Faunal Composition Research Articles

Taxonomic and functional diversity of nematode fauna: two sides of the same coin in the ecological quality assessment of transitional environments

The spatiotemporal variation in taxonomic indices and functional traits of the nematode fauna was investigated along two major environmental (salinity and organic matter enrichment) gradients in the Cabras Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy). We aimed to assess, for the first time in a transitional system of western Mediterranean Sea, how taxonomic and functional components of nematode assemblage respond to such environmental factors. The taxonomic structure was the most sensitive metric to document changes in the nematode assemblage, showing significant differences in relation to all the factors and their interactions. All the taxonomic and functional nematode features, except for the maturity index (MI), proved salinity and organic enrichment to be the primary drivers of nematode distribution. The lack of significant variation in the MI is quite interesting and can be interpreted because of the marked adaptation of nematodes to highly dynamic environmental conditions of brackish and confined habitats. Temperature mainly affected faunal composition, abundance, and diversity, due to its influence on fecundity and biological cycles on almost all species. Integrating the taxonomic and functional components of nematodes as “two-sides of the same coin”, the Shannon diversity index, the percentage of coloniser–persisters and the MI were used together to assess the Ecological Quality Status (EQS) of the study sites, which ranged from poor to bad. Nematodes proved to be good indicators of the environmental variations in the investigated lagoon ecosystem. Importantly, the joint use of taxonomic and functional approaches provided integrative knowledge of nematode response to environmental gradients. We conclude that combining nematode-based taxonomic and functional indicators represent a valuable tool to assess the environmental quality of lagoonal ecosystems and may provide complementary information to macrofauna.

Mammalian faunal change of the Miocene Dove Spring Formation, Mojave region, southern California, USA, in relation to tectonic history

Tectonic processes drive the evolution of basins through local and regional changes in topographic relief, which have long-term effects on mammalian richness and distribution. Mammals respond to the resulting changes in landscape and climate through evolution, shifts in geographic range, and by altering their community composition. Here, we evaluate the relationship between tectonic episodes and the diversification history of fossil mammals in the Miocene Dove Spring Formation (12.5−8.5 Ma) of southern California, USA. This formation contains a rich fossil record of mammals and other vertebrates as well as structural and sedimentological evidence for tectonic episodes of basin extension, rotation, and translation. We used several methods to compare the fossil record to the tectonic history of the Dove Spring Formation. We updated the formation’s geochronology to incorporate current radiometric dating standards and measured additional stratigraphic sections to refine the temporal resolution of large mammal (>1 kg) fossil localities to 200-kyr (or shorter) intervals. Observed species richness over time follows the same trend as the number of localities and specimens, suggesting that richness reflects sampling intensity. Estimates of stratigraphic ranges with 80% confidence intervals were used to conduct per capita diversification analysis and a likelihood approach to changes in faunal composition from one time interval to the next. While edge effects influence time bins at the beginning and end of the study interval, we found changes in diversification rates and faunal composition that are not solely linked to preservation. Several rare species appear at 10.5 Ma and persist through the top of the formation despite variable preservation rates. Changes in faunal composition at 12.1 Ma and 10.5 Ma are not associated with elevated preservation rates, which indicates that some faunal changes are not primarily driven by sampling effort. The lower portion of the formation is characterized by high origination rates and long residence times. The upper portion has high per capita extinction rates that increased in magnitude as basin rotation and translation progressed from 10.5 Ma. The greatest change in faunal composition coincided with basin rotation and translation that interrupted a long-running extensional period. Tectonics played key roles in the diversity of mammals by determining fossil productivity and shaping the landscapes that they inhabited.

Peculiarities of Species Composition of Endobiotic Fauna of Polygastric Domestic Animals of Yakutia.

Peculiarities of Species Composition of Endobiotic Fauna of Polygastric Domestic Animals of Yakutia.

The fish helminth fauna of Lake Sevan during a period of water level change

Aim. The aim of the work is to study the fish helminth fauna of Lake Sevan basin.Material and Methods. Fish helminths and molluscs were collected from the Lake Sevan basin. A total of 214 specimens of fish were studied. The collection, cameral processing and determination of the material was carried out according to generally accepted methods. Statistical processing of the material was carried out using the BioStat 2009 computer program. 124 specimens of molluscs were examined from the littoral of the Lake Sevan. The collection and identification of molluscs was carried out according to generally accepted methods. The work was carried out at the Scientific Centre of Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS of the Republic of Armenia. Its own collections have been used as material.Results. Trematodes, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephals were found аs a result of studies of fish from the Lake Sevan basin. The total infestation of the fish by helminths was 27.1 %. Six species of helminths have been identified, two of which are the first to be recorded in new hosts in Armenia. The higher infestations of fish were noted by metacercariae of the trematode Diplostomum sp. and plerocercoids of the cestode Ligula intestinalis. A brief analysis of the infestation of fish by the detected helminths is given.Conclusion. The species composition of the helminth fauna of fish in the Lake Sevan basin was studied. Pathogens of dangerous helminthiases causing the death of fish have been noted. Studies of the helminth fauna of fish in the Lake Sevan basin are relevant and will be continued. Most of the species of fish affected by helminths are of economic importance. Some species of the helminths which were found are very invasive and cause great damage to the fisheries of the republic.

Evolution of Insect Diversity in the Permian and Triassic

The global warming that occurred during the Permo-Triassic transition, following the end of the Late Paleozoic glaciation, and the resulting responses of the biota to the changing environment, are considered important analogs for understanding rapid future warming scenarios. While there has been extensive research on the patterns and extent of diversity in plants, tetrapods, and marine invertebrates during the Permo-Triassic, the study of insect diversity and the evolution of their faunal composition has been relatively limited. The question of whether there were insect extinctions during this period continues to be a subject of debate. Here, we present a statistical study on taxonomic diversity of insects—at specific, generic and familial levels—throughout the Permian and Triassic, with subsampled context on the reported global occurrences. Our result show that more than one insect extinction events, accompanied by significant diversity drop and turnovers of faunal compositional, occurred in the Permian and Triassic. All the uncovered insect diversity crises exhibit strong correspondence with the well-known marine mass extinction events in the Middle Permian, Permo-Triassic transition, Carnian, and Rhaetian, whilst the marine correspondence with the Early Permian insect crisis is less pronounced. Insects, being a major component of terrestrial ecosystems, demonstrate varied diversity responses to climatic changes in Permian and Triassic. Our study sheds new light on the intricate interplay between insect diversity evolution and the changing environmental conditions during these critical geohistorical periods.

An Aptian sponge-associated decapod crustacean assemblage from Cal Cassanyes (Catalonia, north-east Iberian Peninsula): Taxonomy and palaeoecological implications

A highly diverse decapod crustacean fauna is described from the classic Aptian outcrop of Cal Cassanyes (Castellet i la Gornal) in Catalonia. Although decapod crustaceans are a minor component of the rich invertebrate assemblages at that locality, the just over fifty specimens collected comprise sixteen taxa assignable to the Macrura, Anomura and Brachyura. Of these, the last-named are the most prominent group, comprising eleven species, representing seven families, inclusive of one representative of the Eubrachyura. On the basis of this material, two new genera and five new species are erected, namely Pagurus? garrafensis sp. nov., Garrafosopon gen. nov. angustus (Wright and Collins, 1972) comb. nov., Vectis blesai sp. nov., Mesodromilites prietoi sp. nov., Necrocarcinus mariae sp. nov. and Iberodorippe vinea gen. nov., sp. nov. In addition, Hoploparia sp., an indeterminate axiid and one paguroid, as well as one indeterminate galatheoid are recorded here. Material of Distefania incerta (Bell, 1863), the commonest species at the study site by far, of Goniodromites laevis (Van Straelen, 1940) and of Etyxanthosia fossa (Wright and Collins, 1972) represents the first Aptian and stratigraphically oldest records for these taxa. Added to this list are also Eodromites sp., Paranecrocarcinus? sp. and Pseudonecrocarcinus? sp. The high decapod crustacean diversity at Cal Cassanyes establishes this locality as the richest Aptian assemblage from the Iberian Peninsula, but also one of the richest in the world. The faunal assemblages here are dominated by sponges, and the varied composition of the decapod crustacean faunas can be linked to upwelling currents which provided abundant nutrients. In fact, the establishment of sponge communities played a crucial role in activating the food chain and functioned similarly to a patch reef, creating a relatively sheltered environment that facilitated the colonisation of other invertebrate communities, including decapod crustaceans. The latter occupied various trophic levels as both primary and secondary consumers. Current knowledge of Early Cretaceous decapod crustaceans is scant and hinders a thorough palaeobiogeographical analysis. The present study emphasises the challenges surrounding the identification of endemic taxa, thus impacting our understanding of decapod crustacean palaeobiogeography of the late Early Cretaceous.

Долготная дифференциация гипоарктической фауны булавоусых чешуекрылых (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea)

The article analyzes the longitude-sector differentiation of the hypoarctic butterfly fauna. The authors estimate the species richness of the Papilionoidea superfamily in the hypoarctic zone for 120-130 native species. The richness of native species in the butterfly faunas of particular geographical sectors is about twice as less and relatively stable in the circumpolar perspective from Fennoscandia to Labrador. But, the species composition, geographical and landscape-zonal structure of regional butterfly faunas undergo serious changes. The Beringian species complex is highly specific and consists mainly of montane and arctic-montane species whose distribution is limited by the East Asian and West American sectors. The distribution analysis of species allowed us to conclude that the hypoarctic butterfly fauna is very heterogeneous. The zoogeographic unity of the Hypoarctic is not clearly manifested on the example of butterflies.

Distribution and structure of deep-sea demersal fish assemblages across the central and western Pacific Ocean using data from undersea imagery

Demersal deep-sea fish assemblages from islands and seamounts are poorly described, even in the Hawaiian archipelago. Knowledge across all depths, in similar settings, is even sparser for other archipelagos in the central and western Pacific. However, recent remotely operated vehicle (ROV) explorations and archived video from human-occupied submersible dives conducted by the Hawai`i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) provide an opportunity to explore the structure of these assemblages. Here we describe demersal fish assemblages across the central and western Pacific, including in four Marine National Monuments, and examine the relationship of the assemblages to depth and environmental conditions. We used data collected from 227 underwater vehicle dives resulting in the identification of 24,837 individuals belonging to 89 families and 175 genera. The most frequently occurring genera at depths of 250-500 m were Epigonus, Setarches, Polymixia, and Antigonia, between 500-1000 m were Chlorophthalmus, Aldrovandia, and Neocyttus, and between 1000-3000 m were Synaphobranchus, Kumba, Halosaurus, Ilyophis, and Ipnops. There are strong changes in the fish assemblages with depth and region, and assemblages become more similar between regions with greater depth. Depth and region explained the most variance in assemblage structure followed by seafloor particulate organic carbon flux (a food supply proxy), concentrations of dissolved oxygen, and salinity. The Line Islands and Tokelau Ridge had the highest values of seafloor particulate organic carbon flux for all depth zones investigated (250-3000 m) and the highest abundance of fishes at 250-500 m and 500-1000 m, respectively. Taxon accumulation curves indicated that diversity at the genus level within all regions and depth bins (except 1000-2000 m and 2000-3000 m) had not been reached with the existing sampling effort. However, when combining samples from all regions, diversity generally appeared to decrease with depth. Overall, this study demonstrates that there are significant regional differences in the composition of the deep-sea fish fauna as well as differences across depth. Such distribution patterns suggest that the four Marine National Monuments (Papahānaumokuākea, Marianas Trench, Pacific Remote Islands, and Rose Atoll Marine National Monuments, encompassing an area of 3,063,223 km2) are not replicates of diversity, but complementary components of the regional fauna.

Fish diversity assessed by eDNA detection methods in the Rioni River

Due to anthropogenic influences, habitat degradation and a continuous loss of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems are occurring on a large scale, while these ecosystems constitute invaluable natural resources. Therefore, it is essential to study and monitor freshwater ecosystems to guide conservation efforts. Freshwater ecosystems are one of the less-studied fields in Georgia. Studies about the species distribution of many taxa and/or regions carried out during the last century have not been updated for decades. Here, we report the results of an environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding exercise, based on samples collected from the Rioni River, a tributary to the Black Sea and a crucial aquatic ecosystem regionally and globally. The only comprehensive review of the fish of the Rioni River dates back to 1956. We compared the eDNA-based taxonomic composition to the known faunal composition within the Rioni River and found that the eDNA-based taxonomic coverage approached 75% of the expected total fish fauna. A number of new species occurrences were also found, including the first detection of three invasive alien species (Carassius gibelio, Pseudorasbora parva, Rhinogobius lindbergi) in the Rionis River Basin and a new country record of the ninespine stickleback (genus Pungitius) for Georgia. In spite of the usefulness of the eDNA metabarcoding approach, the sparsity of the fish DNA barcode reference library for the region emerged as a limitation to this study. However, our findings still represent a great leap forward in updating fish status on the Rioni River and testing the effectiveness of the eDNA sampling for aquatic species.

Paleoenvironmental inferences on the Late Miocene hominoid-bearing site of Can Llobateres (NE Iberian Peninsula): An ecometric approach based on functional dental traits

Hispanopithecus laietanus from the Late Miocene (9.8 Ma) of Can Llobateres 1 (CLL1; Vallès-Penedès Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula) represents one of the latest occurrences of fossil apes in Western mainland Europe, where they are last recorded at ∼9.5 Ma. The paleoenvironment of CLL1 is thus relevant for understanding the extinction of European hominoids. To refine paleoenvironmental inferences for CLL1, we apply ecometric models based on functional crown type (FCT) variables—a scoring scheme devised to capture macroscopic functional traits of occlusal shape and wear surfaces of herbivorous large mammal molars. Paleotemperature and paleoprecipitation estimates for CLL1 are provided based on published regional regression models linking average FCT of large herbivorous mammal communities to climatic conditions. A mapping to Whittaker's present-day biome classification is also attempted based on these estimates, as well as a case-based reasoning via canonical variate analysis of FCT variables from five relevant biomes. Estimates of mean annual temperature (25 °C) and mean annual precipitation (881 mm) classify CLL1 as a tropical seasonal forest/savanna, only in partial agreement with the canonical variate analysis results, which classify CLL1 as a tropical rainforest with a higher probability. The former biome agrees better with previous inferences derived from fossil plants and mammals, as well as preliminary isotopic data. The misclassification of CLL1 as a tropical forest is attributed to the mixture of forest-adapted taxa with others adapted to more open environments, given that faunal and plant composition indicates the presence of a dense wetland/riparian forest with more open woodlands nearby. The tested FCT ecometric approaches do not provide unambiguous biome classification for CLL1. Nevertheless, our results are consistent with those from other approaches, thus suggesting that FCT variables are potentially useful to investigate paleoenvironmental changes through time and space—including those that led to the extinction of European Miocene apes.

QPCR-based eDNA workflow for humic-rich lake sediments: Combined use of sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) and Indigenous Knowledge in reconstructing historical fish records

Lake sediment serves as a natural archive of historical biological information. The use of sedimentary DNA (sedDNA), a form of environmental DNA (eDNA) shed by aquatic organisms and preserved in sediment, has been instrumental in reconstructing past faunal composition in aquatic communities. However, the low abundance of fish sedDNA and the often humic-rich nature of lake sediments create methodological challenges for the accurate detection of target sedDNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based approaches. Herein, we present a consolidated qPCR-based eDNA workflow to reconstruct past and current fish fauna in Cowpar Lake located in the Oil Sands region in Alberta (Canada), which were then validated using Indigenous Knowledge from Chipewyan Prairie First Nation community members. The present study highlights the importance of combining column- and precipitation-based PCR inhibitor clean-up, nucleic acid concentration, incorporating endogenous chloroplast DNA as a sample integrity control. Robust qPCR-based eDNA assays were also useful in preventing the false-negative detection of low copies of target fish DNA. The presence of Northern pike (1905 to 2019) and Cisco (1919 to 1942) in Cowpar Lake was confirmed based on detected sedDNA from sediment core. The reconstructed fish records from sedDNA-inferred data aligned with the Indigenous accounts of natural and human-mediated changes in land use around the lake. Overall, the present study addresses common methodological concerns in processing lake sediment samples for fish eDNA detection and demonstrates the great potential of combined eDNA-inferred data and Indigenous Knowledge in reconstructing historical fish records in aquatic communities.

Late Upper Paleolithic of the South Minusinsk Basin and its Mountain Surroundings: Research Results and Problems

This paper briefl y reviews the main Late Upper Paleolithic sites of the Upper Yenisei—in the South Minusinsk Basin and in the adjacent highlands of the West Sayan. Known sites mostly date to the Late Sartan period. They concentrate on the Upper Abakan River, in the Yenisei valley between Maina and Sayanogorsk, and on the Upper Tuba River. Information is provided on the composition of fauna and on pollen data, indicating the predominance of mosaic landscapes with alternating forested and open steppe spaces. Climate fl uctuations of the Final Pleistocene were refl ected in the alternation of phases of herbaceous and forest vegetation. The association of most sites with deposits of the second and third terraces has been established. Certain sites, however, are associated with cover deposits at high elevations, on the one hand, and with the fi rst terrace lowered to the level of the high fl oodplain, on the other. In recent years, the Late Paleolithic of the Upper Yenisei has been considered in the context of the original version of catastrophic fl oods, which presumably occurred repeatedly in the Late Pleistocene. The nature of the stratigraphic sections of the multilayered sites of the Maina group on the Yenisei, however, disagrees with this hypothesis, and indicates continuous alluvial sedimentation in the Sartan Age. A conclusion is made about the predominance of remains of seasonal huntergatherer habitation sites on the riverbanks. But there are also traces of a lithic workshop near the quartzite outcrops (Kuibyshevo II). Unfortunately, no sites earlier than the Late Upper Paleolithic are known in the region, and Mesolithic ones are extremely rare.

ANALYSIS OF THE AMPHIPOD FAUNA OF CONTINENTAL RESERVOIRS IN THE NORTHWEST OF RUSSIA’S EUROPEAN PART

The faunal composition of Amphipoda crustaceans of mainland water bodies in northwestern Russia is analyzed. To compile a checklist of amphipod species, data from original collections made in 1998–2021, the collections of the Zoological Institute, and literary information are used. To date, 29 species of amphipods have been recorded from the continental waters of the region. An arealogical analysis of the faunal composition reveals six groups or distribution patterns: Holarctic, West Palearctic, and North Atlantic estuaries, and further three groups of emigrants (settlers) from the Baikal-Siberian, Ponto-Caspian, and Arctic regions. The greatest species richness is recorded in estuarine sections of Baltic Sea rivers in the territories of the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions, as well as fresh water bodies of the Republic of Karelia. In terms of species richness, estuarine species amphi-Atlantic in distribution and representatives of allochthonous faunas (invasive species) from the Ponto-Caspian basin dominate the region. The most common in the region are representatives of Holarctic and Palearctic patterns, as well as species of Arctic and Baikal-Siberian origins. Among them, the following species are most often to be recorded in lakes: Gammarus lacustris, Monoporeia affinis, Palaseopsis quadrispinosa and Gmelinoides fasciatus, vs G. zaddachi, G. oceanicus, G. tigrinus and Pontogammarus robustoides in estuarine brackish waters. Human-mediated introductions, both intentional and accidental, must have facilitated the appearance of invasive species in the fauna of Russia’s northwestern region. In the future, an increase in species richness in the region can be expected to occur in two ways: through the introduction of marine species into fresh waters and due to speciation.

DNA barcodes provide insights into the diversity and biogeography of the non-biting midge Polypedilum (Diptera, Chironomidae) in South America.

South America, particularly within its tropical belt, is renowned for its unparalleled high levels of species richness, surpassing other major biomes. Certain neotropical areas harbor fragmented knowledge of insect diversity and face imminent threats from biodiversity loss and climate change. Hence, there is an urgent need for rapid estimation methods to complement slower traditional taxonomic approaches. A variety of algorithms for delimiting species through single-locus DNA barcodes have been developed and applied for rapid species diversity estimates across diverse taxa. However, tree-based and distance-based methods may yield different group assignments, leading to potential overestimation or underestimation of putative species. Here, we investigate the performance of different DNA-based species delimitation approaches to rapidly estimate the diversity of Polypedilum (Chironomidae, Diptera) in South America. Additionally, we test the hypothesis that significant differences exist in the community structure of Polypedilum fauna between South America and its neighboring regions, particularly the Nearctic. Our analysis encompasses a dataset of 1492 specimens from 598 locations worldwide, with a specific focus on South America. Within this region, we analyzed a subset of 247 specimens reported from 37 locations. Using various methods including the Barcode Index Number (BIN), Bayesian Poisson tree processes (bPTP), multi-rate Poisson tree processes (mPTP), single-rate Poisson tree processes (sPTP), and generalized mixed Yule coalescent (sGMYC), we identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) ranging from 267 to 520. Our results indicate that the sGMYC method is the most suitable for estimating putative species in our dataset, resulting in the identification of 75 species in the Neotropical region, particularly in South America. Notably, this region exhibited higher species richness in comparison to the Palearctic and Oriental realms. Additionally, our findings suggest potential differences in species composition of Polypedilum fauna between the Neotropical and the adjacent Nearctic realms, highlighting high levels of endemism and species richness in the first. These results support our hypothesis that there are substantial differences exist in species composition between the Polypedilum fauna in South America and the neighboring regions.

Explosive radiation versus old relicts: The complex history of Ethiopian Trechina, with description of a new genus and a new subgenus (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini)

The trechine beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Ethiopian Highlands is known to be highly diverse in species, and many species groups were recognized to be characterized by unusual character states of external and genital morphology. Earlier authors described several genera and subgenera of Ethiopian Trechina endemic to certain high mountains of the country. However, the relationships of these species groups and their evolutionary history are unknown so far. Here, we present the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Ethiopian Trechina, detect several synonymic names under Trechus sensu lato, and introduce two new species groups to the country’s fauna: the monotypic genus Baehria Schmidt & Faille, gen. nov., with the type species B. separatasp. nov. from Mt. Choke in northern Ethiopia, and the Trechus subgenus Abunetrechus Schmidt & Faille, subgen. nov., with the type species T. bipartitus Raffray, 1885; this subgenus includes three species of northern Ethiopia. We show that the composition of the Ethiopian fauna is based on multiple events of immigration, which started simultaneously with or some million years after the Oligocene-Early Miocene orogenic events north and south of the Rift Valley. Our results support the habitat island hypothesis for the evolution of the Ethiopian highland fauna. We found no evidence for an alternative hypothesis assuming a close connection of the Trechina immigration to Ethiopia and Pleistocene cooling. We, thus, conclude that the geomorphological development rather than the climatic changes are the main drivers of the diversification of the high-altitude Trechina fauna in Ethiopia.

Evaluating the Impact of Long-Term Land Use Change and Age since Disturbance on Soil Faunal Diversity

Soil organisms are the biological drivers of processes and functions that maintain soil properties and ecosystem services. Soil fauna contribute to nutrient turnover, decomposition and other important biogeochemical processes. This investigation assessed the diversity and abundance of soil arthropods (0.1–4 mm) along a chronosequence of land use types covering a relatively small geographical distance but with the same underlying soil type and climatic conditions. The compared habitats and the approximate ages since anthropogenic disturbance were ancient woodland (>200 y), old woodland (<200 y), unimproved semi-natural grassland (>50 y), willow/poplar coppice (>30 y), unimproved permanent pasture (<20 y), improved permanent pasture (<10 y), and recently grazed and reseeded grassland (>2 y), and the soil types of all habitats were the same within a 5 km radius. Land use type and age since anthropogenic disturbance significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the community composition of soil fauna, with richer arthropod communities found in woodlands compared with recently managed grassland. This study has confirmed a significant effect of land use type and age since disturbance on soil faunal diversity and community structure.

Seasonal variability of living benthic foraminifera from the West-Gironde mud patch (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic): Three contrasted periods under the stereomicroscope

Living continental shelf foraminifera were studied at three stations along a shore to open ocean transect between 39 and 69 m depth in the West-Gironde Mud Patch (WGMP) (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic). The aim of this work was to understand how the complex temporal variability of the environmental conditions (e.g., hydrosedimentary processes, sedimentary organic matter, oxygenation levels) controls foraminiferal ecological patterns (i.e., diversity, faunal composition, standing stock, and microhabitats). The WGMP was sampled during three different seasons (boreal summer – August 2017; winter – February 2018 and spring – April 2018), with very different meteorological patterns and benthic environmental conditions. The sedimentary facies at the shallowest station (Station 1, 39 m) varies significantly due to hydrometeorological constraints (strong storms and swells), which are extremely marked in late autumn and during the winter. The erosion of the sandy substrate by strong bottom currents and the deposition of a silty surface layer leads to the recorded spectacular drop in foraminiferal diversity and density recorded in February and April 2018. All foraminiferal species were affected by this hydrosedimentary instability, likely due to the partial destruction of their microhabitat by intense erosional and depositional processes. At the middle WGMP station (Station 2, 47 m), benthic fauna changed much more gradually. The sedimentary imprint of the spring phytoplankton bloom is clearly recorded in April 2018 with an increase in fresh and altered phytopigment content in surface sediments. Eggerelloides scaber, a deposit feeder and hypoxia-tolerant species, dominated the 2017 summer foraminiferal fauna but was gradually replaced by Ammonia falsobeccarii, a phytophagous taxon considered quite reactive to spring bloom inputs. At the distal WGMP (Station 4, 69 m), E. scaber and A. falsobeccarii were outcompeted and gradually replaced by Nonion faba and Nonionoides turgidus, both highly adaptable species able to settle down in surface and subsurface sediments during the spring bloom periods. Able to endure a range of microhabitats and food availability, there they rely on both fresh and altered phytodetritus. We propose a conceptual scheme summarizing the putative interconnexion between foraminiferal faunas, geochemistry and physics in the WGMP.

Differences in mammal communities between forest fragments and restoration areas in the Atlantic Forest

AbstractThe persistence of larger mammals in fragmented forest landscapes depends not only on the protection of remaining habitats but also on ecological restoration sites. It is known that the landscape context is an important predictor of species persistence, abundance and distribution. Here we evaluate how landscape characteristics influence the recovery of larger mammals in ecological restoration sites. We assess the richness and composition of mammals in forest fragments and restoration sites using landscape metrics such as forest cover and connectivity. Forest fragments and restoration sites present the same richness (n = 26), but differ in species composition. Some seed‐dispersing mammals were absent in restoration areas, such as Alouatta guariba (brown howler monkey) and Coendou spinosus (paraguayan hairy dwarf porcupine). The percentage of forest cover in the landscape was responsible for 29.09% of the variation in species composition between the evaluated forest formations, exerting a positive or negative influence depending on the species requirements. The results demonstrate the importance of considering not only landscape metrics in an ecological restoration plan, but also the historical landscape context, such as the fauna composition before the disturbance and how these species respond to environmental changes, thus improving the success of future ecological restoration measurements and policies.

Identifying the unidentified fauna enhances insights into hominin subsistence strategies during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition

Understanding Palaeolithic hominin subsistence strategies requires the comprehensive taxonomic identification of faunal remains. The high fragmentation of Late Pleistocene faunal assemblages often prevents proper taxonomic identification based on bone morphology. It has been assumed that the morphologically unidentifiable component of the faunal assemblage would reflect the taxonomic abundances of the morphologically identified portion. In this study, we analyse three faunal datasets covering the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) and Les Cottés and La Ferrassie (France) with the application of collagen type I peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS). Our results emphasise that the fragmented component of Palaeolithic bone assemblages can differ significantly from the morphologically identifiable component. We obtain contrasting identification rates between taxa resulting in an overrepresentation of morphologically identified reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and an underrepresentation of aurochs/bison (Bos/Bison) and horse/European ass (Equus) at Les Cottés and La Ferrassie. Together with an increase in the relative diversity of the faunal composition, these results have implications for the interpretation of subsistence strategies during a period of possible interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe. Furthermore, shifts in faunal community composition and in carnivore activity suggest a change in the interaction between humans and carnivores across the MUPT and indicate a possible difference in site use between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The combined use of traditional and biomolecular methods allows (zoo)archaeologists to tackle some of the methodological limits commonly faced during the morphological assessment of Palaeolithic bone assemblages.

Benthic Macro-invertebrate Community Diversity of Orhuwhorun River in Udu Wetlands.

Benthic macro-invertebrate studies were done on Orhuwhorun River in Udu wetlands in Delta State, Southern Nigeria from March to December, 2011 in three selected stations. Sampling was done using a hand modified Eckman grab for sand and silt, the kick sampling technique and floatation method. They were sorted and identified using identification keys. A total of 2466 individuals were recorded in 66 taxa species belonging to thirteen (13) groups. Crustacean was the dominant group (36.29%) closely followed by gastropoda (35.60%) and diptera (21.04%). Significant similarity in fauna composition was observed. Station 3 had the highest population density with a relative abundance of 58.19% followed by station 2 (32.03%) and station 1 (9.77%). Diptera had the highest species diversity while nematode and lepidoptera had the least amongst the groups. Station 1 had the highest species richness (d) followed by station 3 and least in station 2. Species diversity showed no significant difference between the stations. Values for pollution tolerance index ranged between 13 and 15 at the stations. The highest value for pollution tolerance (PTI) was recorded in station 2 and the least in station 1. Positive significant correlations existed between most benthic organisms. The water quality is described as “fair”.