Local habitat characteristics but not landscape urbanization drive pollinator visitation and native plant pollination in forest remnants

2013 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal M. Williams ◽  
Rachael Winfree
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pornpimon Tangtorwongsakul ◽  
Natapot Warrit ◽  
George A. Gale

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Egerer ◽  
Jacob Cecala ◽  
Hamutahl Cohen

Across urban environments, vegetated habitats provide refuge for biodiversity. Gardens (designed for food crop production) and nurseries (designed for ornamental plant production) are both urban agricultural habitats characterized by high plant species richness but may vary in their ability to support wild pollinators, particularly bees. In gardens, pollinators are valued for crop production. In nurseries, ornamental plants rarely require pollination; thus, the potential of nurseries to support pollinators has not been examined. We asked how these habitats vary in their ability to support wild bees, and what habitat features relate to this variability. In 19 gardens and 11 nurseries in California, USA, we compared how local habitat and landscape features affected wild bee species abundance and richness. To assess local features, we estimated floral richness and measured ground cover as proxies for food and nesting resources, respectively. To assess landscape features, we measured impervious land cover surrounding each site. Our analyses showed that differences in floral richness, local habitat size, and the amount of urban land cover impacted garden wild bee species richness. In nurseries, floral richness and the proportion of native plant species impacted wild bee abundance and richness. We suggest management guidelines for supporting wild pollinators in both habitats.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon K. Collinge ◽  
Kathleen L. Prudic ◽  
Jeffrey C. Oliver

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 74-80
Author(s):  
C.S. Lusk ◽  
G.A. Hurrell ◽  
S.L. Lamoureaux

This study aimed to determine the effects of different management practices for Tradescantia fluminensis in lowland podocarp/broadleaf forest remnants in the lower North Island Fourteen 50 m line transects across eight sites were established in April 2009 and assessed annually until 2012 Management practices prior to and during the study period were documented Over the four assessments changes in the numbers of native plant seedlings and species differed greatly between management practices as did the percent cover of Tradescantia and other weeds Native species diversity improved more and the abundance of Tradescantia and other weeds increased less in forests that were less disturbed and where careful ongoing control was carried out than in forests with more disturbance prior to or during control operations Effective monitoring of both weeds and native plants is essential to enable the outcome of weed management practices to be measured


Author(s):  
Jana Petruželová ◽  
Jindřiška Bojková ◽  
Jan Sychra ◽  
Vanda Šorfová ◽  
Vendula Polášková ◽  
...  

Littoral macroinvertebrates in acidified waterbodies are affected by the interaction of acidification and local environmental conditions. Understanding the interplay of these factors in the structuring of communities is essential for interpreting responses to and/or recovery from acidification. Here, we analyse the species composition and richness of littoral macroinvertebrates in a range of acidified montane standing waters in relation to water chemistry, littoral characteristics and fish stock. The main species composition gradients were related to pH and conductivity; however, considerable variation along these gradients was associated with local habitat characteristics (changing water levels and littoral structure) and concentration of ionic aluminium and dissolved organic carbon. Although fish stock effects were confounded by correlated acidity, we observed a significant decline in abundance of macroinvertebrates vulnerable to fish predation at sites with fish stock. Overall, littoral macroinvertebrates of acidic waterbodies were diverse due to the heterogeneity of local habitat properties, despite they were dominated by acid-tolerant species. Acidic humic sites with dense, heterogeneous littoral vegetation were species-rich, hosting numerous habitat specialists and rare species, while chronically acidified lakes with high aluminium concentrations and sparse littoral vegetation had species-poor assemblages, characteristic of strong acid-stress. Water level manipulation resulted in serious assemblage impoverishment, overriding the effects of more favourable water chemistry. This study shows that the littoral fauna of acidic waterbodies is structured by complex effects induced by local factors in addition to acidity, resulting in acid-stressed assemblages with relatively high variability, emphasising a need to analyse local habitat factors when evaluating the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrates.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelline Tsafack ◽  
François Rebaudo ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Dávid D. Nagy ◽  
Yingzhong Xie ◽  
...  

Background Most carabid beetles are particularly sensitive to local habitat characteristics. Although in China grasslands account for more than 40% of the national land, their biodiversity is still poorly known. The aim of this paper is to identify the main environmental characteristics influencing carabid diversity in different types of grassland in northern China. Methods We investigated the influence of vegetation (plant biomass, cover, density, height and species richness), soil (bulk density, above ground litter, moisture and temperature) and climate (humidity, precipitation and temperature) on carabid community structure (species richness, species composition and functional diversity—measured as body size, movement and total diversity) in three types of grasslands: desert, typical and meadow steppes. We used Canonical correspondence analysis to investigate the role of habitat characteristics on species composition and eigenvector spatial filtering to investigate the responses of species richness and functional diversities. Results We found that carabid community structure was strongly influenced by local habitat characteristics and particularly by climatic factors. Carabids in the desert steppe showed the lowest richness and functional diversities. Climate predictors (temperature, precipitation and humidity) had positive effects on carabid species richness at both regional and ecosystem levels, with difference among ecosystems. Plant diversity had a positive influence on carabid richness at the regional level. Soil compaction and temperature were negatively related to species richness at regional level. Climatic factors positively influenced functional diversities, whereas soil temperature had negative effects. Soil moisture and temperature were the most important drivers of species composition at regional level, whereas the relative importance of the various environmental parameters varied among ecosystems. Discussion Carabid responses to environmental characteristics varied among grassland types, which warns against generalizations and indicates that management programs should be considered at grassland scale. Carabid community structure is strongly influenced by climatic factors, and can therefore be particularly sensitive to ongoing climate change.


Author(s):  
Armine Abrahamyan

Armenia has a strong interest in examining the biodiversity of native plant species and assessing their conservation status. Anthropogenic threats to this biodiversity such as overpopulation, deforestation and urbanization have simultaneously hindered research and increased the need for it. Only limited information on the genetic biodiversity, population location, structure and size, and conservation status of most of these species is, however, at this time available. During 2006-2009, field studies were conducted to re-locate populations of wild Melissa officinalis L. on the basis of historical (i.e. herbarium voucher) records, and to discover new populations. The growth, phenological and habitat characteristics of the plant, and overall populations size were assessed. GPS map of present and past population distribution were created. This research provided baseline data that can be used for the development of further ex situ and in vitro strategies to conserve unique genotypes, as well as to assess the sustainability of wild populations with regard to the IUCN Red Book Criteria, of this important medicinal and culinary species in Armenia.


2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.K. James ◽  
C.A. Dowsett

Tradescantia fluminensis Plectranthus ciliatus Asparagus scandens Hedera helix Lamium galeobdolon and Selaginella kraussiana are all matforming invasive species that limit regeneration of native plants in forest remnants in New Zealand Experiments using potted specimens of these weeds showed that low rates (338675 g/ha) of the herbicide triclopyr gave >90 defoliation of T fluminensis A scandens and L galeobdolon but a higher rate of 1350 g/ha only gave 85 defoliation of H helix Diquat gave 85 defoliation of P ciliatus Aminopyralid was effective against S kraussiana but was very slow acting These experiments have identified herbicides and application rates for effective forest weed management to facilitate native plant regeneration in New Zealand temperate forests


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