Species Richness Values Research Articles

Effects of Plot Design on Estimating Tree Species Richness and Species Diversity

Species richness and diversity substantially affect forest structures and function and are critical indicators of sustainable forest management. Sampling surveys are widely used in forest inventories because they efficiently assess forest characteristics. However, an appropriate sample plot design is required. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of plot design on estimating species richness and species diversity using a simulation. A 20 ha census plot was established in a temperate forest to obtain the true values of species richness and species diversity. One single plot design and nine cluster plot designs were evaluated. The results indicated significant differences in forest species richness and species diversity for different plot designs. The cluster plot design with a square subplot configuration (SCONFIG) and extent of ground area covered by a cluster (EGROUND) of 500 m2 exhibited the best performance (accuracy, precision) in estimating forest species richness. In contrast, a rectangular cluster plot with an EGROUND of 1000 m2 was more suitable for assessing species diversity. This study demonstrates that cluster plots outperform a single plot for evaluating species richness and species diversity in temperate forests.

Species Composition and Diversity of Middle-Aged Trees among Different Urban Green Space Types and Tree Age Classes in Changchun, Northeast China

Middle-aged trees refer to trees aged between 50 and 99 years, which are the reserve resources of old trees (trees ≥ 100 years of age). They are vital parts of the urban ecosystem, with important ecological, landscape, cultural, and historical value. Conservation of middle-aged trees in urban areas is important for the development of large old trees in the future. In this study, we investigated the middle-aged trees in Changchun city and analyzed the species composition and diversity characteristics of different urban green space types and tree age classes. The results showed that there were 72 species and 22,376 plants of middle-aged trees in Changchun city, and the coniferous species prevailed. The top five species with a high importance value (IV) were Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis, Lavix olgensis, Salix matsudana, Ulmus pumila, and Abies holophylla. Green space type and tree age were important factors influencing the richness and diversity of middle-aged trees. Tree growth spaces were relatively sufficient, and land use was stable for park green spaces (PGS) and attached green spaces (AGS), which resulted in the abundant, richer, and diverse species richness (SR) of middle-aged trees. Road green spaces (RGS) and square green spaces (SGS) had fewer trees and lower species richness, Margalef richness index (dMa), Shannon–Wiener index (He) and evenness index (Je) which could be attributed to the high intensity of human interference and poor environmental quality. The SR of middle-aged trees decreased with an increase in age class, and the values of SR in Age Class 80–89 years and Age Class 90–99 years were lower than in Age Class 50–59 years. Age Class 70–79 years had the lowest values of dMa, He, and Je, which need to be protected urgently. The results of this study can provide a basis for the conservation and management of middle-aged trees in urban areas and the choice of species for urban greening.

Modelling Species Richness and Functional Diversity in Tropical Dry Forests Using Multispectral Remotely Sensed and Topographic Data

Efforts to assess and understand changes in plant diversity and ecosystem functioning focus on the analysis of taxonomic diversity. However, the resilience of ecosystems depends not only on species richness but also on the functions (responses and effects) of species within communities and ecosystems. Therefore, a functional approach is required to estimate functional diversity through functional traits and to model its changes in space and time. This study aims to: (i) assess the accuracy of estimates of species richness and tree functional richness obtained from field data and Sentinel-2 imagery in tropical dry forests of the Yucatan Peninsula; (ii) map and analyze the relationships between these two variables. We calculated species richness and functional richness (from six functional traits) of trees from 87 plots of the National Forest Inventory in a semi-deciduous tropical forest and 107 in a semi-evergreen tropical forest. Species richness and functional richness were mapped using reflectance values, vegetation indices, and texture measurements from Sentinel-2 imagery as explanatory variables. Validation of the models to map these two variables yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.43 and 0.50, and a mean squared relative error of 25.4% and 48.8%, for tree species richness and functional richness, respectively. For both response variables, the most important explanatory variables were Sentinel-2 texture measurements and spectral bands. Tree species richness and functional richness were positively correlated in both forest types. Bivariate maps showed that 44.9% and 26.5% of the forests studied had high species richness and functional richness values. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating field data and remotely sensed variables for estimating tree species richness and functional richness. In addition, the combination of species richness and functional richness maps presented here is potentially valuable for planning, conservation, and restoration strategies by identifying areas that maximize ecosystem service provisioning, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation.

Parasites and prey of the nursehound shark Scyliorhinus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758): Insights into hidden trophic web interactions in the Mediterranean Sea.

The metazoan parasite community and the stomach contents of the nursehound shark Scyliorhinus stellaris from the Gulf of Naples (central Mediterranean Sea) were studied. The nursehound shark harboured a poor parasite community composed of a species of gill monogenean (Hexabothrium appendiculatum) and three intestinal cestode taxa (Acanthobothrium coronatum and two unidentified species of the genera Yamaguticestus and Scyphophyllidium), all represented by adult stages. Hosts were mostly parasitized by individuals of A. coronatum, which was the most abundant species and contributed to almost 80% of the total number of parasites found. Conversely, other trophically transmitted parasites (i.e., Yamaguticestus sp. and Scyphophyllidium sp.) showed low prevalence and abundance. The parasite infracommunity was poor, showing low values of species richness, total mean abundance, and diversity indices. Overall, 52 prey items belonging to 13 taxa were identified in the stomach contents. Cephalopods were the most important prey items (represented by nine taxa) and the most diverse and abundant group. In the multivariate space provided by a principal component of mixed data (PCAmix), nursehound sharks distributed along two main axes, related to individual traits (first axis) and stomach contents (including empty ones, second axis). A logistic regression based on the first two axes of the PCAmix showed a significant influence of host individual traits and, to a lesser extent, of stomach contents, regarding the probability of being infected by A. coronatum. Alongside specific traits already associated with parasites transmission, our results highlight the importance of cephalopods in transferring cestode infections through trophic web interactions in the top-predator nursehound shark.

Arthropod fauna of the urban coastal wetland of Aguada La Chimba (Antofagasta Region, Chile): a wetland in an arid matrix

Urban coastal wetlands are fragile ecosystems that provide important ecosystemic services. However, these ecosystems are subject to considerable external pressures from urban development, which leads to serious disturbances in their structure, functioning, and diversity as a result of the advancement of urban, agricultural, foraging, and drainage activities, as well as displacement of endemic species by invasive ones. Within the biological communities of these ecosystems, arthropods play an important trophic and ecological role as food resource, pollinating agents, biological controllers, organic matter decomposers, and nutrient cyclers. In this paper we characterize the taxonomic richness and abundance of the terrestrial arthropod fauna of the Aguada de La Chimba urban coastal wetland (Antofagasta Region, Chile) using various methods. From a total of 1,874 specimens, we identified 109 terrestrial arthropod species, where Insecta was the most represented taxon, with 85 species, 47 families, and 15 orders. The estimated species richness values were higher than the observed values for the different groups under study, and insects showed the highest species values in all estimators. Based on their origin, the communities identified included native (24%), naturalized (22%), and to a lesser extent, endemic species. We also characterize the major threats to this urban wetland and discuss the importance of building public–private partnerships with the local community for the success of biodiversity conservation programs in coastal ecosystems.

CURRENT STATE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN THE LOWER COURSE OF THE UKSUNJOKI RIVER (NORTHERN LADOGA REGION)

The zooplankton community of the lower course of a stream draining to the Lake Ladoga northern coast – the Uksujoki river was studied to estimate its current state as an essential structural and functional element of this lotic ecosystem, to assess the water quality based on zooplankton indicators and to determine what factors influence its development. Surveys in 2011–2016 showed the zooplankton community to include 53 taxa below the genus level, among them Rotifera – 16, Cladocera – 31, Copepoda – 6. During the surveys, 26 species and subspecies of zooplankton were recorded for the first time for this watercourse. Zooplankton quantities in the Uksunjoki were among the lowest among other 20 tributaries of Lake Ladoga during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The abundance varied from 10 to 2740 ind./m3, biomass from 0.0001 to 0.0330 g/m3. Quantitative indicators reached a maximum in September 2013. The highest season-averaged values of species richness, abundance, and biomass occurred in the summer period. In spring, Copepoda prevailed, represented by the nauplial and copepodite stages of Cyclopoida. In summer and autumn, cladoceran crustaceans from the family Chydoridae featured the largest numbers and biomass in the structure of the zooplankton community. Organisms that forage from the substrate surface (crawling-floating secondary filter feeders) predominated in the trophic structure of the zooplankton community. The development of species was stochastic. The most significant aquatic environment factors for the development of zooplankton in the Uksunjoki appear to be the water ionic composition and water discharge. As indicated by the zooplankton community, the water of the Uksunjoki River can be characterized as relatively clean and suitable for all types of water use.

Composition and distribution of polychaete assemblages associated with hydrothermal vents and cold seeps in the Bering Sea

Two areas with reducing habitats in the western Bering Sea were investigated during two expeditions onboard the RV Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev in 2016 and 2018. Hydrothermal vents of the Piip submarine volcano, located in the southwestern Bering Sea, and methane seep communities recently discovered on the Koryak slope in the northwestern Bering Sea were surveyed using a ROV Comanche 18. Species composition and distribution of polychaete (Annelida) assemblages of hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and background sediments from the studied areas were investigated. A total of 47 species and 20 families were identified from the Piip volcano. In the area of methane emission on the Koryak slope, 86 species belonging to 32 families were collected from five separate fields at depths from 400 to 700 m. Considerable differences in structure and composition were revealed between seep polychaete assemblages, as well as between polychaete assemblages of the vent, seep, and background habitats, which showed different abundance and species richness values, sets of dominant species, and taxonomic compositions of species specific to vents and seeps. Elevated abundance and species richness values, as well as a higher diversity of the vent and seep-associated polychaete assemblages compared to the surrounding seafloor were found in vesicomyid Calyptogena pacifica beds. In contrast, the vent and seep polychaete assemblages associated with microbial mats showed a poorer family and species composition, and had a lower abundance, species richness, and diversity compared to the surrounding benthos. The variations observed in the structure and composition of polychaete assemblages are apparently associated with geochemical local conditions due to changes in intensity of toxic vent fluids and seepage emissions. The similarity between the vent and seep faunas of the studied areas of the Bering Sea was found to be low, which suggests the existence of distinct assemblages inhabiting reducing ecosystems. In addition, the higher similarity between the vent and seep polychaete assemblages was associated with vesicomyid bivalve beds. The dissimilarities between the vent and seep polychaete assemblages were mainly due to the different sets of vent- or seep-specific species.

Diversity of Soil Fauna in the Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest, West Lombok

The Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest Area is a tourist area and an area that is used for the production of several plantation commodities, along with increasing human activities in the Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest area, it raises questions related to the state of its ecosystem, one aspect that reflects the state of the ecosystem, namely the diversity of soil fauna. The sample locations are divided into three paths based on the characteristics of the ecosystem, namely the waterway which is niche points located along the river flow, the middle lane in the form of a path around a forest area filled with large tree stands, and the edge lane which is a path located in the middle of the river around residential areas and rice fields. The purpose of this study was to determine the index of diversity, evenness of species, and species richness of soil fauna in the Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest. Sampling of soil fauna using the pitt fall trap method is placed along 3 predetermined paths. The results showed that in the Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest, there were at least 30 types of soil fauna dominated by the Formicidae family. The highest soil fauna diversity index was found in the waterway with 2.24, followed by the edge lane at 2.22, and the middle lane at 1.13. The evenness value of soil surface fauna species in the Sesaot Nature Tourism Forest in the waterway is 0.66, followed by 0.65 in the edge lane, and 0.33 in the waterway. The highest value of species richness (Margalef index) was found in the waterway with 3.26, followed by the edge and middle lane with 2.69.

Floristic diversity of Threatened medicinal plants at two major reservoirs associated regions in Lahaul Valley, Western Himalayas, India

Agriculture is the leading sector in Ethiopia and its economy The present study emphasizes the quantitative estimation of plant species diversity and ecosystems at Lahaul-Spiti two lake reservoirs, Deepak tall (DT) and Suraj Tall (ST). These are the finest visiting spots in Keylong (Himachal Pradesh), India, during summer. Despite huge anthropogenic pressure and environmental disturbance, the reservoir-associated regions still harbor numerous angiosperm species, including various grasses and medicinal herbs. Two-year surveys were conducted in six-landscape elements at an altitude of 3752 m and 4890 m. Plant diversity assessment was based on their numbers in each Landscape element (LSEs) using a 2m2 quadrant followed by random sampling methods for herbs, shrubs, and grasses. Within the total 32 specimens belonging to 17 families (most dominated by Asteraceae), 29 plants show medicinal importance. The east landscape of ST was observed with maximum species richness (Shannon wiener H =1.07), followed by the Northeast (H =1.05) dominated by Saxifraga mucronulata royle (35), Tussilago farfara (l), and T. farfara (26). The maximum species richness value was for Impatiens glandulifera (26 plants/m2), while Gentianella moorcroftiana (43 plants/m2) and categorized as vulnerable species. Highest population of the endangered plant was recorded in ST where Allardia tomentosa (9 plants/m2), Nepeta longibracteata (7 plants/m2), Pleurospermum candollei (6 plants/m2), and S. mucronulata (35 plants/m2) comparatively to DT enriched with five vulnerable species (G. moorcroftiana, Chamerion latifolium, Ranunculus hirtellus and Rheum emodii). Considering the floristic diversity value, effective attention towards conserving valuable plant bio-resources is suggested.

Meghalayan environmental evolution of the Thapsus coast (Tunisia) as inferred from sedimentological and micropaleontological proxies

Abstract. Thapsus was one of the Roman Empire's largest harbors and is situated next to an easily defended promontory on Tunisia's coast in northern Africa. It was provided with a huge stone and cement breakwater mole that extended almost 1 km into the sea. We examined sedimentological and micropaleontological proxies from 14C-dated core material and shifts in microfauna and macrofauna community structure to infer patterns of sediment dynamics and the chronology of events that shaped the coastal evolution in the Dzira Lagoon at Thapsus over the past 4000 years. The sedimentological and faunal record of environmental changes reflect a sequence of events that display a transition from an open to a semi-closed lagoon environment. At around 4070 cal yr BP and again between 2079 and 1280 cal yr BP, the data reveal two transgressive events and a deposition of sandy sediments in a largely open marine lagoon environment. The transgressive sands overlay marine carbonate sandstones that are upper Pleistocene in age. A gradual closure of the lagoon from 1280 cal yr BP until today is indicated by decreasing species richness values, lower abundances of typical marine taxa, and increasing percent abundances of fine-grained sediments. The environmental transition from an open to a closed lagoon setting was also favored by the construction of an extensive harbor breakwater mole, changes in longshore current drift patterns, and the formation of an extensive sand spit.

Phytoplankton Composition during a Period of the Red Tide Bans in 2017 in Irong-Irong Bay, Western Samar, Philippines

This study assessed the phytoplankton composition in Irong-Irong Bay, Western Samar, Philippines. Recurring red tide bans were imposed in this bay due to the elevated levels of saxitoxin that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning primarily produced by Pyrodinium bahamense. Despite the presence of mariculture sites, Irong-Irong Bay has very little or nil data on its overall phytoplankton composition. Monthly field samplings were conducted to observe the phytoplankton community structure during an episode of persistent red tide bans from September–December 2017. Physico- chemical parameters (e.g. temperature, salinity, transparency, pH, nutrient concentration) were measured. A total of 64 species of phytoplankton were observed and counted. The lowest mean cell density of phytoplankton was recorded in the month of November (3.1 x 104 cells/L), whereas December (37 x 104 cells/L) had the highest mean cell density but lowest values for species diversity (H’ = 0.942), richness (Dmn = 0.037), and evenness (J = 0.307). Pseudo-nitzschia dominated in the months of September (3.1 x 104 cells/L) and November (0.43 x 104 cells/L), whereas Skeletonema dominated in the months of October (9.9 x 104 cells/L) and December (29 x 104 cells/L). Pyrodinium bahamense was present in all sampling months with a total mean cell density of 0.08 x 104 cells/L but was never the dominant species. The low cell count relative to other Pyrodinium blooms may be accounted for by the presence of Noctiluca scintillans, its potential predator. Noctiluca scintillans was present in all sampling months. It peaked during the month of November with a mean cell density of 0.32 x 104 cells/L. A significant negative correlation was detected between the cell densities of these two dinoflagellates, providing evidence of the potential interactive relationship between these two species.

Short-term effects of retention forestry on the diversity of root-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi in Sakhalin fir plantations, Hokkaido, Japan

We have examined the effects of dispersed and aggregated retention on the diversity of root-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMf) in Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis) plantations, 4 years after logging. Roots of Sakhalin fir seedlings and the adjacent broadleaved or Sakhalin fir trees were sampled in broadleaved dispersed retention sites (10, 50, or 100 trees/ha), conifer aggregated retention sites (a single 60 × 60 m square patch of Sakhalin fir trees per site), clear-cut sites, unharvested Sakhalin fir plantations, and natural broadleaved forest stands. The EcMf on the roots were grouped into operational taxonomic units based on the similarity of the internal transcribed spacer sequences within the nuclear ribosomal DNA. Clear-cutting significantly reduced the species richness and diversity of the EcMf and altered the species composition when compared with the unharvested Sakhalin fir plantations and natural broadleaved forests. In contrast, both the aggregated and dispersed retention sites maintained higher levels of EcMf diversity, as well as different EcMf communities when compared with the clear-cut sites. Aggregated retention was effective at conserving EcMf diversity at the unharvested Sakhalin fir plantations, but the effects were limited within retained patches. Broadleaved dispersed retention did not retain the EcMf communities that were present prior to logging even at high retention levels, but they could retain unique EcMf communities, which differed between the Sakhalin fir plantations, natural broadleaved forests, and clear-cut sites. The species richness and diversity values for some of the dispersed retention sites were comparable to the values for the unharvested Sakhalin fir plantations and tended to be greater than the values for the aggregated retention sites. The results indicate that dispersed retention could be an effective strategy by which to preserve a larger number of EcMf species and unique EcMf communities in logged conifer plantations, although the positive effects were likely limited spatially within the rooting zones of the retained broadleaved trees. Finally, naturally regenerating Sakhalin fir seedlings were found to share a large amount of their EcMf with adjacent broadleaved retention trees, indicating that multi-host EcMf of retained trees largely contribute to ectomycorrhizal colonization of the surrounding regenerated seedlings in the logged areas. Our findings demonstrated that both dispersed and aggregated retention methods could be used to mitigate the impacts of logging on EcMf diversity in Sakhalin fir plantations, in Japan, and that there were large differences in the effects among the different retention methods.

Effect of drying dynamics on the functional structure of a fish assemblage from an intermittent river network

We are living in a fast-changing world promoted by anthropogenic actions and ecosystems’ functioning has been constantly changed. One example is the globally reduction of river flow that can lead to more than 50% of the rivers and streams around the world becoming intermittent. However, the relationship between environmental changes and biological communities has been limited to taxonomic approach, rather than the functional approach. Functional structure determines how individuals interact with the environment and evaluating the effects of hydrological changes in functional variation can elucidate the responses of aquatic biota under climate changes. Thus, we hypothesized that hydrological phases (dry, re-wetting and wet) would influence both environmental conditions and fish composition (i.e., taxonomic richness and functional structure) in one intermittent river. In addition, we expected that: 1) fish assemblages will have higher values of species richness and Functional Diversity indexes—Richness (FRic), Dispersion (FDis), Specialization (FSpe), and Originality (FOri) in drier phases (dry and re-wetting); and 2) higher values of Functional Diversity indexes related to evenness (FEve) and divergence (FDiv) in the wet phase, due to the predominance of species with high dispersal capacity when sites are connected. Sampling was conducted in the Cruxati river during the three hydrological phases along four sites (250 m each). Functional diversity analysis, involving traits of dispersion, life history and trophic ecology were used to apply Functional Diversity indexes. Indexes were compared from null models and all species were ordered in a multidimensional functional space using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). In the dry phase, taxonomic richness and FRic between communities is higher, as well as FSpe and FOri, showing that each assemblage has unique characteristics with different strategies allowing the establishment in this hydrological phase. However, communities are less functionally dispersed. In the wet phase, when the river is connected, FDis between communities is higher and species abundances are more equitable with regular distribution in the functional space. Therefore, we conclude that local ecological processes (i.e., dynamics of hydrology) may promote the establishment of species according to their functional traits and thereby the functional structure of local assemblages.

Spatial Distribution and Floristic Composition of Overstorey Vegetation in Zanthoxylum Armatum DC inhabited sites of Jammu & Kashmir, India

The spatial distribution and floristic composition of an area is the outcome of various environmental factors, and needed to be studied for assessing the macro-ecological biodiversity patterns and framing a strategy for biological conservation. The present study was conducted in three Zanthoxylum armatum DC inhabited sites located in Kathua (Bhaddu and Sukrala) and Udhampur (Dhandal) districts of Jammu and Kashmir with aims of studying the distribution, ecological status, composition, and diversity of overstorey vegetation, especially Zanthoxylum armatum , and to define the soil attribute/s responsible for these characteristics of vegetation. The results of the study show that aggregate distribution (68.4 - 84.2%) was more common than random distribution pattern (15.8 - 31.6%). Ecological status of more than 50% of the species, including Zanthoxylum armatum , was rare in all the three sites. Quercus leucotrichophora , Pinus roxburghii and Pyrus pashia recorded the highest values for importance value index (IVI) in Bhaddu, Sukrala and Dhandal, respectively. As per Dominance-Diversity Curves, the most dominant species were following the geometric curve and hence utilizing bulk of the resources in the respective sites whereas other species were log normally distributed. Dhandal was the most diverse site having the highest values for species richness (19) and Shannon-Wiener’s index (2.59). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis depicted that Zanthoxylum armatum along with Cu at Axis I and available K at axis II were the driving variables responsible for the distribution, diversity, and floristic composition of overstorey vegetation in the present study.

Tree Cover Improved the Species Diversity of Understory Spontaneous Herbs in a Small City

A large number of trees have been planted in built-up areas to improve the urban environment, but the effects of tree cover on spontaneous understory herbs are not yet well understood. This study surveyed spontaneous herbs in two kinds of habitats (habitats with and without tree cover) in the built-up area of the small city Junlian in Sichuan Province, China. A total of 222 species of spontaneous herbaceous plants in 180 genera of 71 families were recorded, including a vulnerable species and six species endemic to China. Although the overall species richness values were similar in the two kinds of habitat, the average species richness per quadrat of all plants, perennials, plants with the dwarf growth form, and animal-dispersed plants was significantly higher in the habitats with tree cover than in those without tree cover. The overall species association was significantly positive in the habitats with tree cover (VR = 1.51, p < 0.05) and neural (VR = 0.86) in the habitats without tree cover. Among the top 25 frequently recorded species in each kind of habitat, the species association of plants with the same trait combination type differed greatly in the two kinds of habitats. For the species association between annuals, only 13.33% of species pairs were significantly associated in the habitats with tree cover, while 22.22% of the species pairs were significantly negatively associated in the habitats without tree cover. For the species association between plants with tall growth forms, the proportion of significant positive associations in the habitats with tree cover was approximately twice than in the habitats without tree cover. For the species association between plants with the dwarf growth form, the proportion of negative associations in the habitats without tree cover was approximately twice that in the habitats with tree cover. Species with the same dispersal mode generally had a very low proportion of negative interspecific associations or a high proportion of positive interspecific associations in habitats unfavorable to their establishment. Our findings suggest that tree cover can improve the species richness of the spontaneous herbaceous species beneath them and profoundly influence interspecific coexistence relationships in a built-up area.

How Hydroxyurea Alters the Gut Microbiome: A Longitudinal Study Involving Angolan Children with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited hematological disorder and a serious global health problem, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although hydroxyurea (HU) is the leading treatment for patients with SCA, its effects on the gut microbiome have not yet been explored. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate this association by characterizing the gut microbiome of an Angolan SCA pediatric population before and after 6 months of HU treatment. A total of 66 stool samples were obtained and sequenced for the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 regions). Significant associations were observed in alpha and beta-diversity, with higher values of species richness for the children naïve for HU. We also noticed that children after HU had higher proportions of several beneficial bacteria, mostly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing species, such as Blautia luti, Roseburia inulinivorans, Eubacterium halli, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus rogosae, among others. In addition, before HU there was a higher abundance of Clostridium_g24, which includes C. bolteae and C. clostridioforme, both considered pathogenic. This study provides the first evidence of the HU effect on the gut microbiome and unravels several microorganisms that could be considered candidate biomarkers for disease severity and HU efficacy.

The dynamism fish‐plant association: Ontogenetic variations in assemblage attributes in neotropical floodplain lakes

AbstractStructural habitat complexity provided by macrophytes is expected to increase richness and abundance of fish species. However, this topic is rarely investigated simultaneously at different periods of fish development. We sampled fish within macrophyte stands and in non‐vegetated areas at floodplain lakes and tested the hypothesis that the presence of macrophytes increases abundance and species richness of fish, in addition to changes in species composition, at different periods of fish development. Our findings demonstrated that, in different period of fish development, the highest values of fish species richness and abundance were found at sites colonised by macrophytes. Similarly, changes in fish species composition were observed between habitats colonised by macrophytes and non‐vegetated areas. Therefore, the results demonstrate that macrophyte presence plays an important role in regulating fish community structure at different periods of fish development.

Glacial biodiversity of the southernmost glaciers of the European Alps (Clapier and Peirabroc, Italy)

We applied a multi-taxa approach integrating the co-occurrence of plants, ground beetles, spiders and springtails with soil parameters (temperatures and chemical characteristics) in order to describe the primary succession along two glacier forelands in the Maritime Alps (Italy), a hotspot of Mediterranean biodiversity. We compared these successions to those from Central Alps: Maritime glacier forelands markedly differ for their higher values of species richness and species turnover. Contrary to our expectation, Maritime glacier forelands follow a ‘replacement change model’, like continental succession of Inner Alps and differently from other peripheral successions. We propose that the temperatures along these Mediterranean glacier forelands are warmer than those along other Alpine glacier forelands, which promote the faster species turnover. Furthermore, we found that early and mid successional stages of the investigated glaciers are richer in cold-adapted and endemic species than the later ones: we confirmed that the ‘replacement change’ model disadvantages pioneer, cold-adapted species. Given the overall correspondence among cold-adapted and endemic species, the most threatened in this climate phase, our results raise new concerns about the extinction risk of these species. We also describe supraglacial habitat of Maritime glaciers demonstrating that supraglacial debris represents an environment decoupled from the regional climate and may have an important role as refugium for coldadapted and hygrophilous plant and animal species, whose survival can be threatened by climate change and by a rapid ecological succession in the adjacent forelands.

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.