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Aims: Despite the research on orchid in insular conditions, few studies are focused on the spatial distribution of their reproductive syndromes across complex insular systems. By using island species–area relationships (ISAR), we explore orchid biogeography in the Central Western‐Mediterranean islands. In this study, we aim to investigate variation in ISARs using orchid pollination mechanisms as proxies to establish permanent populations explaining how the c and z parameters of ISARs vary among island types and pollination strategies and defining the most influential factors in shaping orchids' distribution. Location: Mediterranean Basin. Taxon: Orchidaceae. Methods: Checklist of native orchids was obtained for 112 islands of Central‐Western Mediterranean Basin. The Arrhenius power function (S=c·Az) was used to fit ISARs for the total number of orchids as well as for functional groups defined by the pollination strategies, across different island types. We used GLM to investigate the relation between pollination syndromes with area and isolation as well as elevation, island origin, taxa richness of the source area and habitat diversity. Results: We found that ISARs differ between continental and volcanic islands depending on isolation. The z‐value was found to be higher for more specialized strategies while the c‐value increases from autogamy to allogamy, supporting the role of these two parameters in understanding distributional dynamics. Distance from the mainland is a negative predictor for all the strategies except when deception is decoupled; island area is a positive predictor only for allogamic, deceptive and food deceptive strategies, while habitat diversity is a positive predictor for allogamic, rewarding and deceptive strategies. Main Conclusions: Pollination syndromes contribute in explaining the distribution of orchids in insular conditions. Furthermore, we identified differences in ISARs across pollination syndromes in which the intercept increases when the pollination shifts from a generalist to a more specialized one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Myrcia is a plant genus exclusive of the Neotropical region and one of the most important components of the tree diversity in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains. However, no mapping of its taxonomic diversity for this region exists. Our aim was to describe the spatial patterns of diversity and biogeographical history for Myrcia in the Neotropical region based on a phylogenetic regionalization. Location: Neotropics. Taxon: Genus Myrcia (Myrtaceae). Methods: We derived distributions for 307 species from occurrence records using buffering and species distribution modelling. We used stacked distributions to generate a richness map of the genus and its clades (sections). In addition, we used phylogenetic regionalization methods to define evolutionary regions (evoregions) and ancestral area reconstruction to reveal the biogeographical history across these evoregions. Results: We found high species richness in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, with some sections restricted to the East coast of South America, while others were widespread across the Neotropics. We defined five evoregions, named A–E; the ancestral reconstruction revealed that Myrcia originated in evoregion B, under a tropical climate, with further specialization of distant‐related lineages to the colder environmental condition in evoregion A. Main Conclusions: High species richness of Myrcia in South America eastern coast and in the Brazilian highlands coincides with the evoregions with most diversification. Our genus‐specific regionalization together with the ancestral area reconstruction showed that evoregions A and B were the main evolutionary regions where diversification took place. In addition, the biogeographical history of the group suggests that some lineages have adaptations to deal with colder environments, that probably evolved in response to cooling periods since the mid‐Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of how biodiversity is distributed across the broad spatial scales can resolve pure questions about ecological and historical processes and solve applied problems in conservation planning. Invertebrates such as insects make up much of biodiversity yet are rarely a focus in studies of regional‐scale diversity patterns, partly due to data deficiency.We took advantage of historical field notebooks to investigate the richness and compositional pattern of grasshoppers across a vast area of Australia (Western Australia, 2.6 million km2). We extracted grasshopper occurrence records from historical surveys of 1328 locations spanning 1947 to 1985. We developed generalised dissimilarity models to identify species compositional turnover across families and modelled species richness with regression analyses.Species composition was most distinct in mesic south‐west, north and north‐west regions and was most uniform through the arid interior region with the exception of the topographically complex Pilbara region. Species richness was highest in the arid interior and north and lowest in the cool and wet south‐west.The patterns of grasshopper species diversity and endemism were like patterns previously reported for lizards and this may reflect their common independence from water and their phylogenetic bias towards warm environments.Although high species richness was predicted in the Pilbara region, the area remains underrepresented in the national reserve system, with <10% of its area protected. High levels of short‐range endemism were found in general, with only ~1/4 of short‐range endemics being located in the national reserve system.Our analyses demonstrate that field notebooks can be a valuable resource for biogeographic analyses and for planning invertebrate conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification, afforestation and land abandonment are major drivers of biodiversity loss in semi‐natural grasslands across Europe. Reversing these losses requires the reinstatement of plant–animal interactions such as pollination. Here we assessed the differences in species composition and patterns of plant‐pollinator interactions in ancient and restored grasslands and how these patterns are influenced by landscape connectivity, across three European regions (Belgium, Germany and Sweden).We evaluated the differences in pollinator community assemblage, abundance and interaction network structure between 24 ancient and restored grasslands. We then assessed the effect of surrounding landscape functional connectivity (i.e. green infrastructure, GI) on these variables and tested possible consequences on the reproduction of two model plants, Lotus corniculatus and Salvia pratensis.Neither pollinator richness nor species composition differed between ancient and restored grasslands. A high turnover of interactions across grasslands was detected but was mainly due to replacement of pollinator and plant species. The impact of grassland restoration was consistent across various pollinator functional groups, whereas the surrounding GI had differential effects. Notably, bees, butterflies, beetles, and dipterans (excluding hoverflies) exhibited the most significant responses to GI variations. Interestingly, networks in restored grasslands were more specialised (i.e. less functionally redundant) than in ancient ones and also showed a higher number of insect visits to habitat‐generalist plant species. Landscape connectivity had a similar effect, with habitat‐specialist plant species receiving fewer visits at higher GI values.Fruit set in S. pratensis and L. corniculatus was unaffected by grassland type or GI. However, the fruit set in the specialist S. pratensis increased with the number of pollinator visits, indicating a positive correlation between pollinator activity and reproductive success in this particular species.Synthesis and applications. Our findings provide evidence of the necessity to enhance ecosystem functions while avoiding biotic homogenisation. Restoration programs should aim at increasing landscape connectivity which influences plant communities, pollinator assemblages and their interaction patterns. To avoid generalist species taking over from specialists in restored grasslands, we suggest reinforcing the presence of specialist species in the latter, for instance by means of introductions, as well as increasing the connectivity to source populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a long history of humans either intentionally or accidentally moving plant species to areas outside of their native ranges. In novel environments, populations of many of these plant species exhibit explosive population growth and spread, in part due to the absence of coevolved enemies such as herbivorous insects. However, over time such enemies can 'catch up' with their host and re‐establish host–herbivore relationships. Though this phenomenon has been documented in several systems, little evidence exists on how this re‐assembly of enemies results in increased levels of herbivory. In this study we focus on the case of black locust Robinia pseudoacacia, a sparsely populated tree species when growing on undisturbed sites in its limited native range in the eastern USA but a highly invasive species, especially in disturbed environments, in most temperate world regions. We recorded folivore damage on invasive populations in five continents, including both native and invaded portions of North America. Here, we investigated 1) how total foliage damage and damage caused by different groups of folivores differs among regions; 2) how seasonal development of folivore damage differs among regions; 3) how folivory varies with distance from the native range within North America; and 4) how the number of recorded specialist folivores correlates with the amount of folivory. We observed strong differences among regions in the amount and type of folivore damage, with the native range experiencing the highest damage, especially that caused by the native chrysomelid beetle Odontota dorsalis, which is limited to the native and invaded North American range of R. pseudoacacia. Among world regions, total folivory is negatively associated with the distance from the native range and positively associated with the number of established R. pseudoacacia specialist folivore species, supporting the hypothesis that global patterns of herbivore invasions are associated with diminished enemy release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural regeneration after mining activities depends largely on the soil seed bank (SSB) and aboveground vegetation (AGV) richness and composition. We evaluated the species diversity pattern of the SSB and AGV on soil and technosol across second‐growth Atlantic Forests (SGFs) after mining tailings deposition in Mariana, southeastern Brazil. Two second‐growth Atlantic seasonal semideciduous forests of different stand ages were selected: a 3‐year‐old stand of SGF re‐growing on tailings (SGF tailings) and a 30‐year‐old stand of native reference forest not affected by tailings (SGF nontailings). Overall, the results showed significant differences in forest attributes (species richness and composition) in the SSB and AGV between the two forest patches evaluated (SGF tailings and SGF nontailings). Moreover, both nonzoochoric and zoochoric dispersed species of AGV showed significant differences between second‐growth forests, with higher variability of community‐weighted mean in SGF tailings. The result shows smaller differences in species richness between forest types for both SBB (ranging 85 and 90 species) and AGV (~55 species). Despite the time difference between the secondary forest and the absence of zoochoric species in the tailings seed bank, the AGV that are re‐growing on mining tailings presented a high proportion of zoochoric species. This pattern of species richness and community composition variability observed in the technosol seed bank, and AGV that are re‐growing after the deposition of mining tailings are important recovery indicators for plant communities affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afrotropical inland waters are highly diverse ecosystems; however, they remain poorly studied, especially for rotifers. Here, we contributed to the knowledge of the rotifer species richness in the largely understudied African countries of Angola and Ghana. We assessed the roles of habitat type and a suite of abiotic environmental factors in determining rotifer species richness of Ghana. A total of 37 sites (Ghana 32, Angola 5) in 19 water bodies from a variety of aquatic habitat types were sampled. In Ghana, we identified 118 taxa (105 species or subspecies level, 13 identified to genus). We identified 15 taxa (13 species) in the Angola samples. For Ghana, 100 of 118 (~85%) taxa were new records for the country, of which 13 species (~11%) were also new records for Africa. Nearly all the species (~93%) were new records for Angola. Species richness was positively correlated with conductivity and reservoir habitat type and negatively with pH. Redundancy analysis (RDA), conducted at the species level for the Ghana dataset, indicated suites of species associated with latitude, longitude, temperature, TDS, or pH. We also evaluated the effect of climate on species distribution in 27 African countries by conducting a review of all reports from Africa to determine factors associated with species richness. A Spearman's correlation confirmed a significant positive correlation between the number of rotifer species and the number of climatic regions (R = 0.53, p < 0.001) for certain countries, based on species distributions in relation to Köppen–Geiger climate regions. This fact validates the environmental heterogeneity hypothesis for African rotifers. Lastly, we predicted that rotifer species richness in Ghana, as a country with a tropical climate, could approach ~190 taxa, while in climatically heterogeneous Angola we predict ~200 taxa. This study contributes to our knowledge of rotifer biogeography and species richness patterns in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater ecosystems provide essential services for human well-being, with their conservation success reliant on the precise quantification of biodiversity. Diplostraca (= Cladocera) and Copepoda are diverse groups of microcrustaceans in aquatic ecosystems, important for a multitude of these services. We examined biodiversity trends of these groups, utilizing a comprehensive dataset, approximately 2341 studies, spanning from the early 19th Century to the present day, aiming at predicting the total number of microcrustacean species that will have been described by 2100. Descriptions increased until the 1900s, surged, and then declined after 1975. The predictive models indicate that by the year 2100, an additional 16–68% of cladoceran species and 37–126% of copepod species are likely to be identified, representing a significant portion of currently unrealised biodiversity. Eighteen prolific authors contributed to a quarter of these descriptions, with the rest spread among numerous authorities. Based on our extrapolation, the total number of microcrustacean species could potentially exceed 6114 by 2050 and 9046 by 2100, notwithstanding extinctions. These findings, which point to a significant amount of unrealised biodiversity, underscore the need to refine biodiversity estimates beyond conventional expert opinion. Such accuracy is crucial for addressing the underappreciated scale of the current biodiversity crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration outcomes are variable, which impairs our ability to plan projects, meet goals, and predict restoration outcomes. Understanding the drivers of this variation is an important research need, especially within urban ecosystems, which support altered abiotic and biotic conditions and face higher rates of loss and degradation than non‐urban areas. Despite the importance of urban areas for restoration, research and practice have largely focused on non‐urban areas. It is unclear if we can extend current knowledge from restoration ecology to urban systems. Here, we surveyed 30 urban prairie restoration plantings across southern Michigan. We collected plant community and site condition data (e.g. soil attributes) and we quantified landscape context as the percentage of urban land surrounding each site. Variation in plant community composition among restorations was related primarily to site‐level factors, such as soil compaction, texture, and water‐holding capacity, rather than landscape context. Non‐prairie species were structured primarily by the local site conditions. There was an increase in non‐prairie richness for sites that experienced warmer local climate conditions, while there was a decrease in non‐prairie richness for sites where soils were less compacted, sandier, and had elevated water‐holding capacity. Prairie species richness responded oppositely. Overall, our study revealed specific factors structuring restoration outcomes in urban contexts and illustrated the importance of local site conditions, not surrounding landscape context, for shaping plant community composition. Restoration practices developed in non‐urban areas should be extended to urban contexts to better understand the impact of local site conditions on plant community development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carabid species richness and phylogenetic diversity were evaluated in the four biogeographic provinces present in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Using a list of species and incorporating records obtained from a review of the Coleoptera Collection of the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, 752 records were obtained, which included 138 species classified into six taxonomic categories. The provinces with the highest species richness are the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Chihuahuan Desert; those with the lowest species richness are the Transmexican Volcanic Belt and the Veracruzan province. The Chihuahuan Desert was the province with the greatest phylogenetic diversity, and the Sierra Madre Oriental the least diverse. This highlights the usefulness of complementary estimates in diversity analyses in regions with a variety of disparate biogeographical histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Quantifying spatial species richness is useful to describe biodiversity patterns across broad geographical areas, especially in large, poorly known plant groups. We explore patterns and predictors of species richness across Africa in one such group, the palaeotropical genus Grewia L. (Malvaceae). Methods Grewia species richness was quantified by extracting herbarium records from GBIF and Tropicos and creating geographical grids at varying spatial scales. We assessed predictors of species richness using spatial regression models with 30 environmental variables. We explored species co-occurrence in Madagascar at finer resolutions using Schoener's index and compared species range sizes and International Union for Conservation of Nature status among ecoregions. Lastly, we derived a trait matrix for a subset of species found in Madagascar to characterize morphological diversity across space. Key Results Grewia species occur in 50 countries in Africa, with the highest number of species in Madagascar (93, with 80 species endemic). Species richness is highest in Madagascar, with ≤23 Grewia species in a grid cell, followed by coastal Tanzania/Kenya (≤13 species) and northern South Africa and central Angola (11 species each). Across Africa, higher species richness was predicted by variables related to aridity. In Madagascar, a greater range in environmental variables best predicted species richness, consistent with geographical grid cells of highest species richness occurring near biome/ecoregion transitions. In Madagascar, we also observe increasing dissimilarity in species composition with increasing geographical distance. Conclusions The spatial patterns and underlying environmental predictors that we uncover in Grewia represent an important step in our understanding of plant distribution and diversity patterns across Africa. Madagascar boasts nearly twice the Grewia species richness of the second most species-rich country in Africa, which might be explained by complex topography and environmental conditions across small spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Little is known about the response of ground layer plant communities to fire in Miombo ecosystems, which is a global blind spot of ecological understanding. We aimed: (1) to assess the impact of three experimentally imposed fire treatments on ground layer species composition and compare it with patterns observed for trees; and (2) to analyse the effect of fire treatments on species richness to assess how responses differ among plant functional groups. Methods At a 60-year-long fire experiment in Zambia, we quantified the richness and diversity of ground layer plants in terms of taxa and functional groups across three experimental fire treatments of late dry-season fire, early dry-season fire and fire exclusion. Data were collected in five repeat surveys from the onset of the wet season to the early dry season. Key Results Of the 140 ground layer species recorded across the three treatments, fire-maintained treatments contributed most of the richness and diversity, with the least number of unique species found in the no-fire treatment. The early-fire treatment was more similar in composition to the no-fire treatment than to the late-fire treatment. C4 grass and geoxyle richness were highest in the late-fire treatment, and there were no shared sedge species between the late-fire and other treatments. At a plot level, the average richness in the late-fire treatment was twice that of the fire exclusion treatment. Conclusions Heterogeneity in fire seasonality and intensity supports diversity of a unique flora by providing a diversity of local environments. African ecosystems face rapid expansion of land- and fire-management schemes for carbon offsetting and sequestration. We demonstrate that analyses of the impacts of such schemes predicated on the tree flora alone are highly likely to underestimate impacts on biodiversity. A research priority must be a new understanding of the Miombo ground layer flora integrated into policy and land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims In many systems, postfire vegetation recovery is characterized by temporal changes in plant species composition and richness. We attribute this to changes in resource availability with time since fire, with the magnitude of species turnover determined by the degree of resource limitation. Here, we test the hypothesis that postfire species turnover in South African fynbos heathland is powered by fire-modulated changes in nutrient availability, with the magnitude of turnover in nutrient-constrained fynbos being greater than in fertile renosterveld shrubland. We also test the hypothesis that floristic overlaps between fynbos and renosterveld are attributable to nutritional augmentation of fynbos soils immediately after fire. Methods We use vegetation survey data from two sites on the Cape Peninsula to compare changes in species richness and composition with time since fire. Key Results Fynbos communities display a clear decline in species richness with time since fire, whereas no such decline is apparent in renosterveld. In fynbos, declining species richness is associated with declines in the richness of plant families having high foliar concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and possessing attributes that are nutritionally costly. In contrast, families that dominate late-succession fynbos possess adaptations for the acquisition and retention of sparse nutrients. At the family level, recently burnt fynbos is compositionally more similar to renosterveld than is mature fynbos. Conclusions Our data suggest that nutritionally driven species turnover contributes significantly to fynbos community richness. We propose that the extremely low baseline fertility of fynbos soils serves to lengthen the nutritional resource axis along which species can differentiate and coexist, thereby providing the opportunity for low-nutrient extremophiles to coexist spatially with species adapted to more fertile soil. This mechanism has the potential to operate in any resource-constrained system in which episodic disturbance affects resource availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Mediterranean ecosystems have a high vascular plant species richness (SR) relative to their surface area. This SR, representing the balance between speciation and extinction, has been attributed to multiple mechanisms that result in both high rates of speciation and/or low rates of extinction. An abiding question is, however, what is special about Mediterranean ecosystems that enables this high SR? Apart from the long-term climatic stability of the region, SR has also been related to resource availability, the many individuals hypothesis, resource spatial heterogeneity, temporal heterogeneity and biotic feedbacks. Methods Spatial patterns of species richness were related to climatic, edaphic and biotic variables and to spatial variability within the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa. Boosted regression tree models were used to explore the strength of relationships between SR and environmental predictors related to each hypothesized mechanism. Key Results Water availability (i.e. precipitation) was a stronger predictor of SR than potential evapotranspiration or temperature. Scarcity of nutrients was also related to SR. There was no indication that SR was related to the density of individuals and only temporal heterogeneity induced by fire was related to SR. Spatial heterogeneities of climatic, edaphic and biotic variables were strongly associated with SR. Biotic interactions remain difficult to assess, although we have some evidence for a putative role in regulating SR. Conclusions While the lack of ecosystem-resetting disturbances (e.g. glaciation) is undoubtedly a key requirement for high species accumulation, predictably, no one explanation holds the key to understanding SR. In the GCFR high SR is the product of a combination of adequate water, nutrient scarcity, spatial and temporal heterogeneity, and possibly biotic feedbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology / Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent studies suggest that arthropod diversity in German forests is declining. Currently, different national programs are being developed to monitor arthropod trends and to unravel the effects of forest management on biodiversity in forests. To establish effective long-term monitoring programs, a set of drivers of arthropod diversity and composition as well as suitable species groups have to be identified. To aid in answering these questions, we investigated arthropod data collected in four Hessian forest reserves (FR) in the 1990s. To fully utilize this data set, we combined it with results from a retrospective structural sampling design applied at the original trap locations in central European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. As expected, the importance of the different forest structural, vegetation, and site attributes differed largely between the investigated arthropod groups: beetles, spiders, Aculeata, and true bugs. Measures related to light availability and temperature such as canopy cover or potential radiation were important to all groups affecting either richness, composition, or both. Spiders and true bugs were affected by the broadest range of explanatory variables, which makes them a good choice for monitoring general trends. For targeted monitoring focused on forestry-related effects on biodiversity, rove and ground beetles seem more suitable. Both groups were driven by a narrower, more management-related set of variables. Most importantly, our study approach shows that it is possible to utilize older biodiversity survey data. Although, in our case, there are strong restrictions due to the long time between species and structural attribute sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination between leaf and root traits is conducive to an integrated understanding of whole-plant ecological strategies and reveals how community composition and diversity contribute to defining the functions and services of ecosystems. However, there is limited understanding regarding the impact of species richness and trait categories on the coordination between leaf and root traits. Based on a 9-year common garden experiment, we investigated the leaf and fine root traits of 56 plots (25.8 m × 25.8 m) encompassing various trait categories (trait categories were defined according to the root depth, leaf habit, and mycorrhizal type) and different levels of species richness (1, 2, 4, 8) in the context of a forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning experiment conducted in subtropical China (BEF-China). We found the following: (1) Our findings indicate that there was generally a significant difference in leaf traits, occasionally in absorptive root traits, and no difference in transport root traits between different trait categories. (2) Conversely, species richness significantly influenced all transport root traits except root nitrogen and most leaf and absorptive root traits. (3) The results demonstrated that trait categories played a crucial role in the coordination between leaf and fine root traits. Additionally, the coordination between leaf and fine root traits increased with higher species richness, particularly in deep-rooted, evergreen, and ectomycorrhizal fungi species. Furthermore, the coordination between leaf and fine root traits was significantly lower in monocultures compared to four- and eight-species mixtures. These results suggest that a significant mixture effect exists in the coordination between leaf and fine root traits due to the comprehensive and divergent capture of above- and belowground resources and reduced intraspecific competition. Therefore, compared to monocultures, mixed-species stands can enhance the coordination of leaf and fine root traits, and it is advisable to establish forests with mixtures of more than four species, dominated by deep-rooted, evergreen, and ectomycorrhizal fungi species, to maintain ecosystem stability and functional integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat restoration and creation within human-altered landscapes can buffer the impacts of climate change on wildlife. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a coal surface mine reclamation practice that enhances reforestation through soil decompaction and the planting of native trees. Recently, wetland creation has been coupled with FRA to increase habitat available for wildlife, including amphibians. Our objective was to evaluate the response of pond-breeding amphibians to the FRA by comparing species occupancy, richness, and abundance across two FRA age-classes (2–5-year and 8–11-year reclaimed forests), traditionally reclaimed sites that were left to naturally regenerate after mining, and in mature, unmined forests in the Monongahela National Forest (West Virginia, USA). We found that species richness and occupancy estimates did not differ across treatment types. Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) had the greatest estimated abundances in wetlands in the older FRA treatment. Additionally, larger wetlands had greater abundances of Eastern Newts, Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), and Green Frogs (L. clamitans) compared to smaller wetlands. Our results suggest that wetland creation and reforestation increases the number of breeding sites and promotes microhabitat and microclimate conditions that likely maximize the resilience of pond-breeding amphibians to anticipated climate changes in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims – In spite of their proximity to the coasts, the flora of the islands and islets of the Algerian coasts has been poorly studied. This work is the first to provide an overall view of the richness and the determinants of the Algerian island flora. Material and methods – The study is based on a compilation of original floristic data. Two classifications of 30 islands and islets were derived from PCA and HCPC performed on the species occurrence matrix and on a matrix of flora descriptors including species richness, functional traits (life form, seed dispersal, pollination), and biogeographic range. We performed an RDA to explain the variation in flora characteristics by a set of physiographic (longitude, latitude, elevation, area, isolation, steepness index, and area/perimeter ratio) and biotic (seabird density and human presence) variables. Key results – The floristic inventory encompassed a total richness of 295 vascular plant taxa (including subspecies and varieties) on the 30 studied sites. Five main groups of islands and islets can be distinguished based on vegetation composition and three from flora descriptors. RDA model selection revealed that the combination of four variables (seabird density, area, latitude, and longitude) explained 26.6% of the variation in flora characteristics. Taken alone, the density of yellow-legged gull colonies and the island area were the main drivers of this variation. Results showed that floristic richness was associated with larger island area and higher seabird density, the importance of some plant functional traits, such as zoochory and entomogamy, and with a higher proportion of Eurasian holarctic species. Conclusion – In the context of island flora conservation, some of these small islands of Algeria can be considered as “modern refuges” from human pressures, and this is particularly important in the context of Mediterranean ecosystems characterised by a quasi-permanent human impact in various habitats. Two new important plant areas (IPAs) for Algeria are proposed following the results of these floristic inventories [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes. The database presented in the current study is the first consolidated checklist of alien plant species that are present in Romania, both of European Union concern and of national interest. This database complements a prior published distribution, based only on records from literature, bringing new information regarding the occurrence of alien plants in Romania, as revealed by a nationwide field survey. We consider this database a valuable instrument for managing biological invasions at both national and regional levels, as it can be utilised in further research studies and in drafting management and action plans, assisting stakeholders in making informed decisions and implementing management actions. New information: We present the results of the first nationwide survey of alien plant species in Romania, conducted between 2019 and 2022, in the framework of a national project coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests and the University of Bucharest. The present database complements and updates the database published by Sirbu et. al (2022), which included occurrence records published until 2019. The new database includes 98323 occurrence records for 396 alien plant species in 77 families, with most species belonging to the Asteraceae family. One alien plant species in our database, the black locust Robinia pseudoacacia L., had more than 10,000 occurrence records. The distribution database also includes information on newly-reported invasive alien plant species of European Union concern in Romania (i.e. the floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven) and documents the presence of plants in 44 additional families compared to Sirbu et al. (2022). Each entry includes information on species taxonomy, location, year, person who recorded and identified the alien plant, geographical coordinates and taxon rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass meadows, integral components of global coastal ecosystems, function as biodiversity hotspots and provide essential ecosystem services. Despite their ecological significance, these habitats face increasing threats from anthropogenic activities. This study assesses the species richness and ecological health of seagrass habitats in the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia. We evaluated seagrass coverage, species richness, water transparency, and the cover of epiphytes and macroalgae using the Seagrass Ecology Quality Index (SEQI). Conducted in 2023, our research encompassed nearly all districts within the Bangka Belitung Province that contain seagrass ecosystems. Our findings reveal the presence of 11 out of the 14 seagrass species identified in Indonesia, with an average seagrass coverage of 20.48%±18.10%. Macroalgae and epiphyte coverages were recorded at 1.35%±1.22% and 2.22%±2.58%, respectively. The overall ecosystem health was generally categorized as moderate, with a mean SEQI of 0.68±0.11. Notably, Belitung Regency exhibited the highest SEQI score of 0.77±0.04, categorized as 'Good,' whereas West Bangka Regency had the lowest score at 0.57, categorized as 'Moderate.' Based on these findings, we recommend targeted conservation efforts in areas exhibiting good ecological health and prioritizing restoration initiatives in regions with moderate to poor health. These measures are essential for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the sustainability of these vital habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Caldasia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A survey of Scarabaeoidea species was carried out in forest nurseries of the Western Black Sea region. Seven forest nurseries in five provinces were sampled between 2021 and 2022 using forceps, pitfall trap, sweep net, light trap, and pheromone trap. In total, 3 families, 8 subfamilies, 23 genera, and 24 species were identified in this study. The antennal sensilla and aedeagus of some scarab beetles were photographed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and stereo microscope. Results of Shannon–Wiener and Simpson diversity indices showed that the highest species diversity was recorded in Muzaffer Büyükterzi and Bolu Forest Nurseries with 2.254 and 1.985 respectively. Margalef’s richness index was found to be the highest in Muzaffer Büyükterzi Forest Nursery (3.620). The nursery with the highest dominance was found to be Pınar Forest Nursery with 0.351. Shannon and Simpson evenness results showed that Muzaffer Büyükterzi and Gölköy Forest Nurseries had the highest evenness with 0.907 and 0.156, respectively, while Pınar and Bolu Forest Nurseries had the lowest evenness with 0.475 and 0.081, respectively. At the end of the study, four insect species were new records for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the temporal and spatial distribution of species richness in the Turkish portions of the Euphrates and Tigris catchments in Mesopotamia, aiming to identify areas lacking sufficient research and inform future conservation and management efforts.Data from 153 fish assemblages in the Euphrates catchment and 100 in the Tigris catchment, spanning from 1941 to 2022, were analysed using a combination of analytical occurrence, spatial and space‐for‐time mixed effect models.Results indicate an increase in reported species over time, attributed to heightened sampling efforts, and reveal significant differences in spatial species richness distribution influenced by uneven sampling and environmental suitability.Identification of areas with insufficient research, potential undetected species and biodiversity losses highlights the need for improved assessments to prevent unnoticed biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.Our results emphasize the importance of accurate biodiversity assessments for effective conservation and management interventions in these catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural ornithology plays a crucial role in managing and sustaining agroecosystems. In agriculture, birds such as insectivores and raptors serve as natural controllers of insect and rodent pests, contributing to integrated pest management strategies. In this study, a checklist of birds was compiled using data collected over three years (2019-2022) from the agricultural landscape surrounding Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (HPAU), India. The study area comprises varied habitats including agricultural fields, forest patches, water bodies, and tea orchards. A total of 116 avian species, spanning 17 orders and 44 families were documented. Muscicapidae emerged as the most dominant family, comprising 16 species and exhibiting the highest relative diversity index value (13.79). A comparison with previous records revealed that 40 avian species were absent, while 34 bird species were reported for the first time in the study area. These finding revealed the significant shift in avian diversity at HPAU compared to previous assessments (HPAU 2019). The observed decline in avian diversity may be attributed to rapid habitat degradation driven by large-scale shrub trimming and other development activities, particularly construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock presence impacts plant biodiversity (species richness) in grassland ecosystems, yet extent and direction of grazing impacts on biodiversity vary greatly across inter-annual periods. In this study, an 8-year (2014-2021) grazing gradient experiment with sheep was conducted in a semi-arid grassland to investigate the impact of grazing under different precipitation variability on biodiversity. The results suggest no direct impact of grazing on species richness in semi-arid Stipa grassland. However, increased grazing indirectly enhanced species richness by elevating community dominance (increasing the sheltering effect of Stipa grass). Importantly, intensified grazing also regulates excessive community biomass resulting from increased inter-annual wetness (SPEI), amplifying the positive influence of annual humidity index on species richness. Lastly, we emphasize that, in water-constrained grassland ecosystems, intra-annual precipitation variability (PCI) was the most crucial factor driving species richness. Therefore, the water-heat synchrony during the growing season may alleviate physiological constraints on plants, significantly enhancing species richness as a result of multifactorial interactions. Our study provides strong evidence for how to regulate grazing intensity to increase biodiversity under future variable climate patterns. We suggest adapting grazing intensity according to local climate variability to achieve grassland biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation areas encompassing elevation gradients are biodiversity hotspots because they contain a wide range of habitat types in a relatively small space. Studies of biodiversity patterns along elevation gradients, mostly on small mammal or bird species, have documented a peak in diversity at mid elevations. Here, we report on a field study of medium and large mammals to examine the impact of elevation, habitat type, and gross primary productivity on community structure. Species richness was observed using a camera trap transect with 219 sites situated across different habitat types from 2329 to 4657 m above the sea level on the western slope of Mt Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. We found that the lowest elevation natural habitats had the highest species richness and relative abundance and that both metrics decreased steadily as elevation increased, paralleling changes in gross primary productivity, and supporting the energy richness hypothesis. We found no evidence for the mid‐domain effect on species diversity. The lowest elevation degraded Agro‐Forestry lands adjacent to the National Park had high activity of domestic animals and reduced diversity and abundance of native species. The biggest difference in community structure was between protected and unprotected areas, followed by more subtle stepwise differences between habitats at different elevations. Large carnivore species remained relatively consistent but dominant herbivore species shifted along the elevation gradient. There was some habitat specialization and turnover in species, such that the elevation gradient predicts a high diversity of species, demonstrating the high conservation return for protecting mountain ecosystems for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abandoned post‐quarry sites have potentiality to be remodeled into natural‐wilderness areas, a desire especially in rapidly urbanizing and transforming landscapes. However, paucity of ecological information on post‐quarry sites limits nature‐based restoration, especially in the sub‐Saharan tropical landscape. This study investigated avifauna composition of post‐quarry sites in Ndarugu, Kenya, relative to non‐quarried sites for conservation role prioritization. Birds were censused in 166 point count stations using the fixed‐radius distance method. Land use land cover types within each point provided the variables for explaining bird occurrence. Observed bird species were classified into functional guilds, avifaunal composition assessed, and bird data subjected to multivariate analysis. In total 158 species, 128 in post‐quarry and 123 in non‐quarried sites, were recorded. Bush‐ and forest‐related species were dominant, constituting over 55% of total observed birds, in both site categories. Six wetland‐related species were detected only in quarried sampling sites. Mann–Whitney statistical tests returned a significant effect of land use category on bird species richness, abundance, and diversity, all higher in post‐quarried than in non‐quarried sites (p < 0.05). Emergent natural shrubs, quarry cliffs, and cultivated farms were most influential to bird community structuring. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis revealed four functional groups of birds whose species richness increased with number of post‐quarried sampling sites in a cluster. Unique physical features of post‐quarry sites and emergent vegetation types, can be partially mimicked in nature‐oriented rehabilitation planning for long‐term social and ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, abundance, biomass and species richness of many insect taxa declined during the last decades. This decline might be accompanied by long‐term temporal changes in community composition and dominance orders. Here, we use the data base of the natural history museum of Salzburg based on museum records and field books on Austrian butterflies covering the years 1945–2018 and asked 1) whether and how community composition of important butterfly guilds changed and 2) whether these changes are in accordance with reciprocal shifts in species abundances leading to increased functional stability. In comparisons of annual changes in dominance orders, we found an increasing tendency of compositional stability of dominant species. The trend was most pronounced in generalist and dispersive species, while dominant grassland, xerothermophilic and sedentary species tended to decrease in relative abundance. We also demonstrate a temporal trend towards increasing regional stability in relative abundance rank orders. We did not find compelling evidence for reciprocal shifts in abundances of dominant and subdominant species of the same guild and of asynchronous population fluctuations as required by models that link abundance compensation and functional stability. Our study highlights the ongoing trend towards faunal homogenisation at regional spatial scales in the European Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prebiotics are defined as substances which selectively promote beneficial gut microbes leading to a health benefit for the host. Limited trials have been carried out investigating their effect on the microbiota composition of individuals afflicted by functional constipation with equivocal outcomes. In a 21-day randomised, controlled clinical trial involving 61 adults with functional constipation, a prebiotic formulation with partially hydrolysed guar gum and acacia gum as its main ingredients, significantly increased complete spontaneous bowel motions in the treatment group. This follow-up exploratory analysis investigated whether the prebiotic was associated with changes to the composition, richness, and diversity of the faecal microbiota. Methods: Participants provided a faecal specimen at baseline and on day 21 of the intervention period. Whole genome metagenomic shotgun sequencing comprehensively assessed taxonomic and functional composition of the microbiota. Results: Linear mixed effects regression models adjusted for potential confounders showed a significant reduction in species richness of 28.15 species (95% CI − 49.86, − 6.43) and Shannon diversity of 0.29 units (95% CI − 0.56, − 0.02) over the trial period in the prebiotic group. These changes were not observed in the control group, and functional composition was unchanged in both groups. Conclusion: In adults with functional constipation, the intake of a prebiotic formulation was associated with a decline of species richness and Shannon diversity. Further research regarding the associations between prebiotics and the composition and function of the gut microbiota is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores plant communities dominated by the invasive species Fallopia x bohemica (Bohemian Knotweed) in Bulgaria. Using field data from 91 locations, an analysis identified the association Reynoutrietum japonicae within the alliance Aegopodion podagrariae. That association is recorded for the first time in Bulgaria. The vegetation is characteristically dominated by the Bohemian Knotweed species, which forms dense stands with low species richness. It mainly occurs in disturbed areas, such as riverbanks, roadsides and abandoned spots. This study contributes to understanding the distribution and composition of plant communities dominated by that invasive species. The negative impact of Bohemian Knotweed on the native flora and vegetation is also highlighted, with an emphasis on the need in control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community composition is one of the main factors influencing the ecological functioning of any given ecosystem, with a more diverse community providing a larger set of services. Benthic community composition can vary at spatial and temporal scales, with the dynamics of primary production and benthic food availability being key determinants of community structure of a given system. Studies have indicated shifts in benthic community composition at sub-Antarctic Islands over a period of 30 years, linked to variability in food availability driven by climate change. Here, we aim to evaluate possible short-term variability in benthic community composition at the sub-Antarctic archipelago Prince Edward Islands (PEIs), sampling stations across three hydrographically dynamic regions over two consecutive years, 2016–2017. The results indicated significantly higher species richness and abundance in 2017 than in 2016, with some taxa also showing variation among regions around the PEIs. Such effects can be linked to different substratum type or hydrographic regime. This study further contributes to understanding variability and changes in benthic communities in the near future, an essential information to develop efficient management strategies for this vulnerable marine system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychaetes are important components of the macrofaunal communities associated with golden kelp Ecklonia radiata holdfasts across different spatial scales. However, the polychaete component varies in different habitat types in response to varying environmental conditions. Here, we compared patterns of variation in Ecklonia radiata holdfast-associated polychaetes between rock pools and gullies along South Africa's southeast coast. Eighteen species were found in gullies and 28 species in rock pools, with 13 and 16 families represented, respectively. The study sites at Cwebe, Dwesa and Nqabarha had 12, 11 and 20 species, respectively. The rock pools were more species-rich than the gullies, while Nqabarha was the most species-rich site. The composition of species varied both among habitat types and between sites, with a separation in polychaete composition observed between Cwebe and Dwesa. The species that contributed >60% to the distinction between habitat types and among sites were Lepidonotus semitectus, Cirriformia capensis, Eunice aphroditotis, Syllis sp., Chaetopterus variopedatus, L. durbanensis, Arabella iricolor, Lysidice natalensis and Gunnarea gaimardi. The polychaete distribution on kelp holdfasts was influenced by the sediment and geomorphological characteristics of the sampling sites. Our findings highlight the importance of sediment in creating habitat heterogeneity and how this facilitates high species richness in rock pools. However, physical factors explained a small proportion of the variance in the polychaete assemblages. Therefore, biological factors could be more important drivers than abiotic elements, particularly between habitat types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of termite diversity in different ecosystems (agricultural, horticultural and silvicultural ecosystems) was carried out in mid-hills of Meghalaya to understand the species diversity, richness and abundanceof termite. A standard transect method and tissue paper bait method were used for sampling the termites.Alpha diversity was analysed by using Shannon wiener index and Margalef's D index for Species richness; and Simpson's index for Species dominance; whereas Beta diversity was analysed by using Routledge Be index, Cody Bc index, Whittaker Bw index and Wilson and Shmida Bt index. In the study, a total of 10 species of termites were identified which belonged to three subfamilies viz., Macrotermitinae, Amitermitinae and Termitinae. Macrotermitinae was the most presiding subfamily among the collected termite fauna. Individual species dominance was observed to differ in different ecosystems however, Odontotermes spp. was widely distributed across the ecosystems.The number of species recorded in silvicultural, horticultural and agricultural ecosystem were 7, 3 and 1 respectively. The termite diversity was highest in silvicultural ecosystem and lowest in agricultural ecosystem. The lowest numbers of species recorded in ecosystem may be attributed to its abrupt human disturbance. Shannon Wiener, Margalef's D and Simpson index in agricultural ecosystem, depicted less values compared to horticultural and silvicultural ecosystem. Among the ten species collected, one species i.e. Pseudocapritermis tikaderi which was sampled from silvicultural ecosystems was soil/humus feeder and the rest were wood/litter feeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite experimental and observational studies demonstrating that biodiversity enhances primary productivity, the best metric for predicting productivity at broad geographic extents-functional trait diversity, phylogenetic diversity, or species richness-remains unknown. Using >1.8 million tree measurements from across eastern US forests, we quantified relationships among functional trait diversity, phylogenetic diversity, species richness, and productivity. Surprisingly, functional trait and phylogenetic diversity explained little variation in productivity that could not be explained by tree species richness. This result was consistent across the entire eastern United States, within ecoprovinces, and within data subsets that controlled for biomass or stand age. Metrics of functional trait and phylogenetic diversity that were independent of species richness were negatively correlated with productivity. This last result suggests that processes that determine species sorting and packing are likely important for the relationships between productivity and biodiversity. This result also demonstrates the potential confusion that can arise when interdependencies among different diversity metrics are ignored. Our findings show the value of species richness as a predictive tool and highlight gaps in knowledge about linkages between functional diversity and ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many available reports of secondary metabolites as bioactive molecules from culturable endophytes, nevertheless, there are scarce research pertaining to the levels of metabolites in plants with respect to the incidence and colonisation of fungal endophytes in the same foliar tissues. Therefore, the study was focussed to examine whether fungal endophyte colonisation and the accumulation of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids and phenols, in the plants are related in any way. For this reason, the study aims to analyse phenols and flavonoids from the fronds of eleven pteridophytes along with the culture-dependent isolation of fungal endophytes from the host plants subsequently assigning them to morphological category and their quantitative analysis and further resolving its identities through molecular affiliation. The results revealed that nine morpho-categories of fungal endophytes were allotted based on culture attributes, hyphal patterns and reproductive structural characters. Highest numbers of species were isolated from Adiantum capillus-veneris and least was recorded from Pteris vittata and Dicranopteris linearis. Maximum phenol content was analysed from the fronds of P. vittata and lowest was recorded in A. capillus-veneris. Highest flavonoid content was measured in D. linearis and lowest was detected in Christella dentata. Significant negative correlation was observed between phenol content of ferns and species richness of fungi. Moreover, significant positive correlation was observed with the relative abundance of Chaetomium globosum and flavonoid content of ferns and negative significant relation was found between relative abundance of Pseudopestalotiopsis chinensis and phenol content of pteridophytes. The occurrence and the quantitative aspects of endophytes in ferns and their secondary metabolites are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary species checklist of ferns and lycophytes in the upper montane forest of Mt. Balatukan, Gingoog City, Southern Philippines was provided, including their conservation and ecological status assessments. Specimens were collected through repeated transect walks. Species inventory revealed a total of 112 species (16 were lycophytes and 97 were ferns) belonging to 61 genera and 23 families. The top five families with the highest species richness are Polypodiaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, and Lindsaeaceae. In addition, most of the collected specimens were terrestrial and epiphytic. In terms of its conservation status and ecological status, out of 16 threatened species, seven are endangered (Phlegmariurus salvinoides, P. squarossus, Dicksonia mollis, Lepisorus platyrhynchos, Ophioglossum ramosii, O. pendulum, and Tmesipteris zamorarum), five are vulnerable (Alsophila fuliginousa, Asplenium vittaeforme, Aglaomorpha cornucopia, Botrychium daucifolium, and Sphaeropteris elmeri), three are other wildlife species (Lindsaea apoensis, Polystichum elmeri, and Callisopteris apiifolia), and only one other threatened species (Angiopteris evecta). Lastly, nine species of pteridophytes are widely distributed in the Philippines, and one species is narrowly distributed in Mindanao, with the family Lindsaeaceae and Polypodiaceae having the highest number of endemic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term ecological studies have consistently reported slower than expected changes in biodiversity over time. One explanation for this phenomenon is that commonly used diversity measurements such as species richness are too coarse to detect mechanisms shaping community assembly. Theory suggests that similar phenomena may occur in abundance‐based diversity measurements, but the extent of this problem is currently unclear. We confront this theoretical prediction with field data by studying temporal changes in abundance‐based diversity indices across 3341 observations from 880 plots in 15 long‐term vegetation plot studies. We then partition diversity change into mechanisms of interest to ecologists: selection, drift, and immigration. We show that these resulting changes in relative abundances often produce non‐linear changes in diversity. These non‐linearities lead counterintuitive effects that are easy to miss when directly analysing changes in diversity. To resolve this we show that explicit partitioning of diversity change leads to one further, less‐studied partition: 'rarity shifts'. Rarity shifts measure how an individual's contributions to diversity changes over time. These rarity shifts are responsible for counter‐intuitive effects, for example when radical changes in community composition lead to negligible changes in diversity. We found rarity shifts are an important component of diversity change across many studies. Furthermore, rarity shifts tend to oppose selection, drift and immigration. Therefore, rarity shifts explain why changes in relative abundance do not consistently result in changes in abundance‐based diversity measurements. Ultimately, using rarity shifts can lead to a more accurate understanding of the temporal rate and nature of diversity change in ecology and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest plantations, which have a simplified structure and composition, are becoming more frequent, raising concerns regarding their contribution to biological diversity in highly managed landscapes. The biological value of a stand has been related to stand age, although stand properties, which are often intercorrelated with it, yet are manageable, might be of primary importance. The relationships between stand properties (age, structure and composition) and ground cover vegetation, as a proxy for biological value, were assessed in Norway spruce stands with contrasting land use history (low-density plantations on former agricultural land, unmanaged and old-growth stands) in Latvia. The ground flora differed according to land use history of the stands. The principal gradients of ground cover vegetation were related to the degree of deciduous admixture in the tree stand, stand vertical heterogeneity (multi-layer; density and height of the understorey), light, age and site fertility. However, the plantations were more species-rich and diverse, appearing as promising in terms of biological diversity in intensively managed sites (especially periurban forests). The observed relationships between ground cover vegetation and stand characteristics suggest that diversification of the stand structures in plantations might reduce the recovery time of ground cover vegetation, contributing to the ecosystem services provided under intensifying management and disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests and savannahs worldwide are yielding to agribusiness, impacting biodiversity. In the southern Amazon deforestation arc, deforestation progress and limited study of extensive areas result in knowledge gaps on the impacts on biodiversity. We examined patterns of small-bodied mammal species diversity along a gradient ranging from closed-canopy to open-area savannahs, in the Guaporé river basin, Brazil. During one temporal replica—between December 2011 and October 2012—we sampled small mammals using live-traps in seven sites along three 1 km transects each. We assessed and predicted species alpha-diversity (within site), beta-diversity (unshared between sites), and zeta-diversity (shared) across the gradient, relating each biodiversity facets to the sites habitat structure, including vegetation height and above-ground biomass. From 202 individuals recorded, we uncovered 18 species in the region, whereas alpha-diversity was similar between sites, the species composition discretely shifted from non-floodable terra firme to open-areas of the transition zone southwards. Sites located at the intermediary zones of the north–south axis had lower beta-diversity contributions in comparison with northern- and southernmost sites, suggesting mixed biome influences. Zeta-diversity declined rapidly from closer sites to the more distant ones. Along the middle Guaporé basin, small mammal distribution correspondingly reflected the influence of the Cerrado and Amazon. Species presence—and cryptic diversity in terms of species not recorded yet—highlights conserving extensive habitats to accommodate diverse regional-local diversity needs, whereas both beta- and zeta-diversity patterns reveal that sites distinctiveness and multiple assemblages are required to safeguard the regional-scale diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Langbian Plateau, a biodiversity hotspot in the southern Annamites of Viet Nam, has undergone extensive hunting pressure. However, the limited information on the effects of overexploitation on the current status and community composition of wildlife hinders effective conservation efforts, including the implementation of targeted patrols to reduce snaring. In this study, we conducted a camera‐trapping survey across the Langbian Plateau, consisting of a broadleaf evergreen and coniferous habitat mosaic. We recorded 46 ground‐dwelling mammals and birds, including several threatened Annamite endemics. Using multi‐species Royle‐Nichols model and landscape covariates, we found higher richness in broadleaf evergreen forest located in more remote and less rugged areas. We then used species responses to covariates to predict species distribution and identify high‐priority areas for conservation. Furthermore, we constructed diversity profiles that indicated higher biodiversity in broadleaf evergreen forest compared to the coniferous forest. Finally, we used a dissimilarity index to assess the level of defaunation, revealing 16% of the community had been lost, with higher levels of defaunation for threatened and larger‐sized species. Our findings provide insights into the status, distribution, and occurrence of the ground‐dwelling mammal and bird communities in the Langbian Plateau, and can help stakeholders design more effective conservation strategies to protect existing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA damage causes the mutations that are the principal source of genetic variation. DNA damage detection and repair mechanisms therefore play a determining role in generating the genetic diversity on which natural selection acts. Speciation, it is commonly assumed, occurs at a rate set by the level of standing allelic diversity in a population. The process of speciation is driven by a combination of two evolutionary forces: genetic drift and ecological selection. Genetic drift takes place under the conditions of relaxed selection, and results in a balance between the rates of mutation and the rates of genetic substitution. These two processes, drift and selection, are necessarily mediated by a variety of mechanisms guaranteeing genome stability in any given species. One of the outstanding questions in evolutionary biology concerns the origin of the widely varying phylogenetic distribution of biodiversity across the Tree of Life and how the forces of drift and selection contribute to shaping that distribution. The following examines some of the molecular mechanisms underlying genome stability and the adaptive radiations that are associated with biodiversity and the widely varying species richness and evenness in the different eukaryotic lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, calcareous beech forests were classified and differentiated according to vascular plants. Bryophytes were often omitted or not all substrates were sampled in relevés, and therefore, the role of bryophytes in plant community differentiation remained unclear. In this paper, we studied bryophyte species richness, composition and functional patterns in vegetation units differentiated by vascular plants. We analysed 45 phytosociological relevés from 400 m2 plots in Fagus sylvatica-dominated forests on dolomite bedrock in Central Slovakia. The most frequent among 59 moss and 8 liverwort species was Tortella tortuosa, followed by Hypnum cupressiforme, Brachytheciastrum velutinum and Ctenidium molluscum. Average richness of bryophytes was 8.1 compared to 38.7 species of vascular plants. Seven bryophyte species were significantly linked to a particular vegetation unit. One-way ANOVA showed no noticeable differences in bryophyte species richness between vegetation units. However, it was negatively affected by xericity and positively by cover of rocks on soil surface. CCA revealed that species composition was affected significantly by xericity, cover of bare rocks and cover of tree layer. Mat and turf life forms prevailed, and both long-lived taxa/perennials and short-lived colonists formed the bryophyte layer. Observed bryophyte species grew mostly on rock, living and dead wood, and only minority of them on soil. Therefore, available substrates greatly contributed to the species richness of bryophytes and total plant diversity of the forest community. A complete investigation of substrates is necessary to assess the drivers of bryophyte species distribution and diversity, and their role in classification of calcareous beech forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reed beds can be managed for commercial or conservation purposes, with effects on its inhabitants. In this paper, we assess the effect of management on the reed bed Coleoptera community by investigating reed beds subject to winter cutting, winter harvest, short-term unmanaged (3 years), and long-term unmanaged (25 years). Using pit fall traps, we collected Coleoptera across a summer season to estimate Coleoptera biomass, abundance, size, richness, diversity, and community composition across the four types of management of reed beds. Cutting and harvest both show to increase Coleoptera biomass compared to unmanaged reed beds, with the highest Coleoptera abundance found in the harvested reed bed. The species richness and diversity, on the other hand, peaked in the long-term unmanaged reed bed. Community composition differed between the different management types, and across time. Species of conservation concern were most abundant in recently managed areas. These results have implications for the conservation of the reed bed Coleoptera community. First, to maintain a high Coleoptera diversity, some areas must be left unmanaged. Secondly, to secure habitats for species of conservation concern as well as boost the Coleoptera biomass, frequent management of other areas is advised. This mosaic management pattern will also create the overall most species rich reed bed, as unique Coleoptera communities were found in each management type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft-water lakes are valuable natural habitats and an important aquatic ecosystems. Lobelia lakes, which are classified based on the occurrence of isoetids, are the most characteristic of this group. The aim of our research was to assess the species richness and structure of pelagic zooplankton communities in the epilimnion of 45 Polish soft-water lakes. The lakes analyzed included a wide range of trophic states from oligotrophic to eutrophic. We noted 79 species of zooplankton, including 49 rotifer, 23 cladoceran, and seven copepod species. The species composition of epilimnetic zooplankton communities in these soft-water lakes was poor, and the species richness and zooplankton biomass were low. In these lakes, the species with the highest frequencies accounted for an important part of the total zooplankton biomass of the zooplankton communities, but the species occurring at lower frequencies differed among the lakes. The most common rotifer taxa were: Keratella cochlearis, Keratella cochlearis var. hispida, Polyarthra euryptera, Gastropus stylifer , and Trichocerca similis. The most important crustacean species in the soft-water lakes were: Macrocyclops albidus, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula , and Eudiaptomus sp. The major factors influencing rotifer species richness were total phosphorus, conductivity, and the trophic state of the lakes. Cladoceran species richness was positively related to lake area and pH, while the species richness of copepod communities was negatively related to chlorophyll a concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial loss of biodiversity and the proliferation of invasive alien species can occur due to land cover anthropogenic transformations on islands. However, the effect of anthropogenic habitat modifications on the distribution of insular freshwater microcrustaceans is unknown. In the present paper, we examine the consequences of human activity on the insular diversity of microcrustaceans in the context of the theories of island biogeography and intermediate disturbances. The samples were collected in Madeira Island at 38 freshwater sampling sites with different anthropopressure. Morphology-based species identification of the copepods and cladocerans was supplemented with genetic analysis (COI) in some species. To estimate the species richness of the island, rarefaction, and extrapolation methods were used. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was applied to assess the influence of geospatial and environmental variables on the species distribution. A total of 20 species belonging to six families were identified, of which 16 species are new to Madeira. There was low similarity between the fauna recorded and known previously on the island. The observed species richness was higher than the predictions by the island biogeography models for Madeira. CCA revealed a strong influence of anthropogenic land use on crustaceans. Anthropogenic transformations locally led to the depletion of fauna, but on the island scale they contributed to the increase of species richness including seven putative alien species. An increase in the artificial land cover and a decrease in the forest areas could lead to a further shift in the domination of non-indigenous microcrustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Convention on Biological Diversity seeks to conserve at least 30% of global land and water areas by 2030, which is a challenge but also an opportunity to better preserve biodiversity, including flowering plants (angiosperms). Herein, we compiled a large database on distributions of over 300,000 angiosperm species and the key functional traits of 67,024 species. Using this database, we constructed biodiversity-environment models to predict global patterns of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity in terrestrial angiosperms and provide a comprehensive mapping of the three diversity facets. We further evaluated the current protection status of the biodiversity centers of these diversity facets. Our results showed that geographical patterns of the three facets of plant diversity exhibited substantial spatial mismatches and nonoverlapping conservation priorities. Idiosyncratic centers of functional diversity, particularly of herbaceous species, were primarily distributed in temperate regions and under weaker protection compared with other biodiversity centers of taxonomic and phylogenetic facets. Our global assessment of multifaceted biodiversity patterns and centers highlights the insufficiency and unbalanced conservation among the three diversity facets and the two growth forms (woody vs. herbaceous), thus providing directions for guiding the future conservation of global plant diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is urbanizing rapidly, resulting in increasing rates of habitat loss and fragmentation. Protected areas are commonly established to restrict development and conserve native ecological communities. Yet urban protected areas often receive high levels of recreational activity, which can reduce their conservation effectiveness because of disturbance to animals. Recreation has negative consequences for many animal species, but its effects on reptiles are largely unknown. We evaluated the effects of non-consumptive recreation on reptiles within urban protected areas in a fragmented landscape in coastal southern California, USA. We surveyed lizards and snakes along a gradient of recreation intensity and modeled species richness, community composition, and occupancy in relation to human activity along with other variables known to affect reptile distributions. We observed a decline in lizard species richness in association with human activity. Richness of habitat specialists was not related to recreation, but smaller-bodied lizards and lizards with narrower active temperature ranges were less common at sites with high human activity. Human activity was associated with a decline in occupancy of the common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), no meaningful relationship with occupancy of the orange-throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra) and a positive relationship with western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) occupancy and/or detection probability. Our study demonstrates that increasing rates of recreation activity can reduce the ability of urban protected areas to conserve diverse reptile assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization results in rapid land transformations impacting bio-diversity and ecosystem services. With urban expansions population transition will predominantly occur in the peri-urban areas of the world's metropolitan cities like India, China, and Nigeria, which are often located in naturally species-rich regions and highly vulnerable to plant invasions. Thus it is increasingly important to monitor the changes occurring in the floral composition in such areas. The present study was therefore conducted across peri-urban habitats of Greater Kolkata, in order to establish a baseline data on plant species richness, invasive species co-occurrence, invader dominance and understand the bio-diversity pattern. Results showed a total of 62 plant species, mostly annual herbs, belonging to 29 families constituting the species richness in the study area. Both native (53%) and alien (47%) species were almost equally distributed and invasive species (32%) represented the majority among alien species. The findings also indicate that the species pool was dominated by sparsely distributed species. The number of invasive species varied from 2 to 9 per site, with 80% of sites supporting 3 or more species. Alternanthera philoxeroides and Mikania micrantha were the most frequently occurring invasive species. Overall, M. micrantha appeared to be the dominant species with 62% of sites with a high cover (> 70%) and was found to be evenly distributed in areas. However, they pose serious threat to local bio-diversity which shows that species-specific management is needed even in the peri-urban habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the type of forest influences vegetation patterns from the edge-to-interior forest, site-specific edge studies are needed but there have been few studies in open-canopied forests such as oak savannahs. Our objective was to compare patterns of herbaceous plant diversity along the forest edge-to-interior gradient between open areas and underneath oak trees in the Zagros Forest in Iran. We established eighteen transects from the forest edge to the interior in small and large forest fragments to sample herbaceous species in five 0.25 m2 quadrats at 1 m intervals from the base of the tree to the open area at different distances from the forest edge. We analyzed the data using randomization tests for edge influence and generalized linear mixed models. Edge influence had a positive effect on herbaceous species richness and diversity underneath oak trees but a negative effect in open areas. At forest edges, species richness and diversity significantly decreased from the tree base toward open areas, but exhibited the opposite pattern away from the edge. Edge influence extended up to 50 m from the forest edge to the interior. Our findings highlight the importance of considering forest type and stand heterogeneity when studying edge influence on plant diversity. Our results show that edge studies are needed for specific forest types, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes, to ensure appropriate conservation of species diversity. We recommend establishing a 50-m buffer zone along edges in the Zagros Forest in Iran to minimize negative edge influence on herbaceous plant diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]