Measuring Biological Diversity
Abstract
"Measuring Biological Diversity assumes no specialist mathematical knowledge and includes worked examples and links to web-based software. It will be essential reading for all students, researchers, and managers who need to measure biological diversity."--BOOK JACKET.
... We also determined its contribution to the Little Owl's diet, by calculating its frequency (pi) relative to the total prey ingested. Calculations were made in terms of abundance and biomass, and the obtained frequencies were subsequently used to assess the diet breadth, using the Levin's index: B = 1/Spi 2 (Magurran 2004). Values were standardized on a scale of 0 (specialist diet) to 1 (generalist diet), by calculating evenness: E = (B-1)/(N-1), with N being the number of prey classes (Magurran 2004). ...
... Calculations were made in terms of abundance and biomass, and the obtained frequencies were subsequently used to assess the diet breadth, using the Levin's index: B = 1/Spi 2 (Magurran 2004). Values were standardized on a scale of 0 (specialist diet) to 1 (generalist diet), by calculating evenness: E = (B-1)/(N-1), with N being the number of prey classes (Magurran 2004). ...
... Furthermore, we drew abundance-frequency and biomass-frequency curves by ranking the prey classes from the most to the least important based on either abundance or biomass along the x-axis, and their cumulative frequencies on the y-axis (Magurran 2004). The differences between the two curves were then assessed by means of a Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-sample test, using the npar1way procedure in SAS (SAS Institute 2008). ...
The Little Owl (Athene noctua) is a widespread nocturnal raptor whose diet has extensively been studied. In the Mediterranean, a tendency towards increased ingestion of insects has been highlighted, but this tendency still needs more empirical validation. Here, we provide data on the autumn diet of Little Owls in an arid area in southern Tunisia. We analyzed 621 pellets from 30 different territories and identified 4,267 prey items, with insects being by far the most ingested prey. However, based on biomass, the diet was more evenly distributed across the identified prey categories. Vertebrates accounted for 63% of the biomass ingested, while the remaining part of prey composition was almost equally shared between insects and arachnids. The importance of arachnids looks like a characteristic dietary trait of Little Owls in south Mediterranean deserts, where arachnids represent a main component of the community of potential prey. In summary, our findings highlight the great food opportunism of the Little Owl due to its capability of adapting its diet to the availability of potential prey.
... Alpha, Beta, and Gamma diversities are many of the essential descriptive measures of ecology and conservation biology however there are different approaches for their measurement and the criteria for their evaluation. Jost [9], Keylock [11], Lande [12], Lewontin [13], Magurran [16], Taneja [28], Wilson and Shamida [32], and others provide properties of intuitive alpha, beta, and gamma. Tuomisto [29] reviewed that α-measure and β-measure can be generally expressed as Hill numbers. ...
... The use of families of heterogeneity indices has a long history in ecology, see Magurran [16] and Peet [19]. The first family was proposed by Good [7], including Shannon's index and Simpson's index, in the form where (a,b) were defined for non-negative integers. ...
... The most frequently used diversity indices (i.e. Shannon's and Simpson's) are based on information theory (Magurran [16], pp.100-130). ...
The concept of segregation has received less attention in ecology. Species diversity is a concept that includes the number of species (the total number of possible species) in the community, their abundance, and the individuals who are divided among the species, for which biodiversity is generally considered in three dimensions: within communities (α-diversity), between or among communities (β-diversity), and in the total dataset (γ-diversity). Recently, Shamia proposed using an improved generalized diversity index, which includes special cases of MacArthur's and Hill’s indices. Such an index is easy to interpret when all species have equal even abundances resulting in an equivalent number to refer to the output in the community. index, when community weights are unequal relative abundances, has been applied to real data for comparing the index's performance under the segregation concept. Such measure for different sites gives meaningful results of multiplicative partitioning.
... El segundo sesgo deriva de la calidad de los datos. Tanto los procedentes del registro fósil como los de fauna actual surgen de muestreos en los que, si no se aplica esfuerzo necesario, podrían generarse falsos negativos (no detección de especies presentes) (Lobo et al. 2010) o distorsiones en la abundancia relativa de cada OTU en la comunidad (Magurran 2004). Para evitar graves sesgos en el análisis, como condición previa debemos asegurar que este esfuerzo de muestreo es adecuado para aportar datos fiables para ambas variables y es equiparable para analizarlas conjuntamente. ...
... La diversidad de la comunidad se testó con curvas acumuladas de diversidad que reflejan su tasa de cambio al crecer el esfuerzo de muestreo. Este se consideró adecuado al alcanzar la gráfica un valor asintótico, indicando que la presencia relativa de cada taxon no cambiará significativamente añadiendo más citas (Magurran 2004). Como parámetro de diversidad se usó la H' de Shannon, obteniendo las curvas acumuladas con el programa PAST 4.08 (Hammer et al. 2001). ...
... En este complejo contexto de posibilidades analíticas y sesgos, el grupo cuyo análisis ofrecería más fiabilidad es Troglófilos I. A priori, con su fuerte troglofília, una alta presencia en el registro fósil (>50 %; Fig. 6) y una fuerte coherencia en su asociación en los dendrogramas (Fig. 5), es improbable que sus OTU generen falsos negativos en los muestreos (análisis COV, Tabla 5) y que, siendo un componente fundamental de la diversidad global, no alcancen un valor estable en su contribución a ésta cuando las curvas acumulativas de diversidad alcanzan un estado asintótico (Figs. 1 y 2) (Magurran 2004, Lobo et al. 2010. ...
The relationship between bats and caves is fundamental to understanding the composition of their fossil record. However, the difficulty of obtaining quantitative data on the current use of shelters by bats has limited its analysis. In this study, quantitative information on the current use of shelters simultaneusly with the presence of different bat species are analyzed for the first time considering the Iberian Quaternary fossil record. The results show that the death of animals in caves while they used them as shelter is the main source of remains for the fossil record and that, roughly, the level of use that each species makes of the caves corresponds to their abundance in this fossil record. However, this relationship is complex because the troglophily is subject to numerous autoecological biases and other biases derived from the interrelationship between species and the impact of the changing ecological conditions that have characterized the Quaternary. In addition, the biases derived from the methodology for studying of the sites play a relevant role, altering our perception of the phenomenon. Therefore, this first approach to the problem must be refined through deeper analyzes based on the joint work of actualist biologists and paleobiologists within a multidisciplinary context in which we use all the advances obtained on the biology of Chiroptera in recent decades.
... The value of the index should be higher in less environmentally disturbed areas. The MI was calculated on the basis of the formula proposed by Ruf [72] and N'Dri et al. [74]: ...
... The community similarity of the species composition for Uropodina mites in communities found in different types of habitats in BTNP was calculated by means of the Marczewski-Steinhaus species similarity index: S = c/(a + b − c), where c is the number of species present in both compared communities, and a and b stand for the total numbers of species in each community. The full joining analysis, which uses the most distant neighbors, was used to prepare the dendrogram [74]. The graphs of the percentage participation of species found in particular habitats (Figures 2-6) are based on the medium number of specimens in positive samples. ...
... That is why only five species were recorded there ( Table 7). The examined community was dominated by one of the most common Uropodina species in Europe, namely T. aegrota [8,27,28,71,74,80]. On the other hand, hygrophilous species with higher moisture requirements, including U. minima, D. inermis, D. perforatus, and U. undulata [27,28,81], occurred only in humid habitats, i.e., meadows and alder forests near lakes (Tables 4 and 6). ...
The state of research into acarofauna in Polish national parks is very uneven. One of the least examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of the current research was to explore the species diversity and community structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting different forest, open, and unstable microhabitats in the area of BTNP. Based on the analysis of over 300 samples collected in BTNP between 2004 and 2024, 29 taxa of Uropodina were identified, with 3839 specimens found in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity has been observed in different types of pine forests (19 species), in transformed alder and alder forests (15 species, each), and in reeds (12 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in peat bog areas (8 species) and inland dunes (5 species). The spatial distribution analyses for Uropodina in the area of BTNP have been made and distribution maps for each species have been drawn. Moreover, the Maturity Index (MI) was also calculated to compare the species diversity of the Uropodina communities in BTNP with those in other Polish national parks. The Uropodina community in BTNP ranked eighth in terms of species richness among 13 national parks explored in Poland so far. Finally, the comparative analysis of the MI for the selected Polish national parks has revealed that BTNP could be ranked fourth in terms of the faunistic value for the discussed mite group.
... The parasite diversity was calculated using the Brillouin index (HB), because theoretically each fish analyzed corresponded to a fully censused infracommunity (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). Differences in parasite prevalence and abundance between male and female fish were evaluated using Fisher's exact test (F) and the corrected normal approximation of the Mann-Whitney test (Zc), respectively (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). ...
... The parasite diversity was calculated using the Brillouin index (HB), because theoretically each fish analyzed corresponded to a fully censused infracommunity (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). Differences in parasite prevalence and abundance between male and female fish were evaluated using Fisher's exact test (F) and the corrected normal approximation of the Mann-Whitney test (Zc), respectively (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). Difference in parasite diversity according to host sex was also analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). ...
... Differences in parasite prevalence and abundance between male and female fish were evaluated using Fisher's exact test (F) and the corrected normal approximation of the Mann-Whitney test (Zc), respectively (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). Difference in parasite diversity according to host sex was also analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) was used to verify the association (or its lack) of host length with parasite abundance, richness and diversity (Magurran, 2004;Zar, 2010). ...
The barred grunt, Conodon nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the most important marine-estuarine fish along the Brazilian coast. The present study evaluated the parasite fauna of this haemulid fish along the Southern Atlantic coast. From September 2010 to July 2011, a total of 100 specimens of C. nobilis from Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (23°01′21ʺS, 44°19′13ʺW), were examined. Ninety-seven individuals were parasitized by at least one species of metazoan, with a mean of 4.50 ± 3.54 parasites per fish. Eighteen species of parasites were collected: eight copepods, four digeneans, two cestodes, one acanthocephalan, one aspidogastrean, one isopod and one monogenean. The copepod Lernanthropus rathbuni was the most abundant and dominant species, accounting for 17.77% of all parasite specimens collected. Caligus haemulonis was the most prevalent. Prevalence and abundance of Acantholochus lamellatus and L. rathbuni tended to be higher in smaller fish, whereas those of Torticaecum sp. were higher in larger fish. The mean abundance of C. haemulonis was significantly higher in male hosts. A negative association was observed between two species of ectoparasites. The parasite community of C. nobilis was characterized by dominance of copepods, which can be related to host’s schooling behavior.
... L'indice de diversité de Shannon-Weaver (Shannon-Weaver, 1949) basé sur la théorie de l'information est un indice de richesse couramment utilisé pour apprécier la biodiversité d'une station ou d'un groupement écologique. Le calcul de l'indice prend en compte le nombre d'espèces et la proportion de chaque espèce dans la station (Magurran, 2004 L'équitabilité E représentant le rapport entre l'indice de Shannon (H) et la diversité maximale théorique (Hmax) est une mesure de la répartition des espèces dans la zone d'étude. E est une mesure de la similarité de l'abondance des espèces dans une station ou un groupement écologique (Magurran, 2004). ...
... Le calcul de l'indice prend en compte le nombre d'espèces et la proportion de chaque espèce dans la station (Magurran, 2004 L'équitabilité E représentant le rapport entre l'indice de Shannon (H) et la diversité maximale théorique (Hmax) est une mesure de la répartition des espèces dans la zone d'étude. E est une mesure de la similarité de l'abondance des espèces dans une station ou un groupement écologique (Magurran, 2004). Sa formule est : ...
Contexte : Une meilleure connaissance des caractéristiques des pâturages naturels est indispensable pour leur gestion durable. Objectif : Cette étude a été conduite dans la commune urbaine de Téra, pour caractériser les pâturages en vue d’une gestion durable de leur potentiel productif. Méthodes : La méthode de relevés phytosociologiques de Braun-Blanquet a été utilisée pour identifier les différentes espèces présentes sur les pâturages. Dans chaque placette, la biomasse a été prélevée dans 5 placeaux de 1 m2. La discrimination des différents pâturages a été réalisée sur la base d’Analyses Factorielles des Correspondances Détendancées (AFCD) couplées à des Classifications Hiérarchiques Ascendantes (CHA). Les espèces caractéristiques des pâturages ont été identifiées à travers l’Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) avec le logiciel PCORD 5. Les différences entre les pâturages et l’homogénéité de la flore au sein de chaque pâturage ont été analysées. Résultats : Les 71 relevés phytosociologiques réalisés ont permis de recenser 189 espèces parmi lesquelles figurent 48 ligneux. Ces espèces appartiennent à 42 familles dont les principales sont les Poacées (20,63 %) et les Fabaceae (16,93 %). L’analyse de la matrice des 71 relevés a permis d’identifier sept types de pâturages dont la productivité varie de 0,48± 0,02 tMs/ha à 3,23 tMs/ha, soit des capacités de charge comprises entre 0,07 UBT/ha et 0, 47 UBT/ha. L’analyse de la diversité alpha a montré que ces pâturages sont relativement très diversifiés avec des richesses floristiques qui varient de 44 à 112 espèces, des indices de Shannon de 3,52 à 4,81 bits et des équitabilités de Piélou de 0,64 à 0,71. Conclusions : Ces résultats montrent que les parcours de la commune de Téra sont floristiquement diversifiés et ont un potentiel productif élevé. Ils peuvent également être utilisés comme base, pour une exploitation rationnelle des ressources afin d’assurer leur durabilité.
... Statistical analysis: Flower-visiting insects among the sample groups were compared using biodiversity indices according to Krebs (1999) and Magurran (2004) [27,28]. To evaluate biodiversity among the three plant groups, several ecological indices were calculated in R [29] to obtain the summary results of each sampling group. ...
... Statistical analysis: Flower-visiting insects among the sample groups were compared using biodiversity indices according to Krebs (1999) and Magurran (2004) [27,28]. To evaluate biodiversity among the three plant groups, several ecological indices were calculated in R [29] to obtain the summary results of each sampling group. ...
Salvia absconditiflora and Orobanche anatolica exhibit a parasitic relationship. S. absconditiflora serves as a rich food resource for insects due to its abundant nectar. O. anatolica demonstrates host specificity towards S. absconditiflora. The objective of this study is to assess potential variations in entomofauna dynamics and nectar chemistry attributable to parasitism. The observational groups consisted of S. absconditiflora individuals infected and uninfected by O. anatolica, as well as O. anatolica individuals. Entomofauna was monitored during the flowering periods of target species. The collected data were analyzed using biodiversity indexes. The nectar of the plant groups was evaluated with LC-QTOF-MS analysis to identify possible repellents for insects. S. absconditiflora plants free from infection had significantly higher insect diversity and abundance compared to those infected by O. anatolica. Parasitism by O. anatolica appeared to modify the entomofauna dynamics of S. absconditiflora, as demonstrated by the disparities in insect diversity metrics between infected and uninfected plants. When comparing the nectars of the plant groups, it was determined that the nectar from the parasitic plant and the infected S. absconditiflora contained substances with repellent properties in higher quantities than that of uninfected S. absconditiflora, including thymol, n-benzyloleamide, azadirachtin, capsaicin, azatadine maleate, and andrachcinidine. This study concluded that parasitism could lead to differences in entomofauna associated with these species.
... Sustainable development integrates biodiversity conservation into broader economic and social goals, recognizing that long-term economic growth and human well-being depend on healthy ecosystems. The concept of sustainable development, as outlined in the 1987 Brundtland Report, emphasizes the need to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations 22 Fisher, E. www.abjournals.org to meet their own needs. ...
... Belknap Press. Portland laws, acknowledging that legal outcomes are often shaped by the broader context in which they operate.22 ...
This article examines the intricate relationship between biodiversity conservation and environmental law, exploring how various legal frameworks conceptualize and protect biodiversity. It delves into theoretical perspectives such as Natural Law, Positive Law, Legal Realism, Sociological Theory, and Historical Legal Theory, providing a comprehensive understanding of the ethical, statutory, practical, societal, and historical dimensions of biodiversity laws. The article also discusses key conceptual frameworks, including biodiversity conservation strategies, the integration of biodiversity goals into sustainable development, and the role of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in protecting biodiversity. Through case studies, the article highlights the successful implementation of biodiversity laws in countries like Costa Rica and Namibia, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and adaptive management practices. Finally, the article addresses the challenges and opportunities in improving legal frameworks for biodiversity protection, advocating for greater international cooperation and the development of innovative legal and policy approaches. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating biodiversity considerations into environmental law as a critical component of global sustainability efforts, offering recommendations for future research and policy development.
... species a cover-value with a semi-quantitative scale (+ = 0-5%, 1 = 5-20%, 2 = 20-40%, 3 = 40-60%, 4 = 60-80%, 5 = 80-100%). This way, the Shannon diversity of border vegetation was calculated [33]. ...
Many strategies and directives are starting to address the importance of an appropriate landscape for agricultural biodiversity, such as pollinators and auxiliary fauna. Therefore, it is necessary to identify which landscape features are more important for agricultural biodiversity conservation and the ecosystem services they offer, like pollination and pest control. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the effect of landscape composition, configuration, connectivity, and crop border vegetation on arthropod diversity. The arthropod community was sampled in eight legume crops located across a gradient of landscape complexity. Additionally, the border vegetation of each plot was characterized, and the surrounding landscape was analyzed at a small and a large scale. For the statistical analysis, Generalized Linear Mix Models and redundancy analyses were applied. Pollinators were positively affected mainly by landscape connectivity. Pest control agents were less influenced by the landscape and only before harvest were they positively affected by riparian forests. Finally, phytophagous arthropod richness increased with border vegetation diversity and cropland in the surroundings. In conclusion, in the leguminous crops of Araba landscape connectivity together with cropland extension in the surroundings should be considered to promote ES-offering fauna diversity.
... Microbial biodiversity was assessed to quantify differences between groups at two levels: within-samples (alpha-diversity) and between samples (beta-diversity) [33]. From the different six measures supported in Microbiome Analyst described by Chong et al. [34], the Chao1 index [35] and Shannon index [36,37] were selected. From the five different beta-diversity indexes supported by Microbiome Analyst, "Bray-Curtis dissimilarity" [38] was utilized. ...
Fungi and soil bacteria are vital for organic matter decomposition and biogeochemical cycles, but excessive synthetic fertilizer use contributes to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Despite this, about 97% of soil microorganisms are unculturable, making them difficult to study. Metagenomics offers a solution, enabling the direct extraction of DNA from soil to uncover microbial diversity and functions. This study utilized metagenomics to analyze the rhizosphere of two-year-old Tonda di Giffoni hazelnut saplings treated with synthetic NPK, composted olive pomace, and an innovative fertilizer derived from sulfur-based agro-industrial waste stabilized with bentonite clay. Using 16S rDNA for bacteria and ITS2 for fungi, Illumina sequencing provided insights into microbial responses to different fertilizer treatments. The results highlighted a significant increase in the abundance of beneficial microorganisms such as Thiobacillus, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Thermomyces, especially when organic materials were included. Additionally, microbial biodiversity improved with organic inputs, as shown by increased species richness (Chao1) and diversity (Bray-Curtis) greater than 20% compared with NPK and unfertilized soils (CTR). These findings emphasize the importance of organic fertilization in enhancing soil microbial health, offering a sustainable approach to improving soil quality and hazelnut productivity.
... To analyze the number of individuals in each stage of growth, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') was calculated for a habitat community using equation (2) [Magurran, 2004]: ...
... The Paleontological Statistics (PAST) 4.03 educational software (Hammer et al. 2001) was used to measure various α-diversity indices such as Fisher's alpha, Shannon-Weiner index, Simpson diversity and Evenness index for the summarised data for each habitat type. Sorensen's similarity index was performed to measure the similarity between the two water bodies (Magurran 2004) using the formula below: ...
We conducted the present study in two freshwater lakes in the Mysore district of Karnataka, India, from December 2023 to May 2024, with the aim of evaluating the diversity, relative abundance, and feeding guilds of avifauna in Giribetta and Hadinaru lakes. The “point count” method was used to evaluate the species composition of birds. A total of 5,790 individuals, representing 106 species from 18 orders and 48 families, were recorded. Four species were in the near-threatened category: Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) , Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) , Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) , and Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) , while the others were of least concern. In terms of species richness, Giribetta Lake had 87 species belonging to 18 orders and 42 families, as compared to Hadinaru Lake, which had 86 species from 16 orders and 40 families. The two areas had similar species composition, with a Sorenson index of 76.3% and a Jaccard index of 61.7%, which indicates that the species diversity is fairly similar across the habitats. Based on the diet and foraging habitat, the recorded bird species were classified into eight major feeding guilds, which revealed a higher abundance of carnivorous and insectivorous birds, followed by omnivorous, granivorous, frugivorous, nectarivorous, herbivorous, and mixed guild types. It is expected that this study will provide a preliminary database for the waterbirds of this area, useful for further research and assessment.
... For each benthic macroinvertebrate family, the abundance frequency ratio (AF%) was calculated as the percentage of the number of individuals in a given family relative to the total number of individuals across all families. For each benthic macroinvertebrate community, we calculated the total taxonomic richness (S), the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') using the formula (H' = -Σpi × log2 pi) and Pielou's evenness index (J'), where J' = H'/Hmax, and Hmax = log2 S (Magurran, 2004). ...
This study aims to assess the ecological health of Aquatic ecosystems located in the Saharan bioclimatic zone of northern Sahara in Algeria, through a multiparametric approach based on the ecology of benthic macroinvertebrates. Between 2015 and 2017, we investigated five aquatic ecosystems (Wadi Z’mor, Wadi Ithel, Wadi Djedi, Lake Ayata, and Lake Megarine) to evaluate the biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to various environmental factors. These factors include 12 physicochemical water parameters, general habitat characteristics, and the degree of anthropogenic pressure. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from various habitat compartments (substrates) during the same period between August 2015 and November 2017. W. Z'mor displayed the greatest substrate diversity, predominantly consisting of pebbles, boulders, sand, solid supports, and vegetation, while the other sites were mostly dominated by sand. The pH levels at the study sites ranged from slightly alkaline to alkaline. Turbidity and suspended solids concentrations were significantly higher in W. Djedi and W. Z'mor, while the average BOD5 across all the studied hydrosystems suggested moderate pollution levels, with W. Djedi, W. Ithel, and L. Megarine showing the highest pollution. Regarding salinity, W. Djedi's waters were slightly brackish, while the other sites ranged from brackish to very brackish. The fauna recorded consisted of 995 individuals, representing 55 genera/taxa across 8 orders and 29 families. The most diverse groups were Coleoptera (24 taxa), Diptera (14 taxa), and Hemiptera (10 taxa), with Diptera and Coleoptera being the most abundant. W. Z'mor and W. Ithel exhibited the highest biodiversity (total richness: 35 taxa; Shannon index > 2.50). The IBGN calculation showed that the hydrobiological quality of the water was poor in W. Djedi, W. Ithel, L. Megarine, and L. Ayata (IBGN 5), while W. Z'mor had average water quality (IBGN 9).
... Species similarity analysis between transects was performed using the Sorenson Coefficient method, SS (Magurran, 2004) to show if these transects have similar Araceae species based on existence. ...
The Araceae is one of the plant families that can be found in the Kinabalu Park area, which has a diverse number of species. This study aims to observe the species diversity of Araceae along the main route from Kinapasuwon (which is located in Kiau) to Marai Parai, and from Marai Parai to Suminungkad. The transect sampling method with a width of 2 metres on both sides of the transect was carried out on the main route, based on five different pit stop; Kiau-Kem Lanting (T1) (850-1010 m.a.s.l.), Kem Lanting-Kinotoki (T2) (1010-1420 m.a.s.l.), Kinotoki-Marai Parai (T3) (1420-1530 m.a.s.l.), Marai Parai-Suminungkad (T4) (1530-1800 m.a.s.l.), and Kem Nunuk-Kinotoki (T5) (1010-1530 m.a.s.l.). From the observations, 13 genera were identified along the transect: Alocasia, Amorphophallus, Amydrium, Arisaema, Bucephalandra, Colocasia, Homalomena, Nabalu, Ooia, Pothos, Rhaphidophora, Schismatoglottis, and Scindapsus. The Kiau-Kem Lanting transect at an altitude of 850-1010 metres above sea level showed the highest species diversity of Araceae. Similarity analysis conducted indicated that the transects have low similarity in Araceae species. Therefore, the main route to Marai Parai via Kiau has a unique and high diversity of Araceae species, which is distinct based on altitude differences.
... However, Lima (2016) showed values that were closest to ours. It is important to remember that this diversity calculation is influenced by community species richness and the relative abundance of each species, which can affect the diversity index result for the site (Magurran, 2004). ...
Few bee inventories have investigated the interaction between bees and plants in the restinga in Santa Catarina State, a highly anthropized coastal environment, due to its value. In this context, in the southern coastal region of the State, the bee community and their foraging resources were ecologically analyzed, aiming to obtain data that support their conservation. For sampling, bees were collected over one year in herbaceous restinga and Laguna (SC) dunes, using entomological nets, trap dishes, and aromatic baits. The bees and plants were prepared, identified, and quantified. Ecological indices were calculated. Eighteen species of bees and sixteen species of associated plants were found. The collector’s curve stabilized, and richness estimators indicated a possible richness of 21.57 to 26.25 species. The five subfamilies of bees occurring in Brazil were found, with Halictinae having the highest richness and Apinae having the greatest abundance. Andreninae showed only one species (Callonychium luteimaculatum), as abundant as Apis mellifera. The plants most visited in terms of bee diversity are typical of the restinga and are highly attractive to bees. The periods with the highest results were spring and summer. The variation in temperature and the increase in plant richness increased bee abundance and richness, highlighting the region’s seasonality. The bee community showed a conservative generalist condition, which is favorable for species living in inhospitable conditions, providing moderate robustness. Due to the lack or absence of nesting resources, the studied bee community appears to originate from nearby adjacent areas.
... Comprehensive data on the botanical composition as determined by the yield percentage method of representative grassland sites on each farm (for more information see Bettin et al. (2023)) were used to calculate the Shannon diversity index (Eq. 2), following the formula given in Magurran (2003): ...
CONTEXT: In modern intensive dairy farming, cows are increasingly held indoors and fed arable crops instead of grass to maximize individual animal performance. This leads to environmental issues such as high farm-level nutrient surpluses and loss of grassland plant species diversity as well as a growing competition between food
and feed.
OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to define a threshold of concentrate supplementation that ensures a net contribution to the protein supply and evaluate the environmental performance of dairy farms when this level of supplementation is shifted.
METHODS: In a first step, we calculated the hePCR (human-edible protein conversion ratio) of 52 dairy farms across a pedo-climatic gradient with varying feeding strategies. Based on farm management data and vegetation surveys, we analyzed the relationship between hePCR and different components of environmental and productive performance, with special interest on farm nutrient balances, grassland biodiversity and grass-based milk production.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that higher concentrate supplementation levels significantly reduce the efficiency of converting plant protein into food. A critical threshold was identified at a concentrate milk proportion of 30 % or 177 g of concentrate feed per kilogram of milk produced, beyond which net protein contribution shifts to net consumption. Furthermore, we show critical interlinkages between a high protein efficiency and an enhanced environmental performance of the farms, such as higher grassland Shannon diversity and reduced nutrient surpluses. Our study suggests grass-based dairy farming as an integrated solution for enhancing net protein output while simultaneously safeguarding critical ecosystem functions.
SIGNIFICANCE: We are in urgent need of sustainable agricultural practices that align an efficient food production with the reduction of negative environmental impacts. Our study is the first that shows direct positive interlinkages between the protein conversion efficiency of dairy farms and their environmental outcome as based on multi-annual management data and comprehensive vegetation surveys.
... On the one hand, the CUB population corresponds to Smilaco balearicae-Ampelodesmetum mauritanicae Rivas-Martínez 1992, which is the typical plant community of mountain slopes in the Serra de Tramuntana (Llorens et al., 2021). With 90 taxa observed in the study site, the value of 3.03 obtained for the Shannon index evidences a high diversity of species, according to Magurran (2004). On the other hand, the populations in Menorca corresponds to Launaeetum cervicornis O. Bolòs & Molinier 1958(Pasta et al., 2017, a cushion-like plant community typical of rocky coast areas exposed to wind and saline spray (Llorens et al., 2021). ...
Demographic data on threatened species is crucial to understand their conservation status and make management decisions when necessary, which is especially relevant for narrow endemic species with isolated populations. This is the case of Femeniasia balearica (J.J. Rodr.) Susanna, a narrow endemic cushion-like shrub that grows in coastal areas of northern Menorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean Basin) and catalogued as Vulnerable according to the IUCN categories. Recently, a new population has been located in the center of the Serra de Tramuntana of Mallorca (Balearic Islands). In this study, the demographic status of the population from Mallorca has been studied, geolocating all of the individuals with a differential GPS to obtain a detailed map. Data on stage of development (seedling, vegetative or reproductive), morphometry and the overall status of all the individuals have been compiled. A total of 116 individuals and 96 seedlings have been counted. The fact that most of the individuals are reproductive (86.70%) and the confirmation of the presence of seedlings suggest that the population may be maintained in the future. This study provides valuable data on the demographic status of the new population of the species, but long-term monitoring is necessary for analyzing demographic trends.
... Por último, se estimó la riqueza de David Fernando Perez-Abadia., et al. S: número de especies n: número de individuos y alfa de Fisher (Magurran, 2004;Colwell, 2009) Para la caracterización de los sistemas productivos agroforestales en las zonas de estudio, se hizo una adaptación de las metodologías propuestas por Bevege (1986), Nair (1985) y la planteada por Somarriba (2009), y se tuvieron los siguientes pasos como desarrollo para la fase campo: ...
... Besides the use of the presence of indicator species as an evaluation index, the whole community has been used as well. The most widespread but not limited to zooplankton are biodiversity indices that are affected by various parameters like sampling effort or sampling methodology Magurran, 2004). Relatively recently taxonomic ...
... Figure 2 shows the alpha diversity analysis of the bacteria in the three mediums. The Chao1 index measures richness or the number of species identified (Chao 1984), while the Shannon index considers both richness and evenness, with a heavier emphasis on richness (Lemos et al. 2011;Magurran 2004). On the other hand, the Simpson index also considers richness and evenness but puts more weight on evenness (Simpson 1949;Lemos et al. 2011). ...
Wening S, Setiowati RD, Pratiwi DR, Pangaribuan IF, Ginting EN. Bacterial diversity in different growing mediums of oil palm seedlings associated with potassium use efficiency. Biodiversitas 25: 3386-3393. Plant genotype, environmental conditions, and agronomical practices influence nutrient use efficiency. Understanding whether specific microbial communities support the nutrient use efficiency of specific genotypes is very important. This study aimed to understand the bacterial diversity in three different growing mediums of oil palm seedlings with potassium-use efficient characters. The three kinds of medium were medium 1 (sandy soil, recommended dose of fertilizer except for potassium (75% of a recommended dose of potassium)); medium 2 (sandy soil, recommended dose of fertilizer except for potassium (0% of potassium)); and medium 3 (topsoil, recommended dose of fertilizer at five months after planting). A metagenomic approach was conducted using a long-read sequencing platform, allowing the full-length 16S rRNA gene to be sequenced. The alpha diversity analysis showed that medium 3 had the most identified species, while medium 2 had the lowest. Based on the relative abundance, Lactobacillus helveticus was the most abundant species, and Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus in medium 1. Ralstonia pickettii was the most abundant species, and Dyella was the most abundant genus in medium 2. For medium 3, Chujaibacter soli was the most abundant species that dominated the bacteria community, and Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus. These findings were related to the bacteria's function in the respective medium for plant nutrient uptake or utilization. The number of shared species between medium 1 and medium 3 was the highest compared to other medium compositions. It suggested the specific relationship of the potassium-use efficient seedling with the characteristic of the growing medium and the most abundant species or genus of bacteria found. Further research is needed to understand the interactions and influences of bacteria and other microorganisms in the mediums, and the specific genus or species found in potassium-use efficient oil palm seedling mediums.
... Traditionally, ecological indices such as species diversity and richness have been widely employed as general indicators of ecological status. However, these indices assume that all species contribute equally to the ecological system based solely on their presence/absence and abundance [6]. This assumption may lead to an oversimplification of complex ecological dynamics and potentially obscure the specific impacts of environmental stressors [7]. ...
The SPEcies At Risk index for metals (SPEARmetal index) was refined using updated physiological sensitivity data and validated to assess the ecological impact of metal contamination on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Nakdong River, near a Zn smelter in Korea. Biosurvey and chemical monitoring data were collected at 18 sites surrounding the smelter and nearby mines. Acute ecotoxicity tests on 20 indigenous species from the Korean peninsula were conducted and used to update taxon-specific metal sensitivity data. The refined SPEARmetal index, based on this updated sensitivity, was significantly lower than previous versions, with most values below the severe impact threshold (0.5) in the main stream. The correlation between hazard quotients in water and the SPEAR index improved, with the correlation coefficient increasing from 0.63 to 0.70. Despite consistently high benthic macroinvertebrate indices (BMIs) across the study area, generic ecological indices, such as total richness, EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa richness), and Shannon’s diversity index, showed correlations with metal contamination levels. Principal component analysis identified the SPEARmetal index as the primary indicator associated with metal contamination in both water and sediment. These findings highlight the improved performance of the refined SPEARmetal index as a more sensitive and specific tool for assessing the ecological status of metal-impacted aquatic ecosystems compared to traditional indices.
... This approach provides a permanent record for future reference and identification purposes (Eliot & Kawahara, 2005). We used Microsoft Excel to organize and explore basic patterns in species diversity, abundance, and potential habitat associations within the Korça region (Magurran, 2013). For long-term preservation, entomological boxes were stored in a cool, dry, and dark location to minimize degradation (Emmel, 1973). ...
Studies and research about Lepidoptera (butterfly) are numerous. This is due to the continuous nature of the research, which can never be fully completed. Butterflies are one of the most important groups in various habitats and environments, as well as one of the largest fauna groups. These organisms play a significant ecological role in these environments. The collection of biological material for this paper was conducted during the period of 2021-2022 at various stations in the Korça region, specifically: Drenova, Voskopoja, Dardha, Morava, Polena, and Voskop, among others. We collected biological material from May to September, which coincides with the flight period of these species. During the study, 290 individuals belonging to 25 species were collected. The family with the highest biodiversity of species is Nymphalidae, with 12 species, while the family with the fewest species is Papilionidae, with 2 species. The station with the highest diversity observed was Morava, with 15 species, and the station with the lowest diversity was Voskop, with 3 species.
... We used the number of species captured in each month as a sampling effort unit. Additionally, we made rank-abundance curves to describe the temporal structure of the species assemblage (Magurran 2004). We plotted the temperature and precipitation averages and the haemosporidian prevalence obtained throughout the year. ...
Studies on avian haemosporidians in Mexico and around the world reveal poor knowledge about the vectors that transmit avian haemosporidian parasites and their association with vertebrate hosts. Seasonal variations given by changes in temperature and precipitation have significant repercussions on the dynamics of vector-borne infections. The seasonal dynamics of major haemosporidian parasites and their main vectors are mostly unknown. This study aimed to determine the presence of avian haemosporidians in hematophagous mosquitoes and to characterize mosquito-vertebrate host interactions during a year in a peri-urban cloud forest in Xalapa City, Veracruz, Mexico. We analyzed 12 species and a total of 1170 hematophagous mosquitoes. We found the presence of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus genera in the blood meals of mosquitoes. The highest haemosporidian detection and mosquito richness were in June (dry-warm season), whereas the highest mosquito abundance was in October (humid-warm season). We recorded three new haemosporidian lineages in this study. Analysis of blood meals showed that mosquitoes fed on different vertebrate groups (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and humans). This study contributed to the knowledge about the distribution of hematophagous mosquito-haemosporidian-vertebrate host interactions.
... drawn in prior studies(Tajmiri et al. 2017;Fathi 2019; Pandey et al. 2023). In the intercrop plots, a high Shannon diversity index for predators that live on tomato plants is associated with high species richness and a more even distribution of their abundances(Magurran 2004). ...
Diversifying agroecosystems is crucial for maintaining ecosystem functions, including pest control, beneficial insect diversity, and soil fertility. In this study, the impact of intercropping tomato (T) ( Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.) and garlic (G) ( Allium sativum L.) in three designs of 4E:4G, 4E:8G, and 4E:12G (row ratios) were assessed on the density of the tomato leafminer (TLM), Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), fruit infestations, diversity of tomato-dwelling predators, parasitism rate, and crop yields compared with the sole crops over two growing seasons of 2022 and 2023. Three intercrops caused a significant reduction in the number of TLM eggs, larvae, and galleries, as well as the percentage of infested fruits compared to the sole tomato plots. The abundance of primary predators, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) and Orius niger (Wolff), were higher in intercrops compared to sole tomato plots. Furthermore, the annual abundance of tomato-dwelling predators enhanced in the intercrops than in the sole tomato plots. Besides, there was a noticeable enhancement in the Shannon diversity index for tomato-dwelling predators (the values of 1.98 in 4T: 4G in 2022 to 2.31 in 4T: 12G in 2023) compared to the values of 1.68 in 2022 and 1.82 in 2023 for sole tomato plots. The land equivalent ratio (LER) showed a notable improvement, ranging from 1.19 in 2022 to 1.32 in 2023 in the 4T: 12G intercrop, in intercrops compared to sole crops. Therefore, farmers may consider the implementation of the aforementioned intercrops as a strategy for the integrated management of T. absoluta infestations in their tomato fields.
... The species richness as defined by Whittaker et al. (2001) was determined by counting the number of species in each plot. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices were used to calculate the species diversity (Magurran, 2004) while Pielou's Evenness index (Pielou, 1975) was used to calculate the evenness index. ...
... Comparing the number of species between different habitats is often enough to give a rapid assessment of a biodiversity measure. However, it is necessary to resort to the use of other statistical measures to make comparisons with other studies (Magurran 2004). In this investigation, quantification of diversity was done mainly by the values obtained from Simpson (0.98). ...
This study compares the variation of richness, abundance, and diversity of butterfly species for vegetation communities along an elevational gradient and during different seasons in the Priority Region for Conservation of Biodiversity, Sierra Chiquita, located in the northeast of Mexico. We also analyze the influence of environmental variables on the abundance and richness of butterfly species. Seven sampling sites were established based on criteria of vegetation distribution per altitudinal gradient. Sampling was on a monthly basis and carried out in six permanent plots at each site, using an aerial entomological net during November 2015 to October 2016. A total of 38,011 specimens, representing six families and 195 species, were collected. All parameter values showed significant differences across sites, except between thorn forest and gallery forest. Seasonality effect was absent on richness and diversity species; however, for species abundance, the differences between dry season and rainy season were significantly different in each site except for the comparison of thorn forest and gallery forest. The association between the environmental variables and butterfly communities in the elevational gradient was significant, being the dew point, the solar radiation, the canopy leaf area, and the number of flowering plants the most important variables. The present work represents an important contribution of the vegetation communities variation in richness, abundance, and diversity of butterflies in the northeast of Mexico. These results highlight the importance of the conservation of this heterogeneous habitat and establish reference data for the diurnal Lepidoptera fauna of the region.
... Abundance measures are counts of individual specimens belonging to each order or finer classification. Shannon's diversity index H′ was used to calculate natural enemy diversity (Magurran, 2013). ...
Sustainable pest management requires growers and regional land managers to consider the relationships among pest management practices, pest and natural enemy communities, crop loss, and multi-scalar habitat complexity. However, the causal links among these variables, in particular potential interactions between landscape and local-scale habitat complexity, remain underexplored. In the context of organically managed strawberry crops in California’s Central Coast, we tested the independent effects of landscape and local habitat complexity gradients on arthropod communities and crop loss using a piecewise structural equation model (PSEM). We found that landscape-scale woody habitat proportion indirectly decreased crop loss through its positive effect on natural enemy abundance, while grassland proportion had the opposite effect due to its association with an important strawberry pest (Lygus spp.). We detected a pattern suggesting that on-farm diversification practices are most effective at reducing crop loss at an intermediate level (26%) of woody habitat proportion. Both organic-compliant insecticide application and tractor vacuuming negatively impacted natural enemies, and therefore had qualified effects on crop loss. Our study shows the key roles of native woodlands and natural enemy communities in reducing crop loss and highlights the importance of managing habitat complexity at both landscape and local scales.
... Trabajos previos de la malacofauna en terrazas marinas en el Perú no tomaron un tamaño de muestra conocido (por ejemplo, en DeVries & Wells 1990, Otlieb & Díaz 1991 como también en otros países del sud América (Ortlieb 1994, Ortlieb et al. 1996, Guzmán et al. 2001, Aguirre et al. 2003) y expresaron sus resultados de forma cualitativa como presencia y ausencia o muy abundante, abundante y escaso. A mediados de los 2000 nuevos estudios en Argentina (Aguirre et al. 2005, 2011, Charó et al. 2014), Chile (Rivadeneira & Carmona 2008), Perú (Castillo 2018) y México (Cintra-Buenrostro et al. 2002) consideraron un tamaño de muestra conocido, aunque variable entre los estudios realizados, por ejemplo: 400cc, 1 litro de bulk, 1dm 3 , 1 bloque de 1 kg (sustrato duro), 10m 2 , un cilindro de acero de 20 cm de profundidad; esto permitió cálculos de abundancia. ...
El Último interglaciar (125 mil años), se caracterizó como un periodo de tiempo con una temperatura superficial del mar de +3°C comparado con el Holoceno. El estudio de la fauna en este periodo de tiempo cálido en el pasado nos podría ayudar a entender las posibles respuestas de las comunidades marino costeras frente al próximo calentamiento global. El objetivo fue estudiar de los ensambles de moluscos almacenado en la terraza marina Pampa del palo en Ilo, Perú (17°S) que corresponden MIS 5e (parte superior de la terraza) y MIS 7 (parte inferior), para describir la composición, y luego usar esta información para determinar cambios ambientales en las costas de Ilo en el pasado. Se encontró conchas de 29 bivalvos, 30 gasterópodos, 1 poliplacóforo, restos de decápodos, balánidos y ostrácodos. La diversidad en la terraza, la abundancia y riqueza de especies fueron variables con tendencia a incrementarse hacia la base de la terraza. La especie dominante fue Mesodesma donacium, aunque en algunos estratos fue reemplazada por Mulinia edulis, estas especies frías alcanzaron sus mayores abundancias en la base de la terraza. Por lo tanto, el estudio cuantitativo de la malacofauna permitió reconstruir ambientes protegidos (laguna), sustratos rocosos y ambientes expuestos. Además, especies de distribución actual en el norte y centro del Perú, encontradas en la terraza han permitido inferir condiciones tipo El Niño, como también condiciones “normales” de aguas frías caracterizadas por sus especies dominantes.
... The community similarity of the species composition for ptyctimous mites in 12 national parks in Poland and communities of studied Oribatid mites found in different types of habitats in BTNP was calculated by means of the Marczewski-Steinhaus species similarity index: S = c/(a + b − c), where c is the number of species present in both compared communities, and a and b stand for the total numbers of species in each community. The full joining analysis, which uses the most distant neighbors, was used to prepare the dendrogram [44]. The maps of the spatial distribution of the examined plots and particular ptyctimous mites and Crotonioidea species found in the area of BTNP are original and generated with Corel Draw 2020 computer graphics software. ...
There are 23 national parks in Poland, and only a few of them have been studied thoroughly with regard to acarofauna so far. One of the least-examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of this research study was to explore the species diversity, community structure, and spatial distribution of mites from the order Oribatida: ptyctimous mites (Acari: Oribatida) and species from the families Nothridae and Camisiidae (Acari: Oribatida: Crotonioidea) inhabiting different forests open and unstable microhabitats in the area of Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP). In the case of ptyctimous mites, the communities were compared to those in other Polish national parks. Based on the analysis of 285 samples collected in BTNP between 2022 and 2024, 8 species of Crotonioidea with dominant Heminothrus peltifer (C. L. Koch, 1839) and 21 species of ptyctimous mites with the most numerous Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus (C. L. Koch, 1835) were identified in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity was observed in different types of pine forests (25 species) and in alder forests (24 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in areas with reeds (11 species). The comparison of the number of ptyctimous mites in Polish national parks revealed that BTNP can be ranked second in terms of species diversity among 12 national parks examined in Poland so far.
Raptors are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and thus, requires research attention. Despite an upsurge in Indian ornithology, raptors remain poorly studied, particularly in Northeast India. Here, we measured the taxonomic and functional diversity of raptors in Manas National Park, Assam. The study was conducted between 2018–2022. We surveyed 39 standard transects and recorded 776 individuals of raptors belonging to 30 species in different habitats: forest, open and mosaic. The taxonomic alpha diversity was highest in mosaic habitat and lowest in the forest habitat. Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) was the most abundant raptor in open and forest habitats, while Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens) was dominating in mosaic habitats. Of the recorded raptor species, 66.67% were classified as residents, and 33.37% were winter migrants. We also measured the functional alpha diversity of raptors using the data collected from AVONET database. We used ten functional traits and evaluated the functional alpha diversity indices. The functional richness was the highest in open habitats and functional divergence was the highest in mosaic habitats, also functional evenness was the highest in open habitats and lowest in mosaic habitats. We suggest intensified research on raptors in the region, to identify and address critical research question which facilitates the conservation of these apex predators.
In low- and middle-income countries, living in homes with soil floors and animal cohabitation may expose children to fecal organisms, increasing risk of enteric and antimicrobial-resistant infections. Our objective was to understand whether cow cohabitation in homes with soil floors in rural Bangladesh contributed to the presence and diversity of potential pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in the home. In 10 randomly selected households in rural Sirajganj District, we sampled floor soil and cow dung, which is commonly used as sealant in soil floors. We extracted DNA and performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing to explore potential pathogens and ARGs in each sample type. We detected 6 potential pathogens in soil only, 49 pathogens in cow dung only, and 167 pathogens in both soil and cow dung. Pathogen species with relative abundances >5% in both soil floors and cow dung from the same households included E. coli (N=8 households), Salmonella enterica (N=6), Klebsiella pneumoniae (N=2), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N=1). Cow dung exhibited modestly higher pathogen genus richness compared to soil floors (Wilcoxon signed-rank test p=0.002). Using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, pathogen species community composition differed between floors and cow dung (PERMANOVA p<0.001). All soil floors and cow dung samples contained ARGs against antibiotic classes including sulfonamides, rifamycin, aminoglycosides, lincosamides, and tetracycline. Paired floor and cow dung samples shared ARGs against rifamycin. Our findings support the development of interventions to reduce soil and animal feces exposure in rural, low-income settings.
We reported the data obtained by a standardized sampling (quantitative mapping method) focused on breeding birds, carried out before the LIFE17 NAT/IT/000619 'GREENCHANGE' restoring project (pre-operam step) located in the 'Mola Muti': a small wetland patch (a. 10 ha) along the Ufente river (Latina, central Italy). We recorded 32 bird species (25 breeding) in the period March-July, 2021 (28.5 pairs, with a density of 7.29 pairs/ha). The diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener and evenness) were high, suggesting a low level of environmental stress. Data can be useful for a comparison after the wetland restoration, so as to verify the effectiveness of the restoration project.
The White-lipped Treefrog Zhangixalus pachyproctus Yu, Hui, Hou, Wu, Rao & Yang, 2019 was previously confused with Zhangixalus smaragdinus (Blyth, 1852). Records of Zhangixalus smaragdinus from Yunnan (China), Vietnam and Thailand were recognised as a misidentification and this taxon was subsequently described as a new species, based on morphological and molecular evidence. This species is currently known from southern China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. However, knowledge about its natural history and feeding ecology is virtually lacking.
We herein report a newly-discovered population of Zhangixalus pachyproctus from Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam. In addition, we provide novel data about the diet of Z. pachyproctus , based on stomach content analyses of 38 individuals (37 males and one female). A total of 26 prey categories with 681 items were found in the stomachs of Z. pachyproctus . The dominant prey items of the species were Orthoptera (Acrididae, Tettigoniidae), Coleoptera (Languriida, Leiodidae, larvae, other Coleoptera), Mantodea (Mantidae) and Blattodea (Blaberidae, Blattidae, other Blattodea). Coleoptera (Coccinellidae, Cupedidae, Elateridae, Languriidae Leiodidae, Tenebrionidae, larvae and other Coleoptera) was the category with the highest frequency of prey items, found in 24 stomachs. The most important (IRI) groups amongst the prey of Z. pachyproctus were Coleoptera (24.52%) and followed by Orthoptera (24.43%), Blattodea (9.12%), Mantidae (8.14%) and Hemiptera (4.05%).
Sand flies are a group of insects (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in which some species may transmit agents of leishmaniasis. This study aimed to analyze the sand fly fauna in urban parks in Rio Branco, capital of Acre state, addressing its diversity, infection by Leishmania, and food sources in sand fly females. The sand flies were collected with CDC-type automatic light traps installed in three urban parks in Rio Branco: Captain Ciríaco, Horto Florestal and Chico Mendes. For comparison analysis of species richness and diversity between the parks, we analyzed rarefaction and prediction curves. For detection of Leishmania spp., molecular tests were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using ITS1 as a marker, followed by genetic sequencing. Identification of the blood meal source in engorged females was performed by PCR using a fragment of the cytochrome b gene (cyt b), followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 2,672 specimens were collected, distributed in 14 genera and 35 species. Of these, Nyssomyia antunesi and Evandromyia walkeri predominated, and important proven and suspected vectors were also found. Horto Florestal was the park with the greatest diversity, richness, and evenness of species, while the Captain Ciríaco presented the lowest diversity and richness. A female of Ny. antunesi was PCR-positive for Leishmania guyanensis. Human blood was the most frequent food source detected, mainly in Ev. walkeri and Ny. antunesi. This research showed that the studied parks of Rio Branco can act as foci for the maintenance of Leishmania, and people who frequent these urban areas may be in risk for contracting leishmaniasis.
The dynamics of Collembola populations in the territory of Yavoriv NNP in different seasons of the year was analysed. As a result of the study, 59 species of Collembola belonging to 42 genera and 13 families were identified in the areas of invasive Red Oak. The main indicators of the taxonomic structure fluctuate significantly throughout the year. The largest number of species and families occurs in summer (39 out of 42 species identified during the study), and the smallest in autumn (28 species). In winter, a high population density of - 3.4 thousand spec./m² was recorded, while the lowest density of 1.2 thousand spec./m² was recorded in spring. The synecological structure determined by non-parametric diversity indices demonstrates the lowest values in autumn, the same results of the Q index calculations. Of all the species identified in Red Oak, 22 belong to mass forms. The eurybiont species Folsomia manolachei is absolutely constant in 3 out of 4 seasons. The analysis of the ecological structure showed that eurybiont species predominate in the studied biotope, on average, their share is 51.8% of the total number of Collembola, 25.5% are hygro-mesophilic species, and the rest (mesophilic, xeroresistant and xero-mesophilic) are classified as random species. In total, representatives of 5 biotope groups were found over the entire period. On average over the 4 seasons, in terms of relative species richness, eutrophic species (54.8%) prevail, followed by forest-meadow (29.9%) and forest species groups (16.1%), while the rest are represented by only a few species in some seasons. In all seasons of the year, a high diversity of species was found in the spectrum of life forms, with the most numerous being litter and soil species (52.9% in spring), upper soil (43.9% in summer) and lower litter (22.5% in summer). Abrupt changes in the main parameters of diversity, dominance structure and composition of mass forms, as well as restructuring of the ecological structure, may be associated with a change in the stand classification in the studied area.
As a result of the conducted research, a total of 43 species of collembola were found, which belong to 29 genera and 10 families. In the course of longer and larger-scale research in agrocenoses, it is possible to detect significantly more species (according to literature data, no less than 70). The studied coenotic fauna (αb-diversity) includes from 5 to 21 species of collembola (on average 13.9). One soil sample (αa-diversity) contains from 1 to 8 species of Collembola (on average 2.1). The highest capacity of the medium for collembola at the level of αa-diversity is characteristic of wheat agrocenosis, and the smallest – of potato. The βa-diversity index of collembola (differentiating diversity) of the studied agrocenoses is 3.5 times higher than in natural biotopes of the broad-leaved forest zone, which is associated with a greater contrast of edaphic conditions of the arable environment. The noted high values of the βa-diversity index in agrocenoses are associated with relatively small values of the so-called point αa-diversity. A noticeable decrease in the ecological capacity of the environment for collembola at the level of αa-diversity in the studied agrocenoses is due to the contrast of physical and chemical conditions in specific edaphotopes, the weak edifying effect of the cultivated crop, as well as the implementation of agrotechnical measures. The analysis of the βα-diversity index shows that the greatest unevenness of intracenotic conditions for collembola was found in agrocenoses of wheat (βα-diversity = 5.9), the average in potatoes (5.3), and the smallest in rapeseed (4.7, respectively). The indicator of the average population of collembola in the studied types of agrocenoses varies in a 30-fold interval of values. It has the highest average value in wheat agrocenosis and the lowest value in potato. However, in comparison with natural forest and meadow coenoses, the maximum indicator of the number of pintails in the studied agrocenoses is about an order of magnitude lower. The obtained data on the share of families in the studied coenotic fauna generally agree with the literature data that are known for the natural coenoses of western Ukraine.
An analysis of the taxonomic and ecological structure of the bog taxocene of collembola of the «Zalizna voda» forest park in the city of Lviv in different seasons of the year was carried out. 36 species of collembola belonging to 24 genera and 12 families were found in the investigated urboecosystem. It has been established that a characteristic feature of the studied bog collembolan taxocene is its great species diversity, super-specialization and super-dominance, which are preserved in different seasons of the year. It was found that the point alpha-diversity in different seasons of the year varies from 6 to 16 species, and the coenotic alpha-diversity - 23-27 species, which indicates a large capacity of the soil environment for collembola in this bog urboecosystem, compared to the natural bog ecosystems of Roztochchia region. The investigated taxocene of collembola are also characterized by high population density in different seasons of the year, from 11.34 to 15.48 thousand inhabitants/m2. In certain seasons of the year, from 3 to 5 mass (dominant) species were established, which account for 66.4-83.6% of the collembolan population. Over the entire period of research, the invasive species D. trispinata was superdominant, the share of which in certain seasons of the year was 57.4-68.6% of the population. The analysis of the ecological structure showed that in terms of species richness and abundance, it is dominated by complexes of hygro-mesophilic (11 species, 76.8% of the total abundance), hygrophilic (9, 11.3%) and mesophilic (9, 7.7%) springtails. The studied taxocene includes seven biotope groups of species. Among them, representatives from the group of meadow-bog (65.4% of the population), erytopic (10%), forest and forest-meadow (18% in total) species of Collembola predominate in terms of relative abundance. It has been established that a super-specialized bog taxocene of Collembola is formed in the studied ecosystem, where the share of specialized species to this bog edaphotope (meadow-bog, bog and arroundwater) is more than 70% of the total abundance.
A comprehensive field appraisal on plant diversity within the N.C. Autonomous College campus, Jajpur, was conducted from 2022 to October 2024. This study aimed to capture the full scope of phytodiversity across the campus, documenting the various plant species and assessing their diversity and distribution. The study identified a total of 83 plant species, belonging to 79 genera and 43 families, representing the richness of flora across different life forms, including herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. The diversity analyses revealed a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H') of 4.418, indicating high species diversity within the study area. The Simpson's Diversity Index (D) was calculated as 0.988, suggesting low dominance by any single species, which aligns with a highly diverse ecosystem. Furthermore, Pielou's Evenness Index (J') was 1.0, demonstrating an even distribution of species across the campus. Life form analysis showed that herbs comprised the largest portion of the flora at 54%, followed by trees at 24%, shrubs at 19% and climbers at 3%. These findings highlight the ecological value of the campus's plant life, supporting conservation and serving as a valuable educational resource. This high diversity, even distribution, and presence of varied plant forms underscore the importance of preserving such phytodiversity for ecological balance, aesthetic value and future research opportunities.
Jagung merupakan salah satu pangan pokok penting di Indonesia yang terancam oleh hama utama Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), termasuk di Pulau Sumbawa yang merupakan salah satu sentra produksi jagung lahan kering di Indonesia. Saat ini, pengendalian S. frugiperda masih mengandalkan insektisida sintetik karena potensi musuh alami belum banyak diketahui, terutama pada pertanaman jagung lahan kering di Pulau Sumbawa. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji potensi parasitoid S. frugiperda meliputi keanekaragaman, kemerataan, dominansi, kekayaan, dan tingkat parasitisasinya. Sampel dikumpulkan secara purposive random sampling pada Februari–Mei 2024 di pertanaman jagung lahan kering pada umur 4–6 minggu setelah tanam, baik di pertanaman yang menggunakan pestisida maupun di pertanaman yang tidak menggunakan pestisida. Sebanyak 30 tanaman yang terlihat memiliki gejala kerusakan karena serangan S. frugiperda pada tiga plot masing-masing berukuran 10 m × 10 m diperiksa dengan cermat untuk mengumpulkan 30 kelompok telur dan 30 individu larva. Hasil penelitian menemukan parasitoid telur Telenomus remus Nixon dan Trichogramma nr. pretiosum Riley, parasitoid larva Exorista sp., parasitoid larva-pupa Brachymeria lasus Walker dan Archytas marmoratus Townsend. Kesimpulan bahwa parasitisasi telur didominansi oleh T. remus (23,54– 61,22%) sehingga berpotensi sebagai agens hayati untuk S. frugiperda. Parasitisasi larva didominasi oleh Exorista sp. (50%), tetapi tingginya tingkat parasitisasi dibayangi oleh hiperparasitoid yang dapat menurunkan efektivitasnya sebagai agens hayati S. frugiperda.
Stream physicochemical and biological quality declines due to changes in water chemistry and physical habitat characteristics. Due to their ability to integrate water chemistry through time and to represent the combined effects of numerous stressors on stream biota, diatoms are frequently employed to evaluate the quality of stream water. But, particularly in upstream regions, knowledge of the primary diatom community patterns in streams is still restricted. This study's objective was to look into how stream diatom communities are impacted by water chemistry and catchment factors. The environmental quality of the habitat and water characteristic variation were established using canonical correspondence analysis, and the surface type, temperature of the water, oxygen concentration, and nutrient substance showed significant correlations. Achnanthidiumminutissimum, Cocconeisplacentula, and Oricymba japonica were shown to have strong affinities with habitats containing fixed surfaces with transparent water. Our findings demonstrate the synergistic effects of multiple factors that influence diatom patterns and demonstrate the relationship between diatom biodiversity and stream conditions.
As a part of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), surveys on ducks and geese were made at five (5) major waterbird congregation sites of Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) during 2020-2024. A total of 18 species of ducks and two species of geese belonging to the family of Anatidae were recorded during the period. The duck species includes 14 migratory and 4 resident species and the two migratory geese species. Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica was the most abundant and dominant species in terms of population followed by Gadwall Anas strepera and Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina and minimum value was observed in Greylag Goose Anser anser. The
Gulma dapat menjadi faktor pembatas produksi kelapa sawit akibat terjadinya persaingan dalam memperoleh energi cahaya, air, O2, CO2, dan ruang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui jenis, komposisi dan struktur vegetasi gulma di lahan Tanaman Belum Menghasilkan (TBM) kelapa sawit di lahan mineral. Penelitian menggunakan metode Purposive sampling. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada 3 blok kebun pada lahan TBM, yang di dalamnya dibuat plot berbentuk persegi empat berukuran 1 x 1 m dengan jumlah petakan sebanyak 9 plot dari total 3 blok. Pada setiap plot pengamatan dilakukan identifikasi jenis, komposisi dan sturuktur vegetasi gulma dan dihitung indeks keanekaragamannya. Dari penelitian ditemukan 10 jenis gulma yang terdiri dari gulma berdaun lebar dan gulma rumputan. Komposisi gulma yang terdapat pada perkebunan kelapa sawit TBM ada10 jenis dengan jumlah individu 334. Gulma yang banyak ditemukan adalah gulma rumput torpedo (Panicum repens). Struktur vegetasi gulma yang dominan pada perkebunan kelapa sawit TBM adalah gulma rumputan Panicum repens yang memiliki nilai NJD sebesar 26,76%. Nilai indeks keanekaragaman gulma memiliki nilai 1,84 yang termasuk kedalam kategori tinggi.
The Juan Fernández Archipelago (JFA) is a unique ecosystem due to its diversity and high endemism. In recent years there has been an increase in the populations of the endemic sea urchin Centrostephanus sylviae , generating negative impacts to the ecological and socio-economic systems of the archipelago. Here we describe the establishment of C. sylviae and the consequences of its overabundance on the subtidal communities, specifically around Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara islands. The increase in abundance of C. sylviae and its community-level impacts (i.e., sessile benthic, macroinvertebrates, and fishes) were documented by visual surveys using scuba diving at various sites during January 2014 (12 sites), March 2017 (12 sites), March 2020 (4 sites), and January 2024 (7 sites). Over this time period the increase of C. sylviae abundance (~ 40-50%) was associated with a significant decrease in sessile biotic benthic cover and an increase in the percentage of barren grounds (40-95%). Additionally, a significant decrease in the abundance of the sea star Patiriella calcarata (100%) and the sea cucumber Mertensiothuria platei (80%) was observed, together with a decrease in the biomass of the endemic Juan Fernández wrasse Malapterus reticulatus (95%) and the endemic Juan Fernández trevally, Pseudocaranx chilensis (65%). Although the increase in urchin abundance has resulted in serious problems for the main economic activities of the archipelago (i.e., lobster fishery and recreational diving), it could also be considered an opportunity to diversify economic activity through the commercialization of the species, whose biological attributes make it an attractive gastronomic product. However, to create sustainable commercial exploitation, the ecological characteristics of the species and socioecological traits need to be understood to generate effective management and enforcement strategies. The results of the present study could serve as a baseline for exploring ongoing community changes in subtidal environments.
Ecological surveys of living things based on DNAs from environmental samples are attractive. However, despite simplicity of water sampling from the target environment, it is still necessary to transport the samples to the laboratory for DNA analysis based on skillful next-generation sequencers. To perform DNA-oriented surveys based on a simple protocol without any special training, we demonstrated, in this study, the detection of genes from cell-containing environmental waters using gene sensor arrays that require no DNA labeling and no external indicators. Cell-suspended PBS or river water were used as models of environmental waters containing living things, and DNA samples were prepared by PCR amplification. Ferrocene-terminated probes were synthesized and immobilized on an electrode array to develop a sensor array. The sensor array showed a large response to a target DNA complementary to the probe and no response to a mismatched DNA, indicating sequence-specific detection. For DNA samples prepared from the cells in PBS, they showed good responses similar to those for the target DNA. They also significantly detected DNA samples from the cells in river water at a general environmental concentration (38 cells mL−1) with 28-fold larger responses than those for 0 cells mL−1.
1. As the development of nature-based solutions (NbS) increases globally, it is important to ensure that projects meet the objective of benefiting biodiversity, alongside tackling societal challenges. However, most NbS projects do not directly monitor ecological outcomes, and those that do often focus on a limited set of metrics. It is therefore challenging to assess whether projects fulfil the aim of benefiting biodiversity. 2. We aimed to identify the most informative and feasible ecological metrics, both above- and below-ground, for monitoring ecological outcomes of NbS. We conducted a structured non-systematic literature review to identify possible biodiversity and soil health metrics, then developed a scoring system to rank these based on their informativeness and feasibility for monitoring. 3. Metrics were categorised into compositional, structural, and functional aspects of biodiversity, and biological, physical, and chemical aspects of soil health. We grouped biodiversity and soil health metrics into Tier 1 (the most informative and feasible metrics), Tier 2 (informative metrics with some limitations in scope or feasibility), and Future metrics (highly informative metrics which are currently less feasible to monitor). Tier 1 metrics collectively address multiple aspects of biodiversity and soil health and are currently the highest priority for NbS projects to assess. For biodiversity nine Tier 1, six Tier 2, and 15 Future metrics were identified, and for soil health 11 Tier 1, six Tier 2, and five Future metrics. 4. We identified existing standardised methodologies for monitoring the proposed metrics, noting that for many metrics standardised methodologies are not available and threshold or reference values for each metric are missing. 5. Solution: Our study provides practitioners with a framework for selecting optimum metrics for assessing above- and below-ground ecological outcomes of NbS relevant to the place in which they are being implemented. A definition of each metric and standardised methodologies for collecting data are summarised, providing information to develop an ecological monitoring protocol for an NbS project. The information on each metric has been made freely available as a searchable database in an interactive online interface geared towards UK practitioners, but with wider applicability.
The proximity of the speciose South American continent to Trinidad and Tobago ensures that these islands have a rich and dynamic fauna. According to the equilibrium theory of island biogeography (MacArthur & Wilson 1967), these islands should be subjected to frequent immigrations from the nearby continent, and these additions will, in response, fuel local extinctions to maintain a balance of species richness. The aquatic habitat lS further impacted by man's acti vi ties, (Government of Trinidad and Tobago 1962; (Government of Trinidad and Tobago 1976b) which have the potential to amplify the natural rates of immigration and extinction. Despite the possible consequences, the effects of this disturbance on the fish fauna have not been studied. A survey of the islands' freshwater fishes was therefore carried out to investigate the natural spatial and temporal dynamics of local fish communities, and the effects of anthropogenic perturbations, on these. These baseline data can be used as a benchmark to address some of the problems that are threatening the fish diversity of Trinidad and Tobago.
The fish fauna of Trinidad and Tobago is diverse. Total species richness was estimated at between 37 and 40. Four zoogeographic zones were recognised. A zone of Antillean fishes included Tobago and the north coast of Trinidad. A zone of recent colonising South American fauna existed along the south coast of Trinidad. The rest of Trinidad contained a relict South American fauna dating back to the time when Trinidad was still part of the mainland. Included here was a centrally located zone of unstable fauna at risk of local extinction.
The fish fauna was temporally dynamic due to frequent colonisation and extinction events. Examination of the historic record showed that observed species richness varied from 38 to 43 between the mid 1950s and the present. During this time there were 15 introductions and 12 local extinctions. A conservative estimate was that a new species was recorded for Trinidad almost every three years. The geographic distribution of species also showed temporal changes which indicated a natural tendency of the fauna to vary over time.
Human interference, particularly the introduction of exotic fish species and long-term habitat alteration, has affected species diversity. Forty seven percent of the new introductions and 43% of the extinctions were human-introduced exotics. About four fifths of sites in Trinidad, and almost one fifth of the sites in Tobago, were either perturbed or polluted. Polluted rivers coincided with areas of high urbanisation and industrial development in the west and southwest of Trinidad.
Several effects of human interference on the fauna recorded. Almost 8% of the sites examined contained one of the three exotic species still extant on the island. At each of these sites, the exotic species accounted for between 1.3% and 80.4%, by number, of the fish caught. Some of the effects of habitat disturbance on individual sites were increased frequency of diseases, extirpation of species, changes in species richness and other diversity measures, and the eventual regression of the fish community to opportunistic species (r-strategists).
The potential of two fishes, Poecilia reticulata and Astyanax bimaculatus, as indicator species was examined. Astyanax showed better potential as an indicator of habitat quality as it was not found in depauperate communi ties, typical of severely disturbed habitats, and its proportional abundance and biomass were negatively affected by pollution. Poecilia populations, on the other hand, were found to be insensitive to habi tat quality when the above-mentioned cri teria were used. They did, however, have a high frequency of diseased individuals at polluted sites.
One of the aims of conservation is to protect that portion of biodiversity most at risk of extinction, the rare species (Rabinowitz 1986). Over 70% of freshwater fish species found in Trinidad and Tobago were classified as rare in these islands. This fact, In addition to the loss of diversity recorded for some sites indicates that the implementation of a management strategy for the conservation of the freshwater fish fauna of Trinidad and Tobago is imperative. The management strategy should focus on the amelioration and protection of aquatic habitats since at least 80% of the rare species had either a restricted geographic distribution or narrow habitat specificity. Additionally, protection from overexploitation should be offered to commercially important species wi th only small populations. Finally, a minimum sample size of 35 sites, spread over different zoogeographic areas, is recommended for estimating species richness for monitoring, an intrinsic part of any management strategy.