High Proportion Of Endemic Species Research Articles

Productivity and carbon allocation in a tropical montane cloud forest in the Peruvian Andes

Background: The slopes of the eastern Andes harbour some of the highest biodiversity on Earth and a high proportion of endemic species. However, there have been only a few and limited descriptions of carbon budgets in tropical montane forest regions. Aims: We present the first comprehensive data on the production, allocation and cycling of carbon for two high elevation (ca. 3000 m) tropical montane cloud forest plots in the Kosñipata Valley, Peruvian Andes. Methods: We measured the main components and seasonal variation of net primary productivity (NPP), autotrophic (R a) and heterotrophic (R h) respiration to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE) in two 1-ha plots. Results: NPP for the two plots was estimated to be 7.05 ± 0.39 and 8.04 ± 0.47 Mg C ha−1 year−1, GPP to be 22.33 ± 2.23 and 26.82 ± 2.97 Mg C ha−1 year−1 and CUE was 0.32 ± 0.04 and 0.30 ± 0.04. Conclusions: We found strong seasonality in NPP and moderate seasonality of R a, suggesting that forest NPP is driven by changes in photosynthesis and highlighting the importance of variation in solar radiation. Our findings imply that trees invest more in biomass production in the cooler season with lower solar radiation and more in maintenance during the warmer and high solar radiation period.

Sustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversity in montane ecosystems: the western Himalayas as a case study

Conservation of the unique biodiversity of mountain ecosystems needs trans-disciplinary approaches to succeed in a crowded colloquial world. Geographers, conservationists, ecologists and social scientists have, in the past, had the same conservation goals but have tended to work independently. In this review, the need to integrate different conservation criteria and methodologies is discussed. New criteria are offered for prioritizing species and habitats for conservation in montane ecosystems that combine both ecological and social data. Ecological attributes of plant species, analysed through robust community statistical packages, provide unbiased classifications of species assemblages and environmental biodiversity gradients and yield importance value indices (IVIs). Surveys of local communities' utilization of the vegetation provides use values (UVs). This review suggests a new means of assessing anthropogenic pressure on plant biodiversity at both species and community levels by integrating IVI and UV data sets in a combined analysis. Mountain ecosystems are hot spots for plant conservation efforts because they hold a high overall plant diversity as communities replace each other along altitudinal and climatic gradients, including a high proportion of endemic species. This review contributes an enhanced understanding of (1) plant diversity in mountain ecosystems with special reference to the western Himalayas; (2) ethnobotanical and ecosystem service values of mountain vegetation within the context of anthropogenic impacts; and (3) local and regional plant conservation strategies and priorities.

Conservation of amphibians in Borneo: Relative value of secondary tropical forest and non-forest habitats

The impact of degradation of Southeast Asian rainforests and conversion to oil palm plantations on amphibians is unknown. To assess the relative value of secondary forests, oil palm plantations and other non-forest habitats for amphibian conservation, we evaluated amphibian species richness and assemblage composition in secondary lowland forests, compared with oil palm plantations and other non-forest habitats, along the Lower Kinabatangan River, eastern Sabah, Malaysia. Secondary forests retained a large proportion of amphibian species known from lowland primary rainforests. Species richness was higher in secondary forest habitats compared to oil palm plantations and other non-forest habitats. Secondary forests retained a much higher proportion of endemic species than non-forest habitats. We found strong differentiation between the frog assemblages in forest, non-forest and plantation sites. Oil palm plantations retained no microhylid species, few arboreal species and were dominated by habitat generalist and human commensal species. Our findings suggest that, despite a history of disturbance and degradation, remnant secondary forests may play an important role in conserving lowland amphibian diversity. In contrast, oil palm plantations have comparatively low conservation value for amphibians. Our study highlights the value of setting aside adequate areas of representative forest habitats within agricultural landscapes in order to conserve biodiversity, even when those remnants have a history of prior disturbance.

“Special Agricultural and Business Leases” imperil forests in Papua New Guinea

[Extract] THE native forests of Papua New Guinea (PNG) are among the most biologically diverse on Earth, with a high proportion of endemic species (e.g., Diamond 1973; Flannery 1995). They also constitute a major stock of terrestrial carbon (Melick 2010). These forests are being altered at a rapid rate, particularly by industrial logging and by the expansion and intensification of swidden farming as a result of substantial population growth (Shearman et al. 2009, 2011).

Tree invasion in managed tropical forests facilitates endemic species

AbstractAim To determine whether different abundances of introduced species of Cinchona (Rubiaceae) affect species composition and facilitate species richness in managed tropical forests, to test whether any facilitative effects on understorey species depend on forest type, and to investigate whether facilitative effects can be attributed to the ‘substitutive facilitation model’.Location Makawao Forest Reserve on Maui, Hawai’i, USA.Methods Cinchona species (Cinchona pubescens and Cinchona calisaya) were mapped within various forest types. In three forest types (ageing Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations, and near‐natural Acacia koa forests), we analysed environmental parameters (e.g. canopy cover, litter cover, pH value and soil depth) and the species composition of Cinchona‐invaded and non‐invaded plots; data were compared based on Cinchona cover and forest types. Habitat modelling for several endemic species and tree ferns was carried out to test whether Cinchona cover is an important variable for the probability of occurrence of these endemics.Results Cinchona species have naturalized mainly in Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations and Acacia koa forests and here add an additional shrub layer. In contrast to other studies, we revealed facilitative effects of Cinchona on native species within all forest types. Species richness is about 20% higher in invaded plots than in non‐invaded plots, and these show a nearly 50% higher proportion of endemic species, including tree ferns. The proportion of endemics even increases with increasing Cinchona cover. For several endemics, Cinchona is found to be an important variable for the probability of occurrence, and the removal of Cinchona cover as an explanatory variable lowers the model fit. In addition to Cinchona, variables delineating vegetation structure and light availability have a strong effect on the model fit.Main conclusions In the structurally simplified Hawaiian forests studied, Cinchona facilitated endemic species in accordance with the ‘substitutive facilitation model’. This contrasts with the results of an earlier study in the naturally treeless Galápagos highlands, which revealed a sharp decrease in the abundance of endemics under Cinchona canopy. These results illustrate that, through the same structural change (addition of a vegetation layer), an invasive species may exert divergent effects across different ecosystem types. The facilitation of endemic understorey species by invasive tree species in managed forests leads to a dilemma in conservation but also to new perspectives for ecosystem restoration.

Altitudinal distribution, diversity and endemicity of Carabidae (Coleoptera) in the páramos of Ecuadorian Andes

Species richness and diversity of Carabidae (Coleoptera), as well as rates of endemicity, are studied along altitudinal transects in the páramo of Ecuadorian Andes, from 3500 to 5000 m. Whereas a global tendency to reduction of species richness is evident from 4200 m upwards, two zones of high diversity and high proportion of endemic species occur at 3800–4000 m and at 4200–4400 m. Species turnover between grass páramo and superpáramo is significantly higher in drier mountains, especially in the Western Cordillera, than in humid mountains of the Eastern Cordillera. The altitudinal range of Carabid species tends globally to decrease along the vertical gradient, but with important local variations due to microenvironmental factors, especially humidity rate. When compared with recent phytogeographical studies, these results tend to support the idea that the majority of tussockgrass páramo is a secondary anthropogenic ecosystem. On the contrary, it is argued that the xeric landscape of the Chimborazo “arenal” is primordial, based on the presence of a stenotopic and possibly relict species, Pelmatellus andium Bates 1891.

The relationship between proportion of endemics and species diversity on islands: expectations from a null model

Speciation continues to be one of the most intriguingphenomena in evolutionary biology; even though ourunderstanding of many of the mechanisms involved duringspeciation has improved considerably in the last twodecades (Howard and Berlocher 1998, Gavrilets 2004,Coyne and Orr 2004). Recently, Emerson and Kolm(2005) suggested a new agent that could potentially drivespeciation: species diversity itself. Emerson and Kolm(2005) argued that data on numbers of endemic speciesindicate that speciation rate increases with increasing plantand arthropod diversity on the Canary and HawaiianIslands. According to Emerson and Kolm, the proportionof endemic species in taxonomic groups can be used as asurrogate for speciation rate because that proportion isaffected mainly by in situ island speciation rather than byextinction and speciation on other islands (cf. Cadena et al.2005). It follows then that a higher proportion of endemicspecies means a higher in situ island speciation rate. Theproportion of endemic species was found to increase withincreasing diversity on the Canary and Hawaiian Islands,leading to the conclusion that species diversity itself couldbe driving speciation (Emerson and Kolm 2005).Emerson and Kolm’s (2005) study received skepticalresponses (Cadena et al. 2005, Kiflawi et al. 2007, Pereiraet al. 2007, Whittaker et al. 2007, Gruner et al. 2008) thatcame up with several reasons why Emerson and Kolm’s(2005) analysis fails to identify the agent responsible for theobserved relationship between the proportion of endemicsand species diversity. In one of these responses, Witt andMaliakal-Witt (2007) showed with a null model that therelationship can arise by chance alone through stochasticcolonizations and extinctions; however, their null model didnot incorporate speciation, extinction, and inter-islandcolonization. Our main interest is whether Witt andMaliakal-Witt’s (2007) conclusion still holds when theseprocesses are included.The null model presented here is constructed as apresence/absence matrix. The columns are islands and therows are species, where ‘‘1’’ means the species is presenton that island and ‘‘0’’ means absent. Species diversity onthese islands is determined by speciation, extinction, andmigration between the islands; each of which depends onchance. Each species has the same probability of undergoingthese events, and these probabilities are kept constantthroughout the simulation.Presence/absence matrices have been used widely forbuilding null models in community ecology and islandbiogeography (Connor and Simberloff 1979, 1983). Thesemodels have been very influential, but at the same time,have been criticized for potential statistical biases built intothe matrices (Diamond and Gilpin 1982, Wright and Biehl1982, Wilson 1995, Gotelli and Entsminger 2001, 2003).In these models, the ‘‘assemblies’’ of species on islands hasbeen the main interest, so the critical issue was the way ‘‘1’’sand ‘‘0’’s were distributed in a given matrix with fixedcolumn and/or row sums (Gotelli 2000). In our model,however, the distribution of ‘‘1’’s and ‘‘0’’s in the matrix isnot of interest. Moreover, in our model, the size of thematrix changes during the simulation; the matrix growswhen a new row is added after a speciation event (whichensures that the new daughter species is present only on thatisland and nowhere else) and shrinks if a species goes extincton all the islands. Migration between the islands does notaffect the matrix size, but converts the ‘‘0’’s to ‘‘1’’s if themigration event is successful. Thus, the model is unbiased asit does not test whether or not there are certain speciesassemblages on islands.At each time step, each species can potentially speciate,go extinct, or migrate to another island; whether they willdo so depends on chance determined by a random numberdrawn at each time step. For example, if the randomnumber drawn for a particular species is less than thespeciation probability assigned for that simulation, then thespecies undergoes a speciation event. After a speciationevent, the existing species on the island can potentially goextinct depending on the random number drawn at eachtime step for each species. As before, all the species have thesame extinction probability that remains constant through-out the simulation. Lastly, all species that survive on anisland can potentially migrate to other islands, thusreducing the proportion of endemics.

Why are diversity and endemism Linked on islands?

Patterns of species diversity on islands have yielded significant insights into evolutionary and ecological processes such as immigration, speciation and extinction. Island species richness and endemism are salient parameters for biologists and conservationists, yet in the voluminous works on island biogeography, the relationship between richness and endemism has not been thoroughly explored. Island biogeography theory suggests that both the species richness of a given island and the percentage of species that are endemic to that island are functions of the island’s physical properties and its degree of isolation (MacArthur and Wilson 1967, p. 173). In separate analyses of the floras and arthropod faunas of the Hawaiian and Canary island archipelagos, Emerson and Kolm (2005a) found that species richness was a better predictor of percent endemism than were island size, island age, maximum island height, or distance to nearest neighboring island. On the basis of this result, they inferred that species richness was causing accelerated speciation. However, Emerson and Kolm did not fully consider alternative interpretations, particularly those that do not invoke differences in island-specific rates of speciation. For example, it is possible that diversity and endemism might be linked under a simple null model of island community assembly. In this paper, we demonstrate that a positive correlation between diversity and endemism is an expected outcome of island colonization, and that intrinsic variation among species and islands can amplify the magnitude of that correlation. Consider two lists, L1 and L2, that differ in length such that L1! L2. A number of elements, S, are shared between the two lists, while the remainder are unique to one list or the other. The proportion unique to each list is: U i (L i # S)=L i 1! S=L i It follows that the longer list (island with greater species richness), L1, will always have a higher proportion unique (L1! L2). This is a tautological property that applies to any pair of lists that share some elements. We suggest that it is also true for any set of N lists. In a simple indicidence matrix for S species (rows) in N samples (columns, species lists) where the total number of incidences varies among samples (i.e. species lists vary in richness) and some species are shared among some or all samples, the larger samples will tend to have a greater proportion unique than the smaller ones. We cannot envision a non-random arrangement of incidences among columns that could overcome this expected correlation. Correspondingly, in any set of communities that contains some shared species, more diverse communities will contain a higher proportion of endemic species. Jetz et al. (2004) recognized this phenomenon in an analysis of richness and endemism in the continental African avifauna and corrected for it using a null model. The same principle applies to the colonization of island archipelagos from a finite continental pool of potential colonist species (an infinite pool could eliminate sharing of species between islands). Correspondingly, a stochastic colonization process should cause more diverse islands to contain proportionately more single-island endemic species. To further demonstrate this point, we used the Hawaiian arthropod dataset (Nishida 2002) that was also used by Emerson and Kolm (2005a). This dataset includes 8068 species on 17 islands, comprising 16623 island populations. We simulated the colonization of the Hawaiian Islands up to their current levels of species diversity using the list of 8068 species as the pool of

Towards the declaration of a large marine protected area: a subtidal ichthyofaunal survey of the Pondoland coast in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

A subtidal marine ichthyofaunal survey was carried out on shallow reefs (1–30m deep) in the Pondoland region between the Mtamvuna River and Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The purpose of this survey was to provide the baseline data required for the zonation of a large marine protected area proposed for the region. Survey work was carried out in May and June during 2002 and 2003. A seafloor map based on earlier seismic-reflection profiling data, coupled with fishers' co-ordinates of known reefs in the area, was used to plan the survey. An underwater visual census (UVC), using the point-count method, assessed fish diversity, relative abundance and size structure. During the UVC, a total of 261 point fish-counts, covering an area of 14 288m2, was completed. A total of 138 fish species from 49 different families was identified and a relatively high proportion of endemic species (26.6%) were recorded. As a result of the turbid conditions encountered south of Mbotyi, numbers and diversity of fish species observed declined with increasing latitude. Endemic sparid linefish species, which are overe-xploited in other areas, were particularly abundant in this region, and a number of new range distributions of various species were recorded during the survey. The results of this survey contributed towards the zonation of the Pondoland Marine Protected Area, which was proclaimed in June 2004.

The terrestrial arthropods of Mauritius: a neglected conservation target

Entomology in Mauritius has historically been linked with the agricultural and medical fields but concern should now be directed towards the conservation of native forest insects given that they are key components of the local ecosystem. Despite its young age, small size and remoteness, the island has a well-developed native insect fauna with a high proportion of endemic species. A majority of the insect orders are represented on the island. We document the current state of knowledge for Mauritian arthropods, with particular focus on the Coleoptera. This is the most diverse order locally with 1,032 species. In addition, it is the best catalogued historically, providing a framework for future conservation studies to evaluate the current status of this group. We explore the current threats facing the native insect fauna and highlight the needs for concern on this vital component of local biodiversity. We recognize that the initial step for conserving the native insects will depend largely on the establishment of a local taxonomic knowledge base with international expert input.

Rare plants at the extremes of distribution: broadly and narrowly distributed rare species

The flora of North America north of Mexico was used to study rare species at the two extremes of geographic distribution: endemic species, those with large local populations but small geographic ranges, and suffusively rare species, those with small local populations but large geographic ranges. The taxonomic distribution, geographic distribution, and life history characteristics of the two groups were compared. Only 2% of North American species are suffusively rare, while 22.6% of species are endemic to one state or province. Suffusively rare species are significantly more likely to be seedless vascular plants and monocots than expected, and are less likely to be eudicots. Conversely, endemic species are more likely to be eudicots, and less likely to be monocots. Suffusively rare species are most abundant in Canada and the northeastern United States, whereas there are few endemic species in those areas. The highest proportions of endemic species are found in California, Florida, and Texas. Wetland habitats support many suffusively rare species, but few endemic species. Neither are common in alpine habitats. Suffusively rare and endemic species also differ in the dominant growth form. Suffusively rare species are most likely to be herbaceous eudicots, and less likely to be shrubs or shrub-herbs. Endemic species are also likely to be herbaceous, but are also frequently shrubs. A high proportion of endemic species exhibit plasticity in growth form, whereas few suffusively rare species have plastic growth forms. While both groups contain rare species, they differ considerably in geographic distribution and life history traits.

Present state of rivers and streams in Japan

AbstractThe Japanese Archipelago (land area: 377 880 km2) extends over a distance of c. 2000 km, with a maximum width of 300 km. Geologically, it is a young and tectonically very active area. Japan is a mountainous, wet and forested country, with its people concentrated in densely populated urban areas along the coast and on alluvial plains. Rivers are short (max. length: 370 km), steep, and exhibit flashy flow regimes. The river regime coefficient ranges from 200 to 400, which is up to an order‐of‐magnitude higher than that of most continental rivers. Japan has a rich freshwater fauna and flora with a high proportion of endemic species. A distinct latitudinal gradient (subarctic to subtropical climate) in combination with the radial character of the river network results in high spatial differentiation of the freshwater fauna.While water quality has improved remarkably during the past decades, Japanese rivers are still heavily impacted by canalization, loss of most dynamic flood plains, flow regulation, invasion by exotic species, and intensive urbanization. Currently 49% of the entire human population concentrates on 14% of the land, and the annual flood damage is the highest worldwide. As a consequence, major recent restoration initiatives aim to protect people and property against floods as well as simultaneously improving the ecological integrity of river ecosystems. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Taxonomy of tomatoes in the Galápagos Islands: Native and introduced species of Solanum section Lycopersicon (Solanaceae)

The Galápagos Islands are of great conservation interest due to their high proportion of endemic species. The endemic tomatoes (Solanum section Lycopersicon) of the islands have long been of interest to plant breeders. We analyse the morphology of all the Galápagos tomatoes: two endemic species, Solanum cheesmaniae and S. galapagense (the latter described here as new) and two introduced species, S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium. Morphological characters were measured on greenhouse‐grown plants raised from seeds obtained from the wild and seed‐bank accessions. Species boundaries were examined by cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Although the four taxa are distinct and therefore regarded as bona fide species they exhibit considerable intraspecific variation. A taxonomic treatment of the tomatoes in the Galápagos is provided, with keys to all solanums in the islands, descriptions, listings of representative specimens examined and full exsiccatae. Field observations of plants in the wild in the Galápagos are also included in the species descriptions. We highlight the potential for genetic contamination of the endemic tomatoes by hybridization and introgression with the two introduced species.

Armadillidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Lord Howe Island: new taxa and biogeography

Lord Howe Island and associated island, Ball’s Pyramid, in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, have a surprising diversity of terrestrial isopods. New species in the genera Pyrgoniscus, Cubaris and a new genus (Stigmops, n.gen.) of the family Armadillidae are described from Australian Museum collections made on Lord Howe Island. Two species, formerly placed in Anchicubaris, are moved to the new genus. Anchicubaris is revised to show how it differs from the new genus. With these changes, species of Anchicubaris no longer occur on Lord Howe Island. A lectotype for Anchicubaris fongosiensis is assigned. The homonymy of Cubaris granulatus Lewis, 1998b is resolved with a new name and a type species for the genus Sphenodillo Lewis, 1998b is assigned. A key to Lord Howe Armadillidae is provided. The biogeography of Armadillidae genera on Lord Howe Island shows possible links to neighbouring regions of New Caledonia and eastern Australia. Because relationships of species in the large genera Cubaris and Pyrgoniscus are unknown, precise area relationships cannot be estimated. The high diversity and presence of armadillids on the nearby rock, Balls Pyramid, suggests that the Lord Howe fauna is a contracted remnant of a much larger Pleistocene fauna, when lowered sea levels provided interconnections and much larger areas. LILLEMETS, BIRGITTA, AND GEORGE D.F. WILSON, 2002. Armadillidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Lord Howe Island: new taxa and biogeography. Records of the Australian Museum 54(1): 71–98. Records of the Australian Museum (2002) Vol. 54: 71–98. ISSN 0067-1975 www.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1360_complete.pdf Lord Howe Island is a small, subtropical island situated on the Lord Howe Rise in the Tasman Sea approximately 700 km northeast of Sydney (31°33'S 159°05'E, Fig. 1). The island covers an area of approximately 15 km2 and is the eroded remnant of volcanic activity 6–7 million years ago. The main island is dominated by two peaks, Mount Gower (875 m) and Mount Lidgebird (777 m) in the south, hills in the north (up to 200 m high) and lowlands in the middle of the island (Hutton, 1986). The Lord Howe Rise, upon which the island sits, was separated first from New Zealand and later from Australia approximately 80 million years ago (Hutton, 1986). The Rise has been subject to several sea level changes during which exposed islands have acted as permanent refuges for indigenous organisms or as “stepping stones” for organisms from other landmasses (Clark & Pickard, 1977). The flora and fauna have close relatives in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, but its long-term isolation has resulted in a high proportion of endemic species. These species were largely undisturbed until the first recorded human contact in 1788 when Europeans landed on the island. A permanent settlement was founded in 1834 (Hutton, 1986).

The Caprellidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Ceuta, North Africa, with the description of three species of Caprella, a key to the species of Caprella, and biogeographical discussion

The caprellidean fauna of Ceuta, located on the North African side of the Strait of Gibraltar, was studied with regard to species composition and biogeographical characteristics. A new species, Caprella ceutae n. sp. is described and compared with the closest species of this genus, C. equilibra and C. fretensis. Furthermore, two species, C. tuberculata and C. liparotensis are redescribed in detail. Of the nineteen species collected, three are recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, i.e. C. fretensis, C. erethizon and C. tuberculata. With regard to biogeographical distribution, the Strait of Gibraltar has a very high proportion of endemic species of the Caprellidea, contributing 30.8% of the Mediterranean endemisms. A key to the 13 species of Caprella from the region of Ceuta is also provided.

An endemic radiation of Malagasy songbirds is revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequence data.

The bird fauna of Madagascar includes a high proportion of endemic species, particularly among passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes). The endemic genera of Malagasy songbirds are not allied obviously with any African or Asiatic taxa, and their affinities have been debated since the birds first were described. We used mitochondrial sequence data to estimate the relationships of 13 species of endemic Malagasy songbirds, 17 additional songbird species, and one species of suboscine passerine. In our optimal trees, nine of the 13 Malagasy species form a clade. although these birds currently are classified in three different families. In all optimal trees, the sister to this endemic clade is a group of Old World warblers including both African and Malagasy birds. The endemic Malagasy songbird clade rivals other island radiations, including the vangas of Madagascar and the finches of the Galapagos, in ecological diversity.

AN ENDEMIC RADIATION OF MALAGASY SONGBIRDS IS REVEALED BY MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SEQUENCE DATA

The bird fauna of Madagascar includes a high proportion of endemic species, particularly among passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes). The endemic genera of Malagasy songbirds are not allied obviously with any African or Asiatic taxa, and their affinities have been debated since the birds first were described. We used mitochondrial sequence data to estimate the relationships of 13 species of endemic Malagasy songbirds, 17 additional songbird species, and one species of suboscine passerine. In our optimal trees, nine of the 13 Malagasy species form a clade, although these birds currently are classified in three different families. In all optimal trees, the sister to this endemic clade is a group of Old World warblers including both African and Malagasy birds. The endemic Malagasy songbird clade rivals other island radiations, including the vangas of Madagascar and the finches of the Galapagos, in ecological diversity.Corresponding Editor: S. Edwards

Distribution of birds along an elevational gradient in the Atlantic forest of Brazil: implications for the conservation of endemic and endangered species

SummaryIn this study I compare bird communities along an elevational gradient in an Atlantic forest remnant (Pico do Corcovado in Ubatuba) in coastal Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Forests at low elevations are structurally more complex and more diverse in plant species than those along the slopes and at higher elevations in this remnant. Consequently it is hypothesized that low elevation forests contain a greater diversity of bird species. Results from the study in the Corcovado area show clear differences in the distribution of forest birds along the elevational gradient from both qualitative and quantitative aspects. The structurally more complex forest at low elevations contains the most diverse avifauna, including several of the rarest and most threatened species. The importance of this remnant as a whole is apparent due to the high diversity observed (254 species), the high proportion of endemic species, and the extent to which the avifauna is endangered. Protection of forests at all elevations along the Serra do Mar is required to maintain diversity of bird species, particularly the many endemic and endangered species restricted to specific elevations.

Simulating the effects of climate change on tropical montane cloud forests

Tropical montane cloud forests are unique among terrestrial ecosystems in that they are strongly linked to regular cycles of cloud formation. We have explored changes in atmospheric parameters from global climate model simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum and for doubled atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (2 × CO2) conditions which are associated with the height of this cloud formation, and hence the occurrence of intact cloud forests. These parameters include vertical profiles of absolute and relative humidity surfaces, as well as the warmth index1, an empirical proxy of forest type. For the glacial simulations, the warmth index and absolute humidity suggest a downslope shift of cloud forests that agrees with the available palaeodata. For the 2× CO2 scenario, the relative humidity surface is shifted upwards by hundreds of metres during the winter dry season when these forests typically rely most on the moisture from cloud contact. At the same time, an increase in the warmth index implies increased evapo-transpiration. This combination of reduced cloud contact and increased evapo-transpiration could have serious conservation implications, given that these ecosystems typically harbour a high proportion of endemic species and are often situated on mountain tops or ridge lines.

日本の中・後期更新世のほ乳動物相

The Middle and Late Pleistocene mammalian faunas of Japan are described with new opinions on their succession and relation to the continental faunas. Although fossil materials assignable to early Middle Pleistocene are seemingly scarce in Japan, the fauna of that time is considered to have been transitional between the Early and Middle Pleistocene ones. On the other hand, fossil records which are younger than early Middle Pleistocene are abundant from the mainlands of Japan; viz. the Honshu-Shikoku-Kyushu area.In the middle Middle Pleistocene, the fauna of this area contained a considerable number of taxa which are extant today in the area (about 50%). It was also characterized by a high proportion of endemic species and the predominance of temperate forest elements. From this time to the late Middle Pleistocene, several species disappeared from the fauna; at the same time, immigrants from the continent were scarce. The faunal characters of the late Middle Pleistocene were basically identical with those of the preceding time.In the early Late Pleistocene, no mammal seems to have immigrated from the neighboring continent, and faunal composition was almost consistent with that of the late Middle Pleistocene. The elements of that fauna still persisted in the late Late Pleistocene, apart from the extinction of a few forms. In addition to the fact mentioned above, immigration from the northern part of the continent was recognized in the late Late Pleistocene, although it was restricted to a few large herbivore forms and to a short time duration.The introduction of the continental faunas to the mainlands of Japan during Middle and Late Pleistocene times was not so remarkable as previously inferred. Therefore it becomes doubtful that the faunas of the area were drastically replaced by the immigration of the Choukoutien, Wanhsien and Loess faunas of China during those times.