Common Habitat Types Research Articles

Larval habitat diversity, physicochemical characterization and their effect on the density of larval malaria vectors in the city of Accra, Ghana.

Malaria is more prevalent in rural areas due to fewer mosquito breeding habitats in urban settings. However, urban factors such as irrigated farming, open sewers, and discarded containers create mosquito breeding sites. This study investigates the diversity and distribution of larval habitats and the impact of physicochemical characteristics on the presence and density of Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae in Accra, Ghana. Larval surveys and collections were conducted at fifteen locations in Accra, divided into five categories: Irrigated Urban Farming (IUF), Lower Socioeconomic Status (LS), Middle Socioeconomic Status (MS), High Socioeconomic Status (HS), and Peri-urban (PU) areas. Physicochemical parameters were measured, and species identification was performed using morphological and molecular methods. A total of 727 breeding habitats were identified, with 65.34% (475/727) positive for Anopheles larvae. Drainage ditches were the most common habitat type (48.21%, 229/475). The highest abundance of An. gambiae s.l. was found in IUF sites (6,244/22,919), especially during the rainy season (77.01%, 17,650/22,919; R2 = 3.46, P = 0.000). Polluted habitats, including household effluents, had higher ammonium levels (3.4 mg/L NH -N) compared to unpolluted ones (1.3 mg/L NH -N). Other distinguishing parameters included dissolved oxygen (34% vs 52.9%), conductivity (5106 μS/cm vs 2049 μS/cm), and total dissolved solids (3181 mg/L vs 1255 mg/L). The predominant malaria vector was An. coluzzii(54.4%, 368/677). Additionally, the invasive An. stephensi, previously unreported in Ghana, was detected. Malaria vectors breed in diverse and often polluted urban habitats, with high larval densities in urban agricultural areas. The detection of the invasive An. Stephensi highlights the need for continuous monitoring and vector control strategies in urban settings.

The Current Distribution of Oncomelania hupensis Snails in the People’s Republic of China Based on a Nationwide Survey

Schistosomiasis is a helminth infection caused by the genus Schistosoma, which is still a threat in tropical and sub-tropical areas. In the China, schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum is mainly endemic to the Yangtze River valley. The amphibious snail Oncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis) is the unique intermediate host of S. japonicum; hence, snail control is a crucial approach in the process of schistosomiasis transmission control and elimination. In 2016, a nationwide snail survey was conducted involving all snail habitats recorded since 1950 in all endemic counties of 12 provinces. A total of 53,254 existing snail habitats (ESHs) were identified, presenting three clusters in Sichuan Basin, Dongting Lake, and Poyang Lake. The overall habitat area was 5.24 billion m2, of which 3.58 billion m2 were inhabited by O. hupensis. The area inhabited by snails (AIS) in Dongting and Poyang Lakes accounted for 76.53% of the population in the country. Three typical landscape types (marshland and lakes, mountains and hills, and plain water networks) existed in endemic areas, and marshland and lakes had a predominant share (3.38 billion m2) of the AIS. Among the 12 endemic provinces, Hunan had a share of nearly 50% of AIS, whereas Guangdong had no ESH. Ditches, dryland, paddy fields, marshland, and ponds are common habitat types of the ESH. Although the AIS of the marshland type accounted for 87.22% of the population in the whole country, ditches were the most common type (35,025 or 65.77%) of habitat. Six categories of vegetation for ESHs were identified. A total of 39,139 habitats were covered with weeds, accounting for 55.26% of the coverage of the area. Multiple vegetation types of snail habitats appeared in the 11 provinces, but one or two of these were mainly dominant. Systematic sampling showed that the presence of living snails was 17.88% among the 13.5 million sampling frames. The occurrence varied significantly by landscape, environment, and vegetation type. The median density of living snails in habitats was 0.50 per frame (0.33 m × 0.33 m), and the highest density was 40.01 per frame. Furthermore, two main clusters with high snail densities and spatial correlations indicated by hotspot analysis were identified: one in Hunan and Hubei, the other in Sichuan. This national survey is the first full-scale census on the distribution of O. hupensis, which is significant, as transmission interruption and elimination are truly becoming the immediate goal of schistosomiasis control in China. The study discerns the detailed geographic distribution of O. hupensis with the hotspots of snail density in China. It is beneficial to understand the status of the snail population in order to finally formulate further national control planning.

In situ differences in nitrogen cycling related to presence of submerged aquatic vegetation in a Gulf of Mexico estuary.

Estuaries provide a suite of ecosystem services to people but are also under heavy stress from human development including excess nutrient loading and alterations in benthic habitat that affect nutrient cycling. Here we examine the interaction of two important and common ecosystem management priorities in estuaries: limiting eutrophication and restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Rates of benthic nitrogen processing can vary by habitat type and there is need for more complete data on the contribution of SAV to overall nitrogen cycling in estuaries, as well as a need to examine nitrogen cycling in situ to better characterize the role of SAV areal coverage in mediating estuarine eutrophication. We compare nitrogen cycling between two common and adjacent habitat types (SAV and adjacent bare sediment [BS]) in an index coastal estuary using an in situ chamber-based approach to better capture realized habitat differences. We also examined genomic community structure of sediment bacteria and archaea to identify biological indicators of nitrogen exchange. Both mean sediment-water exchange of dissolved N2 and microbial functional community structure differed between SAV and BS. Habitat differences were more consistent with lower variability at locations with low salinity and when sediment organic content was highest, which aligns with findings in other studies. Habitat types differed significantly in microbial composition, including functional groups and genes, like nifH, that may contribute to observed differences in nitrogen cycling. Overall, habitat type appeared most important to nitrogen cycling near the river mouth where sediment nitrogen was higher, and this information has implications for integrated management of habitat restoration/conservation and nutrient loading.

Examining Decomposition and Nitrogen Mineralization in Five Common Urban Habitat Types across Southern California to Inform Sustainable Landscaping

Urban landscaping conversions can alter decomposition processes and soil respiration, making it difficult to forecast regional CO2 emissions. Here we explore rates of initial mass loss and net nitrogen (N) mineralization in natural and four common urban land covers (waterwise, waterwise with mulch, shrub, and lawn) from sites across seven colleges in southern California. We found that rates of decomposition and net N mineralization were faster for high-N leaf substrates, and natural habitats exhibited slower rates of decomposition and mineralization than managed urban landcovers, especially lawns and areas with added mulch. These results were consistent across college campuses, suggesting that our findings are robust and can predict decomposition rates across southern California. While mechanisms driving differences in decomposition rates among habitats in the cool-wet spring were difficult to identify, elevated decomposition in urban habitats highlights that conversion of natural areas to urban landscapes enhances greenhouse gas emissions. While perceived as sustainable, elevated decomposition rates in areas with added mulch mean that while these transformations may reduce water inputs, they increase soil carbon (C) flux. Mimicking natural landscapes by reducing water and nutrient (mulch) inputs and planting drought-tolerant native vegetation with recalcitrant litter can slow decomposition and reduce regional C emissions.

Two new Russula species (fungi) from dry dipterocarp forest in Thailand suggest niche specialization to this habitat type

Dry dipterocarp forests are among the most common habitat types in Thailand. Russulaceae are known as common ectomycorrhizal symbionts of Dipterocarpaceae trees in this type of habitat. The present study aims to identify collections of Russula subsection Amoeninae Buyck from dry dipterocarp forests in Thailand. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis placed Thai Amoeninae collections in two novel lineages, and they are described here as R. bellissima sp. nov. and R. luteonana sp. nov. The closest identified relatives of both species were sequestrate species suggesting that they may belong to drought-adapted lineages. An analysis of publicly available ITS sequences in R. subsect. Amoeninae did not confirm evidence of any of the new species occurring in other Asian regions, indicating that dry dipterocarp forests might harbor a novel community of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Macromorphological characters are variable and are not totally reliable for distinguishing the new species from other previously described Asian Amoeninae species. Both new species are defined by a combination of differentiated micromorphological characteristics in spore ornamentation, hymenial cystidia and hyphal terminations in the pileipellis. The new Amoeninae species may correspond to some Russula species collected for consumption in Thailand, and the detailed description of the new species can be used for better identification of edible species and food safety in the region.

Importance of Soil Organic Matter and the Species Pool for Local Species Richness in Montane Ecosystems

Understanding the response of plant species richness to environmental filters is critical for conservation management as there is an increasing emphasis on plant restoration in urban/rural planning. However, empirical studies on the effects that the regional species pool has on plant species richness often overlook small spatial scales, therefore requiring more comprehensive approaches. As mountains can act as barriers to plant dispersal, the impact on the species pool, particularly, should be a priority. This study aimed to investigate how the regional species pool affects the local plant species richness in a multivariate context. We sampled vascular plant communities along three transects located in three valleys across the Chongli District, China, where four common habitat types were selected for sampling: grassland, shrubbery, pure forest, and mixed forest. We compared the differences in the multi-scale species richness and species composition between habitats and regions and used piecewise structural equation modeling to analyze the relative importance of the regional species pool, habitat species pool, soil resource availability, and exposure for local plant richness. The β-diversity had the highest contribution to the total species richness between valleys and habitats. The species composition between regions and habitats showed a significant difference and the local species richness was most strongly affected by the soil characteristics, but effects from the regional species pool still played an important role. Conservation efforts and urban/rural planning should use a multi-level and multi-scale approach based on a detailed structural investigation.

Relative use of xeric boreal habitats by shrews (Sorexspp.)

AbstractFew studies have explicitly examined habitat use by shrews (Sorexspp.) in the boreal forest of western North America. We conducted pitfall trapping in six common xeric habitat types in Yukon, Canada, to determine their relative use by shrews. The overall capture rate was 0.47 shrews per 100 trap nights (TN), with a total sampling effort of 3652 TN. Cinereus shrews (Sorex cinereus; 0.25 per 100 TN) were the most common species, followed by dusky shrews (Sorex monticolus; 0.14 per 100 TN) and American pygmy shrews (Sorex hoyi; 0.08 per 100 TN). Shrew capture rates and species richness was low in all habitat types sampled. Cinereus shrews were captured in similar numbers in boreal mixedwood forest and alpine shrub habitats, and rarely in other lowland forest habitat types. Dusky shrews were captured largely in alpine shrub habitats, while pygmy shrews were captured only in lowland forest habitat types. The relative use of alpine shrub habitat by cinereus shrews and dusky shrews was not expected. Our data was limited by low captures; however, we provide a first approximation of the relative use of common forest types and subalpine shrub habitat in the boreal forest of northwestern Canada.

Diversity and distribution of Icelandic ferns (Polypodiopsida)

In this paper a comprehensive list of Icelandic ferns (Polypodiopsida sensu PPG I) is presented alongside detailed distribution maps (5×5 km grid). Apart from general characteristics of the local range, details on ecology and conservation status are provided, including most common habitat types for each species, altitudinal range and a local red list status assessment according to IUCN criteria. The most important bibliography records for each species are also listed.

Simulated solar panels create altered microhabitats in desert landforms

AbstractSolar energy development is a significant driver of land‐use change worldwide, and desert ecosystems are particularly well suited to energy production because of their high insolation rates. Deserts are also characterized by uncertain rainfall, high species endemism, and distinct landforms that vary in geophysical properties. Weather and physical features that differ across landforms interact with shade and water runoff regimes imposed by solar panels, creating novel microhabitats that influence biotic communities. Endemic species may be particularly affected because they often have limited distributions, narrow climatic envelopes, or specialized life histories. We used experimental panels to simulate the effects of solar development on microhabitats and annual plant communities present on gravelly bajada and caliche pan habitat, two common habitat types in California's Mojave Desert. We evaluated soils and microclimatic conditions and measured community response under panels and in the open for seven years (2012–2018). We found that differences in site characteristics and weather affected the ecological impact of panels on the annual plant community. Panel shade tended to increase species richness on the more stressful caliche pan habitat, and this effect was strongest in dry years. Shade effects on diversity and abundance also tended to be positive or neutral on caliche pan habitat. On gravelly bajada habitat, panel shade did not significantly affect richness or diversity and tended to decrease plant abundance. Panel runoff rarely affected richness or diversity on either habitat type, but effects on abundance tended to be negative—suggesting that panel rain shadows were more important than runoff from low‐volume rain events. These results demonstrate that the ecological consequences of solar development can vary over space and time, and suggest that a nuanced approach will be needed to predict impacts across desert landforms differing in physical characteristics.

Effect of different habitat types on abundance and biting times of Anopheles balabacensis Baisas (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kudat district of Sabah, Malaysia

BackgroundWe investigated the effect of five common habitat types on the diversity and abundance of Anopheles spp. and on the biting rate and time of Anopheles balabacensis (currently the only known vector for Plasmodium knowlesi in Sabah) at Paradason village, Kudat, Sabah. The habitats were forest edge, playground area, longhouse, oil palm plantation and shrub-bushes area. Sampling of Anopheles was done monthly using the human landing catch method in all habitat types for 14 months (October 2013 to December 2014, excluding June 2014). The Anopheles species were morphologically identified and subjected to PCR assay for the detection of Plasmodium parasites. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) were applied to test the variation in abundance and biting rates of An. balabacensis in different habitat types.ResultsA total of 1599 Anopheles specimens were collected in the village, of which about 90% were An. balabacensis. Anopheles balabacensis was present throughout the year and was the dominant Anopheles species in all habitat types. The shrub bushes habitat had the highest Anopheles species diversity while forest edge had the greatest number of Anopheles individuals caught. GLMM analysis indicated that An. balabacensis abundance was not affected by the type of habitats, and it was more active during the early and late night compared to predawn and dawn. PCR assay showed that 1.61% of the tested An. balabacensis were positive for malaria parasites, most of which were caught in oil palm estates and infected with one to two Plasmodium species.ConclusionsThe identification of infected vectors in a range of habitats, including agricultural and farming areas, illustrates the potential for humans to be exposed to P. knowlesi outside forested areas. This finding contributes to a growing body of evidence implicating environmental changes due to deforestation, expansion of agricultural and farming areas, and development of human settlements near to forest fringes in the emergence of P. knowlesi in Sabah.

Environmental heterogeneity mediates scale-dependent declines in kelp diversity on intertidal rocky shores.

Biodiversity loss is driven by interacting factors operating at different spatial scales. Yet, there remains uncertainty as to how fine-scale environmental conditions mediate biological responses to broad-scale stressors. We surveyed intertidal rocky shore kelp beds situated across a local gradient of wave action and evaluated changes in kelp diversity and abundance after more than two decades of broad scale stressors, most notably the 2013–2016 heat wave. Across all sites, species were less abundant on average in 2017 and 2018 than during 1993–1995 but changes in kelp diversity were dependent on wave exposure, with wave exposed habitats remaining stable and wave sheltered habitats experiencing near complete losses of kelp diversity. In this way, wave exposed sites have acted as refugia, maintaining regional kelp diversity despite widespread local declines. Fucoids, seagrasses and two stress-tolerant kelp species (Saccharina sessilis, Egregia menziesii) did not decline as observed in other kelps, and the invasive species Sargassum muticum increased significantly at wave sheltered sites. Long-term monitoring data from a centrally-located moderate site suggest that kelp communities were negatively impacted by the recent heatwave which may have driven observed losses throughout the region. Wave-sheltered shores, which saw the largest declines, are a very common habitat type in the Northeast Pacific and may be especially sensitive to losses in kelp diversity and abundance, with potential consequences for coastal productivity. Our findings highlight the importance of fine-scale environmental heterogeneity in mediating biological responses and demonstrate how incorporating differences between habitat patches can be essential to capturing scale-dependent biodiversity loss across the landscape.

The potential of common ragweed for further spread: invasibility of different habitats and the role of disturbances and propagule pressure

The infilling of existing suitable habitats within a landscape after establishment is of critical importance for the final outcome of a plant invasion, yet it is an often overlooked process. Common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is an invasive annual species in Europe causing serious problems due to its highly allergenic pollen and as an agricultural weed. Recent studies have modelled the broad-scale distribution of the species and assessed future invasion risk, but for predicting the expected outcome of ragweed invasion we also need a mechanistic understanding of its local invasion success. We conducted a field experiment to investigate the invasibility of eight common non-arable habitat types and the role of soil disturbance in central Hungary, in the hot spot of ragweed invasion in Europe. Seed addition alone resulted in negligible amount of ragweed biomass, except for sites where disturbance was part of the present management. Soil disturbance alone resulted in ragweed at those few sites where ragweed seeds were present in the seed bank, related to farming in recent decades. When disturbance and seed addition were combined, ragweed emerged in all habitat types and reached high biomass in all habitat types except for closed forests. As our experiment showed that most habitat types have high invasibility when disturbed, we conclude that ragweed has a high potential for further spread, even in this heavily infested region. Management should focus on preventing seed dispersal and eradicating establishing populations where ragweed is still absent, while reducing soil disturbance may be needed to avoid ragweed emergence in infested sites. This latter may require a reconsideration of land-use practices in infested regions.

Diet composition and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeast Georgia

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a recent addition to southeastern ecosystems and regional studies are needed to understand their ecological role. Most studies from the southeast are concentrated on diets from animals on the coastal plain. Here we report on the diet and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest, which is located in northeast Georgia at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains. Seventeen total scat samples were collected from March through May 2014. Habitat types and GPS coordinates of each sample were also recorded. Gray squirrel (65%) was the most common food item and occurred along with plant matter (53%) and arthropod exoskeletons (35%), suggesting that these food items were likely scavenged. Wild hog (18%), identified by adult guard hairs, also appeared to be scavenged. Small mammals and perching birds comprised a large portion of the diets, whereas white-tail deer were rarely recorded. Two competitors, bobcat and gray fox, were also identified in the scat samples. The most common habitat types were edges and logging roads, with little utilization of open hardwoods.

Structural diversity as a habitat indicator for endangered lakeshore flora using an assemblage of common plant species in Atlantic Canada

Vegetation structure, defined by the height, cover, and types of plants, is an important component of habitat suitability for plant species or communities. The identification of potential habitat is a crucial knowledge gap for endangered Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora (ACPF), a group of taxonomically unrelated plants that share common habitat types and are mostly found on lakeshores and wetlands in the Atlantic coastal region of North America. Our objectives were to assess spatial patterns and relationships of ACPF richness and structural diversity indices at different scales and positions along the lakeshore-to-forest gradient. We sampled 16 sites at 7 lakes in southwestern Nova Scotia using contiguous 20 × 20 cm quadrats along 20 m transects, perpendicular to the waterline, and in 5 × 5 m grids, between the lake and the forest edge. We measured the cover of 19 ACPF species and structural elements at different heights and calculated structural diversity indices using the Shannon index. Spatial patterns were assessed using one- and two-dimensional wavelet variance and covariance. The edge of the zone of high ACPF richness coincided with greater structural diversity at the lakeshore edge. Herbaceous ACPF richness was positively associated with structural diversity at finer scales and on lakeshores, but negatively associated at coarser scales and farther from the waterline. A strong association of structural diversity with ACPF richness suggests it could be used as a habitat indicator for ACPF on lakeshores, which could help the identification and conservation of potential suitable shorelines for ACPF populations in Nova Scotia.

Distribution and Habitat Preferences of the Invasive Alien Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae) in Archipelago Sea National Park, SW Finland

AbstractRosa rugosa Thunb. is an invasive alien plant which was introduced from East Asia to Europe in the 19th century. Over the decades it has spread along the Finnish coast, including the archipelagos of the Baltic Sea. The shrub grows particularly along sandy beaches, stony shores and seashore meadows. There it leads to serious changes in coastal ecosystems and replaces native plant species. This paper presents the distribution and habitat preferences of R. rugosa in and near Archipelago Sea National Park in SW Finland. We identified 205 stands in the study area, 58% of them in protected areas. Systematic inventories do not cover the whole study area, so it is likely that dozens of stands remain undiscovered. Stands of the species were concentrated on the outer islands, where the archipelago’s most characteristic flora and fauna occur. Data on the shore type and area of all stands were collected. The total area covered by R. rugosa was 7277 m2 before control work started in 2008. The largest stand occurred on Örö Island, covering ca 2500 m2 before its eradication, and the median size of all stands was 6 m2. Five of the six largest stands were on sandy beach, but stony shore was the most common habitat type.

Plant functional traits and diversity in sand dune ecosystems across different biogeographic regions

Plant species of a functional group respond similarly to environmental pressures and may be expected to act similarly on ecosystem processes and habitat properties. However, feasibility and applicability of functional groups in ecosystems across very different climatic regions have not yet been studied. In our approach we specified the functional groups in sand dune ecosystems of the Mediterranean, Hyrcanian and Irano-Turanian phytogeographic regions. We examined whether functional groups are more influenced by region or rather by habitat characteristics, and identified trait syndromes associated with common habitat types in sand dunes (mobile dunes, stabilized dunes, salt marshes, semi-wet sands, disturbed habitats). A database of 14 traits, 309 species and 314 relevés was examined and trait-species, trait-plot and species-plot matrices were built. Cluster analysis revealed similar plant functional groups in sand dune ecosystems across regions of very different species composition and climate. Specifically, our study showed that plant traits in sand dune ecosystems are grouped reflecting habitat affiliation rather than region and species pool. Environmental factors and constraints such as sand mobility, soil salinity, water availability, nutrient status and disturbance are more important for the occurrence and distribution of plant functional groups than regional belonging. Each habitat is shown to be equipped with specific functional groups and can be described by specific sets of traits. In restoration ecology the completeness of functional groups and traits in a site may serve as a guideline for maintaining or restoring the habitat.

Habitat use and selection by takin in the Qinling Mountains, China

Context Understanding habitat use and selection by threatened ungulates is a crucial prerequisite to prioritise management areas and for developing effective conservation strategies. Aims The aim of our research was to determine the habitat use and selection of takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in the middle range of the Qinling Mountains, China. Methods The study was conducted from August 2013 to August 2015. Global positioning system (GPS) radio-tracking was used to monitor 10 collared takins to gain their location information. The Manly–Chesson selectivity index and Bonferroni-adjusted 95% confidence intervals were applied to determine which habitats were selected. Key results Habitat use and selection by takins showed obvious individual differences. At the landscape scale, all of the four most common habitat types were preferred by takins. However, all takins avoided artificially planted larch forest, and farmland and village. Available habitats within the home ranges also mostly included the four common habitat types. At the home-range scale, all individuals had significant habitat selectivity during the entire tracking period and each season. The habitat use and selection within the home range varied obviously with season and showed sexual differences to a certain extent. Conclusions The habitat selection by takins is scale-dependent. At the landscape scale, takins are most likely to occur at sites covered by forest. At both landscape and home-range scales, our results indicated that takins need more diverse forest habitats, but none of the four most common forest habitats is essential for survival of this species. Implications The present work has provided more insight into the habitat use and habitat selection of takins in mountainous forest landscapes. Many measures such as maintaining a diversity of forest habitats, avoiding habitat alteration by invasion of exotic plants, and increasing the area of available habitats by relocating the villages from within to outside of the reserve are recommended to conserve this large species.

Introduction of a functionally novel consumer to a low diversity system: Effects of the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii on meiobenthos

The Harris mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii recently expanded into much of the Baltic Sea. This invasion is expected to have significant effects on the structure and functioning of benthic ecosystems due to the lack of native crabs. Habitat type potentially modulates the effects as crabs are expected to behave differently in different habitats. In this study we experimentally evaluated the effect of R. harrisii on the species composition and dominance structure of shallow water meiobenthos within common habitat types of the north-eastern Baltic Sea. Among the studied environmental variables R. harrisii had by far the strongest effects on meiobenthos. The effects of R. harrisii varied among different habitats with the crab mostly modifying taxonomic composition and species abundances of meiobenthic communities on unvegetated soft bottom sediments. Our experiment also showed that boulders provided shelter for R. harrisii and thereby reduced their burrowing activity and effects on the adjacent soft bottom meiobenthos.

Influence of sediment characteristics on the composition of soft-sediment intertidal communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Benthic infaunal communities are important components of coastal ecosystems. Understanding the relationships between the structure of these communities and characteristics of the habitat in which they live is becoming progressively more important as coastal systems face increasing stress from anthropogenic impacts and changes in climate. To examine how sediment characteristics and infaunal community composition were related along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, we sampled intertidal infaunal communities at seven sites covering common habitat types at a regional scale. Across 69 samples, the communities clustered into four distinct groups on the basis of faunal composition. Nearly 70% of the variation in the composition of the communities was explained by salinity, median grain size, and total organic content. Our results suggest that at a regional level coarse habitat characteristics are able to explain a large amount of the variation among sites in infaunal community structure. By examining the relationships between infaunal communities and their sedimentary habitats, we take a necessary first step that will allow the exploration of how changes in habitat and community composition influence higher trophic levels and ecosystem scale processes.

Oak Advance Regeneration in Common Habitat Types of Central and Northern Wisconsin

Oak Advance Regeneration in Common Habitat Types of Central and Northern Wisconsin