Highest Number Of Species Research Articles

Biodiversity of Agromyzidae (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Central Slovakia), with new records and an updated checklist for Slovakia

Abstract A total of 327 species of Agromyzidae has been recorded from the Gemer area and for 245 of these species new data are given. Altogether 89 species are ascertained to occur in the Gemer area for the first time. Of this number, 35 species are new additions to the fauna of Slovakia, viz. Agromyza filipendulae Spencer, 1976, A. myosotidis Kaltenbach, 1864, Amauromyza (Amauromyza) rameli Černý, 2011, Am. (Cephalomyza) flavifrons (Meigen, 1830), Aulagromyza populicola (Haliday in Walker, 1853), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) rohdendorfi Nowakowski, 1967, C. (Cerodontha) coxalis Martinez, 1987, C. (C.) xanthocera Hendel, 1920, C. (Dizygomyza) eriophori Nowakowski, 1972, C. (Poemyza) beigerae Nowakowski, 1973, C. (P.) kerteszi (Hendel, 1931), Chromatomyia dorsata (Hendel, 1920), Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858), L. coronillae Pakalniškis, 1994, L. dracunculi Hering, 1932, Melanagromyza lappae (Loew, 1850), M. limata Spencer, 1971, M. verbasci Spencer, 1957, Napomyza inquilina (Kock, 1966), Ophiomyia crispa Guglya, 2013, O. gnaphalii Hering, 1949, O. submaura Hering, 1926, Phytobia cerasiferae (Kangas, 1955), Phb. errans (Meigen, 1830), Phb. mallochi (Hendel, 1924), Phytoliriomyza perpusilla (Meigen, 1830), Phl. variegata (Meigen, 1830), Phytomyza aconiti Hendel, 1920, Ph. anemones Hering, 1925, Ph. astrantiae Hendel, 1924, Ph. bipunctata Loew, 1858, Ph. kugleri Spencer, 1974, Ph. leucanthemi Hering, 1935, Pseudonapomyza balkanensis Spencer, 1973 and Ps. vota Spencer, 1973. The biogeographically most important are records of Amauromyza (Am.) rameli, Cerodontha (C.) xanthocera, C. (P.) kerteszi, Chromatomyia dorsata, Phytomyza kugleri and Pseudonapomyza vota being from their northernmost occurrence limits and usually the first record from Central Europe. Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) eriophori (first record outside Poland) has been found in a new southernmost locality, similarly as was also Chromatomyia rhaetica Griffiths, 1980. The biodiversity of species of the family Agromyzidae in particular large-sized protected areas of the Gemer region is discussed. Thanks to recent intensive research, the highest number of species was found in the Muránska planina National Park (250) and in the Cerová vrchovina PLA (198), which is significantly more than in the other protected areas of similar extent in Slovakia that have been studied in detail for Diptera up to the present. A new checklist of Agromyzidae for the fauna of Slovakia is presented, which now includes 414 species.

424. EFFECT OF GUT MICROBIOTA ON THE RESPONSE TO NEOADJUVANT IMMUNOTHERAPY COMBINED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract Background To explore the impact of gut microbiota diversity on the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients, aiming to identify microbial markers for predicting treatment outcomes. Methods In this study, we prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were scheduled to undergo neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy; stool specimens were collected before the first cycle, the second cycle of immunotherapy, and at the time of preoperative disease evaluation. To examine the gut microbiota's composition and abundance, we employed the 16S rDNA sequencing technique. The sequencing data were preprocessed with FLASH and Uparse software, and species annotation was performed using the SSUrRNA database. Microbiota analysis was conducted using the R language, and group differences were assessed using appropriate statistical methods. Results In this study, 43 patients (totally 122 stool samples) with neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled from December 2020 to January 2022. 16S rDNA sequencing results suggested that patients in the sensitive group had higher total fecal microbiota diversity than those in the drug-resistant group, and a notable variation in the structure of the microbiota was detected between the two groups. During treatment, the results did not show any significant statistical difference in the number of species (alpha diversity) in the sensitive group compared to the resistant group, although there was a trend towards a higher number of species in the pre-treatment sensitive group. As the treatment progressed, starting from the second cycle of treatment, the sensitive group had a higher alpha diversity than the resistant group. And we found that Bray-Curtis distance assessment of beta diversity showed that the difference between the sensitive and resistant groups also became more pronounced as treatment progressed. At the phylum level, the gut flora composition of the sensitive group remained relatively stable as treatment progressed, while the microbial diversity of the resistant group appeared to decrease. At the genus level, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia and Ruminococcus were more abundant in the immunotherapy-sensitive group; whereas Ligilactobacillus and Escherichia-Shigella was more rich in the immunotherapy-resistant group. The prediction model based on the baseline differences of gut microbiota in the two groups using a random forest method can be applied to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion There are differences in species diversity and microbiota structure between the sensitive and resistant groups of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, and the predictive model, which is based on the microbiota differences between the two groups before treatment, could be clinically relevant in predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Grassland nature reserves safeguard a high species richness and biomass of grasshoppers

Abstract In the course of land‐use change, especially since the mid‐20th century, the area of semi‐natural (unimproved) grasslands has dramatically decreased. One way to counteract this process is to designate nature reserves. However, the effectiveness of nature reserves is controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the environmental drivers of species richness and biomass of Orthoptera (hereinafter termed ‘grasshoppers’) in grasslands inside nature reserves and within the intensively used agriculture landscape (hereinafter termed ‘wider countryside’). For this purpose, we sampled the grasshoppers at the landscape scale in 45 randomly selected plots. Each plot had a size of 5 ha. The abundance of grasshoppers, as a basis for the biomass calculation, was recorded at the habitat scale in 20 meadow patches (500 m2 each). In addition, various environmental parameters such as habitat diversity, mowing intensity and vegetation structure were determined at the landscape and habitat scale. Our results illustrate the importance of nature reserves for the conservation of grasshoppers. Control plots in the wider countryside harboured fewer species than plots within nature reserves. The differences were even clearer among threatened species. On average, plots in nature reserves had almost twice as many threatened species than control plots in the wider countryside. The comparison revealed similar patterns at the habitat scale: both the number of species and biomass were higher in nature reserves. At the landscape scale, number of species were best explained by the amount of wet grassland and habitat diversity. We identified mowing intensity and to a lower extend the degree of drainage as the key drivers of species richness and biomass at the habitat scale. Synthesis and applications: To preserve biodiversity in nature reserves, we recommend (i) leaving uncut refuges during mowing and (ii) blocking drainage to stabilise the water level. Both measures contribute to a high species number and abundance of grasshoppers and many other insects. An effective conservation measure to promote species richness in the wider countryside would be to increase habitat diversity. This can be done by creating or restoring fallow islands, field margins, fringes and hedgerows.

Diversity, abundance and habitat association of small mammals in Maze National Park, Ethiopia

We investigated species composition, relative abundance, habitat association and density of small mammals in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. Data were collected using the capture-mark-recapture technique in three representative habitat types (grassland, bushland and riverine forest) from November 2021 to August 2022. Descriptive statistics and indices for diversity and evenness were used to analyse the data. A total of 679 rodents and insectivores were collected during a span of 2 646 trap nights. Of these, 534 (76.64%) individuals were newly captured, while 145 (23.36%) were recaptures. Overall trap success was 20.18%. Five species of rodents were captured: four from the family Muridae (Mastomys natalensis, Arvicanthis niloticus, Rattus rattus and Lemniscomys macculus) and one (Xerus rutilus) from the family Sciuridae; and one insectivore species (Elephantulus rufescens) from the family Macroscelididae. Mastomys natalensis (178; 33.3%) was the most abundant, while X. rutilus (1; 0.2%) and E. rufescens (1; 0.2%) were the least abundant. Small mammal species varied significantly with habitat types (χ2 = 6.101, df = 2, p ≤ 0.05), with the highest count in the bushland habitat (197; 36.89 %) and the lowest in riverine forest (152; 28.46%). The bushland and riverine forest habitats supported the highest (H’ = 1.04) and the lowest (H’ = 0.506) diversity of small mammal species, respectively. A relatively high number of small mammal species were caught during the wet season (n = 336) compared to the dry season (n = 198). Future studies using more trapping grids covering additional habitat types and genetic analyses for small mammal species confirmation are necessary for a better understanding of the Park’s small mammal fauna.

Vascular epiphytes of the South America Dry Diagonal: characterising their occurrence and richness in this neglected region

ABSTRACT The South America Dry Diagonal (SADD) is the most extensive and continuous portion of dry vegetation on the continent, characterised by lower rainfall and a marked dry season. Epiphytes are very poorly known and understudied in this area, even though they represent a high proportion of plant diversity in South America. Here, we compiled a dataset of epiphyte records from the SADD. The compiled epiphyte records date from 1859 to 2021, covering all four SADD domains, four countries, and 24 ecoregions. We utilised two databases for life form classification: Epilist and Brazil Flora Group. Our dataset contains 41,039 records distributed among 1119 epiphyte and hemiepiphyte species belonging to three main groups: angiosperms, ferns, and lycophytes. The SADD domains host a high number of unique species in each domain, with the Cerrado and Caatinga regions serving as primary hosts for the majority of species in the SADD dataset. Despite notable differences in species composition among domains, the least significant differences were observed between the Caatinga and Cerrado, as well as between the Chaco and the Pantanal. Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae families exhibited the highest species diversity within the region. However, the species containing the highest number of specimens collected varied considerably among the domains. Herein, we also outlined some inconsistencies in the life-form classification across taxonomic bases, acknowledging the challenges of categorising epiphyte species while considering their intraspecific life-form variation.

A nonlinear fractional fishery resource system model with Crowley–Martin functional response under Mittag-Leffler kernel

This article studies the action of predators and the predator-dependent functional response in the fishery resource model. We employ the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo fractional derivative to study the proposed fractional fishery resource model in the presence of predators with Crowley–Martin functional response. We present a theoretical and numerical analysis of the governing nonlinear differential equations of the model consisting of the biomass density of the fish population inside the unrestricted fishing zone, the biomass density of the fish population inside the reserve or restricted fishing zone, and the predator population. Using the fixed point theory and nonlinear analysis, we establish the existence and uniqueness results of the proposed ABC fractional fishery resource model. We establish stability analysis of the fishery model using the Ulam–Hyers stability approach. The numerical scheme of the fractional Adams–Bashforth method is provided and the approximate solutions for the model under consideration are given and discussed. We observe that an increase in the fish capturing rates increases the size of the predator population and reduces the fish subpopulations. To maintain a high number of fish species, we recommend a control measure to reduce the fish capturing rate by the predators.

Plants with Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli, a Meta-Analysis for Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applications.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat, necessitating innovative strategies to combat infectious diseases. Plants and their extracts offer alternatives/support to traditional antibiotics, and their diverse phytocomplexes with antimicrobial properties can be exploited. The Mediterranean hosts a high number of biodiverse plant species known for their bioactive compounds. This study focuses on identifying plant species and phytochemical constituents with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Utilizing a systematic literature review and meta-analysis approach, we screened 3037 entries, yielding 70 studies suitable for MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) annotation. The results highlighted Lavandula spp., Plectranthus spp. and Lupinus jaimehintoniana as the most effective plants with average MICs of, respectively, 0.144 mg/mL, 0.260 mg/mL, and 0.140 mg/mL. These results might help to fight AMR via the discovery of complementary natural antimicrobial agents to support the development of green veterinary pharmacology. Further exploration of these resources promises valuable insights for future support to antimicrobial strategies.

Diversity of macrofungi in southeast Xizang 1. The wood-decay fungi

ABSTRACT A survey on the diversity of wood-decay fungi in southeast Xizang was carried out from 2019 to 2023. Based on morphology, ecology, biogeography, and molecular biology, 558 species, belonging to three classes, 15 orders, 57 families, and 177 genera, were identified. One new species, Epithele miscanthi, is described. Species composition analysis showed that there were fifteen dominant families with more than 10 species. These families include 459 species, accounting for 82.26% of the total species found. Thirty-three genera with five or more species are treated as dominant genera, and 325 species were included in these genera, accounting for 58.24% of the total species. Among these, 313 species (56.09%) occurred on angiosperm wood only, 168 species (30.11%) on gymnosperm wood only, 45 species (8.06%) on both angiosperm and gymnosperm wood, 17 species (3.05%) on monocotyledons only, and only one species, Hymenochaete rheicolor, grew on both monocotyledons and dicotyledons. The highest number of species, 266 (47.67%), were found on fallen trunks, followed by fallen branches, rotten wood, stumps, dead standing trees, living trees, and charred wood with 175, 123, 116, 82, 57, and 4 species, respectively. In addition, 456 species cause a white rot and 85 species cause a brown rot, accounting for 81.72% and 15.23% of our studied species, respectively. Statistics were also made on the rotting type and the number of edible or medicinal fungi.

Network analyses show horizontal and vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes on their hosts in a fragment of cloud forest in Central Mexico.

Cloud forests figure as one of the most diverse ecosystems, accounting not only for a high number of plant species but also with a great variety of interactions among them. A common interaction in these forests is the one between vascular epiphytes and their hosts. However, few studies have used the network approach to analyze them. Here, we analyze the horizontal and vertical structure of the vascular epiphyte - host network in a cloud forest in central Mexico. We quantified the number of epiphyte stands on each host both total and per-stratum. Complete network, group, and species metrics were estimated at both levels of analysis. The host - epiphyte networks had relatively low network size but were highly connected; moderately nested, with low specialization, and modularity; but higher vulnerability than generality, and high niche overlap. The community was composed by a high number of generalist species. To our knowledge this is the first study in which network analyses are conducted with standardized data and including all host and epiphyte species in the community. The analyses suggest that the networks are robust, and that functional redundancy might be probable, two advantageous characteristics in a very fragmented and threatened cloud forest.

Ethnobotanical survey of multipurpose, medicinal and wild edible plants in the upper Gibe watershed landscapes, West Shewa zone, Ethiopia

Plants provide multiple ecosystem services that can, directly and indirectly, benefit the local community and beyond. This study assessed the diversity of the multiple uses of medicinal plants (MPs) and wild edible plants (WEPs) as well as associated local knowledge in Bako Tibe District, Ethiopia. Based on the recommendation of local authorities, eight key informants were selected out of the general informants (48) at eight sites. Ethnobotanical data were quantitatively analyzed through the use of use values, pairwise comparisons, and reference and direct matrix rankings. In total, 74 species from 61 genera and 36 families were found to have multiple uses. The Fabaceae family had the highest number of species (11), followed by the Moraceae family (eight). Trees were represented by 31 species. Twenty species were used to treat 22 human and livestock ailments. The highest preference ranking was recorded for Ocimum lamiifolium for treating febrile illness. Leaves (55.2%) and fruits (13 species) were the most commonly used parts for MP and WEP species, respectively. The highest use value was recorded for Cordia africana, among the top 10 multipurpose species. The findings showed that the most preferred MP and WEP species need further phytochemical and food nutritional analysis, respectively.

Mapping Asia Plants: Plant Diversity and a Checklist of Vascular Plants in Indonesia.

Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia, is the world's largest tropical island country. It is globally recognized as a unique center of biodiversity in the Asian-Australian transitional zone. To date, however, no national plant checklist of Indonesia has been published. Here, we collected botanical information on the flora of Indonesia and presented for the first time a checklist of known native species of vascular plants in the country. Our checklist included 30,466 species belonging to 2968 genera and 317 families, representing 8.7% of the 351,180 vascular plant species worldwide. Among the seven regions, Sumatra had the highest number of species at 10,902, followed by Indonesian New Guinea (9935), Java (9289), Kalimantan (9191), Sulawesi (7048), Maluku (5294), and Lesser Sunda Islands (4514). In contrast, Indonesian New Guinea had a much higher proportion of locally endemic species than other regions (59%). The seven regions were divided into three phytogeographical areas: the Sunda Shelf, the Sahul Shelf, and the Wallacea, based on similarities in floristic composition. Our checklist for Indonesia provides basic information for biodiversity conservation and associated research.

Threshold responses and relationships between waterbird distribution and habitat factors at Shengjin Lake, China

The wintering period is an essential part of the annual life history of waterbirds. The environmental conditions of habitats in winter directly affect the abundance and physical condition of waterbirds. Therefore, it is important to study the relationship between waterbird abundance and habitat factors. In this study, we conducted significance and threshold analyses between habitat factors and the waterbird community at Shengjin Lake, a Ramsar Site in China, using Redundancy Analysis (RDA), Spearman Correlation Analysis, and Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN). The results indicate that seven environmental variables significantly affected the abundance of waterbird communities, that is, fractional vegetation cover, degree of receding water, grassland area, mudflat area, shallow water area, deep water area, and distance to reeds. Waterbird communities exhibited significant threshold responses to all seven factors. The number of species significantly responding to different habitat factors varied among waterbird communities, with the highest number of species (15) responding to distance to reeds. Except for the deep water area and distance to reeds, waterbirds showed higher positive than negative thresholds for the remaining five factors. Different groups of waterbirds influenced the threshold responses of waterbird communities to habitat factors, and there were variations in how each waterbird group responded to these factors. The results of this study highlight the importance of habitat type, water recession degree, and shelter conditions in waterbird habitat selection. Minor differences in habitat structure can influence waterbird habitat preferences. Therefore, wetland management at Shengjin Lake should consider the specific habitat needs of different waterbird species.

Biogeography of oribatid mites (Acari) reflects their ancient origin and points to Southeast Asia as centre of radiation

AbstractAimUnderstanding the worldwide distribution of species has fascinated scientists at least since Alfred Russel Wallace. Global patterns of belowground biodiversity may fundamentally differ from those of aboveground organisms. Here, we examine the global pattern and potential mechanisms driving the endemism and overlap of a soil microarthropod taxon.LocationGlobal.TaxonOribatida, Acari.MethodsWe investigated the global distribution of oribatid mites in five biogeographic regions including North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa and Oceania using a world list on the distribution of ~11,400 described species (including subspecies) at species, genera and family levels.Results and Main ConclusionWe found that most “endemic” (i.e., only occurring in one of the regions) species (4297) and also genera (143) occurred in Eurasia indicating that this region was the centre of radiation of oribatid mites. Within Eurasia, oribatid mite diversity was highest in Southeast Asia (1975 species) likely reflecting the long tropical history of this region (at least 200 million years), and also high fluctuations in water levels and island formation on the Sunda Shield. On a family level, oribatid mite diversity did not differ between biogeographic regions indicating that oribatid mites are much older than the tropics and older than the existence of Pangaea supporting the view of their origin in the early Palaeozoic. Finally, among the 55 species that occurred in all biogeographic regions nearly 50% reproduce by thelytoky and colonize high latitude ecosystems, indicating that compared to sexual species a disproportionally high number of parthenogenetic species is distributed worldwide suggesting that they possess a general‐purpose genotype. The other ~50% sexuals predominantly occur in tropical/subtropical regions across biogeographic regions supporting the view that resource shortage in tropical regions favours sex. Our findings highlight the importance of biogeographical studies of soil animals to better understand their diversity, distribution and life history strategies.

Diversity and Distribution of Monocot Understory Herbs during Tropical Forest Succession in Northeastern Costa Rica

Broad-leaved monocot herbs form one of the most common and diverse growth forms of Neotropical plants. Their significance and frequency of occurrence is particularly notable in the understories of tropical rainforests, where they form a dominant element. We assessed and quantified changes in the cover and diversity of understory herb communities in a chronosequence of 1 ha permanent plots established as part of a multidisciplinary study on tropical forest regeneration in the Atlantic lowlands of northeastern Costa Rica. Sampled were two young stands cleared 12 years ago, two secondary forests with 21 and 39 of years of recovery since clearance, and two stands in old-growth primary forest. Changes in species composition during succession were assessed using Chao’s Jaccard similarity index. Observed species richness ranged from 15 to 26 species in individual plots, with the greatest number of species in the 21-year intermediate-age and fewest in the young 12-year plots. Herb species sampled represented 6 families, 15 genera, and 39 species, with the Araceae contributing the largest number of species. Ten species were sampled in all six stands, while fourteen species were found exclusively in one plot. Herb density (ramets m−2) showed a hump-shade trend, with peak density in the intermediate stands and a lower level in mature and young secondary forests. Mean herb cover in 25 m2 quadrats ranged from 2.0% (young stand) to 22.7% (intermediate-age stand) and differed significantly both among stand types and among sites. Both observed and estimated species richness increased along the chronosequence as a whole, with the highest number of species in primary forest, although only slightly higher than in intermediate-age stands. Over half of the species exhibited some degree of clonal growth, with the extent of clonal spread varying among species and forest stands. Although we did not find a clear pattern between clonality and forest age, we observed a greater number of clonal patches in secondary over primary forest stands.

Through the green mosaic: Different tropical vegetation types have complementary effects on parasitoid diversity and biological control in organic agroecosystems

Land use change threaten global biodiversity, impacting ecosystem services, especially in diverse tropical regions. Yet, biodiversity conservation does not guarantee ecosystem services provision, given species' variable responses to local and landscape factors. Here, we evaluate how the landscape and local resources affect parasitoid diversity and aphid biological control in a tropical organic crop. Locally, we compared parasitoid communities within the crops and on adjacent non-crop plant strips and evaluated the effect of flower resource abundance on parasitoid diversity. At the landscape scale, we analyzed the effect of natural areas and their specific vegetational types on parasitoid diversity and the scale of these effects. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between biodiversity and biological control. Non-crop plant strips had higher parasitoid species richness and abundance than the crops, but similar species composition. Flower resource abundance in the non-crop strips negatively affected parasitoid richness. Natural areas in the landscape benefited parasitoid richness at a close range (0.42 km) and reduced parasitoid abundance at a wider scale (1.75 km). Forests and savannas increased parasitoid richness and reduced abundance, while grasslands drive parasitoid abundance and may disrupt species richness. Savannah areas, where trees and grasses coexist boosted the positive effects of forests on species richness and of grasslands on abundance. Parasitoid species richness benefited biological control exclusively in communities with intermediate and high number of parasitoid species. Our findings show that natural vegetation types with different wood densities have complementary effects in parasitoid diversity in tropical agroecosystems and represent a useful baseline for development of management and zoning plans.

Distribution and abundance of ichthyoplankton in natural al artificial reefs in Edremit Bay, Northern Aegean Sea, Türkiye

Edremit Bay is one of the important areas for small–scale fishing in the North Aegean Sea. For this reason, more detailed ichthyoplankton studies should be continued to evaluate the fish stock status of the region, calculate the adult fish biomass, and determine the spawning period, place, and time of fish species. In addition, from 2011 to 2013, artificial reefs were constructed in Edremit Bay. Regular investigation of fish eggs and larvae in the region influenced by the Edremit Bay artificial reef would provide better knowledge of the structure and function of the local ecosystem and provide a basis for monitoring the marine ecosystem in the area. The current research examined the species abundance and distribution of surface plankton samples collected in 2015 and 2016. The evaluation also included the influence of abiotic environmental factors such as temperature, pH, chlorophyll a (chl–a), salinity, depth, and dissolved oxygen. Throughout the research, 3345 eggs and 176 larvae were analyzed. 57 species of eggs and larvae were identified. Eggs were not found in the natural reef (S3) in the summer and winter of 2015, while the highest egg abundance (212.83·100 m-3) was recorded in the natural reef (S1) in the summer of 2016. Larvae were not found in the natural reefs (S2 and S3) in the summer, autumn and winter of 2015 and in the artificial reefs (S4 and S5) in the summer and autumn in 2015 while the highest larvae abundance (8.12·100 m-3) on the artificial reef (S1) in summer 2016. Although the natural reefs had the highest number of species (30 species), the artificial reefs showed the lowest species diversity (17 species).

Taxonomic and functional diversity along successional stages on post-coalmine spoil heaps

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in Europe, but the excavation of hard coal has covered large areas with disposed rock waste, and turned the natural habitats into disturbed novel ecosystems with harsh conditions differ in time and space. To examine the spontaneous complex successional gradient, we studied a large number of post coalmine heaps in Upper Silesia, which differ in vegetation type and age. Cluster analysis based on plant community composition (367 species in total) separated all surveyed plots on coal mining spoil heaps with herbaceous vegetation from Late Stage (LS) forests aged 14–56 years. Furthermore, the herbaceous vegetation was sub-grouped to three stages: Initial Stage (IS) aged 2–5 years, Early Stage (ES) aged 3–8 years and Mid-Stage (MS) aged 5–12 years. MS vegetation was characterised by the highest species richness and diversity (47 and 2.79) compared to ES (30 and 2.18) and IS (9 and 1.6), but higher species number and a similar diversity index occurred in LS (37 and 2.81). Functional diversity (FD) and community weighted mean (CWM) of nine functional traits showed higher (23.1) functional richness, higher (0.72) functional divergence, higher (4.5) functional dispersion, and higher value (24.4) of Rao’s quadratic entropy in LS compared to those calculated from the first three stages. Species at the initial successional stage (IS) were characterised by lower canopy height, seed mass, higher lateral spread, and specific leaf area (SLA). Additionally, the lowest (0.22 mg CO2 per hour per square metre) soil respiration (Sr) rate was recorded from IS compared to (0.53, 0.82 and 1.00) from ES, LS and MS, respectively. The soil water content (SWC) was the most important factor affecting the soil respiration, while the soil temperature (St) did not follow the well-studied relationship between soil respiration and soil temperature. Our spatial and temporal analyses illustrated changes in plant community assembly processes in the course of spontaneous vegetation succession on post coalmine spoil heaps. The importance of trait mediated abiotic filtration in community assembly in initial-, early-, and mid-stages of succession with an increase in competitive exclusion at the late successional stage was emphasized.

Ethnobotany in Angola: The contribution of late 19th century christian missionaries to the knowledge of medicinal wild plants

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAngola has an extraordinary plant diversity and a great ethnobotanical potential. However, there is a general lack of information about the first botanical explorations in the country and their contribution to the knowledge of the medicinal flora. Aim of the studyThe main aim of this study was to unveil the ethnobotanical legacy of José Maria Antunes and Eugène Dekindt, priests of the first Catholic mission in Huíla (Angola) and shed light on their contribution to the knowledge of medicinal wild plants of the country, including information on the uses, plant parts used, and preparation methods documented in the late 19th century. The findings are discussed considering recent ethnobotanical studies to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the historical and traditional uses of plants in Angola over the last two centuries. Materials and methodsBased on the information available in manuscripts and on the study of botanical collections preserved in herbaria of Portugal and Angola, we extracted relevant information about the species used in traditional medicine by the rural population of Huíla, the health conditions treated, and the mode of preparation and application. ResultsOur results revealed that Antunes and Dekindt conducted the first ethnobotanical study in Huíla, and documented a large number of medicinal wild plants. From these, we report 191 medicinal species, including 25 endemic and four introduced species, belonging to 56 plant families and 146 genera. Fabaceae family presents the highest richness of medicinal plants (39 taxa), followed by Rubiaceae (13), Asteraceae (10), and Apocynaceae (9). The illnesses reported were classified into 15 different categories, with the highest number of species (49) corresponding to unspecific conditions, such as general pains, chills, and fever. Thirty-seven species were reported for respiratory diseases, 31 for musculoskeletal problems, and 30 for digestive issues. Leaves were the most used plant part for medicinal purposes (84 species). Infusion was the most frequently described preparation method (40 species), followed by maceration (24 species), and powdering (36 species). ConclusionsThe legacy of Antunes and Dekindt's work improves our understanding of Angola's botanical richness and traditional uses of plant resources. Our findings highlight the presence of unique medicinal resources in Angola, especially among endemic species, which hold the potential to improve the quality of life of rural communities. Moreover, our research underscores the lack of knowledge of medicinal species, emphasizing the risk of losing valuable historical information.

Abundance and Distribution of Benthic Macro-Invertebrates of Luhu Dam, Michika, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study uses benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators to assess water quality in the Luhu Mini Dam, Michika, Adamawa State. The study involves the collection of benthic macroinvertebrate samples over six months, utilizing the Van Veen grab method for sampling and preservation in formalin. Upon transportation to the laboratory, the samples were identified and subjected to statistical analysis, including the Shannon and Weiner Index, Margalef’s Index, Simpson’s diversity Index, and Pielou’s Evenness. The study aims to provide fundamental information on the health of the Luhu Mini Dam and to understand the water quality and pollution status, thereby informing necessary management measures. The distribution and diversity of species across three different stations. A total of 462 individuals representing 20 taxa from 3 phyla were collected. Station 1 yielded 16 taxa and 162 individuals, station 2 had 17 taxa and 201 individuals, and station 3 had 17 taxa and 99 individuals. The diversity indices revealed variation in the number of species across stations, with stations 3 and 2 having the highest number of species, while station 1 had the lowest. The general diversity (H') was highest at station 3, followed by stations 1 and 2, whereas station 3 also exhibited the highest Evenness index (E). Moreover, the taxa richness index, as calculated by Margalef's Index (d), peaked at station 3. Simpson's dominance index showed that Station 2 exhibited the highest dominance, followed by Station 1 and Station 3. These findings provide valuable insights into the distribution and diversity of species across different biotopes.

Mangrove ecosystems as fundamental habitats for fish from the Mexican Caribbean: An evaluation between a conserved and restoration zone

Mangrove ecosystems can function as a habitat for many juvenile marine fish species, with provisions of food and refuge. Seemingly, these ecosystems have been extensively reduced due to anthropogenic activity, as is widespread land use and road construction along the coastline. Nonetheless, much needed restoration efforts have increased tremendously over time. This study analyzes fish community, and the manner in which habitats in the mangrove ecosystem are used, comparing two mangrove zones, a conserved zone (healthier state) and one undergoing restoration. Hydrologically, no significant differences were registered (KW p>0.05). Of the 24 species registered, marine species were dominant in the conserved zone and estuarine species dominant in the restoration zone. Juvenile fishes were more abundant in the conserved mangrove zone, with a higher proportion of adults found in the restoration zone. According to Hutcheson’s t test, fish diversity showed significant statistical differences between sites combined with distinct climatic seasons. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated a relationship between secondary freshwater species Floridichthys polyommus and Cyprinodon artifrons and greater salinity and temperature, whereas marine species had a higher relationship with well oxygenated sites. A high number of marine fish species in juvenile stage in the conserved area may relate to mangroves functioning as nurseries. This can serve as a useful indicator by managers taking an integral approach to evaluate and monitor present and future mangrove restoration programs and pathways.