scholarly journals Herpetofauna of Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria: Species composition and distribution along the natural habitat-urban areas gradient

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-274
Author(s):  
Dian Georgiev ◽  
Dilian Georgiev

Herpetofauna of Stara Zagora city is characterized by exceptional species richness. In the this urban area and its adjacent territories, twenty-nine species from 13 families and four orders of class Amphibia and class Reptilia were found. From all species encountered in the studied region, 21 were established in suburban zones. Ten species were registered in residential areas and their adjacent territories, and 18 species – in city parks. An obvious increase in number of species and their spread to the peripheral and central city areas was observed. The least number of species (5 sp.) was observed in construction areas, areas of intensive crop farming (6 sp.) and around administrative buildings (6 sp.).

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco M. Azcárate ◽  
Aitor Alameda-Martín ◽  
Adrián Escudero ◽  
Ana M. Sánchez

Natural and seminatural habitat remnants play a crucial ecological role in intensified agroecosystems. Assumptions on the conservation value of small and poorly connected fragments in a hostile matrix come from generalization obtained from a limited number of taxa, mostly plants, and vertebrates. To date, few studies have analyzed the effect of fragmentation on ant communities in Mediterranean agroecosystems, despite the importance of this group of animals on several key ecosystem functions and services. Here, we analyze the effects of fragment area and connectivity on ant communities in gypsum outcrops in a large cereal agroecosystem of Central Spain. Ant communities were described by their species composition, abundance (total number of occurrences), and number of species, standardized both by area (species density), and abundance (species richness). Observed number of species was relatively high in comparison with other studies in the Mediterranean, and we found no effects of fragment characteristics on species density, species richness and species composition, which implies that even small and isolated patches do have a value for ant conservation. Moreover, total number of occurrences were higher for smaller and more isolated fragments. This finding contrasts with the results reported for other taxa in similar gypsum habitats and suggests that certain ant traits and strategies make them particularly resistant to fragmentation and capable to take advantage of small habitat patches. Given the important ecological role played by ants, we recommend the preservation of these small habitat fragments in the management plans of agroecosystems in these drylands, especially in those cases in which intensification of agricultural practices greatly diminish natural habitat availability.


Author(s):  
А.В. Терешкин ◽  
А.Л. Калмыкова ◽  
Т.А. Андрушко

Вертикальное озеленение с участием различных видов лиан в современных условиях имеет важное эстетическое и санитарно-гигиеническое значение. Особо актуально решение вопросов обогащения флоры городских территорий лианами в степных районах в связи с бедным видовым составом и резким ухудшением экологической ситуации. Объектами исследований являлись 7 видов лиан, различных жизненных форм (однолетние, многолетние), произрастающие в населенных пунктах Саратовской области (Аткарск, Саратов). Цель исследований – изучение эколого-биологических особенностей и мелиоративных свойств лиан и выявление перспектив их использования в вертикальном озеленении селитебных территорий Саратовской области. В ходе исследования видового состава, были выявлены наиболее популярные виды однолетних лиан: ипомея красно-голубая (Ipomea tricolor (L.) Roth) и ипомея пурпурная (Ipomea purpurea (L.) Roth), горошек душистый (Lathyrus edoratus L.), настурция (Tropacolum peregrinum L.) и фасоль огненно-красная (Phaseolus coccineus). Большинство (70%) из них произрастают в местах ограниченного пользования. Изученные виды лиан в исследуемых регионах достигают средних природных показателей (при наличии надлежащего ухода), обладают хорошими показателями жизненного состояния, обильно цветут и плодоносят. При воздействии токсикантами различной концентрации на листовые пластинки лиан установлено их степень устойчивости. Выявлено, что однолетние лианы лучше использовать в декоративных целях, а не в санитарно-гигиенических. Сравнительная оценка однолетних видов с многолетними лианами (девичий виноград пятилисточковый и клематис тангутский) показывает устойчивость многолетних видов (в среднем на 3 балла - 40%). Разработаны варианты декоративных композиций с участием травянистых лиан. По степени декоративности выделены однолетние лианы – Ipomea tricolor, I. purpurea (37 – 41 балл), средней степенью отличаются – Lathyrus edoratus (33 балла), Tropacolum peregrinum (30 баллов) и Phaseolus coccineus (20 – 27 баллов). Преимущество многолетних лиан заключается в их устойчивости к резким изменениям климатических условий (на 40 %) по сравнению с однолетними формами. Поэтому они более предпочтительны для озеленения городской среды. Для усиления декоративного эффекта в сезонном аспекте рекомендуются сочетать расширение видового и формового разнообразия растений (многолетние и однолетние лианы, древесно-кустарниковая, цветочная растительность). Установлено, что природно-климатические условия зоны степи и лесостепи в пределах Саратовской области являются достаточно благоприятными для нормального роста и развития древесно-кустарниковой растительности, в том числе травянистых лиан. Таким образом, обоснованное применение древесных лиан в комплексе с традиционными видами насаждений позволит создать комфортные условия проживания населения, регулировать оптимальный температурный баланс и создавать благоприятные микроклиматические условия. Vertical gardening with different types of vines in modern conditions is important aesthetic and sanitary-hygienic value. It is especially important to address the issues of enrichment of the flora of urban areas with vines in the steppe regions due to poor species composition and a sharp deterioration of the ecological situation. The objects of research were 7 species of lianas, various life forms (annual, perennial), growing in the settlements of the Saratov region (Atkarsk, Saratov). The aim of the research is to study the ecological and biological features and reclamation properties of vines and identify the prospects for their use in vertical gardening residential areas of the Saratov region. In the study, species composition was the most popular species of annual vines: morning glory red-blue (Ipomea tricolor (L.) Roth) and purple morning glory (Ipomea purpurea (L.) Roth), the fragrant pea (Lathyrus edoratus L.), nasturtium (Tropacolum peregrinum L.) and runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus). Most (70%) of them grow in restricted areas. Studied species of vines in the study regions reach average natural performance (with proper care), have good indicators of vital condition, bloom abundantly and bear fruit. When exposed to toxicants of different concentrations on the leaf blades of vines established their degree of stability. It was revealed that the annual vines are better used for decorative purposes, and not in the sanitary-hygienic. A comparative assessment of annual species with perennial vines (maiden grapes and clematis Tangut) shows the stability of perennial species (an average of 3 points-40%). The options and decorative compositions with the participation of herbaceous vines. According to the degree of decoration of the allocated annual vine – Ipomea tricolor, I. purpurea (37 – 41 points), the average degree of differ – Lathyrus edoratus (33 points), Tropacolum peregrinum (30 points) and Phaseolus coccineus (20 to 27 points). The advantage of perennial vines is their resistance to sudden changes in climatic conditions (40 %) compared to annual forms. Therefore, they are more preferable for greening the urban environment. To enhance the decorative effect in the seasonal aspect, it is recommended to combine the expansion of species and form diversity of plants (perennial and annual lianas, tree and shrub, floral vegetation). It is established that the climatic conditions of the steppe and forest-steppe zone within the Saratov region are quite favorable for the normal growth and development of tree and shrub vegetation, including herbaceous lianas. Thus, the reasonable use of wood vines in combination with traditional types of plantings will create comfortable living conditions for the population, regulate the optimal temperature balance and create favorable microclimatic conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van Schalkwyk ◽  
J. S. Pryke ◽  
M. J. Samways ◽  
R. Gaigher

Abstract To ensure integrity of protected areas we need to understand how species respond to anthropogenic borders. We investigate, from a metacommunity perspective, the direct and indirect mechanisms by which transformed areas affect distribution patterns of ground-living arthropod assemblages inhabiting an extensive protected area adjacent to fruit orchards in an important biosphere reserve. Arthropods and environmental variables were sampled along transects perpendicular to natural-orchard edges. Influence of distance from orchard boundary, degree of impermeability of the boundary, orchard habitat quality (local scale land-use intensity), and edge-induced changes in local environmental variables on arthropod species richness and composition in non-crop habitats were assessed. Arthropod groups were assessed in terms of habitat fidelity: species associated with natural habitat (stenotopic species), those within crop habitat (cultural species), and those showing no preference for either habitat (ubiquitous species). Spillover resulted in higher cultural species richness near edges, but not higher overall species richness. Environmental filtering was important for stenotopic species composition, which was influenced by edge-induced changes in environmental variables. Ubiquitous species composition was determined by orchard impermeability. Increased orchard habitat quality was associated with higher cultural and ubiquitous species richness. The effects of orchards on assemblages in natural habitats can be variable, but predictable when using species habitat specificity in conjunction with a metacommunity framework. High intensity orchards may act as sink habitats, especially for species that readily disperse between crop and natural habitats. Here we recommend that local buffer strips are > 85 m wide, which will reduce the influence of cultural species spillover on sensitive natural ecosystems.


1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Médail ◽  
Éric Vidal

The effects of physiographic variables (area, isolation, elevation, and substrate) and habitat diversity on plant species richness and composition have been investigated on some Mediterranean islands (southeastern France). The number of species - area relationship is significant but there are more diverse vegetation patterns on smallest islands (area smaller than 3.5 ha and, ultimately, 0.2 ha). Although the species composition is positively correlated to the distance from the continent, the effect of isolation is not so obvious because of the small distance of these continental islands from the continent. Some islands nearest to shore show very different plant species composition, suggesting a nonselective plant dispersal through some narrow stretches of sea. Habitat diversity represents one of the major explanatory factors of the species richness; nevertheless, it is not possible to settle between the two hypotheses effect of habitat diversity versus effect of area per se because of the correlation between the two factors. Key words: Mediterranean islands, insular biogeography, number of species - area relationship, isolation, habitat diversity, islets.


ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 874 ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Bardh L. Xërxa ◽  
Michel Sartori ◽  
Agim Gashi ◽  
Jean-Luc Gattolliat

This research provides the first systematic contribution to the mayfly (Ephemeroptera) Fauna of Kosovo. This investigation was conducted from March to November in 2017 and 2018; 32 sites were sampled covering the different freshwater ecosystems of the country. The first checklist of mayflies of Kosovo is provided. During this survey, we found 48 species belonging to 20 genera and nine families. The highest number of species belongs to the following two families, Heptageniidae (24) and Baetidae (9). This investigation is a contribution to the knowledge about taxonomy, biogeography, and ecology of mayflies of the Balkan Peninsula by giving new data on species composition and distribution range in Kosovo.


Author(s):  
M. D. Moroz ◽  
V. M. Baichorov ◽  
Yu. G. Hihiniak

The results of studies of macrozoobenthos and pleustonic aquatic invertebrates complexes  of the Viliya River have been considered in the article. 92 species and forms related to 3 types of aquatic animals which are Mollusca – 15 species and forms; Annelida – 2 and Arthropoda –75 have been detected. The analysis of the species composition has shown in all studied sites that the species richness was within the range of 29–30 species. At the place of wastewater discharge from the town of Vileika, a species richness decrease and the number of Diptera and Oligochaeta increase has been observed. The relatively high number of species with rheophilic and oxyphilic properties such as representatives of the Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera orders groups indicates a fairly high water quality in the investigated sites of the Viliya River. Rare and protected for Belarus and Europe.species have been found.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Malakhov ◽  
Olha Kryvosheia ◽  
Petro Tsarenko

AbstractThe paper reports the first comprehensive study of microalgal species composition in four lakes of Volhynian Polissya (northwestern Ukraine), in which 271 species (279 intraspecific taxa) of 11 microalgal phyla were identified. Four dominant phytoplankton assemblages were determined for each lake. Bacillariophyta and Charophyta formed more than half (59.2%) of the taxonomic list, accounting for 94 and 66 species respectively. Desmidiaceae was the most diverse family, with 44 species (47 intraspecific taxa) of microalgae. The four lakes are highly dissimilar in species richness and composition, having only 8 (2.9%) species in common. Lake Cheremske had the highest number of algal species – 137 (144). Lake Bile, Lake Somyne and Lake Redychi were much less diverse, with 105, 79 (80) and 75 (78) species respectively. Morphological descriptions, original micrographies and figures are presented for a number of species, including some not previously documented in Ukraine: Chromulina cf. verrucosa G. A. Klebs, Eunotia myrmica Lange-Bert. and E. tetraodon Ehrenb. The lakes, which are almost pristine or are recovering, maintain diverse and valuable algal floras, making them important sites in the Pan-European ecological network.


2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu. A. Kotuchov ◽  
A. N. Danilova ◽  
O. A. Anufrieva

A list of the genus Betula L. was compiled by the authors on the basis of field work carried out in 1970–2019, and also the collections of other collectors stored in the herbarium of Republican state-owned enterprises on the right of economic management “Altai Botanical Garden” (Ridder) and the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction (Almaty). Purpose: to clarify the species composition and distribution of the genus Betula L. (family Betulaceae S.F. Gray) in the territory of Kazakhstan Altai, the Altai ridges and the Zaysan depression. As a result of the studies established the growth of 15 species and one subspecies of the genus Betula L. in the studying region. The study of herbarium samples, literature data and private collections allowed to supplement the species composition of the genus Betula L. of Kazakhstan with 7 species: B. x aurata Borkh., B. pseudopendula V. Vassil., B. falcata V. Vassil., B. x kelleriana Sukacz., B. х pseudomiddendorffii V. Vassil., B. talassica P. Pol., B. fruticosa subsp. montana M. Schemberg. Species saturation in the studied region: Central Altai – 3 species (18,8% of the total number of species); Southern Altai – 11 (68,75%); Western Altai –11 (68.75%); Kalba Altai – 6 (37,5%); Zaysan depression – 3 (18,75%); Saur-Manrak – 2 (12,5%). The average saturation index of species of the genus Betula L. in the flora of the Kazakhstan Altai and the Altai ranges is 6, which is relatively low, which indicates that family Betulaceae in the studied region is a specific element of boreal and holarctic flora. Keywords: list, genus Betula, species, Kazakhstan Altai, Saur-Manrak, Zaysan depression, distribution, occurrence.


Author(s):  
Xuanxuan Xia ◽  
Hongchang Li ◽  
Xujuan Kuang ◽  
Jack Strauss

Urban rail transit is an important transportation infrastructure that mitigates the congestion of the central city and realizes compact city space development. However, the literature on the spatiotemporal coupling of urbanization and rail transit from the urban scale and its influencing factors is still uncommon. Taking Beijing as an example, based on the theory of coupling coordination, we have constructed a comprehensive indicator system for regional urbanization (hereafter RU) (including population, economy, and spatial urbanization) and rail transit (hereafter RT). On this basis, we use the entropy method, coupling coordination degree model, and spatial autocorrelation analysis method to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of the overall and pairwise coupling coordination between population, economy, spatial urbanization, and rail transit. Finally, we analyze the spatial correlation and standard deviational ellipse analysis of the coupling coordination degree between RU and RT. The results indicate the following: (1) In addition to population urbanization, the other urbanization indicators and the RT level all show a downward–rising–falling trend from 2006 to 2017, among which the level of economic urbanization is the highest. The degree of coupling coordination between RU and RT is unbalanced development and shows a trend of first rising and then falling. (2) The degree of coupling coordination between RU and RT presents an imbalanced distribution in various regions, and the coupling coordination degree in the central urban areas is significantly higher than that in the outer suburbs. (3) From 2006 to 2017, the spatial correlation of the coupling coordination degree between the various systems has a similar changing trend. Moreover, the distribution of the spatial agglomeration points of the coupling coordination degree between RU and the RT is similar, showing a decreasing trend from the central urban area to the surrounding urban area. Therefore, relevant departments can rationally plan the construction of urban rail transit according to the coordination relationship between RU and RT and the spatial aggregation degree to realize the benign and sustainable development between urban especially suburbanization and rail transit.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-177
Author(s):  
Le Thi Thu Thao ◽  
Vo Van Quang ◽  
Nguyen Phi Uy Vu

Three surveys were carried out in May, August and December 2014 at 7 sampling location to determine species composition of fish fauna in the coastal waters of Quang Ngai province (the Central Vietnam). A total number of 178 species of fishes were identified belonging to 125 genera, 68 families and 13 orders. Analysis of community structure of fish fauna showed that Perciformes order was the most popular, making up 71.9%; Tetraodontiformes (8.4%); Pleuronectiformes (5.6%). Serranidae family was the most abundant with 14 species, making up 7.9% of the total number of species; Carangidae: 12 species (6.7%); Lutjanidae, Gobiidae had the same number of species with 9 species (5.1%); Scombridae: 7 species (3.9%); Soleidae: 6 species (3.4%); Haemulidae, Mullidae, Tetraodontidae: 5 species (2.8%);... Cluster analysing based on the Bray-Curtis similarity index of nine fish faunas (Thai Binh, Son Tra, Thu Bon, Quang Nam, Nha Phu-Binh Cang, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh) showed that fish composition of the coastal estuaries of Tra Vinh and Ben Tre had the highest similarity (80%), subsequently fish fauna of Quang Ngai had similarity with that of Nha Phu-Binh Cang (39%), Quang Ngai and Quang Nam (42%), Quang Nam and Nha Phu-Binh Cang (41%), Quang Nam and Son Tra (38%), Thai Binh and Ben Tre (37%), Quang Ngai and Son Tra (36%). The result was also classified into two distinct groups of 7 fish faunas: Group 1-Tra Vinh, Ben Tre and Thai Binh; group 2-Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Nha Phu-Binh Cang and Son Tra. The species richness (Margalef’s index) of Quang Ngai (34.2) was less abundant than other areas, the highest species richness belonged to Tra Vinh (38.2), Thai Binh (38.0), Quang Nam (37.8), Nha Phu-Binh Cang (35.1), Son Tra (30.9), Ben Tre (29.4). The diversity of species composition according to the level taxa in each region showed the characteristic of each fish fauna.


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