HISTORICAL CHANGES IN INSECT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AS INDICATED BY HEXAPODS OF UPPER CRETACEOUS ALBERTA (GRASSY LAKE) AMBER

1994 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward M. Pike
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
Taxonomic Structure ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Insect Assemblage ◽  
Insect Guilds

AbstractSpecies richness and relative abundance of arthropod taxa from an Upper Cretaceous (Campanian: 75 Mya) amber deposit in Alberta are described. About 130 hexapod species have been recognized to date from this deposit, making it the most diverse Cretaceous insect assemblage so far known. Taxa present, in order of abundance, are Hemiptera (66 specimens per kg), Diptera (28), Acari (21), Hymenoptera (13), Aranaea (12), Psocoptera (4), Coleoptera (2), Blattodea (1), Thysanoptera (1), and Trichoptera (0.6). Representatives of Lepidoptera, Collembola, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Phasmatodea, and Ephemeropteraare are also present. In the total of 65 identified families, 15 are extinct. Only one of about 77 genera identified in this deposit is extant. All recognized species are extinct. In comparison, virtually all families reported from Baltic and Dominican Republic ambers are extant, as are the majority of the genera. Morphology and feeding structures are well within the variation seen in modern insects. It is hypothesized that the taxonomic structure of modern insect communities was well established before the end of the Cretaceous and that the structure and interrelationships of insect guilds were also very similar to those of today.

scholarly journals Upper Cretaceous amber arthropods and their implications on changes in insect community structure

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 234-234
Author(s):  
E. M. Pike
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Taxonomic Structure ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Insect Fauna ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Baltic

Assessment of changes in terrestrial ecosystems since Cretaceous time, until recently, has had to rely on paleobotany (including paleopalynology) and vertebrate paleontology to provide data for analysis. Insects contribute a major portion of the terrestrial diversity in any ecosystem, but their fossil record and state of preservation had discouraged paleoecological study beyond the Pleistocene. With the discovery of prolific Upper Cretaceous amber deposits in Russia and Canada, and the investigation of Tertiary amber deposits from the Baltic, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the USA, the prospect of clarifying changes in insect diversity and ecology over time becomes real. Methods are reported which allow the description of species richness and relative abundance of arthropod taxa from an Upper Cretaceous (Campanian: 75 MYA) amber deposit in Alberta, Canada. Diversity and abundance are described at the Order level for hexapods, and for the Acarina and Araneae. Taxa present, in order of abundance, are Homoptera (66 specimens/kg of amber), Diptera (28/kg), Acarina (21/kg), Hymenoptera (13/kg), Araneae (12/kg), Psocoptera (4/kg), Coleoptera (2/kg), Blattodea (1/kg), Thysanoptera (1/kg), Trichoptera (0.6/kg). Other orders present are Lepidoptera, Collembola, Dermaptera, Mantodea, and Ephemeroptera. In total, of 35 identified families, 8 are extinct. There are about 20 genera identified, of which only 1 is extant. All identified species are extinct. Estimated species richness is about 100 species of arthropods. In comparison, virtually all Families reported from Baltic amber (Oligocene) are still extant, as are the majority of genera. Morphology and feeding structures are well within the variation seen in modern insects. This suggests that throughout the Tertiary, Entomologists would feel quite at home with the insect fauna, and during the Upper Cretaceous, they would have little difficulty identifying insects at least to the family level. It is hypothesized that the taxonomic structure of modern insect communities was well established before the end of the Cretaceous, and that the structure and interrelationships of insect guilds were also very similar to those of today.

Insect Community Structure as an Index of Heavy-Metal Pollution in Lotic Ecosystems

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Winner ◽  
M. W. Boesel ◽  
M. P. Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Stream Pollution ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Graded Response ◽  
The Family

Data from two streams suggest that macroinvertebrate community structure exhibits a predictable, graded response to heavy-metal pollution. In the more heavily stressed sections of both streams, macroinvertebrates, other than tubificid worms and chironomids, were virtually eliminated from rock-rubble, riffle habitats. Midge larvae comprised 75 to 86% of all insects collected from the most grossly polluted stations and less than 10% of the insect communities at the least polluted stations. The correlation coefficient for percentage of chironomids in relation to copper concentration was +0.93 (P ≤ 0.01). Changes in the coefficient of variation (CV) of percentage of chironomids per sample exhibited a consistent pattern. The lowest CV was at the most polluted stations and the CV increased along a gradient of decreasing metal concentrations, reaching maximum values at the least polluted stations. The number of species of chironomids was inversely related to the proportional density of the family in samples. In Elam's Run, the number of species of chironomids identified in samples increased from 15 at the most polluted station to 39 at the least polluted stations. Fifty-seven species of midges were collected along the 3-km stretch of this grossly polluted stream. Caddisflies were numerically important at the intermediately polluted stations in both streams. Mayflies occurred only at the least polluted stations. We hypothesize that heavily polluted habitats are dominated by midges, moderately polluted habitats by midges and caddisflies, and minimally polluted or unpolluted habitats by caddisflies and mayflies. Since there appears to be a direct relationship between the fraction of a community composed of chironomids and the degree of pollution, we suggest that the percentage of chironomids in samples may be a useful index of heavy-metal pollution.Key words: heavy metals, stream pollution, chironomids, aquatic insects

scholarly journals COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF BATS ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN TROPICAL EASTERN MEXICO

1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Navarro López ◽  
Livia León Paniagua
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Tadarida Brasiliensis ◽  
Sierra Madre Oriental ◽  
Sierra Madre ◽  
Key Words Chiroptera ◽  
Density And Biomass

ABSTRACT. The changes in species richness, relative abundance, and biomass of bats were monitored along an altitudinal gradient (800 to 2,560 m) in the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern Mexico. In general, species richness, density, and biomass were correlated with elevation, but the insectivorous bats were more numerous at mid-elevation sites. The frugivorous bats contributed with the majority of the biomass along the gradient. One migratory species (Tadarida brasiliensis) was only detected during the summer months. It is hypothesized that the observed changes are correlated to the amount of food availability and thermoregulatory abilities of bats. RESUMEN. Los cambios en riqueza de especies, abundancia relativa y biomasa de los murciélagos fueron monitoreados a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal (800 a 2,560 m) en la Sierra Madre Oriental en el este de México. En general, la riqueza de especies, densidad y biomasa estuvieron correlacionadas con la altitud; sin embargo, los murciélagos insectívoros fueron más numerosos en altitudes intermedias. Las especies frugívoras contribuyeron con la mayor proporción de la biomasa. Una especie migratoria (Tadarida brasiliensis) sólo fue colectada en el verano. Se sugiere que los patrones observados están correlacionados con la disponibilidad de alimento y las habilidades termorregulatorias de los murciélagos. Key words: Chiroptera, community structure, altitudinal gradients, Queretaro.

scholarly journals Quantifying the impact of environmental factors on the spatiotemporal structure of insect communities in a semi-arid Sabkha ecosystem

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haroun Chenchouni ◽  
Taha Menasria ◽  
Souad Neffar ◽  
Smail Chafaa ◽  
Liès Bradai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Vegetation Parameters ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

The current study highlights some knowledge on the diversity and structure of insect communities and trophic groups living in Sabkha Djendli (semi-arid area of Northeastern Algeria). The entomofauna was monthly sampled from March to November 2006 using pitfall traps at eight sites located at the vicinity of the Sabkha. Structural and diversity parameters (species richness, Shannon index, evenness) were measured for both insect orders and trophic guilds. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied to determine how vegetation parameters (species richness and cover) influence spatial and seasonal fluctuations of insect assemblages. The catches totalled 434 insect individuals classified into 75 species, 62 genera, 31 families and 7 orders, where Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the most abundant and constant over seasons and study stations. Spring and autumn presented the highest values of diversity parameters. Individual-based Chao-1 species richness estimator indicated 126 species for the total individuals captured in the Sabkha. Based on catch abundances, the structure of functional trophic groups was predators (37.3%), saprophages (26.7%), phytophages (20.5%), polyphages (10.8%), coprophages (4.6%); whereas in terms of numbers of species, they can be classified as phytophages (40%), predators (25.3%), polyphages (13.3%), saprophages (12%), coprophages (9.3%). The CCA demonstrated that phytophages and saprophages as well as Coleoptera and Orthoptera were positively correlated with the two parameters of vegetation, especially in spring and summer. While the abundance of coprophages was positively correlated with species richness of plants, polyphage density was positively associated with vegetation cover. The insect community showed high taxonomic and functional diversity that is closely related to diversity and vegetation cover in different site stations and seasons.

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 Quantifying the impact of environmental factors on the spatiotemporal structure of insect communities in a semi-arid Sabkha ecosystem

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haroun Chenchouni ◽  
Taha Menasria ◽  
Souad Neffar ◽  
Smail Chafaa ◽  
Liès Bradai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Vegetation Parameters ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

The current study highlights some knowledge on the diversity and structure of insect communities and trophic groups living in Sabkha Djendli (semi-arid area of Northeastern Algeria). The entomofauna was monthly sampled from March to November 2006 using pitfall traps at eight sites located at the vicinity of the Sabkha. Structural and diversity parameters (species richness, Shannon index, evenness) were measured for both insect orders and trophic guilds. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied to determine how vegetation parameters (species richness and cover) influence spatial and seasonal fluctuations of insect assemblages. The catches totalled 434 insect individuals classified into 75 species, 62 genera, 31 families and 7 orders, where Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the most abundant and constant over seasons and study stations. Spring and autumn presented the highest values of diversity parameters. Individual-based Chao-1 species richness estimator indicated 126 species for the total individuals captured in the Sabkha. Based on catch abundances, the structure of functional trophic groups was predators (37.3%), saprophages (26.7%), phytophages (20.5%), polyphages (10.8%), coprophages (4.6%); whereas in terms of numbers of species, they can be classified as phytophages (40%), predators (25.3%), polyphages (13.3%), saprophages (12%), coprophages (9.3%). The CCA demonstrated that phytophages and saprophages as well as Coleoptera and Orthoptera were positively correlated with the two parameters of vegetation, especially in spring and summer. While the abundance of coprophages was positively correlated with species richness of plants, polyphage density was positively associated with vegetation cover. The insect community showed high taxonomic and functional diversity that is closely related to diversity and vegetation cover in different site stations and seasons.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal diversity, structure and trophic guilds of insect assemblages in a semi-arid Sabkha ecosystem

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haroun Chenchouni ◽  
Taha Menasria ◽  
Souad Neffar ◽  
Smail Chafaa ◽  
Liès Bradai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Vegetation Parameters ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Semi Arid

The current study highlights some knowledge on the diversity and structure of insect communities and trophic groups living in Sabkha Djendli (semi-arid area of Northeastern Algeria). The entomofauna was monthly sampled from March to November 2006 using pitfall traps at eight sites located at the vicinity of the Sabkha. Structural and diversity parameters (species richness, Shannon index, evenness) were measured for both insect orders and trophic guilds. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied to determine how vegetation parameters (species richness and cover) influence spatial and seasonal fluctuations of insect assemblages. The catches totalled 434 insect individuals classified into 75 species, 62 genera, 31 families and 7 orders, where Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the most abundant and constant over seasons and study stations. Spring and autumn presented the highest values of diversity parameters. Based on catch abundance, the structure of functional trophic groups was predator (37.3%), saprophagous (26.7%), phytophagous (20.5%), polyphagous (10.8%), coprophagous (4.6%); whereas in terms of numbers of species, they can be classified as phytophagous (40%), predators (25.3%), polyphagous (13.3%), saprophagous (12%), coprophagous (9.3%). The CCA demonstrated that phytophagous and saprophagous as well as Coleoptera and Orthoptera were positively correlated with the two parameters of vegetation, especially in spring and summer. While the abundance of coprophagous was positively correlated with species richness of plants, polyphagous density was positively associated with vegetation cover. The insect community showed high taxonomic and functional diversity that is closely related to diversity and vegetation cover in different site stations and seasons.

Relative Insect Frequency and Species Richness on Sun-Exposed and Shaded Rabbit Carrions

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1006-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Mashaly ◽  
Ahmed Mahmoud ◽  
Hossam Ebaid
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Decomposition Process ◽  
Time Since Death ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Open Habitat ◽  
Elapsed Time ◽  
Decomposition Stages

Abstract On rabbit carcasses (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) exposed in open and shaded habitats, the relative abundance of insects and species richness were observed. The decomposition process was classified into four stages: fresh, bloated, decayed, and dry. Except for the decayed stage, the elapsed time for each stage of decomposition was similar between open and shaded habitats, with all carcasses reaching dryness in 13 and 14 d, respectively. In total, 2009 insects were collected during the decomposition process with 1,863 flies belonging to seven families and 15 species, and 146 beetles belonging to six species and three families. Insect abundances rose between the fresh and decay stages. The dominant families of insects included Calliphoridae and Muscidae (80.9% of the collected insects) and accounting for 38.07% of the species richness, whereas Histeridae accounted for 4.3% of the collected insects and 14.29% of the species richness. The open habitat attracted 1,233 insects belonging to 18 families, including 1,142 flies and 91 beetles, whereas the shaded habitat attracted 776 insects belonging to 18 families, including 721 flies and 55 beetles. Diversity level and ratios of exclusive species are also reported for each habitat (open 61.4%; shaded 38.6%). Between habitats, there were substantially separate insect communities, however. In addition, there was a substantial difference in the insect number and species between decomposition stages. This study demonstrates that the exposure status needs to be evaluated and examined when estimating the time since death.

Aquatic and semi aquatic Hemiptera community of Sonebeel, the largest wetland of Assam, northeastern India

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 12792-12799
Author(s):  
Anupama Saha ◽  
Susmita Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Northeastern India ◽  
Ecological Roles

Aquatic and semiaquatic Hemiptera bugs play significant ecological roles, and they are important indicators and pest control agents.  Little information is currently available concerning its populations in southern Assam.  This study assessed hemipterans in four sites of Sonebeel, the largest wetland in Assam (3458.12 ha at full storage level), situated in Karimganj District.  The major inflow and outflow of the wetland are the rivers Singla and Kachua, respectively (the Kachua drains into the Kushiyara River).  Samples were trapped with pond nets and were seasonally recorded.  This study recorded a total of 28 species of aquatic and semiaquatic hemipterans belonging to 20 genera under nine families.  Population, geographical and environmental data (e.g., rainfall) were used to assess the relative abundance of species, species richness and different diversity indices, and species distribution. 

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