Colonist Communities Research Articles

Potential macroalgal expansion and blue carbon gains with northern Antarctic Peninsula glacial retreat

The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a hotspot of physical climate change, especially glacial retreat, particularly in its northern South Shetland Islands (SSI) region. Along coastlines, this process is opening up new ice-free areas, for colonization by a high biodiversity of flora and fauna. At Potter Cove, in the SSI (Isla 25 de Mayo/King George Island), Antarctica, colonization by macroalgae was studied in two newly ice-free areas, a low glacier influence area (LGI), and a high glacier influence area (HGI) differing in the presence of sediment run-off and light penetration, which are driven by levels of glacial influence. We installed artificial substrates (tiles) at 5 m depth to analyze benthic algal colonization and succession for four years (2010–2014). Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm), temperature, salinity, and turbidity were monitored at both sites in spring and summer. The turbidity and the light attenuation (Kd) were significantly lower at LGI than at HGI. All tiles were colonized by benthic algae, differing in species identity and successional patterns between areas, and with a significantly higher richness at LGI than HGI in the last year of the experiment. We scaled up a quadrat survey on the natural substrate to estimate benthic algal colonization in newly deglaciated areas across Potter Cove. Warming in recent decades has exposed much new habitat, with macroalgae making up an important part of colonist communities ‘chasing’ such glacier retreat. Our estimation of algal colonization in newly ice-free areas shows an expansion of ∼0.005–0.012 km2 with a carbon standing stock of ∼0.2–0.4 C tons, per year. Life moving into new space in such emerging fjords has the potential to be key for new carbon sinks and export. In sustained climate change scenarios, we expect that the processes of colonization and expansion of benthic assemblages will continue and generate significant transformations in Antarctic coastal ecosystems by increasing primary production, providing new structures, food and refuge to fauna, and capturing and storing more carbon.

«ЭМПОРИЙ – ПОЛИС» в древнем Причерноморье

The article deals with the definition “emporion” in ancient sources about the Black Sea Coast. The author gives different points of view on the character of Greek colonization of the Black Sea region, paying attention to the urbanization in this area and to the process of turning the apoikiai into polis states. He argues with the earlier suggested ideas concerning the emporion stage of colonization, its bilateral character and the possible common participation of barbarians and Greeks in founding colonies. The background position of the author is as follows: apoikia is not a polis in common sense. Apoikiai and poleis belong to different social-economic and social and political definitions. Аpoikia is a community of colonists whose social development was still much lower than that of the polis state while the Greek polis achieved a high level of civic community with a developed system of power, governing and administration. Тrading activity could be carried out through the apoikia, i.e. it could take the function of emporion but exclusively as private initiation of commercial people – emporoi. Though it was not emporion as a settlement. Polis trade was always under control of civic administration and the traders (merchants, emporoi) were defended by the state and its legislative system – polis laws, including asylia, ateleia, politeia etc. That is why emporia in poleis were functioning as city blocks, quarters, markets, piers, harbours as parts of polis (city state) or as separate units – harbours, ports, minor towns, komai etc. outside the city territory but indispensably on polis chora – adjacent or distant. The term emporion has different sence though always concerns trade and commerce. It is often used in relation to the large cities – poleis like Phasis, Tomae, Dioscurias, Panticapaeum, Phanagoreia which were engaged in active intermediary trade and export-import exchange. Such cities used their own harbours and ports to carry goods to local inhabitants and back from them to Aegis or Pontus through sites on chora or at a distance from their own places. Such kind of settlements were founded or created in course of developing polis structures like reclaiming chora and forming state administration. The Hellenic poleis in West Pontic region often founded trading stations and commercial sites at a distance from their own territories, That is why we find no kind of emporia there but other terms to be used for attributing these sites though they were functioning like classical emporia. But in case with Panticapaeum, for example, we come across some emporia in the Lower Don area and the greatest among them called Tanais. Named initially as Emporion (?) it became autonomous and turned into a kind of civic community with ancient emporion to be included into its structure of polis type. So, the term “emporia” was embraced on ports, markets, harbours, places for trading operations and committing commercial agreements, separated blocks for traders’ everyday life etc. They could have been arranged in large cities and minor poleis. We find the term “emporion” as relevant to the colonists’ communities which didn’t achieve the level of apoikiai and poleis as well as in terms of harbours in far-distant lands or at a close distance from the cities in barbaric hinterland like Pistiros in the Kingdom of Odryssae. On the Southern Coast of the Black Sea empoiria were founded chiefly on the polis chora of Heraclea Pontica, Sinope or Trapezous. They were incorporated into polis structure but not earlier than these cities obtained agrarian periphery. The main reason of this research is that emporia could hardly been arranged before the Greek colonies appeared in the region, they were created already after their foundation mostly during the process of polis development.

Hunters and hunting across indigenous and colonist communities at the forest-agriculture interface: an ethnozoological study from the Peruvian Amazon

BackgroundWildlife has been traditionally used by forest communities as a source of protein, and the Peruvian Amazon is no exception. The articulation of colonist and indigenous communities to urban centers and markets results in changes in livelihood strategies and impacts on wildlife populations. To address the threat of overhunting and forest conversion, we provide a generalized characterization of colonist and indigenous communities and their hunting activities near Pucallpa, Ucayali, Peru.MethodsA semi-structured household survey was conducted to characterize hunters and describe their prey collections. The data were analyzed by conducting a Kruskal-Wallis test, a multiple regression analysis, and by estimating the harvest rate (H).ResultsLess wealthy households were more actively engaged in hunting for food security and as a livelihood strategy. Additionally, older hunters were associated with higher hunting rates. Although the percentage of hunters was relatively low, estimated hunting rates suggest overharvesting of wildlife. Lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca) were the most frequently hunted prey, followed by red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and primates. While hunting intensity was not significantly different between indigenous and colonist communities, hunting rate disparities suggest there are different types of hunters (specialized vs. opportunistic) and that prey composition differs between communities.ConclusionClose monitoring of wildlife populations and hunting activities is ideal for more accurately determining the impact of hunting on wildlife population and in turn on forest health. In lack of this type of information, this study provides insight of hunting as a shifting livelihood strategy in a rapidly changing environment at the forest/agriculture frontier.

REDD+ and the agriculture frontier: Understanding colonists’ utilization of the land

Given the importance of the agricultural frontier as an engine of deforestation, this paper focuses on how colonists (from the Spanish word for “colonists” that is used to describe migrants to the agricultural frontier), who are important and largely overlooked stakeholders, perceive the new climate mitigation mechanism known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+). We aimed (1) to document colonists’ land use, perceptions, needs, and aspirations and (2) to understand if and how they could be taken into account under REDD+ policies. The study, including multiple data collection techniques (e.g., focus group, interviews, and participatory activities), was conducted in eastern Panama. Three areas that were adjacent to the Province of Darien border were chosen because of their similar forested landscapes and varying accessibility to a main road. Our results suggest that land use preferences, culture, forest scarcity and dependency, inequalities (e.g., land use, amount of forest, and land area), and lack of technical capacities are key elements to be considered when developing a REDD+ strategy with colonist communities. We propose that halting deforestation without both considering local communities’ perceptions and giving effective alternatives could seriously undermine livelihoods.

Size-selective dispersal of Daphnia resting eggs by backswimmers ( Notonecta maculata )

Freshwater zooplankton is increasingly used to study effects of dispersal on community and metacommunity structure. Yet, it remains unclear how zooplankton disperses. Clearly, birds and wind play a significant role as zooplankton dispersal agents, but they may not always be the main vectors. This experimental study shows that a cosmopolitan aquatic insect, Notonecta, can be an important vector of cladoceran resting eggs (ephippia). Dispersing Notonecta frequently transported ephippia during flight, with a bias towards smaller ephippia in two species. A similar trend was present at the species level: Daphnia species with smaller ephippia were more often dispersed, suggesting that Notonecta could generate specific colonist communities. In addition, buoyancy appeared a critical trait, as non-floating ephippia of Daphnia magna were never dispersed. Our data suggest that Notonecta could be important dispersers of Daphnia, and that knowledge of dispersal dynamics of Notonecta may be used to predict Daphnia dispersal, colonization and resilience to disturbance.

Pimentas do gênero Capsicum cultivadas em Roraima, Amazônia brasileira: II. Hábitos e formas de uso

O objetivo do trabalho foi o de relacionar e discutir os hábitos e as formas de uso mais comuns das pimentas do gênero Capsicum cultivadas em Roraima, e utilizadas pelos povos indígenas e comunidades migrantes de outras regiões do país.

Differential response of nematode colonist communities to the intertidal placement of dredged material

The use of fine-grained maintenance dredged material for habitat enhancement has increased in recent years, particularly recharge schemes which provide a means of combating the erosion of intertidal flats and saltmarsh. This article investigates the development of meiofaunal nematode communities following a natural experiment in 2003, when fine-grained dredged material was deposited concurrently at four adjacent intertidal recharge sites on the southeast coast of the United Kingdom. A 12-month survey of nematode assemblages was carried out to compare univariate, multivariate, allometric and functional attributes of colonist communities in relation to the different environmental conditions prevailing at the four sites. Developing assemblages were increasingly affected by the spatial differences in the elevation, consolidation and exposure of bed material. The results indicated that the colonisation sequence was the result of random settling of suspended nematodes, sequential reproduction and differential survival and reproductive success of colonising species. For the first time, this experiment provided insights into the development of adaptive and functional types of meiofaunal nematodes following the intertidal deposition of uncontaminated fine-grained dredged material. This, in turn, will contribute considerably to the development of ecological models of the evolution of the large-scale placement of muddy dredged material in the intertidal environment.

Mass loss and macroinvertebrate colonisation of fish carcasses in riffles and pools of a NW Italian stream

In this study, we analysed the decomposition of trout carcasses in a low-order Apennine stream, with the aim to investigate the mass loss rate in a Mediterranean lotic system, and to examine the influence of microhabitats on the invertebrates colonising fish carcasses. In May 2003, we put 56 dead rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the stream, placing seven sets (four trout each) in both riffle and pool habitats. At four dates, we removed one trout per set to measure its dry mass and determine the associated macroinvertebrate assemblage. Fifty-eight macroinvertebrate taxa colonised the carcasses, with significant differences between the erosive and depositional microhabitats. Riffle trouts hosted richer and denser colonist communities than pool trouts. Chironomidae, Serratella ignita, Habrophlebia sp., Dugesia sp. and Protonemura sp. were the five most abundant taxa. Decomposition was initially very rapid in both environments and then tapered off over time. The mass loss rate was higher (k= −0.057 day−1) than that found in other studies. Higher Mediterranean temperatures probably increase the process. Although we found no significant difference between riffles and pools, mass loss was more regular in erosive habitats, underlining the importance of local, small-scale conditions. In small, low-order, heterotrophic streams, fish carcasses represent an important resource and shelter for rich and diversified invertebrate assemblages.

Genetic differentiation and trade among populations of peach palm ( Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in the Peruvian Amazon-implications for genetic resource management.

Peach palm ( Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is cultivated for fruit and 'heart of palm', and is an important component of agroforestry systems in the Peruvian Amazon. In this study, AFLP was used to compare genetic diversity among domesticated populations along the Paranapura and Cuiparillo rivers, which are managed by indigenous and colonist farming communities, respectively. Gene diversity was 0.2629 for the populations in indigenous communities and 0.2534 in colonist communities. Genetic differentiation among populations ( G(st)) was 0.0377-0.0416 ( P<0.01) among populations along both rivers. There was no relation between genetic differentiation and the geographical location of populations along the rivers. Since natural seed dispersal by birds and rodents is thought to occur only across relatively short distances (100-200 m), it is likely that exchange of material by farmers and commercial traders is responsible for most of the 'long-distance' (over more than 20 km) gene flow among populations along the two rivers studied. This exchange of material may be important to counteract the effects of selection as well as genetic drift in small groups of trees in farmers' fields, much as in a metapopulation, and may account for the weak genetic differentiation between the two rivers ( G(st)=0.0249, P<0.01). A comparison with samples from other landraces in Peru and Brazil showed the existence of an isolation-by-distance structure up to 3,000 km, consistent with gene flow on a regional scale, likely mediated by trade in the Amazon Basin. Results are discussed with regard to practical implications for the management of genetic resources with farming communities.

Colonisation of various types of sediment by estuarine nematodes via lateral infaunal migration: a laboratory study

A small-scale laboratory study was conducted to assess the capability of nematode species collected at an intertidal mudflat to migrate laterally into defaunated sediment by using an experimental design that excluded hydrodynamic influences. The colonisation of native mud, non-native sand and two types of non-native mud-sand mixture was monitored over a period of 2 months. Results revealed that the composition of source and colonist communities differed significantly between treatments and over time. Within the first 2 weeks of the experiment, dominance patterns in the control sediments were most similar to the sand treatment, indicating that the majority of species were able to migrate easily into non-native sandy sediment. Over the course of the experiment, colonist communities in the muddy sediments became more similar to the control microcosms, whereas the structure of the sand assemblage became increasingly dissimilar to that of the source community. The temporal patterns observed might be related to factors associated with sediment granulometry, such as the availability of appropriate food sources. The outcome of this study demonstrated that the colonisation of defaunated sediment via lateral interstitial migration is a directed, species-specific process that can lead to the establishment of colonist communities that are significantly different from source communities.

Conservation Theory Meets Practice

I agree with Schwartzman et al. that rural peoples should not be identified as enemies of nature. Rural peoples are and should be allies of biodiversity not only because it is a basic human right but because they are the ones who have the most to lose if the resources they depend on are depleted. The process of establishing an alliance among conservationists, government officials, the private sector, and local peoples is long and full of difficulties, but it may empower local peoples, as forseen by the caboclo leader in the quote above. I have problems, however, with the broad generalizations implied in Schwartzman's essay. Strong alliances are built on the basis of each group recognizing the other group's particular interests. A transparent negotiation process results in the realization that local peoples' interests often do not include biodiversity as a major goal. Local peoples' interests are driven mainly by economic and political concerns that need to be addressed to allow positive and development outcomes. Just as parks cannot the entire burden for biodiversity conservation (Brandon et al. 1998:2), local peoples should not carry the sole responsibility for the political viability of protected areas. In many cases, after suffering the local extinction of large mammals, rural peoples are the first to admit that their resource-use practices may not be sustainable in the long run. For instance, a 1993 survey to reassess the status of spider monkeys (Ateles paniscus chamek) in the Beni Biosphere Reserve (first assessment took place in 1988), showed that this species had become locally extinct in the areas occupied by the Tsimane Indians (Tarifa-Yensen 1997:63). The Tsimane hunt monkeys for food; because this resource is in low supply (or absent in some villages), they are taking steps to develop management plans to secure the long-term availability of these food sources. People-free parks are an essential element of a comprehensive strategy. It is crucial that protected areas without people exist to guarantee the natural function of pristine ecosystems. This notion does not contradict the right of local peoples to participate in the design and management of such areas. I offer an example from Madre de Dios, Peru (Moore et al. 1995). In 1990 the Peruvian government created the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone of nearly 1.5 million ha of pristine rainforest ecosystems and the landholdings of many rural people. Initially, local people reacted negatively to the establishment of this protected area because they were not consulted and rightly feared that their access to natural resources would be cut or restricted. Conservation nongovernmental organizations began a dialogue with local people to repair the damage done. Local people were drawn into the planning process to zone the new protected area. This process took about 2 years of meetings, dialogue, and negotiations. The result was a concerted zoning proposal that contained a people-free core protected area (national park) in the center and two buffer areas, one in the northern part of the reserved zone (lower Tambopata river region) and the other in the southern part (upper Tambopata river region). The concept that a large portion of land should be set aside to maintain key ecological processes was debated and accepted among the local population, whose main sources of food originate in natural forests. Indigenous and colonist communities also began to apply this concept within their own landholdings. Regrettably, this planning model was wrecked by the government's decision to open the Peruvian Amazon for oil and gas exploration. In March 1996, a consortium led by Mobil Oil signed a contract to explore Block 78, which included most of the proposed Paper submitted May 9, 2000; revised manuscript accepted May 10, 2000.

Forest management practices in the Bayano region of Panama: Cultural variations

This paper examines the relationship between cultural variation and forest management practices in the New World tropics by presenting results from a survey conducted in indigenous and colonist communities in a settlement frontier of Panama. Statistical analyses, focused specifically on differences between the economic base, forest use, and management practices of indigenous and colonist households, are presented. The findings reveal that there are no significant differences between the indigenous and colonist households in this respect; furthermore, differences that exist among the sample households appear to be linked to access to market and not to cultural variations.

Recolonisation of Artificial Sediments in the Deep Bay of Biscay By Tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida), With a Description of a New Species of Pseudotanais

One of the more recent aims of deep-sea biological investigations has been to assess the rates and processes involved in the recolonisation of deep-sea sediments by the in situ fauna (Grassle, 1977; Desbruyères etal., 1980, 1985; Levin &amp; Smith, 1984). The spur to such initiatives has been the prospect of deep-sea mineral exploitation and the dumping of radioactive and other chemical wastes (Desbruyères etal., 1 985), in addition to the testing of hypotheses about deep-sea community regulation (Levin &amp; Smith, 1984; Smith, 1986). These experiments have shown that perturbated or defaunated sediments incubated for periods of several months are readily recolonised by deep-sea animals, although the process is much slower than in comparable shallow-water situations (e.g. Levin, 1984; Zajac &amp; Whitlach, 1982a, b). Furthermore, the resulting community of colonists may be quantitatively and qualitatively different from the ‘background’ fauna (Grassle, 1977; Levin &amp; Smith, 1984). Similar experiments have examined the effect of large ‘food-parcels’ on the in situ sediments and fauna (Smith, 1986), and a review of the responses of benthic faunas to disturbed sediments has been published by Thistle (1981).