scholarly journals Species richness and distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea) in an agricultural environment in SE Finland

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Saarinen ◽  
Olli Marttila ◽  
Juha Jantunen

A five-year follow-up study was carried out to assess the species richness, adult flight period and distribution of butterflies in an agricultural environment in southeastern Finland in the years 1991-1995. Butterflies were monitored once a week from early May to late September on a 2.5-km field boundary transect. During 107 counts, a total of 49 species and 6 112 individuals were observed. More than half of all individuals (56%) were observed in July. The results of multivariate analyses indicated that the occurrence of species was related to three habitat types, classified as field margins dividing arable field and coniferous forest, arable field and deciduous forest and two arable fields. Species richness was higher in field margins near forests than in margins between two fields.

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2616-2629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Normand Villeneuve ◽  
Miroslav M. Grandtner ◽  
J. André Fortin

Total macro fungus frequency in closed forest associations of the Laurentide Mountains varied little (147 – 185 %) from one to another. The macrofungal flora of the deciduous forest was composed mainly of many infrequent species, whereas coniferous forests had few, but very frequent, macrofungi. Total frequency was significantly lower (15%) in open stands of the spruce–cladina association. Species richness decreased gradually (from 125 to 34 species) towards the north and with increasing altitude. Both the Simpson and the Shannon–Wiener diversity indices were significantly lower in the coniferous forest when compared with the deciduous forest. This decrease in diversity was due to the scarcity of saprophytic fungi in mor humus, whereas the number of ectomycorrhizal species remained constant. The diversity of saprophytic fungi was related significantly to that of vascular plants, whereas the diversity of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi was related mainly to the percent cover of ectomycorrhizal hosts. A total of 195 species of macrofungi were recorded for the study sites. In the maple – yellow birch forest, most of the macrofungi were saprophytic members of the Tricholomataceae, Hygrophoraceae, Strophariaceae, and Clavariaceae, many being exclusive in this association. However, each biological group had approximately equal frequency (44–54%) and richness (37–45 taxa). Species composition of the coniferous forest differed from the former in the clear dominance of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi from the Cortinariaceae, Russulaceae, and the Boletaceae. In the black spruce – cladina association, saprophytic fungi were scarce and ectomycorrhizal species were also relatively infrequent. In all the sites, the equitability of macrofungal frequency was high, as seen by the high proportion of rare species. The decline in species richness observed in this study, when moving from deciduous to coniferous forests, corresponds well with the increase in environmental rigor and instability, as well as the decrease in the diversity of organic substrate and species of vascular plants.


Author(s):  
Allison Neil

Soil properties are strongly influenced by the composition of the surrounding vegetation. We investigated soil properties of three ecosystems; a coniferous forest, a deciduous forest and an agricultural grassland, to determine the impact of land use change on soil properties. Disturbances such as deforestation followed by cultivation can severely alter soil properties, including losses of soil carbon. We collected nine 40 cm cores from three ecosystem types on the Roebuck Farm, north of Perth Village, Ontario, Canada. Dominant species in each ecosystem included hemlock and white pine in the coniferous forest; sugar maple, birch and beech in the deciduous forest; grasses, legumes and herbs in the grassland. Soil pH varied little between the three ecosystems and over depth. Soils under grassland vegetation had the highest bulk density, especially near the surface. The forest sites showed higher cation exchange capacity and soil moisture than the grassland; these differences largely resulted from higher organic matter levels in the surface forest soils. Vertical distribution of organic matter varied greatly amongst the three ecosystems. In the forest, more of the organic matter was located near the surface, while in the grassland organic matter concentrations varied little with depth. The results suggest that changes in land cover and land use alters litter inputs and nutrient cycling rates, modifying soil physical and chemical properties. Our results further suggest that conversion of forest into agricultural land in this area can lead to a decline in soil carbon storage.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1211-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Lozhkin ◽  
P. M. Anderson

Abstract. Preliminary analyses of Lake El'gygytgyn sediment indicate a wide range of ecosystem responses to warmer than present climates. While palynological work describing all interglacial vegetation is ongoing, sufficient data exist to compare recent warm events (the postglacial thermal maximum, PGTM, and marine isotope stage, MIS5) with "super" interglaciations (MIS11, MIS31). Palynological assemblages associated with these climatic optima suggest two types of vegetation responses: one dominated by deciduous taxa (PGTM, MIS5) and the second by evergreen conifers (MIS11, MIS31). MIS11 forests show a similarity to modern Picea–Larix–Betula–Alnus forests of Siberia. While dark coniferous forest also characterizes MIS31, the pollen taxa show an affinity to the boreal forest of the lower Amur valley (southern Russian Far East). Despite vegetation differences during these thermal maxima, all glacial–interglacial transitions are alike, being dominated by deciduous woody taxa. Initially Betula shrub tundra established and was replaced by tundra with tree-sized shrubs (PGTM), Betula woodland (MIS5), or Betula–Larix (MIS11, MIS31) forest. The consistent occurrence of deciduous forest and/or high shrub tundra before the incidence of maximum warmth underscores the importance of this biome for modeling efforts. The El'gygytgyn data also suggest a possible elimination or massive reduction of Arctic plant communities under extreme warm-earth scenarios.


2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Carvell ◽  
W.R Meek ◽  
R.F Pywell ◽  
M Nowakowski

Web Ecology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Elek ◽  
T. Magura ◽  
T. Tóthmérész

Abstract. The impacts of non-native Norway spruce plantation on the abundance and species richness of carabids were studied in the Bükk National Park in Hungary, central Europe. Pitfall catches from recently established (5 yr old), young (15 yr after planting), middle-aged (30 yr after planting), old Norway spruce Picea abies plantation (50 yr after planting), and a native submontane beech forest (Fagetum sylvaticae) as a control stand were compared. Our results showed that deciduous forest species decreased significantly in abundance in the plantations, and appeared in high abundance only in the native beech forest. Furthermore, open habitat species increased remarkably in abundance in the recently established plantation. Carabids were significantly more abundant and species rich in the native forest than in the plantations, while differences were not significant among the plantations. Multiple regression between the abundance and species richness of carabids and twelve environmental measurements showed that pH of the soil, herb cover and density of the carabids’ prey had a significant effect in determining abundance and species richness. Our results showed that plantation of non-native Norway spruce species had a detrimental effect on the composition of carabid communities and no regeneration could be observed during the growth of plantations even 50 yr after the establishment. This emphasises the importance of an active nature management practice to facilitate the recolonization of the native species.


2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 971-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Zurawska-Seta ◽  
T. Barczak

European moles are widespread in both cultivated and uncultivated areas in Poland. Their occurrence and distribution in relation to the physical and chemical characteristics of soil has been already studied in previous research. However, there is still an open question about the impact of the structure of anthropogenic habitats produced by agriculture on moles. The main aim of this study is to assess the influence of different kinds of field margins on the presence and spatial distribution of the European mole Talpa europaea L. in farmlands. Methods included the monitoring of six investigative sites in northern Poland. Observations were made during three six-month periods in 2005-2008 of the presence or absence of moles as recognized by recent molehills and surface tunnels. There was a very clear tendency by moles to occupy areas within arable fields close to field boundaries with wide verges containing ruderal and woodland communities with a spacious zone of ecotones. Narrow boundary strips were avoided by moles. In conclusion, the conducted research confirms that field margins have an impact on the presence and spatial distribution of moles within ploughed lands. Our results may be helpful in improving the relation between agricultural development and biodiversity conservation, and the rational use of nature by humankind.


Check List ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joydeb Majumder ◽  
Rahul Lodh ◽  
B. K. Agarwala

Quantification of butterfly diversity and species richness is of prime importance for evaluating the status of protected areas. Permanent line transect counts were used to record species richness and abundance of butterfly communities of different habitat types in Trishna wildlife sanctuary. A total of 1005 individuals representing 59 species in 48 genera belonging to five families were recorded in the present study. Of these, 23 species belonged to the family Nymphalidae and accounted for 38.98% of the total species and 45.20% of the total number of individuals. Mature secondary mixed moist deciduous forest showed the maximum diversity and species richness, while exotic grassland showed minimum diversity and species richness. Out of 59 species, 31 are new records for Tripura state, while 21 are unique species and nine are listed in the threatened category. This study revealed that mature secondary forests are more important for butterfly communities, while exotic grasslands have a negative impact on species composition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 85-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Reiss ◽  
Peter Chifflard

Headwater springs in the German Low Mountain Ranges are local ecotone habitats and biogeographical islands embedded in and interlinked with their adjacent landscape. The structure of forests reflects the eco-hydrological conditions in substrate type occurrence, microhabitat richness and biodiversity in forest springs. This study considers effects from different forest land cover by comparing spring habitats in deciduous beech forests and coniferous spruce forests on eco-hydrological structures and biodiversity. Study areas include six different forest landscapes in the Low Mountain Ranges in Central Germany in Hesse and Thuringia. Hydro-morphological structure mapping and invertebrate sampling was executed within a multi-habitat sampling regime, which involves sampling plots being allocated according to the cover ratio of the occurring substrata. Aquatic and terrestrial spring zones are considered with respect to an ecotone approach. Some in situ measurements were implemented, such as pH values, to assess the acidity of the spring water. Results show obvious differences in acidity, substrate type cover ratios and biodiversity in deciduous and coniferous forest springs. Conifer forest springs were found tending to acidification while deciduous forest springs were slightly alkaline. Deciduous forest springs had higher cover ratios of organic microhabitats as well as a higher biodiversity in species richness and total number of individuals. Although it was not possible to clearly distinguish one direct key factor of fauna assemblages, negative effects from forest management practices (e.g. monoculture plantations of conifer forest) on spring habitats can be concluded.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1930) ◽  
pp. 20201118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bérenger Bourgeois ◽  
Sabrina Gaba ◽  
Christine Plumejeaud ◽  
Vincent Bretagnolle

Arable weeds are key organisms for biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem service provision in agroecosystems. Disentangling the drivers of weed diversity is critical to counteract the global decline of farmland biodiversity. Even if distinct scale-dependent processes were alternatively proposed, no general framework unifying the multi-scale drivers of weed dynamics has yet emerged. Here, we investigate the joint effects of field- and landscape-scale processes on weed assemblages in 444 arable fields. First, field margins sheltered greater weed diversity than field core, evidencing their role as biodiversity refugia. Second, community similarity between field core and margin decreased with the distance to margin, highlighting a major role of local dispersal. Third, weed diversity at field margins increased with organic field cover in the landscape, pointing out massive regional dispersal. Fourth, while both local and landscape dispersal explained up to 41% of field core weed diversity, crop type strongly modulated their strength, depicting an intense filtering effect by agricultural management. This study sheds new light on the complex multi-scale interactions shaping weed diversity, field margins playing a key role by strengthening regional dispersal and sustaining local dispersal. Land-sharing strategies improving habitat heterogeneity both locally and regionally should largely promote agroecosystem multifunctionality and sustainability.


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