Habitat Types Research Articles

PPtase-activated production of borrelidin from extremophilic actinobacteria against multidrug-resistant cotton pathogen Verticillium dahliae.

As the most devastating disease in cotton crops, Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae led to fiber quality reduction and extensive yield loss. In recent years, Verticillium wilt has been increasingly serious in Xinjiang, China, the world's largest cotton production area. In this study, 52 actinobacterial strains were selected for the discovery of NPs with anti-V. dahliae activity, from our strain collection isolated from three types of extreme habitats (high salinity, high temperature or plant endophytes) in Xinjiang. In the culture broth extracts of phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPtase)-activated actinobacterial strains, four showed good anti-V. dahliae activities. By isolation, purification and spectral analysis of the antifungal metabolite, its structure was elucidated as borrelidin from Streptomyces rochei TRM46813. This is the first report that borrelidin shows anti-V. dahliae activity. Notably, borrelidin could effectively inhibit different commercial fungicides-resistant V. dahliae pathogens with MICs of 0.125 to 2 μg/mL. The growth-inhibitory effect was antagonized by L-threonine in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) may be the target of borrelidin in V. dahliae. Interestingly, although borrelidin was previously reported to bind to ThrRS and thus inhibit protein translation in Gram-positive pathogens, our mode-of-action analysis indicates that borrelidin led to the accumulation of cell wall precursor, which may be due to the inhibited effects on protein translation. Our findings suggest that borrelidin is a promising candidate for the development of novel antifungal agents to overcome the growing problem of Verticillium wilt.

Designing biodiversity-friendly landscapes: the effects of landscape heterogeneity across scales on bird species richness in Taiwan

ContextPromoting heterogeneous landscapes could help to reduce the negative impacts of habitat conversion on biota, especially for countries with limited lands. However, the benefits of landscape heterogeneity can vary among spatial scales and taxa.ObjectivesTo design biodiversity-friendly landscapes, we use nationwide bird survey data and land use maps to examine the effects of compositional heterogeneity, configurational heterogeneity, and habitat amount at different scales on the species richness of different bird groups.MethodsWe examined the effects of configurational heterogeneity (measured using edge density), compositional heterogeneity (Shannon’s diversity index of habitat types), and habitat amount (proportion of forest and farmland cover) at both transect (local) and landscape (0.5, 1, and 2 km) scales on the species richness of all breeding birds, forest birds, farmland birds, and introduced birds.ResultsTotal species richness had a hump-shaped relationship with local forest cover, and with farmland cover at landscape scale. Richness of both forest birds and richness of farmland birds increased with Shannon’s diversity index of habitat types at both local and landscape scales, but only increased with the amount of their preferred habitat at the local scale. Richness of introduced birds was greater in landscapes with higher edge density, suggesting those species are associated with human-dominated landscapes.ConclusionsHigh compositional heterogeneity with low configurational heterogeneity at the landscape scale may help maintain native bird richness while minimising the spread of introduced species in Taiwan. These results can help guide land use planning to achieving biodiversity goals in a country with intensive land use competition.

A possum’s cautionary tale: targeted surveys in north-eastern Victoria fail to detect Leadbeater’s possum in remnant forest within its historic range

Endemic to Victoria, the range-restricted, Critically Endangered Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) historically had a much broader distribution from south-east of Melbourne, through the wet forests of eastern Victoria, and extending into New South Wales. Undetected populations of this cryptic species may persist within forested sections of this historic range, despite these landscapes having been subject to significant disturbance through clearing, logging, and bushfires. The adoption of arboreal camera trapping has permitted targeted surveys for Leadbeater’s possum to be conducted with greater efficiency and reliability. Between 2017 and 2019, we conducted arboreal camera-trapping surveys for Leadbeater’s possum in seven patches of potentially suitable habitat, that were 13–145 km outside the species’ known range in Victoria’s Central Highlands. Site selection was informed by habitat suitability modelling. The species was detected at only one of seven areas surveyed, the patch closest to the possum’s current known range (~13 km). Notable occurrences of other cryptic arboreal mammals were recorded in rarely surveyed habitat types and at high elevations (>1000 m). Despite north-eastern Victoria’s significant remnant forest cover, the apparent loss of Leadbeater’s possum from its historic range in this region provides a cautionary tale regarding declining forest condition owing to major disturbance from fire and logging.

Factors Influencing Orchid Species Richness in the Central Balkans: The Importance of Belowground Organ Types

The Balkan Peninsula is considered one of the most important centres of orchid diversity in Europe. However, the patterns of orchid species richness in the Central Balkans have not been sufficiently studied so far. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify the centres of orchid diversity and the factors that influence the spatial variation in orchid species richness in the Central Balkans. For the analyses, the area of the Central Balkans was divided into 10 × 10 km grid cells. The environmental variables determined for each grid cell and used in the analyses were altitude, bioclimatic variables, geological substrates and habitat types. A random forest (RF) analysis was used to identify the environmental predictors most strongly associated with species richness. In addition to the total number of taxa, orchids with three belowground organ types were analysed separately: (a) rhizomatous orchids, (b) orchids with palmately lobed and fusiform tubers (“palmate tuberous orchids”) and (c) orchids with spherical or ovoid tubers (“ovoid tuberous orchids”). In the Central Balkans, 54 orchid species and subspecies have been recorded, and the most important centres of diversity are the Tara, Zvijezda, Jadovnik and Zlatar Mountains and the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge. In general, two groups of grid cells with the largest number of orchid taxa, i.e., hotspots, stood out: (1) grid cells with a large altitudinal range and (2) grid cells occupied by gorges and ravines. The most important gradients influencing orchid species richness are specific habitat types and altitudinal ranges, while climatic factors and geological substrates are less important. The most important factors affecting the richness of total and rhizomatous orchids are altitudinal range and habitat types (Abieti-Fagenion, Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis and Pinion nigrae forests), highlighting the important role of habitat heterogeneity. The maximum altitude, percentage of Abieti-Fagenion and Vaccinio-Picetea forests and the minimum value of the mean temperature of the driest quarter are the most important factors for determining the richness of palmate tuberous orchids, whereas the percentage of xero-thermophilous habitat types (Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis, Asplenietea trichomanis and Pinion nigrae) has the greatest influence on the richness of ovoid tuberous orchids. These results confirm the hypothesis concerning the origin and development of underground organs in orchids, emphasising that palmate tuberous orchids are best adapted to cold and humid habitat conditions, whereas ovoid tuberous orchids have the ability to grow in habitats with very warm and dry conditions. This study provides a good basis for better orchid conservation planning and underlines the importance of belowground strategies as a feature of orchid life history that should be considered when studying patterns of orchid diversity.

STUDY OF THE COLEOPTERA (CERAMBYCIDAE AND LUCANIDAE) FOUND IN THE UPPER BASIN OF DESNĂȚUI RIVER

The territory under study is located in the Desnătui basin, between the localities of Carpen and Voița. The area where the study was carried out is located in the western part of Dolj county and southeastern Mehedinți county, at a distance of 40 km from Craiova and 25 km from Vânju Mare. The researched area totals 200 km2, having the appearance of a rectangle from the Câmpia Oltenia relief unit and is individualized both by the presence of zonal and azonal soils, but also by the high temperatures and the low amount of precipitation recorded during the warm period of the year. This area has been of particular interest for research over time, due to the characteristics listed previously. The vegetation in the Desnățui basin is characteristic of the Oltenia Plain and Jiului Piedmont, with some particularities conferred by relief, altitude, climate, nature of rocks and soil. Following the researches, the following types of habitats were identified: 91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae), 92A0 Salix alba and Populus alba galleries, 91M0 Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forests. This area represents a real scientific interest, being an area not studied until now. Following research in the forest habitats of the Desnățui river basin, we have identified six species of the Coleoptera (Cerambycidae and Lucanidae). In the research area of ​​this forest the most common species are: Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758), Morimus funereus (Mulsant, 1863) and Cerambyx cerdo (Linnaeus 1758), Chlorophorus figuratus (Scopoli, 1763), Pachytodes erraticus (Dalman, 1817), Stenopterus rufus (Linnaeus, 1767), Stenurella bifasciata (O. F. Müller, 1776), Stictoleptura cordigera (Fussli, 1775), Plagyonotus arcuatus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Woodpecker Poles and Habitat Wood in Your Yard

This publication provides a practical guide for homeowners and professional arborists to maintain dead wood habitat on their or their clients’ property. It outlines the environmental and financial benefits of keeping dead wood, the different types of habitat one can manage, and strategies for mitigating the risk associated with dead wood.

Identification of Critical and Tolerable Fish Habitat Requirements Based on Pre- and Post-Typhoon Data

Catastrophic typhoons with heavy rainfall introduce massive flow and fine sediments into stream channels. In addition, the natural disturbances and engineering practices afterward may strongly alter the fish abundance and their environment. This study compared physical habitat parameters and fish abundance before and after two major typhoons using two sampling period datasets (November 2008–March 2009 and May 2011–March 2012). The study area was in the Cishan Stream, a tributary of the Gaoping River in southern Taiwan. This area experienced two strong typhoons (Morakot and Fanapi) between the two sampling periods, providing an opportunity to compare pre- and post-typhoon conditions. The collected species were Hemimyzon formosanus, Rhinogobius nantaiensis, Onychostoma alticorpus, Candidia barbata, Acrossocheilus paradoxus, and Spinibarbus hollandi. Our results show a decrease in substrate size, fish size, and fish weight after typhoons. The river channel transformed into an unstable condition after the heavy rains, as major habitat types in our sampling stations changed from riffles with coarse substrate to runs with fine substrate. The results of statistical tests indicate the different habitat requirements of three major fish species (H. formosanus, R. nantaiensis, and O. alticorpus) and can indicate whether species’ requirements change between the two sampling periods. Water depth and pebbles were critical habitat requirements for the adults of H. formosanus; water depth, pebbles, and sand were critical habitat requirements for the adults of R. nantaiensis; and flow velocity and standard deviation of flow velocity were critical requirements for the juveniles of O. alticorpus. Understanding habitat requirements can provide useful information for post-disaster restoration and contribute to eco-sensitive river engineering.

Spatial and temporal predictability drive foraging movements of coastal birds

BackgroundTemporal and spatial predictability of food resources are critical to the foraging efficiency of central place foragers. While site fidelity is often assessed in this context, route fidelity, or the repeated use of the same path while traveling, and temporal aspects of habitat predictability have received less attention. We examined how the use of urban, coastal, and offshore habitats influenced spatiotemporal predictability in the foraging patterns of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and great black-backed gulls (L. marinus). Since gulls show higher site fidelity when foraging in urban habitats, we predicted that these trips would also show higher route fidelity. Similarly, we predicted that gulls foraging in coastal habitats would adapt the timing of foraging trips relative to tides.MethodsWe analyzed GPS tracks of herring gulls (n = 79) and great black-backed gulls (n = 37)—between 2016–2022 from four nesting colonies whose surrounding areas varied in their degree of urbanization. Fréchet distance, which is defined as the repeated use of the same path while traveling, was used to assess route fidelity, within colonies and between habitat types. We also compared the consistency of foraging trip timing relative to tidal stage and day of week, respectively, across habitat types.ResultsNeither herring nor great black-backed gulls showed higher route fidelity in urban habitats. Herring gulls showed direct travel between urban foraging sites but revisited sites in different orders, suggesting that a mosaic map may be used to navigate between known urban foraging sites. Herring and great black-backed gulls that foraged at coastal sites exhibited patterns in trip timing in relation to the tidal cycle, with foraging primarily occurring at or around low tide. Herring gulls in urban environments foraged more on Fridays and weekends, possibly due to increased or altered human activities on these days.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate the importance of spatial memory and spatiotemporal predictability of gull foraging habitats and highlight the extent to which gulls adjust their movements based on their foraging habitats.

Status of coral, giant clam and sea cucumber communities including CITES listed species on a remote Australian coral reef atoll and the potential impact of illegal fishing.

Following a recent dramatic increase in illegal fishing by Indonesian fishing vessels in Australian waters in 2022, we conducted an extensive survey of coral reef communities covering 33,000m2at Mermaid Reef Marine Park in the Rowley Shoals off north-western Australia in July 2022. Species richness of sea cucumbers was 13 species (three CITES listed) and 6 species of giant clams (all CITES listed). The most abundant sea cucumber species were the low or intermediate value, asexually reproducing species Holothuria atra and H. edulis. Seventy-one percent of all sea cucumbers were found in the deep lagoon habitat despite this habitat comprising only about one-third of total survey effort. Most of the higher value species, such as CITES listed Thelenota ananas, were more abundant in the deep lagoon habitat. The exceptions to this pattern were H. whitmaei (CITES listed) and Actinopyga mauritiana (high value) and Bohadschia marmorata (intermediate value) that were most abundant on the reef flat, reef slope and shallow lagoon habitats respectively. The burrowing giant clam Tridacna crocea was abundant in all habitat types, whereas T. squamosa and Hippopus hippopus were most abundant on the western outer slope, T. gigas on the reef flat and T. derasa in the deep lagoon. The results of previous and subsequent surveys in 2003, 2018 and 2023 were compared with our 2022 survey. High value species that mainly occur in shallow water (e.g., H. whitmaei) were more abundant in 2003 while T. ananas and Stichopus herrmanni were more abundant in the deep lagoon habitat in 2022 and less abundant in the shallow habitats than they were in 2003 while there was no change in the more abundant, low to intermediate value species (e.g., H. atra, H. edulis). There were no significant differences in sea cucumber densities between 2022 and 2018 or 2023, however the comparison was confounded by the small number of 2018 and 2023 survey sites which were spread over multiple habitat types. Survey results were consistent with the expectation that illegal fishing by free-diving occurs predominantly in shallow and intertidal habitats and that sea cucumbers in those habitats are more vulnerable to fishing than those in deep water habitats. We were unable to ascertain levels of catches from Mermaid Reef or the Rowley Shoals as a whole, however there were numerous reports of vessels being intercepted with catches of many tonnes of sea cucumbers. At Mermaid Reef, to remove one tonne of sea cucumbers, from reef flat and shallow lagoon habitats would require harvesting all sea cucumbers from 38ha (2037 individuals). This represents about 9% of the total area of reef flat and shallow lagoon at Mermaid Reef Marine Park and indicates how rapidly sea cucumber populations can be depleted through illegal fishing. Coral communities at Mermaid Reef were healthy, consistent with previous surveys over two decades with mean hard coral cover highest (40-50 %) on the exposed western outer reef slope and lowest on the reef flat (<10 %). Evidence of damage to coral communities from illegal fishing operations, bleaching or crown-of-thorns sea stars was negligible.

EuPPollNet: A European Database of Plant‐Pollinator Networks

ABSTRACTMotivationPollinators play a crucial role in maintaining Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. However, rapid human‐induced environmental changes are compromising the long‐term persistence of plant‐pollinator interactions. Unfortunately, we lack robust, generalisable data capturing how plant‐pollinator communities are structured across space and time. Here, we present the EuPPollNet (European Plant‐Pollinator Networks) database, a fully open European‐level database containing harmonised taxonomic data on plant‐pollinator interactions referenced in both space and time, along with other ecological variables of interest. In addition, we evaluate the taxonomic and sampling coverage of EuPPollNet, and summarise key structural properties in plant‐pollinator networks. We believe EuPPollNet will stimulate research to address data gaps in plant‐pollinator interactions and guide future efforts in conservation planning.Main Types of Variables IncludedEuPPollNet contains 1,162,109 interactions between plants and pollinators from 1864 distinct networks, which belong to 52 different studies distributed across 23 European countries. Information about sampling methodology, habitat type, biogeographic region and additional taxonomic rank information (i.e. order, family, genus and species) is also provided.Spatial Location and GrainThe database contains 1214 different sampling locations from 13 different natural and anthropogenic habitats that fall in 7 different biogeographic regions. All records are geo‐referenced and presented in the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).Time Period and GrainSpecies interaction data was collected between 2004 and 2021.Major Taxa and Level of MeasurementThe database contains interaction data at the species level for 94% of the records, including a total of 1411 plant and 2223 pollinator species. The database includes data on 6% of the European species of flowering plants, 34% of bees, 26% of butterflies and 33% of syrphid species at the European level.Software FormatThe database was built with R and is stored in ‘.rds’ and ‘.csv’ formats. Its construction is fully reproducible and can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14747448.

Bacterial community composition and metabolic characteristics of three representative Marine areas in northern China

Bacteria are essential components of ecosystems, participating in nutrient cycling and biogeochemical processes, and playing a crucial role in maintaining the stability of marine ecosystems. However, the biogeographic distribution patterns of bacterial diversity and metabolic functions in the estuarine and coastal areas of northern China remain unclear. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing to investigate the bacterial community composition and metabolic functions in sediments from the adjacent waters of the Yellow River Estuary, the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass, and the adjacent waters of the Yangtze River Estuary. Among the 9164 species that were found, the most dominant microbial communities are Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Bacteroidota, and Bacillota, but there are significant differences in the species composition in these three typical habitats. Amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolic pathways were highly enriched. Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) predominate in carbon metabolism across all samples. In nitrogen metabolic pathway, genes related to organic degradation and synthesis are more abundant in the Yellow River Estuary than the other two habitats. In sulfur metabolic pathway, genes involved in assimilatory sulfate reduction are significantly enriched. Assimilatory sulfate reduction might be crucial for sulfur metabolism in coastal regions, with a full assimilatory nitrate reduction pathway found in Desulfobacterota. This research offers insights into the compositional diversity, metabolic functions, and biogeographic distribution patterns of bacterial communities in sediments from typical marine areas of northern China.

Exploring the causal relationships between environmental factors and benthos distributions in an intertidal algal reef ecosystem via a structural equation model

Algal reefs are unique and valuable yet poorly understood marine ecosystems. The causal relationships between environmental driving forces and biotic community distributions in an algal reef ecosystem were assessed to fill large scientific gaps. Using a structural equation model (SEM) coupled with factor analysis, we established a well-fitted algal reef SEM. This model revealed that there were two subsystems, one operating primarily above the reef laminated substratum and the other beneath the surface. The crustose coralline algae (CCA) and non-CCA cover areas were affected, with an inverse trend between the two, by river inputs, as indicated by NH3-N concentrations, and by the seasonal rhythm of riverine NO3-N concentrations. The trends revealed spatial competition between the two algal groups. The CCA coverage and epifaunal gastropod density responded positively to the presence of pebble habitat. Notably, sand coverage and its variation did not hinder the coverage of the two macrophytes. However, the epifaunal gastropod and arthropod densities were negatively regulated by the sand coverage variability. The infaunal arthropod density was positively influenced by the sediment heavy metal content. Among the biotic communities, the non-CCA cover area negatively affected the infaunal polychaeta density. Furthermore, the increasing infaunal polychaete density increased those of sipunculans, bivalves, and arthropods, implying co-occurrence. This SEM revealed that riverine nutrients, pebble habitat type and sand coverage variability were significant environmental drivers in organizing the biotic communities in an algal reef ecosystem.

Wild Bee Assemblages and Pollination Networks of Managed Emergent Wetlands in Central New York, USA.

To effectively protect wild bee pollinators and the services they provide, it is critical to gather data on their distributions, life histories, and interactions with plants among a diversity of habitat types. Wetlands are underrepresented in bee surveys, despite having a great diversity of flowering plants and known importance to hundreds of species of wildlife. In this 2-year survey of a restored wetland complex in Central New York, over 9000 bees were collected, representing ≥ 109 species in 25 genera. We recorded 337 unique plant-pollinator associations, including those previously undocumented for the wetland obligate masked bee, Hylaeus nelumbonis (Robertson). Floral resources and bee genera were most diverse in August, and network analyses indicated September networks were the most connected, nested, and least modular. Floral resources also shifted towards being more native over the course of the season. Results show that emergent wetlands support diverse guilds of pollinators in the latter half of the growing season, and that wetland management can produce diverse conditions conducive to wild bee habitat.

Terrestrial Invertebrates Strike Back: Aerial and Ground‐Based Colonisation of a Dry Riverbed

ABSTRACT Dispersal, either active or passive, plays a key role in community assembly during the colonisation of newly available habitats such as the dry riverbeds of intermittent rivers. These unstable environments are exposed to an ongoing colonisation process, often from adjacent riparian habitats that are local biodiversity hot spots. We aimed to identify the diversity, origin and colonisation pathways of terrestrial invertebrates in the dry bed of an intermittent Mediterranean river. We sampled aerial and ground‐dwelling invertebrates during the colonisation of dry riverbeds using cross‐vane window traps and pitfall traps. Invertebrate communities were sampled in three habitat types of the intermittent karst Krčić River in Croatia: dry riverbed, riparian and upland habitat. For aerial invertebrates, we differentiated between diurnal and nocturnal colonists and between lateral and longitudinal colonists. All invertebrates were identified to order level, Carabidae, Araneae and Orthoptera to species. Environmental parameters were measured in each habitat. Colonisation of the dry riverbed was primarily diurnal. Aerial invertebrates colonised both laterally, from the adjacent riparian habitat, and longitudinally, along the riverbed. Invertebrate catch was positively correlated with wind speed and direction, indicating the importance of passive dispersal by aerial plankton. The ground‐dwelling invertebrate community exhibited rapid dry riverbed colonisation, with riparian habitats supporting the highest diversity and unique taxa. Taxonomic metrics showed different patterns for ground‐dwelling invertebrates and each studied taxonomic group. The observed patterns suggest that ground‐dwelling Araneae and Carabidae colonised dry riverbed mostly through spillover from the riparian habitat. In contrast, Orthoptera probably colonised the dry riverbed from the upland habitat. Concurrent sampling of aerial and ground‐dwelling colonists characterised responses that could not have been detected using a single method. Our study demonstrates that multiple dispersal modes and source habitats are involved in the colonisation of the dry riverbed. Our results underline the importance to conserve riparian and upland areas along intermittent rivers as source habitats during the dry phase. Given the increase in stream intermittency due to climate change, the conservation and restoration of appropriate river landscapes could become more widely relevant in the future.

Brazilian Amazon Coast is an essential habitat for threatened and evolutionarily distinct sharks and rays

Despite the high proportion of endangered species of elasmobranchs occurring in coastal areas subjected to intense fishing pressure, most of the existing habitat use information applies to pelagic species. Recent research efforts have substantially increased the information available on the habitat use of overlooked and often data deficient species. Here, we use vertebrae microchemistry data to study the habitat use patterns of four species of threatened sharks and two species of stingrays occurring in the Brazilian Amazon Coast (BAC). We obtained vertebrae samples from specimens sold in fish markets along the entire BAC area and analyze element:Ca ratios for four elements: Mg, Mn, Sr, and Ba. Our results demonstrate that most species likely complete their entire life cycle in the same region, with little to no use of freshwater habitats, and sympatric occurrence of neonates, juveniles, and adult life stages. The wingfin stingray, the only benthic-restricted species analyzed, differed substantially from all other species, with strong reliance on estuarine areas. The scalloped hammerhead has the largest variability in chemical trace elements, suggesting the use of habitats with wide variations. American cownose ray, daggernose, shovelbill, and smalleye hammerhead sharks showed strong reliance on the same type of habitat throughout their ontogenetic development. Our findings underscore the importance of the BAC as an Essential Fish Habitat for these species, a critical area for improved fisheries management given the widespread population declines and historical overfishing, and the danger of proposed oil exploration in the area can pose to its elasmobranch populations.

Spatial distribution of mammalian fauna in a community forest at Wadrékro, Oumé department, west-central Côte d'Ivoire

The rate at which Ivorian forests are disappearing has become increasingly alarming. It is therefore necessary to conduct investigations in these natural ecosystems to reverse this trend. Accordingly, this study was carried out in a community forest in Wadrékro, in the Oumé department, to determine the spatial distribution of mammalian species recorded there. To achieve this objective, foot surveys were conducted using linear transects and reconnaissance walks or recces. Data analysis revealed that four (4) habitat types were colonized by mammalian fauna in this forest. The orders Artiodactyla and Rodentia showed a wide distribution, while the order Carnivora was restricted to the southern and eastern parts of the forest. At the species level, the Bushbuck and the Greater Cane Rat were the most widespread. These findings could be useful for the restoration of Ivorian forest cover.

Analysis of functional and phylogenetic diversity of bat communities: insights from resource use in the Pantanal and Cerrado

BackgroundAssessing the structure of communities requires analysis of multiple dimensions of biological diversity. Such approaches provide a broader understanding of the ecological and historical factors involved in the formation and maintenance of communities. Metrics such as functional and phylogenetic diversity are crucial as they unveil how communities respond to environmental changes, providing a deeper understanding of their current state and resilience. This goes beyond species richness or community composition, enabling more profound insights into their present condition and resilience. Therefore, analysis in this sense allows accessing differences in the distribution of species, considering different landscape mosaics, and allowing strategic prioritization of conservation initiatives. In this sense, we investigated whether the composition of functional and phylogenetic groups of chiropteran species differs between the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes and various habitat types. We hypothesize that communities with greater conservation integrity are more diverse than communities that suffer anthropogenic influences.MethodsThe surveyed communities include two areas in the Pantanal and two in the Cerrado, with one conservation unit and one that suffers anthropic influence, for each biome. We assessed the composition of bat assemblages by examining functional richness (FRic), functional uniformity (FEve), functional divergence (FDiv), and functional dispersion (FDis). Metrics that reflect phylogenetic richness and divergence were also used, such as phylogenetic diversity (PD), mean pairwise distance (MPD), and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD).Results and discussionOverall, conservation units sustain higher levels of functional and phylogenetic diversity compared to areas with anthropic influence. In the latter, species occupy fewer ecological niches, indicating that bats can persist in degraded environments, albeit the communities support only a portion of the functional groups.ConclusionOur results showed, through analyses across multiple dimensions of functional and phylogenetic diversity, that bat populations are impacted by environmental degradation and fragmentation. Communities in more conserved areas exhibited higher functional and phylogenetic richness, indicating a greater number of occupied niches. These findings highlight the importance of exploring measures of biological diversity and their spatial scales to advance our understanding of biodiversity dynamics and optimize conservation planning for both species and communities.

Updates to the checklist of nocturnal Macroheterocera (Lepidoptera) of the Central High Atlas of Morocco: One new species added for Morocco

This paper provides updates to the checklist of Macroheteroceran moths (Lepidoptera) of the central High Atlas of Morocco, following the initial inventory conducted by Charles Rungs nearly five decades ago. Sampling was carried out using sugar bait traps deployed across various habitat types in the region (natural, semi-natural and agricultural lands). Identification of the collected specimens involved a comprehensive approach, including examination of external morphology, dissections of genitalia and DNA barcoding. In this study, we recorded a total of 123 species belonging to the families Noctuidae, Erebidae, Geometridae, Eutelidae and Drepanidae. Euxoa cos (Noctuidae) was recorded as a new species for Morocco. The presence of Apamea maroccana (Noctuidae) and Chersotis rungsi (Noctuidae), both endemic to Morocco, was verified in the study area. Four of the 123 species were only identified at the genus level. Our inventory also sheds light on species that were previously not known to occur within our study area, reporting twelve species from the High Atlas Mountains for the first time. We also suggest omitting Eupithecia farinosa (Geometridae) from the Moroccan Lepidoptera list. This study significantly contributes to uncovering an overlooked aspect of Lepidopteran biodiversity in Morocco, which is crucial for future conservation efforts.

Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes

Madagascar, renowned for its unique biodiversity, faces significant environmental threats. Despite their vital ecosystem services, invertebrates, such as Lepidoptera, remain understudied, especially within the Malagasy Island. Indeed, butterflies and moths often serve as biodiversity indicators. This study investigates lepidopteran community structure across different habitat types: protected areas and anthropized areas, represented by forest edges and agroforestry through four expeditions to Madagascar’s moist eastern forests. Both sampling methods were employed including butterfly nets and fermented fruit-baited traps. While nets accounted for 90% of captures, highlighting operator bias, bait traps captured unique species, emphasizing the complementarity of these methods. With over 891 captured specimens, 418 macrolepidopterans were identified at the species level for a total of 50 species. Protected forests hosted 80% of endemic Lepidoptera reliant on specialized ecological niches, while anthropized zones were dominated by common generalist species which are resilient to habitat changes. While the species richness and composition of sampled microlepidoptera are similar, habitat fragmentation created diverse environmental conditions, hosting specific populations. Conservation challenges persist, particularly for endemic species vulnerable to poaching. It is crucial to continue sampling Madagascar’s lepidofauna, as this offers considerable potential for the sustainable maintenance of ecosystems and the long-term preservation of biodiversity of the Malagasy Island.

Effects of Urbanization on Ventral Patch Size and Phenotypic Correlates of Patch Expression in Male Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis).

In some animals, males use colorful ornaments or badges to visually communicate with conspecifics. These traits can be condition-dependent, suggesting that environmental changes could impact the intensity of male sexual signals. Drastic habitat changes caused by urbanization can act as physiological stressors, potentially affecting male signaling traits through changes to condition or immune function. Here, we quantified the effects of urbanization on ventral patch size and correlates of patch expression, namely body size, body condition, corticosterone concentrations, and ectoparasites in male Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis). We compared three aspects of male ventral color patches between urban and natural populations: area of the throat patch, total area of the paired belly patches, and total area of the black borders of the belly patches. All three area measurements across both habitat types were positively related to body size, and total belly patch area was positively related to body condition, indicating that these traits may signal male competitive ability and/or quality. Males from urban populations had larger throat patches than those from natural populations after controlling for body size. This difference in patch size was associated with a difference in probability of ectoparasite infection, but not with differences in corticosterone concentrations or body condition between urban and natural populations. Our results may indicate an effect of urbanization on immune function affecting male patch expression, although this idea remains untested. Overall, we show that urbanization can impact male sexual traits, which may have repercussions for visual communication in urban environments.