scholarly journals The Effect of Human Activity on Ant Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Richness at the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Jonathan Z. Shik ◽  
André Francoeur ◽  
Christopher M. Buddle
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Lasius Niger ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Tetramorium Caespitum ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Disturbed Habitats ◽  
Unique Species

The ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fauna of the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec, was surveyed in 2002 and 2003. Although overall species richness was high, 10 of 40 total ant species collected were limited to anthropogenically disturbed habitats within the reserve. While only 2 of these 10 species (Tetramorium caespitum (L.) and Lasius niger (L.)) can definitively be considered introduced, areas altered by human activity (representing a small fraction of the reserve’s total area) possess nearly as many unique species as the reserve’s old-growth forest. Although further research will be necessary to determine the consequences of such changes in community structure, this study shows the importance of specifying the extent of biodiversity surveys within protected habitats to more accurately monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

The effects of partial cutting on forest plant communities of western hemlock – Sitka spruce stands in southeast Alaska

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 2067-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L Deal
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Plant Community Structure ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Clear Cutting

The effects of partial cutting on plant species richness, community structure, and several understory species that are important for deer forage were evaluated on 73 plots in 18 stands throughout southeast Alaska. These partially cut stands were harvested 12–96 years ago when 16–96% of the former stand basal area was removed. The species richness and community structure of understory plants were similar in uncut and partially cut plots. However, plots where more than 50% of the basal area was cut had a significantly different plant community structure. Species composition and abundance also appeared to be distinctly different between hemlock-dominated and spruce-dominated stands. Partial cutting did not significantly change abundance for most of the important forage species for deer. The similarity in plant community structure between partially cut and uncut old-growth stands may be related to forest stand structures. The heterogeneous stand structures that develop after partial cutting are more similar to old-growth stands than to the uniform young-growth stands that develop after stand replacing disturbances such as clear-cutting.

Metal Content and Community Structure of Cryptogam Bioindicators in relation to Vehicular Traffic in Montseny Biosphere Reserve (Catalonia, Spain)

1995 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Glenn ◽  
A. Gomez-Bolea ◽  
R. Lobello
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Metal Content ◽  
Quercus Ilex ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Vehicular Traffic ◽  
Fungal Parasites

AbstractThe health, abundance, metal content and species richness of corticolous macrolichens and bryophytes of Quercus ilex were compared at nine roadside stations in Montseny Biosphere Reserve, 40 km NNE of Barcelona, and at a control site outside the industrial metropolis. Stations were characterized by traffic levels and the correlated parameter airborne particles. Corticolous flora at all stations was dominated by sorediate Parmelia species (P. caperata, P. soredians, P. subrudecta, P. subaurifera, P. sulcata and P. perlata). Damage, mainly due to arthropod feeding and fungal parasites, ranged from 14 to 33% of mean cover per station in the park and was 10% at the control site. Elevated levels of Pb, Zn and Cu were found in large thalli near the roadsides.

scholarly journals Variation in species richness, composition and herpetological community structure across a tropical habitat gradient of Palawan Island, Philippines

Herpetozoa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 95-111
Author(s):  
Christian E. Supsup ◽  
Augusto A. Asis ◽  
Uldarico V. Carestia Jr ◽  
Arvin C. Diesmos ◽  
Neil Aldrin D. Mallari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Habitat Gradient ◽  
Primary Habitat ◽  
Palawan Island ◽  
Pristine Forest

Information on species richness and community structure is invaluable for guiding conservation and management of biodiversity, but is rarely available in the megadiverse biodiversity conservation hotspot of Philippines – particularly for amphibians and reptiles. This study provides the first report and characterisation of amphibians and reptile communities across primary habitat types of the Victoria-Anepahan Mountain Range on Palawan Island along the western edge of the archipelago. A total of 41 amphibian and reptile species were recorded throughout our sampling sites (n = 27 species) or in targeted habitat searches (14 species). A species richness estimator predicted that 35 species may be present in our sampling sites, suggesting that a significant proportion of secretive species may continue to be unrecorded, especially for reptiles. Higher species richness was found in secondary growth than in mixed-use agricultural areas or even pristine forest. The low species richness recorded from pristine forest types may be due to these forests now being restricted to higher elevations where species diversity has been documented to decrease. Our results also show that complex community structures (species assemblages) are to be equally expected in both secondary growth and pristine forests. Together, our results show how species richness and community assemblages may vary across habitats, highlighting that old growth forest does not always support higher species richness, particularly in high elevations.

scholarly journals Changes in nocturnal insect communities in forest-dominated landscape relevant to artificial light intensity

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Hakbong ◽  
Cho Yong-Chan ◽  
Jung Sang-Woo ◽  
Kim Yoon-Ho ◽  
Lee Seung-Gyu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Insect Diversity ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Urban Sites

Abstract Background Artificial light at night has recently been identified as a major factor adversely affecting global insect diversity. Here, we compared the insect diversity in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve, specifically in the Korea National Arboretum (with no artificial light at night), with that of three nearby urban sites with a gradient of artificial light at night (five locations at each site). We analyzed the effects of the artificial night lighting index, mean annual temperature, and field light intensity (lux) at night on the insect community structure. Results The urban sites generally exhibited higher species richness and abundance as well as clear indicator species compared with the control site. The size distribution of the collected insects markedly differed between the control and the three urban sites. The abundance of herbivorous and omnivorous insects increased and decreased, respectively, with the increase in light intensity. Species richness of herbivorous and omnivorous insects was likely correlated with the field light intensity at night and artificial night lighting index, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates the association between nighttime environment and marked changes in insect community structure and revealed consequent transition of ecosystem services by changes in trophic group composition.

scholarly journals Biodiversity recovery of Neotropical secondary forests

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. eaau3114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danaë M. A. Rozendaal ◽  
Frans Bongers ◽  
T. Mitchell Aide ◽  
Esteban Alvarez-Dávila ◽  
Nataly Ascarrunz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Rarefaction Analysis ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Dual Strategy ◽  
Tropical Landscapes

Old-growth tropical forests harbor an immense diversity of tree species but are rapidly being cleared, while secondary forests that regrow on abandoned agricultural lands increase in extent. We assess how tree species richness and composition recover during secondary succession across gradients in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in an unprecedented multisite analysis for the Neotropics. Secondary forests recover remarkably fast in species richness but slowly in species composition. Secondary forests take a median time of five decades to recover the species richness of old-growth forest (80% recovery after 20 years) based on rarefaction analysis. Full recovery of species composition takes centuries (only 34% recovery after 20 years). A dual strategy that maintains both old-growth forests and species-rich secondary forests is therefore crucial for biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes.

scholarly journals Seed rain and establishment in successional forests in Chiapas, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Carrillo Arreola ◽  
Pedro Francisco Quintana-Ascencio ◽  
Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial Ramírez-Marcial ◽  
Mario González-Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Successional Forests ◽  
New Recruits ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Disturbed Habitats

Background and Aims: Agriculture in the tropics is decreasing, fragmenting and altering forests and forest landscapes. We hypothesized differences in species richness and dominance of life forms in the seed rain and in richness and survival in the recruit assemblages among mature forests, mid-successional forests, early successional forests, pastures and milpa fields (arable lands with maize) surrounded by natural and human disturbed habitats. Methods: Samples of seeds and plants were collected during a year in Lacanjá-Chansayab and Bonampak-Bethel, in the buffer zone of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico. We deployed 14 seed traps in 12 sites representing a gradient of vegetation succession (2 sites × 6 habitats × 14 traps; n = 168 traps). Independently, to assess changes in recruitment and early survival, we established 15 quadrats (0.5 × 2.0 m) in each of the studied forests (2 sites × 3 habitats × 15 quadrats; n = 90 quadrats). Key results: We collected ~13,600 seeds of 144 species from 48 botanical families. Mature forests had the highest seed rain species richness (60-61) and pastures (14-11) the lowest. We observed a decline in species richness and a change in dominance of life forms in the seed rain from less disturbed to most perturbed habitats. Mature forests included seeds of diverse tree species while the assemblage in pastures was dominated by seeds of few grass species. Intensive traditional milpa fields showed homogeneous seed assemblages. For the new recruits, we recorded ~3,416 individuals (<0.5 m height) of 238 morphospecies in 42 families, 129 were identified to species level. The largest number of species occurred in mature and mid-successional stands compared to early forests. Annual survival of recruits was higher in mid- and late successional forests than in early ones.Conclusions: We document species loss and widespread simplification and homogenization in community composition due to pervasive effect of humans on remnant tropical lowland forests.

scholarly journals The scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) assemblages of a wildfire-affected hemiboreal old-growth forest in Tyresta (Sweden)

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Durska ◽  
James Bonet ◽  
Bert Viklund
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Dominance Structure ◽  
Disturbance Factor

In natural forests, fire is an important disturbance factor and many studies have been carried out concerning its effect on different ecosystems, but no studies have previously been done considering the scuttle flies in hemiboreal forests. Here, we carried out an ecological investigation of the scuttle fly assemblage in a hemiboreal old-growth forest in Tyresta National Park and Nature Reserve (Sweden) from material collected, using Malaise traps, after wildfires in 1997 and 1999. We evaluated abundances of species, dominance structure, species richness (by non-parametric species richness method — Chao 1) as well as phenology. The most abundant species of the dominant group (i.e. Megaselia pleuralis, M. nigriceps, M pulicaria-complex and M. brevicostalis) are multivoltine and saprophagous, displaying spring and late summer/autumn activity.

scholarly journals Soil Elements Influencing Community Structure in an Old-Growth Forest in Northeastern China

Forests ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Xu ◽  
Minhui Hao ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Chunyu Zhang ◽  
Xiuhai Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Riparian bryophyte vegetation in the Cascade mountain range, Northwest U.S.A.: patterns at different spatial scales

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 744-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bengt Gunnar Jonsson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Stream Size

Riparian forests are productive and species rich ecosystems where the vegetation is structured by sharp environmental gradients. The study describes community patterns of bryophytes in stream-side forests, relates these patterns to major environmental gradients, and compares within-site factors with site level variables. Samples were collected from 360 plots 2 × 4 m in size distributed among 42 sites in old-growth Pseudotsuga–Tsuga forests. The sites ranged from 420 to 1250 m asl and stream size from 1st to 5th order streams. There were significant changes in species richness and composition along several environmental gradients. Richness within sites varied among different geomorphic surfaces with the highest number of species on areas periodically flooded. Richness was also higher in plots with high abundance of woody debris. No site level factors influenced richness at the sample plot level, while the highest species number at the site level was for large streams. The main gradients in the species composition within sites were changes with increasing distance from the stream and amount of woody debris. Both elevation and stream size significantly influenced species composition. The complex set of factors that influenced species richness and composition implies that management of riparian vegetation must be based on both coarse scale considerations such as regional distribution of different stream types and fine scale factors such as spatial availability of different substrate types. Key words: old-growth forest; CCA analysis; fluvial disturbance; bryophytes; elevation effects; coarse woody debris.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document