Similarity In Species Composition Research Articles

Diversity, abundance, and habitat utilization of medium and large-sized mammals in Debre-Libanos Monastery Forest, central part of Ethiopia

Abstract The present study aimed to estimate the diversity, abundance, and habitat utilization patterns of medium and large-sized mammals in the Debre-libanos Monastery forest, Ethiopia. The survey was conducted from December 2019 to October 2020, considering the wet and dry seasons. A stratified sampling design was applied, dividing the study area into four habitat types based on the vegetation composition and cover (i.e., Natural forest, Plantation, Cliff/Rocky, and Settlement). Both direct and indirect observations were used along the transect lines to identify mammal species. Indirect evidence included tracks, dens, droppings, hair, and other signs. Nineteen transect lines of 0.5‒1 km in length were established. The distance between transects was 200 m to avoid double counting. A total of 11 medium and large-sized mammal species belonging to 6 orders and eight families were identified during the study period. Carnivores and primates were the dominant orders, accounting for 36.4% and 27.3% of the species, respectively. Among primates, the Gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) is endemic to Ethiopia. The highest diversity of medium and large-sized mammals was observed in the natural forest during the dry season (Hʹ = 1.44), and the lowest diversity was recorded in the settlement during the dry season (Hʹ = 0.77). The abundance of different mammal species varied significantly from an even distribution (χ2 = 7344.9, df = 10, p < 0.001) and was not consistent among the four habitat types (Species × Habitat type interaction; Fisher-Freeeman-Halton exact test; χ2 = 649.3, df = 30, p < 0.001). High similarity in species composition was observed between the natural forest and plantation (SI = 0.94), whereas low similarity occurred between the cliff/rocky and settlement habitat types (SI = 0.18). Gelada baboon abundance was high; therefore, communities and government bodies must pay attention and conserve this species in the area.

Fallow Lands of Tuva (Russia): 30 years of Steppe Demutation

Tuva has been a cattle-breeding region since ancient times, extremely continental climate of this region is little suitable for agriculture. However, the steppes of intermountain depressions in Tuva were heavily plowed by the early 1980s. In the 1990s most of the arable lands were abandoned; the process of restoration (demutation) of natural vegetation on fallow lands began. By now, 30 years later, the old fallows are expected to achieve the stage of the secondary steppe. The purpose of this work is to estimate the differences between virgin steppes and corresponding secondary steppes in Tuva. Tussock, hummock, and desert virgin steppes have been compared with corresponding to three types of 30-year-old fallow communities. For this study, 330 geobotanical releves have been used. The criteria for comparison have been chosen as follows: the similarity of species composition, the spectrum of dominant species, species richness, grass cover, and grass height. The statistical validity of their differences has been verified. According to these criteria, virgin steppes and their 30-year-old fallow derivatives are shown to differ significantly.

Connected headwaters: Indelible field evidence of dispersal by a diverse caddisfly assemblage up stream valleys to dry catchment boundaries

Abstract1. Integral to many ecological models is the notion that dispersal connects populations and communities in disparate locations. For stream insects, however, there is very little empirical information about which species and what proportion of the species in a community are likely to disperse, in what direction and how far they travel, and whether dispersal is successful in connecting populations and communities. This study examines whether species of caddisfly can disperse between catchments and potentially connect communities.2. We used a novel sampling design comprising five pairs of streams. Each stream in a pair flowed from the same boundary, but in opposite directions and into isolated catchments. We surveyed abundances of adult caddisflies on the catchment boundary (boundary species) where there was no water (Up location), and on two locations per stream (Middle, Down locations) where there was permanently flowing water (resident species). If caddisflies fly along the topographic features of stream valleys, then we expected to find adults on the ridge between catchments and, if dispersal is successful, stream communities in adjacent catchments should have similar species composition.3. Over 130 species of caddisfly (from 18 families) were collected. Approximately half of them occurred on at least one catchment boundary, and Up locations averaged almost 20 species. Boundary species included both the smallest‐ and largest‐bodied taxa and they were a near perfect subset of species in resident assemblages. However, boundary species were not simply the most common in resident assemblages. There was no evidence of sex‐biased dispersal. Unsurprisingly, assemblage composition varied across the landscape, within and among catchments. However, resident assemblages within stream pairs were significantly more similar to one another than unpaired streams in either the same or in different catchments.4. Our results suggest that a surprisingly diverse set of caddisflies disperse up to catchment boundaries and potentially connect streams on either side of catchment divides. Nevertheless, many other caddisfly species were never recorded at Up sites and hence may never or only rarely reach catchment boundaries.5. These outcomes suggest, firstly, that some caddisflies are capable of trans‐catchment dispersal but it is incorrect to assume that all caddisflies are good dispersers, as is often stated in the literature. Secondly, caddisfly assemblages in headwater streams may be less isolated than is often considered and the dendritic structure of stream networks may be less important for their distribution patterns than the proximity of tributaries in neighbouring catchments, in many landscapes. Trans‐catchment dispersal could ensure community connectivity and facilitate recovery after catchment‐wide extinctions.

Biodiversity data synthesis on trees of Indian Himalayan Region: Policy and management implications

The recent adoption of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires empirical synthesis of biodiversity data spanning across broad biogeographic scales to inform conservation policy and management. Although the availability and access to biodiversity databases have recently improved, yet majority of these databases lack sufficient geographic coverage, especially from the biodiversity hotspot regions of developing countries, thereby severely limiting their utility and generalizability across the globe. Here, we present a comprehensive tree database (2199 species) of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) – home to two global biodiversity hotspots – collated from a quantitative synthesis of 234 studies published over the last one century. Taking leverage of this novel database, we unravel the patterns of diversity, distribution, and drivers of the trees of IHR. We found that the species richness, compositional similarity, distribution patterns, and biome affiliation of the tree diversity vary significantly across the IHR, with nearly half of the tree species affiliated with the wet tropical biome. Of the 10 climatic and environmental drivers used, the annual mean temperature and elevation width in combination best predicted the variation in tree diversity across the IHR. We also document 117 endemic and 88 threatened tree species in the IHR, which merit conservation priority. Our findings have significant utility in formulating management and restoration strategies for biodiversity conservation across the IHR. Overall, our study showcases a model biodiversity database with wide policy implications in the planning and management of tree-focussed environmental programs to restore the degraded forest landscapes and plantation-specific climate change mitigation strategies in the region.

Diversity of medium and large-sized mammal species in Chilimo Forest, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract Investigating species distribution and diversity patterns is vital for conservation efforts in biodiversity-rich countries such as Ethiopia. The present study examined the diversity of medium and large-sized mammal species in the Chilimo forest, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. It was conducted from January 2022 to October 2022 by stratifying the study area into three habitat types: natural forest, plantation, and human-modified forest. A fixed-width line transect sampling method was used to collect the mammalian data. A total of 14 medium and large mammal species belonging to 11 families and six orders, were recorded in the forest during the study period. Of these, 11 were medium, and 3 were large-sized mammals. The Olive Baboon (Papio anubis) was the most abundant mammal species, accounting for 41.7 % of the total abundance. The abundance of medium and large-sized mammals varied significantly among the three habitat types (Species × Habitat; Chi-square test of independence; χ2 = 163.385, df = 26, p < 0.001) and between the wet and dry seasons (Species × Season; Chi-square test of independence; χ2 = 43.753, df = 13, p < 0.001). During the dry season, species diversity was the highest in the natural forest and plantation habitat (H’ = 1.76 in both). The natural forest also supported the highest species diversity during the wet season (H’ = 1.57), followed by the plantation and human-modified habitats (H’ = 1.54 in both). An 88% similarity in species composition was observed between the natural and human-modified forests. The occurrence of 14 species of medium and large-sized mammals in the study area calls for immediate conservation actions in collaboration with respective stakeholders to protect the area’s biodiversity.

The type of forest edge shapes snail assemblages at forest–pasture transitions

Semi-natural, nutrient-poor calcareous grasslands are local biodiversity hotspots that are increasingly threatened by land use intensification, abandonment, or indirect effects from adjacent habitats. The habitat quality of these grasslands is often influenced by neighbouring forests or intensively managed agricultural land. For example, shrubs encroaching on grassland reduce the sensitive habitat, but at the same time represent a new habitat type (transition zone at gradual forest edge). We investigated the effects of gradual and abrupt forest edges on the species richness, abundance, species composition, functional diversity and number of species of conservation importance (red-listed species) of land snail assemblages at forest–pasture transitions in the Jura Mountains, Switzerland. Forest edge type influenced the snail assemblages in different ways. Transition zones at abrupt forest edges had a higher species richness and more snail individuals than transition zones at gradual forest edges. Transition zones also differed in land snail species composition. At gradual forest edges, the transition zones contained some openland snail species, while those at abrupt forest edges had a similar species composition to the forest interior. Functional diversity was significantly higher for snails in the forests and transition zones at both abrupt and gradual edges than in pastures. In contrast, pastures and transition zones at both abrupt and gradual edges had a significantly higher number of red-listed snail species. Based on our findings, we recommend the creation of gradual forest edges through regular forest management practices, rather than through shrub encroachment into pasture, which could reduce the size of the threatened habitat.

Effects of canopy connectivity on the arboreal ant community in coffee shade trees

AbstractCanopy connectivity influences foraging, movement, and competition in arboreal ant communities. Understanding how canopy connectivity affects arboreal ant communities could inform the development of management practices that maximize services from known biocontrol agents. We experimentally manipulated connectivity between the crowns of large shade trees to investigate the effects of canopy connectivity on arboreal ant species richness and composition in a coffee agroecosystem. A linear mixed‐effects analysis showed that the number of species observed at baits set in tree crowns increased significantly after the crowns had been connected with nylon ropes. Crowns that were connected increased in similarity of ant species composition, particularly between adjacent connected crowns. Connectivity may increase the number of species present in tree crowns by allowing ants to move and forage in the canopy while bypassing trunks with more aggressive, territorial species such as Azteca sericeasur. Because twig‐nesting species in the upper canopy have been shown to act as biocontrol agents of herbivores, an increase in species richness in tree crowns could have positive implications for agricultural pest‐control services.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Characteristics and Relationships between Species Diversity and Productivity of Different Grassland Types in the Burqin Forest Region of the Altai Mountains

The Altai Mountain is located at the intersection of cold and arid regions. Climate change and overgrazing directly affect the growth of the grassland ecosystem in this region. This study took the grassland community in the Burqin forest area of the Altai Mountains as an example to analyze the species diversity and productivity of different grassland types based on 50 sampling plots. The relationship between species diversity and the productivity of grassland types at different altitudes was also discussed. The results showed that: (1) In the Burqin forest area, the desert steppe was dominated by Gramineae, Compositae, and Leguminosae. Montane steppe and mountain meadows were dominated by Umbelliferae, Gramineae, and Liliaceae. Gramineae, Ranunculaceae, and Liliaceae were the dominant families in both montane meadows steppe and alpine steppe but occurred in varying proportions. (2) The variation in plant numbers at the family–species level was characterized as montane steppe > alpine meadow > montane meadow steppe > desert steppe > mountain meadows. (3) The similarity in species composition among communities of different grassland types was low. In DS and MM, the number of grasslands and species played a decisive role in determining the biomass. The biomass of MS and AM was determined using the Simpson and Shannon–Wiener indices, and the number of dominant species determined the biomass. The number of grasslands and species did not have a significant impact on the biomass of MMS, which may be due to human factors such as grazing. (4) The dominant species in the grassland at an altitude of 1200–1400 m is prominent. The number of individuals in the dominant species was large and evenly distributed. Margalef peaked at an altitude of 1600–1800 m, but the number of individuals was small, resulting in low biomass and diversity in this range. Most plants survive at an altitude of 2000–2200 m; therefore, in grassland protection and planning management, it is important to consider the specific situation of plant growth under different habitats at different altitudes and make reasonable protection decisions based on local conditions to maintain species diversity and sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. This study provides basic data to support the theoretical basis for the protection and sustainable utilization of grassland resources and the restoration of degraded grasslands in the study region.

Physical, biological and anthropogenic drivers of spatial patterns of coral reef fish assemblages at regional and local scales

Species abundance, diversity and community assemblage structure are determined by multiple physical, habitat and management drivers that operate across multiple spatial scales. Here we used a multi-scale coral reef monitoring dataset to examine regional and local differences in the abundance, species richness and composition of fish assemblages in no-take marine reserve (NTMR) and fished zones at four island groups in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. We applied boosted regression trees to quantify the influence of 20 potential drivers on the coral reef fish assemblages. Reefs in two locations, Magnetic Island and the Keppel Islands, had distinctive fish assemblages and low species richness, while the Palm and Whitsunday Islands had similar species composition and higher species richness. Overall, our analyses identified several important physical (temperature, wave exposure) and biological (coral, turf, macroalgal and unconsolidated substratum cover) drivers of inshore reef fish communities, some of which are being altered by human activities. Of these, sea surface temperature (SST) was more influential at large scales, while wave exposure was important both within and between island groups. Species richness declined with increasing macroalgal cover and exposure to cyclones, and increased with SST. Species composition was most strongly influenced by mean SST and percent cover of macroalgae. There was substantial regional variation in the local drivers of spatial patterns. Although NTMR zoning influenced total fish density in some regions, it had negligible effects on fish species richness, composition and trophic structure because of the relatively small number of species targeted by the fishery. These findings show that inshore reef fishes are directly influenced by disturbances typical of the nearshore Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the need to complement global action on climate change with more targeted localised efforts to maintain or improve the condition of coral reef habitats.

Effects of adding cocoa fermentation medium on cigar leaves in agricultural fermentation stage.

Background and Objective: With the development of the world economy and the integration of cultures, the Chinese cigar market has shown a significant upward trend. However, high-quality cigar leaves are mostly produced in Dominica, Cuba, Nicaragua and other places. In contrast, Chinese cigar leaves have problems such as insufficient aroma, which has become one of the main factors restricting the development of Chinese cigars. Adding medium to ferment is a traditional method in the cigar industry. At present, it mostly relies on manual experience, and lacks systematic and scientific research. At the same time, the addition of medium fermentation is mainly concentrated in the industrial fermentation process, and has not yet begun to be applied in the agricultural fermentation process. In this study, the medium was added to the agricultural fermentation process for the first time to explore the possibility of the application. The effects of adding cocoa medium to ferment on the chemical composition, sensory quality and surface microbial diversity of eggplant core cigar leaves were investigated.wrapper. Method: With Dexue 7' as the experimental material, the changes of main chemical components of wrapper fermented with water and cocoa medium were determined, and microbial community structure on the surface and relative abundance of cigar leaves at different turning periods were analyzed, and the functional genes were predicted. The results of the study were as follows: 1) The results of sensory evaluation showed that the addition of cocoa medium could highlight the aroma of bean, cocoa and coffee, improve the sweetness and fluency and the combustibility of cigar leaves. 2) The addition of cocoa medium increased the contents of proline and malic acid which were positively correlated with sensory quality, and decreased the contents of citric acid, linoleic acid, basic amino acids and aromatic amino acids which were negatively correlated with sensory quality. 3) The addition of cocoa medium increased the total amount of aroma components in cigar leaves, especially carotenoid degradation products, and changed the structural composition of some aroma substances in wrappercigar leaves. 4) The similarity of species composition between the water-added group and the cocoa-added group was higher, but the dominant microorganisms were more concentrated. Staphylococcus and Arthrobacter maintained a high relative abundance throughout the fermentation process, which may be the key microorganisms in the agricultural fermentation stage. 5) The addition of cocoa medium increased the expression abundance of related functional genes in cigar leaves, accelerated the fermentation process of cigar leaves, and bacteria played a major role in the fermentation process. Conclusion: Adding cocoa medium in the agricultural fermentation stage, the changes of bacterial community and dominant flora on the surface of cigar leaves are the main factors affecting their internal chemical components, and the addition of media has a positive effect on tobacco fermentation.

Responses of Plant Species Diversity and Biomass to Forest Management Practices after Pine Wilt Disease

Pine wilt disease (PWD), which is caused by the Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is one of the most serious biological invasions in East Asia. Removal of infected pine trees is generally used to prevent the spread of PWD. However, how this strategy affects plant species diversity and ecosystem functions needs to be clarified. We compared alpha diversity, species composition, and biomass for all woody plant species, adults, saplings, and seedlings in infected Masson pine forests where removal of infected trees occurred (CTD) and where infected trees were retained (UTD), uninfected Masson pine forests (PMF), and evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBF). UTD had the highest alpha diversity of all species and saplings, and UTD and PMF had the lowest alpha diversity of seedlings. CTD and EBF had a similar composition of seedlings, and CTD and UTD had similar species composition of all plant species and saplings. UTD had the lowest biomass for all species and adults but had the highest saplings biomass. Soil properties were significantly related to plant biomass. The retention of infected trees likely maintained soil fertility which increased species alpha diversity and the biomass of saplings, and unchanged species composition compared to the removal of infected trees, indicating that the retention strategy could help to maintain ecosystem functions.

Comparison of species composition and community characteristics of Quercus forests on south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain, China.

We examined species composition, community characteristics, diversity, and community similarity of five Quercus communities composed of three Quercus species (Q. variabilis, Q. aliena var. acutiserrata, Q. wutaishanica) on the altitudinal gradient on the south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain. The results showed that there was an altitudinal transition pattern from Q. variabilis pure forest to Q. variabilis-Q. aliena var. acutiserrata mixed forest, Q. aliena var. acutiserrata pure forest, Q. aliena var. acutiserrata-Q. wutaishanica mixed forest and Q. wutaishanica pure forest on the south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain. The main companion species of Quercus community on the north slope were Pinus armandii, Castanea seguinii, and Sorbus alnifolia, and were Pinus tabuliformis, C. seguinii, Carpinus cordata, and Q. spinosa on the south slope. Species richness, woody plant density, and Quercus species dominance on the north slope of Taibai Mountain were higher than those on the south slope. α diversity of tree layer in Quercus community on the south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain increased first, then decreased and then increased with altitude. α diversity of tree layer was higher in mixed forests than pure forests. α diversity of shrub layer was higher than that of tree layer and herb layer in Quercus community on south and north slopes. β diversity fluctuated greatly along the altitudinal gradient on the south and north slopes, indicating that species composition changed greatly with altitude. Results of redundancy analysis showed that mean warmest month temperature, altitude and tree height accounted for 79.0% of the community diversity on the north slope, and that soil water content, tree height, canopy density and mean annual temperature accounted for 79.6% of the community diversity on the south slope. Overall, Quercus dominance was higher on the north slope of Taibai Mountain, and the substitution distribution pattern of Quercus species was clearer than that on the south slope. Environmental factors related to temperature and precipitation jointly affected α diversity of Quercus communities.

Severe simplification of the structure of dung beetle assemblages in neotropical soybean croplands regardless of the native vegetation domain

The conversion of native vegetation into agricultural areas is arguably the key driver of biodiversity declines globally. We assessed the responses of dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) to the effects of native vegetation conversion into soybean monoculture in different vegetation domains (Amazonian forest, scrubland savannahs and transitional vegetation) in the world’s largest tropical soybean (Glycine max L.) agricultural frontier. We also assessed the effects of landscape variables (amount of native habitat and amount of pasture) and land use history (time of land use change including soybean cultivation and cattle pastures). We sampled dung beetles at 100 study landscapes throughout the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, within a region encompassing Amazonian forests, the drier Cerrado savannahs, and transitional vegetation domain between these biomes. In total, we recorded 71,043 individuals of 165 species, with 39,090 individuals (155 species) sampled in native vegetation and 31,953 individuals (75 species) in soybean monoculture areas, 30 species of which could persist in croplands. We found differences in species composition, and lower species richness, overall abundance and biomass in monoculture areas, compared to adjacent native habitat. Time since land-use change into pasture was the main determinant of species richness and species compositional similarity in monocultures, while none of the landscape and land use history variables were informative in explaining overall abundance. We provide clear evidence that the conversion of native vegetation into soybean monoculture negatively affects dung beetle assemblages. Furthermore, croplands harboured their own unique dung beetle assemblages containing species typical of open-habitats and pasturelands, which are likely tracking the historical advance of the agricultural frontier. However, species typical of forest environments were most detrimentally affected and were largely missing in cropland areas.

Effects of Hederahelix L. removal on the understory early regeneration in an oak temperate forest in Mexico City

BackgroundHederahelix L. is an invasive weed species introduced in several regions of the world, so it is relevant to study its effects on the plant community and the changes occurring after its eradication. We established invaded (with/without removal of H. helix) and non-invaded (with/without removal of the understory) plots to compare some community attributes in an oak forest in Mexico City and monitored them every 2 months for 1 year, taking soil samples to compare some edaphic variables between the plots. If invasive species negatively affect natural regeneration, seedlings of native species would be less abundant in plots invaded by H. helix than in the non-invaded ones. As invasive species modify the soil microbiota through exudates and often allelochemicals, soil chemical variables would differ between invaded and non-invaded plots.ResultsThe abundance of native species was lower in the invaded plots, but the richness and diversity of species were not statistically different. The composition of the two invaded plots was similar to each other and more alike to that of the non-invaded plots. The species composition of the invaded plots was associated with soil potassium and phosphorus concentrations, whereas that of the non-invaded plots was more associated with soil nitrogen concentration.ConclusionsFollowing the removal of H.helix, several native species were registered, leading to a similar species composition as in the non-invaded plots, suggesting that some vegetation recovery can be expected following H. helix removal in 1 year.

Shared Evolutionary Path in Social Microbiomes.

Social networks can influence the ecology of gut bacteria, shaping the species composition of the gut microbiome in humans and other animals. Gut commensals evolve and can adapt at a rapid pace when colonizing healthy hosts. Here, we aimed at assessing the impact of host-to-host bacterial transmission on Escherichia coli evolution in the mammalian gut. Using an in vivo experimental evolution approach in mice, we found a transmission rate of 7% (±3% 2× standard error [2SE]) of E. coli cells per day between hosts inhabiting the same household. Consistent with the predictions of a simple population genetics model of mutation-selection-migration, the level of shared events resulting from within host evolution is greatly enhanced in cohoused mice, showing that hosts undergoing the same diet and habit are not only expected to have similar microbiome species compositions but also similar microbiome evolutionary dynamics. Furthermore, we estimated the rate of mutation accumulation of E. coli to be 3.0 × 10-3 (±0.8 × 10-3 2SE) mutations/genome/generation, irrespective of the social context of the regime. Our results reveal the impact of bacterial migration across hosts in shaping the adaptive evolution of new strains colonizing gut microbiomes.

Spatial variations of plant species diversity in urban soil seed banks in Beijing, China: Implications for plant regeneration and succession

The near-to-nature urban forestry concept and practices are widely recognized for urban greening, urban ecosystem restoration, urban greenspace management for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provision. However, the regeneration and succession of urban vegetation are rarely studied due to the complex settings of the urban environment. To this end, we conducted a large-scale field investigation in the metropolitan area of Beijing, China to explore the spatial variations in plant species composition and diversity in soil seed banks, and their similarity to the aboveground vegetation to assess the potential of urban plant regeneration. Overall, 657 vegetation and soil sampling plots from 219 grids, measuring 2 km × 2 km each, were investigated within two perpendicular 10 km wide transects running across the urban center in north-south and east-west directions within the 6th Ring Road of the city. We recorded a total of 102 plant species in soil seed banks, including 13 tree species, 10 shrub species, and 79 herb species. We found that the soil seed bank species diversity and its similarity to that of the aboveground vegetation communities decreased significantly with the urbanization intensity. Higher urbanization intensity is typically associated with increased human management and a reduction in Greenspace Area (GSA). Soil seed bank species richness increased significantly when GSA exceeded 45 % and the similarity of species composition and diversity between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation communities was the highest in forest parks. This suggests that habitats under forest park management are more conducive to plant regeneration. Soil seed bank species diversity first increased and then decreased significantly with increased distance to the city center, whereas the species similarity between the soil seed banks and the aboveground vegetation communities showed little change with the ring roads going out. The results of this study have important implications for further understanding the potential for urban vegetation regeneration and sustainability, which have significant implications for urban biodiversity conservation and restoration.

Nutrient Supplementation to Arboreal Ants: Effects on Trophic Position, Thermal Tolerance, Community Structure and the Interaction with the Host-Tree

Carbohydrates and proteins are essential to maintain the basic functions of animals. Over the course of one year we conducted a factorial experiment to determine the influence of carbohydrate (sucrose) and protein supplementation on the thermal tolerance, trophic position, overall abundance, species richness and composition, and on the strength of the protective effects of arboreal ants on their host tree (Caryocar brasiliense). Using Azteca ants as a model we found evidence of dietary and thermal plasticity among arboreal ants as colonies supplied with protein increased their trophic level relative to colonies that received no protein. Colonies that received sucrose increased their thermal tolerance on average by 1.5 °C over a six-month period, whereas those that did not receive sucrose did not change their thermal tolerance. Overall ant abundance was lower in control trees than in those that received any nutrient addition treatment. Species richness was also lower in control trees, but those receiving sucrose presented more species than those receiving only protein. There was greater similarity in species composition between the trees that received sucrose than between these and those receiving only protein or just water as control. Trees whose ant colonies received sucrose presented lower levels of leaf damage than those that did not. Overall, these results indicate that food resources can modulate the population and community ecology of arboreal ants as well as their interaction with the host trees. Interestingly, although arboreal ants are thought to be N-limited, it was the supplementation of sucrose—not protein—that elicited most of the responses.

Diversity of True Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) on Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in Southern Slovakia

The common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus 1800) is an exceptionally invasive species. The information on true bugs occurring on ragweed plants is limited in the invasion region. The objective of this study was to determine the species composition of Heteroptera associated with A. artemisiifolia, to assess their vectoring potential based on a literature review, and to compare species similarity in the surveyed fields. Field surveys were conducted in 2020–2021 at 10 sites in southern Slovakia. Sweeping and visual observations were conducted in field margins, weedy agricultural fields, and mowed meadows infested with A. artemisiifolia. In the study, food specialization, the abundance of individual species, and their assignment to families were precisely determined. The Jaccard similarity index was used to evaluate similarities in species composition among the sites studied. A total of 2496 true bugs were recorded, representing 47 species of Heteroptera from 12 families. The most common phytophagous species were Nysius ericae ericae (Schilling, 1829) (Pentatomomorpha, Lygaeidae), Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze, 1778), Lygus rugulipennis (Poppius, 1911), Lygus pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cimicomorpha, Miridae), and a zoophagous species Nabis (Dolichonabis) limbatus (Dahlbom, 1851) (Cimicomorpha, Nabidae). The species similarities in pair-wise combined localities were low, with a dominance of highly migratory and polyphagous species able to traverse the field from the adjacent landscape. A. artemisiifolia is a known host for plant viruses and phytoplasmas, and several Heteroptera species are carriers of these plant pathogens. Halyomorpha halys was the only detected vector of phytoplasmas, and its abundance on A. artemisiifolia was extremely low.

Speciation in Coastal Basins Driven by Staggered Headwater Captures: Dispersal of a Species Complex, Leporinus bahiensis, as Revealed by Genome-wide SNP Data.

Past sea level changes and geological instability along watershed boundaries have largely influenced fish distribution across coastal basins, either by dispersal via palaeodrainages now submerged or by headwater captures, respectively. Accordingly, the South American Atlantic coast encompasses several small and isolated drainages that share a similar species composition, representing a suitable model to infer historical processes. Leporinus bahiensis is a freshwater fish species widespread along adjacent coastal basins over narrow continental shelf with no evidence of palaeodrainage connections at low sea level periods. Therefore, this study aimed to reconstruct its evolutionary history to infer the role of headwater captures in the dispersal process. To accomplish this, we employed molecular-level phylogenetic and population structure analyses based on Sanger sequences (5 genes) and genome-wide SNP data. Phylogenetic trees based on Sanger data were inconclusive, but SNPs data did support the monophyletic status of L. bahiensis. Both COI and SNP data revealed structured populations according to each hydrographic basin. Species delimitation analyses revealed from 3 (COI) to 5 (multilocus approach) MOTUs, corresponding to the sampled basins. An intricate biogeographic scenario was inferred and supported by Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) analysis. Specifically, a staggered pattern was revealed and characterized by sequential headwater captures from basins adjacent to upland drainages into small coastal basins at different periods. These headwater captures resulted in dispersal throughout contiguous coastal basins, followed by deep genetic divergence among lineages. To decipher such recent divergences, as herein represented by L. bahiensis populations, we used genome-wide SNPs data. Indeed, the combined use of genome-wide SNPs data and ABC method allowed us to reconstruct the evolutionary history and speciation of L. bahiensis. This framework might be useful in disentangling the diversification process in other neotropical fishes subject to a reticulate geological history.

A low-tech method for monitoring survival and growth of coral transplants at a boutique restoration site.

Coral reef restoration projects are becoming a popular corporate environmental responsibility activity at hotel resorts. Such involvement of private businesses offers the potential to expand restoration into a new socioeconomic sector. However, the scarcity of user-friendly monitoring methods for hotel staff, but robust enough to detect changes over time, hinders the ability to quantify the success or failure of the restoration activity. Here, we present a monitoring method of easy application by hotel staff, without scientific training, using the standard resources available at a hotel resort. Survival and growth of coral transplants were evaluated over 1 year at a boutique coral reef restoration site. The restoration was tailored to the needs of a hotel resort in Seychelles, Indian Ocean. A total of 2,015 nursery-grown corals of branching (four genera, 15 species), massive (16 genera, 23 species), and encrusting (seven genera, seven species) growth types were transplanted to a 1-3 m deep degraded patch reef. A unique cement mix was used to transplant corals onto the hard substrate. On the north side of each coral selected for monitoring, we attached an 8.2 cm × 8.2 cm reflective tile. We used reflective tiles instead of numbered tags due to the expected amount of biofouling growing on the tag surface. Every coral was recorded with top view photography (perpendicular to the plane of coral attachment), with the reflective square in the field of view. We drafted a map of the site to facilitate navigation and re-sighting of the monitored colonies. Then, we developed a simple monitoring protocol for hotel staff. Using the map, and the reflective tiles, the divers located the coral colonies, recorded status (alive, dead, bleaching), and took a photograph. We measured the two-dimensional coral planar area and the change in colony size over time using contour tissue measurements of photographs. The monitoring method was robust enough to detect the expected survival of coral transplants, with encrusting and massive corals outperforming branching corals. Survival of encrusting and massive corals was higher (50%-100%) than branching corals (16.6%-83.3%). The change in colony size was 10.1 cm2 ±8.8 (SE). Branching coral survivors grew faster than massive/encrusting corals. A comprehensive approach to the boutique restoration monitoring experiment would have included comparisons with a control patch reef with a similar species composition to the coral transplants. However, the ability to monitor such a control site, in addition to the restoration site, was beyond the logistic capabilities of the hotel staff, and we were limited to monitoring survival and growth within the restoration site. We conclude that science-based boutique coral reef restoration, tailored to the needs of a hotel resort, combined with a simple monitoring method, can provide a framework for involving hotels as partners in coral reef restoration worldwide.