Lowland Forest Vegetation Research Articles

Acetylcholinesterase and Knockdown Resistant Mutations in Anopheles Gambiae S.L. (Culicidae: Diptera) In Three Vegetations of the Niger Delta Region

Comprehending the genetic arrangement of resistant mosquito populations is essential for addressing biological and public health concerns as, spread of insecticide resistant alleles. Anopheles gambiae sensu lato, which spread malaria parasites comprises genetically different but morphologically indistinguishable species. This study: determine presence of resistant genes, in the lowland forest, mangrove and fresh water swamp in Rivers state, Niger delta. Sample collection was done from May to December. Laboratory-reared larvae collected from their breeding sites, were used for the molecular bioassay. Resistant genes were determined from DNAs extracted from the tissues of the samples and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to identify knockdown and acetylcholinesterase resistance mechanisms. Acetylcholinesterase resistance mutation with accession number OQ802845 was found in all the three vegetations while knockdown resistance mutation was scantily found in the lowland forest vegetation only. The study makes available reference base-line data of various insecticide resistant genes in the Niger delta.

Paleoenvironment reconstruction and peat-forming conditions of Neogene paralic coal sequences from Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia

Eight coal seams containing Neogene paralic coals from the Mukah coalfield, Sarawak, Malaysia, were investigated using petrographical, palynological, and organic geochemical analyses to describe coal-forming vegetation, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironment conditions during peat development and precursor mires, as well as their associations within a sequence-stratigraphic context. The petrographic and geochemical data of the coals imply the existence of oxygen-deficient and water-saturated conditions in the precursor mires. The reducing conditions in the mires were followed by biomass loss. The Mukah coals are suggested to be deposited in freshwater peat swamps, and the rich preservation of angiosperm pollen indicates that the organic matter in dense and lowland forest vegetation was mostly terrigenous. The overwhelming presence of Casuarina and Calamus types suggest the paleomires were closely linked to the Kerapah/Kerangas peat forest and were marginally bordered by rattan, which was supported by biomarker data. Rheotrophic–ombrotrophic mires temporarily formed due to water table fluctuations, which were strongly dependent on ever-wet climate changes and syn-depositional tectonics during the Neogene, and resulted in the balanced to high peat accumulation and preservation. A maximum thickness of 35 m of peat deposits is suggested to form between 10,000 and 175,000 years ago based on the peat:coal ratio. The coals are proposed to be influenced by transgressive to initial highstand cycles within the paralic setting.

Species composition and vegetation structure of lowland forest in Rambut Island Wildlife Reserve, Kepulauan Seribu, DKI Jakarta

Lowland forest needs to be studied for its structure and composition because it has high biodiversity. Vegetation analysis aims to determine the species composition and structures of lowland forest vegetation in Rambut Island Wildlife Reserve. Vegetation analysis was carried out by the stripes and plotted lines with an observed area of 20,000 m2 with several ten lines of observation with an area of 20x100 m. The vegetation data obtained were processed to obtain the Importance Value Index (IVI), the Plant Species Diversity Index, the Species Dominance Index, the Species Richness Index and the Species Evenness Index. Retrieval of abiotic data such as light intensity, altitude, slope, wet and dry temperature, relative humidity, soil pH, soil cation exchange capacity, and soil texture. There are 15 types of plant species in the research location. Kedoya dominates at the tree level, mengkudu dominates at the pole level, kingkit dominates at the sapling level, and kedoya dominates at the seedling level. The highest density value is found at the seedling growth rate of 900 500 individuals ha-1 resulting in an inverted “J” curve in both vertical and horizontal structures.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DOMINANT TREES SPECIES IN LOWLAND TROPICAL FOREST (EDUCATION FOREST OF JAMBI UNIVERSITY)

Lowland forest vegetation can still be found on the Jambi University Campus, namely at the Jambi Mendalo University Educational Forest (HPUJM). Jambi University Educational Forest is administratively located in Mendalo Indah Village, Jambi Luar Kota District, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province. Vegetation communities are formed by the presence and interaction of the various types of plants that compose them. The form of interaction between plant species in a community is called an association. Associations can be in the form of positive associations and negative associations. This research was conducted to know the association between dominant tree species. This study used a purposive sampling method by determining a sampling area of ​​9600 m2 or 0.96 ha measuring 160m x 60m, divided into 24 sub-plots, each measuring 20m x 20m. Species having an Importance Value Index (IVI) of ≥ 10% were used as the association analysis. The 2x2 contingency table was used to analyze whether or not associations were present between tree species. The results showed, of 15 dominant tree combinations, there were only 4 associated combinations, namely the association between Aporosa lucida and Vitex pinnata, the association between Endospermum diadenum and V.pinnata, the association of Litsea ferruginea with Gironniera diadenum, the association of L. ferruginea with V.pinnata. 
 Key words: association, dominant tree, lowland forest

Fruit Bat Assemblage in Different Lowland Forest Types in the Northern Sierra Madre Mountains, Philippines

Prior studies of species assemblages of fruit bats in the Philippines have focused on primary and disturbed habitats as the point of comparison. No studies to date have been conducted on assemblages of fruit bats within primary lowland forest vegetation types. This study aimed to determine the fruit bat assemblage in dipterocarp, mangrove and lowland ultramafic forest and their association with these vegetation types. We hypothesize that difference in the diversity and abundance of fruit-producing plants in these habitat types would influence the abundance and diversity of bats. The study was conducted in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Philippines from April to October 2017. Eleven species of fruit bats were captured during the study, in order of decreasing abundance: Rousettus amplexicaudatus, Ptenochirus jagori, Cynopterus brachyotis, Macroglossus minimus, Haplonycteris fischeri, Eonycteris robusta, Desmalopex leucopterus, Eonycteris spelaea, Pteropus vampyrus, Acerodon jubatus and Pteropus hypomelanus. Species richness was highest in dipterocarp forest (11 species), and lowest in the mangrove area (seven species), but species diversity was highest in the lowland ultramafic forest. The study suggests that species diversity and abundance of fruit bats in the different lowland vegetation habitats can be linked to their diet and morphology. Frugivores were strongly associated with dipterocarp forest and lowland ultramafic forest where fruit-producing plant diversity is high. Haplonycteris fischeri, C. brachyotis and P. jagori were more abundant in the dipterocarp than in the ultramafic forest. The abundance of nectarivores varied between vegetation types. Macroglossus minimus was more abundant in the mangrove while E. robusta and R. amplexicaudatus were more abundant in the dipterocarp and ultramafic forest. The difference in plant species composition and abundance may explain the variation in frugivore and nectarivore abundance between vegetation types. No pattern could be discerned for the large flying foxes (A. jubatus, P. hypomelanus, and P. vampyrus) because of few captures in each habitat, except for D. leucopterus, which was frequently captured in lowland ultramafic forest. The low captures of flying foxes may be attributed to the difficulty of capturing high-flying bats. Further research on foraging behavior, fruit selection by bats and the role of forest structure in determining the abundance and distribution of fruit bats is needed.

Characteristics of habitat Langurs (Trachypithecus auratus É. Geoffroy, 1812) on lowland forest vegetation block of Cipalawah, Leuweung Sancang Nature Reserve, Garut District, West Java

Abstract. Hendrawan R, Sumiyati D, Nasrudin A, Nasution SG, Millah R. 2018. Characteristics of habitat Langurs (Trachypithecus auratus E. Geoffroy, 1812) on lowland forest vegetation block of Cipalawah, Leuweung Sancang Nature Reserve, Garut District, West Java. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 5: 399-405. Research on vegetation analysis of langurs’ (Trachypithecus auratus) habitat characteristics at Cipalawah Block, Leuweung Sancang Nature Reserve was carried out in August 2018. This study aims to provide an overview of current conditions of the langurs’ habitat on lowland forest formations at the study area and obtain important value of each plant at the location. The method used was roaming and profile diagram. In this study, field data included the existence of langurs’ core areas, and the vegetation data included names of plants type, individuals’ number, plants’ coordinates, strata type, height, first branching’s height and canopy shape were taken. Then the depiction of vertical and horizontal structures in the langurs’ core areas was carried out. There were 17 types of plants from 13 families were found in the study area. Vegetation at the study site was dominated by huru (Litsea resinosa), palahlar (Dipterocarpus retusus) and langkap (Arenga obtussifolia). In the quantitative analysis, the dominant strata were found in strata A and B. Plants with the highest INP were huru in the category of trees and poles with INP 122.2 and 105, in the category of saplings was langkap with INP 70.2, and in the tillers category was palahlar with INP 41.4.

Vegetation response to climatic change in central Rift Valley, Kenya

Pollen analysis of a 15.5-m sediment core from Lake Naivasha, central Rift Valley of Kenya, reveals that the vegetation from before 20,290 to nearly 12,000 yr B.P. was dominated by open grassland, indicating arid conditions. Within this period a moderately wetter climate existed between 17,000 and 15,000 yr B.P., shown by relatively slight increase in both the montane and lowland forest vegetation. From approximately 12,000 to 6500 yr B.P., a change toward more trees and forests started at lower altitudes around the basin of Lake Naivasha, and later in the higher montane regions. After 6000 yr B.P. a decline in forest and lowland trees opened the vegetation into more grasslands and by 4000 yr B.P. a vegetation similar to the present was attained and has persisted to the present. During this period shallow-water aquatic plants became abundant in Lake Naivasha.

Phytomass structure of natural plant communities on spodosols in southern Venezuela: The tall Amazon Caatinga forest

The phytomass structure of the evergreen lowland forest vegetation (Tall Amazon Caatinga) supported by tropaquods near San Carlos de Rio Negro, Federal Amazon Territory of Venezuela was studied in 13 10 m× 10 m plots. The plots were laid out subjectively to cover a low topographical gradient along which the forest on tropaquod is grading into a low woodland (Bana, or Low Amazon Caatinga). The phytomass was estimated by destructive sampling.

Haemaphysalis (H.) sumatraensis sp. n. (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae), a Tick Parasitizing the Tiger, Boar, and Sambar Deer in Indonesia

Haemaphysalis (H.) sumatraensis sp. n. is described from adults parasitizing the Sumatran tiger, Felis tigris sumatrae Pocock, wild boar, Sus scrofa vittatus Boie, and sambar deer, Cervus unicolor equinus Cuvier, and swept from vegetation in lowland forests of southern Sumatra. This member of the H. (H.) obesa group of the Oriental Faunal Region is related to H. (H.) obesa Larrousse (NE India to Vietnam, Thailand, N Malaya) and H. (H.) hirsuta Hoogstraal, Trapido, and Kohls (Java, Sumatra), but lacks the unusual setal patches characterizing the related species. The structure of the female external genital area is unique in each species. These species also appear to be related to H. (H.) turturis Nuttall and Warburton of the Indian Subregion, which lacks specialized female genital structure and unusual setae. H. (H.) hirsuta, previously known only by two adult specimens from Java, is recorded from numerous adults, nymphs, and a larva from forest vegetation in western Java and from adults parasitizing a wild boar and nymphs from forest vegetation and a sambar deer in the same localities as H. (H.) sumatraensis in southern Sumatra. Haemaphysalis (H.) sumatraensis sp. n., described from adults parasitizing the tiger, wild boar, and sambar deer, and swept from lowland forest vegetation in Lampong District, southern Sumatra, is a relatively unspecialized member of the H. (H.) obesa group of the Oriental Faunal Region (Hoogstraal et al., 1971) and appears also to be related to H. (H.) turturis Nuttall and Warburton (Trapido, Hoogstraal, and Varma, 1963) of the Indian Subregion. The subgeneric position of these species is tentative. Haemaphysalis (H.) sumatraensis sp. n. Sumatran forest haemaphysalid

Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) bispinosa Neumann (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae): Evidence for Consideration as an Introduced Species in the Malay Peninsula and Borneo

In much of India and neighboring nations, Haemaphysalis (K.) bispinosa parasitizes wild and domestic Carnivora and Artiodactyla alike. However, in the Malay Peninsula, where 12,030 ticks were collected from 459 wild Carnivora and Artiodactyla and 5,555 ticks were taken from 388 domestic animals, H. (K.) bispinosa was represented by 34 (0.28%) specimens from the wild hosts and by 4,907 (88.33%) specimens from the domestic hosts. Although widely distributed in the Malay Peninsula, this parasite has biological characteristics of an introduced species that has not adapted to the Malayan forest environment and fauna. Several old specimens of bispinosa from Borneo [British Museum (Natural History) collections] may represent erroneous labeling or samples of introduced ticks that do not appear to have established a permanent population on this island. Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) bispinosa Neumann is an ubiquitous, medically important parasite of various wild and domestic mammals and birds in much of India and Ceylon, the terai (lowlands) of Nepal, certain areas of West Pakistan, East Pakistan, and western Burma (Hoogstraal, in preparation). Reports of H. (K.) bispinosa in many other regions of Southeast Asia, China, USSR, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Oceania have been shown in a series of papers recently published in the Journal of Parasitology to be based on misidentification of other species. Thus, it has been of considerable interest when analyzing data resulting from the Malayan Tick Survey to find that in the Malay Peninsula H. (K.) bispinosa displays all the biological characteristics of an introduced parasite, one restricted chiefly to domestic animal hosts and seldom found parasitizing wild vertebrates or in collections from forest vegetation. Received for publication 20 May 1969. * From Research Project MF12.524.009-3010, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. The Malayan Tick Survey, from which these data are largely derived, is a collaborative study between the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, the Zoology Department, University of Maryland, and NAMRU-3, Cario, supported in part by U. S. Army Research and Development Command grant number DADA-17-67-C-7003. t Head, Medical Zoology Department, U. S. Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cairo, Egypt, UAR. + Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ? Department of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park. Flagging lowland forest vegetation where H. (K.) bispinosa is endemic in the Indian subregion often yields many specimens of this species and infestation rates on wild and domestic Carnivora and Artiodactyla are excellent indicators of the presence of this parasite. During the current Malayan Tick Survey, all areas of the peninsula have been explored. All the common tick species known from Malaya are represented in great numbers and comparatively large numbers of the less common and rare species have also been collected. Particular attention has been given to obtaining specimens by flagging forest vegetation. Numerous wild vertebrates, especially mammals, some reptiles, and a few birds have been examined. Domestic animals have been searched for ticks in each natural area. Other results of the Malayan Tick Survey are given by Hoogstraal et al. (in press). FIELD COLLECTION DATA Malayan data for ticks from forest vegetation and from domestic and wild Carnivora and Artiodactyla are briefly summarized. Ticks from vegetation Only eight of 630 collections from Malayan forest vegetation yielded H. (K.) bispinosa (4 d &, 2 Y9 , 5 nymphs). Over 10,000 tick specimens were taken from forest vegetation; the other species were Dermacentor auratus group (at least three species), Amblyomma testudinarium, A. geoemydae, Haemaphysalis calvus, H. c. cornigera, H. hylobatis, H. koningsbergeri, H. nadchatrami, H. obesa, H. semermis, H. traguli, and H. wellingtoni.

THE CASTLE HILL BASIN.

CORRIGENDA. Professor V.J. Chapman has written to the Editor asking that two items be emended in his article, ‘The Geographical Status of New Zealand Lowland Forest Vegetation’ which was published in the New Zealand Geographer, Volume 14, Number 2, October 1958. On page 106, Metrosideros umbellata in line I should read Metrosideros robusta whilst P. nivalis in line 17 should read P. hallii.