Greatest Number Of Species Research Articles

Taxonomic and guild structure of fish assemblages in the streams of Western Himalaya, India

Local environmental and anthropogenic variables play a key role in determining the species distribution across the riverscape. The upstream of River Ganga flows through the Western Himalaya that is unique due to wide variation in hydro-geomorphological features, which offer microhabitats for many fish species. Thus the present study was aimed to investigate the role of environmental and anthropogenic variables on taxonomic and guild structures of the fish assemblages in streams of the Western Himalaya. We documented fish assemblages along the altitudinal gradients in streams of Western Himalaya with 20 sampling sites covering both Bhagirathi and Alakhnanda basins of the upper Ganga river. We documented 40 species of fishes belonging to 12 ecological guilds. We observed high species turnover in streams that flow between 400 and 800 m altitude, while there was no fish species recorded in streams located above 2400 m altitude. Twelve environmental and three anthropogenic variables were subjected to PCA for removing redundant variables, and the linearly uncorrelated variables were then used in the redundancy analysis (RDA) to test the effects of environmental and anthropogenic variables on structuring the species and guild assemblages. We found four distinct fish species assemblages groups in three distinct guilds. The RDA results revealed more number of species associated in sites that were faraway distance from the source with greater catchment areas. Greater number of species inhabited the deep and wide stream with high substrate diversity. The ordination of environmental and anthropogenic variables with ecological guild showed that the upstream basin area and water velocity were highly correlated for members of BISSL guild (Benthic dweller-Insectivore-Small size-Simple reproduction strategy-Local migrant). The members of typical rheophilic minnows belonging to SISSL guild (Surface dweller-Insectivore-Small size-Simple reproduction strategy-Local migrant) were strongly related to close proximity to dams. Further, the proximity of dam was negatively correlated with native snow trout, Schizothorax richardsonii distribution, and the dam presence was positively correlated with the presence of non-native carp, Cyprinus carpio in the Western Himalaya. We could confirm the increase in species richness with decreasing altitude in Western Himalaya.

A new subterranean species and an updated checklist of Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Macao SAR, China, with a key to species of the Greater Bay Area.

In the past few decades, sampling of leaf litter with Winkler extractors revealed how abundant and ubiquitous ants from the genus Strumigenys are. It is now known that this genus has the third greatest number of species within the Formicidae family. However, very few subterranean species are known, which may be due to the current under-sampling of the soil stratum. Here, a holistic sampling approach, including the use of subterranean traps, was employed in Macao SAR, China. Subterranean traps allowed the collection of a new cryptic ant species: Strumigenys subterranea Brassard, Leong & Guénard, sp. nov. Moreover, extensive sampling of the leaf litter in secondary forests provided four new species records for the genus. The list of Macanese Strumigenys is here updated, elevating the known diversity in Macao to nine species. Furthermore, to facilitate further research on ants of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a key to the 29 Strumigenys species known from the region is provided. Lastly, recommendations for sampling methods to assess ant biodiversity underground are discussed. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of using extensive sampling methods, and suggests that relatively small patches of secondary forests within cities can hold a surprisingly high diversity as well as some undescribed species.

Patrón de distribución y listado de especies de las lombrices de tierra (Annelida, Oligochaeta) en Colombia

Este artículo es el resultado de un esfuerzo colectivo para construir los patrones de distribución de las lombrices de tierra de Colombia a partir del análisis de la información sobre las colectas realizadas entre 1872 y 2003. La información abarca desde registros esporádicos con información taxonómica de las especies hasta estudios sistemáticos de especies en algunas cuencas hidrográficas y en suelos de sabanas, que destacan la alta diversidad en los sistemas de alta montaña de la cordillera de los Andes. El mayor porcentaje (93.2%) de las colectas se ha realizado en la región Andina. La oligoquetofauna colombiana determinada está compuesta por 113 especies situadas en nueve familias, 30 géneros y 6 subgéneros, de las cuales 90 son nativas y 23 exóticas. La mayoría de las especies son endémicas y pertenecen a la familia Glossoscolecidae. Andiodrilus, con 25 especies, fue el género de la familia mejor representado, mientras que Martiodrilus, con 19 especies, ocupó la mayor diversidad de ambientes, desde selvas y pastizales hasta el páramo. Sólo dos especies de esta familia fueron cosmopolitas (Pontoscolex corethrurus y Onychochaeta elegans), las cuales se encontraron en ambientes antropócoros. El resto de las especies de las otras familias fueron euritópicas, excepto Tumak hammeni y Dichogaster medellina.

Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) de la Sierra Nevada, México

Se realizó un estudio sobre la distribución local, altitudinal y por comunidad vegetacional de las mariposas de la superfamilia Papilionoidea en 37 localidades de las cuatro entidades que comprende la Sierra Nevada. El área se encuentra entre los 1900 y los 3800 msnm y presenta las siguientes comunidades vegetacionales: bosque mesófilo de montaña, de oyamel, Alnus, encino, encino-pino, pino, pino-encino, bosque caducifolio, selva bajacaducifolia-bosque mesófilo de montaña, vegetación perturbada y cultivos. En este trabajo se registraron 75 especies, de las cuales 34 son nuevos registros para el área. Se integró una relación actualizada de 85 especies con base en la literatura y en los registros obtenidos en el trabajo de campo. El mayor número de especies correspondió a la familia Nymphalidae. En el análisis espacial de los papilionoideos se encontró que la mayor riqueza y abundancia ocurrió en la localidad de Santa Catarina, en el Estado de México. Se observó que aunque la riqueza específica entre la vertiente occidental y la oriental fue la misma (58 especies), su composición faunística es distinta. Con respecto a la distribución por vegetación, se encontró que en la vertiente oriental lasespecies de Papilionoidea mostraron los valores más altos y que el bosque mesófilo de montaña y el de encino fueron las comunidades más ricas y abundantes de las 11 reconocidas en el estudio.

Native useful vascular plants of China: A checklist and use patterns

Of all types of interactions between humans and plants, the utilization of plants by people is the most direct and influential. China has a long history of using native plants and a large body of recorded knowledge on uses. Here, we present an inventory of plant uses in China based on an extensive survey of the literature. Twelve categories of usage are recognized (medicinal, edible, etc.), these categories being chosen according to an integration of various current standards. A total of 50,521 use-citations were recorded, covering 10,808 species and infraspecies, representing 28% of the Chinese flora. Additional information is included in the dataset on taxonomy and endangerment status. Analysis of the data reveals that the eight plant families with the greatest numbers of species used in China, namely Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Liliaceae, are also the top eight most species-rich Chinese plant families. However, there are some families that are over-represented or under-representation in certain use categories, compared with their relative abundance in the total flora. There are indications that rare and endangered species are being subject to some degree of over-exploitation. A disproportionately high number of used species are Chinese endemics (3552 species, representing over 33% of used species). A total of 20% of used species have been classified as threatened nationally or globally, according to at least one of the various threat assessments that have been made for the Chinese flora. This comprehensive inventory of the useful plants of China, with relevant ethnobotanical information included, provides a baseline for further studies of plant resources. It will be useful in follow-up research. The scientific dataset it contains will be useful for the protection and sustainable utilization of plant resources in China.

A tomographic approach to assessing the possibility of ring shake presence in standing chestnut trees

Ring shake is a widespread phenomenon affecting a great number of species of both softwood and hardwood and is found in trees grown in temperate and tropical climates. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) represents one of the most important hardwood timbers that is very often affected by ring shake. This defect seems to be the only real limit to the spread and use of chestnut wood worldwide on a scale closer to the availability of this wood. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of tomographic measurement as a non-destructive method for predicting the possibility of the presence of ring shake in standing chestnut trees. For this reason, the experiments were carried out in a chestnut coppice stand where one hundred chestnut standards were monitored using an acoustic tomographic device, and subsequently harvested by a local company and cross-sectioned corresponding to the acoustic tests. This work proposed an applied approach to predicting and determining wood quality (sound wood vs. defective wood) from tomographic data. The model, based on a non-linear approach, showed that sonic tomography can identify ring shake in a tree trunk without affecting its biological activity, overcoming the difficulties of predicting ring shake using only visual inspection.

Egg Clutch Survival under Prolonged Paternal Care in a Glass Frog, Hyalinobatrachium talamancae

Previous studies have reported egg attendance as the most common protective behavior among the Neotropical frog family Centrolenidae. However, research on the effect of parental care and other factors thought to affect offspring survival is still missing for a great number of species. Here, we performed field observations during day and night to associate male-only care, habitat characteristics, and environmental variables with egg clutch survival in the understudied glass frog, Hyalinobatrachium talamancae. We conducted 34 nest survival models for 39 egg clutches considering constant daily survival rates, temporal variation in the survival probability, and other biotic and abiotic variables thought to affect the survival of embryos. We found that egg attendance was strongly associated with egg clutch survival in H. talamancae. Our results showed similar degrees of parental investment during day and night, accounting for extensive caring periods over one or multiple clutches as paternal care did not hinder re-mating in this species. Egg clutches exhibited daily survival rates of 0.93±0.02, often reaching pre-hatching stages when attended by males. Our results may thus suggest that egg attendance is a major, if not predominant, determining factor of embryo survival in H. talamancae. This study contributes to the understanding of the natural history associated with paternal care in H. talamancae and provides insight into the evolution of prolonged male-only care in the family Centrolenidae.

What we (do not) know about mammal coronavirus and general virus? Using bibliometric information to identify neglected taxonomic groups and potential viral reservoirs of zoonotic importance

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently advancing in the world and has killed more people than other recent coronavirus outbreaks like SARS and MERS together. Coronaviruses known to infect humans were all associated to mammal sources, with different species acting as both natural and/or intermediate hosts of these viruses. Although the zoonotic origin of human coronaviruses is well accepted, a great number of mammal species were not yet investigated as their potential to carry these viruses. This work aimed to provide an overview of the current state of scientific knowledge about what are the mammal groups well known to be associated to coronaviruses and other viruses and what are the most neglected groups in these studies. Here we analyze the production of scientific publications about these and other viruses in association with the 29 taxonomic orders of the Mammalia class. Our results highlighted that most of these taxonomic orders have been little studied or completely unexplored in researches with this focus, with only six orders accumulating more than 99% of the articles on coronaviruses in mammals. Ten mammal groups were not found in any scientific publication in association with coronaviruses, with four of them not found even in works mentioning any type of viruses. These results reinforce the importance of identify all the natural and intermediate hosts for viruses to improve monitoring of potential zoonosis and reduce the chances of new disease outbreaks.

The first survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) of the Farasan Archipelago of the southern Red Sea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Farasan Archipelago is a group of small coral islands and islets in the southern Red Sea, offshore of the southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). These islands are internationally important as breeding sites for turtles and bird species and regionally for its threatened, rare, and endemic flora and other fauna. The beetles (Coleoptera) of the Archipelago have not been previously surveyed. This study presents the first data on the beetle fauna based on a recent survey of the Farasan Archipelago. In total, 179 beetle species (including three synanthropic species) in 145 genera and 31 coleopteran families were determined. The Carabidae are represented by 31 species, followed by the Tenebrionidae (22 species), Chrysomelidae (17 species), Scarabaeidae (13 species), and Coccinellidae (12 species). The genus Lasiocera Dejean, 1831 and the species Amblystomus villiersanus Bruneau de Miré, 1991 (Carabidae) are new for the beetle fauna of the Arabian Peninsula, and eighteen species are new country records for KSA. Sand dune habitats on the islands were inhabited by the greatest number of species in comparison with other habitats. Zoogeographically, the beetle fauna of the Archipelago was dominated by the representatives of the Saharo-Arabian and Afrotropical elements (74 spp., 41.0%). Fourteen species (7.8%) were recognized as cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan. No species was known to be exclusively endemic to Farasan Archipelago. Eighteen species (10.1%) were endemic to Arabian Peninsula and KSA. Approximately 64.8% (116 spp.) of the archipelago beetle species is found on the KSA mainland and is most closely allied to the south and southwestern KSA regions (sharing 91 spp.). Comparisons of the beetle faunas of the Farasan and Socotra archipelagos indicate that 30 families, 70 genera, and 28 species are shared.

Diversity analysis and an updated list of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) found in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil

Cantareira State Park (CSP) is located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Recently, a yellow-fever epidemic practically annihilated the howler monkey population in this park, and human infections were reported in the vicinity. As simian and human plasmodia also circulate in CSP, the present study sought to provide an update on the mosquito fauna in this park, including an analysis of the diversity in areas with different degrees of conservation and a comparison of the yields achieved with different collection techniques. From October 2015 to April 2017, adult mosquitoes were collected with CDC traps, hand-held battery-powered aspirators and Shannon traps, and larvae and pupae were collected with larval dippers and suction samplers in natural and artificial breeding sites. In total, 11,038 specimens distributed in 103 taxa represented by 16 genera were collected. Both the observed species richness and diversity were greater in the environments with the highest degree of preservation. The ‘wild’ (most preserved) area in CSP had the greatest species richness, followed by the transition area and human-impacted area. The estimated richness indicated that the three environments may have a greater number of species than observed in this study, and Sorensen's index showed that the average degree of similarity varies little between areas. In the inventory of local species, the Shannon trap was the most efficient collection technique for adult mosquitoes, and the suction sampler the most efficient for immatures. The results highlight the increase in the number of different taxa collected as different mosquito capture techniques were included, confirming the importance of using several strategies to sample the local mosquito fauna satisfactorily when exploring a greater number of ecotopes. CSP is a refuge and shelter for native and introduced mosquito species where new biocenoses including pathogens, vertebrate hosts and vectors can form, allowing zoonotic outbreaks in the local human population to occur.

Profile of Enterobacteria Resistant to Beta-Lactams.

A serious emerging problem worldwide is increased antimicrobial resistance. Acquisition of coding genes for evasion methods of antimicrobial drug mechanisms characterizes acquired resistance. This phenomenon has been observed in Enterobacteriaceae family. Treatment for bacterial infections is performed with antibiotics, of which the most used are beta-lactams. The aim of this study was to correlate antimicrobial resistance profiles in Enterobacteriaceae by phenotypic methods and molecular identification of 14 beta-lactamase coding genes. In this study, 70 exclusive isolates from Brazil were used, half of which were collected in veterinary clinics or hospitals Phenotypic methodologies were used and real-time PCR was the molecular methodology used, through the Sybr Green system. Regargding the results found in the tests it was observed that 74.28% were resistant to ampicillin, 62.85% were resistant to amoxicillin associated with clavalunate. The mechanism of resistance that presented the highest expression was ESBL (17.14%). The genes studied that were detected in a greater number of species were blaGIM and blaSIM (66.66% of the samples) and the one that was amplified in a smaller number of samples was blaVIM (16.66%). Therefore, high and worrying levels of antimicrobial resistance have been found in enterobacteria, and a way to minimize the accelerated emergence of their resistance includes developing or improving techniques that generate diagnoses with high efficiency and speed.

NEW SPECIES IN THE ARACHNOFAUNA OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FROM THE PROTECTED HABITAT OF GROMIŢELJ, VELINO SELO

<p>According to data given by [1], 165 spider species from 27 families and 103 genera are known in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. So far in B&H, according to [1] a total of 11 species have been registered from Fam.Aranidae and 2 species from genus Araneus; a total of 11 species from Fam.Thomisidae; a total of 11 species from Fam.Lycosidae and one species from genus Lycosa; 15 species from Fam.Theridiidae and 3 species from genus Steatoda.</p><p>In the course of our research on arachnofauna in and around Gromiţelj, in the 2008-2015 period, a total of 8 spider species new to Bosnia and Herzegovina were discovered in four families, namely, from Fam. Aranidae 4 species; Fam.Thomisidae 2 species; and 1 species each from Fam.Lycosidae and Fam. Theridiidae each.</p><p>Most widespread are Argiope bruennichi and Araneus angulatus that were registered in 20 sites, followed by Araneus quadratus, Synema globosum and Runcinia grammica registered in 6 sites. Sites with the most registered newly discovered species are Gromiţelj with 6 species, followed by Velino selo, Laketića vir, Prugnjaĉa, Begov put and other melioration channels with 5 species. By biotope types, the greatest number of species, six of them, were found in vegetation (wetlands, thicket, forest fringe and vegetation on the channel banks and along the roads).</p><p>The species Argiope bruennichi and Araneus angulatus also showed the greatest diversity of habitats, from wet meadows, thicket and reeds around the wetland, through forest fringes and vegetation along the channel banks and roads, to those urban like yards with ornamental shrubs. Of the registered species, only the species from Fam.Thomisidae are completely harmless to humans, while the other species belong to slightly poisonous species and have a local character bite. Slightly poisonous species include the species of the genus Steatoda, Araneus, Argiope and Lycosa.</p>

Dynamics of Intersexual Dominance and Adult Sex- Ratio in Wild Vervet Monkeys.

Intersexual dominance relations are important for female mammals, because of their consequences for accessing food and for the degree of sexual control females experience from males. Female mammals are usually considered to rank below males in the dominance hierarchy, because of their typical physical inferiority. Yet, in some groups or species, females are nonetheless dominant over some males (partial female dominance). Intersexual dominance, therefore, also depends on traits other than sexual dimorphism, such as social support, social exchange, group adult sex-ratio, and the widespread self-reinforcing effects of winning and losing fights, the “winner-loser effect.” The importance of sex-ratio and the winner-loser effect remains poorly understood. A theoretical model, DomWorld, predicts that in groups with a higher proportion of males, females are dominant over more males when aggression is fierce (not mild). The model is based on a small number of general processes in mammals, such as grouping, aggression, the winner-loser effect, the initially greater fighting capacity of males than females, and sex ratio. We expect its predictions to be general and suggest they be examined in a great number of species and taxa. Here, we test these predictions in four groups of wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in Mawana game reserve in Africa, using 7 years of data. We confirm that a higher proportion of males in the group is associated with greater dominance of females over males; a result that remains when combining these data with those of two other sites (Amboseli and Samara). We additionally confirm that in groups with a higher fraction of males there is a relatively higher (a) proportion of fights of males with other males, and (b) proportion of fights won by females against males from the fights of females with any adults. We reject alternative hypotheses that more dominance of females over males could be attributed to females receiving more coalitions from males, or females receiving lowered male aggression in exchange for sexual access (the docile male hypothesis). We conclude that female dominance relative to males is dynamic and that future empirical studies of inter-sexual dominance will benefit by considering the adult sex-ratio of groups.

Comparison of European Archaeophyte lists in the light of distribution data

Currently is not available a complex archaeophyte definition based on the same criteria in Europe, and it cause significant anomalies between neighbouring countries. The main aim of our work was to provide the criteria which based on the available lists and chorological information. For this purpose, the archaeophyte flora of 15 European countries was compared in our research. The list of available resources has been revised and completed, taking into account the distribution data of the species. The lists were merged to contain 560 species. The majority of the plants in the merged list belong to the Asteraceae and Poaceae families with 74 and 55 species, respectively. The Chenopodium genus is characterized by the most frequent occurrence (14 species). More than half of the plants are annual and 151 species belong to Eurasian geoelements. The greatest numbers of species were observed in Crete (461 species) and Greece (460 species) and the smallest numbers were observed in Ireland (240 species) and England (241 species). In case of individual countries, plants with composite flowers, annual life form and Eurasian elements represent the highest volume, but the number of southern geoelements is also significant. All lists included anaecophytes archaeophytes. Comparison of revised lists showed 83-99% similarity. Using with this method can be formed an international archaeophyte database, which based on phytogeographical distribution and helps future researchers.

Toxicological profile of medically relevant Crotalus species from Mexico and their neutralization by a Crotalus basiliscus/Bothrops asper antivenom

Specimens of the Crotalus genus represent a potential snakebite problem in Mexico, and despite the great number of species of Crotalus present in this country, only a few of them are relevant from a medical point of view. Crotalus envenomed patients can present a range of signs and symptoms, depending on the species involved, and their treatment is indistinctly with either of the anti-viperid antivenoms available in the Mexican Public Health System. One of these antivenoms is produced by immunization of horses with a mixture of only two venoms: Crotalus basiliscus and Bothrops asper venoms. In light of the high variability found in Crotalus species venom composition, it is important to demonstrate the cross-neutralization of this antivenom against other Crotalus species. Therefore, in this work the toxic variability of eight medically important Crotalus venoms from Mexico and its neutralization by the Crotalus basiliscus/Bothrops asper antivenom were assessed. The present study evidenced the variability of toxic and enzymatic activities among the following Crotalus venoms: (1) Crotalus atrox, (2) Crotalus basiliscus, (3) Crotalus culminatus, (4) Crotalus simus, (5) Crotalus tzabcan, (6) Crotalus scutulatus salvini, (7) Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus-A, and (8) Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus-B. All venoms studied possess lethal and hemorrhagic activity on a murine model, although there are important variations among the species; in contrast, the PLA2 activity was similar for all venoms. Interestingly, only C. simus venom exhibited coagulant activity on human plasma under 100 μg. The antivenom neutralized the lethality and all the other assessed activities for all venoms tested. However, the dose required varied depending on the venom and the evaluated activity. Our preclinical data support the recommendation of using this antivenom to clinically manage Crotalus snakebites produced by the species assessed in this study. Nonetheless, only clinical trials could categorically validate these results.

The diversity and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, south-west Nigeria

The presence of dragonflies and damselflies may be taken as an indication of good ecosystem quality. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites that offer a wide variety of microhabitats. A survey of Odonata fauna inhabiting the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos, south-west Nigeria was carried out between July and December 2014, with a view of determining its diversity and distribution. Four study sites used were Distance Learning Institute (DLI), Lagoon, Faculty of Science, and High Rise Area. Data collected were subjected to inferential statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Diversity indices were used to compare the odonate species in the study sites. Seven hundred and fifty (750) individuals representing 39 species in 22 genera and four families (Aeshnidae – 3%, Coenagrionidae – 13%, Libellulidae – 81% and Calopterygidae – 3%) were recorded. Orthetrum (18%) was the most dominant genus, followed by Ceriagrion (10%) while Palpopleura and Trithemis (8%) were the least dominant genera. The site with most diverse Odonata fauna (H’ = 2.70, E = 0.27), was High Rise Area while the least was the Lagoon Area (H’ = 1.97, E = 0.27). Odonata in High Rise Area were significantly lower (p>0.0128) than those in DLI and Science Area which were not significantly different from each other (0.00039 and 0.00368 respectively). The paucity of species with narrow range of adaptation at the university especially at Lagoon Area where they were expected to occur is an indication that the forested part of the campus is under considerable human disturbance. Urgent measures are needed to preserve the natural the natural habitats of these Odonata species.
 Keywords: Diversity indices; Odonata; fauna; diversity; distribution; University of Lagos; Nigeria

Effects of disturbances in a subalpine forest on its structural indicators and bird diversity

Abstract Due to harsh climatic conditions, a limited number of tree species, and a predominantly single-story structure, subalpine forests are characterized by low faunal diversity. While the habitats of species associated with this altitudinal zone are strongly modified by abiotic and biotic factors, the forest management procedures implemented in the aftermath of disturbances typically focus on sanitary hazards and economic losses rather than benefits to biodiversity. The study involved three areas in different stages of forest development resulting from natural disturbances: mature (closed undisturbed stands), break-up (stands with ongoing break-up processes), and growing-up (stands with advanced post-disturbance regeneration). Forest structural indicators for each stage were evaluated on sample plots. A bird census was conducted during breeding and non-breeding seasons to determine species composition, density, and ecological groups (nesting guilds). Actual species diversity, the maximum Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and the evenness index were calculated for each forest development stage. Finally, similarity indices were computed to compare the various stages in terms of bird species. The processes of stand mortality, deadwood accumulation, and regeneration initiation were the driving forces for the development of new habitat conditions with a substantial expansion of potential nesting and foraging sites and shelters. The forest structural indicators were greatly varied. The mature stage revealed the highest density of breeding bird pairs, but the species composition was simplified, with the lowest evenness indicator. The largest number of nesting bird species was found in the break-up stage. During the non-breeding season, the break-up stage was not preferred by birds; the greatest number of species was observed in the growing-up stage, and the highest density in the mature stage. The bird species composition and similarity indices showed substantial differences between the various stages of forest development. Given the continuity of forest development processes and the related changes, it appears that the various development stages should not be viewed as more or less desirable than others from a conservation perspective. The findings show benefits to biodiversity brought about by disturbances in subalpine forests and the importance of each stage. Thus, management practices should be modified to better focus on the protection of the microsites created by disturbances, which are sparse in undisturbed stands.

Reforestation processes, seasonality and soil characteristics influence arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi dynamics in Araucaria angustifolia forest

Intensive logging of Araucaria angustifolia has reduced the extension of Araucaria-dominated forests, causing a strong disturbance on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community. AMF play an important role in soil health and Araucaria forest establishment. However, the main drivers that determine the AMF dynamics in native and reforested areas remain poorly understood. Our study aimed at evaluating important factors (i.e. soil and litter characteristics, seasonality and reforestation practices) that can alter AMF community dynamics. We evaluated three regions of Araucaria forest located in São Paulo state, Brazil, including native and reforested sites. We evaluated the AMF community through soil spore extraction and identification and root colonization rates, and we compiled the data using correlations and diversity metrics (richness, abundance and diversity). Together, we recorded thirty-six AMF species during the two sampling periods at all sites. Genera with the greatest numbers of species were Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora and Gigaspora. Soil macroporosity, K and P were always higher in native forests and moisture was higher in reforested sites. Root colonization, though also affected by seasonality, showed differential behavior for each region. In addition, AMF species abundance changed between native and reforested sites and according to the season. In region 1, when correlating AMF and physical–chemical soil and litter attributes in a Redundancy Analysis, there were few differences between native and reforested sites, both being very similar. However, native and reforested sites were clearly discriminated in the other two regions, mainly influenced by bulk density, litter N, pH, Al, total porosity and moisture. The main influence in AMF dynamics composition were litter physical and chemical attributes. However, the reforestation process and seasonality, especially in summer, contributed to discriminate regions, indicating the relevance of these aspects on the AMF profile, reinforcing the importance of integrating tools in the evaluation of the biological data set.

The Effect of Visitors on the Properties of Vegetation of Calcareous Grasslands in the Context of Width and Distances from Tourist Trails

Over the last decades, valuable natural areas considered as zones of silence and rest have been increasingly struggling with the problem of mass tourism. In this study, an investigation of the effect of visitors on the properties of vegetation of calcareous grasslands in the context of width and distances from tourist trails is performed. The study was conducted in seven localities in Cracow (southern Poland) involving calcareous grasslands impacted by tourist trails. The results show that the lower height of plants, the greater number of species and the greater percentage of plant cover damaged by trampling in plots located close to the edge of tourist trails, as well as lower total plant cover and greater mean cover-abundance degree per species along narrow pathways. The dominance of meadow and grassland species, as well as the prevalence of native species, suggests that the composition of the examined vegetation has not been drastically changed. In the majority of the study plots, the dominance of hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes, inconsiderable share of phanerophytes and therophytes, as well as the low share of geophytes, were observed. The infrequent occurrence of species presenting Bidens dispersal type along narrow pathways, as well as in plots located close to the edge of tourist trails, suggests low external transport of epizoochorous seeds by passing people, while the prevalence of species presenting Cornus type in plots located away from the edge of tourist trails might be the effect of dung deposition by animals.

Diatoms from the Holocene sediments of lakes Pustoye and Chernoe (Nizhny Novgorod region)

The diatom analysis of the Holocene sediments of Pustoye and Chernoe lakes revealed 37 taxa of diatoms of two classes, five orders, eighteen families and twenty-five genera with a low degree of similarity of species composition (39%) and differences in the ecological priorities of the diatoms according to the leading abiotic factors – salinity and pH. Lake Chernoe is characterized by a greater number of species (26), the presence of halophilic species, as well as the prevalence of indicators of alkaline reaction of the environment. A feature of Lake Pustoye is the complete absence of halophilic forms and the predominance of species that prefer an acidic water reaction. A greater number of planktonic species was characteristic of Lake Chernoe due to the greater depths of this karst reservoir. According to the geographical location in these lakes, arcto-alpine species are noted.