scholarly journals Waders (Aves, Charadriiformes) in a Mediterranean remnant wetland: a year-round pilot study evidences contrasting patterns in diversity metrics

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Corrado Battisti ◽  
Aldo Boano ◽  
Michele Cento ◽  
Amedeo Circosta ◽  
Sergio Muratore
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Complementary Pattern ◽  
Vanellus Vanellus ◽  
High Dominance ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Diversity Metrics

Around a yearly cycle (August 2011 - July 2012), we studied the assemblages of waders (Aves Charadriiformes) occurring in a Mediterranean remnant wetland, obtaining a set of diversity metrics. Mean total abundance shows a complementary pattern when compared to species richness and diversity: the highest values of mean total abundance were observed in December-January, due to high dominance of only one very abundant and gregarious species (the lapwing Vanellus vanellus). On the contrary, in this period, species richness and diversity showed the lowest values. These last metrics were highest in values during the April-September period when a large number of species of conservation concern utilize muddy areas as trophic and stop-over sites, due to the seasonal water stress. The highest values in species turnover index were observed between December-January and February-March when passage migrants (high richness, low abundance) substitute the wintering species (low richness, high abundance). Our data highlight that, in Mediterranean remnant wetlands, strategies should be addressed to increase the muddy suitable areas in the April-September period in order to maximize species richness and diversity. In fact, in these months these habitats host pre- and post-breeding migrant waders of conservation concern.

scholarly journals Assessing Ecological Risks from Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur to US Forests Using Epiphytic Macrolichens

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda H. Geiser ◽  
Peter R. Nelson ◽  
Sarah E. Jovan ◽  
Heather T. Root ◽  
Christopher M. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Critical Loads ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Total Species

Critical loads of atmospheric deposition help decision-makers identify levels of air pollution harmful to ecosystem components. But when critical loads are exceeded, how can the accompanying ecological risk be quantified? We use a 90% quantile regression to model relationships between nitrogen and sulfur deposition and epiphytic macrolichens, focusing on responses of concern to managers of US forests: Species richness and abundance and diversity of functional groups with integral ecological roles. Analyses utilized national-scale lichen survey data, sensitivity ratings, and modeled deposition and climate data. We propose 20, 50, and 80% declines in these responses as cut-offs for low, moderate, and high ecological risk from deposition. Critical loads (low risk cut-off) for total species richness, sensitive species richness, forage lichen abundance and cyanolichen abundance, respectively, were 3.5, 3.1, 1.9, and 1.3 kg N and 6.0, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.3 kg S ha−1 yr−1. High environmental risk (80% decline), excluding total species richness, occurred at 14.8, 10.4, and 6.6 kg N and 14.1, 13, and 11 kg S ha−1 yr−1. These risks were further characterized in relation to geography, species of conservation concern, number of species affected, recovery timeframes, climate, and effects on interdependent biota, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services.

scholarly journals Insect Diversity of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site: An Important Site for Biodiversity Conservation in Ghana

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosina Kyerematen ◽  
Daniel Acquah-Lamptey ◽  
Erasmus Henaku Owusu ◽  
Roger Sigismund Anderson ◽  
Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Ramsar Site ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Good Shape ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Conservation Concern

An inventory of species diversity of insects of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site, with special reference to species of conservation concern, was carried out as part of an evaluation of changes in the ecological character of the site, twenty years after designation. Samples were taken from two protected areas within the Ramsar site, in the wet (July), dry (January), and intermediate (June) seasons. Community diversity was characterized in terms of number of species accumulated, species richness, Shannon-Weiner indices of diversity, Pielou’s evenness, and Bray-Curtis similarity. A total of 134 families from 19 insect orders were recorded during the entire study period. Yenku Block A recorded the highest species richness (98) and the highest diversity index (14.97), corroborated by the highest Margalef index of 3.82 with a relatively even distribution of species (0.834) during the intermediate season, and recorded the lowest diversity (6.957) and species richness (41) during the dry season. On the whole, the Muni-Pomadzi Ramsar site showed a high diversity of insect species. The presence of species such as Junonia oenone and Papilio demodocus which are specialized in degraded habitats at Yenku Block A in large numbers is a clear indication of degradation of the forest, but the presence of forest species such as Salamis anacardii and Euphaedra crokeri is an indication that some parts of this reserve are still in good shape. A comparison of the butterfly species recorded with findings in a 1997 survey showed a marked increase in numbers from 75 to 130; this may be attributed to the habitat changes that have taken place at the site offering more diverse habitat types.

scholarly journals Species Richness and Diversity of Resident and Migratory Landbirds in Remnant Forest Patches and Residential Areas in the Florida Keys, USA

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Martin B. Main ◽  
Mary C. Christman ◽  
Annisa Karim ◽  
Mark Hostetler
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Florida Keys ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Resident Species ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Conservation Concern

Conservation of migratory birds necessitates protecting suitable stopover habitat along migratory routes as well as destination habitats, especially near large geographic barriers such as the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Keys (Keys) are an important stopover and breeding destination for migratory landbirds. We documented 47 migratory and 21 resident landbird species via point counts during March–May 2004 and 2005. As a group, species richness, species diversity, and the effective number of species of migratory landbirds, including several species of conservation concern, was significantly and positively associated with percent cover of tropical hardwood hammock, a threatened upland forest type. The collective resident landbird community in the Keys was negatively associated with native hammock cover, although species diversity of the resident community was positively associated with the proximity of native hammock and several resident species, including species of conservation concern, were commonly or predominantly associated with native hammock. Consequently, conservation of native hammock habitat in the Keys is an important conservation priority for migratory birds and several resident species of conservation concern.

scholarly journals Bird species richness in High-Andean forest fragments: habitat quality and topography matter

2020 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Fastré ◽  
Diederik Strubbe ◽  
José A. Balderrama ◽  
Jennifer R.A. Cahill ◽  
Hannes Ledegen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Exotic Plantations ◽  
Conservation Concern

Montane forests worldwide are known centers of endemism and biodiversity but are highly threatened by fragmentation processes. Using data collected in 15 Polylepis forest remnants covering 2000 hectares, we investigated how bird species richness and bird community composition, particularly for species of conservation concern, are influenced by habitat quality and topography in the Tunari National Park in the High Andes of Bolivia. Bird species richness was highest in topographically complex, low-elevation Polylepis patches located in areas with a high potential to retain rainwater. Bird communities differed strongly between Polylepis lanata and P. subtusalbida remnants, each supporting different threatened and endemic species. Within the P. subtusalbida forest, high-elevation fragments characterized by high amounts of sunlight and low anthropogenic disturbance were more likely to contain threatened species. Surprisingly, we found no effect of fragment size on the diversity or composition of bird communities or the presence of bird species of conservation concern. The presence of exotic plantations (Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp.) in or outside forest remnants was negatively associated with the number of bird species as well as with occurrence of the endangered Cochabamba-mountain finch (Compsospiza garleppi). To support the different communities found in Polylepis forests, these results suggest that conservation efforts should be directed towards both forest types (P. subtusalbida and P. lanata) present in the area. For an efficient management of avian diversity, exotic plantations should be established away from native remnants while existing patches should be managed to maintain or increase habitat quality. Finally, the importance of local topography in determining avian species richness and community composition in forest fragments, mainly through topographic controls on moisture distribution and the amount of sunlight received by the fragments, should be considered when planning conservation and reforestation schemes.

scholarly journals Spectral Diversity Metrics for Detecting Oil Pollution Effects on Biodiversity in the Niger Delta

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 2662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkeiruka Onyia ◽  
Heiko Balzter ◽  
Juan Berrio
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
P Value ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
Diversity Metrics

Biodiversity monitoring in the Niger delta has become pertinent in view of the incessant spillages from oil production activities and the socio-economic impact of these spillages on the inhabitants who depend on the resources for their livelihood. Conventional methods of post-impact assessments are expensive, time consuming, and cause damage to the environment, as they often require the removal of affected samples/specimens for laboratory analysis. Remote sensing offers the opportunity to track biodiversity changes from space while using the spectral variability hypothesis (SVH). The SVH proposes that the species diversity of a sampled area is linearly correlated with the variability of spectral reflectance of the area. Several authors have tested the SVH on various land cover types and spatial scales; however, the present study evaluated the validity of the SVH against the backdrop of oil pollution impact on biodiversity while using vascular plant species as surrogates. Species richness and diversity indices were computed from vegetation data collected from polluted and non-polluted transects. Spectral metrics that were derived from Sentinel 2 bands and broadband vegetation indices (BVIs) using various algorithms, including averages, spread, dimension reduction, and so on, were assessed for their ability to estimate vascular plants species richness and diversity. The results showed significant differences in vegetation characteristics of polluted and control transects (H = 76.05, p-value = <0.05 for abundance and H = 170.03, p-value < 0.05 for richness). Spectral diversity metrics correlated negatively with species data on polluted transects and positively on control transects. The metrics computed using Sentinel 2A bands and vegetation indices proved to be sensitive to changes in vegetation characteristics following oil pollution. The most robust relationship was observed between the metrics and indices on control transects, whereas the weakest relationships were observed on polluted transects. Index-wise, the Simpson’s diversity index regressed better with spectral metrics (R2 > 0.5), whereas the Chao-1 richness index regressed the least (R2 < 0.5). The strength of the relationship resulted in successfully estimating species richness and diversity values of investigated transects, thereby enhancing biodiversity monitoring over time and space.

scholarly journals Do Citizen Science Methods Identify Regions of High Avian Biodiversity?

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 656
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Butler ◽  
Chad King ◽  
Dan L. Reinking
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Avian Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Concern

Citizen science may offer a way to improve our knowledge of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and endemism, as the data collected by this method can be integrated into existing data sources to provide a more robust understanding of broad scale patterns of species richness. We explored whether data collected by citizen scientists agree on identifying regions of high avian species richness in a well-studied state. We compiled and examined the number of bird species detected in each of the 77 counties of Oklahoma based on published range maps, museum collections, and by five citizen science methods: the USGS Breeding Bird Survey, the Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas, eBird, the Oklahoma Winter Bird Atlas, and National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts. We also quantified the number of species of conservation concern recorded by each method in each county. A total of 460 species were reported across the state, with the total number of species detected by each method ranging from 40% of this total (Winter Bird Atlas) to 94% of this total (eBird). In general, species totals were poorly correlated across methods, with only six of 21 combinations (28.6%) showing significant correlations. Total species numbers recorded in each county were correlated with human population density and county area, but not with mean annual temperature or precipitation. The total number of species of conservation concern was correlated with the total number of species detected, county area, and precipitation. Most of the citizen science methods examined in this study were not explicitly designed to identify regions of high biodiversity and so efforts to use these methods for this purpose should be employed only cautiously and with a thorough understanding of potential biases.

scholarly journals Do carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) exhibit similar diversity and distributional patterns along a spatio-temporal gradient on a glacier foreland?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Gobbi ◽  
Valeria Lencioni
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Aquatic Insect ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Glacier Foreland ◽  
Distributional Patterns ◽  
Glacier Front ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Carabid beetles and chironomid midges are two dominant cold-adapted taxa, respectively on glacier forefiel terrains and in glacial-stream rivers. Although their sensitivity to high altitude climate warming is well known, no studies compare the species assemblages exhibited in glacial systems. Our study compares diversity and distributional patterns of carabids and chironomids in the foreland of the receding Amola glacier in central-eastern Italian Alps. Carabids were sampled by pitfall traps; chironomids by kick sampling in sites located at the same distance from the glacier as the terrestrial ones. The distance from the glacier front was considered as a proxy for time since deglaciation since these variables are positively correlated. We tested if the distance from the glacier front affects: i) the species richness; ii) taxonomic diversity; and iii) species turnover. Carabid species richness and taxonomic diversity increased positively from recently deglaciated sites (those c. 160 m from the glacier front) to sites deglaciated more than 160yrs ago (those located >1300 m from glacier front). Species distributions along the glacier foreland were characterized by mutually exclusive species. Conversely, no pattern in chironomid species richness and turnover was observed. Interestingly, taxonomic diversity increased significantly: closely related species were found near the glacier front, while the most taxonomically diverse species assemblages were found distant from the glacier front. Increasing glacial retreat differently affect epigeic and aquatic insect taxa: carabids respond faster to glacier retreat than do chironomids, at least in species richness and species turnover patterns.

Community characteristics of forest understory birds along an elevational gradient in the Horn of Africa: A multi-year baseline

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle D Kittelberger ◽  
Montague H C Neate-Clegg ◽  
Evan R Buechley ◽  
Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Tropical Mountains ◽  
Demographic Rates ◽  
Understory Birds ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Tropical mountains are global hotspots for birdlife. However, there is a dearth of baseline avifaunal data along elevational gradients, particularly in Africa, limiting our ability to observe and assess changes over time in tropical montane avian communities. In this study, we undertook a multi-year assessment of understory birds along a 1,750 m elevational gradient (1,430–3,186 m) in an Afrotropical moist evergreen montane forest within Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains. Analyzing 6 years of systematic bird-banding data from 5 sites, we describe the patterns of species richness, abundance, community composition, and demographic rates over space and time. We found bimodal patterns in observed and estimated species richness across the elevational gradient (peaking at 1,430 and 2,388 m), although no sites reached asymptotic species richness throughout the study. Species turnover was high across the gradient, though forested sites at mid-elevations resembled each other in species composition. We found significant variation across sites in bird abundance in some of the dietary and habitat guilds. However, we did not find any significant trends in species richness or guild abundances over time. For the majority of analyzed species, capture rates did not change over time and there were no changes in species’ mean elevations. Population growth rates, recruitment rates, and apparent survival rates averaged 1.02, 0.52, and 0.51 respectively, and there were no elevational patterns in demographic rates. This study establishes a multi-year baseline for Afrotropical birds along an elevational gradient in an under-studied international biodiversity hotspot. These data will be critical in assessing the long-term responses of tropical montane birdlife to climate change and habitat degradation.

Climatic Variables Differentially Influence Neotropical Plant Species of Conservation Concern

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Pablo Antúnez ◽  
Christian Wehenkel ◽  
Collins Byobona Kukunda ◽  
José Ciro Hernández-Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Conservation Concern
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