Estimates Of Species Richness Research Articles

First Account of Epibiotic Diatom Taxa from the Carapaces of Green Swimming Crab Callinectes bellicosus (Stimpson 1859) (Decapoda, Portunidae)

Diatoms are among the most common epibionts and have been recorded on the surfaces of various living substrates, either plants or animals. However, studies on them are still scarce in view of the many substrata available. In this study, epibiotic diatoms living on Callinectes bellicosus were identified for the first time from a subtropical coastal lagoon in Northwest Mexico. We tested the null hypothesis that the diatom flora living on the carapaces of C. bellicosus would not be similar to that recorded for mangrove sediments, its typical habitat. The epibiotic diatoms were brushed off from the carapaces of two specimens, acid-cleaned, mounted in synthetic resin, and identified based on frustule morphology. This way, 106 taxa from 46 genera were recorded, including 25 singletons, and 6 new records for the Mexican northwest region. The best-represented genera were Nitzschia (10 taxa), Mastogloia (9), Diploneis (8), Navicula (7), Amphora (5), Cocconeis (5), Tryblionella (4), and Gyrosigma (4). Species composition included 93% of local taxa, thus refuting the proposed hypothesis and supporting the alternate one. Although the estimated species richness was lower than that in sediments, it deems the green crab carapace a favorable substrate for the growth of benthic diatoms.

Of sea, rivers and symbiosis: Diversity, systematics, biogeography and evolution of the deeply diverging florideophycean order Hildenbrandiales (Rhodophyta)

The Hildenbrandiales, a typically saxicolous red algal order, is an early diverging florideophycean group with global significance in marine and freshwater ecosystems across diverse temperature zones. To comprehensively elucidate the diversity, phylogeny, biogeography, and evolution of this order, we conducted a thorough re-examination employing molecular data derived from nearly 700 specimens. Employing a species delimitation method, we identified Evolutionary Species Units (ESUs) within the Hildenbrandiales aiming to enhance our understanding of species diversity and generate the first time-calibrated tree and ancestral area reconstruction for this order. Mitochondrial cox1 and chloroplast rbcL markers were used to infer species boundaries, and subsequent phylogenetic reconstructions involved concatenated sequences of cox1, rbcL, and 18S rDNA. Time calibration of the resulting phylogenetic tree used a fossil record from a Triassic purportedly freshwater Hildenbrandia species and three secondary time points from the literature. Our species delimitation analysis revealed an astounding 97 distinct ESUs, quintupling the known diversity within this order. Our time-calibration analysis placed the origin of Hildenbrandiales (crown age) in the Ediacaran period, with freshwater species emerging as a monophyletic group during the later Permian to early Triassic. Phylogenetic reconstructions identified seven major clades, experiencing early diversification during the Silurian to Carboniferous period. Two major evolutionary events—colonization of freshwater habitats and obligate systemic symbiosis with a marine fungus—marked this order, leading to significant morphological alterations without a commensurate increase in species diversification. Despite the remarkable newly discovered diversity, the extant taxon diversity appears relatively constrained when viewed against an evolutionary timeline spanning over 800 million years. This limitation may stem from restricted geographic sampling or the prevalence of asexual reproduction. However, species richness estimation and rarefaction analyses suggest a substantially larger diversity yet to be uncovered—potentially four times greater. These findings drastically reshape our understanding of the deeply diverging florideophycean order Hildenbrandiales species diversity, and contribute valuable insights into this order evolutionary history and ecological adaptations. Supported by phylogenetic, ecological and morphological evidence, we established the genus Riverina gen. nov. to accommodate freshwater species of Hildenbrandiales, which form a monophyletic clade in our analyses. This marks the first step toward refining the taxonomy of the Hildenbrandiales order, a task demanding thorough revisions, notably the creation of several genera to address the polyphyletic status of Hildenbrandia. However, the limited diagnostic features pose a challenge, necessitating a fresh approach to defining genera. A potential solution lies in embracing a molecular systematic perspective, which can offer precise delineations of taxonomic boundaries.

Wetland Creation and Reforestation of Legacy Surface Mines in the Central Appalachian Region (USA): A Potential Climate-Adaptation Approach for Pond-Breeding Amphibians?

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

Acoustic monitoring of anurans and birds in tropical biomes

AbstractPassive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is increasingly popular in ecological research, but recording and analyzing large amounts of data is still a critical bottleneck for the long‐term monitoring of multiple species. We evaluated how temporal and spatial sampling effort affects species diversity estimates using a set of 14,045 1‐min recordings from various neotropical birds and anuran communities. Our goals were to evaluate (i) the daily vocal activity cycle of birds and anurans, (ii) the effect of temporal structure (e.g., number of minutes listened each hour; continuous versus intermittent recordings) on determining the species composition, and (iii) the species–area relationship, and how the number of recorders affects species richness estimates. Based on sampling coverage and completeness, we (iv) evaluate manual inspection schedules for birds and anurans across four biomes of Brazil. We found marked diel variation in vocal activity between taxonomic groups, indicating that birds and anurans are more efficiently detected during early periods of the day and night, respectively. For proper diversity estimates, biomes with higher biodiversity required longer inspecting periods and a larger number of replicates, irrespective of taxa. Although fewer recordings per hour are less informative than full‐hour sampling, species diversity is better estimated when inspected minutes are interspersed over longer periods than inspecting minutes recorded over shorter timespans. Based on our findings, we recommend how to set PAM programs over highly diverse ecosystems.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Wild boar effects on hair‐tube sampling

AbstractHair tubes are one of the most effective tools for sampling small‐mammal assemblages. Despite their efficiency, they can be damaged by wildlife. We quantified wildlife‐induced disturbance of hair‐tube sampling in the Monte Pisano mountain system in Italy. At each site we tied 2 tubes together to form a hair trap and placed them in 3 different areas. We measured disturbances by counting the number of hair traps disturbed and identified the species that caused damage with cameras. Although approximately 27% (n = 164/600) of hair traps were disturbed, 2 hair traps/site allowed us to collect data from 97% of site checks from undisturbed and retrieved hair traps. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) were attracted to hair traps by olfactory and acoustic signals and caused the most disturbances. Displaced tubes detected a similar number of hairs and number of species as undisturbed tubes; species richness estimates that include retrieved displaced tubes should provide reliable data. To avoid data loss when conducting hair‐trap monitoring, we suggest using ≥2 hair traps per site.

Altitudinal pattern of Odonata diversity in Kabylia (Algeria): a contrasting pattern in lotic and lentic habitats

Environmental conditions change rapidly across altitude, shaping diversity and structure of communities. Because lotic and lentic communities are often distinct and experience different environmental and anthropogenic conditions, understanding whether the diversity of these communities changes similarly across altitude is fundamental to determine how biota responds to ecological gradients in a human-dominated landscape. In this study, we carried out a comparative analysis of the altitudinal pattern of the diversity of odonates in lotic and lentic ecosystems in Kabylia (north-central Algeria) across 16 sites (eight lotic and eight lentic sites). We estimated species richness, abundance, and Shannon index as well as three environmental factors (water temperature, pH, and human disturbance) in each site. We recorded a total of 33 species (10 Zygoptera and 23 Anisoptera) with 20 species in lotic sites and 28 species in lentic sites. We recorded a similar decreasing altitudinal pattern of water temperature and human influence, but no pattern in pH. Interestingly, species richness, abundance, and Shannon index increased with altitude in lotic sites, but showed a weak negative correlation in lentic sites. These contracting patterns could be due to the interplay of a geographic gradient in anthropogenic pressure and habitat-specific species sensitivity to anthropogenic stress.

Amphibian and reptile diversity in natural landscapes and human-modified habitats of the Sahara Desert of Algeria: A better understanding of biodiversity to improve conservation

The spatial and seasonal variations in amphibian and reptile diversity were studied in different biotopes (lowlands, desert pavements “Reg,” Sabkhas “salt lakes,” date palm groves, wadis, and urban sites) at the Algerian Sahara Desert. No prior research has explored the connection between the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in Algeria’s Sahara and the environmental diversity of biotopes and landscapes. This study aimed to address this significant knowledge gap by investigating the relationships between Saharan habitats and landscapes and their impact on herpetofaunal presence, abundance, and diversity. The diversity of amphibians and reptiles was assessed based on quantitative data of species captures using nonparametric diversity indices, species richness accumulation curves, and similarity analysis. At the Region of Oued Righ (Northern Sahara Desert), we identified 3 amphibians, 19 lizards, and 10 ophidian species. These 32 species (approximately 30% of the Algerian herpetofauna) were classified into 2 orders (Anura and Squamata), 15 families, and 23 different genera. The study area included 8 protected species in Algeria and 9 endemic species to the Mediterranean region, including 1 amphibian and 7 species of reptiles. Acanthodactylus dumerilii was the most abundant species (20.5% of the total), whereas Chalcides ocellatus occurred in 32.9% of specimens. The highest values of species richness were recorded in palm groves with 22 species and Shannon’s diversity index (H’) was 3.5, whereas the lowest values were obtained in Sabkhas (5 species) and urban sites (7 species). The number of individuals experienced significant variations between study biotopes and seasons. Overall, species richness estimators (Chao2 and Jackknife1) revealed that the current survey achieved 90% of inventory completeness. Estimates and interpolations of species richness showed higher values in urban sites, palm groves, desert pavements, and wadis compared to Sabkhas and lowlands where completeness ranged between 90% and 100%. The analysis of similarity indicated low similarity values (<50%) between biotopes studied. The highest similarities were noted between the mesic biotopes (Sabkhas, wadis, and palm groves), the xeric and undisturbed biotopes (desert pavements and lowlands), whereas urban sites showed a distinct herpetofaunal community that was completely different of that recorded in Sabkhas, wadis, and lowlands.

Assessment of butterflies diversity, and distribution in Ghamot National Park, Western Himalaya, Neelum valley, Pakistan

Biodiversity measures, species richness and species evenness. Species richness means the number of species present in designated area whereas evenness stands for relative abundance of each species. Butterflies are very important economically. They feed on nectar from flowers by using proboscis. Butterflies act as excellent bio indicator of health of natural ecosystem. The fauna in the study area lacks comprehensive documentation hence there has been no previous assessment of butterfly biodiversity. The study was conducted to estimate species richness, species evenness, and species diversity through a comparative analysis across different habitat types. The Pollard walk method, specifically a butterfly transects count and visual Surveys was used to collect specimen in Ghamot National Park divided into 8 localities. A total of 37 transects covering an area of 12.55 km 2 were established and observed on a monthly basis from June 2020 to July 2021. A collection of 211 specimens was obtained using various standard methods. In order to assess the butterfly population, diversity metrics including the Shannon-Wiener index, Shannon equitability index, Margalef index, and Simpson index were employed. The study documented a total of 539 individuals representing 16 species and 3 butterfly families in 8 different localities with varying habitats. The forest-dominated zones exhibited the highest abundance (n=266; 49.53%) and species richness (n=15; 93.75). Additionally, the forest zone demonstrated the maximum values for the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (3.77) and Simpson index (0.92), while the riparian zone displayed the lowest diversity (3.02) and Simpson index (0.89) among the four selected localities. Therefore, it is recommended that regular monitoring of the study area be undertaken to observe potential fluctuations in butterfly diversity. Continuous surveillance and comparative analysis of data from year to year are essential for identifying any shifts in butterfly populations

Field tests of small autonomous recording units: an evaluation of in-person versus automated point counts and a comparison of recording quality

ABSTRACT The proliferation of small autonomous recorders makes it easier than ever to sample terrestrial acoustic animals and soundscapes. I conducted a comparison of four small recorders to evaluate their performance in a field setting: Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini; Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Micro; Open Acoustics Audiomoth; and Cornell SwiftOne. I address two questions: (1) How do in-person point counts compare to recorder-based point counts using these small autonomous recorders? (2) How does the quality of the recordings compare across these small autonomous recorders? To evaluate the performance of the recorders in point counts, I conducted in-person and recording-based point counts at ten locations. Each of the recorders performed similarly well at point counts, producing comparable estimates of species richness, although all of the autonomous recorders under-estimated species richness. To evaluate recording quality, I conducted a sound transmission test, broadcasting and re-recording sounds. Recorders varied in their frequency response above 12 kHz, but showed only subtle differences in the frequency response at frequencies below 12 kHz. I conclude that each of these types of small recorders provide bioacousticians with useful tools for conducting point counts, and for passive monitoring of animal sounds, with only subtle differences across the investigated models.

Area- and latitude- shaped shorebird diversity patterns reveal constraints of migratory bottlenecks along the Yellow sea coast of China

Migratory stopping regions are regarded as geographic bottlenecks. However, knowledge about constraints on migratory communities remains limited. This study proposed hypothetical spatial constraints (SCs) and tested the predictions by examining the response of multifaceted shorebird diversity to the tidal flat area and latitude of the stopping sites along the Yellow Sea coast. We estimated species richness (SR), phylogenetic and functional diversity (PD and FD) by building a species-level phylogenetic tree and measuring five functional traits of all species, using data on the shorebird community at 11 internationally important stopping sites of 2020–2021. We used multiple linear regression models and null models to examine the relationships between diversity metrics and stopping site variables (area and latitude). Functional and phylogenetic rarity of non-least concern species was calculated to estimate their risk of disappearance. The three dimensions of biodiversity decreased with decreasing area despite different slopes (i.e., FD was less sensitive to area than SR, whereas PD was lost more rapidly in smaller areas). In addition, only FD increased at sites approaching the terminal stopping area, implying that SR and PD were restricted from growing by latitude. Inferred from the PD and FD patterns, competitive exclusion tends be the dominant mechanism structuring the community, and the FD-inferred process was intensified in smaller sites toward the northerly terminal site. The area- and latitude-shaped diversity patterns indicate SCs on the migratory community, while a more intensive process of competitive exclusion tends to take place in smaller and near-terminal stopping sites. Consequently, the threatened shorebirds with less competitive capacity may be more prone than others in the SCs. This study highlighting the significance of the multifaceted biodiversity in monitoring the impacts of SCs and facilitating the development of conservation strategies in internationally critical migration bottlenecks.

Sampling completeness changes perceptions of continental scale climate–species richness relationships in odonates

AbstractAimInsects are one of the least studied taxa, with most species lacking basic ecological and biogeographical information. This problem is particularly acute in the tropics, where low sampling effort hampers accurate estimates of species richness at scale and potentially confounds efforts to identify the drivers of biogeographical gradients. Here, we evaluate the quality of the data on the distribution and diversity of odonate species in the Neotropics, while also examining the influence of sampling completeness on climate–richness relationships using a comprehensive database of odonates.LocationThe Neotropics.TaxonOdonata.MethodsUsing 56,535 records collected from 1970 to 2021, we assess whether climate–species richness models vary under different scenarios of survey completeness.ResultsOur survey compilation revealed that most Neotropical diversity of Odonata likely remains unknown. Only 1% of the one‐degree cells covering the Neotropics held reliable information on odonate species richness, with particularly severe gaps in the Caribbean, Central America, northeastern Brazil and northern Chile. Temperature, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration exert consistent effects on Odonata richness across the entire Neotropics, regardless the level of survey completeness. Whereas seasonality‐related variables are less important predictors of species richness at the biogeographical scale.Main ConclusionsBy highlighting areas where inventories are more reliable and identifying regions that require increased data collection efforts and mobilization, our assessment offers a roadmap for improving the reliability of odonate inventories in the Neotropics. Furthermore, our findings underscore the importance of accounting for varying levels of survey completeness in macroecological models to reveal robust climate–species richness relationships. Simultaneously, they highlight strong climatic predictors of species richness, irrespective of survey effort intensity. These predictors provide a solid foundation for modelling and predicting odonate species richness in the Neotropics.

Species richness of Orthoptera declines with elevation while elevational range of individual species peaks at mid elevation.

Species richness has been shown to decrease, and elevational range increase (the Rapoport effect), with elevation as a consequence of biotic and abiotic factors, but patterns are inconsistent across taxonomic groups. Despite being an important indicator taxon and a component of local communities, Orthoptera distributions at higher elevations in Europe remain unclear. We investigated the relationship of Orthoptera species richness and elevational range with elevation in the Pyrenees mountains, Europe. We conducted sweepnetting surveys supplemented by hand-sampling, at 28 sites stratified by elevation, across three study areas. Using generalised linear models, we found that species richness declined with elevation. Elevation was an important predictor of species richness, but sampling effort and vegetation structure (height and cover) also contributed to estimates of species richness. Using a nonlinear regression to model the elevational range of species over the elevational gradient, we did not observe a Rapoport effect, with elevational range peaking at mid-elevation instead. Smaller elevational ranges of species found at high elevations may be due to a combination of sampling over a restricted elevational range and the presence of specialist high-elevation species. We argue that our findings are useful for understanding species distributions with elevation at the interface between local and regional scales. Clarifying the biotic and abiotic predictors of species distribution is important for informing conservation efforts and predicting consequences of climate change.

Assessing electrofishing effort required to estimate species richness of fishes in nonwadeable rivers of Alabama, USA

AbstractObjectiveMuch of the fish biodiversity in the southeastern USA is found in lotic systems, but assessment of fish community structure in large nonwadeable rivers has lagged compared to streams. Sampling designs that adequately estimate species richness are a prerequisite to creating bioassessment metrics but thus far has not been attempted in highly biodiverse rivers in the southeastern USA east of the Mississippi River.MethodsFish communities in four nonwadeable rivers across Alabama spanning catchments of 2046–57,415 km2 were sampled using electrofishing in summer and fall of 2015 and 2016. All rivers were sampled during day; two rivers were also sampled at night to assess diel changes in species accumulation.ResultIn total, 55,239 fishes were collected across rivers, representing 106 species in 24 families. Species collected continued to increase as sampling increased in all river‐season combinations, rarely displaying an asymptote. Species generally accrued more quickly and accumulation curves showed more tendency to asymptote in fall than summer in all but the largest river. Species accumulated faster at night than during the day in both rivers during summer but was similar between diel periods in fall. On average, 95% of the species observed were collected in eight subreaches in fall but not until nine during summer; however, observed number of species was generally one to six species lower than mean estimates of true species richness. Sampling efforts collected approximately similar species assemblages across transects, years, season, and diel periods. Extrapolation of species accumulation curves suggested that 6–17 km of sampling distance would be required to collect all species present.ConclusionResults of this study demonstrate that assessing fish communities in species nonwadeable rivers requires an inordinate amount of sampling effort, which may be unattainable for many agencies. Further study is warranted to develop innovative solutions to overcome these logistical challenges.

Ecologically informed priors improve Bayesian model estimates of species richness and occupancy for undetected species.

Detection error can bias observations of ecological processes, especially when some species are never detected during sampling. In many communities, the probable identity of these missing species is known from previous research and natural history collections, but this information is rarely incorporated into subsequent models. Here, I present prior aggregation as a method for including information from external sources in Bayesian hierarchical detection models. Prior aggregation combines information from multiple prior distributions, in this case, an ecologically informative, species-level prior, and an uninformative community-level prior. This approach incorporates external information into the model without sacrificing the advantages of modeling species in the context of the community. Using simulated data supplied to a multispecies occupancy model, I demonstrated that prior aggregation improves estimates of (1) metacommunity richness and (2) environmental covariates were associated with species-specific occupancy probabilities. When applied to a dataset of small mammals in Vermont, prior aggregation allowed the model to estimate occupancy correlates of the Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus, a species observed at several sites in the region but never captured. Prior aggregation can be used to improve the analysis of several important metrics in population and community ecology, including abundance, survivorship, and diversity.

Exploring coral speciation: Multiple sympatric Stylophora pistillata taxa along a divergence continuum on the Great Barrier Reef.

Understanding how biodiversity originates and is maintained are fundamental challenge in evolutionary biology. Speciation is a continuous process and progression along this continuum depends on the interplay between evolutionary forces driving divergence and forces promoting genetic homogenisation. Coral reefs are broadly connected yet highly heterogeneous ecosystems, and divergence with gene flow at small spatial scales might therefore be common. Genomic studies are increasingly revealing the existence of closely related and sympatric taxa within taxonomic coral species, but the extent to which these taxa might still be exchanging genes and sharing environmental niches is unclear. In this study, we sampled extensively across diverse habitats at multiple reefs of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and comprehensively examined genome-wide diversity and divergence histories within and among taxa of the Stylophora pistillata species complex. S. pistillata is one of the most abundant and well-studied coral species, yet we discovered five distinct taxa, with wide geographic ranges and extensive sympatry. Demographic modelling showed that speciation events have occurred with gene flow and that taxa are at different stages along a divergence continuum. We found significant correlations between genetic divergence and specific environmental variables, suggesting that niche partitioning may have played a role in speciation and that S. pistillata taxa might be differentially adapted to different environments. Conservation actions rely on estimates of species richness, population sizes and species ranges, which are biased if divergent taxa are lumped together. As coral reefs are rapidly degrading due to climate change, our study highlights the importance of recognising evolutionarily distinct and differentially adapted coral taxa to improve conservation and restoration efforts aiming at protecting coral genetic diversity.

Putting eDNA to the test: A field comparison of eDNA metabarcoding to established protocols for assessing biodiversity in Missouri's Ozark Highland streams

AbstractAquatic biodiversity monitoring to inform conservation and management efforts in‐stream systems has increasingly begun to incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA)‐based sampling methods. We conducted a comparison of eDNA metabarcoding to a traditional protocol of combined seining and electrofishing methods to assess fish biodiversity of wadeable stream sites in six separate drainages in the Ozark Highlands of Missouri (USA). The study further focused on the headwaters of the Meramec River, which included 11 sites and seasonal sampling (summer and winter). We compared estimates of diversity across sampling methods, assessed the influences of water flow (depth, velocity, and discharge) and season, and tested the effects of sampling method and site locality on fish assemblage composition. eDNA sampling detected approximately double the number of species compared to traditional methods, providing higher diversity estimates while maintaining the relative ranking of sites. eDNA detection probabilities were positively associated with stream depth and velocity and were generally higher in summer than in winter but not for all species. Estimated species richness was positively associated with discharge for both methods but the relationship was stronger with eDNA sampling. Assemblage differences between tributary and mainstem sites were attributable to a small number of species that were found predominantly in one stream size category or the other, indicating that eDNA was sensitive to within‐drainage assemblage structure relationships. We highlight improved species detection, a more comprehensive understanding of assemblage structural dynamics, and the potential ability to integrate data across sampling methods as important benefits that encourage the use of eDNA metabarcoding as a primary collection method in future stream biodiversity assessment and monitoring programs.

Sampling origins and directions affect the minimum sampling area in forest plots

AbstractQuestionsThe minimum sampling area (minimum area) is the smallest space that reflects species composition and characteristics of a plant community. The quantitative concept of minimum area is often estimated using species–area relationships (SARs) and has become the classical foundation for managing protected areas. However, sampling designs to determine the minimum area in different forest types have not been systematically evaluated.LocationChina.MethodsWe used tree census data from three forest dynamic plots, each with a size of 25–60 ha, in different climatic zones in China to determine the minimum areas of woody plants and to analyze the effects of species richness and topographic heterogeneity on the minimum areas by changing sampling origin and direction.ResultsWe found that mainly sampling design affects the estimation of woody plant species richness and required minimum area in different forest types. The estimated size of the minimum areas required was several hectares and varied significantly with sampling origin and direction, and showed a difference of approximately 1.5–2 times in the forest plots. Topographic heterogeneity significantly affected the minimum area through changes in species composition.ConclusionsSampling origin and direction should be considered when using SARs to estimate the minimum area and species diversity in communities. Such a comprehensive approach of sampling can contribute to a better understanding of vegetation characteristics and the minimum area required for a conservation census in heterogeneous environments.

INDIVIDUAL TREE-BASED FOREST SPECIES DIVERSITY ESTIMATION USING UAV-BORNE HYPERSPECTRAL AND LIDAR DATA

Abstract. Forest biodiversity is essential in maintaining ecosystem functions and services. Recently, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing technology has emerged as a cost-effective and flexible tool for biodiversity monitoring. In this study, we compared the optimal clustering algorithm, classification method (spectral angle mapper, SAM), spectral diversity metric and structural heterogeneity index for forest species diversity estimation in two complex subtropical forests, Mazongling (MZL) and Gonggashan (GGS) National Nature Forest Reserves in China, using UAV-borne hyperspectral and LiDAR data. The results showed that the SAM classification method performed better with higher values of R2 than the clustering algorithm for predicting both species richness (MZL: 0.62 > 0.46 and GGS: 0.55 > 0.46) and Shannon-Wiener index (MZL: 0.64 > 0.58 and GGS: 0.52 > 0.47), while the optimal clustering algorithm had the highest prediction accuracy for the Simpson index, followed by the SAM classification method, spectral diversity metric and structural heterogeneity index (MZL: 0.83>0.44>0.31>0.12, GGS: 0.62>0.44>0.38>0.00). Our study indicated that the SAM classification method had the advantage of identifying rare species and estimating species richness, while the clustering method could capture forest diversity patterns rapidly without distinguishing the specific tree species and predict the Simpson index more accurately. Overall, both clustering and classification methods exhibited superior performance compared to spectral or structural diversity indices. Our findings highlight the applicability of UAV remote sensing in monitoring forest species diversity in complex subtropical forests.

Factors that interfere with the estimation of bat richness in Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil

Capture success of bats can be affected not only by local bat density, but also by several methodological aspects. Many factors interfere with the sampling completeness and capture success of bats. Considering the variety of sampling methods used for investigating, the objective of the present study is to analyze different factors that interfere with sampling completeness and species richness estimates of bats. To carry out the present study, we used data from the State of Rio de Janeiro from inventories carried out from 1989 to 2013 by the Laboratory of Bat Diversity and data from the literature until 2023. We analyzed the following parameters: number of sampling nights, period of nocturnal sampling, number of sites where the mist nets were opened, sampling in diurnal roosts, and moon phase. We observed that the localities with more than 30 species recorded had huge sampling efforts. For studies based on a small capture effort, the active search for roosts during the day increases the probability of recording species found mainly in high sampling effort studies. The most complete inventories are those with a sampling effort of at least 24 nights, including sampling in different habitats, such as trails, water bodies, and close to fruiting plants, as well those including search for day roosts and with fieldwork not restricted to a specific moon phase. Mist nets should be set up not only on trails and close to fruiting trees, but also over water bodies to increase the probability of recording insectivorous species.

A meta‐analysis examining how fish biodiversity varies with marine protected area size and age

AbstractMarine protected areas (MPAs) are a well‐established conservation practice worldwide, but their effectiveness in protecting or replenishing fish biodiversity remains uneven. Understanding the patterns of this heterogeneity is central to general guidelines for MPA design and can ultimately provide guidance on how to maximize MPA potential. Here, we examine associations between the degree of protection, duration of protection, and protected area size, with fish biodiversity inside of protected areas relative to that of sites nearby, but outside of protected areas. We quantitatively synthesize 116 published estimates of species richness from 72 MPAs and 38 estimates of Shannon entropy from 21 MPAs. We show that species richness is on average 18% (95% CIs: 10%–29%) higher in protected areas than in areas open to fishing; on average, Shannon entropy is 13% (95% CIs: −2% to 31%) higher within protected areas relative to outside. We find no relationship between the degree and duration of protection with the ratio of species richness inside versus outside of protected areas; both fully and partially protected areas contribute to the accumulation of species inside of protected areas, and protected areas of all ages contribute similarly on average to biodiversity conservation. In contrast to our expectations, increasing protected area size was associated with a decreased ratio of species richness sampled at sites inside versus outside of the protected area, possibly due, for example, to insufficient enforcement and/or low compliance. Finally, we discuss why meta‐analyses such as ours that summarize effect sizes of local scale biodiversity responses, that is, those at a single site, can only give a partial answer to the question of whether larger protected areas harbor more species than comparable unprotected areas.