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Status and restoration potential of heathlands and sand grasslands in the southwest of Luxembourg
(2017)
In Europe, semi-natural nutrient-poor ecosystems such as sand grasslands and heathlands have shown extreme declines in surface area and species richness within the last century. The remaining sites are hence of high conservation value. This study analysed the vascular plant species inventory of established and recently restored heathlands and sand grasslands in the southwest of Luxembourg. Analyses to explain differences in vegetation composition between “old” (remnant sites or sites restored a long time ago) and “new” (recently restored) sites in relation to environmental variables were carried out with DCAs and ANOVA/Mann-Whitney-U tests, respectively. The vegetation of old heathlands had few character species of typical heathland communities (Calluno-Ulicetea, Nardetalia), whereas new heathland sites were preponderantly marked by taxa of meso- or eutrophic grasslands and ruderal communities. New heathland sites mainly differed from old sites by higher soil phosphorus contents. Sand grassland vegetation was species-rich and composed by species of the Sedo-Scleranthetea and Festuco-Brometea. With increasing age of the sites, vegetation composition shifted to grass dominance with species of the Molinio-Arrhenateretea. New sand grasslands differed from old sand grasslands by higher soil pH, higher soil potassium content and lower graminoid cover. The differences between new and old sites of both habitat types could mainly be explained by successional processes or were a result of topsoil removal. In some cases, former anthropogenic impact at or in close proximity of restored sites resulted in unsuitable conditions, such as alkaline soil on former landfill sites or highly eutrophic soil due to intensive agriculture. Future management options for the study sites are discussed.
All giraffe (Giraffa) were previously assigned to a single species (G. camelopardalis) and nine subspecies. However, multi‐locus analyses of all subspecies have shown that there are four genetically distinct clades and suggest four giraffe species. This conclusion might not be fully accepted due to limited data and lack of explicit gene flow analyses. Here, we present an extended study based on 21 independent nuclear loci from 137 individuals. Explicit gene flow analyses identify less than one migrant per generation, including between the closely related northern and reticulated giraffe. Thus, gene flow analyses and population genetics of the extended dataset confirm four genetically distinct giraffe clades and support four independent giraffe species. The new findings support a revision of the IUCN classification of giraffe taxonomy. Three of the four species are threatened with extinction, and mostly occurring in politically unstable regions, and as such, require the highest conservation support possible.
Bumblebees (Bombus Latreille, 1802), because of their large body size, bright colours and activity at times and places that coincide with biologists, are an example of a group of insects that is particularly well represented in museum collections. This is important if taxonomic revisions are to achieve greater comparability among species. Bumblebees have also attracted particular attention because they are especially ecologically and economically valuable for pollination in north temperate regions, where they are now becoming increasingly threatened. I argue that the what, the where, and the how of effective conservation management may be informed by understanding the divergent characteristics that have affected their biogeographical past: by helping us to see ‘the woods’, not just ‘the trees’, of their habitat needs. Identifying suitable habitat should be part of reconstructing historical biogeography within taxonomic revisions. For bumblebees, for example, biogeographical analysis associates major taxonomic groups either with flower-rich lowland grasslands or with flower-rich montane grasslands, highlighting their contrasting requirements for: nest sites, flowers of different depths, pollen-plant families, and especially the differing importance of early spring and late summer flowers for breeding success. This broad view of species groups helps filter the less important idiosyncrasies from local case studies in order to focus conservation actions.
Auf Basis einer Literaturauswertung paläobotanischer Befunde werden Facetten zur Entstehung, Bedeutung und Erhaltung der Phytodiversität heimischer Offenland-Lebensräume im Waldland Bayern aufgezeigt: Bayern liegt in der temperaten Waldregion mit sommergrünen Laubwäldern, die zu 80 % von Buchenwald-Gesellschaften dominiert werden. Der heutigen Dominanz der Buche steht eine fehlende Kontinuität der Buche in der quartären Vegetationsgeschichte Mitteleuropas gegenüber. 70–80 % des Quartärs überwogen offene oder halboffene Landschaften. Die Buche erlangte ihre Vorherrschaft erst im Spätholozän vor ca. 5.000 Jahren. Die heimische Diversität entwickelte sich im Quartär zu 99,7 % außerhalb von Buchenwäldern. So war Bayern die letzten 1,8 Mio. Jahre vorrangig von periglazialen Steppentundra-Komplexen dominiert. Aus dieser Habitattradition entstammen zahlreiche Relikt - arten der Steppen und Tundren, die heute als Glazialrelikte in Sonder-Lebensräume eingebunden sind. Sie sind das historische Zeugnis des mehrfachen und tiefgreifenden Landschafts- und Florenwandels während des Quartärs, der in seiner Intensität weltweit einmalig ist. Wie Auswertungen der Floristischen Kartierung Bayerns zeigen, sind die nur auf wenigen Prozent der Landesfläche vorkommenden lichten Mager-, Trocken- und Nass-Standorte die entscheidenden Refugien für das Überleben der seltenen Gefäßpflanzen und die entscheidenden Inseln für den Erhalt der Phytodiversität, die die regional - typischen Vegetationsausprägungen ausmachen und den wesentlichen Genpool für zukünftige Entwicklungen bergen. Nur etwa 12 % der bayerischen Gefäßpflanzen sind an Wald als Lebensraum gebunden, in dem zudem die besonders seltenen Sippen mit 9 % stark unterrepräsentiert sind. Fast alle (Sub-) Endemiten wachsen auf lückigen Offenland-Wuchsorten, keiner wächst in mehr oder minder dichten Wäldern. Populationsbiologisch betrachtet stehen Sippen auf räumlich isolierten Sonderstandorten im Spannungsfeld zwischen der Gefahr des Aussterbens (z. B. Carex capitata, Chondrilla chondrilloides usw.) und dem Impuls zur Ausbildung neuer Sippen (z. B. Gattung Cochlearia). Zudem lief, besonders für agamosperme Pflanzengruppen, die Evolution wohl v.a. in (halb-)offenen Landschaften ab und ließ schnell optimal angepasste Spezialisten entstehen, die bis heute auf Sonderstandorten erhalten geblieben sind. Insbesondere an den kleinen Arealen der Reliktarten und Endemiten auf Sonderstandorten werden die ausbreitungsbiologischen Probleme von Pflanzensippen deutlich, was neue Gesichtspunkte für die Biotopvernetzung hervorhebt. Entscheidend ist die Förderung der Prozesse, die eine Ausbreitung von Diasporen verbessern und eine Kontrolle ubiquitärer, starkwüchsiger Sippen. Die Ausführungen münden in eine konkrete Strategie für den Schutz der bayerischen Phytodiversität: Das Management der (halb-)offenen Lebensräume mit Reliktarten und regionaltypischen Endemiten ist eine große Herausforderung für den Naturschutz. Geeignete Konzepte und Maßnahmen müssen mit zielgerichteten Artenhilfsprogrammen erarbeitet werden.
Hornschuchia (Annonaceae), an endemic and threatened genus from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
(2022)
The South American Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, and a relevant area for conservation due to its high level of endemism and great loss of habitat. One of its endemic taxa is the genus Hornschuchia (Annonaceae), including 12 species that occur from the State of Rio de Janeiro to Pernambuco in Brazil. The last taxonomic treatment of Hornschuchia was carried out 27 years ago. Since that time, two new species have been described and new specimens of known species have been collected, expanding our knowledge about the morphology and distribution of the genus. Hornschuchia, as an endemic genus in a threatened environment, deserves special attention. For this reason, we updated the taxonomic treatment of Hornschuchia, including the recently described species in the key, preparing illustrations, updating the descriptions of the species, clarifying and correcting information regarding the historical and type collections, providing preliminary conservation statuses, and analyzing patterns of endemism and richness for the genus. One species is preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered, nine are Endangered, one is Vulnerable and one is of Least Concern. The coast of Bahia is a priority place for conservation for Hornschuchia as its center of species diversity.
The use of phylogenies in ecology is increasingly common and has broadened our understanding of biological diversity. Ecological sub-disciplines, particularly conservation, community ecology and macroecology, all recognize the value of evolutionary relationships but the resulting development of phylogenetic approaches has led to a proliferation of phylogenetic diversity metrics. The use of many metrics across the sub-disciplines hampers potential meta-analyses, syntheses, and generalizations of existing results. Further, there is no guide for selecting the appropriate metric for a given question, and different metrics are frequently used to address similar questions. To improve the choice, application, and interpretation of phylo-diversity metrics, we organize existing metrics by expanding on a unifying framework for phylogenetic information.
Generally, questions about phylogenetic relationships within or between assemblages tend to ask three types of question: how much; how different; or how regular? We show that these questions reflect three dimensions of a phylogenetic tree: richness, divergence, and regularity. We classify 70 existing phylo-diversity metrics based on their mathematical form within these three dimensions and identify ‘anchor’ representatives: for α-diversity metrics these are PD (Faith's phylogenetic diversity), MPD (mean pairwise distance), and VPD (variation of pairwise distances). By analysing mathematical formulae and using simulations, we use this framework to identify metrics that mix dimensions, and we provide a guide to choosing and using the most appropriate metrics. We show that metric choice requires connecting the research question with the correct dimension of the framework and that there are logical approaches to selecting and interpreting metrics. The guide outlined herein will help researchers navigate the current jungle of indices.
Several studies have associated the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis with anuran population declines worldwide. To date, the fungus has been found in Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. However, it has never been reported to occur in the Atlantic forest or Brazil. Based on morphological, histological, and molecular data, we encountered evidence of B. dendrobatidis infection in a high-altitude stream-dwelling Brazilian anuran species, Hylodes magalhaesi (Leptodactylidae). One population (Municipality of Camanducaia, State of Minas Gerais) was surveyed from 2001 to 2005. Tadpoles lacking teeth were observed and collected in 2004. Histological and molecular analyses identified infection by B. dendrobatidis. Although infected tadpoles seem nowadays to co-exist with the disease, our results are alarming due to the highly endangered situation of the Brazilian Atlantic forest and its fauna. Effects of the chytrid infection on the studied population are still unknown. Further investigations are needed to provide information on its distribution in relation to other populations of H. magalhaesi.
Au Burkina Faso les études menées sur la végétation des inselbergs sont fragmentaires et insuffisantes. Il existe très peu de données sur la végétation des inselbergs et aucune étude n'a encore été menée sur cette végétation suivant un gradient climatique. L'objectif de cette étude est de décrire la végétation ligneuse des inselbergs des quatre secteurs phytogéographiques du Burkina Faso suivant un gradient climatique nord-sud. Les données ont été collectées dans des placeaux de 30 m x 30 m, suivant un échantillonnage stratifié et aléatoire. Des indices de diversité, d'équitabilité, de valeur d'importance et de similitude ont été calculés pour la végétation des inselbergs granitiques et gréseux des secteurs phytogéographiques. Un total de 188 relevés a été réalisé. 143 espèces ligneuses ont été recensées et se répartissent inégalement dans les quatre secteurs phytogéographiques. Plus de trois quarts moitié (79%) de ces espèces se retrouve dans le secteur Sud-soudanien, ce qui le rend plus riche floristiquement. Le secteur le moins riche en espèces est le secteur Nord-sahélien avec 37 espèces (26%). La richesse floristique augmente du nord au sud du gradient climatique et met en évidence la variation taxonomique suivant le gradient latitudinal de précipitation. Les 143 espèces ligneuses recensées sur les inselbergs des quatre secteurs phytogéographiques représentent 65 % des espèces ligneuses et 7 % de la flore totale du Burkina Faso. Les facteurs topographie et nature du substrat n'ont pas un effet significatif (p > 0,05) sur la composition floristique des inselbergs. La densité et la surface terrière des peuplements ligneux varient significativement suivant l'altitude (p < 0,05). Le climat, particulièrement le niveau de précipitation, reste le principal facteur qui influe sur la répartition des taxa devant la nature du substrat, la topographie et l’anthropisation. Les peuplements ligneux des inselbergs des secteurs sud-sahélien et ord-soudanien sont les moins denses. Ils subissent plus de pression anthropique par rapport aux peuplements ligneux des secteurs Nord-sahélien et Sud-soudanien. Les inselbergs les plus hauts ont une végétation ligneuse plus dense que les inselbergs les plus bas.
Loggerhead Caretta caretta is now the only species of marine turtle nesting on the island of Sal, Cape Verde Islands. Since 2008, ADTMA - SOS Tartarugas has patrolled all the southern beaches of the island in order to protect nesting females and to collect nesting data. Although hunting is still a major issue, with 90 turtles killed in 2009, habitat loss and light pollution are becoming an ever more serious threat. Construction sites, hotels, apartment buildings and restaurants close to beaches, bright lights and illegal removal of sand are contributing to a marked decrease in the total number of nesting turtles on some beaches. In 2009, beaches on Sal experienced an average increase in nests of 200%, while the beach most affected by construction (Tortuga Beach) saw a decrease of nests of 7.3% (from 19.1% of total number of nests in 2008 to 11.8% in 2010). This beach also recorded a much lower nest to emergence ratio than normal (17.6% of emergences resulting in nests compared to 29.9% in other areas), indicating reluctance to nest due to light pollution and other disturbances.
Juga is a genus of freshwater snails distributed from northern Washington to central California. The taxonomy and classification of the genus has a long and complex history, driven mainly by the features of their highly variable shells. The number of recognized species has fluctuated from ~9 to 11; however, it has been claimed that the actual diversity may be three times that number. We here present a systematic revision using a recently published molecular phylogeny as a framework, which supported the interpretation that there are only nine valid species. Comprehensive review of type material and original descriptions for all available species-group names indicates that almost all species previously considered valid were para- or polyphyletic grades of organization in shell morphology. Most species previously suggested to be putatively new were confirmed to be morphological variants of species already described. Species accounts include complete synonymies and partial chresonymies; the shells and radulae are illustrated and described. Lectotypes are designated for Melania plicifera Lea, 1838, M. silicula Gould, 1847, and M. rudens Reeve, 1860. Three species, Juga caerulea sp. nov., J. canella sp. nov., and J. douglasi sp. nov., are described as new and one species is excluded from the genus. The subgenera Calibasis D.W. Taylor, 1966 and Idabasis D.W. Taylor, 1966 are synonymized with Juga.