Eurytopic Species Research Articles

Epigeic spider and ground beetles (Carabid) communities of semi-natural and natural habitats in agricultural landscape in Slovakia

Abstract We studied the spatial structure of spiders and beetles in 4 types of habitats in the Poloniny National Park. Between the years 2020 and 2021, we recorded 1,597 beetle specimens and 3,765 spider specimens using the pitfall trap method. The most represented beetles were Poecilus versicolor (53.4%), Nebria brevicollis (10.3%), Staphylinus caesareus (4.4%) and Amara familiaris (4.1%). Among the spiders, there were species Pardosa pullata (21.81%), Pachygnatha degeeri (14.21%), Xerolycosa nemoralis (10.28%), Pardosa palustris (7.86%), Trochosa ruricola (6.24%) and Alopecosa pulverulenta (4.38%). We confirmed the occurrence of two European important species of beetles (Carabus zawadzkii, Carabus variolosus) and 3 species of spiders belonging to the vulnerable species according to the IUCN threat status (Gongylidiellum vivum, Palliduphantes milleri and Xysticus lineatus). We also found the spider Micaria micans, which is new to the Slovak fauna and information about its distribution and habitat preferences in Slovakia is presented. Using multivariate analyzes (CCA, RDA) and classification species into bioindicative groups, we found a greater connection of adaptable and eurytopic species of ground beetles to the mesophilic meadow and of spiders to the habitat Nardetum pasture. Based on bioindicative groups of species (adaptable, eurytopic and relict), we found only a small difference in percentile points between spiders and beetles.

Анализ биотопической приуроченности мышевидных грызунов на территориях природных очагов чумы и туляремии Республики Дагестан

Mouse-like rodents in natural plague foci occupy an important place as potential reservoirs of the causative agent of this dangerous disease, acting in some cases as the main or secondary carriers of the pathogen. On the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, characterized by a variety of natural conditions – from flat dry deserts to foothills and highlands, with an abundance of anthropogenic biotopes, this group of small mammals is quite widely represented in terms of species diversity. This work is based on the analysis of the results of long-term epizootological monitoring over the period 2010–2021 carried out in three natural foci of plague: Dagestan plain-foothill, Caspian sandy and East Caucasian high-mountain and tularemia (Plain-foothill steppe, Terek-Kuma floodplain-marsh and Highmountain foothill-mountain-stream). To assess the selectivity of a species in choosing a biotope, the authors used the degree of biotopic confinement Fij (Y.A. Pesenko, 1982). All calculations were carried in Microsoft Office Excel. In these calculations, eurytopic species dominated, which can participate in the epizootic process during periods of activation of foci, contributing to the spread of infectious agents. It was revealed that most species are confined to moist biotopes of river banks and canals, which can be habitats for small mammals during periods of population depression. In this biotope, it is necessary to conduct a more thorough epizootological examination for tularemia and other particularly dangerous infections. The proposed method will make it possible to streamline the control of mouse-like rodents and optimize the work of epizootological examination on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan.

Biotope preferences in groups of closely related species: a case study of Sylvaemus (Mammalia)

The trapping of small mammals was carried out in 2017 to 2023 in the territory of the Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. In total, 19 biotopes were studied: different types of oak forest, dry and floodplain meadows, riparian vegetation, areas of the steppe, field protection forest strips, fields, as well as various ecotones. The trapping of small mammals was carried out using the standard trap-line method on 93 trap lines. With a trapping effort of 17 310 trap-nights, 1295 individuals of small mammals were caught, 689 of which belonged to the genus Sylvaemus. Three species of mice of the genus Sylvaemus were found in the territory of Kharkiv Oblast during the study period: Sylvaemus uralensis, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, and Sylvaemus tauricus. According to the relative abundance, wood mice can be arranged in the following order: uralensis > sylvaticus > tauricus. The cyclicity of annual fluctuations in relative abundance is not noticeable. The similarity of the abundance fluctuation in S. sylvaticus and S. tauricus was revealed, taking into account that these are competing species. S. uralensis and S. sylvaticus lead the top three dominant species in the overall dominance structure of small mammals. The highest relative abundance of wood mice during the study period was recorded on dry meadows, on the border of riparian vegetation with fields and floodplain meadows, on the border of field protective forest strips with fields, and in dry maple-linden-oak forest. S. uralensis belongs to the eurytopic species, is found in almost all studied biotopes, avoids oak forests, occurs on the edges of forests, dominates in abundance in open biotopes, in particular in the steppe, on dry meadows, riparian vegetation, and field protection forest strips. S. sylvaticus is also prone to eurytopy, it is recorded in significant abundance in both open and forest biotopes, mostly prefers riparian vegetation, field protection forest strips, dry coniferous forest, fresh maple-linden-oak forest and forest edges. S. tauricus is found mostly in forest biotopes, in particular in various types of oak forest and on forest edges, it prefers field protection forest strips with an old stand of oak, linden, and robinia. All three species of mice of the genus Sylvaemus are common species.

Rove beetle communities (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the rock dumps after coal mining

Rock dumps formed as a result of coal mining are unique model for studying the rove beetle communities. In total 60 species, 38 genera, 7 subfamilies of rove beetles were registered using soil traps. The greatest diversity of rove beetles was noted in forb-grass meadows (H` = 2.89) and pine plantations (H` = 2.39). The diversity of rove beetles was low (H` = 1.11) in birch and aspen-fir forests despite the greater number of revealed species. Only two eurytopic and mesophilic species (Drusilla canaliculata and Xantholinus linearis) were dominant in the rock dumps. Most of the rove beetles were eurytopic or forest species, zoophagous or mixophagous, mesophilous or hygrophilous. The number of eurytopic species and obligate predators increased, and the dynamic density of beetles decreased from older to younger dumps. The number of rove beetles depended on the soil temperature and humidity and the vegetation cover. Rove beetle communities are good indicators for monitoring the restoration of areas that have been technically degraded.

Diversity and community structure of microzooplankton in the eastern Indian Ocean during the inter-monsoon period

Microzooplankton (MZP) are an important part of the microbial food web and play a pivotal role in connecting the classic food chain with the microbial loop in the marine ecosystem. They may play a more important role than mesozooplankton in the lower latitudes and oligotrophic oceans. In this article, we studied the species composition, dominant species, abundance, and carbon biomass of MZP, including the relationship between biological variables and environmental factors in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean during the spring intermonsoon. We found that the MZP community in this ocean showed a high species diversity, with a total of 340 species. Among these, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDS) (205 species) and ciliates (CTS) (126 species) were found to occupy the most significant advantageous position. In addition, CTS (45.3%) and HDS (39.7%) accounted for a larger proportion of the population abundance, while HDS (47.1%) and copepod nauplii (CNP) (46.4%) made a larger contribution to the carbon biomass. There are significant differences in the ability of different groups of MZP to assimilate organic carbon. In this sea area, MZP are affected by periodic currents, and temperature is the main factor affecting the distribution of the community. The MZP community is dominated by eurytopic species and CNP. CTS are more sensitive to environmental changes than HDS, among which Ascampbelliella armilla may be a better habitat indicator species. In low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean areas, phytoplankton with smaller cell diameters were found to occupy a higher proportion, while there was no significant correlation between the total concentration of integrated chlorophyll a and the biological variables of MZP. Therefore, we propose that the relationship between size-fractionated phytoplankton and MZP deserves further study. In addition, the estimation of the carbon biomass of MZP requires the establishment of more detailed experimental methods to reflect the real situation of organisms. This study provides more comprehensive data for understanding the diversity and community structure of MZP in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, which is also of good value for studying the adaptation mechanism and ecological functions of MZP in low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean ecosystems.

Oribatid Mites (Oribatida) Associated with Nests of Hollow-Nesting Birds, on the Example of a Model Species, the European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), in the Taiga Forests of the European North-East of Russia

The authors have obtained original material on the fauna and population structure of oribatid mites inhabiting nests of the European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca, Passeriformes, hollow-nesting bird) on the territory of the taiga zone of the European North-East of Russia. Long-term research and the collection of nests were carried out in the green zone of Syktyvkar in 2017–2022. Observations were made for artificial nests (hollows) of a box type with a bottom area of 100 cm2. The material of the tray was collected completely. In 135 studied nests of Pied Flycatchers, 1762 specimens were found and identified for 22 species of oribatid mites from 19 genera and 16 families. In the nests of the Pied Flycatcher, a complex of species was found that is known as an arboricolous species for this region; these are Oribatula (Zygoribatula) propinqua, Oribatula (Z.) exilis, Trichoribates (T.) berlesei, and Ameronothrus oblongus. We suggested that arboricolous species, as well as eurytopic species, can actively inhabit bird nests. Highly numerous in our collections were representatives of the Oribatulidae and Scheloribatidae families; they are Oribatula (Z.) propinqua, Oribatula (Z.) exilis, Oribatula (O.) tibialis, and Scheloribates laevigatus. Epigeic species are dominated by the species number. The fauna of oribatid mites mainly included widespread Holarctic species (54.54%).

Изменчивость биоразнообразия ассамблей жужелиц (Coleoptera, Carabidae) верхового болота при антропогенной трансформации их местообитаний

The presented research demonstrated the features of the variability of the biodiversity of the carabid assemblages in the peat bog with the different degrees of transformation in the Belarusian Lake District. The material was collected using pitfall traps in a peat bog, part of which was drained by a network of reclamation canals. The studies were carried out on an intact site (control) with specialized peat bog vegetation and on three sites of different degrees of transformation: a site with a partially disturbed sphagnum cover, peat fields with a removed sphagnum cover (open peat), and drained sites with a removed sphagnum mat covered with trees and shrubs. Differentiation of a- and в-diversity in areas of different degrees of anthropogenic transformation was revealed. The average number of species (x2 = 10.72, p = 0.01) and individuals (F = 57.54, p = 0.001) in the samples differed significantly. If the sphagnum cover was disturbed or completely removed, the number of species decreases as compared to the control biotopes. Whereas during the formation of tree and bush cover, on the contrary, species richness increases. The average number of individuals decreases, except for sites with partially disturbed sphagnum cover. With an increase in anthropogenic transformation, species diversity and evenness was higher compared to the control (H’ = 1.54 ± 0.05, J’ = 0.42 ± 0.03) and reach a maximum in sites with woody vegetation (H’ = 2.48 ± 0.38, J’ = 0.97 ± 0.11). The values of the Shannon diversity index (x2 = 14.57, p = 0.002) and the Pielou evenness index (F = 18.44, p = 0.001) differed significantly in all studied habitats. The analysis of в-diversity demonstrated significant differences in the species composition of ground beetle assemblages in sites with different degrees of transformation (ANOSIM; R = 0.90, p = 0.0001). The species composition and dominance structure of ground beetle assemblages undergo the greatest changes when the sphagnum cover is completely removed. At the same time, the composition of the group of dominants is significantly expanding. Specialized raised bog species Agonum ericeti (Panzer, 1809), Pterostichus diligens (Sturm, 1824) and P. rhaeticus Heer, 1838 were replaced by open space dwellers and eurytopic species such as Cicindela sylvatica Linnaeus, 1758, Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), P. versicolor (Sturm, 1824), Agonum sexpunctatum (Linnaeus, 1758), Harpalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Species Enriched Grass–Clover Pastures Show Distinct Carabid Assemblages and Enhance Endangered Species of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Compared to Continuous Maize

There is an urgent global need for the ecological intensification of agricultural systems to reduce negative impacts on the environment while meeting the rising demand for agricultural products. Enriching grasslands with floral species is a tool to promote diversity and the associated services at higher trophic levels, and ultimately, to enhance the agricultural landscape matrix. Here, we studied an organic pastures-based dairy production system with plant species enhanced grass–clover pastures with respect to the effect on the activity density, functional traits, carabid assemblages, and species richness of carabid beetles. To understand the effect of land management on carabid beetles, we studied two types of grass–clover pastures with low and relatively high plant diversities in an integrated crop–livestock rotational grazing system (ICLS). As a comparison, organic permanent grasslands and conventionally managed maize were studied. We installed pitfall traps for three weeks in early summer, and for two weeks in autumn. In total, 11,347 carabid beetles of 66 species were caught. Grass–clover pastures did not differ in activity density, functional traits, habitat guilds, or species richness, but conventional maize did show a higher activity density in autumn and a higher proportion of eurytopic species and mobile species compared to grass–clover pastures. On grass–clover pastures, we found more endangered species, Carabus beetles, and a distinct carabid assemblage compared to maize. However, we attribute the lack of an effect of increased plant diversity of the grass–clover pastures on carabid species richness and functional traits to the intensive grazing regime, which resulted in the compositional and structural homogeneity of vegetation. Still, the presence of specialized and endangered species indicated the potential for organically managed grass–clover pastures to promote dispersal through an otherwise depleted and fragmented agricultural landscape. By increasing crop diversity in ICLS, more resources for foraging and nesting are created; therefore, organically managed grass–clover pastures add to the multi-functionality of agricultural landscapes.

The edificator role of hazel in the formation of the Collembola taxocene of subcontinental oak-hornbeam forests of the Wigerski National Park (Poland)

A comparative analysis of the taxonomic and ecological structure of collembolan taxocenes in the subcontinental oak-hornbeam forests of Viger National Park with different projective coverage of hazel was carried out. It was established that the fauna of the collembola of the studied forests of the Viger National Park is represented by 51 species of collembola belonging to 31 genera and 11 families. The fewest species were registered in the areas without hazel, and the most - with its participation. The obtained data indicate that the absence or insignificant presence of hazel leads to a decrease in the species richness of the Collembola taxocene. On the other hand, the presence of hazel in the experimental plots of the oak-hornbeam forest allows more species of collembolans to survive both at the level of point and coenotic alpha-diversity. This may indicate that in the studied forest communities with a significant presence of hazel, the capacity of the environment for Collembola increases compared to those where hazel is absent or represented by a small number of tree shrubs. Folsomia quadrioculata, Isotomiella minor, Lepidocyrtus lignorum, as well as polytopic forest species: Pogonognatellus flavescens and Pseudosinella horaki. Species with the highest frequency of occurrence both in the soil samples and in all studied areas of the oak-hornbeam forest were also such eurytopic species as Parisotoma notabilis, Pogonognathellus flavescens, Lepidocyrtus lignorum, Pseudosinella horaki. Among the polytopic forest collembola, eight species can be classified as saproxylic. Three of them, i.e. Proisotoma minima, Vertagopus cinereus, Pratanurida boerneri, are saproxylobionts. Species such as Pseudachorutes parvulus, Neanura muscorum, Neanura minuta, Oligaphorura absoloni and Entomobrya corticalis are saproxylophiles, i.e. species that prefer dead wood but also live in other forest microhabitats. Also, 35 species are typical litter or soil inhabitants. Therefore, the research results indicate the important importance of hazel in the formation of the ecological structure of collembolan taxocenes in the oak-hornbeam forests of the studied region. However, the detected changes in the investigated taxocenes are insignificant and mainly concern indicators of cadastral species richness according to P. Whittaker, as well as the numerical ratio of species.

Small mammals in natural and agricultural lands of Slobozhanshchyna (eastern Ukraine): results of a five-year-long survey

The study of the species composition, biological and ecological features of small mammals was carried out for five years (2018–2022) in the surroundings of the village of Rozsohuvata (Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine). During the study period, nine species of mouse-like rodents and three species of insectivorans were detected. The re-search area is represented by a ravine-beam system, agrocoenoses, field-protecting forest strips, riparian vege-tation around artificial reservoirs and streams, dry meadows, and pastures. Trappings of small mammals were carried out on thirty lines of traps. During the entire period of trapping, the dominant species was Sylvaemus uralensis and in some seasons Sylvaemus sylvaticus dominated. Starting from 2018, the relative abundance increased in autumn, reached a peak in 2020 and declined in the following years. In general, 2019 was the year of maximum abundance and most species were recorded in the summer of this year. The greatest number of species was found in the ecotone between riparian vegetation and field (10 species), as well as in the area of the multi-grass steppe in the beam (8 species). The eurytopic species include Sylvaemus uralensis and Syl-vaemus sylvaticus, whereas the stenotopic species is Mus spicilegus. According to the obtained abundance scores, only one species—Myodes glareolus—occurs randomly, whereas the rare species here are Mus spicile-gus, Sorex minutus, and Crocidura suaveolens. Six species are non-abundant: Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus tauricus, Mus musculus, Microtus levis, Cricetulus migratorius, and Sorex araneus. Only Sylvaemus sylvaticus belongs to common species, and only Sylvaemus uralensis is abundant. It should be mentioned that Cri-cetulus migratorius, which usually belongs to the category of random or rare species, turned out to be non-abundant in the study region, and it was recorded regularly in almost half of the studied biotopes. Myodes glareolus, which usually prefers oak forest, was extremely rare. The abundance of Apodemus agrarius, which usually belongs to common species in river valleys, was also low. Sylvaemus showed greater ecological valence, dominated in abundance and inhabited most biotopes, except for Sylvaemus tauricus, which began to occur only in the last two years and mainly in forest strips.

Sympatry of genetic lineages of Parisotomanotabilis s. l. (Collembola, Isotomidae) in the East European Plain.

Parisotomanotabilis (Schaeffer, 1896) is one of the most abundant eurytopic species of springtails in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, and is often used as a model species for studies on the genetics of soil microarthropod populations. Six genetic lineages (L0, L1, L2, L3, L4-Saltzwedel, L4-Hebert) are known which are distributed mainly parapatrically in Western and Central Europe. Individuals of P.notabilis from 21 locations on the East European Plain were analyzed. Three genetic lineages were found: L1, L2, L4-Hebert. In contrast to Western and Central Europe, the coexistence of two or three lineages was revealed in about half of the locations on the East European Plain. The most diverse genetic composition of P.notabilis populations was noted in natural forests and slightly disturbed habitats, while the least diverse was in places with a high anthropogenic influence.

Ціанобактерії України: актуальне різноманіття, тенденції таксономічних змін, особливості зонального та ектопічного поширення

The paper presents the results of a critical taxonomic revision of the list of cyanobacteria of Ukraine and the analyzis of their zonal, ecological and typological distribution. The list includes 766 species from 150 genera. They belong to the class Cyanophyceae Schaftner, four subclasses, 7 orders and 46 families. The subclass Oscillatoriophycideae (4 orders, 21 families, 65 genera, 333 species) is characterized by the greatest species and taxonomic diversity. The leading orders are Synechococcales (34.1%), Nostocales (26.8%) and Oscillatoriales (25.5%). Genera Phormidium Kütz. ex Gomont (7.3% of species), Leptolyngbya Anagn. et Komárek (5.4%), Calothrix C.Agardh ex Bornet et Flahault (3.8%) and Oscillatoria Vaucher ex Gomont (3.7%) lead in species richness. The obtained results are significantly different from the generalized data on the species and taxonomic diversity of cyanobacteria of Ukraine as of 2005. The growth of generic and species diversity is partly related to nomenclature and taxonomic changes; 7 genera and 50 species are new floristic records, revealed including using molecular methods. The distribution of cyanobacteria on the territory of Ukraine has specific features. The highest diversity and uniqueness of the species composition is characteristic of the Steppe zone of Ukraine: 539 species from 124 genera of Cyanophyceae. Of these, 101 species and 11 genera were recorded only within this zone. The ecological spectrum of Ukrainian cyanoflora consists of freshwater (66.3%), marine (14.5%), terrestrial (9.5%) species, as well as species with a wide ecological amplitude (7.3%), brackish water (4.1%) and eurytopic (1.4%) species. The representation of species in different habitat types varies widely. Most species were found in rivers (56.5% of the total list), lakes (38.0%), ponds (34.6%) and reservoirs (29.4%). Among continental water bodies, swamps have the most peculiar species composition (9.8% of species are found only here). Floodplain water bodies have the least specific species composition (0.5%). Among non-aquatic habitats, the largest number of species was found in soils (excluding saline): 179 species from 55 genera, 15.6% of species occur only in this type of habitats. In the Ukrainian sectors of the Black and Azov seas, 228 species from 80 genera of cyanobacteria were found, of which 41 species (17.9%) were not registered in other types of habitats. 43 species are widespread in Ukraine. They include the water bloom agents Dolichospermum spiroides (Kleb.) Wacklin et al., Microcystis flosaquae (Wittrock) Kirchn. and M. viridis (A.Braun in Rabenh.) which most often occur in reservoirs of the plain part of Ukraine.

Enzymatic and Antimicrobial Activities in Polar Strains of Microscopic Soil Fungi.

Potential to produce inducible enzymes (several hydrolases and oxidases) and antibiotics as secondary metabolites was studied in soil micromycete strains from the Arctic (Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya) and Antarctica (the oases Thala Hills, Larsemann Hills, Schirmacher, and Marie Byrd Land). Maximal esterase activity was observed in strains of two typical Antarctic species, Hyphozyma variabilis 218 and Thelebolus ellipsoideus 210 (51 and 29 nmol FDA/((g myceliumh), respectively). Cellulolytic activity was maximal (89 µmol glucose/mg biomass) in Ascochyta pisi 192. Extracellular phenol oxidase (laccase) and peroxidase activities were not detected in the strains examined. Antibacterial activity toward Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 was observed in 75% of the Antarctic micromycete strains. Higher-activity strains were isolated from organic-rich moist habitats with a moss or lichen cover. Maximal activities were displayed by Paecilomyces marquandii 166, Penicillium janczewskii 165, Penicillium roseopurpureum 169, and Thelebolus ellipsoideus 210. Antagonistic activity toward Antarctic bacterial strains was shown by 77% of the microfungal strains examined. Maximal inhibition was observed with strains of the typical Antarctic species Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus MT303855 and the eurytopic species Sarocladium kiliense MT303856. Antimycotic activity was observed in 42% of the strains. Both activities were detected in 38% of the Antarctic strains.

Fossil Bovidae from the Hominini-bearing site of Cooper’s D (Bloubank Valley, South Africa): implications for Paranthropus robustus Broom, 1938 and early Homo Linnaeus, 1758 habitat preferences

The Cooper’s D deposit has been dated by U-Pb at a maximum age of 1.37 Ma ± 0.113 and has yielded seven Hominini remains, six of them are attributed to the Southern African endemic species Paranthropus robustus Broom, 1938. However, the taxonomic composition of the faunal assemblage recovered at this site, especially ruminants, remains poorly understood. This paper updates the previous palaeontological and biochronological works and provides the first taxonomic description and paleoecological analysis of the whole bovid material from Cooper’s D. We propose a minimum age of 1.0 Ma for the Cooper’s D bone accumulation. Thus, we conclude that the assemblage accumulated between 1.375 ± 0.113 and 1.0 Ma based on the complementary results obtained from radiometric dates and biochronology. The paleoecological analysis suggests that Cooper’s D is likewise dominated by grassland with sparse covered habitat and probable water sources in the vicinity. Finally, we show a strong statistically significant negative correlation between the presence of grassland-adapted bovid species and P. robustus. This result indicates that P. robustus was more likely to be an eurytopic species and dietary generalist than an exclusive grazer.

Responses of selected beetle families (Carabidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae) to non-crop habitats in an agricultural landscape

Agricultural intensification has caused a simplification of agricultural landscapes, accompanied by increasing field sizes and a reduction of non-crop habitats. To mitigate negative impacts of intensification, it is necessary to understand to what extent different non-crop habitats contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity in agroecosystems. Here, we compared the taxonomic diversity of three beetle families among four habitat types—wheat fields, grassy field margins, wildflower-sown areas under power poles, and permanent grassland fallows, in an agricultural landscape in western Germany. Carabidae were caught by pitfall trapping, Chrysomelidae and Curculionidae by suction sampling. We found surprisingly little variation among habitat types, though the rarefied species number tended to be higher in grassland fallows and field margins than under power poles and in wheat fields. Nevertheless, species assemblages differed substantially among habitat types. In Carabidae, grassland fallows were dominated by hygrophilous species with poor dispersal ability as opposed to all other habitat types being dominated by open landscape species with high dispersal ability. In Chrysomelidae and Curculionidae, power pole islands differed from the other habitat types with predominantly open landscape species, whereas wheat fields and grassland fallows were clearly dominated by eurytopic species. Our results thus highlight the need for a combination of different conservation measures for enhancing the functional diversity of beetle assemblages.

A nonanalog Pliocene ungulate community at Laetoli with implications for the paleoecology of Australopithecus afarensis

The dietary guild structure of ungulate communities is a useful paleoecological tool for understanding the context of hominin paleobiology and evolution. Ungulates are well represented in the fossil record, and their dietary preferences reflect those of major habitat types. However, paleoecology relies on modern ecological patterns as analogs for recreating ecologies of the past. It has previously been suggested that for much of the Pliocene, no such modern analogs exist for the herbivore communities associated with hominins in eastern Africa. This study aims to determine whether the ungulate community associated with A. afarensis at the Pliocene site of Laetoli, Tanzania, shares similarities with extant communities or whether it lacks a modern analog. Our multiproxy approach using mesowear, hypsodonty, and stable carbon isotopes of tooth enamel to infer the diets of ungulates in the Upper Laetolil Beds shows that this community is dominated by browsers and mixed feeders and has a very low prevalence of grazers and frugivores. This dietary guild composition distinguishes the Upper Laetolil Beds from modern African communities and suggests either that the Upper Laetolil Beds had a unique vegetation structure which was able to support a higher diversity of browsing ungulates than that exists in African ecosystems today or that it retained an ungulate community that was resilient to environmental change. The Upper Laetolil Beds ungulate community is also unique relative to other mid-Pliocene communities in eastern Africa, some of which are similar to extant communities, while others, such as Laetoli, lack modern counterparts. This suggests that A. afarensis was a eurytopic species that inhabited a variety of ecosystems, including those with and without modern analogs. The co-occurrence of both analog and nonanalog communities in the Pliocene suggests that the transformation toward ungulate communities of modern aspect occurred asynchronously in eastern Africa.

Rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) communities of the upper forest line of the Ukrainian Carpathians: structure and biotopic distribution (on the example of the Polonynskyi ridge)

The results of studies of species diversity, community structure, and biotopic distribution of rove beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) at the upper forest line on the Yavirnyk and Stinka mountain ridges (Polonynskyi massif, Ukrainian Carpathians) are presented. As a result, 91 species of Staphylinidae belonging to 53 genera and 10 subfamilies were found. In particular, 71 species were found on Yavirnyk, and 69 species on Stinka. The largest number of species was noticed on meadows of both ridges: 48 species on Yavirnyk and 51 on Stinka. The lowest number of species was recorded in in ecotones: 39 species on Yavirnyk and 40 on Stinka. The rove beetle dominant complex of the Yavirnyk ridge includes four species, including two eudominants—Eusphalerum alpinum and Philonthus politus, and two dominants—Eusphalerum anale and Philonthus decorus. The dominant complex of the Stinka ridge includes six species: three eudominants—Eusphalerum alpinum, Ocypus macrocephalus, and Staphylinus erythroptery, and three dominants in almost equal proportions—Anotylus mutator, Dinothenarus fossor, and Philonthus decorus. All indices of species richness and diversity of the rove beetle communities have higher values on the Stinka ridge, and they are the highest in forest biotopes of both mountain ridges, which indicates their high ecological quality and stability. This is also confirmed by the highest rate of originality of the species composition of Staphylinidae in these areas. The most similar in species composition are the rove beetle communities of meadows. The original fauna of rove beetles of Yavirnyk is represented by 25 species, and of Stinka by 19 species. Among the species of Staphylinidae, 18 occurred in all biotopes of the upper forest line, which is 19.8% of the total number of species found here. In terms of trophic specialization, predators that live in the forest floor, among remains of organic origin and in fungi predominate in all biotopes of the upper forest line (UFL). In terms of biotopic distribution, eurytopic species predominate.

Soil microbiota and microarthropod communities in oil contaminated sites in the European Subarctic

The present comprehensive study aimed to estimate the aftermath of oil contamination and the efficacy of removing the upper level of polluted soil under the conditions of the extreme northern taiga of northeastern European Russia. Soil samples from three sites were studied. Two sites were contaminated with the contents of a nearby sludge collector five years prior to sampling. The highly contaminated upper soil level was removed from one of them. The other was left for self-restoration. A chemical analysis of the soils was conducted, and changes in the composition of the soil zoocoenosis and bacterial and fungal microbiota were investigated. At both contaminated sites, a decrease in the abundance and taxonomic diversity of indicator groups of soil fauna, oribatid mites and collembolans compared to the background site were found. The pioneer eurytopic species Oppiella nova, Proisotoma minima and Xenyllodes armatus formed the basis of the microarthropod populations in the contaminated soil. A complete change in the composition of dominant taxonomic units was observed in the microbiota, both the bacterial and fungal communities. There was an increase in the proportion of representatives of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in polluted soils compared to the background community. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria—Alcanivorax, Rhodanobacter ginsengisoli, Acidobacterium capsulatum, and Acidocella—and fungi—Amorphotheca resinae abundances greatly increased in oil-contaminated soil. Moreover, among both bacteria and fungi, a sharp increase in the abundance of uncultivated organisms that deserve additional attention as potential oil degraders or organisms with a high resistance to oil contamination were observed. The removal of the upper soil level was partly effective in terms of decreasing the oil product concentration (from approximately 21 to 2.6 g/kg of soil) and preventing a decrease in taxonomic richness but did not prevent alterations in the composition of the microbiota or zoocoenosis.

Acclimation effect on fish behavioural characteristics: determination of appropriate acclimation period for different species.

In the present study, the authors investigated the effect of acclimation duration (up to 4 h) on behavioural characteristics of taxonomically and functionally different fish species, i.e., the migratory rheophilic salmonids rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and the non-migratory eurytopic European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Specifically, the authors explored fish behavioural patterns based on specific endpoints (average, maximum and angular velocity) during the acclimation period, and determined the acclimation period suitable for the tested fish species. The performed behavioural data analysis showed that the minimum time needed to adjust fish activity to a more stable (baseline) level should be at least 2 h for O. mykiss and S. salar and 1 h for G. aculeatus. Nonetheless, P. fluviatilis behaviour did not show significant changes during the 4 h acclimation. The results of this study revealed that the effect of the acclimation duration on such rheophilic species as O. mykiss and S. salar was greater than that on the eurytopic species P. fluviatilis and G. aculeatus, indicating that acclimation period is important in managing fish stress before behavioural observations. For all species, the highest variability was found in the endpoint of maximum velocity, and the lowest in that of angular velocity. This study showed that before starting actual toxicity testing experiments, it is important to determine an appropriate, species-specific acclimation period.

Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) of the ”Golczewskie Uroczysko” nature reserve (North-West Poland)

The „Golczewskie Uroczysko” nature reserve was established on 5 May 2004 to protect the raised peat bog and the dystrophic Lake Żabie with its surrounding transitional bog and adjacent forest complexes containing valuable plants. In May, July and October 2006 the research of odonates (Odonata) fauna has been conducted in this area. A total of 575 odonates individuals belonging to 29 species (366 imagines, 152 larvae, 57 exuviae) were collected and among these 489 specimens belonging to 28 species were collected in Lake Żabie, 26 specimens belonging to 7 species on the beat boog, 52 specimens belonging to 3 species in flooded alder forest and 8 specimens belonging to 2 species were collected in ditches in the forest. The eurytopic species were dominated with substantial parts of tyrphobiontic and tyrphophilous species.