Species Richness Values Research Articles

Zoogeography and diversity patterns of the family Cicadellidae (Hemiptera) in Toshka Region, Egypt

ABSTRACT Leafhoppers (family: Cicadellidae) are among the most common plant sap-sucking pests, causing damage to wild and agronomic plants worldwide. The current paper aims to assess the zoogeography, diversity and population dynamics of the leafhopper species in an agricultural land converted ecosystem. Twenty species (two identified only to the genus level) belonging to 17 genera, 10 tribes, and three subfamilies were collected from Toshka Region, Aswan Governorate, Egypt, in 2020. The most common cicadellid species was Orosius albicinctus, representing 46.7% of the total catch. Low values of species richness and diversity were measured for leafhopper species as compared with those reported in our recent study carried out in Alexandria and Qena governorates. In sum, conversion of any natural ecosystem to agricultural land uses may cause declines in insect diversity. However, desert conversion may increase the diversity pattern of some insect pests. Analysis of the zoogeographic affinities of the leafhopper species from Toshka Region indicated a closer affiliation to the Palaearctic Region (35%) than any other region. Most leafhopper populations exhibited a unimodal seasonal pattern and were abundant in hot and dry months (May–September). The abundance of some leafhopper species correlated positively with temperature (seven species) and negatively with relative humidity (nine species). Six of these species correlated with both variables. This study is the first to investigate leafhopper communities in a converted ecosystem of Toshka Depression, Western Desert.

Quantifying restoration success via natural recovery in forested areas following pipeline construction

Natural recovery is a restoration technique that relies on natural ecological processes to reestablish native ecosystems. This “minimal intervention” approach is typically more cost‐effective, less labor intensive, and can result in more diverse communities than more intensive restoration techniques. The purpose of this study was to determine if boreal forest vegetation can reestablish naturally after pipeline construction, and whether a site can be identified as similar to adjacent undisturbed areas within 10 years of pipeline construction. Four naturally recovered pipeline segments (1, 3, 5, and 10 years postreclamation) in west‐central Alberta were assessed. Plots were established on and off each pipeline segment right‐of‐way (ROW) in upland, transitional, and wetland habitats. Vegetation percent cover, vigor, and tree seedling density data were used to determine characteristic and indicator species, regulated weeds and agronomic species, richness, diversity, evenness, and tree establishment for each pipeline segment, habitat type, and site type (on‐ vs. off‐ROW). Threshold values for species richness and community diversity were determined using data collected from sites off‐ROW. Sites which fell within established thresholds were identified as on a trajectory toward restoration within 10 years postconstruction. Metrics for the older pipeline segments, including species richness, diversity, evenness, and seedling count were typically closer to threshold values, and sometimes exceeded them. Only the youngest pipeline segment had tree establishment values below calculated thresholds. This study is the first to provide empirical evidence and a method for identifying successful restoration trajectories for natural recovery of pipeline ROWs in boreal forest.

Phytodiversity complex of trees and shrubs in Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state, Nigeria

Plant biodiversity in the dry ecosystem of the savanna is constantly under threat of extinction, thereby contributing to the ongoing climatic crisis. The systematic compilation of plant species growing in any region is an important tasks of ecological research centered on conservation. In the present study, a comprehensive and systematic inventory of the diversity and population structure of trees and shrubs growing on the Ungwar Jeji campus of Federal University Birnin Kebbi Northwestern Nigeria was provided. The data was collected using a standard 50 × 50 quadrat with 156 total sample plots stratified into plantation area (PA), undisturbed area (UA), building area (BA), and drive/walkways area (DA). Diversity indices were computed using PAST 3.17 software. The campus is richly endowed and diverse in species as revealed by the Margalef's species richness value of 4.753 and the Diversity Index Value (Shannon_ H′) of 2.51, respectively. The inventory recorded 39 species belonging to 17 families of trees (66.67%) and shrubs (30.77%). Fabaceae has the most species (30.77%), while the least families recorded 1 species (2.5%) each. Azadirachta indica and Acacia podalyriifolia recorded an IVI of 55.4 and 99.62 making them the most important tree and shrub species respectively. Ficus platyphylla (2.82%) is the least. Most of the species encountered are of least concern (89.19%) except for Vitellaria paradoxa, which is Vulnerable (2.70%) according to the IUCN Red List version 2021–2. This preliminary inventory is useful for the planning and implementation of a sustainable conservation strategy on the campus. DNA conservation of the species is recommended.

Using land-use history and multiple baselines to determine bird responses to cocoa agroforestry.

Agroforests can play an important role in biodiversity conservation in complex landscapes. A key factor distinguishing among agroforests is land‐use history – whether agroforests are established inside forests or on historically forested but currently open lands. The disparity between land‐use histories means the appropriate biodiversity baselines may differ, which should be accounted for when assessing the conservation value of agroforests. Specifically, comparisons between multiple baselines in forest and open land could enrich understanding of species’ responses by contextualizing them. We made such comparisons based on data from a recently published meta‐analysis of the effects of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry on bird diversity. We regrouped rustic, mixed shade cocoa, and low shade cocoa agroforests, based on land‐use history, into forest‐derived and open‐land‐derived agroforests and compared bird species diversity (species richness, abundance, and Shannon's index values) between forest and open land, which represented the 2 alternative baselines. Bird diversity was similar in forest‐derived agroforests and forests (Hedges’ g* estimate [SE] = ‐0.3144 [0.3416], p = 0.36). Open‐land‐derived agroforests were significantly less diverse than forests (g* = 1.4312 [0.6308], p = 0.023) and comparable to open lands (g* = ‐0.1529 [0.5035], p = 0.76). Our results highlight how land‐use history determined the conservation value of cocoa agroforests. Forest‐derived cocoa agroforests were comparable to the available – usually already degraded – forest baselines, but entail future degradation risks. In contrast, open‐land‐derived cocoa agroforestry may offer restoration opportunities. Our results showed that comparisons among multiple baselines may inform relative contributions of agroforestry systems to bird conservation on a landscape scale.

Drivers of parasite communities in three sympatric benthic sharks in the Gulf of Naples (central Mediterranean Sea)

Sharks play a key role in the functioning of marine ecosystems and maintenance of trophic web balance, including life cycles of parasites co-occurring in their habitats. We investigated the structure of parasite communities of three sympatric shark species (Etmopterus spinax, Galeus melastomus, and Scyliorhinus canicula) and explored both the influence of host features in shaping the communities and their role as biological indicators of environment stability in the Gulf of Naples (central Mediterranean Sea), a geographical area characterized by strong anthropic pressure. Parasites found were all trophic transmitted helminths with a complex life cycle, except Lernaeopoda galei, that is a ecto-parasite copepod. Communities were all similarly impoverished with 4–5 component species and low values of species richness and diversity. Higher abundance of cestode larvae of the genus Grillotia was found in G. melastomus, although their dominance in all host species suggests that the three sharks have a similar role as intermediate/paratenic hosts in local food webs. Similarly, high abundance of Grillotia larvae could also suggest the occurrence of high abundance of largest top predators in the area. Host morphological (fork length in S. canicula and G. melastomus and body condition index in G. melastomus) and physiological (sex and gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices in S. canicula) variables were differently correlated to parasite community structures depending by host species. Potential reasons for the present impoverished parasite communities are discussed.

Perceived biodiversity of fruit species for urban greenery in Indonesia: Case studies in Bogor, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta

Abstract. Ruwaida IP, Santosa E, Susila AD, Widodo WD, Wachjar A, Nasrullah N. 2022. Perceived biodiversity of fruit species for urban greenery in Indonesia: Case studies in Bogor, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. Biodiversitas 23: 3166-3177. Urban greenery planning considering biodiversity scenarios is still rarely studied in Indonesia. This study aims to demonstrate edible fruit species (FS) as the scenario for urban greenery based on interviews with citizens in Indonesian cities. The study was carried out in the cities that have implemented smart city models i.e., Bogor, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Interviews were conducted in July-December 2019, involving 420 respondents. The results showed that 77.7% of all respondents agreed with the planting of FS as city greenery. In total for all cities, there were 79 species belonging to 32 families mentioned by the respondents consisting of 41 commercial and 38 underutilized FS. Each respondent was able to mention between 20.4 and 22.8 fruit species, irrespective of city. The ability to mention fruit species was affected by the respondent’s background, especially exposure during childhood to FS, frequency as a domestic tourist, mobility mode, and frequency of visiting city parks. The rationale for selecting FS was the benefit of fruit as a food source, followed by the benefit of ecology, economy, aesthetics, and health. Based on the significant cultural index, mango ranked first as the most preferred commercial fruit species, followed by rambutan, rose apple, orange, papaya, starfruit, guava, avocado, sapodilla, and longan; and for underutilized FS were shoe-button, pinang, nam nam, mulberry, cactus, canistel, cherry, and pear. Value of species richness, Shannon-Wienner, and Simpson diversity indices of FS within a city ranged 0.97 to 1.06, 3.62 to 3.83, and 0.97, respectively. Biodiversity scenarios could be useful information in the greenery planning of smart cities to coop with evolving broader environmental services.

Functional traits of epiphytic lichen communities in a Temperate-Mediterranean fragmented landscape: Importance of patch size, tree diameter and summer rainfall

Functional traits have become important tools for evaluating the response of epiphytic lichens to environmental changes. In this study, we evaluated which predictors related to fragmentation, habitat quality and climate were driving the richness and cover of lichen growth form, type of photobiont and reproduction traits, at both fragment and plot levels in a Temperate-Mediterranean area dominated by Quercus forests. At fragment level, patch size and summer rainfall positively contributed to richness in most of the traits, while tree diameter and slope were the most important drivers, especially for the type of reproduction and growth form at plot scale. High coverage of growth forms especially sensitive to fragmentation were indicative of high values of total species richness, while early-colonizers indicated the opposite. These results provide important information on how lichen traits respond to environmental conditions in an ecotone area where a shift towards a drier climate is more likely to occur.

A Review of Coastal Anthropogenic Impacts on Mytilid Mussel Beds: Effects on Mussels and Their Associated Assemblages

Mussel beds are an important habitat in many coastal systems, harboring a high diversity of biota. They are threatened by anthropogenic impacts that affect mussels and their associated assemblages. Pollution, harvesting, trampling, dredging and trawling are major threats faced by these communities. Most of the studies on the effects of such impacts on the mussel beds overlook the associated fauna. Since mussels are very resilient, especially to pollution, the associated fauna can provide a better footprint of the impacts’ effects. In this review, we looked into the main remarks regarding the effects of anthropogenic impacts in mussel bed communities. Organic pollution was the best studied impact and the Atlantic region was the best studied zone. Low values of abundance, biomass, diversity, evenness and species richness were reported for all categories of impacts, with some studies describing declines in at least three of these descriptors. Among the associated fauna, some tolerant species benefited from the impacts, particularly organic enrichment, and became more abundant, but sensitive species suffered considerable declines in density, mainly in dredging and trawling impacts. Therefore, fauna associated with mussel beds is a suitable indicator of anthropogenic disturbances.

A National Scale “BioBlitz” Using Citizen Science and eDNA Metabarcoding for Monitoring Coastal Marine Fish

Marine biodiversity is threatened by human activities. To understand the changes happening in aquatic ecosystems and to inform management, detailed, synoptic monitoring of biodiversity across large spatial extents is needed. Such monitoring is challenging due to the time, cost, and specialized skills that this typically requires. In an unprecedented study, we combined citizen science with eDNA metabarcoding to map coastal fish biodiversity at a national scale. We engaged 360 citizen scientists to collect filtered seawater samples from 100 sites across Denmark over two seasons (1 p.m. on September 29th 2019 and May 10th 2020), and by sampling at nearly the exact same time across all 100 sites, we obtained an overview of fish biodiversity largely unaffected by temporal variation. This would have been logistically impossible for the involved scientists without the help of volunteers. We obtained a high return rate of 94% of the samples, and a total richness of 52 fish species, representing approximately 80% of coastal Danish fish species and approximately 25% of all Danish marine fish species. We retrieved distribution patterns matching known occurrence for both invasive, endangered, and cryptic species, and detected seasonal variation in accordance with known phenology. Dissimilarity of eDNA community compositions increased with distance between sites. Importantly, comparing our eDNA data with National Fish Atlas data (the latter compiled from a century of observations) we found positive correlation between species richness values and a congruent pattern of community compositions. These findings support the use of eDNA-based citizen science to detect patterns in biodiversity, and our approach is readily scalable to other countries, or even regional and global scales. We argue that future large-scale biomonitoring will benefit from using citizen science combined with emerging eDNA technology, and that such an approach will be important for data-driven biodiversity management and conservation.

Assessment of the environmental sustainability of cobia fish farm (Rachycentron Canadum) in the bay of Ilha Grande - Brazil and the relationship with benthic macrofauna

Studies on the sustainability of aquaculture have been carried out around the world. The input of organic matter in the sediment and the influence of current velocity on the deposition of particles produced by fish in captivity can be used to assess the distribution of benthic assemblages below marine farms. Sediment and benthic organisms were collected in April, September and December 2019 and in August and October 2020 in the fish farming area and in two control areas in the Bananal cove in Ilha Grande Bay. The measurement of the speed of local currents was carried out below the net-tank, in periods of 24 days in of April and July 2019. The heterogeneity of the biological data was evident between the collection points, indicating that several factors can influence the distribution of benthic macrofauna. There was no correlation between the values of organic matter and species richness and for organic matter and species diversity. The values of the Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) for the three collection stations were smaller than 1 (one), that is, there was a predominance of species sensitive to pollution and organic enrichment. The marine farm and the control areas were considered an unpolluted environment. The results also indicated that the local currents presented insufficient intensities to disperse the organic matter produced in the marine farm to the control areas.

Biodiversity of Mollusca in Bahr AL-Najaf Depression in winter

To study the biological diversity of the Mollusca, six sites were selected along the perimeter of the Bahr AL-Najaf Depression, and samples were collected at a rate of three replicates monthly for the interval from November 2019 till January 2020. The results of this study showed that highest density of 224 individuals / 50 cm2 was recorded in January 2020. Eight species have been identified, 4 of which belong to Bivalvia: Corbicula fluminea, Pseudodontopsis euphraticus, Unio tigridis and Trachycardium lacunosum, 4 species belong to the gastropod: Melanopsis nodosa, Melanopsis costata, Melanoides tuberculata and Theodoxus jordani. Corbicula fluminea and Melanoides tuberculata were more abundant in study site compared with else species. The results of the constancy index showed that five species, one of theme belongs to Bivalvia and the rest belongs to Gastropod, where the other species were accessories to Bahr AL-Najaf Depression environment. The index values of Species richness varied between 2.5-6.5, while the Shanon-Weiner index ranged between 0.024-0.29 bit/ind., but the uniformity index ranged between 0.024-0.036.

ENDOPHYTIC FUNGAL COMMUNITY OF ALIEN Nicotiana glauca IN TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Nicotiana glauca it is naturally distributed throughout South America. It was introduced in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania and arrived to the Canary Islands as an ornamental plant, where has been invading altered soils. Endophytic fungi are known to produce active compounds that provide protection to their host against diseases and attack of herbivores, these microorganisms being an interesting source of novel molecules. So far, the endophytic fungal communities of Nicotiana have not been studied in the Canary Islands. The goal of this study is to evaluate the diversity of the fungal endophytes community associated with Nicotiana glauca. A total of 36 fungal species were isolated from roots, stems and leaves of plants collected in three locations from Tenerife Island - San Miguel de Abona, Fasnia and Puerto de la Cruz. The highest species richness values were found in leaves and stems (Margalef index = 3.33 and 3.36, respectively) versus roots (Margalef index = 2.52). Simpson's index complements the results of the Margalef index, indicating a fungal community with a high dominance value in roots (D = 0.65) due to the presence of multiple Fusarium species. Fungal community in Fasnia had the highest value of species richness (Margalef index = 3.69 versus 2.17 and 2.27 for San Miguel de Abona and Puerto de la Cruz, respectively). Results indicate fungal specificity to organ and location with 13 genera isolated from a single location and organ, among which rare species like Collariella and Gelasinospora. In this study was detected and isolated for the first time in Canary Islands the fungal species Collariella hilkhuijsenii which is of importance for the ecology of this genus scarcely known. Special attention should be offered to the presence of Fusarium, which possibly relates to the alkaloid production ability of both, the plant and the fungal strains.

ENDOPHYTIC FUNGAL COMMUNITY OF ALIEN Nicotiana glauca IN TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Nicotiana glauca it is naturally distributed throughout South America. It was introduced in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania and arrived to the Canary Islands as an ornamental plant, where has been invading altered soils. Endophytic fungi are known to produce active compounds that provide protection to their host against diseases and attack of herbivores, these microorganisms being an interesting source of novel molecules. So far, the endophytic fungal communities of Nicotiana have not been studied in the Canary Islands. The goal of this study is to evaluate the diversity of the fungal endophytes community associated with Nicotiana glauca. A total of 36 fungal species were isolated from roots, stems and leaves of plants collected in three locations from Tenerife Island - San Miguel de Abona, Fasnia and Puerto de la Cruz. The highest species richness values were found in leaves and stems (Margalef index = 3.33 and 3.36, respectively) versus roots (Margalef index = 2.52). Simpson's index complements the results of the Margalef index, indicating a fungal community with a high dominance value in roots (D = 0.65) due to the presence of multiple Fusarium species. Fungal community in Fasnia had the highest value of species richness (Margalef index = 3.69 versus 2.17 and 2.27 for San Miguel de Abona and Puerto de la Cruz, respectively). Results indicate fungal specificity to organ and location with 13 genera isolated from a single location and organ, among which rare species like Collariella and Gelasinospora. In this study was detected and isolated for the first time in Canary Islands the fungal species Collariella hilkhuijsenii which is of importance for the ecology of this genus scarcely known. Special attention should be offered to the presence of Fusarium, which possibly relates to the alkaloid production ability of both, the plant and the fungal strains.

Farmland biodiversity: wildflower-sown islands within arable fields and grassy field margins both promote spider diversity

Agricultural intensification and the concomitant landscape homogenization is leading to a worldwide decline in farmland biodiversity. Non-crop habitats in agroecosystems may counteract the loss of arthropods such as spiders and thus contribute to sustainable agriculture. However, the effectiveness of field margins and set-aside wildflower-sown patches in maintaining spider diversity is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of three different non-crop habitats, namely field margins, set-aside wildflower-sown patches under power poles (‘power pole islands’), and grassland fallows on spider diversity as compared to wheat fields in an agricultural landscape in western Germany. Using pitfall trapping and suction sampling, we show that species richness and overall conservation value were higher in non-crop habitats than in wheat fields. Interestingly, field margins and power pole islands differed from long-term grassland fallows only in conservation value, which was significantly higher in grassland fallows. Species assemblages differed considerably between grassland fallows, field margins and power pole islands, and wheat fields, documenting the added value of using different conservation strategies.Implications for insect conservationSmall-scale non-crop habitats adjacent to wheat fields were surprisingly effective in promoting spider diversity in an agricultural landscape, with field margins and power pole islands being equally effective. To maximize overall diversity in agricultural landscapes, we propose a combination of larger long-term fallows and smaller non-crop habitats such as field margins or set-aside wildflower-sown patches.

Comparison of visual estimation and line-point intercept vegetation survey methods on annual grass–invaded rangelands of Wyoming

AbstractScientists and natural resource managers require suitable vegetation survey methods to assess the success of rangeland restoration projects. Visual estimation and point intercept methods are commonly used to evaluate vegetation cover. This study compared the performance of one visual (quadrat-based) and two line-point intercept (LPI, canopy and basal) methods to assess biodiversity and cover and to estimate biomass production on sites invaded by introduced annual grasses across Wyoming, USA. Greater species richness and higher Shannon index values were measured in quadrats, while introduced annual and native perennial graminoid cover values were higher in LPI canopy in general. Overall, these outcomes indicate quadrats as the most suitable survey method when biodiversity monitoring is the primary objective, while suggesting LPI canopy when monitoring vegetation cover is prioritized. Finally, our regression models indicated quadrat-based estimates as the most reliable to predict introduced annual and native perennial graminoid biomass.

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

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

Landscape‐level vegetation conversion and biodiversity improvement after 33 years of restoration management in the Drentsche Aa brook valley

Effects of restoration management on peatlands formerly used for intensive agriculture are rarely evaluated or discussed over larger spatial and temporal scales. Here, restoration of the Drentsche Aa brook valley was evaluated at the landscape level. Detailed vegetation maps were used with 1982 serving as the baseline, 1994 representing vegetation before rewetting, and 2015 after rewetting. Based on the mapping typology and phytosociological records, 15 main vegetation types were distinguished. Species richness and Shannon index values were calculated as plant diversity indicators, and the number of rare species was used as a rarity indicator. Basic landscape metrics were evaluated as measures of spatial heterogeneity. Results after restoration measures showed extensive vegetation type conversions clearly pointed to lower nutrient levels, and an increase in marsh vegetation at the cost of wet meadows. Significantly higher landscape heterogeneity was achieved, while biodiversity indicators showed small differences over time due to a mixture of positive and negative changes at different locations. This study shows that long‐term restoration management on agricultural peatlands can be successful at landscape level. Our experience highlights the importance of continuity in management given the prolonged influence by intensive agriculture, both from former land uses and from the surrounding valley flanks.

FEEr: An R package for calculating functional extension and evenness index

Since the 1990s, functional diversity has attracted growing attention from biodiversity scientists. In recent years, various functional diversity indices have been proposed; but many of them presented conceptual and/or practical limitations. We recently developed a functional diversity index, Functional Extension and Evenness (FEE), to overcome some of the limitations. In this paper, we describe the content and major features of a new R package, FEEr, which serves as a tool for calculating the FEE index. The FEEr package includes one major core function to accomplish the FEE calculation and several support functions to provide important intermediate results relevant to the FEE calculation. To demonstrate the usage of this package, we present an abbreviated case study of quantifying the taxonomic and functional diversities of national forest inventory plots in the state of Tennessee, United States. In this application, we compare the correlations between species richness and FEE values in these plots. We also briefly summarize how species richness and FEE values vary among forest types and ecoprovinces in Tennessee. The results indicate that species richness and the FEE index reflect complementary aspects of the biodiversity profile in Tennessee’s forests. The functional diversity package outlined in this work provides a comprehensive foundation for subsequent analyses to address the needs of biodiversity conservation.

Vegetation diversity of Hevea brasiliensis agroforest system in Tumbang Mantuhe Village, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

A rubber agroforest system is a form of land use that considers ecological and economic aspects that are still maintained by the people of Tumbang Mantuhe Village. This study aims to identify and analyze the diversity of vegetation in the agroforest system in Tumbang Mantuhe Village, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan. This research uses purposive sampling and the vegetation analysis method. The results showed that the species of vegetation in the rubber agroforest system amounted to 29 species in 23 families. At the seedling level, it is dominated by Macaranga sp. and Xylopia ferruginea; the sapling level is dominated by H. brasiliensis and Syzygium tawahense; the pole level is dominated by Deplanchea bancana and Xylopia ferruginea; at the tree, the level is dominated by H. brasiliensis and Lithocarpus sp. At the seedling, sapling, pole, and tree levels, the diversity values were moderate and the species richness values were moderate to high, and the species distribution was even (stable). The H. brasiliensis agroforest system with various trees in it is a characteristic of local wisdom that the people of Tumbang Mantuhe Village have applied from generation to generation, which provides a balance between ecology and economy.

Motorway proximity affects spatial dynamics of orthopteran assemblages in a grassland ecosystem

Abstract Major roads have become significant components of environmental change but their impacts on invertebrate assemblages are insufficiently understood, and therefore rarely considered in road‐planning and management. In the current study, we test (i) whether and how orthopteran assemblages change with distance from a motorway, and (ii) how road‐induced changes in noise level, vegetation height and microclimate affect assemblage metrics and spatial distribution of orthopteran species. In 2018, we sampled orthopterans at five distances from a motorway: 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 m, in eight locations within homogeneous portions of a grassland habitat in Lika region, Croatia, using two sampling methods: pitfall trapping and sweep‐netting. Orthopteran abundance, species richness, true diversity and conservation value decreased at the sites closest to the motorway in the pitfall dataset, primarily due to negative responses of species with low‐frequency acoustic signals. Road‐influenced vegetation height had a stronger overall impact on orthopteran assemblages than traffic noise and/or microclimate; increased diversity and conservation value at 25 m from the motorway suggest an effect similar to early stages of vegetation succession. This study shows, for the first time, that a major road can induce changes in adjacent orthopteran assemblages, but negative impacts are confined to a narrow zone. Our results indicate that road‐induced changes in orthopteran assemblages could be more efficiently assessed using pitfall trapping than sweep‐netting. Increasing heterogeneity of roadside habitats by appropriate vegetation management could help mitigating negative road impacts on Orthoptera in the study area, while contributing to higher diversity of their assemblages.