Indicator Species Research Articles

Squamate reptiles as indicators in fragments of Brazilian cerrado

ABSTRACT The data on the reptilian fauna of the state of Goiás are one-off and reveal a lack of information about this group. The aim of the research was to know the composition of the reptile fauna within the area of the Anglo American mining company, evaluating the relationship of the species with the years, the types of environments and the presence of indicator species. Fieldwork was carried out during seven years, from 2007 to 2013. Sampling was performed through active search, pitfall traps, occasional encounters, and third-party records. We recorded 36 reptile species: 15 lizards and 21 snakes. The most common lizards were Anolis meridionalis, Cnemidophorus sp, and the most abundant snakes were Apostolepis cerradoensis and Bothrops moojeni. There was no relationship between the species and the years. On the other hand, there was relationship between the species and the environments or between the species and the types of habitats. The lizard Ameivula ocellifera was found as an indicator species of Cerrado areas, as well as the snake Leptotyphlops dulcis We have seen that lizards are specific to their habitat, making it essential to preserve open and forested areas for the conservation of the species that live there.

Diversity and community structure of microzooplankton in the eastern Indian Ocean during the inter-monsoon period

Microzooplankton (MZP) are an important part of the microbial food web and play a pivotal role in connecting the classic food chain with the microbial loop in the marine ecosystem. They may play a more important role than mesozooplankton in the lower latitudes and oligotrophic oceans. In this article, we studied the species composition, dominant species, abundance, and carbon biomass of MZP, including the relationship between biological variables and environmental factors in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean during the spring intermonsoon. We found that the MZP community in this ocean showed a high species diversity, with a total of 340 species. Among these, the heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDS) (205 species) and ciliates (CTS) (126 species) were found to occupy the most significant advantageous position. In addition, CTS (45.3%) and HDS (39.7%) accounted for a larger proportion of the population abundance, while HDS (47.1%) and copepod nauplii (CNP) (46.4%) made a larger contribution to the carbon biomass. There are significant differences in the ability of different groups of MZP to assimilate organic carbon. In this sea area, MZP are affected by periodic currents, and temperature is the main factor affecting the distribution of the community. The MZP community is dominated by eurytopic species and CNP. CTS are more sensitive to environmental changes than HDS, among which Ascampbelliella armilla may be a better habitat indicator species. In low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean areas, phytoplankton with smaller cell diameters were found to occupy a higher proportion, while there was no significant correlation between the total concentration of integrated chlorophyll a and the biological variables of MZP. Therefore, we propose that the relationship between size-fractionated phytoplankton and MZP deserves further study. In addition, the estimation of the carbon biomass of MZP requires the establishment of more detailed experimental methods to reflect the real situation of organisms. This study provides more comprehensive data for understanding the diversity and community structure of MZP in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, which is also of good value for studying the adaptation mechanism and ecological functions of MZP in low-latitude and oligotrophic ocean ecosystems.

Unveiling the future of relict Mediterranean mountain peatlands by integrating the potential response of ecological indicators with environmental suitability assessments

Mediterranean mountain peatlands are unique ecosystems because of their distinct hydrology and environmental conditions, as well as being home to a vast array of rare and endemic species. Due to anthropogenic activities and ongoing climate change, mountain peatlands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in Mediterranean areas. Climate scenarios for the western Mediterranean area estimate a sharp decrease in annual precipitation and an upsurge in temperature, which may disrupt the structure and functioning of ground-water-dependent ecosystems. To predict how the environmental suitability of Mediterranean mountain peatlands would be impacted by climate-induced changes, a microscale climatic model was used to downscale 2 m hourly air temperature to a high spatial resolution of 100 m in protected area of North Portugal. The environmental suitability was assessed based on bioclimatic indices associated with mountain peatland indicator species. Climate change projections envisage a decline in the environmental suitability of Mediterranean mountain peatlands and their indicator species, which could compromise this relict ecosystem probability of occurrence. Specifically, environmental suitability was considered highly sensitive to increases in temperature, namely when coupled with decreases in precipitation, resulting in significant reshaping of potential evaporation, evapotranspiration, and soil water content of the areas where peatlands actually occur. Also, the importance of microclimatic information for detecting change in ecosystems that are more vulnerable to climate change and in defining the best management options and conservation priorities is highlighted. Considering their vital role in the conservation of biodiversity and provider of ecosystem services, actions to mitigate and restore Mediterranean mountain peatlands are urgent.

Metals and microorganisms in a Maar lake sediment core indicating the anthropogenic impact over last 800 years

A closed Maar lake, receiving mostly atmospheric deposition, offers a unique setting for investigating the impact of human activities on the environment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the historical record of metals in core sediments of Maar Lake in Huguangyan (HGY), Southeast China, and elucidate the possible microbial responses to anthropogenic metal stress. Five stages were divided according to the historical record of metals and corresponding distribution of microbial community, among which Pb and Sn showed a peak value around 1760 CE, indicating the ancient mining and smelting activities. Since the 1980s, a substantial enrichment of metals such as Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb was observed, due to the rapid industrial growth in China. In terms of microorganisms, Chloroflexi phylum, particularly dominated by Anaerolineales, showed significant correlations with Pb and Sn, and could potentially serve as indicator species for mining and smelting-related contamination. Desulfarculales and Desulfobacterales were found to be more prevalent in recent period and exhibited positive correlations with anthropogenic metals. Moreover, according to the multivariate regression modeling and variance decomposition analysis, Pb and Sn could regulate Anaerolineales and further pose impact on the carbon cycle; while sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) could response to anthropogenic metals and influence sulfur cycle. These findings provide new insights into the interaction between metals and microbial communities over human history.

Phosphorus Rather than Nitrogen Addition Changed Soil Cyanobacterial Community in a Tropical Secondary Forest of South China

Soil cyanobacteria in tropical forests is understudied despite its important role in soil biochemical process and plant growth. Under a nitrogen (N) deposition background in tropical forests, it is important to learn how soil cyanobacterial communities respond to N deposition and whether phosphorus (P) mediated this response. A fully two-factor (N and P additions) factorial design with four blocks (replicates), each including a 12 × 12 m plot per treatment (Control, +N, +P, and +NP) were established in a tropical secondary forest in 2009. In July of 2022, soil cyanobacteria at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths in the experimental site were collected and analyzed using a metagenomic method. The impact of N and P additions on soil cyanobacteria remained consistent across the different soil depths, even though there was a significant contrast between the two layers. The effect of N addition on soil cyanobacteria did not significantly interact with P addition. N addition increased soil N availability and decreased soil pH but did not significantly affect the soil cyanobacterial community. In contrast, P addition increased soil P availability and soil pH, but decreased soil N availability and substantially changed the soil cyanobacterial community. P addition significantly decreased the abundance of soil cyanobacteria, especially abundant ones. P addition also increased cyanobacterial species richness and Shannon’s diversity, which might be explained by the decline in dominant species and the emergence of new species as nestedness and indicator species analyses suggest. We concluded that (1) soil cyanobacteria in tropical forests exhibits a greater sensitivity to elevated P availability compared to N; (2) an increase in soil P supply may mitigate the advantage held by dominant species, thus facilitating the growth of other species and leading to alterations in the soil cyanobacterial community. This study improves our understanding on how soil cyanobacterial communities in tropical forest responds to N and P addition.

РЕНТГЕНОВСКАЯ ВИЗУАЛИЗАЦИЯ КАК МЕТОД ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИИ ФРАГМЕНТОВ ГЛУБОКОВОДНЫХ СООБЩЕСТВООБРАЗУЮЩИХ СКЛЕРАКТИНИЕВЫХ КОРАЛЛОВ

Deep-sea colonial Scleractinia (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) are indicator species of vulnerable marine ecosystems known as deep-sea coral reefs. The number of species of deep-sea community-forming colonial Scleractinia is small and specimens of good preservation, especially those collected in a live state, can be easily identified to the species level. Identification of fragments, especially those of the basal part of colonies, can be difficult. We have shown that X-ray examination can effectively distinguish colony fragments of the widespread deep-sea community-forming scleractinian corals Desmophyllum pertusum and Solenosmilia variabilis (Caryophylliidae). The skeleton of S. variabilis is considerably denser and less X-ray permeable compared to D. pertusum. The calyx cavities of the corallites of S. variabilis are visible only at the periphery of the fragment and practically do not extend to the outside. In D. pertusum, the cavities of the corallites can be deeply traced in the fragment body, they have a conical shape and considerably expand to the periphery. The proposed method of identification is inexpensive, does not require special sample preparation, and allows rapid identification of bulk material.

Revised New World bioregions and environmental correlates for vectors of Chagas disease (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

The subfamily Triatominae includes a group of hematophagous insects, vectors of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. Triatomines occur in the Old and New World and occupy diverse habitats including tropical and temperate areas. Some studies suggest the distributions of triatomines group into three or four regions. This study objectively determined bioregions focused specifically on New World Triatominae, using clustering and ordination analysis. We also identified indicator species by bioregion and investigated relationships among bioregions and environmental variables using redundancy analysis and multivariate regression trees. We delineated seven bioregions specific to Triatominae and linked each with indicator species. This result suggests more biogeographical structure exists than was revealed in earlier studies that were more general, subjective, and based on older taxonomic and distributional information. Precipitation, elevation, and vegetation were important variables in the delimitating bioregions. This implies that more detailed study of how these factors influence triatomine distributions could benefit understanding of how Chagas disease is spread.

Exposomic Signatures of Cervical Pain.

We evaluated risk factors associated with cervical pain (CP) among officers and enlisted members of the U.S. Army and Marine Aviation community using an exposomic approach. Specifically, we aimed to determine the factors associated with reported CP. This is a retrospective cohort study that utilized the Medical Assessment and Readiness System housed at Womack Army Medical Center to evaluate the longitudinal data taken from medical and workforce resources. This study included 77,864 active duty AMAC members during October 2015-December 2019. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the independent variables of rank, service time, deployment, Armed Forces Qualification Test score, tobacco use, alcohol use, age, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index, marital status, and education level and the dependent variable, incidence occurrence of CP. The total analysis included 77,864 individuals with 218,180 person-years of observations. The incidence rate of CP was 18.8 per 100 person-years, with a 12% period prevalence. Cervical pain was independently associated with rank, service time, Armed Forces Qualification Test score, and alcohol use (all P < .05). Our longitudinal exposomic signatures-based approach aims to complement the outcomes of data science and analytics from Medical Assessment and Readiness System with validations of objective biochemical indicator species observed in Army and Marine Aviation community members suffering from CP. This initial approach using parallel track complementarity has the potential of substantiating the underlying mechanisms foundational to design prospective personalized algorithms that can be used as a predictive model. Finally, a specific evaluation of occupational risk factors may provide insight into factors not readily ascertained from the civilian literature.

An Index of biotic condition (IBC) using birds as indicators of coastal wetland quality in North America’s Laurentian Great Lakes

To survive in an area, plant and animal species must confront many interacting environmental stressors at different spatial and temporal scales. Consequently, assemblages of resident species, which have successfully negotiated these stressors, are widely recognized as indicators of environmental quality. Many biotic variables have been employed as indicator metrics, but the simplest is presence/absence of sensitive species in a standardized field sample. We describe a multi-species ecological indicator, the Index of Biotic Condition (IBC), which overcomes key concerns with using indicator species or species assemblages to assess environmental quality. Developing an IBC requires substantial ecological knowledge and preliminary data to identify an appropriate set of species or species groups for the area and habitat(s) of interest and to quantify the sensitivity of these species to an explicit environmental reference gradient. Based on objective biotic response (BR) functions describing the relationship between species occurrences and the environmental gradient, we outline a method for deriving species weights (factors that determine the relative contributions of species / species groups), subsequently used to calculate the simple multispecies index. The IBC is more rigorous than structurally similar metrics like the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) and average Coefficient of Conservatism (C¯) and, at least for some applications, is more parsimonious than comprehensive metrics like the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and our previously described Index of Ecological Condition (IEC). We apply information from standardized basin-wide bird surveys conducted between 2011 and 2022 (particularly a subset of data from 2011 to 2015) to develop an IBC for comparing and interpreting the environmental quality of 794 wetlands in the coastal zone of North America’s Laurentian Great Lakes. Implicit in this formulation is the existence of a high-quality reference assemblage that includes 14 obligate or facultative bird species/species groups characteristic of these wetlands. The index ranges from 0 (worst condition) to 10 (best condition) and is correlated with species richness (r = 0.87), although the IBC provides additional information reflecting the taxon-specific environmental sensitivities. The distribution of IBC values for 4,359 point samples in Great Lakes coastal wetlands between 2011 and 2022 is strongly skewed right, with a median value of 2.31. Only 28 wetland points (<1%) yielded an IBC value of 8.0 or greater, suggesting that relatively complete coastal wetland bird assemblages rarely occur at specific points in today’s Great Lakes coastal wetlands, consistent with the region’s well-documented historical reduction in biological diversity.

Status and distribution of Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju &amp; Welzen a secondary indicator species in riparian forest ecosystem of a north bank tributary of river Brahmaputra in Northeast India

Status and distribution of Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju &amp; Welzen a secondary indicator species in riparian forest ecosystem of a north bank tributary of river Brahmaputra in Northeast India

Differences on the level of hepatic transcriptome between two flatfish species in response to liver cancer and environmental pollution levels

Environmental factors can cause cancer in both wild animals and humans. In ecological settings, genetic variation and natural selection can sometimes produce resilience to the negative impacts of environmental change. An increase in oncogenic substances in natural habitats has therefore, unintentionally, created opportunities for using polluted habitats to study cancer defence mechanisms. The Baltic and North Sea are among the most contaminated marine areas, with a long history of pollution. Two flatfish species (flounder, Platichthys flesus and dab, Limanda limanda) are used as ecotoxicological indicator species due to pollution-induced liver cancer. Cancer is more prevalent in dab, suggesting species-specific differences in vulnerability and/or defence mechanisms. We conducted gene expression analyses for 30 flatfishes. We characterize between- and within-species patterns in potential cancer-related mechanisms. By comparing cancerous and healthy fishes, and non-cancerous fishes from clean and polluted sites, we suggest also genes and related physiological mechanisms that could contribute to a higher resistance to pollution-induced cancer in flounders. We discovered changes in transcriptome related to elevated pollutant metabolism, alongside greater tumour suppression mechanisms in the liver tissue of flounders compared to dabs. This suggests either hormetic upregulation of tumour suppression or a stronger natural selection pressure for higher cancer resistance for flounders in polluted environment. Based on gene expression patterns seen in cancerous and healthy fish, for liver cancer to develop in flounders, genetic defence mechanisms need to be suppressed, while in dabs, analogous process is weak or absent. We conclude that wild species could offer novel insights and ideas for understanding the nature and evolution of natural cancer defence mechanisms.

Constructing indicator species distribution models to study the potential invasion risk of invasive plants: A case of the invasion of Parthenium hysterophorus in China.

As invasive plants are often in a non-equilibrium expansion state, traditional species distribution models (SDMs) are likely underestimating their suitable habitat. New methods are necessary to identify potential invasion risk areas. Tropical monsoon rainforest and subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest regions in China. We took Parthenium hysterophorus as a case study to predict its potential invasion risk using climate, terrain, and human activity variables. First, a generalized joint attribute model (GJAM) was constructed using the occurrence of P. hysterophorus and its 27 closely related species in Taiwan, given it is widely distributed in Taiwan. Based on the output correlation values, two positively correlated species (Cardiospermum halicacabum and Portulaca oleracea) and one negatively correlated species (Crassocephalum crepidioides) were selected as indicator species. Second, the distributions of P. hysterophorus and its indicator species in the study area were predicted separately using an ensemble model (EM). Third, when selecting indicator species to construct indicator SDMs, two treatments (indicator species with positive correlation only, or both positive and negative correlation) were considered. The indicator species' EM predictions were overlaid using a weighted average method, and a better indicator SDMs prediction result was selected by comparison. Finally, the EM prediction result of P. hysterophorus was used to optimize the indicator SDMs result by a maximum overlay. The optimized indicator SDMs prediction showed an expanded range beyond the current geographic range compared to EM and the thresholds for predicting key environmental variables were wider. It also reinforced the human activities' influence on the potential distribution of P. hysterophorus. For invasive plants with expanding ranges, information about indicator species distribution can be borrowed as a barometer for areas not currently invaded. The optimized indicator SDMs allow for more efficient potential invasion risk prediction. On this basis, invasive plants can be prevented earlier.

Microbial Community Composition as an Indicator of the State of Basins Located at the Sea Coast (Exemplified by the Kanda Bay, Kandalaksha Gulf, White Sea)

Abstract—Formation of the Kanda Bay resulted from construction of a railway dam (1916) and subsequent isolation of the sea lagoon from the main basin of the Kandalaksha Gulf, White Sea. Decreased action of tidal flows, which mix the water column of the lagoon, altered the hydrological regime of the basin. Decreased water exchange resulted in formation of oxygen-depleted near-bottom water and to sulfide contamination. A freshwater lake was, however, preserved in the southern part of the Kanda Bay. The composition of microbial communities was studied for the near-bottom water horizons at different sides of the Kanda Bay. The oxygen regime in this layer was found to change, with increasing concentrations of sulfide and methane and active processes of sulfate reduction and methane oxidation. The composition of the microbial community changed noticeably, with lower abundance of true marine and freshwater microorganisms and development of bacteria and archaea predominant in microbial communities of anoxic water in meromictic basins. Among the microbial diversity, indicator species with increased abundance were revealed. These are archaea of the genera Methanoregula and Methanosaeta (phylum Halobacterota). The sulfur cycle microorganisms, which were the indicators of stagnant marine water, included anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria of the class Chlorobia, (Chlorobium phaeovibrioides, Pelodictyon phaeoclathratiforme), Chloroflexi of the genus Chloronema, nonsulfur purple bacteria related to the genus Rhodoferax, colorless sulfur bacteria of the family Beggiatoaceae, and sulfur oxidizers of the genus Thiobacillus. Archaea of the genus Nitrosopumilus (phylum Crenarchaeota) and bacteria of the genus Woeseia may be considered opposites to the indicator microorganisms, since they were found only in the open sea water. In our opinion, stable water exchange through the dam will result in the stable composition of the Kanda Bay microbial community, with only seasonal variations and year-to-year fluctuations. The negative scenario supports prediction of conversion of the Kanda Bay into a stratified basin with anoxic near-bottom water and the microbial community similar to that found in meromictic lakes.

Impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi on the taxonomic and functional diversity of forest plants in a mediterranean‐type biodiversity hotspot

AbstractAimDiversity‐rich mediterranean‐type sclerophyllous forests are home to 20% of described species on Earth. In the Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah) forest of southwest of Western Australia diversity is being reduced by extensive human use and the introduction of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. This study investigated the influence of P. cinnamomi infestation on the structure, taxonomic and functional diversity, and species composition of the forest.LocationJarrah forest of southwestern Australia.MethodsSpecies abundance, understorey cover and canopy cover were assessed along 22, 30 m long transects which crossed infested and non‐infested zones in five reserves in the jarrah forest. A trait database was assembled for 137 plants using 13 traits related to nutrient and carbon acquisition, disturbance tolerance and reproduction. The responses of canopy cover, understorey cover, species richness, Shannon diversity, evenness, abundance, and functional diversity for trait groups, and all groups combined were modelled against reserve and zone as fixed effects and transect and transect section as random effects. To assess the species composition, non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination based on Jaccard resemblance and indicator species analyses were used.ResultsSignificantly higher understorey cover, species richness, Shannon diversity and evenness were recorded in non‐infested compared to infested zones, but there were no changes in the canopy cover and overall abundance. In non‐infested zones, the functional diversity of nutrient acquisition and reproductive traits was higher, but the functional diversity of carbon acquisition traits was lower. No difference in functional diversity was recorded in disturbance tolerance and overall traits between the two zones. NMDS ordination and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) revealed a significant difference in the species composition between the two zones, and 11 indicator species significantly associated with infested and non‐infested zones were identified.ConclusionPhytophthora cinnamomi has significantly affected the forest structure, taxonomic and functional diversity, and species composition. Contrasting responses of functional trait groups obscured overall trait responses to P. cinnamomi.

Differential utilization of surface and arboreal water bodies by birds and mammals in a seasonally dry Neotropical forest in southern Mexico.

Water availability significantly influences bird and mammal ecology in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of the role of water as a limiting resource for birds and mammals remains partial because most of the studies have focused on surface water bodies in desert and semi-desert ecosystems. This study assessed the use of two types of surface water bodies (waterholes and epikarst rock pools) and one arboreal (water-filled tree holes) by birds and mammals in the seasonally dry tropical forests of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in southern Mexico. We deployed camera traps in 23 waterholes, 22 rock pools, and 19 water-filled tree holes in this karstic region to record visits by small, medium, and large-bodied birds and mammals during the dry and rainy seasons. These cameras were set up for recording videos documenting when animals were making use of water for drinking, bathing, or both. We compared the species diversity and composition of bird and mammal assemblages using the different types of water bodies by calculating Hill numbers and conducting nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), indicator species, and contingency table analyses. There was a greater species richness of birds and mammals using surface water bodies than tree holes during both seasons. There were significant differences in species composition among bird assemblages using the different water bodies, but dominant species and diversity remained the same. Terrestrial and larger mammalian species preferentially used surface water bodies, whereas arboreal and scansorial small and medium mammals were more common in arboreal water bodies. These findings suggest that differences in water body characteristics might favor segregation in mammal activity. The different water bodies may act as alternative water sources for birds and complementary sources for mammals, potentially favoring species coexistence and increasing community resilience to environmental variation (e.g., fluctuations in water availability). Understanding how differences in water bodies favor species coexistence and community resilience is of great relevance from a basic ecological perspective but is also crucial for anticipating the effects that the increased demand for water by humans and climate change can have on wildlife viability.

Variations of pollen concentration in urban alleys of park city and the transmission pattern during the period of high allergenic risk: Taking Qingyang District of Chengdu City as an example.

Pollen (spores and pollen) allergy caused by green areas is one of the most serious environmental epidemics endangering urban public health. The pollen allergy rate in China reached 17.8% in 2022, characterized by a wide age range of onset, severity and diversity of symptoms. The aims of this study were to verify the consistency of the prediction results of pollen concentration and the index of allergenicity of urban green zones (IUGZA) equation, and to clarify the dispersal pattern of tree pollen in the urban alleys of cities with high density of static wind. We selected representative high, medium and low allergenic areas based on the allergenic stress in urban alleys of Qingyang District, Chengdu calculated by IUGZA equation, and monitored the pollen concentrations by selecting points and indicator species within the three allergenic areas. There was a consistency in the variation of pollen concentration in urban alleys of the three areas, with the highest pollen concentration in March. Mean pollen concentration showed a pattern of spring > autumn > summer > winter. The main pollen sources belonged to Ginkgo, Platanus, Firmiana and Cedrus, accounting for 42.4%, 16.3%, 9.0% and 6.5% of the total pollen, respectively. Wind speed had the greatest effect on pollen concentration and its dispersal distance in the urban alley. The horizontal dispersal distance of pollen was up to 260 m, and the number of pollen showed a significant negative linear correlation with the distance away from the pollen sources. The concentration of exotic pollen collected at the high site (4.5 m above ground) was much lower than that at the near-ground site (1.5 m above ground), but without difference in the types of pollen. The results of allergenic risk predicted by the IUGZA equation were consistent with the actual measured pollen concentration, which could be used in high-density static wind city.

How gradients of climate and soil determine Mediterranean annual‐rich dryland vegetation

AbstractQuestionsDryland annual plant communities constitute the most species‐rich small‐scale vegetation in the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the composition and diversity of these units and the factors controlling their variation are still insufficiently understood. Therefore, we investigated species composition and richness patterns in relation to important environmental gradients provided by climate and soil.LocationCentral Crete, Greece.MethodsThe study is based on 82 plots of 4 m2 sampled at altitudes between 11 and 1400 m a.s.l. We conducted vegetation relevés and soil analyses. We used generalised additive models to model species richness and community characteristics along the studied gradients. We then performed distance‐based redundancy analysis to determine the main environmental factors influencing species composition. To determine species of diagnostic value for bedrock types, we applied an indicator species analysis. Correlation tests were used to test the performance of the South Aegean Plant Indicator Values on our dataset.ResultsWe recorded 347 taxa (species and subspecies) of 43 plant families, and mean species numbers of 47.2 ± 12.5 per plot. While overall species richness varied only slightly along the analysed environmental gradients, significant changes were observed for relative proportions of species from different life forms and families. Soil pH and elevation had the highest influence on the variation in species composition (21.0% explained). We found 22 species indicative of calcareous rock and 24 species indicative of lime‐deficient rock types. The South Aegean Plant Indicator Values were relatively strongly correlated with environmental variables.ConclusionsResults indicate considerable species turnover both along climatic (elevation) and soil gradients, highlighting the special importance of soil pH. The data provided by our study are expected to supply relevant ecological background information for a pending classification of East Mediterranean annual‐rich vegetation.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of Protected Calcareous Fen Habitats: Assemblages, Environmental Drivers, Indicator Species, and Conservation Issues.

The caddisflies (Trichoptera) of calcareous fen habitats, in contrast to those of other peatland types, have been poorly researched. We thus conducted a two-year study in south-eastern Poland encompassing four types of such habitats-drained and undrained fens and water bodies (pools and ditches) located within the fens-in order to define trichopteran reference assemblages (PCoA), indicator species (IndVal analysis), and the drivers (both natural and those associated with landscape management, including area protection) responsible for caddisfly species distribution (CCA). The most important environmental driver was habitat persistence. Distance-based RDA analysis revealed a distinct pattern in the distribution of species with or without diapause along the persistence gradient. Environmental drivers associated with plants were also crucial for both fens and water bodies. The key factor influencing the caddisfly assemblages of pools and ditches was the use and management of the surrounding land, whereas in the fens, it was the level of area protection. Physical and chemical water parameters had no statistically significant impact on the assemblages. Some factors can be modified by humans (e.g., water level regulation, vegetation, and landscape management) to maintain healthy ecosystems for aquatic insects.

The Impact of Urbanization on Taxonomic Diversity and Functional Similarity among Butterfly Communities in Waterfront Green Spaces.

Urbanization has been shown to cause biodiversity loss. However, its effects on butterfly taxonomic and functional diversity still need to be studied, especially in urban waterfront green spaces where mechanisms of impact still need to be explored. We used butterflies as indicators to study how urbanization affects their taxonomic and functional diversity and identify indicator species in different urban ecological gradient areas. From July to September 2022, we surveyed 10 urban waterfront green spaces in Fuzhou City, China. We recorded 1163 butterflies of 28 species from 6 families. First, we explored the effects of urbanization on butterfly communities and made pairwise comparisons of different urban ecological gradients (α-diversity); secondly, we looked for differences between butterfly communities across urban ecological gradients (β-diversity); finally, we investigated differences in the response of butterfly functional groups to different urban ecological gradient areas and identified ecological indicative species. This study found the following: (1) Urbanization has led to the simplification of butterfly community structure, but there are also favorable factors that support the survival of individual butterflies; (2) Urbanization has led to significant differences in butterfly communities and plant-feeding polyphagous butterfly groups; (3) Urbanization has led to differences in the functional diversity of butterfly diet and activity space groups; (4) We identified five eco-indicator species in different urban ecological gradients.

Complexity of cacao production systems affects terrestrial ant assemblages

Given the rapid changes in tropical agricultural production, the evaluation of different management practices has gained interest to determine the effects of land-use change on biodiversity. The conversion of forests into agricultural land is one of the main drivers of diversity loss. Agroforestry systems have been shown as a promising option to provide suitable yields in addition to conserving biodiversity. In this study we compared species richness and community composition of terrestrial ants in six different systems in a long-term experimental site established in 2009 in Bolivia: a full-sun monoculture and an agroforestry system under conventional management, a full-sun monoculture and an agroforestry system under organic management, a highly diverse and dense agroforestry system without external inputs and a secondary forest. Using pitfall traps, we sampled ants four times during a seven-year period (2015-2021). We collected a total of 85 ant species belonging to 6 sub-families and 41 genera. More than 80% of the species were recorded in less than 10% of the traps. Species richness did not significantly differ between the systems. However, species composition mainly differed between the fallow and the production systems, and within the latter, it followed the management intensity gradient, i.e., complex agroforestry, agroforestry and monocultures. The indicator species analysis clearly showed species exclusively associated with one or more production systems, whereas others were only associated with the secondary forest. Species with specialised trophic roles were more frequent in forest and agroforestry systems. Our results showed that the disturbance generated by cultivation was the main driver differentiating ant communities, but also reinforced the importance of the complexity and management intensity of the production system. These results have strong implications for landscape management and highlights the importance of preserving natural patches of forest but also diverse and complex agroforestry systems within the agricultural matrix for ant diversity conservation.