Low Number Of Species Research Articles

The Impact of Lantana camara on Invertebrates and Plant Species of the Groenkloof Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Invasive plant species have negative ecological impacts such as displacing indigenous plants and invertebrates. These invasive plant species affect biodiversity by impacting indigenous vegetation and the food webs associated with this vegetation. We assessed how Lantana camara affects indigenous plant species richness and invertebrates and their feeding guilds in riparian habitats inside the Groenkloof Nature Reserve in South Africa. We showed: (1) A lower abundance and morphospecies richness of invertebrates as well as lower numbers of plant species in lantana-invaded habitat as compared to indigenous bush and grass-dominated habitats. (2) A Negative association between plant species richness and L. camara above ground mass and shoot density, but no association was found between plant species richness and the size of L. camara invaded areas. This finding suggests a link between the reduction in overall invertebrate abundance and morphospecies richness and the replacement of native plant species by invasive lantana. (3). This increased biomass in natural vegetation was even more evident for detrivores as compared to other feeding guilds. Extensive invasion by L. camara is affecting the quality of riparian ecosystems especially for invertebrates that rely on decaying plants and animals as food and this will affect overall biodiversity.

Species Richness of Higher Aquatic Plants of Floodplain Complexes of the Dnieper River within the City of Kyiv

In various water bodies and watercourses of the floodplain biotopes in Kyiv, 60 species of higher aquatic plants have been recorded. Actual floristic complexes within the urban landscape are in good state. This is evidenced by their high similarity with the flora of the city's water objects of the late XIX - early XX cent., as well as with actual macrophytes' flora in the Middle Dnieper basin. The characteristic feature of the considered macrophytes' complexes is relatively high portion of the alien species. 12 species (20% of the total species list) are rare (protected at the international, regional or local level). Transformation of flora and anthropogenic impact resulted in low number of mass species and low cenotic activity of most of them. Only 40% of macrophyte species recorded in the floodplains of the city are cenosis-forming, which indicates a significant transformation of shallow waters, hemerobicity and homogeneity of habitats.

As borboletas do Cristalino Lodge, no sul da Amazônia: Uma lista atualizada de espécies com contribuição significativa da ciência cidadã

Abstract The richest butterfly communities in the world are found in the Amazon rainforest. Despite of this, and the importance of species inventories for the knowledge of diversity patterns, there are few comprehensive lists of butterflies for localities in the Brazilian Amazon. Here, we present an updated list of the butterflies of Cristalino Lodge (Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil), in southern Amazonia, based on specimens collected by researchers and photographic records taken by ecotourists, butterfly watchers, and tour guides. With 1010 species recorded, this is currently the largest list of butterflies published for a single locality in Brazil and the first to reach (and surpass) 1000 species, with more than one third of the records coming from citizen science. The region has about 29% of the butterfly species in Brazil and one of the greatest richnesses known in the country, inferior only to areas in the western Amazon. Its fauna is mainly composed of species widely distributed in lowland Amazonia, with the addition of some species typical of the Cerrado. It has a relatively low number of species of the tribe Ithomiini (Nymphalidae: Danainae), generally considered a good indicator of the total butterfly diversity in neotropical forests, which points to the need for caution when using a single taxonomic group as a surrogate of richness of entire communities. The present work highlights the importance of citizen science and ecotourism centers for inventories and data on species distribution in diverse tropical forests.

Rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) communities of the upper forest line of the Ukrainian Carpathians: structure and biotopic distribution (on the example of the Polonynskyi ridge)

The results of studies of species diversity, community structure, and biotopic distribution of rove beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) at the upper forest line on the Yavirnyk and Stinka mountain ridges (Polonynskyi massif, Ukrainian Carpathians) are presented. As a result, 91 species of Staphylinidae belonging to 53 genera and 10 subfamilies were found. In particular, 71 species were found on Yavirnyk, and 69 species on Stinka. The largest number of species was noticed on meadows of both ridges: 48 species on Yavirnyk and 51 on Stinka. The lowest number of species was recorded in in ecotones: 39 species on Yavirnyk and 40 on Stinka. The rove beetle dominant complex of the Yavirnyk ridge includes four species, including two eudominants—Eusphalerum alpinum and Philonthus politus, and two dominants—Eusphalerum anale and Philonthus decorus. The dominant complex of the Stinka ridge includes six species: three eudominants—Eusphalerum alpinum, Ocypus macrocephalus, and Staphylinus erythroptery, and three dominants in almost equal proportions—Anotylus mutator, Dinothenarus fossor, and Philonthus decorus. All indices of species richness and diversity of the rove beetle communities have higher values on the Stinka ridge, and they are the highest in forest biotopes of both mountain ridges, which indicates their high ecological quality and stability. This is also confirmed by the highest rate of originality of the species composition of Staphylinidae in these areas. The most similar in species composition are the rove beetle communities of meadows. The original fauna of rove beetles of Yavirnyk is represented by 25 species, and of Stinka by 19 species. Among the species of Staphylinidae, 18 occurred in all biotopes of the upper forest line, which is 19.8% of the total number of species found here. In terms of trophic specialization, predators that live in the forest floor, among remains of organic origin and in fungi predominate in all biotopes of the upper forest line (UFL). In terms of biotopic distribution, eurytopic species predominate.

The «Empty Forest Syndrome» and the Herpetofaunal Communities in Laos (South-Eastern Asia)

Nowadays, Laos remains one of the scientifically least known countries of Asia in terms of herpetological knowledge. Here, we evaluate composition of species in freshwater ecosystems (main river courses) and terrestrial ecosystems (forests) in two distinct regions using Visual Encounter Surveys along designed transects, examination of fishers’ catches and standardized interviews. In Northern Laos, we recorded only 18 reptile individuals (2 turtle and 1 snake species). Interview surveys demonstrated that in Nam Xam River, fishers are more likely to hunt turtles and we identified one potential site where the world’s rarest turtle, Rafetus swinhoei, could be still present in the wild. In Nam Et Phou Louey National Park, we found 19 reptile species (8 lizard, 10 snake, 1 turtle species) in the different study sites, demonstrating a low species density in all different surveyed habitats. In Central/Southern Laos, we observed 30 species of reptiles (14 snake, 16 lizard, 35 amphibian species). Our study offers preliminary insights into the composition of amphibians and reptiles in Laos. The great majority of the species were non-threatened or not evaluated, and a few were threatened, suggesting that more research is needed to proper understand the conservation status of Laos’ herpetofauna. We highlighted, indirectly by interviews with local fishers, the possible presence of the turtle Rafetus swinhoei, thus providing a new hope for avoiding the extinction of this species. Finally, we observed a relatively low number of species in each habitat type, which is remarkably lower than in tropical forests of other continents or of nearby south-east Asian countries, indicating that the herpetofauna communities in Laos are depleted, reflecting an ‘empty forest syndrome’.

Rove beetle diversity and coffee agroecosystems in the Colombian Andes

AbstractThe intensification of coffee plantations has driven biodiversity loss worldwide, but little is known about how it affects the ecological structure of Andean rove beetle communities. The rove beetle diversity was estimated in a coffee‐intensification gradient located on the western slope of Central Andes (1300–1800 m elevation). Sixteen sampling sites in four land uses were selected: four native forest patches and twelve coffee production systems (four polygeneric shade coffee plantations, four monogeneric shade coffee plantations, and four sun‐grown coffee plantations). We used unbaited pitfall traps and leaf litter extraction and recorded environmental and vegetation variables in each land use. 101 staphylinid species were collected in 12 subfamilies and 45 genera (N = 522 individuals). We recorded for the first time the subfamily Leptotyphlinae in Colombia. Anotylus sp. 1 was the most abundant species with about 16% of the total individuals, while 60% of the remaining species showed <2 individuals. Native forest and polygeneric shade coffee plantations were more diverse than monogeneric shade and sun‐grown coffee plantations (for all qD measures). Monogeneric shade coffee plantations were the least diverse in all studies. Species composition was different between forests and coffee plantations, and the sun‐grown coffee had a low number of exclusive species. The rove beetle diversity did not show a linear reduction with the intensification levels of the coffee plantation, and the sun‐grown coffee did not represent an absolutely hostile environment. We discuss the role of staphylinid as model group for comparative ecological studies in the tropical agricultural landscape.

Effects of marine protected areas on fish communities in a hotspot of climate change and invasion

The positive ecological effect of fully protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on fish populations has been widely explored. Key indicators of fully protected MPAs effectiveness include an increase in biomass, density, and body size of commercially exploited large fishes. Fully protected MPAs are also hypothesized to be more resilient to both marine invasions and ocean warming, but this has seldom been tested. The eastern Mediterranean (Levantine) basin is the warmest region in the Mediterranean. Moreover, this region is the front-line of biological invasion from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. Thus, MPAs in this region are faced with both high numbers of exotic species and warm temperatures. Assessing the performance of MPAs in this region is important for understanding their effectiveness under adverse future conditions worldwide. The ecological effectiveness of four MPAs along the Levantine Israeli coast was followed along over five years and compared with adjacent fished control area. Sampling was conducted in both old (>20 years of enforcement) and young MPAs, which only recently became fully protected. Using SCUBA diving surveys, 978 visual transects were performed to assess fish abundance, size, and diversity. We found clear indications for the benefits of the MPAs as evident by higher numbers of large fishes and groupers within protected areas. In the largest and oldest MPA we also found higher total and commercial fish biomass. In addition, we show a clear increase in the number of groupers over time, both within and outside MPAs, that may be associated with increased fishing regulation and enforcement. We found no clear evidence for a lower number of exotic species within MPAs. Our findings suggest that restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing within MPAs benefit the recovery of fish populations even in warm waters and when faced with marine invasions, and that the effectiveness of MPAs may be evident after only a few years of protection.

Alien flora of D.R. Congo: improving the checklist with digitised herbarium collections

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) represents a striking gap of knowledge on alien plant species. In this paper, we use digitised herbarium collections to assemble a new checklist of alien plant species in D.R. Congo and to examine patterns in the alien flora. The new checklist comprises 436 alien species i.e., 189 (43%) casuals, 247 (57%) naturalised of which 80 (18% of aliens) are invasive. Discrepancies with previous databases are discussed. For many species in previous databases, all herbarium specimens come from cultivated specimens (e.g. botanic gardens) and we failed to find evidence for occurrence outside of cultivation. A total of 166 taxa were not included in previous lists, 41 of which are new records to the flora of D.R. Congo. Considering the size of the country and its rich native flora, the alien flora of D.R. Congo does not appear to be species-rich. The alien flora is particularly rich in Fabaceae (16%) and in annual species (37%). The Americas are by far the most important source continent (65%) and the proportion of annuals of American origin is particularly large among the most widespread species. 90% of invasive species are from the Americas. Invasive success is discussed in terms of residence time. The very low number of new species records after 1960 is similar to other African countries and could be due to decreasing sampling effort. The results illustrate how herbarium collections can be used to critically revise existing checklists of alien species in tropical Africa. Field work is urgently needed to improve coverage of recent introductions and to monitor the status of alien species, especially in protected areas and around botanic gardens.

Seasonal variation of algal diversity with reference to water quality in Jagadishpur Reservoir, Nepal

Abstract The study of the importance of physicochemical parameters of water for algal growth and development in Jagdishpur Reservoir was carried out in the present research. Occurrence of algal species and values of water quality parameters also indicate the ecological nature and the present status of the reservoir. Water samples were collected from Jagdishpur Reservoir in Kapilvastu District (Nepal), in two seasons (wet and dry). The following physicochemical parameters of water were analyzed: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, concentration of nitrates and phosphates, free CO2, hardness, conductivity, total dissolved solids. The values of free CO2, hardness, phosphate, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were high in wet season while alkalinity, nitrate, conductivity and total dissolved solid were high in dry season. Altogether 81 algal species belonging to 53 genera and 6 classes were recorded. Higher number of algal species was recorded in the dry season rather than in the wet season. The highest number of species was noted among Chlorophyceae, followed by Cyanobacteria > Bacillariophyceae > Euglenophyceae > Crysophyceae and Dinophyceae. Cosmarium had the highest number of species (13) among all genera. During the wet season, Cosmarium, Calothrix and Phormidium were the genera with the highest number of species while Bulbochaete, Trachelomonas and Gomphonema were genera with the lowest number of species. During the dry season, Cymbella, Cosmarium and Rhopalodia were genera with highest number of species while Euglena, Gloeotrichia and Trachelomonas were genera with lowest number of species. Algal diversity was positively correlated with the increase of alkalinity, conductivity and TDS, while negatively correlated with free CO2, hardness, concerntration of phosphates and nitrates, DO, pH and temperature. Shannon–Weiner diversity index value was higher during the dry season than in the wet season.

Patch size does not always indicate bird species diversity: case in peri-urban tropical habitat in Riau, Indonesia

Larger patches generally are inhabited by higher species richness, including birds, as predicted by the island biogeography theory. The objective of this research was to reveal the response of bird species richness in different patch sizes in peri-urban habitat. The study site area was five patches (2 large patches near human activities, remote large patch with a small lake, small patch, corridor patch) of disturbed secondary shrub-forest in Riau University, Sumatra. Birds were observed using the standard point-counts in early morning and late afternoon (8 points/patch, 3 replicates, total 40 observation-hour) in March-April 2021. Species richness (S), Shannon-Wiener diversity indices (H’), Chao species prediction, and Bray-Curtis similarity indices (B) were calculated. Total of 979 individual birds were observed, consisted of 68 species from 28 families with B ranged from 0.573 to 0.846. Large patch with lake in remote area had the highest species richness (S:39 species, Chao:54) and H’ (3.097). However, two large patches closed to human activities had the lowest number of species (S:27, Chao:30, H’:2.908, and S:23, Chao:32, H’:2.938, respectively), even lower than small patch (S:30, Chao:40, H’:2.925) or corridor patch (S:34; Chao:51, H’:2.724). Clearly human disturbance and micro-habitat diversity affect species richness in a local scale.

Structure, composition and carbon stocks of woody plant community in assisted and unassisted ecological succession in a Tamaulipan thornscrub, Mexico

BackgroundEcological restoration is a process that helps the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. The success of restoration actions depend on the understanding of the processes, mechanisms and factors that guide vegetation dynamics. The restoration of plant communities can be made by unassisted (passive restoration, where the community recover by itself) and assisted (active restoration) ecological succession. It is imperative to know the scope of both types of activities to guide future restoration actions by evaluating the properties and functioning of the intervened communities.MethodsVariance analysis of the carbon (C) stocks, basal area, canopy area, Shannon–Weaver index values, specific richness and abundance of three Tamaulipan thornscrub communities (assisted natural succession area, unassisted natural succession area and control area) was performed. Furthermore, a similarity analysis between the sampling areas using the floristic composition (abundance) was performed.ResultsIn total, 11 families, 17 genera and 20 species of vascular plants were registered. The richness of species and abundance ranked as follows per area: assisted ecological natural succession > control > unassisted ecological natural succession. The species composition between sampling areas showed a low number of common species between plant communities.ConclusionsThe values of species richness, diversity, abundance, basal area, and canopy area of the assisted natural succession vegetal community was statistical similar to the control plan community. The values of C stocks showed that assisted ecological succession could recover not only structure and composition attributes but also this key ecosystem property.

A simple, low-cost device for collecting mushroom-dwelling Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

The shining fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) comprise more than 1800 described species, which are usually small (≅0.8414.30 mm long) (Tang et al. 2014 ; Lbl Ogawa 2016) and found on bracket and resupinate fungi, mushrooms and slime molds (Newton 1984; Lbl Leschen 2003; Lbl 2018). They are known to be diverse in forests of tropical and subtropical regions, which contrast to the low number of species currently known from Brazil: only 34 species and two subspecies from seven genera (Lbl 2018; von Groll Lopes-Andrade, 2021). Any active search for Scaphidiinae in the Brazilian Atlantic forest reveals a considerable abundance and diverse of these organisms (pers. obs.), but they disperse rapidly if disturbed, and the success of field collections relies on the collectors skills, luck and collecting techniques and devices. The most common methods and devices for collecting shinning fungus beetles are sifting leaf litter, rotten wood and fungi, flight intercept (FIT) and V-flight intercept (V-FIT) traps, aspirators, sweeping, and hand collecting (Lbl Leschen 2003; Tang et al. 2014; Lbl et al. 2021). Hand collecting is considered the best method, because the host fungi and larvae can be collected together to make associations (Lbl Leschen 2003).

Application of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor and Fixed Bed Hybrid Biological Reactor for Oilfield Produced Water Treatment: Influence of Total Dissolved Solids Concentration

This experimental paper deals with the development of a hybrid biological reactor for the treatment of a synthetic oilfield produced water under an increase in total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration. To comply with strengthening regulations concerning produced water discharge and peculiar produced water compositions, a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) consisting in a combination of free activated sludge and moving biofilm supports was compared to a fixed bed hybrid biological reactor (FBHBR) consisting in a combination of free activated sludge and a fixed biofilm support. After a 216 days experimental period, the MBBR and the FBHBR were efficient to treat a synthetic produced water with chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate above 90% under an increase in TDS concentrations from 1.5 to 20 g·L−1. Ecotoxicity measurements on freshwater and marine microorganisms revealed an absence of toxicity on treated waters. A decrease in bacterial diversity indices with respect to the inoculum was observed in both bioreactors. This suggests that the increase in TDS concentrations caused the predominance of a low number of bacterial species.

BƯỚC ĐẦU NGHIÊN CỨU THÀNH PHẦN LOÀI CÔN TRÙNG BỘ CÁNH CỨNG (COLEOPTERA) Ở KHU BẢO TỒN THIÊN NHIÊN ĐỒNG SƠN - KỲ THƯỢNG, TỈNH QUẢNG NINH

The study aimed to determine the species composition of beetles and their distribution in 3 habitats in Dong Son - Ky Thuong Nature Reserve, Quang Ninh. Direct investigation method of beetles at 3 habitats have been used. The results showed that there were 59 species of beetles belonging to 49 varieties and 18 families. The Scarabaeidae family and the Cerambycidae family with 12 species have the largest number of species. The Eulichadidae, Passalidae, Languriidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Lampyridae, Cleridae and Carabidae families have the lowest number of species with 1 species each. The primary forest habitat has the highest number of species with 35 species, accounting for 59.32% of the total species. The shrub grassland habitat has the least species with only 14 species, accounting for 23.73%. The number of species samples of beetles collected with light traps at night was11 species higher than that collected with racquets during the day.

Eukarya biodiversity in the Thala Hills, East Antarctica

AbstractKnowledge of the biodiversity of the Thala Hills oasis (Enderby Land, East Antarctica) is very limited. Here, we integrate all information available since 1962, when the Russian ‘Molodyozhnaya’ station was established in the western part of the oasis. The published data on local eukaryote diversity (lichens, embryophytes, metazoans) include records of 90 species. Since 2008, Belarusian Antarctic Expedition researchers have worked in the eastern part of the oasis, accessible from the Belarusian station ‘Vechernyaya Mount'. This research revealed 95 species, including 44 species not recorded in the earlier published literature. The level of available information is uneven across major taxa. Lichens are the better-known group, with 51 species recorded in total, including 13 species recently recorded for the first time in the oasis. New records were also obtained for rotifers. Thala Hills biodiversity is consistent with wider patterns of Antarctic biogeography, with a high proportion of regionally endemic species (especially metazoans), the occurrence of both endemic and bipolar species of lichens and generally low numbers of cosmopolitan species (largely limited to aquatic rotifers, with the caveat that up-to-date taxonomic studies are required). The lack of data on marine macrobenthos, soil nematodes and terrestrial rotifers emphasizes the need for studies focusing on these groups.

Changes in the Dynamics and Nutrient Budget of a Macroalgal Community Exposed to Land-Based Fish Farm Discharge Off Jeju Island, Korea

This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of the nutrient budget of a macroalgal community exposed to water discharged from aquaculture farms. This study was conducted in the coastal area exposed to water discharged from aquaculture farms located on Jeju Island, Korea, in May and October of 2017. Water-column-dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations were higher in the intertidal zone than in the subtidal zone. High nutrient concentrations in the intertidal zone resulted in the bloom of Ulva spp., consequently leading to a low species number. This indicates the vulnerability of the intertidal macroalgal community to discharge from land-based aquaculture. Ecklonia cava contributed to 29–53% of the total incorporation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the subtidal zone. In the intertidal zone, the highest tissue N content was found in Ulva spp. due to the high and rapid nutrient uptake rate from the effluent with high nutrient concentrations, thereby indicating high total N incorporation. The estimated total C, N, and P incorporation rates by macroalgae were 181.5, 8.6, and 0.95 tons year−1, respectively. These results suggest that the macroalgal community in this area absorbs or removes large amounts of nutrients from the water column and plays an important role in the budgets and cycling of nutrients in the surrounding coastal areas.

Odonate fauna assemblages in the \u201cCansiglio Forest\u201d (Insecta: Odonata)

Odonata is considered a “flagship” group of insects and its investigation is of primary importance especially for protected areas where freshwater ecosystems occur. In this study, we focused on Odonate fauna in the “Cansiglio Forest” (Veneto, Italy), a karst area where the only checklist available dates back more than 40 years ago. To update the Odonate adult distribution in the area, we selected 21 ponds that were sampled monthly, from May to August, during a 2-year survey. In total, 21 species (belonging to 14 genera and 5 families) have been recorded: we confirmed 15 species from the previous species list and we added to the whole species list 6 new species. Dominant families were represented by Libellulidae (33%) and Aeshnidae (23%), the most common genus was Sympetrum (19%), and the most frequent species was Coenagrion puella (63%). In term of patterns of species richness, highly grazed and pastured ponds exhibited the lower number of species and individuals, as a probable response to the high level of animal disturbance on the vegetation and due to the eutrophication processes. Our results are important also in terms of conservation and management of freshwater sites belonging to Natura 2000 site.

Bumble Bee Foraged Pollen Analyses in Spring Time in Southern Estonia Shows Abundant Food Sources.

Simple SummaryPollinators make a strong contribution to ecosystem stability. However, nowadays, they also need protection and sustainable habitat to live and develop. Not all regions can provide suitable habitats due to agricultural intensification, urbanization, climate changes and corresponding impacts. Our study was conducted in the late spring in south Estonia where arable lands were surrounded by forest patches and rural areas. For better performance, we used both light microscopy and DNA metabarcoding methods for pollen identification. We found that bumble bees foraged on the diverse food sources showing preferences for several main plant families. Additionally, in our case, land-use types did not show important effects on bumble bee food choices and foraging decisions. Various landscape features can provide diverse food sources at the early development stages and support nest longevity. Here, we can say that a better understanding of pollinators’ food preferences can help in the application of more suitable measures for their conservation. Agricultural landscapes usually provide higher quantities of single-source food, which are noticeably lacking in diversity and might thus have low nutrient value for bumble bee colony development. Here, in this study, we analysed the pollen foraging preferences over a large territory of a heterogeneous agricultural landscape: southern Estonia. We aimed to assess the botanical diversity of bumble bee food plants in the spring time there. We looked for preferences for some food plants or signs of food shortage that could be associated with any particular landscape features. For this purpose, we took Bombus terrestris commercial hives to the landscape, performed microscopy analyses and improved the results with the innovative DNA metabarcoding technique to determine the botanical origin of bumble bee-collected pollen. We found high variability of forage plants with no strong relationship with any particular landscape features. Based on the low number of plant species in single flights, we deduce that the availability of main forage plants is sufficient indicating rich forage availabilities. Despite specific limitations, we saw strong correlations between microscopy and DNA metabarcoding data usable for quantification analyses. As a conclusion, we saw that the spring-time vegetation in southern Estonia can support bumble bee colony development regardless of the detailed landscape structure. The absence of clearly dominating food preference by the tested generalist bumble bee species B. terrestris makes us suggest that other bumble bee species, at least food generalists, should also find plenty of forage in their early development phase.

Floristic core of the Russian Plain pine forests along Pinus sylvestris southern borders

Pine forests - forest tracts on the sandy left banks, where the main area is occupied by plant communities with a predominance of Pinus sylvestris. Due to the significant distance from each other, the floras of the pine forests differ. However, the flora of these pine forests also shares common characteristics. In order to establish the floristic unity of the forests at the southern limit of the distribution of Pinus sylvestris, work was carried out to identify their floristic core. For 20 years, floristic surveys have been carried out in the forests of the steppe and forest-steppe zones. A general floristic list was compiled, with the identification of aboriginal and alien fractions, and the floristic core was established. Revealed: the core of the flora is determined by the pine forest flora with the lowest number of species among the comparable pine forests. The core of the flora of the studied pine forests included 30.8% of the species of the general flora. An increase in the number of analyzed floras will bring accuracy to the determination of the floristic core. This will make it possible to form an understanding of the pine forest flora as a single floristic complex.

Study of the egret community of the Ardeidae family on Osi Island, West Seram Regency: Ecotourism Area Development Efforts

Osi Island is one of the islands in the West Seram Regency, Maluku Province. The existence of egret species on Osi Island can be pursued as a birdwatching ecotourism object. The data is still scanty, it is necessary to do research in an effort to develop ecotourism in the area. This research was conducted on Osi Island, West Seram Regency, from June to July 2021. The method used was point count, a preliminary study was carried out for 3 days to determine observation points. There are 2 species of egrets in the Ardeidae family on Osi Island, West Seram Regency, Maluku Province, namely Egreta alba with 28 individuals and Egreta garzetta with 47 individuals. The results of the analysis showed different individual densities where E. garzetta was superior because of the greater number of individuals than E. alba. Species diversity is in the low category (0.66). Despite the low number of species and individuals, Osi Island still has the potential to become a birdwatching ecotourism destination.