Allochthonous Species Research Articles

Izdvajanje potencijalnih površina za osnivanje šumskih zasada za energetske potrebe na primeru opštine Lazarevac

The needs for energy sources in Serbia are constantly increasing. Wood as the most important energy source is not only used for energy purposes, but also for the wood industry, and it is clear that pressure on the resource is increasing. According to FAO methodology, the estimated energy potential of the available biomass derived from forests and wood processing industry in Serbia amounts to 1.53 Mtoe/year (BrašanacBosanac et al., 2018). In 2016, the Institute of Forestry in Belgrade carried out a preliminary study on the establishment of forest plantations for energy needs. The municipality of Lazarevac was selected as a pilot project for the establishment of forest plantations for energy purposes. It was estimated that this municipality, given its geographical position and ecological conditions, is absolutely in line with the planned production. In selecting potential areas for the establishment of forest plantations, strict attention was paid to the current use of the available areas. The study area includes the areas that can be determined but are not necessarily required for the needs of such production. Out of a wide range of autochthonous and allochthonous species, the tree species that are most capable of exploiting the potentials of the site and provide high energy values in the given ecological conditions were selected.

Longitudinal monitoring of turtle trade through Facebook in Vietnam

Trade of turtles, for both food and pet, represents a substantial business in Vietnam, especially because this country is a cross-bridge for wildlife trade from Indochina to China. Vietnam is also one of the main countries worldwide in terms of the number of Facebook members, and a considerable portion of the business has gone online through Facebook trading, including turtle trade. Here, the advertisements of turtles for sale in Vietnamese Facebook groups were monitored for the period 2013-2018, obtaining a total of 481 advertisement cases concerning 5,758 individuals belonging to 53 species and 12 families. There has been a rapidly rising trade of turtles online, especially in the last two years. Many traded species were allochthonous, but native species accounted for 22 species and over 36 % of the traded individuals. Most allochthonous species were traded as hatchlings and juveniles, whereas most of the native species were traded as subadults and adults, thus suggesting a high frequency of illegal trade in wild caught animals. Five traded native species are considered among the 50 most threatened turtle species in the world. Turtle trade occurred mostly in the two biggest cites of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi), which accounted for 68 % of the total trade. Turtle price varied substantially across species and by different lifestages (i.e. hatchlings, juveniles, sub-adults and adults), and increased considerably in comparison to 1993 estimates.

Distribution and recent status of freshwater mussels of family Unionidae (Bivalvia) in the Czech Republic

This study is devoted mainly to the distribution and its changes, inhabited and preferable habitats of bivalves from family Unionidae in the territory of the Czech Republic and the discussion of major threats and conservation measures. Altogether 6 autochthonous (Unio crassus,Unio pictorum,Unio tumidus,Anodonta anatina,Anodonta cygnea,Pseudanodonta complanata) and 1 allochthonous species (Sinanodonta woodiana) has been known in the Czech Republic. All these species occurred in all three river basins (Labe, Odra, Danube) and watersheds (North, Baltic and Black seas).A. anatinais the most widespread and common unionid whileP. complanatais an autochthonous bivalve with the most restricted area of distribution.U. crassushas been a significantly disappearing species. As in most European countries, pollution and habitat loss including fragmentation and degradation, together with other factors such as water abstraction, invasive species and loss of fish hosts are the main threats affecting their populations.

Varijabilnost prečnika smolnih kanala u četinama različitih provenijencija duglazije

Douglas-fir is the most commonly grown allochthonous species in the forests of Europe. Growth speed, adaptive power, favorable wood properties, as well as low sensibility to pests are the attributes that have contributed the most to the success and occurrence of Douglas-fir plantations in Europe. Introduction program of an exotic species includes testing of its provenances in new ecosystems and localities. In Serbia, testing of the genetic potentials of Douglas-fir, native to North America, has begun by seting up provenance trials on several locations. Afforestation with exotic tree species must be justified and it should fulfill the aims of the introduction. Therefore, it is neccessary to test all the traits of the introduced species to show the effects of ecological factors. The aim of this research was to determine the ecological adaptations of Douglas-fir in Serbia by studying its anatomic characteristics. In the paper, the influence of locality conditions on the diameter of resin canals in the needles of different Douglas-fir provenances was investigated on the sites where the provenance tests were set up. A two-way ANOVA was performed, by investigating the effects of site and provenance factors on the diameter of resin canals. Resin canals serve as an important diagnostic taxonomic characteristic in conifers, while resin itself has important physiological and protective role in conifers.

Spatial heterogeneity of phytoplankton community shaped by a combination of anthropogenic and natural forcings in a long narrow bay in the East China Sea

Phytoplankton communities in semi-enclosed bays vary on spatial scales under natural and anthropogenic forcings (e.g., water exchange, sediment resuspension, and eutrophication). However, their relative importance in shaping phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity remains poorly quantified. The long, narrow, semi-enclosed Xiangshan Bay (XSB) has been subject to extensive human activities, including eutrophication and thermal discharge from power plants, which profoundly influence the phytoplankton community, particularly in cold seasons. We hypothesize that phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity in this bay is largely structured by anthropogenic forcings. Here, high spatial resolution datasets of phytoplankton communities were obtained during four seasons in 2015. Results show that diatoms and cryptophytes dominate the phytoplankton community, followed by dinoflagellates. Colonial planktonic and single-celled benthic/meroplanktonic diatoms and cryptophytes thrive in branched bays and in the upper main bay, which is characterized by high transparency, abundant nutrients, and relatively stable water. Large-celled planktonic and colonial benthic/meroplanktonic diatoms and allochthonous species (e.g., Trichodesmium thiebautii) are dominant in the turbulent, turbid, high-salinity lower and outer sections. Phytoplankton abundances were significantly higher in branched bays and in the upper section than in other regions. Thermal discharge stimulated the winter bloom of Skeletonema and Chaetoceros curvisetus in the inner bay. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity indicated highly significant spatial heterogeneity of community composition throughout different regions. Canonical correspondence analysis and Spearman's rank correlation demonstrated the significance of light penetration, nutrients, salinity, and temperature in structuring phytoplankton spatial distribution. However, weak top-down control on phytoplankton by mesozooplankton was also observed. Variance partitioning analysis revealed that phytoplankton community variations were highly explained by the interaction of anthropogenic (eutrophication and thermal discharge) and natural (water exchange and sediment resuspension) factors in all seasons, although anthropogenic variables explained more variation than that of natural variables in cold seasons. This study demonstrated that a combination of anthropogenic and natural forces contributed to phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity in the XSB.

The Elateridae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) excl. Cebrionini and Drilini of Sicily: Recent records and updated checklist

This paper compiles an updated checklist of Sicilian (including the circumsicilian islets) species of Elateridae. Listed species came from published data along with new Sicilian material collected by the authors and other entomologists in the last few decades. Seventy-three species are reported, with new data for many rarely collected species in Sicily. Six species are recorded for the first time: Dalopius marginatus (Linne, 1758), Isidus moreli Mulsant and Rey, 1874, Ampedus sanguineus (Linnaeus, 1758), Zorochros meridionalis (Castelnau, 1840), Agriotes infuscatus Desbrochers des Loges, 1870, and the invasive allochthonous species Conoderus posticus (Eschscholtz, 1829). Lanelater notodonta (Latreille, 1827) is considered extinct in Sicily.

Plastic-associated harmful microalgal assemblages in marine environment

Plastic debris carry fouling a variety of class-size organisms, among them harmful microorganisms that potentially play a role in the dispersal of allochthonous species and toxic compounds with ecological impacts on the marine environment and human health. We analyzed samples of marine plastics floating at the sea surface using a molecular qPCR assay to quantify the attached microalgal taxa, in particular, harmful species. Diatoms were the most abundant group of plastic colonizers with maximum abundance of 8.2 × 104 cells cm−2 of plastics, the maximum abundance of dinoflagellates amounted to 1.1 × 103 cells cm−2 of plastics. The most abundant harmful microalgal taxon was the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia spp., including at least 12 toxic species, and the dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata with 6606 and 259 cells cm−2, respectively. The abundance of other harmful microalgal species including the toxic allochthonous dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum ranged from 1 to 73 cells cm−2. In the present study, a direct relationship between the abundance of harmful algal species colonizing the plastic substrates and their toxin production was found. The levels of potential toxins on plastic samples ranged from 101 to 102 ng cm−2, considering the various toxin families produced by the colonized harmful microalgal species. We also measured the rate of adhesion by several target microalgal species. It ranged from 1.8 to 0.3 day−1 demonstrating the capacity of plastic substrate colonizing rapidly by microalgae. The present study reports the first estimates of molecular quantification of microorganisms including toxin producing species that can colonize plastics. Such findings provide important insights for improving the monitoring practice of plastics and illustrate how the epi-plastic community can exacerbate the harmful effects of plastics by dispersal, acting as an alien and toxic species carrier and potentially being ingested through the marine trophic web.

Mycorrhizae and Rhizobacteria on Precambrian Rocky Gold Mine Tailings: I. Mine-Adapted Symbionts Promote White Spruce Health and Growth.

White spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] is a commercially valuable boreal tree that has been known for its ability to colonize deglaciated rock tailings. Over the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in using this species for the revegetation and successful restoration of abandoned mine spoils. Herein, we conducted a glasshouse experiment to screen mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria capable of improving the health and growth of white spruce seedlings growing directly on waste rocks (WRs) or fine tailings (FTs) from the Sigma-Lamaque gold mine located in the Canadian Abitibi region. After 32 weeks, measurements of health, growth, and mycorrhizal colonization variables of seedlings were performed. Overall, symbionts isolated from roots of healthy white spruce seedlings growing on the mining site, especially Cadophora finlandia Cad. fin. MBN0213 GenBank No. KC840625 and Pseudomonas putida MBN0213 GenBank No. AY391278, were more efficient in enhancing seedling health and growth than allochthonous species and constitute promising microbial symbionts. In general, mycorrhizae promoted plant health and belowground development, while rhizobacteria enhanced aboveground plant biomass. The observed beneficial effects were substrate-, strain-, and/or strains combination-specific. Therefore, preliminary experiments in control conditions such as the one described here can be part of an efficient and integrated strategy to select ecologically well-adapted symbiotic microorganisms, critical for the success of a long-term revegetation program.

VAGINAL LACTOBACILLI REGULATE THE ACTIVITY OF MURAMIDASE VIA HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND SURFACTANTS

Aim. Evaluation of the effect of metabolites of vaginal lactobacilli on the enzymatic and bactericidal activity of muramidase. Materials and methods. We investigated how the enzymatic and bactericidal activity of muramidase changes after treatment with supernatants of lactobacilli containing surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination thereof. The enzymatic activity was measured by the rate of Micrococcus luteus lysis, bactericidal activity for test strains of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus acidophilus by results of seeding on agar plates. Results. The hydrogen peroxide and surfactants reduced the enzymatic activity of lysozyme. Bactericidal activity of lysozyme against L. acidophilus and E. coli was decreased under the influence of surfactants. Hydrogen peroxide and its combinations with surfactants decreased bactericidal activity of lysozyme against L. acidophilus and increased for E. coli. Low concentrations of surfactants potentiated the effect of H2O2 on the antibacterial activity of lysozyme. Conclusion. It is concluded that the metabolites of the normal microflora is a implement for modification of host defense factors in order to create favorable conditions for its own existence, and prevent introduction of allochthonous species.

Assessing macrophyte seasonal dynamics using dense time series of medium resolution satellite data

The improved spatial and temporal resolution of latest-generation Earth Observation missions, such as Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2, has increased the potential of remote sensing for mapping land surface phenology in inland water systems.The ability of a time series of medium-resolution satellite data to generate quantitative information on macrophyte phenology was examined, focusing on three temperate shallow lakes with connected wetlands in Italy, France, and Romania.Leaf area index (LAI) maps for floating and emergent macrophyte growth forms were derived from a semi-empirical regression model based on the best-performing spectral index, with an error level of 0.11 m2 m−2. Phenology metrics were computed from LAI time series using TIMESAT to analyze the seasonal dynamics of macrophyte spatial distribution patterns and species-dependent variability. Particular seasonal patterns seen in the autochthonous and allochthonous species across the three study areas related to local ecological and hydrological conditions.How characteristics of the satellite dataset (cloud cover threshold, temporal resolution, and missing acquisitions) influenced the phenology metrics obtained was also assessed. Our results indicate that, with a full-resolution time series (5-day revisit time), cloud cover introduced a bias in the phenology metrics of less than 2 days. Even when the temporal resolution was reduced to 15 days (like the Landsat revisit time) the timing of the start and the peak of macrophyte growth could still be mapped with an error of no more than 2–3 days.

Effects of Water Diversion from Yangtze River to Lake Taihu on the Phytoplankton Habitat of the Wangyu River Channel

To reveal the effects of water diversion from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu on the phytoplankton habitat of the main water transfer channel of the Wangyu River, we investigated the water’s physicochemical parameters and phytoplankton communities during the water diversion and non-diversion periods over the winters between 2014–2016, respectively. During the water diversion periods in the winter of 2014 and 2015, the nutrients and organic pollutant contents of the Wangyu River channel were significantly lower than those during the non-diversion period in 2016. Moreover, the phytoplankton diversities and relative proportions of Bacillariophyta during the diversion periods evidently increased during the water diversion periods in winter. The increase in the water turbidity content, the decrease in the contents of the permanganate index, and the total phosphorus explained only 21.4% of the variations in the phytoplankton communities between the diversion and non-diversion periods in winter, which revealed significant contributions of the allochthonous species from the Yangtze River and tributaries of the Wangyu River to phytoplankton communities in the Wangyu River. The increasing gradient in the contents of nutrients and organic pollutants from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu indicated the potential allochthonous pollutant inputs along with the Wangyu River. Further controlling the pollutants from the tributaries of the Wangyu River is critical in order to improve the phytoplankton habitats in river channels and Lake Taihu.

Ichthyofauna of the major urban forest fragment of the Amazon: Surviving concrete and pollution

A area urbana da cidade de Manaus, Amazonas, a maior metropole da Amazonia Brasileira, possui poucos fragmentos florestais com igarapes integros, e grande parte deles e seriamente ameacada pelas atividades antropicas. O checklist da fauna aquatica desses igarapes e uma importante ferramenta para se conhecer a biodiversidade desses ambientes. Amostragens de peixes foram realizadas entre 2007 e 2017 em 10 igarapes do fragmento florestal da Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), cuja area possui aproximadamente 700ha. Um total de 23 especies de peixes de 6 ordens, 10 familias e 19 generos foram coletados, incluindo uma especie exotica e uma aloctone. Igarapes integros apresentaram a ocorrencia de 4 a 10 especies, com abundância media de 54,8 individuos (±25,1), densidade de 2,87 individuos/m3 (±1,85), alta diversidade (H’= 1,41±0,35) e baixa dominância (d=0,47±0,14). Ja nos igarapes poluidos, foram encontradas no maximo 2 especies, com abundância media de 176 especimes (± 216,1), densidade de 7,43 individuos/ m3 (±9,14), baixa diversidade (H’=0,02±0,03) e alta dominância (d=1,00±0,005). Este estudo mostrou que, apesar dos disturbios antropogenicos detectados nas bordas do fragmento, a area estudada desempenha um papel fundamental na conservacao das especies nativas de peixes de igarapes da area urbana da cidade.Palavras-chave: diversidade, peixes, desmatamento, monitoramento, conservacao.

A genetic analysis of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus): an applicative case study to support its eradication from Pianosa Island (Tuscan Archipelago)

The introduction of allochthonous species represents a serious threat for the native gene pools and ecosystem biodiversity. The effect is particularly disastrous for insular biocoenoses, such as in the Tuscan archipelago, one of the most important biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean area. The EU tool LIFE + has funded an eradication project involving a set of allochthonous species on Pianosa Island ( http://www.restoconlife.eu ), including the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Since eradication projects should not leave out of consideration a genetic analysis of the target species, the aim of our study was to characterize the genetic profile of the Pianosa hedgehog population. In particular, the data obtained had to help assessing the most compatible area for the release of all captured individuals. In the present work, eleven microsatellite loci and two mitochondrial gene portions (COXI and 16S) were characterized in individuals of E. europaeus from Pianosa, Elba, Sardinia Islands and mainland Italy. Both mtDNA and microsatellite data confirmed that the present-day population of Pianosa has an extremely low genetic diversity and a profile very similar to that of Elba. Consequently, our results do suggest that the Pianosa hedgehogs originated from a pool of individuals moved by human from Elba in recent times and could be relocated there.

Coccolithophore populations and their contribution to carbonate export during an annual cycle in the Australian sector of the Antarctic zone

Abstract. The Southern Ocean is experiencing rapid and relentless change in its physical and biogeochemical properties. The rate of warming of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current exceeds that of the global ocean, and the enhanced uptake of carbon dioxide is causing basin-wide ocean acidification. Observational data suggest that these changes are influencing the distribution and composition of pelagic plankton communities. Long-term and annual field observations on key environmental variables and organisms are a critical basis for predicting changes in Southern Ocean ecosystems. These observations are particularly needed, since high-latitude systems have been projected to experience the most severe impacts of ocean acidification and invasions of allochthonous species. Coccolithophores are the most prolific calcium-carbonate-producing phytoplankton group playing an important role in Southern Ocean biogeochemical cycles. Satellite imagery has revealed elevated particulate inorganic carbon concentrations near the major circumpolar fronts of the Southern Ocean that can be attributed to the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Recent studies have suggested changes during the last decades in the distribution and abundance of Southern Ocean coccolithophores. However, due to limited field observations, the distribution, diversity and state of coccolithophore populations in the Southern Ocean remain poorly characterised. We report here on seasonal variations in the abundance and composition of coccolithophore assemblages collected by two moored sediment traps deployed at the Antarctic zone south of Australia (2000 and 3700 m of depth) for 1 year in 2001–2002. Additionally, seasonal changes in coccolith weights of E. huxleyi populations were estimated using circularly polarised micrographs analysed with C-Calcita software. Our findings indicate that (1) coccolithophore sinking assemblages were nearly monospecific for E. huxleyi morphotype B/C in the Antarctic zone waters in 2001–2002; (2) coccoliths captured by the traps experienced weight and length reduction during summer (December–February); (3) the estimated annual coccolith weight of E. huxleyi at both sediment traps (2.11 ± 0.96 and 2.13 ± 0.91 pg at 2000 and 3700 m) was consistent with previous studies for morphotype B/C in other Southern Ocean settings (Scotia Sea and Patagonian shelf); and (4) coccolithophores accounted for approximately 2–5 % of the annual deep-ocean CaCO3 flux. Our results are the first annual record of coccolithophore abundance, composition and degree of calcification in the Antarctic zone. They provide a baseline against which to monitor coccolithophore responses to changes in the environmental conditions expected for this region in coming decades.

The first ecological study on the oldest allochthonous population of European cave salamanders (Hydromantes sp.)

The introduction of allochthonous species often represents a serious problem for ecosystems and native species. Usually, these cases involve common widespread species that show high adaptability and strong competitiveness against local species. Within amphibians, the introduction of allochthonous species mainly deals with anurans, while cases involving caudata are few and poorly studied. We report the first assessment of an introduced population of European plethodontid salamanders. This population is located in the French Pyrenees and represents the oldest allochthonous Hydromantes population. We reconstructed the history of its introduction and collected data on the ecology and feeding habits of this population. Our results show that this population is stable and reproductive, showing strong similarities to Italian mainland species of Hydromantes. This study provided the base for further studies focused on this allochthonous population of European cave salamanders.

Superando las barreras físicas del aula: recursos naturales y TIC

Incorporar al ámbito educativo los recursos naturales del entorno de vida y los dispositivos móviles presentes en el contexto cotidiano de los y las estudiantes a través de experiencias didácticas activas y participativas, favorece la motivación del alumnado. Estás dinámicas educativas facilitan aprendizajes significativos junto con actitudes y valores que contribuyen al desarrollo sostenible. Este trabajo presenta evidencias pedagógicas sobre como una actividad complementaria desarrollada en los espacios naturales de los entornos inmediatos de estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria de dos centros educativos de Asturias (España), junto a la incorporación de los teléfonos móviles inteligentes, empleados como recurso didáctico, les proporcionan ganancias de aprendizaje y fomentan su conocimiento y el interés por la protección de la flora y fauna de los ecosistemas en los que viven. Aunque no es muy popular la utilización del teléfono móvil en estas etapas educativas, la disponibilidad de uso y la facilidad de aplicación permitió recoger información medioambiental directamente por los y las estudiantes y geolocalizar las especies autóctonas y alóctonas que pueblan los entornos naturales inmediatos del alumnado de ambos centros. El objetivo pedagógico perseguido fue vincular a estos jóvenes con la sostenibilidad ambiental de su entorno de vida.
 Palabras clave: herramientas didácticas; dispositivos digitales; actividades complementarias, entorno natural; currículo flexible.

Linking bacterial community structure to advection and environmental impact along a coast-fjord gradient of the Sognefjord, western Norway

Here we present novel data on bacterial assemblages along a coast-fjord gradient in the Sognefjord, the deepest (1308m) and longest (205km) ice-free fjord in the world. Data were collected on two cruises, one in November 2012, and one in May 2013. Special focus was on the impact of advective processes and how these are reflected in the autochthonous and allochthonous fractions of the bacterial communities. Both in November and May bacterial community composition, determined by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analyses (ARISA), in the surface and intermediate water appeared to be highly related to bacterial communities originating from freshwater runoff and coastal water, whereas the sources in the basin water were mostly unknown. Additionally, the inner part of the Sognefjord was more influenced by side-fjords than the outer part, and changes in bacterial community structure along the coast-fjord gradient generally showed higher correlation with environmental variables than with geographic distances. High resolution model simulations indicated a surprisingly high degree of temporal and spatial variation in both current speed and direction. This led to a more episodic/discontinuous horizontal current pattern, with several vortices (10–20km wide) being formed from time to time along the fjord. We conclude that during periods of strong wind forcing, advection led to allochthonous species being introduced to the surface and intermediate layers of the fjord, and also appeared to homogenize community composition in the basin water. We also expect vortices to be active mixing zones where inflowing bacterial populations on the southern side of the fjord are mixed with the outflowing populations on the northern side. On average, retention time of the fjord water was sufficient for bacterial communities to be established.

SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE DEAD AND LIVING FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES IN THE NE SECTOR OF GUANABARA BAY (BRAZIL)

Guanabara Bay (GB), located at the coast of Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity both in terms of mega, macro and microfauna. However, the factors that control their distribution are still poorly understood. This work intends to identify the possible factors affecting the distribution of benthic foraminifera in the bay by comparing living and dead assemblages in selected sediment fractions. Substantial differences in terms of density, diversity and equitability of the species in the living and dead assemblages and in different sediment fractions (63-150 μm, 150-250 μm, 250-500 μm) are identified. Lower similarity (<70%) between the living and dead assemblages are associated with areas impacted by organic matter and may be mainly ascribed to either loss of tests due to dissolution, currents remobilization and abrasion, or inclusion of allochthonous species transported by currents. This work suggests that the use of the living plus dead assemblages or dead assemblages can reduce the accuracy of the results if the work intends to evaluate the environmental conditions.

Benthic foraminiferal response to sedimentary disturbance in the Capbreton canyon (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic)

Living (Rose Bengal stained) and dead benthic foraminifera were investigated at 6 deep-sea sites sampled in the Capbreton canyon area (Bay of Biscay, France). Three sites were located along the canyon axis at 301m, 983m and 1478m and 3 stations were positioned on adjacent terraces at 251m, 894m and 1454m. Sedimentary features indicate that frequent sedimentary disturbances of different magnitudes occur along the Capbreton canyon axis and adjacent terraces. Such environmental conditions cause the presence of very particular benthic environments. Along the 6 studied sites, different foraminiferal responses to various sedimentary patterns are observed revealing the complexity of this canyon environment. Some sites (Gitan 3 (canyon axis), Gitan 5 (canyon axis) and Gitan 6 (terrace)) are characterized by moderate to low standing stocks and low diversity and are mainly dominated by pioneer taxa such as Fursenkoina brady, Reophax dentaliniformis and Technitella melo suggesting a recent response to turbidite deposits recorded at these sites. Others sites (Gitan 1 and Gitan 2) show extremely high standing stocks and are mainly dominated by the opportunistic Bolivina subaenariensis and Bulimina marginata. Such faunal characteristics belonging to a more advanced stage of ecosystem colonization indicates strongly food-enriched sediment but extremely unstable conditions. Moderate standing stocks and diverse assemblage composed of species such as Uvigerina mediterranea and U. peregrina has only been observed at the terrace site Gitan 4. More stable sedimentary conditions recorded at this terrace seem to be suitable to the development of a dense and diverse foraminiferal community. Numerous neritic allochtonous species were observed in the dead foraminiferal fauna. These allochthonous species mainly originate from shelf areas (<60m).

Korean traditional village forest (Ma-Eul-Soop) and potential natural vegetation: A case study on the Sachon-Ri Garo-Soop in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Prediction of potential natural vegetation (PNV) requires autochthonous species distributions of a benchmark phytocoenosen. In Korea there remained unique forests or groves, i.e. a traditional Ma-Eul-Soop (MES), in the foothill zone which has influenced by the most aggressively anthropogenic activities since the Neolithic Age. Sachon-ri’s Garo-Soop (SGS) located at the southern-eastern Korean Peninsula has been reputed as the best conserved MES in Korea. We studied SGS for identifying components of the PNV. A total of 1,959 trees in the SGS were measured finescaled GPS locations and diameter at breast height (DBH). Distribution patterns of major species were interpreted by using the MES species ranking class (MSRC) framed by a matrix of phytogeographical and phytosociological autochthons. We consequently found that the SGS was composed of 29 autochthonous species. Cornus walteri, Hemiptelea davidii, Quercus aliena, Zelkova serrata, and Celtis sinensis were identified as the best matched PNV species to the floodplain behind riverbank. A lot of saplings occurring at the forest floor were the major components of PNV too. By the way many allochthonous species have been consistently introduced into the SGS in terms of a man-made forest of most previous works. We suggested that such PNV-unfriendly managements should be promptly stopped.