HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS AND GRASSHOPPER COMMUNITY DYNAMICS ON MIXED-GRASS RANGELAND

1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Quinn ◽  
R.L. Kepner ◽  
D.D. Walgenbach ◽  
R.A. Bohls ◽  
P.D. Pooler ◽  
...  

AbstractA study was conducted in Butte County of western South Dakota to determine the relationships between habitat characteristics and spatial and temporal changes in community structure of grasshoppers on mixed-grass rangeland. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of 29 undisturbed grasshopper communities and correlation analysis of DCA axis values and habitat variables denned specific spatial gradients underlying the community structure of grasshoppers. Results indicated that grasshopper communities changed along a primary gradient of percentage of coverage of grasses, particularly Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm., and a secondary gradient of percentage composition of clay and sand in the soil.DCA of 24 grasshopper communities sampled in 1986 and 1987, multiple regression analysis, and factor analysis were used to determine the relationships between specific habitat characteristics and changes in communities of grasshoppers treated with either a nonselective insecticidal spray (malathion) or a selective insecticidal bait (bran bait with carbaryl). Results indicated that between-year change in community composition, or the difference between post-treatment communities in 1986 and 1987, was positively correlated with percentage of coverage of total grasses and forbs. Community malleability, defined as the tendency of a community to return to its predisturbed state, was greater in habitats with high coverages of Agropyron smithii Rydb. and Carex spp., low coverage of Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud., and low species richness of grasses. Our results emphasize the importance of habitat characteristics in structuring undisturbed grasshopper communities and in community change after perturbation with insecticides.

1991 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1285-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Quinn ◽  
R. L. Kepner ◽  
D. D. Walgenbach ◽  
R. Nelson Foster ◽  
R. A. Bohls ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 2464-2475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darwyn S. Coxson ◽  
John Henry H. Looney

Native grassland communities located in coulees near Lethbridge, Alberta, were studied to identify the associations present and the environmental factors influencing them. The vegetation along 16 transects was described using point quadrants, with additional study sites analyzed for soil and environmental variables. The data were analyzed using detrended correspondence analysis and indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and the results are discussed in relation to recognized plant associations. The primary environmental factor affecting the distribution of these associations is a xeric–mesic gradient, which is discussed in terms of site topography and the physiological requirements of Agropyron smithii and Bouteloua gracilis. A disjunct Festuca scabrella community is recognized and implications of this are discussed.


Author(s):  
Pavel Beracko ◽  
Andrea Kušnírová ◽  
Michaela Partlová ◽  
Jana Ciceková

<p>Our study examines community structure and nymphal biology (life cycles and secondary production) of stoneflies in two adjacent mountain streams with different degree of forest cover in the Prosiečanka River Basin (Chočské Vrchy Mts., West Carpathians). One of the streams has non-forested catchment, converted to meadows and pastures, while the other one has catchment with 60% covered by spruce forest. Differences in forest cover and in thermal regime of the streams were reflected by the difference of stonefly communities at their structural and functional level. Species <em>Nemoura cinerea and Leuctra aurita </em>created stonefly assemblage in non-forested stream, whereas <em>Nemoura cinerea</em> also occurred in naturally forested stream together with species <em>Leuctra armata, Leuctra nigra, Leuctra prima, Siphonoperla neglecta</em> and <em>Arcynopteryx dichroa</em>. All examined species had maximally annual life cycle and in eudominant species <em>Nemoura cinerea</em> one month shift was found in nymphal hatching and adult emergence between streams. Total secondary production of stoneflies in undisturbed stream (126.46 mg DW m<sup>-2</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>) was more than two times higher than the production in non-forested stream (47.39 mg DW m<sup>-2</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>). </p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana D Dias ◽  
Érica M Takahashi ◽  
Natália F Santana ◽  
Cláudia C Bonecker

We investigated the impact of fish cage culture on the zooplankton community structure in a tropical reservoir. We hypothesized that community abundance is greater near cages and increases over time due to the increase in food availability. Samplings were performed near, upstream and downstream from net cages, and before and after net cage installation. The abundance of zooplankton increased 15 days after the experiment was set up, followed by a reduction and finally increased. Rotifer abundance showed significant differences among sites (p<0.05) and sampling periods (p<0.001). Significant differences were also observed in total zooplankton and cladoceran abundance (p<0.001). The spatial and temporal variation of the physical and chemical variables were indirectly correlated with the structure and dynamic of the zooplankton community, as they indicated the primary production in the environment. Our hypothesis was rejected, since the zooplankton was abundant at the reference site. Only rotifers showed higher abundance near cages, due to the influence of food availability. Community dynamics during the experiment was also correlated to food availability. Our results suggest an impact of fish farming on the zooplankton community.


2017 ◽  
Vol 262 ◽  
pp. 38-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariette Smart ◽  
Robert J. Huddy ◽  
Catherine J. Edward ◽  
Charl Fourie ◽  
Trust Shumba ◽  
...  

In the commercial BIOX® process, an acidophilic mixed bacterial and archaeal community dominated by iron and sulphur oxidising microorganisms is used to facilitate the recovery of precious metals from refractory gold-bearing sulphidic mineral concentrates. Characterisation of the microbial communities associated with commercial BIOX® reactors from four continents revealed a significant shift in the microbial community structure compared to that of the seed culture, maintained at SGS (South Africa). This has motivated more detailed study of the microbial community dynamics in the process. Microbial speciation of a subset of the BIOX® reactors at Fairview mines (Barberton, South Africa) and two laboratory maintained reactors housed at Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, has been performed tri-annually for three years by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The laboratory BIOX® culture maintained on Fairview concentrate was dominated by the desired iron oxidiser, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, and sulphur oxidiser, Acidithiobacillus caldus, when operated under standard BIOX® conditions. Shifts in the microbial community as a result of altered operating conditions were transient and did not result in a loss of the microbial diversity of the BIOX® culture. The community structure of the Fairview mines BIOX® reactor tanks showed archaeal dominance of these communities by organisms such as the iron oxidiser Ferroplasma acidiphilum and a Thermoplasma sp. for the period monitored. Shifts in the microbial community were observed across the monitoring period and mapped to changes in performance of the commercial process plant. Understanding the effect of changes in the plant operating conditions on the BIOX® community structure may assist in providing conditions that support the desired microbial consortium for optimal biooxidation to maximize gold recovery.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 2031-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Nishijima ◽  
M. Tojo ◽  
M. Okada ◽  
A. Murakami

Biodegradation of organic substances by attached bacteria on biological activated carbon (BAC) was studied to clarify the advantages of granular activated carbon (GAC) as support media over conventional media without adsorption capacity with regard to biodegradation activity and community structure of attached bacteria. Anthracite (AN) was used as reference support medium without adsorbability. Low molecular organic substances with different biodegradability and adsorbability (phenol, glucose, benzoic acid and m-aminobenzoic acid) were fed into completely mixed BAC and AN reactors. The rate of biodegradation by BAC reactors fed with biodegradable organic substances was approximately 3 times as high as that by AN reactors. The difference in adsorbability of organic substances onto GAC had little effects on the rate of biodegradation. The structure of GAC with micro and macro pores did not provide better habitat for attached bacteria with regard to the size of population in comparison with anthracite without pores. The rates of biodegradation per attached bacteria for biodegradable organic substances in the BAC reactors were from 1.7 to 4.9 times higher than those in the AN reactors. GAC, as a bacterial support media, stimulated the biodegradation activity of each bacteria without increase in their population and probably with little change in their species composition. Although the number of attached bacteria on BAC was not different significantly from that on anthracite, m-aminobenzoic acid with low biodegradability was degraded only by the GAC reactor.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Infusino ◽  
Stefano Scalercio

Study analyzes the macrolepidoptera assemblages in beech woodlands of the Orsomarso Mountains (Pollino National Park, Southern Italy) to assess the role of beech forests in preserving diversity in Mediterranean Basin. Research was run between 2015 and 2016 in 15 stands representative of the main successional stages of forest maturation, placed between 990 and 1,475 meters of elevation. Monthlybased sampling was performed using UV-LED light traps. A total of 33,957 individuals belonging to 410 species was collected. The community is rich and the most abundant and characteristic species (Eilema lurideola, Operophtera fagata, Campaea margaritata) are almost all trophically linked to broadleaves or lichens. The community structure appears fairly constant and recognizable in all stands over the two years of sampling. Young beech forests hosted the greatest number of species compared to other forest maturation stages, though the difference is small. The greatest differences in the community structure are found in the clearings, where generalist and/or related to the herbaceous layer species are mostly represented. Biogeographically widely distributed species prevail, 87% of them having European or Asian-European distribution. There are a number of species of faunistic interest, among which Perizoma juracolaria, Chelis maculosa, Tiliacea citrago, Poecilocampa populi, Triphosa dubitata, Sideridis reticulata, Nebula senectaria, including 13 Italian endemics such as Coenotephria antonii. Populations of many species show significant genetic diversities compared to other European populations. The Orsomarso Mountains beech forests represent an important biodiversity reservoir, even at the genetic level, and show a good degree of naturalness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Yang ◽  
Zhenying Huang ◽  
Ming Dong ◽  
Xuehua Ye ◽  
Guofang Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Long-term studies to disentangle the multiple, simultaneous effects of global change on community dynamics are a high research priority to forecast future distribution of diversity. Seldom are such multiple effects of global change studied across different ecosystems. Methods Here we manipulated nitrogen deposition and rainfall at levels realistic for future environmental scenarios in three contrasting steppe types in Mongolia and followed community dynamics for 7 years. Key Results Redundancy analyses showed that community composition varied significantly among years. Rainfall and nitrogen manipulations did have some significant effects, but these effects were dependent on the type of response and varied between ecosystems. Community compositions of desert and meadow steppes, but not that of typical steppe, responded significantly to rainfall addition. Only community composition of meadow steppe responded significantly to nitrogen deposition. Species richness in desert steppe responded significantly to rainfall addition, but the other two steppes did not. Typical steppe showed significant negative response of species richness to nitrogen deposition, but the other two steppes did not. There were significant interactions between year and nitrogen deposition in desert steppe and between year and rainfall addition in typical steppe, suggesting that the effect of the treatments depends on the particular year considered. Conclusions Our multi-year experiment thus suggests that responses of community structure and diversity to global change drivers are ecosystem-dependent and that their responses to experimental treatments are dwarfed by the year-to-year community dynamics. Therefore, our results point to the importance of taking annual environmental variability into account for understanding and predicting the specific responses of different ecosystems to multiple global change drivers.


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