorporated. Bat richness species was significantly related to the number of vegetation strata, height, and cover of trees. We suggest that coffee plantations could act as corridors, facilitating connection among different elements of the landscape in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas for some frugivorous and nectarivorous bats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using the abundance and distribution of small mammals at 26 sites in an Atlantic forest landscape, we investigated how species abundance and alpha and beta diversity are affected by fragment size and the presence of corridors. To account for the variability in forest structure among fragments, we described and minimized the influence of foliage density and stratification on small mammal data. Sites were distributed among three categories of fragment size and in continuous forest. For small and medium-sized categories, we considered isolated fragments and fragments connected by corridors to larger remnants. Small mammal abundance and alpha and beta diversity were regressed against site scores from the first axis of a Principal Component Analysis on forest structure variables. Residuals were used in analyses of variance to compare fragment size and connectivity categories. Forest structure influenced total abundance and abundance of some species individually, but not the diversity of small mammal communities. Total abundance and alpha diversity were lower in small and medium-sized fragments than in large fragments and continuous forest, and in isolated compared to connected fragments. Three species were less common, but none was more abundant in smaller fragments. At least one species was more abundant in connected compared to isolated fragments. Beta diversity showed an opposite relationship to fragment size and corridors, increasing in small and isolated fragments. Results highlight the importance of secondary forest for the conservation of tropical fauna, the hyper-dynamism of small isolated fragments and the potential of corridors to buffer habitat fragmentation effects in tropical landscapes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Variations in interspecific competition, abundance, and alpha and beta diversities of corals were studied from 1962 to 2000 at different localities on the reef at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Reductions in abundance and diversity were caused by direct damage by storms and elimination in competition. Recovery after such reductions was influenced by differences in the size of the species pools of recruits, and in contrasting competitive processes in different environments. In some places, the species pool of coral larval recruits is very low, so species richness (5) and diversity (D) never rise very high. At other sites, this species pool of recruits is larger, and S and D soon rise to high levels. After five different hurricanes destroyed corals at some sites during the 38-year period, recovery times of S and D ranged from 3 to 25 years. One reason for the variety of recovery times is that the physical environment was sometimes so drastically changed during the hurricane that a long period was required to return it to a habitat suitable for corals. Once S and D have peaked during recolonization, they may either remain at a high level, or decline. In shallow water, with no deleterious changes in environmental conditions, S and D may not decline over time, because superior competitors cannot overtop inferior competitors without exposing themselves to deleterious aerial exposure at low tide. At other times and places, S and D did decline over time. One cause of this was a gradual deterioration of the physical environment, as corals grew upward into the intertidal region and died of exposure. S and D also fell because the wave action in hurricanes either killed colonies in whole or part, or changed the drainage patterns over the reef crest, leaving corals high and dry at low tide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 1 The spatial pattern of vegetation heterogeneity across different scales may indicate the major environmental controls on vegetation structure, and thus guide strategies for the conservation of biodiversity. 2 We analysed cross-scale vegetation patterns in a 90 000-km2 area of natural grasslands in the Flooding Pampa, Argentina. We assessed the contribution of regional (latitudinal) and landscape (topographic) patterns of species turnover to overall heterogeneity using data from 749 censuses. 3 A large proportion of the variation in species composition across the entire region was observed at very fine spatial scales (0.1–10 km2), associated with subtle topographic features and soil salinity gradients. Latitudinal variation played a secondary role. 4 Species turnover among stands occupying different landscape positions at the same latitude was 50% greater than among inventories encompassing two degrees of latitude. The fine-grain heterogeneity determined that an area of 10 km2 was often sufficient to include 50% of all vascular plant species of the region. 5 Although a large proportion (nearly 70%) of the vascular flora was composed of rare (satellite) species that occurred in less than 10% of the samples, few core species (i.e. those occurring in more than 90% of the samples) were seen at any scale of analysis. 6 Latitude contributed most clearly to variation in species composition among the zonal communities located in well-drained soils where differences in relative cover of C3 and C4 grasses were seen. However, photosynthetic pathways still varied more along salinity or topographic gradients than across regions. A latitudinal pattern in abundance of the different Poaceae tribes was also consistent with their climatic classification. 7 Alpha diversity showed a threefold variation among different stands within a landscape: it increased from low topographic positions and high soil salinity... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endosymbionts living in plants and insects are pervasive. Ficus (Moraceae) has very special inflorescences (which we also call figs) enclosed like an urn, and such inflorescence is usually parasitized by fig wasps. Ficus breeds fig wasp larvae in its figs and adult fig wasps pollinate for Ficus, Ficus and its obligated pollinator formed fig-fig wasp mutualism. Previous studies have found that this confined environment in figs may have provided protection for fig wasps and that this has left some imprints on the genome of fig wasps during the coevolution history of figs and fig wasps. Research on the diversity of both bacteria and fungi in figs are fewer. Our study explored the diversity of endosymbionts in Ficus hirta figs. We utilized high-throughput sequencing and biological database to identify the specific microorganism in figs, then conducted microorganism communities' diversity analysis and function annotation analysis. As a result, we identified the dominant endosymbionts in figs, mainly some insect internal parasitic bacteria and fungi, plant pathogen, endophytes, and saprotroph. Then we also found bacteria in Ficus hirta figs were more diversified than fungi, and bacteria communities in female figs and functional male figs were different. These findings may give us more insight into the coevolution and interaction among endosymbiont, fig, and fig wasp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil microbial diversity decreased along a natural aridity gradient. • Bacteria changed their proportion to adapted to environmental changes. • Fungi changed their rare taxa in response to environmental change. • Soil C:N, salinity and regional temperature regulate microbial community. • Soil C:N directly, and SPEI indirectly influence soil microbial diversity. Environmental aridity is increasing in several regions around the globe due to climate change. However, little is known about microbial diversity and community responses to aridity along grassland-to-desert gradients. We investigated soil bacterial and fungal diversity and composition, and associated environmental factors along an aridity gradient across grassland (G), desert-grassland (DG) and desert (D) in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. The results indicate that soil microbial diversity decreased significantly from G and DG to D. Bacteria were mostly dominated by the universal phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria. Fungal communities were dominated only by Ascomycota. Most bacterial species (58.7–69.1%) were found in all habitats with significant differences among the three vegetation types, while most soil fungal species occupied small geographic areas. Soil bacterial communities adapted to environmental changes through changes in proportions of their taxa, while fungi changed their rare taxa in response to the differences in local environments. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that soil C:N, salinity and regional temperature were the most important factors regulating microbial community composition. Structural equation models (SEM) revealed that C:N was the most important factor directly influencing soil microbial diversity, and SPEI was the most important factor indirectly influencing soil microbial diversity in the Mongolian desert-grassland ecosystem. Our results provide evidence that soil bacterial and fungal communities respond differently to the changes in the biotic and abiotic factors, reflecting different adaptive strategies for coping with climate change in desert grassland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• North African steppes are considered among the most threatened terrestrial biomes worldwide. • Grazing exclusion is an effective management practice for vegetation recovery and habitat restoration. • Implementing grazing exclusion during prolonged drought increases overall alpha-diversity. • Grazing exclusion increases abundance-based β-diversity at landscape scale. • The responses of plant functional groups to grazing exclusion were identity-dependent. Grazing exclusion has been proved to be an effective approach for naturally restoring degraded rangelands. Still, the effect of this management practice on plant community composition and structure is ambiguous, especially under prolonged and repeated drought events. Here, we investigated the responses of community composition (i.e. incidence-based) and structure (i.e. abundance-based) to short-term sheep grazing exclusion under severe drought episode in the arid steppes of Alfa-grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) with a long evolutionary history of grazing. Individual species responses were tested based on species occurrence and abundance in either grazed or grazing-excluded steppes. Besides, indicator species analysis was used to identify species indicative of grazing-excluded steppes. Likewise, incidence-based and abundance-based α -diversity, β -diversity and functional groups' diversities were quantified using Hill Numbers and compared between the two steppe managements types. Under severe drought conditions, sheep grazing exclusion allowed the apparition of a large number of increasers, colonizers, and native indicator plant species. It also improved the size of regional species pool and increased overall incidence-based and abundance-based α -diversity. Moreover, grazing exclusion decreased the abundance-based β -diversity at local scale but increased it at landscape scale. The incidence-based β -diversity significantly decreased at the landscape scale. Grazing exclusion enabled a significant spatial structuration of abundance-based β -diversity components by maintaining high balanced variation in species abundance at large spatial scale and greater abundance-gradient at fine-scale. Our results suggest that the implementation of short-term grazing exclusion in arid steppes would be the appropriate management practice for vegetation and habitat during prolonged droughts since it permits the recovery of native plant species and affects positively the size of the regional species pool, the overall incidence- and abundance-based α-diversity as well as the abundance-based β -diversity (chiefly at landscape scale). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]