Highest Number Of Species Research Articles

Diversity and function of soil macrofauna: key information for studying the sustainability of tropical social-ecological systems

The biological diversity is a natural inherent element of social-ecological systems. Within the great species diversity there is a group of small invertebrates (2–20 mm), inhabiting terrestrial soils and aquatic sediments, known as macrofauna. Contrary to its name indicates, the macrofauna is generally overlooked, poorly represented in biological inventories or management programs, and not contemplated in any political agenda, but they consist of high number and many groups of species with a high diversity in shapes and functions. Knowing this diversity and their functions in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats is fundamental to understand its role within the social-ecological systems, by giving key information that would advance our comprehension on the role of macrofauna in the quality of environmental services provided by ecosystems. Furthermore, this understanding is crucial due to the fact that the macrofauna is threatened by anthropogenic activities, which could lead to local modifications in the processes that take place in the soil. Therefore, the purpose of this work is, in general, to make known to the reader the main species groups that integrate the macrofauna, the equivalent functional role that these organisms play in the terrestrial and aquatic habitats where they occur, as well as their importance in studies of sustainability in tropical social-ecological systems. Keywords: Biodiversity, benthic macrofauna, edaphic macrofauna, functional traits, ecosystems.

Traditional medicine practices of Guji Semi-Pastoralist People to treat livestock ailments in Suro Barguda District, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia

The objectives of this research were to collect, identify, document, and analyze ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their associated indigenous knowledge including their preparation and application by traditional healers, and the status of their conservation by Guji Semi-Pastoralist People of Suro Barguda District, West Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Forty-six ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species representing 43 genera and 29 families were identified in the district (Additional file 1). About 26.1% of the families were represented by more than one species. The highest number of species was recorded for Asteraceae (5 species), followed by Euphorbiaceae (4 species) and most ethnoveterinary medicines were prepared from herbs and shrubs than other growth forms. Chopping the remedial parts and homogenizing them with cold water was found to be the major mode of remedy preparation. All documented ethnoveterinary plant species were harvested from the wild and observed as exposed to depletion. About 4.4% of the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of Suro Barguda District were endemic to Ethiopia. This study indicated that the study area encompasses different species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants which should be given conservation priority and the local community depends largely on these plants for the treatment of different livestock ailments although the healers had a very high intention to keep their traditional knowledge secrete. The indigenous knowledge of pastoralists about plants and breeding different species of livestock, as well as their environmental management systems (traditional forest, soil, and water conservation systems), should be incorporated in the planning and implementation of developmental interventions.

Alien flora of Uttarakhand, western Himalaya: a comprehensive review

Alien plant species have captured attention of the scientific community, ecologists, and environmentalists throughout the world. Like other regions, the Himalayan region is also grappling with the disrupting impacts of plant invasions. Based on an extensive review of studies conducted on alien plant species in the Indian Himalayan region, we report 728 alien plant species belonging to 450 genera under 108 families in the state of Uttarakhand, which represents 15% of the state’s flora. Fabaceae (89 species under 49 genera) followed by Asteraceae (63 species under 43 genera) and Poaceae (50 species under 35 genera) were the most diverse families amid alien species. Eucalyptus (15 species) followed by Ipomoea and Euphorbia (12 species each) and Pinus (11 species) were the most diverse genera. The maximum numbers of aliens (mostly herbs) in the state were introduced from America, followed by Europe. Owing to relatively high number of alien plant species in Uttarakhand, it is submitted that serious ecological and socio-economic consequences are likely to escalate in the future.

PERKEMBANGAN SUKSESI VEGETASI DI AREA REVEGETASI LAHAN PASCATAMBANG BATUBARA (STUDI KASUS DI PT AMANAH ANUGERAH ADI MULIA KABUPATEN TANAH LAUT)

The purpose of the study was to analyze the development of vegetation succession in the post-coal mining revegetation area of PT Amanah Anugerah Adi Mulia. The method used to collect data in the revegetation area is the Nested Sampling. The data collected in the form of individuals number, types of vegetation, and diameters of poles and trees. Data were analyzed by tabulating matrix and Indeks Nilai Penting (INP). There are 8 main types of revegetation plants, 16 types of natural growth and 40 types of undergrowth plants. There is a trend of increasing the number of plants that grow naturally at the level of seedlings, saplings, poles and trees in the revegetation area. Revegetation plants aged 7 years had the highest number of species. The dominant species at 1 year revegetation age for seedlings was sengon buto (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) with INP= 86,01%, sapling was E. cyclocarpum with INP= 106,15%. The dominant species at 3 years of revegetation age for seedlings was calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) with INP value = 75,57 %, sapling was sengon laut (Paraserianthes falcataria) with INP = 56,73%, pole level was P. falcataria species with INP = 162,85%. The dominant species at 5 years of revegetation age for seedlings was sisir liar (Cudrania cochinchinensis) with INP value = 108,38 %, sapling was C. cochinchinensis with INP = 103,59 %, pole level was mangium (Acacia mangium) with INP = 229,58 %, the tree level is mangium with INP = 211,74%. The dominant species at 7 years of revegetation age for seedlings was mahang (Macaranga gigantea) with INP value = 53,32%, sapling was M. gigantea with INP = 44,31 %, pole level was A. mangium with INP = 98,29 % , the tree level is P. falcataria with INP = 163,15%. Revegetation can facilitate the succession process in post-mining land.

Annotated checklist of the operculated land snails from Thailand (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda): the family Pupinidae, with descriptions of several new species and subspecies, and notes on classification of Pupina Vignard, 1829 and Pupinella Gray, 1850 from mainland Southeast Asia.

Thailand is located at the crossroads of several biogeographical regions, and boasts a high level of biodiversity, especially among the malacofauna. The most recent checklist of land snail species in Thailand was compiled more than twenty years ago, and so this checklist needs revision and the addition of newly discovered taxa. This study updates the taxonomy and species list of the operculated land snail family Pupinidae from Thailand. This snail family is diverse and abundant, and can be found in various natural habitats in Southeast Asia. Although the taxonomy of some Southeast Asian pupinid genera has been reviewed, studies of Pupina Vignard, 1829, which contains the highest number of species, and a lesser-known genus Pupinella Gray, 1850 are still lacking. Herein we present an annotated checklist with an up-to-date systematic framework of the Pupinidae in Thailand based on both field investigations and literature surveys, and include the taxonomic treatment of all Pupina and Pupinella species from mainland Southeast Asia. This annotated checklist contains 30 nominal species and two subspecies from seven genera currently known to occur in Thailand. We describe two species of Pseudopomatias (P.doiangkhangensis Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov. and P.pallgergelyi Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov.), five species and one subspecies of Pupina (P.bensoni Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov., P.bilabiata Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov., P.godwinausteni Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov., P.latisulci Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov., P.stoliczkai Jirapatrasilp, sp. nov., and P.dorriisanensis Jirapatrasilp, ssp. nov.) as new to science. New records of Coptocheilussumatranus, Pupinellamansuyi, and Rhaphaulustonkinensis are also reported from Thailand. The mainland Southeast Asian Pupina species are classified into three species groups (Pupinaartata group, Pupinaarula group, and Pupinaaureola group) based on the distinction of shell teeth and canals, and operculum. Three species formerly in Pupina from Vietnam are allocated to Pupinella (P.illustris comb. nov., P.sonlaensis comb. nov., and P.thaitranbaii comb. nov.) due to the presence of a funnel-like anterior canal.

Phytoplankton Groups in the Estuarine Mangrove Creeks of Edakochi (Kerala), Southwest Coast of India: A Preliminary Study

The present work focused on the ecological studies in the mangroves of the Edakochi region, Kerala (India)with special reference to phytoplankton groups. This wetland is situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake,the largest Ramsar site of Kerala. Sampling was carried out from February to June 2017. 5 true mangrovespecies and 2 semi- mangrove species were noted from the Edakochi region. A total of 25 phytoplanktonspecies were recorded from different stations comprising 15 species of Bacillariophyceae, 7 species ofDinophyceae, 1 species of Cyanophyceae, 1 species of Chlorophyceae and 1 species of Ciliateae. In eachstation the species composition was found in an order of Bacillariophyceae > Dinophyceae >Cyanophyceae> Chlorophyceae >Ciliatae. Bacillariophyceae contributed 60% of the species, whereas Dinophyceaecontributed 28%. Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Ciliateae contributed 4% each. The highest numberof species (19) was recorded during March and the highest cell density was recorded during April (1143/l). The lowest cell density was recorded in June (844/l). From the study results, it was noted that the highestnumber of species in March was due to the favorably increased salinity. The shift in the salinity regime maybe the reason for the lowest number of species in June. Alternation in species diversity influences variousecosystem phenomenon, such as nutrient retention, primary productivity and vegetation dynamics. Thestudy findings depict good species diversity of phytoplankton in the Edakochi mangrove ecosystem.

Abundancia y diversidad de lepidópteros en San Benito, Cajamarca, Perú

Determination of the abundance and diversity of Lepidoptera in the Andean Community of San Benito, Cajamarca, Peru. Several samplings were carried out, using the 500 linear m transect technique, with a monthly frequency throughout 2021, in the riparian areas and surrounding vegetation. The material was dissected and studied in the entomology laboratory of the National University of Trujillo. The analyzes of abundance and diversity of the Lepidoptera species were carried out. 206 individuals were registered, corresponding to 7 families, 9 subfamilies, 6 belonging tribes and 20 species. It is also reported that the families with the highest number of species are the Nymphalidae with 9 species and Pieridae with 5 species. it was determined that the Simpson index (0.94) represents a high diversity of species, the Shannon-Wiener index (2.81) represents a medium diversity of species and the Margalef index (5.06) represents a high diversity of lepidoptera species. The most abundant species are the representatives of the Nymphalidae family. The diversity indices represent a high, medium and high diversity of Lepidoptera species.

Benthonic foraminiferal response to the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event in the Ganuza section, northern Spain.

The studied interval comprises a 26.5 m thick section of the uppermost Cenomanian strata representing the uppermost Rotalipora cushmani and lowermost Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zones. Changes in the foraminiferal assemblages recorded in this interval may be summarized as follows: l. P/B ratio fluctuates throughout the section; the highest values (78 %) are recorded in the lowermost part of the Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone. 2. Benthonic diversity in the Ganuza section varíes from 9 to 27 with decreasing tendency up the section. Highest number of species (16-27) in the studied interval is observed in the Rotalipora cushmani Zone while 9 to 14 species are found in the Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone. 3. Stepped extinctions of foraminiferal species were recorded - two planktonic Rotalipora greenhomensis and R. cushmani and several benthonic, e.g. Gavelinella baltica, Conorbina sp., rosalinids, Gubkonella graysonensis and Textularia chapmani went extinct during latest Rotalipora cushmani and earliest Whiteinella archaeocretacea chrons; several species disappeared temporarily, e.g. Praebulimina elata; they reappeared in the Lower Turonian; sorne others e.g. Lingulogavelinella globosa, Gavelinella plummerae appeared after the extinction of Rotalipora greenhomensis and become very abundant in the upper part of the studied interval; there is also a group of species present in the entire section which dominated assemblages in the middle and upper part of the studied section, e.g. Gaudryinella pusilla, Lenticulina rotulata or Gavelinella berlhelini.

Molecular (ISSR, cp DNA, ITS) and morphological study of the genus Tragopogon L. (Asteraceae)

Tragopogon is an Old World genus with 150 species. Mediterranean, Middle East, and Eastern Europe are the distribution centers of this genus. This genus has 26 species in Iran, of which 11 are endemic. The morphology studies of 32 species and Molecular studies (ISSR, ITS, cp DNA) of 22 species of the genus Tragopogon were investigated. Despite the anatomical and molecular studies done around the world, the exact classification of this genus is not clear due to the high number of secret species, hybridization, polyploidy, and rapid diversification. The purpose of these studies is to classify, determine interspecific relationship in this genus, and determine the important morphological characteristics in taxon differentiation. We conclude that sections of Rubriflori, Sosnowskya, Chromopappus, Majores, Angustissimi, and Krascheninnikovia introduced by the flora of Iranica are confirmed by our morphometry and molecular studies. Section of Profundisulcati in flora Iranica is confirmed based on morphometry data. The Species of T. jesdianus, T. porphyrocephalus, T. rezaiyensis, and T. Stroterocarpus in the flora of Iranica are not classified in any section which we classified in the Rubriflori section. Cp DNA dendrogram is not useful for classification in this genus and Chloroplast sequences are very similar among Tragopogon species. Therefore, the use of cp DNA markers in the classification of this genus is not recommended. The use of ISSR and ITS molecular markers are useful for classifying the genus Tragopogon.

Diversity, Ecological and Traditional Knowledge of Pteridophytes in the Western Himalayas

Pteridophytes have been used by humans for millennia, but in comparison to flowering plants, the documentation of their traditional uses is still neglected; as a result, they must be highlighted and popularized. The present study was carried out from January 2019 to November 2021 to gather ecological and traditional use information on pteridophytes from local inhabitants of the Kashmir valley via semi-structured personal interviews and group discussions. We recorded 58 pteridophyte species belonging to 13 families. The distributions of the species among the families were unequal, with four families constituting more than half of the total species (Dryopteridaceae 26%, Woodsiaceae 17%, Aspleniaceae 14%, and Pteridaceae (14%). The highest numbers of species (45%) were found growing on the forest floor, followed by those growing in rock crevices (26%). This was supported further by a cluster analysis, which identified two primary clusters based on the species presence in different habitats. Half of the species (56%) were reported from altitudes below 2000m, followed by 19% from 2001–2500m, and 8% (e.g., Deparia allantodioides, Dryopteris xanthomelas, Asplenium viride) from 3001–3500m. Among the documented species (N = 58), only 28 species had a traditional usage (as medicine, vegetables, for oral hygiene, and for veterinary use). The aerial parts were most commonly used (64%) followed by the rachis (18%). The highest use value was observed for Diplazium maximum and the lowest for Asplenium fontanum. The findings of our study contribute baseline data to fill the existing knowledge gaps on ecological and traditional knowledge of pteridophytes in the Himalayas.

Vertical Distribution of Beetles (Coleoptera) in Pine Forests in Central European Russia

Research on the Arthropoda distribution in temperate forest ecosystems has shown that communities are distributed vertically in unequal numbers. However, this issue still has research gaps in relation to the vertical stratification of Coleoptera in pine forests of the temperate zone. This study was conducted in the Republic of Mordovia situated in central part of European Russia. We used fermental traps to collect Coleoptera (the bait is fermenting beer with sugar and honey). The sampling was conducted from May to September 2021 in five sites of pine forests. One hundred and twenty-five species from 36 families were identified. The highest species richness was found in Nitidulidae and Cerambycidae (19 species each), Elateridae (13), Curculionidae (7) and Scarabaeidae (6). The highest number of species (84 species) was obtained at the height of 1.5 m, while the smallest species richness (44 species) was found at the height of 12.0 m. At the height of 12 m, we also registered the minimum number of specimens. Twenty-four species from 11 families were common to all the heights studied. Cryptarcha strigata and Glischrochilus grandis preferred heights of 3 and 1.5 m. Cryptarcha undata and Protaetia marmorata were more common at a height of 7 m with a frequency of 61.4–79.6% and 68.2–79.6%, respectively. The absolute number of saproxyl and anthophilic beetle species was higher in the ground layer and at the undergrowth level. These studies expand our understanding of the vertical distribution of beetles in pine forests of the temperate zone of European Russia.

Floristic Association of Moist Temperate Forests of Shangla District, Delineated by a Multivariate Approach

Multivariate analysis was conducted to explore the moist temperate forests of the Shangla district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The prime objective was to quantitatively describe and differentiate the vegetation groups and the factors that determine the boundaries and composition of plant communities in the Shangla district. This was achieved by sampling all common species in a complex vegetation mosaic coinciding with local gradients in topography and soil distribution. Ward’s clustering dendrogram demonstrated four significant vegetation clusters with respect to environmental effects. These four major groups of the tree vegetation were superimposed on the ordination plane: 1. Pinus wallichiana, the dominant group associated with Abies pindrow; 2. Abies pindrow and the Picea smithiana group; 3. Dominant Cedrus deodara associated with the Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana, and Quercus baloot group; 4. Pinus roxberghii pure group. The key controlling factors for each group were the environmental characteristics (i.e., edaphic factors, topographic factors, soil physical properties, and soil nutrients). The results revealed elevation (p <0.001) to be the prominent factor in the composition of plant communities. Furthermore, pH, soil moisture, maximum water holding capacity, and soil physical properties (sand, silt, and clay) also showed a significant (p < 0.05) relationship with vegetation. The other environmental factor did not show a significant relationship with vegetation. Ward’s cluster dendrogram of understory species also demonstrated four groups. Group 1 comprises two subgroups, a and b, with the highest number of species, i.e., Digeteria sanguinalis, Fragaria nubicola, Verbascum Thapsus, Pinus wallichiana seedlings, and Polygonatum multiflorium, respectively. The second large group contains twenty-five species out of eight stands, and the dominant species was Tagetis minuta. Eighteen species out of six stands were found in group 3, which was considered the smallest group. Group 4 consisted of seven stands containing twenty-four species of ground flora, with Anaphalis scopulosa followed by Adiantum venustum as the dominant species. The environmental characteristics of the understory vegetation showed a resemblance with the tree communities. With the exception of elevation, the other factors did not show a significant correlation.

Late Holocene paleoenvironmental changes inferred from multi-proxy studies of the Kholasht-Kouh Lake sediments in the Gilan mountains, northern Iran

Past vegetation and environmental changes and the role of climate as well as human activities are of major interest. The Hyrcanian region with a high number of endemic species has a poorly known paleoenvironmental history, especially the western region of northern Iran. This study aims to investigate a radiocarbon-dated sediment core of the Kholasht-Kouh Lake (KHL) for the recorded between ca. 510 and 1180 cal yr BP. KHL is located at 2000 m elevation and surrounded with steppe vegetation above the present-day forest line. Multi-proxy analyses including pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, loss on ignition, and X-ray fluorescence were applied to reconstruct past environmental dynamics. The results indicate the dominance of herbaceous vegetation (mainly Poaceae, Artemisia, and Amaranthaceae) around the lake during the whole record, except for the period between 1010 and 740 cal yr BP. During this period of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (1000–700 cal yr BP) mixed forest increased, consisting mainly of Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, and Juniperus. The K, Ti and Si elements (as indicators for increased in detrital inputs) suggest relatively humid condition between 1180 and 1010 cal yr BP. Furthermore, higher lake levels may indicate from low values of the Mn/Ti, Ca/Ti and Sr/Ti ratios. After 1010 until 740 cal yr BP the highest value of the Si/Fe ratio, suggested warmest period of the record. While the lowest value of the Si/Fe ratio, in line with the reduction of other elements and ratios, between 740 till 510 cal yr BP represented cold and dry period. Humans were present around the study area at least since beginning of the record, but did not played an important role impacting the vegetation.

Diversity of Lacewings (Neuroptera) in an Altitudinal Gradient of the Tacaná Volcano, Southern Mexico.

Simple SummaryLacewings are insects with a great diversity of morphology and habits and are potentially important as bioindicators and biological control agents. However, there is little worldwide information on their patterns of distribution and diversity. Therefore, it is essential to understand what changes occur in their diversity through spatial changes such as elevation. We analyzed Neuroptera diversity locally and between sites through an elevation gradient, finding two marked trends: (1) a decrease in richness with increasing altitude and, (2) greater diversity and potential richness at an intermediate elevation. In addition, a high degree of species turnover means that there is an evident transition between the lowland communities and the forest in the upper parts of the volcano, reflecting an altitudinal replacement of species and exclusivity for certain altitudes. These patterns will help us understand the distribution diversity of lacewings for better management and conservation of insects and the ecosystems with which they are associated.Neuroptera is an order of insects with a moderate diversity of species numbers yet a high between-family morphological diversity, which has a significant ecological role as a predator. However, there are few studies focused on describing changes in species diversity along environmental gradients. We evaluated changes in the alpha and beta diversity of species and the higher taxa in Neuroptera communities in the Tacaná Volcano in southern Mexico. Five sites each at different altitudes were studied through systematic annual sampling. The taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversity were analyzed, as well as the beta diversity and its components, species turnover and nestedness. The alpha diversity had two trends: (1) decreased standardized richness and taxonomic distinctness with increasing altitude, and (2) increased estimated richness and species diversity at intermediate altitudes. The highest turnover values for species, as well as for supra-specific taxa, were recorded at sites with lower altitudes. The highest total beta diversity value was recorded at elevations above 3000 m, whereas the highest number of species and supra-specific taxa were observed at sites between 600 and 2000 m, with an evident decrease above 3000 m. The type of vegetation and environmental conditions may be influencing the decrease in diversity toward higher elevations, which could explain the niche specialization of Neuroptera species to particular sites within the gradient. These results highlight the need to study the environmental factors and their effects on species composition along an elevation gradient.

Diversity of Deep-Sea Echinoderms From Costa Rica

Echinoderms are a highly diverse group and one of the most conspicuous in the deep sea, playing ecological key roles. We present a review about the history of expeditions and studies on deep-sea echinoderms in Costa Rica, including an updated list of species. We used literature and information gathered from the databases of the California Academy of Sciences, the Benthic Invertebrate Collection of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Comparative Zoology and the Museo de Zoología from the Universidad de Costa Rica. A total of 124 taxa (75 confirmed species) have been collected from the Costa Rican deep sea, 112 found in the Pacific Ocean, 13 in the Caribbean Sea, and one species shared between the two basins. We report 22 new records for the Eastern Tropical Pacific, 46 for Central American waters, and 58 for Costa Rica. The most specious group was Ophiuroidea with 37 taxa, followed by Holothuroidea (34 taxa), Asteroidea (23 taxa), Echinoidea (17 taxa), and Crinoidea (11 taxa). The highest number of species (64) was found between 800 m and 1200 m depth. Only two species were found deeper than 3200 m. Further efforts on identification will be required for a better comprehension of the diversity of deep-sea echinoderms. Limited research has been done regarding the biology and ecology of deep-sea echinoderms in Costa Rica, so additional approaches will be necessary to understand their ecological functions.

IUCN red-listing of subterranean invertebrates: problems, gaps and the future

Red-listing is a widely used approach to globally evaluate the threats that affect a species, according to a set of standardized criteria. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of species. It is an international reference in this field, and a powerful tool for conservation of endangered species, sites and habitats. A number of subterranean organisms of various taxonomical groups have been assessed from a few decades, and are currently being assessed, revealing serious difficulties and uncertainties linked to the special characteristics of subterranean ecosystems and species. The most critical problems, that are linked to distribution, dispersion, life cycle and sensitivity to disturbance, and some ways to overcome them, are discussed in this paper. Partly linked to this, redlisting of subterranean species has so far achieved moderate results with regard to the diversity and vulnerability of subterranean species - with the well-known exception of bats. Data drawn from IUCN online database of redlsted species reveals that subterranean invertebrates are hugely under-covered at geographical and taxonomic levels. Moreover, among red-listed species that are connected to subterranean habitats, most are stygophiles and troglophiles, i.e. not obligate cave dwellers. In contrast, very few of the species strictly linked to subterranean life (stygobionts and troglobionts) have been red-listed so far, in spite of the exceptional proneness to endemicity of subterranean invertebrate groups. On an other hand, assessments are extremely uneven across countries and across taxa. Many regions with significant cave fauna do not have any assessed subterranean species. The richest countries in subterranean diversity are not those which have the highest number of assessed species. The zoological invertebrate groups that dominate cave fauna in diversity (beetles, springtails, microcrustacea...) have contrasted proportion of redlisted species: higher for snails, very low for microcrustaceans, beetles and springtails, with rare local exceptions. Assessment difficulties underlined above, low coverage of cave fauna in available assessments, limited progress in number of red-listed species in the face of the high number of concerned species, and the limited human resources to do the job led us to favour a more pragmatic approach to subterranean invertebrates red-listing for the coming years. Really threatened subterranean species are actually not numerous, because subterranean habitats are protected from most critical disturbance that devastate so many surface habitats. The aim will be therefore to focus on the most threatened species and sites in the world, with a particular attention on mining, water pollution and large scale surface habitats destruction.

Microbial Networks Reveal the Structure of Water Microbial Communities in Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve

Water microorganisms contribute to the key components of ecosystems in dryland waters, which are extremely important for wildlife. However, the distribution patterns of water microbes across different basal water sources are still largely unknown. This study was conducted to compare microorganisms in the water bodies of different types of water sources in the Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve in China. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the undirected microbial co-existence network consisted of 15 main modules referring to different water sources, which indicated specific molecular co-existence relationships. It was found that the most dominant phyla (namely Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota) of the molecular ecological network shared the same structures as the microbial community, which justified the construction of the network via a random network formation. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Bray–Curtis distances revealed that there were still considerable variations among different habitats, showing separate sample clusters. Additionally, the different topological roles of subnetworks trimmed to a uniform size indicated different co-existence patterns in the microbiome. The artificially recharged water from concrete pond substrate (ARC) subnetworks had a relatively discrete co-occurrence, while the natural water sources (NRE) and artificially recharged water from earthen pond substrate (ARE) groups were more compact with giant modules. The NRE and ARE groups were also richer in microbial composition and had a higher number of species with low abundance. Consequently, concrete substrates may contribute to dysfunction in water microbiomes. Moreover, the functional diversity of the NRE and ARE groups is due to more intra-module connections and more inter-module connections, indirectly leading to a stable function resilient to external environmental influences. In conclusion, the microecology of the NRE was more stable than that of the concrete substrate, and artificial transportation had less effect on the microbial community.

Long-term changes in bryophyte diversity of central European managed forests depending on site environmental features

Cryptogamic diversity is a reliable indicator of the state of forest ecosystems. In this study we analysed the variations in both bryophyte species richness overall and number of hemerophobic bryophyte species in Central European managed forests over a 20-year time span, based on data collected in 132 plots scattered across Poland. We tested differences in species richness among five temporal replicates, as well as among site types grouped based on elevation a.s.l., dominant tree species and stand age. The analyses revealed no significant trend in species richness across years. Meanwhile, species richness significantly increased along with elevation a.s.l., especially in broadleaved forests. No significant difference in species number between spruce and pine dominated stands emerged for mature stands, while there was a strong difference for young stands, with spruce forest hosting a much higher number of species. Species richness exhibited a slight, but not significant, increase over time in broadleaved forests, no significant variations in pine dominated stands and significant fluctuations in spruce dominated stands, yet without a significant trend. Out of the tested drivers, dominant tree species exhibited the strongest impact on species community composition. Number of hemerophobic and strongly hemerophobic species did not undergo significant variations across years either. The lack of bryophyte diversity trends highlighted in this study suggests Central European managed forests are in an equilibrium sate, maintained by the opposing effects of climate changes, on one side and of more sustainable forest management and pollutant deposition decline, from the other.

A new species of Habenaria (Orchidaceae, Asparagales) and a checklist of Orchidaceae from limestone outcrops of Brazil

Habenaria karstica J.A.N.Bat. sp. nov., a new species from limestone outcrops (i.e., karst) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described. The new species is ecologically very distinct since it is the only Neotropical species of the genus that grows on limestone outcrops under full sun, associated with mat-forming saxicolous plants. It is morphologically similar to species of the Habenaria repens complex, and separation is only possible through a combination of morphological characters. Bayesian and parsimony phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear (rDNA ITS, ETS) and plastid (matK-trnK, rps16-trnK) DNA markers revealed that H. karstica belongs to H. sect. Spathaceae. The new species, however, differs in floral morphology from the other species in this clade. A survey of the literature and public plants datasets revealed 122 species and 58 genera of Orchidaceae in karsts of Brazil. Although small compared to the family’s diversity in the country, Orchidaceae is among the families with the highest number of species in some karst localities. Our results indicate that approximately 97% of Orchidaceae found in karsts of Brazil is not limited to limestone outcrops areas, and that species composition of each locality is primarily determined by the regional flora and the biome in which it is located.

Extreme environments as reservoirs of invasive plants: the case of the garbage dump in Huehuetlan El Grande, Puebla, Mexico

The study aimed to highlight the role of extreme environments (so-called because of the high accumulation of nutrients and other harmful products) as sites of reservoirs of invasive plants, taking as an example the community "dump" of the municipal seat of Huehuetlan el Grande, Puebla, Mexico. The results show that 56 species belonging to 52 genera and 25 families were found; the families with the highest number of species were Asteraceae and Solanaceae. The species found are from 30 different countries, being America and Ecuador with a greater number of records. According to the origin of sites, use, industrial possibilities and, if they are wild or cultivated species, it was found that there were 14 species on the roadside: 11 weeds, 9 cultivated, 8 forage, one with industrial possibilities and one threatened. The correlation analysis showed that only the number of species vs. precipitation had significant differences. It is a fact that the conditions of the "community garbage dump" represent an opportunity for invasive species to survive and persist in the seed bank, waiting for adequate conditions to germinate and settle in increasingly larger areas, favored by the growing deterioration that human activity has caused in recent years.