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A global synonymical checklist of the species and higher taxa of the insect order Megaloptera is provided. The checklist includes both extant and extinct taxa, and recognizes 2 families, 4 subfamilies, 48 genera, 425 species, and 6 subspecies. Both families (Corydalidae and Sialidae), and three of the four subfamilies (Corydalinae, Chauliodinae, and Sialinae) are known from both extant and extinct species; the Sharasialinae (Sialidae) is entirely extinct. Country-level geographic distribution data are provided for all species and subspecies. Synoptic type data are provided for taxa in the family and genus groups. Summary data are given for the numbers of megalopteran species currently known to occur in each of the major biogeographical regions of the world, and for the world fauna. Increase of knowledge about the diversity of the world Megaloptera fauna is summarized in counts of valid species described per decade and in a global taxonomic description curve. An updated set of keys to the world families, subfamilies, and genera of the Megaloptera is also provided.
It is common knowledge that plants have been the world-wide most important source of medicines and that they still play this role in developing countries. However, up to now, complete lists of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) exist for comparatively few countries. A review of all lists know to the authors reveals the following results: A total of 20.7 % of the plant species analyzed by either publications or own research are or were used as MAP. However, regarding single countries, the differences are considerably high. Absolutely leading the list are China (36.2 %), Burkina Faso (35.2 %) and the Korean Republic (34.5 %). Also ahead of other countries or regions are the North of Benin (32.8 %) and the entire Pakistan (30.3 %). Still above average rank Great Britain (26.7 %) and Nepal (23.3 %), while the figures for Bul¬garia (21.0 %), Germany (20.2 %) and France (19.4 %) almost represent the average. Jordan (17.3 %), Vietnam (17.1 %), Sri Lanka (16.6 %), India (16.1 %) and Thailand (15.5 %) rank slightly beneath. Clearly below the average are the percentages of MAP for Hungary (12.2 %) and the USA (11.8 %). The average numbers of MAP in the Philippines (9.5 %) and Malaysia (7.7 %) fall far behind. Calculated on a worldwide scale, every fifth plant can be regarded as MAP. This number matches that from Bulgaria, France and Germany. In northern Benin, Burkina Faso, Korea, China and Pakistan, however, every third plant is or was used as MAP, whereas in Hungary and the USA only every eighth plant can be regarded as MAP. This number drops even further for the Philippines ore Malaysia where only every tenth or thirteenth plant can be attributed to medicinal or aromatic use. These differences might be due to various factors. A geographical component of the results is obvious: in most cases geographically close countries show similar percentages. A correlation between the total number of species and the fraction of those used as MAP cannot be confirmed. The countries with percentage of MAP > 30 % in common show that they belong either entirely (Burkina Faso, Benin) or at least in their rural areas to the poorest countries of the world so that it is (was) impossible for the majority of the people to buy "modern" MAP. In those countries the number of traditional healers outnumbers largely the number of modern doctors. Therefore, the tradition of folk medicine was maintained until today. Additionally, China, Korea and partially Pakistan have a very old and well documented tradition of folk medicine. Due to this documentation even in areas where today "modern MAP" are used, the knowledge was not lost. In neighboring countries or regions, which differ with respect to a more arid or a more humid climate, for the arid country (region) more MAPs are reported than for the humid one. The potential reasons for this phenomenon are discussed in the paper. For many countries the percentage given for MAP in literature is too low. But even these low values represent a striking argument for the importance of a world-wide conservation of biodiversity.
The study of the Portuguese marine ichthyofauna has a long historical tradition, rooted back in the 18th Century. Here we present an annotated checklist of the marine fishes from Portuguese waters, including the area encompassed by the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history collections, together with new revisions and occurrences. It comprises a total of 1191 species, distributed among 3 superclasses, 4 classes, 42 orders, 212 families and 617 genera. If considering only the EEZ and present territorial waters, this list represents an increase of 230 species (27.8%) and of 238 species (29.0%), when compared to the information available in FishBase (2012) and in the last checklist of marine and estuarine fishes of Portugal (1993), respectively. The order Perciformes shows the highest diversity, with 54 families, 162 genera and 299 species. Stomiidae (80 species), Myctophidae (71 species) and Macrouridae (37 species) are the richest families. From the listed species, 734 are present off mainland Portugal, 857 off the Azores and 766 off Madeira. Within the limits of the examined area, three species are reported for the first time in mainland Portugal and twenty-nine records are identified as doubtful. A total of 133 species have been recorded from the extended Portuguese continental shelf (2 off mainland Portugal, 117 off the Azores and 14 off Madeira), two of which are common to the Azores and Madeira extensions. Biogeographically, the Atlantic group is the most important (548 species – 46.01%), followed by the Lusitanian group (256 species – 21.49%), the African group (71 species – 5.96%), the Boreal group (34 species – 2.85%), the Mediterranean group (31 species – 2.60%), the Macaronesian group (21 species – 1.76%), the Atlantic/African group (19 species – 1.60%) and the Mediterranean/African and the Arctic groups, each with only 1 species (0.08%). Regarding the preferences for vertical habitat, the demersal fishes are the most important group (305 species – 25.61%), followed by the mesopelagic group (228 species – 19.14%), the bathypelagic group (164 species – 13.77%), the benthopelagic group (147 species – 12.34%), the bathydemersal group (115 species – 9.66%), the reef-associated group (88 species – 7.39%), the pelagic group (74 species – 6.21%), the epipelagic group (58 species – 4.87%) and 1 species (0.08%) of the benthic group. The oceanic habitat is the best represented group comprising 446 species (37.45%), followed by the shelf group (199 species – 16.71%), the slope group (164 species – 13.77%), the inner shelf group (89 species – 7.47%), the coastal group (70 species – 5.88%), the outer shelf group (29 species – 2.43%) and the oceanic/shelf group (7 species – 0.59%).
The present study aims to fulfill the gap of taxonomic knowledge on Triphoridae from Brazil. We describe five new species (Isotriphora uncia sp. nov., Isotriphora leo sp. nov., Monophorus verecundus sp. nov., Sagenotriphora albocaput sp. nov., Similiphora lucida sp. nov.), report five species previously known only from the Caribbean and related areas (Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916), Eutriphora auffenbergi Rolán & Lee, 2008, Isotriphora tricingulata Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2015, Marshallora ostenta Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008, Monophorus caracca (Dall, 1927) comb. nov.) and describe six morphotypes at the generic level (Isotriphora sp. 1, Marshallora sp. 1, Nanaphora sp. 1, Sagenotriphora sp. 1, Sagenotriphora sp. 2, Similiphora sp. 1). Remarks are made to some species previously recorded from Brazil, including the invalidation of records, problems of generic allocation and geographical range extensions. Maps of the geographical distribution are provided for the 65 currently recognized species of Triphoridae from Brazil. Of these, 31 species are endemic to Brazil and 58 inhabit the continental shelf vs only seven from the continental slope. A distinct geographical zone occurs in southeastern Brazil. A few species occur exclusively near the mouth of the Amazon River, whereas others inhabit a local biogenic reef, possibly serving as a biogeographical corridor that connects western Atlantic populations. Species of Isotriphora from Brazil are particularly common around oceanic islands, probably due to adopting intracapsular metamorphosis, which may have evolved in more than one evolutionary event.
Sea pens (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Pennatulacea) constitute a distinctive group of colonial marine invertebrates. They inhabit the world`s oceans, from shallow to deep waters. Studies about this group in Argentina are scarce, and no species have been described in the area in over a decade. Based on samples collected in Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon at about 3000 m deep we describe a new species of sea pen, Umbellula pomona Risaro, Williams & Lauretta sp. nov. This is a spiculate Umbellula that differs from other species of Umbellula with sclerites, by the number, development and distribution of the autozooids in its terminal cluster, as well as the shape of its axis. Molecular data also distinguishes it from other known species. Of the forty-three described species approximately ten are considered valid for the genus Umbellula, four of them are registered for the South Atlantic Ocean and only three are described for the Antarctic region. Since sampling efforts in this area have been scarce, the number of species of sea pens from the region is likely to increase substantially in the coming years.
Two new species of hangingflies, Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. and Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Yunnan, southwestern China, increasing the species number of Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 to six. Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. differs from its congeners by wings devoid of markings and epandrial appendages slightly longer than half the length of the gonocoxites. Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov. can be recognized by wing markings along R5 distally. A key to species of the genus is updated to include the two new species.
Two new species of Strandesia Stuhlmann, 1888 are described from the northeastern part of Thailand: S. karanovicae sp. nov. and S. amnatcharoenensis sp. nov. Strandesia karanovicae is characterized by a tumid carapace in dorsal view, a small anterior overlap, the absence of a dorso-subapical seta on the first segment of the antennule (A1), a large aesthetasc Y on the antenna, an α seta shape with a needle-like tip and a large β seta on the mandibular palp (Md-palp), serrated bristles on the maxilla, a long h1 seta on the second thoracopod (T2) and a slender caudal ramus (CR). Strandesia amnatcharoenensis has a small compressed posterior part of the right valves (RV) which makes it closely related to S. pholpunthini Savatenalinton, 2015. The new species can be distinguished primarily by a considerably small anterior overlap of the left valve over the right valve (RV), a postero-ventral flange of the RV, a remarkably large claw Ga of the CR and the chaetotaxy of the limbs, especially A1, Md-palp and T2. In addition, in the present study, the sexual population of S. martensi Savatenalinton, 2015 is recorded for the first time, and thus the first description of the male is provided here. Moreover, the morphological examination of both males and females revealed differences between asexual and sexual females and also points to the fact that S. martensi is a mixed reproduction species. This is the first record of the mixed reproductive mode in the genus Strandesia or even in the Cypricercinae.
Nemoura Latreille, 1796 and Amphinemura Ris, 1902 are the two largest genera of Nemouridae in China. In this paper, two new species are described and illustrated from China: Nemoura lixiana sp. nov. from Sichuan Province and Amphinemura jiaoheensis sp. nov. from Jilin Province. The two new species are diagnostic from congeners by the genitalic structures in males and females.
Two new species of the subfamily Cypricercinae McKenzie, 1971 are described from the Western part of Thailand: Pseudostrandesia ratchaburiensis sp. nov. and Strandesia prachuapensis sp. nov. Pseudostrandesia ratchaburiensis sp. nov. is mainly characterized by a flange on the antero-ventral part of the left valve (LV), a markedly large β seta on the mandibular (Md) palp, serrated bristles on the third endite of the maxillula (Mx1), a slender caudal ramus (CR) with a long claw Ga (length ca half that of the ramus) and a relatively low number (13) of spiny whorls in the Zenker’s organ. The discovery of both males and females of Pseudostrandesia ratchaburiensis sp. nov. in the present study constitutes the first report of a sexual population in this genus, thereby allowing for a comparison of the male reproductive organs (hemipenis and Zenker’s organ) from a new species with those of other genera of Cypricercinae. Strandesia prachuapensis sp. nov. is most closely related to Strandesia odiosa (Moniez, 1892) and Strandesia flavescens Klie, 1932 as they bear similar anterior flanges on the right valve (RV). The key diagnostic features of the new Strandesia species are a large carapace (ca 1.5 mm), an angulated antero-ventral part of the LV, a weak and small anterior inner list on the LV, an anterior flange on the RV, a markedly small aesthetasc Y on the second antenna, a large β seta on the Md-palp, smooth bristles on the third endite of the Mx1 and a slender CR with a short claw Ga (length ca ⅓ of the ramus). In addition, Pseudostrandesia complexa (Victor & Fernando, 1981) comb. nov. is here proposed.
We describe two new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827, each from the Indian states of Meghalaya and Mizoram based on morphology and ND2 gene sequences. The new species are a part of the Cyrtodactylus khasiensis group. Both species represent the highland clade within the south of Brahmaputra clade of Indo-Burmese Cyrtodactylus. Based on ND2 gene sequence, the species from Meghalaya have an uncorrected p-distance of 4.21%–4.25% from a lowland species C. guwahatiensis Agarwal, Mahony, Giri, Chaitanya & Bauer, 2018 and is a sister taxon to C. septentrionalis Agarwal, Mahony, Giri, Chaitanya & Bauer, 2018. The species from Mizoram differ from its sister species C. bengkhuaiai Purkayastha, Lalremsanga, Bohra, Biakzuala, Decemson, Muansanga, Vabeiryureilai, Chauhan & Rathee, 2021 by a p-distance of 8.33%.
The salticid genera Bristowia Reimoser, 1934, Habrocestum Simon, 1876 and Macaroeris Wunderlich 1992 are reported from Sri Lanka for the first time. One new species of Bristowia, B. gandhii sp. nov. (♂♀), and three new species of Habrocestum, H. hantaneensis sp. nov. (♂♀), H. kodigalaensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and H. ohiyaensis sp. nov. (♂), are described and diagnosed. The male of Macaroeris nidicolens Walckenaer, 1802 is redescribed and illustrated, based on new material from Sri Lanka.
Analyses of whole genomic shotgun datasets, COI barcodes, morphology, and historical literature suggest that the following 13 butterfly species from the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Texas, USA are distinct from their closest named relatives and therefore are described as new (type localities are given in parenthesis): Spicauda atelis Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., Mission), Urbanus (Urbanus) rickardi Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., nr. Madero), Urbanus (Urbanus) oplerorum Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., Mission/Madero), Telegonus tsongae Grishin, new species (Starr Co., Roma), Autochton caballo Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., 6 mi W of Hidalgo), Epargyreus fractigutta Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., McAllen), Aguna mcguirei Grishin, new species (Cameron Co., Brownsville), Polygonus pardus Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., McAllen), Arteurotia artistella Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., Mission), Heliopetes elonmuski Grishin, new species (Cameron Co., Boca Chica), Hesperia balcones Grishin, new species (Travis Co., Volente), Troyus fabulosus Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., Peñitas), and Lerema ochrius Grishin, new species (Hidalgo Co., nr. Relampago). Most of these species are known in the US almost exclusively from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Nine of the holotypes were collected in 1971-1975, a banner period for butterfly species newly recorded from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas; five of them collected by William W. McGuire, and one by Nadine M. McGuire. At the time, these new species have been recorded under the names of their close relatives. A Neotype is designated for Papilio fulminator Sepp, [1841] (Suriname). Lectotypes are designated for Goniurus teleus Hübner, 1821 (unknown, likely in South America), Goniloba azul Reakirt, [1867] (Mexico: Veracruz) and Eudamus misitra Plötz, 1881 (Mexico). Several taxonomic changes are proposed. The following taxa are species (not subspecies): Spicauda zalanthus (Plötz, 1880), reinstated status (not Spicauda teleus (Hübner, 1821)), Telegonus fulminator (Sepp, [1841]), reinstated status (not Telegonus fulgerator (Walch, 1775), Telegonus misitra (Plötz, 1881), reinstated status (not Telegonus azul (Reakirt, [1867])), Autochton reducta (Mabille and Boullet, 1919), new status (not Autochton potrillo (Lucas, 1857)), Epargyreus gaumeri Godman and Salvin, 1893, reinstated status (not Epargyreus clavicornis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)), and Polygonus punctus E. Bell and W. Comstock, 1948, new status (not Polygonus savigny (Latreille, [1824])). Urbanus ehakernae Burns, 2014 and Epargyreus socus chota Evans, 1952 are junior subjective synonyms of Urbanus alva Evans, 1952 and Epargyreus clavicornis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869), respectively, and Epargyreus gaumeri tenda Evans, 1955, new combination is not a subspecies of E. clavicornis.
ZooBank registration. https://zoobank.org/D5462F9E-E08D-46C6-898D-76EE7466DD19
In our present-day landscape in Central Europe major parts of the xylobiontic especially of the saproxylic beetle fauna belong to the group of endangered species assemblages (Speight 1989, Geiser 1994). Oaks, in Central Europe mainly Quercus robur and Q. petraea, are well known for their large number of associated insect species and harbour the highest beetle diversity, especially for dead wood inhabiting species, of all broadleaved tree species in this region (e.g. Palm 1959). A characteristic species associated with oaks in its life-cycle is the endangered Great Capricorn Cerambyx cerdo. C. cerdo is one of the protected species explicitly named in the Habitats Directive of the European Union with the goal of maintaining existing populations and establishing long-term survival (Council of the European Communities 1992). The last remaining colonised areas of this longhorn beetle in Central Europe are well known for the enormous number of very rare xylobiontic beetle species. Thus, we are interested in the following research questions: 1) Are there typical species associated with C. cerdo? 2) If so, what kind of relationship do these associated species have to C. cerdo from a nature conservation point of view?
In this paper are presented notes on the primary types of some species of the oil-collecting bees of the genus Centris described by the European naturalists and entomologists Amédée Louis Michel Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, Anders Christian Jensen-Haarup, Arthur Louis Marie Joseph Vachal, Charles Émile Blanchard, Embrik Strand, Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville, Guillaume-Antoine Olivier, Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville, Jean Pérez, Johann Christoph Friedrich Klug, Johann Ludwig Christ, John Obadiah Westwood, Josef Anton Maximilian Perty, Jules Dominique, Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister, Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre, Massimiliano Spinola, Peter Cameron, and Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson. Information on the type status, type locality and depository are provided. In order to stabilize some names, lectotype designations were made for Centris rhodophthalma, C. sponsa var. asuncionis, C. transversa, Hemisia byssina and Ptilotopus americanus. Centris sponsa var. asuncionis is withdrawn from the synonymy of C. sponsa, revalidated and raised to species level. Centris byssina is proposed as nomen oblitum and as a new junior synonym of C. trigonoides, nomen protectum.
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is a conservation unit established to preserve the highest savannahs of Central Brazil and their unique biodiversity. Eriocaulaceae are a relevant and conspicuous family in such high savannahs, but its diversity is poorly known, documented solely in general lists or in isolated efforts aimed at small groups. After a structured series of field expeditions and analysis of specimens from the relevant herbaria, we provide nomenclatural novelties, a first identification key, and an illustrated checklist for the species of Paepalanthoideae (Eriocaulaceae) in the area. We recorded 42 species of Paepalanthoideae from the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park: Actinocephalus (Körn.) Sano (2 spp.), Comanthera L.B.Sm. (1 sp.), Paepalanthus Mart. (24 spp.), and Syngonanthus Ruhland (15 spp.). Actinocephalus brevifolius Trovó & Echtern. sp. nov. and P. irwinii Trovó & Echtern. sp. nov. are newly described species and P. politus Trovó stat. et nom. nov. is a variety of P. elongatus (Bong.) Körn. raised to the species status with a new name. The generic and specific composition shows predominance of Paepalanthus and Syngonanthus, and with a low representation of Actinocephalus and Comanthera, as expected, outside of the Espinhaço Range. More than 50% of the species (22 spp.) are endemic to the area and 25 species are endemic to Central Brazil, the area being the main center of diversity for dimerous-flowered groups. The non-endemic diversity is a combination of widespread species and marginal distribution of species typical from the Amazon and southeastern savannahs. The species are unevenly distributed in the area, with their occurrence correlated to altitude, water availability, and lithology. We reinforce that the savannahs from Central Brazil are a secondary center of diversity for Eriocaulaceae, playing a central role in the conservation of an unique and irreplaceable piece of its diversity and the Cerrado biome as well.
The article presents a potentially obligate association of a pleustid amphipod of the genus Pleusymtes (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pleustidae) with the large sea anemone Urticina eques (Gosse, 1858) (Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Actiniidae) from shallow waters of the Barents Sea. The new species shows a conspicuously striped (disruptive or aposematic) colouration, unlike other Arctic species of the genus, which shows a potential for its permanent connection with anemones. It is possible that this is the first known possibly obligatory anemone-associated species, within the genus and the family Pleustidae. The article discusses the taxonomy, morphological differences from congeners and ecological features of the new species, as well as the known symbiotic associations of sea anemones (as hosts) in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.
The bee fauna of the Greater Puerto Rico area was studied. A review of the previous relevant studies is presented. An annotated catalog and information about the origin and distributional patterns are also provided. Thirty-nine species of bees occur in Puerto Rico and adjacent islands. This fauna is composed of four elements: exclusive Puerto Rican endemics (26.5%); Antillean endemics occurring on multiple islands (76.5%); continental species that have also colonized the Antilles (23.5%); and species introduced through human activity (12.8%). The bee fauna was both low in its diversity and showed the highest level of disharmony in relation to other faunas of the Greater Antilles. A lectotype is here designated for Agapostemon krugii Wolcott, 1936.
Termites are important ecosystem engineers of the savanna biome, with the large mounds of fungus-cultivating termites being sources of habitat heterogeneity and structural complexity in African savanna landscapes. Studies from different localities throughout Africa have shown that termite mounds have a strong influence of diversity and composition of plant communities. However, most research has been conducted only at the local scale, and integrating knowledge across Africa is hampered by different methodology of studies and differing environmental context. Little is known about the variation in vegetation composition on termite mounds compared to the surrounding savanna at the regional scale and at the landscape scale, and the main determinants of plant communities on mounds are yet to be ascertained.
This thesis aimes at better understanding the influence of termite mounds on vegetation compared to the surrounding savanna across spatial scales. Three research projects analyse vegetation data and soil data from paired mound and savanna plots in West Africa. The first project examines the influence of termite-induced heterogeneity on plant diversity and vegetation composition at a regional scale, following a bioclimatic gradient from the Sahel of Burkina Faso to the Sudanian vegetation zone in North Benin. The second Project analysed variation of vegetation on and off mounds at the landscape scale in Pendjari National Park, North Benin. The third is a monitoring study over the course of two years, exploring dynamics of juvenile woody plant communities on mounds and in the surrounding savanna at a local scale. The thesis thus provides the first comparative quantitative analysis across scales of mound and savanna vegetation and the drivers of the mound–savanna difference in vegetation.
Synthesizing across scales, its results confirm that termite mounds strongly contribute to savanna plant diversity, even though mounds are not generally more species rich than the surrounding savanna. Variation in mound vegetation is much higher along climatic and soil gradients than previously acknowledged. Mound vegetation differs from the surrounding savanna in the whole study area and in each sampled savanna type, with the strongest differences occurring at the most humid study sites. A large proportion of the differences between mound and savanna vegetation is explained by clay enrichment and related soil factors, such as cation concentrations. Plants on mounds thus benefit from favourable soil conditions, including higher fertility and higher water availability, which is also mirrored by the higher abundance and basal area of juvenile woody plants found on mounds. The variation in mound vegetation between study sites across scales results in part from local differences in soil composition and from climatic differences that influence the regional distribution of species. Different sets of characteristic mound species are identified in each project. Specific plant families and traits like succulency, lianescence, and adaptations to zoochory are found to be overrepresented in mound communities.
In addition to the findings in this thesis, remaining parts of the variation in mound vegetation between study sites could likely be explained by investigating further factors. Specifically, mound vegetation depends on habitat context, which includes available species pools, spatial distribution of mounds, biotic interactions with dispersers and herbivores, fire, and also anthropogenic influence. The high proportion of species with adaptations to zoochory found on mounds, for example, indicates that animal dispersers should be of particular importance for vegetation on termite mounds. Herbivory and fire regime, which are known to contribute to the diversity and community composition of the mound–savanna system, also show strong local variation, not least because of anthropogenic influence.
In conclusion, termite mounds play a crucial role in maintaining heterogeneity and plant diversity in the savanna across scales. Ecosystem services provided by termites, especially considering long-term effects on soil fertility and ecosystem resilience, are most likely undervalued. Mounds should be considered in management plans from local to regional, transnational scales as a matter of course, accompanied by further research on the role of termite mounds in savanna ecology on a longer temporal scale. The research presented here thus provides a basis for future studies on termite mound vegetation that should specifically consider the biotic and abiotic context of the mound–savanna system.