Are roadside strips important reservoirs of invertebrate diversity? A comparison of the ant and beetle faunas of roadside strips and large remnant woodlands

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Major ◽  
Derek Smith ◽  
Gerasimos Cassis ◽  
Michael Gray ◽  
Donald J. Colgan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Ant Community ◽  
Large State ◽  
Invertebrate Diversity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Family

Pitfall traps were used to sample the terrestrial ant and beetle fauna of four large State Forests and five roadside strips of white cypress pine woodland in the wheat belt of central western New South Wales. In total, 93 morphospecies of ant and 82 morphospecies of beetle were identified. The species richness and total abundance of both ants and beetles did not differ significantly between roadside strips and large State Forests. Multivariate analyses detected significant differences in community composition of the ant and beetle faunas of large State Forests and roadside strips of vegetation. Differences in ant community composition were similar regardless of whether the analysis was conducted at the species or genus level. Differences in beetle community composition were significant at the family level, but not at the species level, possibly because sampling intensity at the species level was sub-optimal. There was no significant correlation between ant species richness and beetle species richness, nor between total abundance of ants and total abundance of beetles. However, there was a significant correlation between site similarity assessed according to ant community composition and beetle community composition. Of the species found in the large State Forests (presumed woodland species), 69% of ant species and 64% of beetle species were found in roadside strips of vegetation. This suggests that even though the two habitat configurations may support different communities, narrow strips of vegetation still represent useful habitat for many species of woodland invertebrates. They therefore have considerable potential both as conduits of gene flow and as reservoirs of biodiversity in highly fragmented landscapes

Revision of Rhytidosporum (Pittosporaceae)

1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Cayzer ◽  
M. D. Crisp ◽  
I. R. H. Telford
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Separate Genus ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Time ◽  
Small Genus

As part of a revision of the family Pittosporaceae in Australia, a cladistic analysis was undertaken to resolve the phylogeny of Rhytidosporum and thereby clarify the taxonomic status of this small genus. Rhytidosporum is confirmed as a separate genus, and five species are now recognised: R. alpinum, R. diosmoides, R. inconspicuum, R. procumbens and R. prostratum. Rhytidosporum inconspicuum, found in subalpine areas mainly in Victoria and Tasmania, is described for the first time. Rhytidosporum diosmoides, which ranges from central New South Wales to southern Queensland, is reinstated at species level.

scholarly journals Dropping Hints: Estimating the diets of livestock in rangelands using DNA metabarcoding of faeces

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. e22467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Lee ◽  
Yohannes Alemseged ◽  
Andrew Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Level ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
The Family ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Reference Collection

The introduction of domesticated animals into new environments can lead to considerable ecological disruption, and it can be difficult to predict their impact on the new ecosystem. In this study, we use faecal metabarcoding to characterize the diets of three ruminant taxa in the rangelands of south-western New South Wales, Australia. Our study organisms included goats (Capraaegagrushircus) and two breeds of sheep (Ovisaries): Merinos, which have been present in Australia for over two hundred years, and Dorpers, which were introduced in the 1990s. We used High-Throughput Sequencing methods to sequence therbcLand ITS2 genes of plants in the faecal samples, and identified the samples using the GenBank and BOLD online databases, as well as a reference collection of sequences from plants collected in the study area. We found that the diets of all three taxa were dominated by the family Malvaceae, and that the Dorper diet was more diverse than the Merino diet at both the family and the species level. We conclude that Dorpers, like Merinos, are potentially a threat to some vulnerable species in the rangelands of New South Wales.

scholarly journals Avian Breeding Season Diversity and Community Composition in Camden White Gum and Slash Pine Plantations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J Messick ◽  
Christopher E Comer ◽  
Michael A Blazier ◽  
T Bently Wigley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Pinus Elliottii ◽  
The United States ◽  
Slash Pine ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantation ◽  
Short Rotation Woody Crops ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantations

Abstract In the southern United States, some landowners have established plantations of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) and are managing them on short rotations (<15 years) to provide wood for fiber and other potential uses. Establishment of short-rotation woody crops dominated by nonnative species has implications for resident fauna in the United States that are largely unknown. We compared avifauna abundance, diversity, and community composition in newly established Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii) plantations with slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations of the same age and height (one to two and six to seven years old, respectively) in southwestern Louisiana, USA. Species richness, diversity, and community composition in newly established eucalyptus plantations and six- to seven-year-old pines were similar. More birds were observed, and bird detections varied less in eucalyptus plantations. Indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) and other shrub-associated species were detected more often in eucalyptus stands. In contrast, species that inhabit herbaceous-dominated communities, such as eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), or that were associated with a dense graminoid community (e.g., Bachman’s sparrow [Peucaea aestivalis]) were detected less often in eucalyptus. Overall, breeding bird communities in eucalyptus plantations one to two years postestablishment differed little from plantations dominated by slash pine. Study Implications Compared with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Englem) plantations of similar age and height (one to two years and six to seven years old, respectively) we found one- to two-year-old eucalyptus (Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage) plantations supported similar avian species richness and diversity to six- to seven-year-old pine stands. Furthermore, we found these eucalyptus plantations (E13) supported an avian community that was intermediate to similar aged pine (S13) and pine of similar height (S08). However, avian communities will likely change as eucalyptus plantations age (Christian et al. 1997). Continued monitoring and assessment of community composition, richness, and abundance is important for determining the magnitude of this change. Future investigations focused on nest success, fecundity, postfledging monitoring, and survivorship compared with other types of planted forests and native cover types would help us better understand eucalyptus plantation effects on avifauna demographics (Van Horne 1983, Martin 1998, Jones 2001, Wood et al. 2004, Sage et al. 2006, Riffell et al. 2011).

scholarly journals Can variation in seed removal patterns of Neotropical pioneer tree species be explained by local ant community composition?

Biotropica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selina A. Ruzi ◽  
Paul‐Camilo Zalamea ◽  
Daniel P. Roche ◽  
Rafael Achury ◽  
James W. Dalling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Seed Removal ◽  
Ant Community ◽  
Pioneer Tree Species ◽  
Pioneer Tree

Phylogeny accurately predicts behaviour in Indian Ocean Clitaetra spiders (Araneae:Nephilidae)

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matjaž Kuntner ◽  
Ingi Agnarsson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Web Architecture ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
The Family ◽  
Behavioural Biology

Phylogenies are underutilised, powerful predictors of traits in unstudied species. We tested phylogenetic predictions of web-related behaviour in Clitaetra Simon, 1889, an Afro-Indian spider genus of the family Nephilidae. Clitaetra is phylogenetically sister to all other nephilids and thus important for understanding ancestral traits. Behavioural information on Clitaetra has been limited to only C. irenae Kuntner, 2006 from South Africa which constructs ladder webs. A resolved species-level phylogeny unambiguously optimised Clitaetra behavioural biology and predicted web traits in five unstudied species and a uniform intrageneric nephilid web biology. We tested these predictions by studying the ecology and web biology of C. perroti Simon, 1894 on Madagascar and C. episinoides Simon, 1889 on Mayotte. We confirm predicted arboricolous web architecture in these species. The expected ontogenetic allometric transition from orbs in juveniles to elongate ladder webs in adults was statistically significant in C. perroti, whereas marginally not significant in C. episinoides. We demonstrate the persistence of the temporary spiral in finished Clitaetra webs. A morphological and behavioural phylogenetic analysis resulted in unchanged topology and persisting unambiguous behavioural synapomorphies. Our results support the homology of Clitaetra hub reinforcement with the nephilid hub-cup. In Clitaetra, behaviour was highly predictable and remained consistent with new observations. Our results confirm that nephilid web biology is evolutionarily conserved within genera.

scholarly journals Plant community composition and species richness in the High Arctic tundra: From the present to the future

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (23) ◽  
pp. 10233-10242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Nabe-Nielsen ◽  
Signe Normand ◽  
Francis K. C. Hui ◽  
Laerke Stewart ◽  
Christian Bay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Arctic Tundra ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Plant Community Composition ◽  
The Future

Temporal patterns in the macrobenthic communities of the Hawkesbury estuary, New South Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 607
Author(s):  
AR Jones
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Community Patterns ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Physicochemical Factors ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Temporal patterns in number of species, number of individual animals and community composition of the soft-sediment zoobenthos of the Hawkesbury estuary are described and related to physicochemical factors. Replicate grabs were taken at 3-month intervals over 3 years (1977-1979) from sites located in three zones: the lower, middle and upper reaches. The number of species and number of individuals showed significant seasonal and annual differences in all zones. However, the pattern of these differences varied among sites and seasonal differences were not repeatable over years. Similarly, differences in community composition as revealed by classification were not seasonal. In the middle and lower reaches, these differences were apparently caused by the over- riding influence of non-seasonal climatic events, i.e. a major flood in 1978 and a drought throughout 1979. In the first two sampling following the flood, sample values for the numbers of both species and individuals were usually lowest and community composition was distinct from pre-flood and drought times. During the drought, the number of species was usually high and community composition relatively distinct. Whereas the number of species and community composition groupings were both significantly related to river discharge, the number of individuals was significantly correlated with temperature. All community variables were sometimes significantly related to salinity. The identity of numerically dominant species, as determined by Fager rankings, varied among times in both the lower and middle reaches. However, the polychaete Nephtys australiensis and the bivalve mollusc Notospisula trigonella were highest ranked overall in both zones. Community patterns in the low-salinity upper reaches differed from those further downstream by showing little change in numbers of species and community composition following the flood. Only the number of species was significantly correlated with any of the measured physicochemical variables, this being partly due to an influx of species during the drought. Furthermore, the upstream community was always dominated by the polychaete Ceratonereis limnetica and was thus the only community that could be characterised by a single species.

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