Number Of Species Research Articles

Concerning structure-functional features of the leaf apparatus of some stone crops varieties belonging to <i>Prunus</i> (Rosaceae Juss.) genus

For the Rosaceae family (Rosaceae Juss.), which is part of the group of families with the highest species abundance, one of the largest genera is the Prunus genus, which, according to the Catalog of Life, includes 395 species, 16 subspecies, 55 variations. Various sources for this genus indicate from 250 to 400 species of trees and shrubs widely distributed in the northern temperate zone, subtropical and tropical regions, from forests to deserts, in altitude ranges from sea level to alpine zones. In the Samara Oblast, among 67 species of woody Rosaceae, there are 30 native and 36 introduced species (adventitious and wild). The genus is most widespread in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, is widely represented in North America, Europe and Northern Asia, and includes a number of cultivated species of global economic importance. The active involvement of interspecific hybridization between representatives of the Prunus genus is considered by experts as a determining factor in the evolutionary development of its species diversity, which manifested itself in the appearance of a number of hybridogenic species that were able to overcome successfully the effects of abiotic stressors in the process of expanding ranges, the formation of cultigenic species of stone crops and their varietal diversity. In recent decades, the characteristics of leaves have gained special place in the research programs of plant ecologists as significant indicators of various aspects of growth, reproduction and functions of the plant organism, water use, nutrients, adaptation to environmental changes, including projected climatic changes. Leaf indicators are the most accessible for study throughout almost the entire growing season, they can be evaluated quickly enough, without involving expensive equipment, the screening procedure for leaf apparatus indicators is well standardized. The combined efforts of researchers led to the creation of large and complete databases of leaf apparatus features for various plant species. For the leaves of 15 varieties of stone crops (cherry Olechka, Chernookaya, Kalinka, Nyusha, Pervinka; apricot Samara, Yantar Povolzhya; Russian plum Dolgozhdannaya, Konservnaya, Velikansha, Naryadnaya, Kompotnaya, Lunnaya; domestic plum Dachnaya, Doch Eurasii) quantitative indicators determined for samples selected in July 2020, 2021 and 2022 are analyzed. In order to visualize the possible features of the leaf apparatus in groups of varieties of various fruit crops, the construction of dot diagrams with a limited area of location for each group of points was used. This technique made it possible to identify both the presence of separate groups of points corresponding to one indicator of the leaves of individual stone fruits, and the overlap of the corresponding ranges of other indicators of values. Probably, this picture is a reflection of a certain ecological and physiological heterogeneity in groups of stone fruit varieties, which are cultigenic hybrids of complex origin.

Facile preparation of alkali metal‐modified hollow nanotubular manganese‐based oxide catalysts and their excellent catalytic soot combustion performance

AbstractThe soot emitted during the operation of diesel engine exhaust seriously threatens the human health and environment, so treating diesel engine exhaust is critical. At present, the most effective method for eliminating soot particles is post‐treatment technology. Preparation of economically viable and highly active soot combustion catalysts is a pivotal element of post‐treatment technology. In this study, different single‐metal oxide catalysts with fibrous structures and alkali metal‐modified hollow nanotubular Mn‐based oxide catalysts were synthesized using centrifugal spinning method. Activity evaluation results showed that the manganese oxide catalyst has the best catalytic activity among the prepared single‐metal oxide catalysts. Further research on alkali metal modification showed that doping alkali metals is beneficial for improving the oxidation state of manganese and generating a large number of reactive oxygen species. Combined with the structural effect brought by the hollow nanotube structure, the alkali metal‐modified Mn‐based oxide catalysts exhibit superior catalytic performance. Among them, the Cs‐modified Mn‐based oxide catalyst exhibits the best catalytic performance because of its rich active oxygen species, excellent NO oxidation ability, abundant Mn4+ ions (Mn4+/Mnn+ = 64.78%), and good redox ability. The T10, T50, T90, and CO2 selectivity of the Cs‐modified Mn‐based oxide catalyst were 267°C, 324°C, 360°C, and 97.8%, respectively.

Community Structure Characteristics and Changes in Fish Species at Poyang Lake after the Yangtze River Fishing Ban

To understand the fish community structure characteristics and changes in Poyang Lake after the Yangtze River fishing ban in 2021, seven sampling stations were established, namely in Hukou, Lushan, Duchang, Yongxiu, Nanjishan, Ruihong, and Poyang, for fishery resource surveys between 2020 and 2021. The results showed that 93 fish species were identified, belonging to 11 orders, 20 families, and 61 genera, which was an increase of 4.5% from before the fishing ban. Of these, 52 Cyprinidae species were identified, comprising the highest proportion (55.91%). Four invasive alien species (hybrid sturgeon, Cirrhina mrigala, Piaractus brachypomus, and Mugil cephalus) were identified, and the number of alien species in Poyang Lake was higher than before the fishing ban. Carnivorous and mid-lower-level fish showed a significant increase, accounting for 47.31% and 38.71% of the total species, respectively. Compared with the Yangtze River before the fishing ban, the body length and body weight of the main economic fish in Poyang Lake increased by 6.10–61.26% and by 15.14–291.57%, respectively. In terms of age structure, the proportion of major economically important fish aged 1 or 2 years decreased significantly, while the proportion of older fish increased substantially. There was little difference in the diversity of fish communities at different stations in Poyang Lake. In terms of biodiversity, the Shannon–Wiener index ranged from 2.158 to 2.909, with Poyang having the highest value and Nanjishan the lowest. Margalef’s index ranged from 4.265 to 6.459, with Lushan having the highest value and Nanjishan the lowest. Pielou’s index ranged from 0.617 to 0.822, with Duchang having the highest value and Nanjishan the lowest. Hence, the Yangtze river fishing ban has played an important and positive role in the restoration of fishery resources in Poyang Lake. However, long-term tracking and monitoring are needed to provide information to comprehensively evaluate the ecological impact of the Poyang Lake fishing ban.

Chromosomal analysis of two Acanthodoras species (Doradidae, Siluriformes): Insights into the oldest thorny catfish clade and its karyotype evolution.

The Doradidae fishes constitute one of the most diverse groups of Neotropical freshwater environments. Acanthodoradinae is the oldest lineage and the sister group to all other thorny catfishes, and it includes only the genus Acanthodoras. The diversity of Acanthodoras remains underestimated, and the use of complementary approaches, including genetic studies, is an important step to better characterize this diversity and the relationships among the species within the genus. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using conventional cytogenetic techniques and physical mapping of three multigene families (18S and 5S ribosomal DNA [rDNA], U2 small nuclear DNA [snDNA]) and four microsatellite motifs, namely (AC)n, (AT)n, (GA)n, and (GATA)n, in two sympatric species from the Negro River: Acanthodoras cataphractus and Acanthodoras cf. polygrammus. We found significant differences in constitutive heterochromatin (CH) content, distribution of the microsatellite (AT)n, and the number of 5S rDNA and U2 snDNA sites. These differences may result from chromosome rearrangements and repetitive DNA dispersal mechanisms. Furthermore, the characterization of the diploid number (2n) of these Acanthodoras species enables us to propose 2n = 58 chromosomes as the plesiomorphic 2n state in Doradidae based on ancestral state reconstruction. Acanthodoradinae is the oldest lineage of the thorny catfishes, and knowledge about its cytogenetic patterns is crucial for disentangling the karyotype evolution of the whole group. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms behind chromosome diversification of Doradidae and highlights the importance of Acanthodoradinae in the evolutionary history of thorny catfishes.

Temporal dynamics of climate change exposure and opportunities for global marine biodiversity

Climate change is exposing marine species to unsuitable temperatures while also creating new thermally suitable habitats of varying persistence. However, understanding how these different dynamics will unfold over time remains limited. We use yearly sea surface temperature projections to estimate temporal dynamics of thermal exposure (when temperature exceeds realised species’ thermal limits) and opportunity (when temperature at a previously unsuitable site becomes suitable) for 21,696 marine species globally until 2100. Thermal opportunities are projected to arise earlier and accumulate gradually, especially in temperate and polar regions. Thermal exposure increases later and occurs more abruptly, mainly in the tropics. Assemblages tend to show either high exposure or high opportunity, but seldom both. Strong emissions reductions reduce exposure around 100-fold whereas reductions in opportunities are halved. Globally, opportunities are projected to emerge faster than exposure until mid-century when exposure increases more rapidly under a high emissions scenario. Moreover, across emissions and dispersal scenarios, 76%-97% of opportunities are projected to persist until 2100. These results indicate thermal opportunities could be a major source of marine biodiversity change, especially in the near- and mid-term. Our work provides a framework for predicting where and when thermal changes will occur to guide monitoring efforts.

Biological invasions negatively impact global protected areas

Protected areas underpin global biodiversity conservation and sustainability agendas. Biological invasions increasingly threaten the ecological functioning and long-term conservation value of protected areas, while a lack of information on impact impedes management decisions. We collated data from effects of biological invasions in protected areas to provide the first quantitative analysis of their global impacts. Based on 300 reported effects from 44 invasive species, we show that there are overall negative impacts from invasive species on both biotic and abiotic characteristics of protected areas globally. Impacts were pervasive across population, community, and ecosystem scales, and for the vast majority of invasive taxa with sufficient data. Negative impacts have been incurred around the world, with National Parks and World Heritage Sites in the Neartic and Neotropical regions the most studied. Notwithstanding context-dependencies and uneven research efforts, the recurrent negative impacts of invasive species indicate that current efforts are insufficient to curb current stressors and meet conservation and sustainability targets on land and in water. To address the risk of biological invasions in protected areas, it is imperative to prioritise fundamental research on ecological interactions, establish robust monitoring and prevention programs, and raise awareness through global initiatives.

Mitochondrial Fission Is Involved in Heat Resistance in Zebrafish.

Global warming and extreme weather events pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, with rising water temperatures exerting a profound influence on fish conservation and fishery development. In this study, we used zebrafish as a model organism to explore the impact of a heat acclimation period on their survival rates. The results demonstrated that a 2-month heat acclimation period almost completely mitigated heat stress-induced mortality in zebrafish. Subsequent analysis of the surviving zebrafish revealed a predominance of hepatic mitochondria in a fission state. Remarkably, a short-term fasting regimen, which induced hepatic mitochondrial fission, mirrored the outcomes of the protective effect of heat acclimation and augmented animal survival under heat stress. Conversely, treatment with a mitochondrial fission inhibitor within the fasting group attenuated the elevated survival rate. Furthermore, zebrafish embryos subjected to brief heat acclimation also exhibited increased heat resistance, a trait diminished by a chemical intervention inhibiting mitochondrial fission. This suggests a shared mechanism for heat resistance between embryos and adult zebrafish. These findings underscore the potential use of inducing mitochondrial fission to enhance heat resistance in zebrafish, offering promise for fish biodiversity conservation in the face of global warming.

Inter-annual changes in zooplankton in the Volga delta kultuk zone in summer (low-water period)

The paper presents the results of our studies of inter-annual changes in the structure of summer zooplankton in the kultuk zone of the Volga delta depending on hydrological and meteorological conditions. The study shows the main trends in zooplankton differences in a series of low-water years. It was found that in low-water years in the kultuk zone with low runoff, short floods and weak watering of floodplain territories, zooplankton was characterized by low species richness, reduced average individual mass of crustaceans and the number of Rotifera, but a high proportion of the number of juvenile Copepoda. In the year when the water level decreased before the flood during the period of temperature increase, and then a rapid rise with the inflow of cold waters and the removal of fish larvae, zooplankton was characterized by a minimum species richness and quantitative values of Rotifera, but increased biomass of Cladocera and the Shannon index. In every low-water year, with a stable and relatively high water level before the flood, fish spawning in the kultuk zone, biomass of zooplankton reduced due to Cladocera, and the number of species in the sample. In every mid-water year, the flood had the largest runoff and prolonged, increased flooding of the floodplain, zooplankton was characterized by the maximum total and specific species richness, abundance of Rotifera, total biomass on account of Cladocera, and the individual mass of crustaceans, the Shannon index, but the minimum proportion of juvenile Copepoda.

Containing alien plants in coastal dunes: Evidence from a soil manipulation experiment

Biological invasion is recognised as one of the major threats to biodiversity, particularly in disturbance-prone ecosystems such as costal dunes. Many studies have associated alien plant invasion of dune ecosystem to human disturbances, but less is known about the role of soil properties in invasion after disturbance. Soil properties are crucial filters during plant succession and soil-related changes in the initial stage of species colonization might shape the final success of the invaders.We performed a manipulative experiment aimed at elucidating the effects of soil properties on plant colonization processes in highly invaded dune systems, as a proxy for plausible management actions to curb the success of exotic plant species over native ones, which was measured through species richness and abundance.In a barrier island of the Marano and Grado lagoon, Northern Adriatic Sea, we mechanically removed all the native and alien vegetation present in the back dune (also known as secondary dune), triggering a new ecological succession and further altered, for the following three months, soil properties by adding salt, nitrogen, and organic matter in a full factorial design with randomized blocks.The soil treatments reduced the overall species richness and abundance of alien plants. Further, soil treatment interactions strongly shaped community evenness and species richness. Soil salinity had a positive effect on native cover while decreasing the overall number of alien species, especially in soil with added organic matter.Our findings suggest that soil salinity, and its interplay with organic matter, might significantly reduce the initial success of alien species propagule pressure (i.e. alien plant germination), with likely implications for the trajectories of future plant communities. This study highlights that alien plant containment should be focused on early stages of succession, giving new perspective on future environmental management actions for dune restoration and conservation.

Microbiomic and metabolomic dynamics in chrysanthemum waste at different fermentation stages

The microbial community and metabolite profile during the fermentation of chrysanthemum waste (CW) were studied, as well as the effect of feeding fermented chrysanthemum waste (FCW) to sows. The nutritional value of CW fermented for 30–90 days was similar to that of CW fermented for 7 days. With increasing time, the number of bacterial species, richness index, and diversity index increased. The main genera were Pediococcus. A total of 270 different metabolites were identified in FCW, among which benzenoids, amino acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, and peptides were the most significantly different metabolites. Flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis were the most important metabolic pathways in fermentation. Feeding FCW to sows was beneficial for their production performance. These provide new insights into the characteristics of microbiome and metabolome associated with CW during long-term fermentation and the feed availability of FCW.

Colonization & Decomposition Pattern of Water Borne Conidial Fungi in Freshwater Stream of Central Himalaya

In the freshwater streams the leaf litter substrate is colonized by early fungal colonizer and helps in decomposition of leaf litter and makes the substrate more suitable for the recruitment of late successional species. The study was carried out at Central Himalayan stream (Vinayak) to examine the colonization and decomposition pattern of Water Borne Conidial Fungi as all the streams are naturally subjected to great spatial and temporal variability, which is likely to affect the distribution and activity of organism in aquatic ecosystem. In this study nylon-mesh bags technique was used for the period of twelve months, using Angiospermic and Gymnospermic leaves as leaf litter substrate. Decomposition (weight loss) of different substrates in different months of submergence was analyzed statistically and was found that species number significantly affect the weight loss of tested leaf litter. KEY WORDS: Water Borne Conidial Fungi, Fresh Water Streams, Colonization, Decomposition.

The impact of extension delivery through private local service providers on production outcomes of small-scale aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Purpose This study delves into the effectiveness of local service providers (LSP) in improving production outcomes of small-scale aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach To gauge the effectiveness of LSPs, the research employs a performance-based assessment approach, focusing on 1653 fish farming households distributed across four different participation levels. Essentially, it compared quantifiable variables like the number of species cultured, productivity, proportion of fish sold and revenue metrics of the LSP-trained farmers against a control group that has not received training from LSPs. Data analysis was conducted with Multivalued Treatment Effects (MTE) estimated using an augmented inverse-probability weighting method that allows for heterogeneous treatment effects. Findings Findings revealed that farmers who received the LSP extension training exhibited a significant increase in all outcomes compared to their counterparts. The LSP extension participating farmers are more likely to adopt better management practices like improved feeding routines, dike constructions, pond cleanliness, and fish growth monitoring. Practical implications LSP extension model with enhanced capacity can be a catalyst for improved production of small-scale aquaculture farmers. Theoretical implications This study contributes to a research agenda related to the efficiency of emerging pluralistic extension service systems that favors decentralization, privatization, and outsourcing of extension service, and their capability to enhance the production outcomes of small-scale farmers. Originality/value This study addresses an important research gap in the agricultural extension literature, which is the value-for-money of Local Service Providers, and their capability to enhance the production outcomes of small-scale farmers.

Helminth Fauna of Bats of the Rostov Region: Review. 2. Cestoda

Introduction. The class Cestoda is divided into two subclasses: the Cestodaria — unsegmented tapeworms, and the Eucestoda — true cestodes. The representatives of the orders Pseudophyllidea and Cyclophyllidae, which are part of the subclass of true cestodes parasitize in carnivorous mammals. At the same time, only representatives of the latter order parasitize in chiropterans. Data on the species composition and distribution of cestodes in the Rostov region have not been published yet. The list of bat species living in the Rostov region have been compiled previously. In this article, the authors study the cestode fauna parasitizing in chiropterans in the region under study. This review aims to analyse the current state of knowledge about the species composition of helminths parasitizing in bats in the Rostov region.Materials and Methods. The research materials have been obtained from the libraries and open access resources: PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), CyberLeninka (cyberleninka.ru), Google Scholar (scholar.google.com), BHL (www.biodiversitylibrary.org ), JSTOR (www.jstor.org), etc. Some data has been provided by the colleagues. Results. 17 species of cestodes of 4 genera, 1 family and 1 order can be found in 15 species of bats living in the Rostov region. Among them dominate the species of the genus Vampirolepis (11 species).Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the review carried out showed that maximum diversity of cestodes was found in one species of bats — the serotine bat (10 species). The smallest number of cestode species (1 per each) was found in the giant and lesser noctules. None of the cestode species found in bats in the Rostov region were recorded in companion animals or humans. However, some cestode species of the Hymenolepididae family, common in rodents, can infect the humans.

Persistence of widespread moderate Spinosad resistance among wild melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) and oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) populations on the major Hawaiian islands.

Insecticide resistance among invasive tephritid fruit flies poses a great risk to national food security and has the potential to disrupt quarantine and eradication programs, which rely on the efficacy of Spinosad to prevent widespread establishment in North America. During 2022 to 2023 we surveyed the extent of Spinosad resistance of two key species, oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis, and melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae, from 20 sites across five Hawaiian Islands including Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, Molokai and the "Big Island" (Hawai'i). We used topical thoracic applications of eight concentrations of Spinosad ranging from 0.028 to 3.6 mg/mL to evaluate the lethal concentration (LC50 and LC99) required to kill wild-caught males. Resistance ratios (RR) were calculated by comparing the LC50 of wild flies to laboratory susceptible lines maintained in colony. Our results identified at least two new sites of concern for melon fly resistance on the Big Island, and at least four sites of concern for oriental fruit fly, all of which were located on the Big Island. At these locations RRs were >5. On O'ahu, melon fly RRs were >10. The persistence of Spinosad resistance is concerning, yet it is a reduction compared to the values reported previously and before changes to Spinosad use recommendations by local extension agents beginning in 2017. For oriental fruit fly, these RR values are the highest levels that have been detected in wild Hawai'i populations. These data suggest that expanded Spinosad reduction and replacement programs are warranted given the ongoing issues with Spinosad resistance in Hawai'i and expansion in the number of species affected. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Negative effects of cigarette butt leachate on freshwater phytoplankton communities.

We experimentally tested the effects of different concentrations of cigarette butt leachate on freshwater phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, species richness, cell density, and community composition. For this, we sampled the phytoplankton from a eutrophic lake and acclimated it for 24 h in microcosms. We then conducted the experiment in microcosms maintained for 96 h. The experiment consisted of four treatments: control and leachate from 1 butt L-1 (T1), 5 butts L-1 (T5), and 10 butts L-1 (T10), which were prepared by diluting a stock solution of leachate from 50 butts L-1. We found that algal chlorophyll-a content was not affected by different leachate concentrations. In contrast, phytoplankton cell density decreased in a dose-dependent manner as concentrations of the leachate increased. Similarly, the number of species was highest in the control group relative to all other treatments, with T1 and T5 showing higher species richness than T10. Additionally, the exposition to different concentrations of the leachate impacted community composition across all treatments in comparison to the control group. Our results suggest that cigarette butt leachate alters the number of cells and species, as well as the distribution of abundance, without necessarily reducing chlorophyll-a concentrations. Our findings indicate that to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of cigarette butt leachate on freshwater ecosystems, it is essential to evaluate more realistic scenarios that incorporate aquatic communities, rather than isolated species.

Medicinal plants used by minority ethnic groups in China: Taxonomic diversity and conservation needs

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIndigenous communities have long relied on medicinal plants (MPs) for primary healthcare. The ethnomedicinal knowledge are different among ethnic groups since the local flora and people's health beliefs generally vary among biocultural backgrounds. China with its diverse biocultural environment is rich in culturally important plant species including MPs. They are also essential in the context of conservation of plant resources and the related traditional medical knowledge, requiring an integrated perspective on these MPs. Aim of the studyFocusing on the MPs used by the minority ethnic groups, this study assesses the diversity of MPs in China used in local indigenous traditions, as well as their conservation needs. Materials and methodsThe MPs used by the 18 selected minority ethnic groups were extracted from an ethnic MP dictionary. After standardizing, the names then were compiled as an inventory. Next, following statistics were computed: the number of species in each order and family, species used by each ethnic group, species documented in the national herbal resource dataset, species adopted in drug standards, and species at different levels of conservation lists. The overall similarity of the MPs used by the ethnic groups included was achieved using a cluster and principal component analysis. ResultsIn total 5886 vascular plant species are reported as medicines in the 18 ethnic groups, which belong to 1657 genera and 243 families. It is found that 3195 species are used exclusively by one ethnic group, indicating their cultural salience and potential restrictedness in ecological terms. Moreover, 1159 species are included in national/regional drug standards, indicating their importance in the national medical flora. However, only 3541 species of them are documented in the national herbal resource dataset, and 761 species are at different levels of threatened status, highlighting the conservation needs of Chinese MPs and the related traditional medical knowledge. ConclusionsUsing a quantitative approach, for the first time the present study reveals the high level of taxonomic diversity of MPs used by minority ethnic groups of China. However, of these species, 40% are still not inventoried in the national herbal resource dataset, and more than half are used exclusively by one ethnic group, and around 13% are included in the conservation lists of different levels. These together urge the conservation of MP resources and related traditional medical knowledge. Additionally, we recommend fostering the cross-cultural communication the regional ethnomedicinal knowledge, for the purpose of maximizing the benefits of regional plants to human.

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

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

Species and Speciation in the Termite-Cultivated Fungus Termitomyces

Termitomyces is a genus of basidiomycete fungi cultivated by termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae. This symbiosis originated in central Africa, and subsequently, the fungus-growing termites have colonized almost the entire African continent including Madagascar as well as significant parts of Asia. Around 40 species of Termitomyces have been described based on morphology of the sexual fruit bodies, which are associated with some 330 species of fungus-growing termites distributed over 11 genera. However, the total number of fungal species may be higher as not all species regularly produce mushrooms, and morphological variation does not seem to be a reliable criterion for species delimitation in this group. In this study we estimated the total number of species based on ITS-barcode criteria and assessed host specificity and geographic differentiation to infer patterns of speciation. We estimated the total number of phylogenetic species using two methods of DNA sequence-based species delimitation; Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) model on a large dataset of over 1,500 ITS sequences from laboratory cultures, fungarium specimens and the public database NCBI Genbank. This resulted in an estimated 87 species hypotheses using ABGD and 94 species hypotheses using the GMYC model. A phylogenetic reconstruction was performed on representative sequences of the 87 species hypotheses identified by ABGD (the most conservative estimate) constrained by a well-supported phylogeny based on whole-genome data to address host specificity and geographical differentiation. Five main clades were recovered which generally were associated with species of one or two host genera, except for samples collected from the genera Microtermes and Ancistrotermes, which formed two separate non-sister clades. We did not find any evidence for long-term host fidelity as would be expected for species with strict uniparental vertical symbiont transmission. We found strict geographic separation between African and Asian species of Termitomyces and infer a minimum of seven inter-continental migrations. We show that epigeous fruiting of the T. microcarpus group has a single evolutionary origin in Africa and that fruiting in species of this group likely is induced by the fungus rather than by the host-termite species. In contrast, fruiting in the symbionts of some species of Microtermes and Macrotermes may be suppressed by the host-termite species, since mushrooms of certain fungal species are found when those species are associated with some termite-host genera, but never when associated with other host genera. We discuss some examples of incongruence between morphological and phylogenetic species concepts and give suggestions to improve the taxonomy of the genus Termitomyces.

Alpha and beta‐diversity and community structure of dung beetle assemblages in an East African protected savannah

AbstractFew studies have examined how dung beetle species composition changes across several mammalian dung types. Species composition and abundance of dung beetles were studied in dung samples of seven African mammals along animal trails and using 14 baited‐pitfall traps in both the park and the buffer zone resulting in a combined data set of 113 samples. Both the number of species (18) and the number of individual dung beetles (600) encountered were low for an area close to the Equator. Few species (2) and herbivores (13) tunnellers (9) dominated the dung beetles community, feeding and guild structure respectively. Alpha diversity was moderate 2.06 (1 < H′ ≤ 3). Beta diversity ranged from low 0.8 (high similarity) to high (zero, no similarity). Dung beetle species composition varied with dung type with the degree of pairwise similarity between two dung types in 19 of the total (21) dung beetle communities comparisons showing low similarity (0.4) to no similarity (zero). The observed discrepancies may be attributed to dung size, composition and consistency as well as to the low number of dung of the different animal species sampled. Furthermore, further research is needed as rarefaction curves suggest that sampling was incomplete.

Biogeography of freshwater plants in four major lakes in Kenya

Freshwater plants play a pivotal role in the health and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, and they also offer a variety of benefits to humans. Despite their importance, there is a significant gap in our understanding of the macroecology of freshwater plants in tropical regions, where biodiversity is typically high, and ecosystems face substantial pressures from human activities. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted extensive field surveys and applied statistical methods to understand the patterns of distribution, density, and diversity of freshwater plants and their relationship with abiotic components in four freshwater lakes in Kenya. We aimed to answer four key questions: (1) How many freshwater plant species occur in these lakes? (2) What proportion of these freshwater plant species are native and alien to Kenya? (3) What proportion of these species have a history of being invasive somewhere in the world, including in Kenya? (4) Which water and sediment characteristics are significantly associated with the presence, density, and diversity of freshwater plants in the lakes? We inventoried a total of 163 freshwater plant species, of which 114 were native to Kenya and 49 were alien. Online database searches revealed that 114 species had a history of invasion globally, with 22 species already invasive in Kenya. Our statistical analysis showed that the presence and density of plant species were positively correlated with pH and turbidity, but negatively correlated with soluble reactive phosphorus in both water and sediments, ammonia-nitrogen in sediments, and nitrate-nitrogen in water. Shannon-Wiener diversity of the plant species was positively correlated with ammonia-nitrogen in water and nitrate-nitrogen in sediments but negatively correlated with longitude and electrical conductivity of the water. Pielou’s evenness within the communities showed positive correlations with soluble reactive phosphorus in both water and sediments, ammonia-nitrogen in sediments, and nitrate-nitrogen in water but was negatively correlated with water turbidity and pH. The number of species with a history of invasion was positively correlated with longitude and electrical conductivity but negatively correlated with ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen in water. This extensive inventory not only enriches our understanding of the biodiversity within these freshwater plant communities but also highlights the potential risks posed by species with a history of being invasive. The findings regarding environmental variables linked to the presence, density, diversity, and invasive potential of these species underscore the complexity of freshwater ecosystems and the array of factors influencing the composition of freshwater plant communities.