Plant-associated Research Articles

Reconstructing host plant repertoire and timing of evolution of phyline plant bugs (Hemiptera, Miridae)

AbstractThe diversity of phytophagous insects is often attributed to the success of land plants in the framework of ecological speciation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain host plant driven insect diversification in a phylogenetic context and have mostly been explored using Lepidoptera. We posit that Miridae are a great system to examine these hypotheses because they are one of the largest primarily phytophagous insect families and include many species with narrow host repertoire. Focusing on the species‐rich Phylinae (>2700 spp.), we generate the most taxon‐rich phylogeny published to date and for the first time estimate divergence times and trace the evolution of host plant associations across the group. Focusing on two clades of oak‐associated phylines, we further examine if diversification in these insects and their hosts coincided or if the insects tracked their hosts. We find that Phylinae diverged from their orthotyline sister group before the end of the Cretaceous, tribal‐level taxa diversified throughout the Paleogene, and diversification within genera mostly occurred in the Neogene. Host plant repertoire reconstructions at the family level show transitions from stenophagy to polyphagy are more common than the reverse. We reconstructed the ancestral phyline host as ambiguous, followed by Asterales throughout most of the deep splits. Species‐level divergences in the two oak‐associated clades coincide with those in oaks, a pattern is that is consistent with the hypothesis that these plant bugs may have cospeciated with their hosts. Our study shows that Phylinae are a suitable system to further test hypotheses on ecological speciation of plants and insects but will require more robust phylogenetic hypotheses of the group.

Mitigation of microplastic toxicity in soybean by synthetic bacterial community and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi interaction: Altering carbohydrate metabolism, hormonal transduction, and genes associated with lipid and protein metabolism

Microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous environmental pollutants, eliciting concerns about their negative impacts on terrestrial and agroecosystems. However, employing sustainable remediation approaches holds the potential to mitigate these negative impacts and bolster MPs tolerance in both the seeds and vegetative structures of plants. The current investigation explores the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and synthetic bacterial community (SynCom) as potential alleviators of MP-induced stress. Results exhibited that co-applied SynCom and AMF, resulted in the highest plant biomass, leaf area, pod per plant, and 100-seed weight under control (no MPs) and MPs stress. The combined application of SynCom and AMF enhanced colonization, association, and arbuscule abundance in the non-stressed plants (no MPs) as compared to stressed plants. The sole or co-application of SynCom and AMF enhanced the primary metabolites content and mitigated the MPs-induced reduction in soluble sugars, lipids, protein, and oil contents. Soybean inoculation stimulated the genes expression involved in lipid and protein biosynthesis, while a contradictory drift was noted for genes associated with lipid and protein degradation, underpinning the observed increment in protein and lipid content. Soybean inoculated with AMF exhibited the utmost α-amylase and β-amylase activities, demonstrating enhanced osmolyte (soluble sugar) production, mainly under MPs stress. Remarkably, sole or co-application further reinforces the positive effect of MPs stress on the osmoprotectants and antioxidant levels, for instance, phenol, flavonoid, glycine betaine contents, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. Subsequent to the stress release, a stress hormones known as abscisic acid (ABA) reduced in the seeds of inoculated soybean while gibberellin (GA), trans-zeatin riboside (ZR), and indole acetic acid (IAA) were increased. Therefore, it is concluded that the combined application of SynCom and AMF protected the soybean plants from MPs-induced oxidative damage by upregulating osmoprotectants and antioxidant levels. This study provides insights into the potential of sustainable remediation approaches in alleviating the complex impact of MPs on soybean, contributing to future strategies for environmental sustainability. Future studies could explore the optimization of SynCom and AMF formulations for different crops and environmental conditions, potentially leading to practical applications in sustainable agriculture and pollution management.

Plant biogeography, endemism and vegetation types of Dena Mts, Zagros, West Iran

Questions: The highest mountain peak of Zagros is located in the Dena mountain system (4409 m a.s.l.), which is identified as the second richest center of plant endemism of Zagros. In this study we (1) investigate floristic affinities of Dena Mts to adjacent mountain ranges based on the endemic species of the Iranian Plateau, (2) identify the species reaching the subnival zone, and (3) characterize the plant communities of the subnival zone of Dena Mts. Study area: Dena Mts is a calcareous mountain system in southern Zagros, Iran. Methods: The list of taxa endemic to the Iranian Plateau present also in Dena Mts was taken from our previously published data. Novel vegetation data were collected using the methodology of Braun-Blanquet. Classification was carried out in JUICE using the Modified TWINSPAN method. Results: Of the 242 taxa endemic to the Iranian Plateau present in Dena Mts, 22 taxa are endemic to the latter. Dena Mts have the strongest floristic affinity with the Yazd-Kerman massif, with which they share 84 taxa compared to 51 taxa shared with Alborz, 37 taxa shared with the Azerbaijan Plateau, and 15 taxa shared with Kopet Dagh-Khorassan. In Dena Mts, 38 taxa reach the subnival zone, most of them being endemic to the Iranian Plateau (68%). From scree habitats in the subnival zone, two new plant associations are described, Aethionemetum umbellati and Zerdanetum anchonioidei. These constitute a newly described alliance Galion pseudokurdici, classified within the class Didymophyso aucheri-Dracocephaletea aucheri. Conclusions: Although Dena Mts lie within a protected area, this will not prevent shrinking of alpine and subnival habitats due to global warming. Consequently, strong attention to the conservation of all range-restricted species of this mountain system, especially of alpine and subnival species, is highly recommended. Taxonomic reference: Flora of Iran (Assadi et al. 1989–2021) and, for families not yet covered in the previous source, Flora Iranica (Rechinger 1963–2015).

Spiders (Araneae) from square samples and pitfall traps in coastal heathland, western Norway. Habitat preference, phenology and distribution

Square samples were taken at intervals of 3 - 4 weeks (early spring 1972 - late summer 1973) in a heterogenous plant association dominated by Calluna vulgaris and several moss species (Loc.I), and in a homogenous, humid Sphagnum mat (Loc.II) with very sparse Calluna. Probably due to an unusually dry spring/early summer in 1972 the density of spiders decreased drastically towards mid-summer at Loc.I, especially the linyphiids and in particular their juveniles (less so at Loc.II). During late autumn/early winter a maximum of approximately 300 and 200 specimens per square meter was reached at Loc I and II, respectively. A total of 43 species were found; at Loc.I 42 species and at Loc. II 29 species. The Shannon indices of general diversity were 2.28 and 1.26, respectively. The sharing of 28 species gave a fairly high Soerensen index of similarity (0.79) but a rather low Renkonen index (0.30). At Loc.I the four most dominant species (range 12 - 21% ), Minyriolus pusillus, Erigonella hiemalis, Gongylidiellum latebricola and G. vivum, represented 59% of the total. At Loc.II the two most dominant species Robertus arundineti (45%) and Minyriolus pusillus (10%) represented 55% of the total. Pitfall traps emptied every 3 - 4 weeks added another 25 species to the list, including some abundant lycosids, and occasional sampling elsewhere in the area added 6 species. Phenological data are presented, and for some abundant species briefly discussed with notes on their habitat preferences and distribution.

Оптимизация пастбищной нагрузки на степные экосистемы аридной территории Ставропольского края

Abstract. The article considers the issues of rational use of grass of steppe phytocenoses in their pasture use; the correspondence of pasture capacity and the number of grazed livestock. The purpose of the study is to assess the current state of steppe communities used as pasture lands for grazing existing livestock of large and small cattle and to propose ways to optimize pasture livestock breeding in the arid territory of the Stavropol Territory. Methods. A statistical analysis of the number of cattle and small cattle in the study area was carried out. The expeditionary study of natural herbages was carried out in 2021–2023 on accounting sites (100 m2) according to the requirements of methods generally accepted in phytocenology. The results of the study. Statistical analysis showed that by the beginning of 2000, the number of sheep in the territory under consideration had decreased by 2.6 times, and cattle by 1.6 times. In subsequent years, with the gradual recovery of the livestock industry from the crisis, a steady increase in the number of small and large cattle was noted in this zone to 1306.1 and 74.8 thousand heads, respectively. It was revealed that the vegetation of natural lands used in pasture farming in the arid zone of the Stavropol Territory is secondary, stunted and monotonous in terms of flora composition and plant associations. The capacity of the pasture lands does not correspond to the feed needs of the grazed livestock. At the moment, the shortage of pasture feed is 323.7 thousand tons of feed units. On such pasture lands, animals do not receive food in sufficient quantities. It is recommended to optimize pasture management by limiting the pasture load and bringing the number of grazed livestock in line with the feed capacity of pasture lands. This will help to provide the existing livestock with food that meets their regulatory needs. Scientific novelty. New data have been obtained on the current state of steppe communities in the arid territory of the Stavropol Territory and the correspondence of the number of grazed livestock to the pasture capacity.

The southwesternmost record of late Silurian (Pridolian) early land plants of Gondwana.

The Silurian-Devonian transition played a crucial role in the development of early terrestrial ecosystems due to the rapid diversification of early vascular plants. However, records of Pridolian plants in western Gondwana are scarce, limited to outcrops located in southern Bolivia. In this contribution, an association of fossil plants housed in the Rinconada Formation is presented. This association corresponds to primitive fossil flora with reproductive structures and sterile axes linked to basal tracheophytes. The fossil assemblage is composed of Aberlemnia caledonica, Caia langii Cooksonia cf. cambrensis, C. paranensis, C. cf. pertoni, Hostinella sp, Cf. Isidrophyton sp, Salopella marcensis, Steganoteca striata, two morphotypes of doubtful taxonomy, and graptolites colonies. The association between flora remains and graptolites, represents a parautochthonous assemblage in an inner marine platform, dominated by gravity flows. This record has paleophytogeographic importance indicating the extension of the northwest Gondwana-southern Laurusia unit to more southern areas of Gondwana. This expansion would have been favored by the post-glacial climatic improvement of the Late Silurian, together with a great radiation capacity and environmental flexibility of the flora. Furthermore, the biochron is extended of three taxa (A. caledonica, C. paranensis and Cf. Isidrophyton sp) first known from the Lochkovian, to the Pridoli.

Using integrative taxonomy to delimit species in the plant bug genus Pseudoloxops (Hemiptera: Miridae) in French Polynesia

Abstract We use integrative taxonomy to elucidate species boundaries of the plant bug genus Pseudoloxops (Kirkaldy 1905) in the Austral and Society archipelagos of French Polynesia. We operationalize the unified species concept by treating each individual as a potential species and then establish initial groupings (putative species) following statistically highly-supported reciprocal monophyly of individuals in a phylogenetic analysis of CO1, 16S, and 28S gene fragments. We then test our species hypotheses against additional lines of evidence from geometric morphometrics, genetic distance, discrete genitalic morphology, plant association, and geographic distribution partitions. Twenty species endemic to French Polynesia are recognized as follows: Pseudoloxops aama Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops anaana Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops baileyi Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops chastaoliancai Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops harrisonfordi Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops kamalaharrisae Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops oboyskii Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops papepihaa Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops puarata Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops raimana Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops ravataputuarai Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops simberloffi Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops tairoto Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops temehanirahi Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops tiapai Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops toparaamahana Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov., Pseudoloxops tupapaau Balukjian & Van Dam, sp. nov. New synonyms are proposed for Pseudoloxops flavus (Knight, 1937) [=Pseudoloxops rubrocuneatus (Knight, 1937)] and Pseudoloxops adamsoni (Knight, 1937) [= Pseudoloxops nigribasicornis (Knight, 1937) and = Pseudoloxops tahiticus (Knight, 1937)]. Pseudoloxops rubroclavus (Knight, 1937) is redescribed.

The Combined Effect of Taproot and Fibrous Roots of Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs on the Distribution of Soil Water-Stable Aggregates

Soil aggregation, an important indicator of soil restoration in degraded ecosystems, is a fundamental unit of soil structure. However, research on the influence of grass–shrub composites on the distribution of >0.25 mm soil water-stable aggregates (macroaggregates) is scarce. Therefore, this study focuses on the hill and gully region of the Loess Plateau, where vegetation has been well restored since the return of farmland to forests and grasslands. The study investigated the root and macroaggregate distribution characteristics and interrelationships of three widely distributed mixed vegetation types of Caragana korshinskii and Agropyron cristatum (C-AC), C. korshinskii and Bothriochloa ischaemum (C-BI), and C. korshinskii and Artemisia gmelinii (C-AG) in this area. The results indicate that soil macroaggregates decrease with increasing depth. Due to the spatial differences in the distribution of shrub root, the content of macroaggregates at 50 cm from the shrub base was higher than that at the shrub base, with an increase of 25.98%–34.27% in different vegetation associations. In this study, the root length density and root diameter better reflected the influence of roots on the distribution of macroaggregates, and the product of the two had a good power function relationship with the content of macroaggregates (R2 ≥ 0.82, p < 0.01). Grey correlation analysis showed that the influence of root length density on the distribution of large aggregates was greater than that of root diameter. The content of macroaggregates in the vegetation association of taproot herbaceous plants and shrubs was higher than that of fibrous root herbaceous plants. The average soil macroaggregate content in the C-AG was 15.79%–248.6% higher than that in the C-BI and C-AC. In this study, the spatial distribution differences in root caused by shrub growth were the main reason for the spatial heterogeneity of soil macroaggregate content distribution. The improvement ability of soil macroaggregates was higher in the combination of taproot herbaceous plants and shrubs than in the combination of fibrous root herbaceous plants and shrubs. The results of this study can, to some extent, reveal the influence and mechanisms of plant roots on soil aggregates in grass–shrub vegetation association.

Classifying Plant Communities in the North American Coastal Plain With PRISMA Spaceborne Hyperspectral Imagery and the Spectral Mixture Residual

AbstractThe effort to map terrestrial biodiversity, in recent years limited mostly to the use of broadband multispectral remote sensing at decameter scales, can be greatly enhanced by harnessing hyperspectral imagery. Interpretation of hyperspectral imagery may be aided by the Mixture Residual (MR) spectral preprocessing transformation. MR integrates the benefits of spectral mixture analysis with the absorption peak‐enhancing characteristics of continuum removal. MR characterizes each pixel as a linear combination of generic end‐members estimating the spectral continuum, from which the residual of each wavelength is computed and treated as a source of additional information. Using Hyperspectral Precursor of the Application Mission (PRISMA) imagery, we tested the ability of MR‐transformed reflectance as compared to untransformed surface reflectance (SR) to map plant associations and land cover using ground truthing and random forest classifications across four landscapes within the North American Coastal Plain. We used a forward stepwise selection algorithm to choose bands for each classification and subsequently compared these between SR and MR. Our MR classifications distinguished land cover with 5% greater balanced accuracy on average than the SR‐based classifications across all four landscapes. The MR‐based classification that integrated data from all landscapes into a unified model encompassing all 21 land cover types achieved a 76% average balanced accuracy over three iterations. Generally, MR utilized the near‐infrared region to a greater degree than SR while deemphasizing the green peak. Based on our results, MR improves the accuracy of mapping terrestrial biodiversity, likely extending to other current and planned satellite hyperspectral missions.

An annotated checklist with a key to the genera of Australian psyllids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea)

The diversity of the psyllids of Australia reflects that of the plants of this country, with large radiations and ecological dominance of Myrtaceae (e.g., Eucalyptus), Fabaceae (e.g., Acacia), Casuarinaceae (e.g., Allocasuarina, Casuarina) and Scrophulariaceae (e.g., Eremophila, Myoporum). Within Australian ecosystems, psyllids are critical components of food webs, especially with respect to providing energy-rich resources for many species of birds and insects and, historically, humans. Furthermore, in horticulture, agriculture and forestry, some Australian psyllid species are considered pests, causing leaf senescence and ‘dieback’, leaf deformation and inducing growth of sooty mould, with some adventive species capable of acting as vectors of plant pathogens. Several species are considered beneficial, having been introduced as biological control agents of weeds. Additionally, some Australian psyllids have established in other countries, or in regions within Australia that are not within their natural range; while others have such limited geographical ranges that they are of conservation concern. Here we provide an updated checklist of the species of Psylloidea present in Australia and updated a previous key to their genera based on adult morphology. This is the first checklist of the Australian psyllids compiled since the most recent global taxonomic classification, and provides detailed information on biogeographical, ecological and anthropogenic aspects, including global distribution, host plant data, pest status, conservation status, parasitoids, predators, and biological control programs. Our checklist includes information on 66 genera and 450 species, 414 formally described and 36 awaiting descriptions. This represents an increase of almost 20% of species since the last published checklist of 2004, which reported 354 described and 21 undescribed taxa. Additionally, we summarise the available information on more than 150 undescribed taxa. Finally, we reported here more than 60 new records, between distributions and host plant associations.

Ant mimicry in Australian plant bugs: a new genus (Heteroptera: Miridae: Austromirini: Carenotus gen. nov.), eight new species, myrmecomorphic traits, host plants and distribution.

The Australian plant bug tribe Austromirini consists of ant-mimetic taxa which are poorly known, with no information of their phylogenetic relationships and ant-mimetic traits. In this study, we examined nearly 1000 ingroup specimens and developed a comprehensive morphological dataset comprising 37 characters, which was analysed both weighted and unweighted, using 'Tree analysis using New Technology' (TNT ) software. A single minimal length phylogenetic tree was found, comprising a monophyletic group of ant-mimetic taxa, that included Myrmecoroides rufescens , Myrmecoridea sp., Kirkaldyella spp. and eight species of a new genus, Carenotus gen. nov. The myrmecomorphic traits of Carenotus and allied ant-mimetic taxa are documented and analysed phylogenetically, in conjunction with genitalic characters. Carenotus is defined by the myrmecomorphic colour patterning of the abdominal venter, whereas the ingroup species relationships are supported by genitalic characters alone. Carenotus is described as new with eight included species as follows: C. arltunga sp. nov., C. louthensis sp. nov., C. luritja sp. nov., C. pullabooka sp. nov., C. scaevolaphilus sp. nov., C. schwartzi sp. nov., C. tanami sp. nov. and C. yuendumu sp. nov. Host plant associations are also documented, ranging from host plant specificity and genus-group preferences to host plant generalism. The distribution of Carenotus species is documented with reference to phytogeographic subregions, with all species being semi-arid and arid dwelling. The male and female genitalia of Kirkaldyella pilosa and K. rugosa are described and illustrated, for comparative and phylogenetic purposes. This research expands our knowledge on the plant bug tribe Austromirini and has broader implications for myrmecomorphic research in the suborder Heteroptera. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2FF9BE23-38A6-42B4-8488-74F216D8237F.

Сравнительный анализ эколого-флористической классификации и лесных типологий России

At the beginning of the 20th century in Europe, a scientific direction was formed, called phytosociology, the founder of which was the Swiss botanist and ecologist J. Braun- Blanquet. The approach he developed has become widespread throughout the world and has formed the basis for a large number of vegetation classifications. The article provides a description of the ecological-floristic approach to vegetation classification according to the following parameters: the scope of the concept of association, the peculiarities of its boundary allocation, the classification criteria for establishing the type of forest conditions and for determining the association, consideration of the succession dynamics and the influence of anthropogenic factors, the level of implementation in forestry, forest management and reporting. An overview of the current state of the approach is given and the results of its comparison to the Russian forest typologies are presented. The advantages of the Braun-Blanquet classification include its versatility, developed methodology, flexibility of classification criteria and a carefully thought-out nomenclature. The development of the Turboveg software package for entering, storing and processing vegetation data has contributed to the increase in the use of this classification. Currently, in addition to vegetation features, it is becoming mandatory to take into account climatic parameters, and when identifying syntaxa and forming cartographic representations of vegetation, modern advances in the field of GIS technologies are used to assess the factors that influence the vegetation structure. The reflection of successional dynamics in syntaxonomic units still remains an urgent task for both the ecological-floristic approach and the domestic forest typologies. Within the framework of the Braun-Blanquet approach, aspects related to the consideration of anthropogenic transformations of plant associations are also being actively studied. This is evidenced by a number of successful examples of assessing forest synanthropization and modeling the response functions of plant communities to environmental factors, including anthropogenic ones. As in forest typologies, multidimensional methods of data analysis (DCA, CCA, PCA with superimposition of vectors on ordination diagrams) are widely used in the development of eclological-floristic classifications for studying the structure of forest vegetation.

Network structure and taxonomic composition of tritrophic communities of Fagaceae, cynipid gallwasps and parasitoids in Sichuan, China

Abstract A key question in insect community ecology is whether parasitoid assemblages are structured by the food plants of their herbivore hosts. Tritrophic communities centred on oak‐feeding cynipid gallwasps are one of the best‐studied tritrophic insect communities. Previous work suggests that host plant identity is a much stronger predictor of oak–cynipid interactions than of cynipid–parasitoid interactions. However, these relationships have not been formally quantified. We reason that the potential for ‘bottom‐up’ effects should increase with host plant phylogenetic diversity. We, therefore, generated quantified interaction network data for previously unstudied tritrophic cynipid communities in Sichuan, China, where, in addition to Quercus, cynipid host plants include Castanea, Castanopsis and Lithocarpus. We characterise these communities taxonomically and compare the extent to which host plant taxonomy predicts plant–herbivore and plant–parasitoid associations. We sampled 42,620 cynipid galls of 176 morphotypes from 23 host plant species, yielding over 4500 specimens of 64 parasitoid morphospecies. Many parasitoids were identifiable to chalcidoid taxa present in other Holarctic oak cynipid communities, with the addition of Cynipencyrtus (Cynipencyrtidae). As elsewhere, Sichuan parasitoid assemblages were dominated by generalists. Gallwasp–plant interaction networks were significantly more modular than parasitoid–plant association networks. Gallwasps were significantly more specialised to host plants (i.e. had higher mean d' values) than parasitoids. Parasitoid assemblages nevertheless showed significant plant‐associated beta diversity, with a dominant turnover component. We summarise parallels between our study and other Fagaceae‐associated cynipid communities and discuss our findings in light of the processes thought to structure tritrophic interactions centred on endophytic insect herbivores.

New records, diagnostics and preliminary checklist of the superfamily Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Comoro Islands

The following species are recorded from the Comoro Islands for the first time: 12 species of Pentatomidae: Pentatominae—Anoano pronotalis Cachan, 1952 (from Mayotte), Antestiopsis clymeneis cf. galtiei (Frappa, 1934) (Mayotte), Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister, 1835) (Mayotte), Bathycoelia rodhaini Schouteden, 1913 (Mayotte), Coquerelia ventralis Horváth, 1904 (Mayotte), Eurysaspis transversalis Signoret, 1851 (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mayotte), Gadarscama ebenaui Reuter, 1887 (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli, Mayotte), Lerida annulicornis (Signoret, 1861) (Anjouan, Mayotte), Neoacrosternum validum (Horváth, 1904) (Grand Comore, Mayotte), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mayotte), Piezodorus hybneri (Gmelin, 1790) (Mayotte), and Stenozygum mirabile (Signoret, 1861) (Mayotte); two species of Plataspidae—Brachyplatys hemisphaerica (Westwood, 1837) (Mayotte) and Coptosoma maculatum Westwood, 1837 (Mayotte); and one species of Scutelleridae—Hotea denticulata Stål, 1865 (Mayotte). The endemic pentatomine species Bathycoelia cuneifera Bergroth, 1893, syn. nov., is recognized as a junior subjective synonym of the widely distributed African species Bathycoelia thalassina (Herrich-Schäffer, 1844). The lectotype of B. cuneifera is designated herein. The checklist of the Pentatomoidea of Comoro Islands includes six species of Cydnidae, 21 species of Pentatomidae, two species of Plataspidae, one species of Scutelleridae and 1 species of Tessaratomidae. Of these species, six are endemic to the archipelago, 14 species are subendemic (shared with Madagascar and/or Aldabra Atoll), and nine species are widespread, occurring also on the African mainland (including the cosmopolitan pest Nezara viridula and two species of Bathycoelia Amyot & Serville, 1843 from the Guinean area, all three possibly alien to the archipelago). We document an additional eight species (six species of Pentatomidae, one species of each Scutelleridae and Tessaratomidae) that are identified to generic level only (two recorded from Grand Comore, seven from Mayotte, one of them occuring in both islands). Mayotte is the best sampled island, with 28 recorded species, followed by Grande Comore (11 species), Anjouan (six species), and Mohéli (four species). In addition the following new records are provided: Bathycoelia rodhaini from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon and Zambia, Bathycoelia thalassina from Central African Republic and Ethiopia, and Piezodorus hybneri from Angola (Cabinda) and Sierra Leone. The type locality of Eurysaspis transversalis Signoret, 1851, India: Puducherry, is considered an error as the species occurs only in Madagascar and Comoros. The following plant associations are recorded from Mayotte: Bagrada hilaris on Cleome viscosa (Cleomaceae), Eurysaspis transversalis on Senna singueana (Fabaceae), and Piezosternum sp. on Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae) and Mikania capensis (Asteraceae).

The nature of vegetation cover and small mammal community structure (on the example of Nizhny Novgorod)

The spatial distribution of Apodemus species (yellow-necked, field, and small forest mice) was studied on the example of the protected area «Oak forest of National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod Botanical Garden». Twelve plant associations with non-moral character and representing derivatives of the indigenous type of vegetation were studied. Environmental conditions assessed by the Ellenberg phytoindication method affect the distribution of small mammals in space indirectly. The nature of vegetation cover is more significant. When projective cover increases, the abundance of both small woodland and field mice increases. The strategy of Apodemus agrarius appears to be similar to that of Apodemus uralensis, a species that shows stenobiontic traits in the studied PA. At the same time, insignificant anthropogenic load, a marker of which is the presence of Urtica dioica ruderal species, leads to an increase in the mosaic of vegetation cover, which has a positive effect on the abundance of these small mammal species. A moderate increase in the Berger-Parker dominance index for vegetation cover is positively associated with the confinement of micromammals. In addition, in the conditions of the recreational zone of the upland part of N. Novgorod, Apodemus agrarius prefers areas of old-growth broadleaved forest, not showing the features of anthropophily.

Assessment of sustainability of natural complexes of the Minyarsky physiographic region of the Western slope of the Southern Urals

The article considers the evaluation of sustainability of natural complexes of low-mountain sections of the western slope of the Southern Urals (Minyarsk physical and geographical area) on the basis of analysis of landscape profiles on the indicator of sustainability of natural complexes. Peculiarities of the study area are highlighted: specific climatic conditions, complex geological and geomorphological conditions with ongoing industrial development, as well as a variety of soil and hydrological conditions combined with anthropogenic transformation of the territory. In the course of landscape profiling, as well as the application of methods of assessment of anthropogenic transformation of landscapes (at the level of the terrain), a decrease of diversity in natural complexes on the studied slopes was established, Replacement of typical plant communities by secondary successional communities in lowland areas dominated by horsetail. It has also been established that the aggregate of conditions in natural complexes indicates anthropogenic transformation of slope landscapes, the aggregate leading factor of which is the geochemical position on the element of the slope, Low resistance to external influence of the soil with a rinsing type of water regime defining plant associations. The obtained materials can be used as a basis for analysis of ecological condition of landscapes of the western slope of the Southern Urals, as well as characteristics of slope types of locations. Materials allow to further assess the recreational attractiveness of landscapes and the choice of ways of natural use of the studied area.

Prosapia bicincta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) abundance, plant associations, and impacts on groundcover in Hawai'i Island rangelands.

The twolined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say), is a major economic pest of forage grass and turfgrass. Prosapia bicincta was first detected in rangelands on Hawai'i Island in 2016 and has since spread to an estimated 72,000 ha in the North and South Kona districts. This study aimed to quantify P. bicincta abundance, plant associations, and impacts on groundcover over time. Monthly surveys of P. bicincta nymphs and adults were conducted from February 2018 to September 2022 along 17 established 100-m transects at 4 ranches located in Kona, Hawai'i Island, spanning an elevation gradient from 519 to 1,874 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Monitoring revealed P. bicincta occurs from 519 to 1,679 m a.s.l., primarily in Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.)) Morrone (Poales: Poaceae) pastures. Peaks in P. bicincta abundance coincided with the wet season, with most activity occurring from April to October and little to no activity between November and March. Mid elevation (1,000-1,300 m) transects had significantly higher mean P. bicincta abundance (126 nymphs/m2) relative to low (500-999 m) (64 nymphs/m2) and high elevations (>1,300 m) (20 nymphs/m2). Sites with the highest abundance of P. bicincta were also associated with the greatest decrease in mean grass cover (30%) and were replaced by forbs, bare ground, and shrubs. Grasses accounted for 72% of the total P. bicincta detections, with the remaining plants comprised of legumes (16%), sedges (6%), and forbs (6%). Twenty new P. bicincta plant associations were found. This information will help improve the effectiveness of management to suppress populations below economic thresholds.

The oldest ‘millipede’-plant association? Age, paleoenvironments and sources of the Silurian lake sediments at Kerrera, Argyll and Bute, Scotland

ABSTRACT On Kerrera island, poorly dated braided stream conglomerates and sandstones are interbedded with finer lake siltstones and shales, with land plants, fish and arthropods, including ‘millipedes’. Crystallization dates for minerals in the overlying Lorne Plateau Lave are older than 425 Ma (Upper Silurian Ludfordian), yet palynological data are supposed to give an early Devonian (419 Ma) age. Detrital zircon U/Pb dates of sediments enclosing the fish beds give two clusters of dates, one Proterozoic and the other Silurian. The most concordant youngest single grain date of 427.0 ± 4.5 Ma (0% discordance) gives the maximum age of the Fish beds and is consistent that the radiometric dates of the overlying rapidly erupted lavas. This maximum age is slightly older than that of the ‘millipede’-bearing Cowie fish bed with maximum age of 414.3 ± 7.1 Ma, which make the Kerrera ‘millipedes’ the oldest so far dated.

SYNTAXONOMICAL COMPOSITION AND COENOTIC STRUCTURE OF THE RIPARIAN-AQUATIC VEGETATION IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER BODIES OF POLTAVA CITY

The article deals with the results of studying the syntaxonomical composition and structure of the communities of riparian-aquatic vegetation in different types of water bodies of the city of Poltava (artificial and natural reservoirs, the urban section of the middle River Vorskla), where, according to the ecological and floristic classification, 16 associations (including 2 variants) of six alliances and four orders of the class PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA were identified. Of these, only two associations (Phragmitetum communis and Typhetum latifoliae) are the most typical in urban hydroecotopes.The studied plant associations are characterized by a low species richness, the absolute majority of them represents a simplified version of the original natural associations. Relatively higher species richness of some associations is due to the participation of species of hygro-mesophilic forbs, primarily elements of the synanthropic floral complex, which is associated with a significant disturbance of the natural vegetation cover in the urban area. The nature of the development of the described riparian-aquatic plant communities and the peculiarities of their floristic composition reflect the tendency to shallowing and waterlogging of urban hydroecotopes.In the rank of associations there are 14 communities in urban lentic water bodies and 8 communities on the urban section of the middle river. Most of the identified associations (8) are confined exclusively to urban reservoirs, while only 2 associations are specific to the urban section of the river. Of those 6 associations found both in urban reservoirs and in the middle river’s urban section, the river coenoses are more diverse and better developed.In the conditions of an urbanized environment, the middle river ecosystems show a higher resistance to anthropogenic influence compared to ecosystems of artificial urban water bodies, which is evidenced, in particular, by a more complex coenotic structure of common associations.

Synopsis of Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Atlantic Forest Dominion, Espírito Santo State, Brazil: keys, diagnoses, new species, plant associations, and geographic distribution. Part I: Bryocorinae, Cylapinae and Deraeocorinae.

This is the first paper in a compilation of subfamilies synoptic taxonomic treatments of the Miridae in Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil based on extensive fieldwork and review of local collections. Starting with Bryocorinae, Cylapinae, and Deraeocorinae. This manuscript recognizes three subfamilies, 8 tribes, 31 genera, and 45 species from the region. Diagnoses, hostplant/plant associations and predator prey information, distribution data, and remarks are provided. Illustrations of adults and, for most species, morphological characters of male genitalia are given to help identification. Keys are included for identification, including other subfamilies, tribes, and genera not yet found in the state of ES to increase the comparative accuracy.