Habitat Complexity and Invertebrate Species Richness and Abundance in Tropical Seagrass Meadows

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Heck ◽  
Gregory S. Wetstone
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

scholarly journals Orchid bee fauna responds to habitat complexity on a savanna area (Cerrado) in Brazil.

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmine Antonini ◽  
Rodrigo Assunção Silveira ◽  
Márcio Oliveira ◽  
Cristiane Martins ◽  
Reisla Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Orchid Bee ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Habitat structure and complexity may broadly affect the diversity and composition of a variety of fauna in terrestrial systems. Here we investigated responses of orchid bee assemblages to habitat complexity, with the aim of assessing complexity as a useful surrogate for species diversity of this group. We test the following hypotheses: (i) There is a greater species richness and abundance of orchid bee in sites with high habitat complexity than lower habitat complexity; (ii) High habitat complexity sites have a different species composition of orchid bee than lower habitat complexity sites. For the purposes of our study, we defined habitat complexity as the heterogeneity in the arrangement in physical structure of habitat (vegetation), although there are a large range of operational definitions in the literature. As result, orchid bee species richness was higher in high complexity areas while community composition was not affected by habitat complexity, because Euglossa melanotricha and E. leucotricha were the dominant species, occurring in both environments. Habitat complexity, measured as a function of differences in multiple strata in forests, may be of great worth as a surrogate for the diversity of a range of arthropod groups including orchid bees. 

scholarly journals Relationship between invertebrate fauna and bromeliad size

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
VA. Araújo ◽  
SK. Melo ◽  
APA. Araújo ◽  
MLM. Gomes ◽  
MAA. Carneiro
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Associated Fauna ◽  
Invertebrate Fauna ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Rupestrian Fields ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Diptera Larvae

Several bromeliads species store water and organic substrates, allowing the establishment of phytotelmata and associated fauna on their leaves. In this study, we sampled 70 individuals of Vriesea sp. (Carrière) (Bromeliaceae), in rupestrian fields in the Serra de Ouro Branco-MG, Brazil. The relationships between invertebrate species richness and abundance and size of bromeliads were tested using multiple regression. We found 19 species associated with bromeliads, mainly Diptera larvae. The abundance of the phytotelmate fauna increased principally in relation to the volume of water in the bromeliad reservoir. Phytotelmata richness was affected principally by diameter of the reservoir. There was a significant relationship between the abundance and richness of invertebrates associated with leaves with diameter and height of the plant. Invertebrate richness was better explained by abundance of individuals. These results suggest that the increase of richness was attended by higher numbers of microhabitats and more space for colonization of bigger bromeliads. Additionally, there was more chance of sampling different species in locales with greater abundance of individuals.

Influence of habitat complexity on fish density and species richness in structurally simple forereef seagrass meadows

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 547-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Ann Jin Ho ◽  
Jillian Lean Sim Ooi ◽  
Yang Amri Affendi ◽  
Ving Ching Chong
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Fish Density ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Fish Habitats

Abstract Seagrass meadows are highly productive habitats that support commercially and ecologically important fishes and invertebrates. However, evidence of fish-habitat relationships are seldom drawn from forereef seagrass meadows that are structurally simple in terms of species richness and relative size and, consequently, their role as habitats is unclear. In this study, fish-habitat relationships were examined in such meadows in the forereef seagrasses of Tinggi Island and Babi Besar Island, Malaysia, by documenting habitat complexity attributes (canopy height, shoot density and percent cover), distance to adjacent coral reefs, and water depth within 2×2 m quadrats. Fish assemblages were recorded using the Remote Underwater Video Station method. A total of 1166 individuals from 86 taxa were found and enumerated. This study showed that (1) fish density and species richness were significantly associated with seagrass percent cover alone; (2) commercially important carnivores formed the majority of the fish populations in the meadows, and (3) fish density and species richness were positively correlated with distance to the nearest adjacent coral reef, indicating the need to account for the effects of neighboring habitats in studies of this nature. Thus, structurally simple seagrass meadows are still important fish habitats, especially as feeding grounds for commercially significant carnivores.

scholarly journals Biodiversity hanging by a thread: the importance of fungal litter-trapping systems in tropical rainforests

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake L. Snaddon ◽  
Edgar C. Turner ◽  
Tom M. Fayle ◽  
Chey V. Khen ◽  
Paul Eggleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Dramatic Reduction ◽  
Experimental Removal ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Vital Resource

The exceptionally high species richness of arthropods in tropical rainforests hinges on the complexity of the forest itself: that is, on features such as the high plant diversity, the layered nature of the canopy and the abundance and the diversity of epiphytes and litter. We here report on one important, but almost completely neglected, piece of this complex jigsaw—the intricate network of rhizomorph-forming fungi that ramify through the vegetation of the lower canopy and intercept falling leaf litter. We show that this litter-trapping network is abundant and intercepts substantial amounts of litter (257.3 kg ha −1 ): this exceeds the amount of material recorded in any other rainforest litter-trapping system. Experimental removal of this fungal network resulted in a dramatic reduction in both the abundance (decreased by 70.2 ± 4.1%) and morphospecies richness (decreased by 57.4 ± 5.1%) of arthropods. Since the lower canopy levels can contain the highest densities of arthropods, the proportion of the rainforest fauna dependent on the fungal networks is likely to be substantial. Fungal litter-trapping systems are therefore a crucial component of habitat complexity, providing a vital resource that contributes significantly to rainforest biodiversity.

scholarly journals Salinity and freshwater discharge determine rotifer distribution at the Mossoró River Estuary (Semiarid Region of Brazil)

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMA. Medeiros ◽  
JEL. Barbosa ◽  
PR. Medeiros ◽  
RM. Rocha ◽  
LF. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Freshwater Discharge ◽  
The Other ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Inverse Estuary ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

The present study aimed at evaluating differences in rotifer distribution in three estuarine zones in an inverse estuary located in the Semiarid Region of Brazil. Zones were chosen based on their proximity to the ocean and river border as a means of reflecting a horizontal salinity gradient. High freshwater discharge during the rainy season was the major determinant of rotifer composition. On the other hand, due to higher salinity values during the dry season, very low values of species richness and abundance were observed in all zones. Therefore, the study highlights the constraints of salinity and the positive influence of seasonality and river proximity on rotifer species in a semiarid estuarine environment.

scholarly journals Impact of greenspaces in city on avian species richness and abundance in Northern Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 340 (8) ◽  
pp. 394-400
Author(s):  
Hani Amir Aouissi ◽  
Julien Gasparini ◽  
Adnène Ibrahim Belabed ◽  
Zihad Bouslama
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Northern Africa ◽  
Avian Species ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

scholarly journals Is polychaete diversity in the deep sublittoral of an Antarctic fiord related to habitat complexity?

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Pabis ◽  
Jacek Siciński
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Soft Bottom ◽  
Admiralty Bay ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
South Shetlands ◽  
High Species Richness

Is polychaete diversity in the deep sublittoral of an Antarctic fiord related to habitat complexity?Seventy-six species of Polychaeta were found in 19 quantitative samples collected in the deep sublittoral (200-500 m) of Admiralty Bay (South Shetlands). Three assemblages were distinguished by similarity analysis (clustering, nMDS). The soft bottom in depths from 200 to 300m was strongly dominated byMaldane sarsi antarcticaand had very low species richness and diversity. The second assemblage was distinguished in the areas of the sea floor in the same depth range but with aggregations of Ascidiacea and Bryozoa. It was again characterized by high abundance ofMaldane sarsi antarctica, but showed significantly higher species richness and diversity. Diversity of polychaete feeding guilds was also high in these areas. This pattern was probably associated with an increased habitat complexity due to the presence of dense aggregations of large suspension feeders. High species richness and diversity was also noted in the third assemblage, associated with the deepest sublittoral (400-500 m) of Admiralty Bay. This is the area characterized by very stable environmental conditions, where the assemblage was dominated byTharyx cincinnatus, Sternaspissp.,Maldane sarsi antarctica, andAsychis amphiglypta.

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