Diversity, species richness, and abundance of spiders (Araneae) in different strata of boreal white spruce stands

2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Pinzon ◽  
John R. Spence ◽  
David W. Langor
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Spider Abundance ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractSpiders (Araneae) were sampled in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (Pinaceae)) dominated stands from the ground and shrub layers, and from several overstorey strata to assess patterns in species composition and diversity (alpha and beta) along the vertical gradient (0–12 m above ground). Overall, 3070 adult spiders in 15 families and 76 species were collected, with the ground layer accounting for the highest species richness (40 species) followed by the mid-overstorey (36 spp.) and the shrub layers (33 species). Vertical stratification was apparent in the samples: richness clearly decreased with height, and species turnover between the ground, shrub, and mid-overstorey levels was evident, suggesting that species composition in each layer was highly distinctive. Within the mid-overstorey stratification was less obvious but both species richness and spider abundance were predicted significantly by height from the ground and branch size. Given the role of late-seral conifer stands for maintaining old-growth species, understanding diversity patterns across strata provides basic knowledge to support forest management decisions that effectively conserve spider species and assemblages. It is clearly important to include higher canopy layers in considering impacts of forestry on biodiversity in the boreal mixedwood.

scholarly journals Environmental conditions alter successional trajectories on an ephemeral resource: a field experiment with beetles in dead wood

Oecologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 205-219
Author(s):  
Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad ◽  
Tone Birkemoe ◽  
Rolf Anker Ims ◽  
Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Ephemeral Resources

Abstract Successional processes can be observed for many organisms and resources, but most studies of succession have focused on plants. A general framework has been proposed, advocating that successional patterns in species turnover are predominantly driven by competition, dispersal or abiotic limitation, and that the patterning of species accumulation over time gives clues to which process is most influential in a given system. We applied this framework to succession in communities of wood-living beetles, utilizing ephemeral resources in the form of 60 experimentally created dead aspen high stumps. High stumps were created at sun-exposed sites (high ambient temperature; favourable abiotic conditions) and shaded sites (low ambient temperature; abiotically limiting conditions). The sites were intermixed, ensuring similar dispersal opportunities. Beetle species richness and abundance were monitored with flight interception traps over four consecutive years. Consistent with predictions from the tested framework, several beetle functional groups accumulated species more slowly at the unfavourable shaded sites than at the favourable exposed sites. Species richness at the exposed sites increased rapidly to a plateau, consistent with a limiting effect of competition on community development. Similar results were obtained for beetle abundance and community structure. Part of the variance in beetle community structure was jointly explained by habitat and fungal community composition, suggesting that differences in the composition and developmental rate of fungal communities in the two habitats contributed to the observed patterns. Targeted experimental studies are now required to decisively establish what processes underlie the contrasting successional trajectories in the two environments.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mérő ◽  
Maja Janjatović ◽  
Roland Horváth ◽  
Katarina Mrkobrad ◽  
Antun Žuljević
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Spider Abundance ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractThe appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.

Are mixtures of aspen and white spruce more productive than single species stands?

1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongzhou Man ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Physical Separation ◽  
Soil Resource ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Environmental Extremes ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Boreal Mixedwoods

In boreal mixedwood forests, aspen (Populus tremuloides) and white spruce (Picea glauca) commonly grow in mixture. These species may avoid competition through differential shade tolerance, physical separation of canopies, phenological differences, successional separation, and differences in soil resource utilization. Aspen may also be able to positively affect the growth of white spruce by improving litter decomposition and nutrient cycling rates, controlling grass and shrub competition, ameliorating environmental extremes, and reducing pest attack. These positive relationships likely make mixed-species stands more productive than pure stands of the same species. The evidence regarding the productivity of pure versus mixed aspen/white spruce stands in natural unmanaged forests is examined in this paper. Key words: Tree mixture; productivity; boreal mixedwoods; aspen; white spruce

Genetic diversity and population structure of boreal white spruce (Picea glauca) in pristine conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest stands

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1096-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Om P. Rajora ◽  
Ishminder K. Mann ◽  
Yong-Zhong Shi
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Genetic Constitution ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Northern Alberta

White spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) is a characteristic primary species of the Canadian boreal forest region, where it occurs in conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest types. Genetic diversity and population structure of white spruce may differ between the conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest types owing to the inherent differences in stand structure and dynamics. The objective of our study was to determine genetic diversity and population structure of pristine white spruce stands as they occur in conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest types at the EMEND (Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance) study sites in northern Alberta. Nuclear microsatellite DNA markers were used to examine genetic diversity and population structure of 16 pristine natural old-growth (≥100 years) white spruce stands (subpopulations) of fire origin; 8 from conifer-dominated and 8 from neighboring mixedwood forest types. High levels of genetic diversity were observed, as expected. The genetic diversity and genetic constitution of white spruce were similar between the conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest types. Most of the genetic variation resided within subpopulations, with only about 2% genetic differentiation detected among 16 subpopulations as well as among 8 subpopulations within the same forest type. The mean genetic distances among subpopulations within and between the forest types were similar. Our study suggests that white spruce genetic resources are similar in the conifer-dominated and mixedwood forest types located in the EMEND study area in northern Alberta, and it provides the benchmarks for determining and monitoring the genetic diversity impacts of forest harvesting and forest fires.

Potential impacts of fire and grazing in an endangered ecological community: plant composition and shrub and eucalypt regeneration in Cumberland Plain Woodland

2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Hill ◽  
Kristine French
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Ecological Community ◽  
Plant Composition ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Canopy Species

Exclosure plots were used to determine the effect of fire and grazing on the structure of a grassy-woodland community. Eighteen months after fire and fence treatments were applied, the species richness, cover and composition of shrubs, trees, herbs and grasses were assessed and compared to pre-treatment censuses. Unburned plots had fewer shrub species and a lower abundance of shrubs, indicating the importance of fire in promoting regeneration of shrub species. Eucalypt species were more abundant and richer following the wildfire burn in summer, suggesting timing of fires is an important aspect in the establishment of the canopy species. Interactions between fire and grazing were found for the abundance of eucalypts (although weak) and resprouting eucalypts, suggesting a subtle interaction between fire and grazing shortly after fire. There was no effect of grazing and no interaction effect between fire and grazing on shrub species richness and abundance or tree species richness and seedling abundance.All plots showed a change in species composition despite treatment, and 46 species (32% of total richness) were recorded only in the final survey. The high rainfall during the 18-month study is likely to be an important factor in facilitating the establishment of species following all disturbances. This may have ameliorated the impact of grazing as abundant food was available throughout the woodland. The interaction between fire and grazing may be more important in structuring these grassy communities during periods of lower rainfall.

scholarly journals Selective thinning to enhance soil biodiversity in artificial black pine stands - what happens to mushroom fruiting?

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-90
Author(s):  
Elena Salerni ◽  
Debora Barbato ◽  
Cecilia Cazau ◽  
Lorenzo Gardin ◽  
Gianni Henson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Dissimilarity Matrix ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Principal Coordinates ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

As a man-induced disturbance of forest ecosystems, thinning may affect biodiversity and other related ecological functions including fungal dynamics. In this context, a multidisciplinary EU-Life project was established in 2014 to evaluate the application of selective thinning in two Pinus nigra plantations areas of the Apennines (Monte Amiata and Pratomagno, Tuscany, Italy). Selective thinning had the aim to improve stands stability and growth rates, taking also into account the various components of soil biodiversity (flora, fungi, mesofauna, nematodes, microarthropods and bacteria). Here we present mushroom fruiting patterns previous to treatment in 2014 and the effect following the application of forest management (selective thinning and traditional thinning from below) in 2018. Boxplots were used to graphically represent intra and inter annual variations in species richness and abundance, while Principal Coordinates Analyses and multi-response permutation procedures based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix were applied to evaluate turnover in species composition before the management and after 4 years. A significant reduction of fungal richness and abundance after 4 years thinning impact was lacking in both study areas, testifying a certain degree of resistance and/or resilience of mushroom fruiting to forest management-related anthropogenic disturbance. Considering each study site separately, Monte Amiata and Pratomagno did not show one uniform trend but differed significantly in their response to management: while in Pratomagno relevant inter-annual differences were present only in a few cases, an underlining significant variation both for species richness and abundance was registered in Monte Amiata for all treatment types among years (inter-annual variation) but not within each year (intra-annual variation). Only in Pratomagno turnover in species composition in selective thinning differed somewhat from the traditional treatment in 2018, showing that a process is underlying but still potentially masked by other variables. Due to the nature of macrofungi, a longer study period (more than 4 years post treatment impact) as well as the application of a more intense forest management, could be necessary to highlight and disentangle any possible trends in fungal fruiting in artificial stands

scholarly journals Responses of the zooplankton community to the formation of a small reservoir on the Caveiras River, southern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. e56924
Author(s):  
Pablo Henrique dos Santos Picapedra ◽  
Cleomar Fernandes ◽  
Gilmar Baumgartner ◽  
Paulo Vanderlei Sanches
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Small Reservoir ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Clear Change ◽  
Planktonic Species

We investigated changes in the species richness, abundance, and composition of the zooplankton community in response to the formation of a small reservoir in the Caveiras River, southern Brazil. Zooplankton were collected using a motor-pump and a plankton net (68 μm mesh), with 600 L of water filtered per sample. Sampling occurred during the pre- (April, August, and December 2011) and post-impoundment (July and October 2013, and January 2014) phases of the Caveiras River. We identified 86 taxa in this study, and rotifers were the predominant group. The species richness and abundance of the zooplankton increased after the filling of the reservoir. Furthermore, the zooplankton community showed a clear change in the species composition between the phases before and after the formation of the reservoir, with the emergence of typical planktonic species. Changes in the structure of the zooplankton community were related to changes in limnological characteristics due to the impoundment of the river, mainly in the availability of food and in the concentration of nutrients.

scholarly journals Contrasting effects of altitude on species groups with different traits in a non-fragmented montane temperate forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 99-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten de Groot ◽  
Al Vrezec
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Altitudinal Distribution ◽  
Mobile Species ◽  
Altitudinal Belts ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Temperature has strong effects on species composition and traits. These effects can differ within and between species groups. Thermoregulation and mobility are traits which can be strongly affected by altitudinal distribution. Our aim was to investigate the influence of altitude on the species richness, abundance and composition of species groups with different trophic, thermoregulatory and mobility traits. Carabids (Coleoptera; Carabidae), hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and birds (Aves: Passeriformes) were counted in three altitudinal belts with a total elevation difference of 700 m (from 300 m to 1000 m a.s.l.) in the same habitat type (non-fragmented temperate montane mixed beech and fir forest). We found that endotherms and more mobile species (i.e. birds) had a smaller turnover than ectotherms (i.e. hoverflies) and less mobile species (i.e. carabids), from which we can predict that the former species will undergo a less extreme shift than the latter in global warming scenarios. Species turnover across the altitudinal gradient increased from birds to hoverflies to carabid beetles. The effect of altitude on phenology was different between the studied ectotherm species groups (carabids and hoverflies). Hoverflies experience a phenological delay of species richness and abundance at higher altitudes in spring, but not at the end of summer, which implies that hoverfly phenology is affected by a change in temperature, while carabid beetle abundance exhibited a delay in phenology in summer at higher altitudes. We suggest that species that are expected to be most affected by climate change, such as ectotherms and species with poor dispersal ability should be prioritised as the best indicators for monitoring and conservation management purposes.

scholarly journals Bird Diversity in Nensebo Moist Afromontane Forest Fragment, South Eastern Ethiopia.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Ziyad Jemal ◽  
Zerihun Girma ◽  
Girma Mengesha
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Afromontane Forest ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Background: Birds are one component of biodiversity. Ethiopia is rich in biodiversity resources. The avian diversity record is far from complete. There is no scientifically documented information on bird species composition and abundance at Nensebo forest. The objective of the study was to assess species composition, relative abundance and distribution of birds at Nensebo forest in southern Ethiopia. Methods: We employed a stratified random sampling technique with our study area stratified into two dominant habitat types: moist Afromontane forest and modified habitat. Within strata, we established 20 transect lines of 1km length and 0.25km width to sample 27.75% of the study area. We used line transect count methods aided by binoculars to estimate avian species diversity and distribution. We employed quantitative biodiversity indices, such as Shannon wiener diversity indexes to compare species diversity among habitat types and two way ANOVA to analyze the effect of season and habitat on bird species richness and abundance. Results: A total of 105 bird species consisting of 1 endemic, 8 near endemic, 1 globally threatened and 9 Palearctic migrants were recorded in Nensebo forest. Species richness and abundance varied between habitat types in Nensebo forest with mean species richness greater in modified habitat (mean= 4.70 ±1.65) as compared to moist Afromontane forest habitat (mean= 3.95 ±4.12, F=94.66 P<0.001). Additionally, modified habitat (Shannon diversity index= 4.131) harbored higher diversity of birds as opposed to Afromontane forest habitat (Shannon diversity index=3.79). Conclusion: The Nensebo forest has high avian species diversity including several endemic and endangered species revealing the importance of this site for bird conservation. Although we found that habitat heterogeneity favored bird species diversity, moist Afromontane habitat is critical for forest obligate species. Hence, sustainable bird conservation strategies including land use planning should be initiated for this area.

scholarly journals Wood-inhabiting fungi on pedunculate oak coarse woody debris in relation to substratum quantity and forest age

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reda Iršėnaitė ◽  
Ernestas Kutorga
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Average Volume ◽  
Rare And Endangered ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Mature Stands

Wood-inhabiting fungi on pedunculate oak (<em>Quercus robur</em>) coarse woody debris (CWD) was investigated in 50 plots of 0.1 ha in oak stands of different ages in Lithuania. In maturing stands (50-120 years) the average volume of oak CWD was 4.7 m<sup>3</sup>/ha, and in mature stands (over 120 years) – 13.9 m3/ha. Both in maturing and mature stands, the greatest fraction of CWD consisted of fallen oak branches (81 % and 84 % respectively), whereas fallen trunks comprised about 10 % of the total units of CWD. In total 1350 records of 203 species (49 ascomycetes and 154 basidiomycetes) were collected during 2 years of investigation. Species richness and abundance increased significantly with the increase of volume and abundance of CWD. Higher species richness was detected in mature stands than in maturing ones. Wood-inhabiting species composition varied greatly at stand scale, and one third of all detected species occurred only in one plot. Red-listed fungi were found only in mature stands. We conclude that, even in managed oak stands, oak CWD maintains a rather diverse species composition of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. However, the current practice of forestry in Lithuania of removing dying or dead wood of large volume, e.g. standing and fallen trunks, reduce the distribution of highly specialized, usually rare, and endangered fungi.

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