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In the late Miocene, a large inland sea known as the Eastern Paratethys stretched out across the present-day Black Sea – Caspian Sea region. The basin was mostly endorheic and its water budget thus strongly dependent on regional climate. The basin was therefore prone to high-amplitude water-level fluctuations and associated turnovers in water chemistry and fauna. Profound palaeoenvironmental changes happened in the Eastern Paratethys during this time period. This article documents the evolution of the Dacian Basin of Romania, the westernmost branch of the Eastern Paratethys, during the time interval between 7.7 and 6.0 Ma. Our integrated study of sedimentary facies, micro- and macro fauna along the Slănicul de Buzău Section was constrained with a timeframe based on magnetostratigraphy. The remarkable 1.3 km-thick sedimentary record, high depositional rate (0.65–1.26 m/kyr) and abundance of fossils along this section provide a unique opportunity to study sedimentary and biotic turnovers in high detail. Our analyses reveal several marked water-level and salinity changes: A predominance of freshwater coastal plain environments, only occasionally flooded, indicates a low water-level in the Khersonian (~7.7–7.63 Ma). The coastal plain deposits are overlain by offshore muds revealing a low mesohaline early Maeotian transgression, which was followed by the installation of littoral/nearshore environments with freshwater molluscs in shallow settings and oligohaline ostracods in slightly deeper settings. Subsequent delta progradation and a prevalence of freshwater fauna in both marginal and more distal environments characterize the late Maeotian. This was followed by a remarkable freshwater transgression that started at 6.3 Ma and led to predominantly offshore deposition. The late Maeotian fossil record suggests brackish water pulses from Lake Pannon (Central Paratethys), followed by mass occurrences of Coelogonia novorossica. At 6.1 Ma, a short influx of meso- to polyhali

This item is freely available online and the full text is attached. http://seep.paleo.pan.pl/AHS_5.html, NHM Repository

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch), Accelerated by global warming, retreating glaciers leave behind spatially ordered moraines with underlying primary succession and disturbance. Current knowledge of primary succession comes mainly from studies of vegetation dynamics. Information about above-ground macroinvertebrates is still scarce. We used carabid beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as indicator taxon to assess the effects of (1) terrain age (species turnover along the proglacial chronosequence) and (2) small-scale habitat architecture(vegetation cover, surface texture) on the carabid assembly. For this purpose, 33 sampling sites with pitfall traps were installed throughout the glacier foreland Morteratsch (Engadine, Switzerland), adjacent sparse forests serving as reference sites. With a total of 33 carabid species on the foreland and another 2 on the reference sites, the study area yielded a very high carabid species diversity compared to other glacier forelands. In general, the age of deglaciation proved to be a highly significant predictor for the carabid distribution, especially for particularly discriminant species. Observed species richness and activity densities showed bimodal patterns with a steep increase within the first ca. 40 years, a decline between around 40-90 years, and a further increase towards the terminal moraine. There was no evidence of dispersal-stochasticity: distinct clusters of sites with similar species composition were found. Microhabitat suitability proved to be a secondary effect, embedded in a temporal framework of primary succession. Surface cover with litter, herbs and dwarf-shrubs turned out to be the crucial habitat factors. Habitat loss as a result of climate warming will primarily affect cold-stenotopic carabids, but may potentially be absorbed by active selection for cooler microhabitats.

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch), Accelerated by global warming, retreating glaciers leave behind spatially ordered moraines with underlying primary succession and disturbance. Current knowledge of primary succession comes mainly from studies of vegetation dynamics. Information about above-ground macroinvertebrates is still scarce. We used carabid beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as indicator taxon to assess the effects of (1) terrain age (species turnover along the proglacial chronosequence) and (2) small-scale habitat architecture(vegetation cover, surface texture) on the carabid assembly. For this purpose, 33 sampling sites with pitfall traps were installed throughout the glacier foreland Morteratsch (Engadine, Switzerland), adjacent sparse forests serving as reference sites. With a total of 33 carabid species on the foreland and another 2 on the reference sites, the study area yielded a very high carabid species diversity compared to other glacier forelands. In general, the age of deglaciation proved to be a highly significant predictor for the carabid distribution, especially for particularly discriminant species. Observed species richness and activity densities showed bimodal patterns with a steep increase within the first ca. 40 years, a decline between around 40-90 years, and a further increase towards the terminal moraine. There was no evidence of dispersal-stochasticity: distinct clusters of sites with similar species composition were found. Microhabitat suitability proved to be a secondary effect, embedded in a temporal framework of primary succession. Surface cover with litter, herbs and dwarf-shrubs turned out to be the crucial habitat factors. Habitat loss as a result of climate warming will primarily affect cold-stenotopic carabids, but may potentially be absorbed by active selection for cooler microhabitats.

The invertebrate fauna diversity constitutes one of the biological components fewer studied until the present in the National Parks Viñales and Guanahacabibes; likewise their imbrication in functional aspects of the ecosystem, reasons to decides focalize a study of the same species associated to tank epiphytes bromeliad, work address that prioritizes an investigation project in development in ECOVIDA center. In the perspective of working in such them were carried out wide studies of published reports that have prioritized such relationship in other areas of Center and South America, given the fact that very little it has been published in Cuba. It is presented a proposal of methodological design that not alone it is based on the approaches of other authors, also considering a pre sampling work developed by the authors in two places of both National Parks, basing the options thoroughly to develop the studies and possible variants for their biggest efficiency., La diversidad de fauna invertebrada constituye uno de los componentes biológicos menos estudiados hasta el presente en los Parques Nacionales Viñales y Guanahacabibes; así mismo su imbricación en aspectos funcionales del ecosistema, razones por las que se decide enfocar un estudio de la misma asociada a especies de bromelias epífitas de tanque, dirección de trabajo que prioriza un proyecto de investigación en desarrollo en el Centro de Investigaciones y Servicios Ambientales ECOVIDA. En la perspectiva de trabajar en tal dirección se realizaron estudios de reportes publicados que han priorizado tal relación en otras áreas de Centro y Suramérica, dado el hecho de que muy poco se ha publicado en Cuba. Se presenta entonces una propuesta de diseño metodológico que no solo se basa en los criterios de otros autores, sino de premuestreos desarrollados por los autores en dos sitios de ambos Parque Nacionales, fundamentando ampliamente las opciones para desarrollar los estudios y posibles variantes para su mayor eficiencia.

S’ha fet un estudi general de la fauna invertebrada aquàtica del riu Polop, a la zona del Racó Sant Bonaventura-Canalons, així com una aproximació a la qualitat de les aigües utilitzat com a indicadors biològics a la fauna invertebrada., Se ha elaborado un estudio general de la fauna invertebrada acuática del rio Polop, en la zona del Racó Sant Bonaventura-Canalons, así como una aproximación a la cualidad de sus aguas utilizando como indicadores biológicos a la fauna invertebrada., There has been realized a study of the aquatic invertebrate fauna of the Polop River, in the Racó Sant Bonaventura- Canalons place, and there has been a description of the quality water utilized as biological indicators the invertebrate fauna.

S’ha fet un estudi general de la fauna invertebrada aquàtica del riu Polop, a la zona del Racó Sant Bonaventura-Canalons, així com una aproximació a la qualitat de les aigües utilitzat com a indicadors biològics a la fauna invertebrada., Se ha elaborado un estudio general de la fauna invertebrada acuática del rio Polop, en la zona del Racó Sant Bonaventura-Canalons, así como una aproximación a la cualidad de sus aguas utilizando como indicadores biológicos a la fauna invertebrada., There has been realized a study of the aquatic invertebrate fauna of the Polop River, in the Racó Sant Bonaventura- Canalons place, and there has been a description of the quality water utilized as biological indicators the invertebrate fauna.

Background: There is scarce information about European folk knowledge of wild invertebrate fauna. We have documented such folk knowledge in three regions, in Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. We provide a list of folk taxa, and discuss folk biological classification and nomenclature, salient features, uses, related proverbs and sayings, and conservation. Methods: We collected data among Hungarian-speaking people practising small-scale, traditional agriculture. We studied "all" invertebrate species (species groups) potentially occurring in the vicinity of the settlements. We used photos, held semi-structured interviews, and conducted picture sorting. Results: We documented 208 invertebrate folk taxa. Many species were known which have, to our knowledge, no economic significance. 36 % of the species were known to at least half of the informants. Knowledge reliability was high, although informants were sometimes prone to exaggeration. 93 % of folk taxa had their own individual names, and 90 % of the taxa were embedded in the folk taxonomy. Twenty four species were of direct use to humans (4 medicinal, 5 consumed, 11 as bait, 2 as playthings). Completely new was the discovery that the honey stomachs of black-coloured carpenter bees (Xylocopa violacea, X. valga) were consumed. 30 taxa were associated with a proverb or used for weather forecasting, or predicting harvests. Conscious ideas about conserving invertebrates only occurred with a few taxa, but informants would generally refrain from harming firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), field crickets (Gryllus campestris) and most butterflies. We did not find any mythical creatures among invertebrate folk taxa. Almost every invertebrate species was regarded as basically harmful. Where possible, they were destroyed or at least regarded as worth eradicating. However, we could find no evidence to suggest any invertebrate species had suffered population loss as a result of conscious destruction. Sometimes knowledge pertaining to the t

Background: There is scarce information about European folk knowledge of wild invertebrate fauna. We have documented such folk knowledge in three regions, in Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. We provide a list of folk taxa, and discuss folk biological classification and nomenclature, salient features, uses, related proverbs and sayings, and conservation. Methods: We collected data among Hungarian-speaking people practising small-scale, traditional agriculture. We studied "all" invertebrate species (species groups) potentially occurring in the vicinity of the settlements. We used photos, held semi-structured interviews, and conducted picture sorting. Results: We documented 208 invertebrate folk taxa. Many species were known which have, to our knowledge, no economic significance. 36 % of the species were known to at least half of the informants. Knowledge reliability was high, although informants were sometimes prone to exaggeration. 93 % of folk taxa had their own individual names, and 90 % of the taxa were embedded in the folk taxonomy. Twenty four species were of direct use to humans (4 medicinal, 5 consumed, 11 as bait, 2 as playthings). Completely new was the discovery that the honey stomachs of black-coloured carpenter bees (Xylocopa violacea, X. valga) were consumed. 30 taxa were associated with a proverb or used for weather forecasting, or predicting harvests. Conscious ideas about conserving invertebrates only occurred with a few taxa, but informants would generally refrain from harming firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), field crickets (Gryllus campestris) and most butterflies. We did not find any mythical creatures among invertebrate folk taxa. Almost every invertebrate species was regarded as basically harmful. Where possible, they were destroyed or at least regarded as worth eradicating. However, we could find no evidence to suggest any invertebrate species had suffered population loss as a result of conscious destruction. Sometimes knowledge pertaining to the t

Background: There is scarce information about European folk knowledge of wild invertebrate fauna. We have documented such folk knowledge in three regions, in Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. We provide a list of folk taxa, and discuss folk biological classification and nomenclature, salient features, uses, related proverbs and sayings, and conservation. Methods: We collected data among Hungarian-speaking people practising small-scale, traditional agriculture. We studied "all" invertebrate species (species groups) potentially occurring in the vicinity of the settlements. We used photos, held semi-structured interviews, and conducted picture sorting. Results: We documented 208 invertebrate folk taxa. Many species were known which have, to our knowledge, no economic significance. 36 % of the species were known to at least half of the informants. Knowledge reliability was high, although informants were sometimes prone to exaggeration. 93 % of folk taxa had their own individual names, and 90 % of the taxa were embedded in the folk taxonomy. Twenty four species were of direct use to humans (4 medicinal, 5 consumed, 11 as bait, 2 as playthings). Completely new was the discovery that the honey stomachs of black-coloured carpenter bees (Xylocopa violacea, X. valga) were consumed. 30 taxa were associated with a proverb or used for weather forecasting, or predicting harvests. Conscious ideas about conserving invertebrates only occurred with a few taxa, but informants would generally refrain from harming firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), field crickets (Gryllus campestris) and most butterflies. We did not find any mythical creatures among invertebrate folk taxa. Almost every invertebrate species was regarded as basically harmful. Where possible, they were destroyed or at least regarded as worth eradicating. However, we could find no evidence to suggest any invertebrate species had suffered population loss as a result of conscious destruction. Sometimes knowledge pertaining to the t

Background: There is scarce information about European folk knowledge of wild invertebrate fauna. We have documented such folk knowledge in three regions, in Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. We provide a list of folk taxa, and discuss folk biological classification and nomenclature, salient features, uses, related proverbs and sayings, and conservation. Methods: We collected data among Hungarian-speaking people practising small-scale, traditional agriculture. We studied "all" invertebrate species (species groups) potentially occurring in the vicinity of the settlements. We used photos, held semi-structured interviews, and conducted picture sorting. Results: We documented 208 invertebrate folk taxa. Many species were known which have, to our knowledge, no economic significance. 36 % of the species were known to at least half of the informants. Knowledge reliability was high, although informants were sometimes prone to exaggeration. 93 % of folk taxa had their own individual names, and 90 % of the taxa were embedded in the folk taxonomy. Twenty four species were of direct use to humans (4 medicinal, 5 consumed, 11 as bait, 2 as playthings). Completely new was the discovery that the honey stomachs of black-coloured carpenter bees (Xylocopa violacea, X. valga) were consumed. 30 taxa were associated with a proverb or used for weather forecasting, or predicting harvests. Conscious ideas about conserving invertebrates only occurred with a few taxa, but informants would generally refrain from harming firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), field crickets (Gryllus campestris) and most butterflies. We did not find any mythical creatures among invertebrate folk taxa. Almost every invertebrate species was regarded as basically harmful. Where possible, they were destroyed or at least regarded as worth eradicating. However, we could find no evidence to suggest any invertebrate species had suffered population loss as a result of conscious destruction. Sometimes knowledge pertaining to the t

Background: There is scarce information about European folk knowledge of wild invertebrate fauna. We have documented such folk knowledge in three regions, in Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. We provide a list of folk taxa, and discuss folk biological classification and nomenclature, salient features, uses, related proverbs and sayings, and conservation. Methods: We collected data among Hungarian-speaking people practising small-scale, traditional agriculture. We studied "all" invertebrate species (species groups) potentially occurring in the vicinity of the settlements. We used photos, held semi-structured interviews, and conducted picture sorting. Results: We documented 208 invertebrate folk taxa. Many species were known which have, to our knowledge, no economic significance. 36 % of the species were known to at least half of the informants. Knowledge reliability was high, although informants were sometimes prone to exaggeration. 93 % of folk taxa had their own individual names, and 90 % of the taxa were embedded in the folk taxonomy. Twenty four species were of direct use to humans (4 medicinal, 5 consumed, 11 as bait, 2 as playthings). Completely new was the discovery that the honey stomachs of black-coloured carpenter bees (Xylocopa violacea, X. valga) were consumed. 30 taxa were associated with a proverb or used for weather forecasting, or predicting harvests. Conscious ideas about conserving invertebrates only occurred with a few taxa, but informants would generally refrain from harming firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), field crickets (Gryllus campestris) and most butterflies. We did not find any mythical creatures among invertebrate folk taxa. Almost every invertebrate species was regarded as basically harmful. Where possible, they were destroyed or at least regarded as worth eradicating. However, we could find no evidence to suggest any invertebrate species had suffered population loss as a result of conscious destruction. Sometimes knowledge pertaining to the t

In this research we evaluate the effects of the method used for estimating the potential surface available for benthic macroinvertebrates in macrophyte and unvegetated habitats on several metrics and habitat preference of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the upper catchment of the Henares River (Guadalajara, Central Spain). Three sampling sites were selected: a well-preserved stream (site A), a stream with no wood riparian vegetation (site B), and a straightened and deforested reach (site Q. Two habitats were selected in each site: unvegetated habitat (i.e., substrata without macrophytes) and macrophyte habitat (i.e., substrata covered by macrophytes). In each habitat, six macroinvertebrate samples (including all macrophytes or mineral particles) were collected using a Hess sampler. Diversity and density of major families were referred to the surface of the Hess sampler ( = Hess surface method) and to the actual surface of either mineral particles or macrophytes actual surface method). In general, for the actual Surface method, biomass, richness, dominance, and diversity metrics were higher in the mineral habitat than in the macrophyte habitat. This trend was different for the Hess surface method. In general, densities turned out to be higher in the unvegetated habitat than in the macrophyte habitat when using the actual Surface method, but the reverse occurred when using the Hess Surface method. This fact is relevant for river biomonitoring, especially when reaches with different dominant Substrates (macrophytes vs mineral) are compared using just one of the methods. It is concluded that the macrobenthic metrics and density values are influenced by the method used to estimate the potential available surface for aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Variation in the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia in coastal bottom waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico leads to changes in benthic community structure and sediment physical properties. Past and present benthic community structure determines what types of biogenic structures are present in the sediment as well as faunal mixing rates. Therefore, hypoxia has an important effect upon bioturbation. This study focuses upon the effects of hypoxia on bioturbation specifically on the continental shelf of Louisiana, where hypoxia has become an important issue due to its seasonal reoccurrence and increasing expansion across the northern Gulf of Mexico over the past 30 years. In this project, characteristics of biogenic structures in the sediment including number, diameter, and depth are correlated with benthic communities dwelling in hypoxic, intermittently hypoxic, and normoxic conditions using non-destructive Computed Tomography (CT) imagery of sediment cores and Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) photography. Biogenic structures are also correlated with sediment physical properties, bioturbation rates, and bioturbation behaviors (dilator or compactor) of benthic invertebrate fauna. Initial data for this project was collected during two cruises along the continental shelf of Louisiana, the first in April 2009 and the second in September 2009. Four different "provinces" were chosen for sampling using bottom water oxygen concentration data from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) and archived sediment type data. These four sampling sites represent normoxic and hypoxic provinces with a consistent sediment type. The provinces consist of a normoxic site (NO) that has experienced hypoxia less than 25% of the time and briefly hypoxic (BH), frequently hypoxic (FH) and hypoxic (HO) sites that have experienced hypoxia greater than 25% of the time., The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white. Presented at Oceans MTS/IEEE Conference 2009 held in Biloxi, MS on 26 Oct-29 Oct 2009.

Ants are widely used as bioindicators in environmental assessment in Australia, partly because the responses of ant communities to disturbance are relatively well understood. In particular, the use of functional groups has provided a predictive framework for analysing ant community responses to disturbance in the absence of reliable information on the responses of individual species. Here we review 45 studies of the responses of Australian ant communities to disturbance, in order to: (i) identify individual species or species-groups that respond consistently to disturbance; and (ii) examine the usefulness of the functional group scheme as a framework for predicting ant community responses under different disturbance regimes in different biogeographical regions. The most common forms of disturbance in our studies were fire (17 studies), mining (12; mostly studies of minesite restoration) and grazing (7), with other disturbances including clearing, logging, flooding, recreation, urbanization and farming. Responses of individual species were inevitably variable because of differences in vegetation type, severity of disturbance and time since disturbance. However, we identified a range of widespread species that showed predictable responses, including species of the metallica group of Rhytidoponera in temperate Australia ('increasers' in relation to disturbance), species of the terebrans and denticulatus groups of Camponotus (increasers), the aeneovirens group of Melophorus (increasers) from the arid zone, and Iridomyrmex pallidus (increaser) from the monsoonal region. The functional group scheme assessed here was not designed specifically in the context of disturbance, but nevertheless in some situations provides a useful framework for analysing ant community responses. Three distinct syndromes of functional group responses can be recognized. First, Dominant Dolichoderinae and Hot Climate Specialists are groups that prefer open environments, and tend to be favoured by

Ants are widely used as bioindicators in environmental assessment in Australia, partly because the responses of ant communities to disturbance are relatively well understood. In particular, the use of functional groups has provided a predictive framework for analysing ant community responses to disturbance in the absence of reliable information on the responses of individual species. Here we review 45 studies of the responses of Australian ant communities to disturbance, in order to: (i) identify individual species or species-groups that respond consistently to disturbance; and (ii) examine the usefulness of the functional group scheme as a framework for predicting ant community responses under different disturbance regimes in different biogeographical regions. The most common forms of disturbance in our studies were fire (17 studies), mining (12; mostly studies of minesite restoration) and grazing (7), with other disturbances including clearing, logging, flooding, recreation, urbanization and farming. Responses of individual species were inevitably variable because of differences in vegetation type, severity of disturbance and time since disturbance. However, we identified a range of widespread species that showed predictable responses, including species of the metallica group of Rhytidoponera in temperate Australia ('increasers' in relation to disturbance), species of the terebrans and denticulatus groups of Camponotus (increasers), the aeneovirens group of Melophorus (increasers) from the arid zone, and Iridomyrmex pallidus (increaser) from the monsoonal region. The functional group scheme assessed here was not designed specifically in the context of disturbance, but nevertheless in some situations provides a useful framework for analysing ant community responses. Three distinct syndromes of functional group responses can be recognized. First, Dominant Dolichoderinae and Hot Climate Specialists are groups that prefer open environments, and tend to be favoured by