Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus abundance, landscape coverage and spectral indices effects in a subtropical city of Argentina

The presence, abundance and distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus 1762) and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse 1894) could be conditioned by different data obtained from satellite remote sensors. In this paper, we aim to estimate the effect of landscape coverage and spectral indices on the abundance of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from the use of satellite remote sensors in Eldorado, Misiones, Argentina. Larvae of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus were collected monthly from June 2016 to April 2018, in four outdoor environments: tire repair shops, cemeteries, family dwellings, and an urban natural park. The proportion of each land cover class was determined by Sentinel-2 image classification. Furthermore spectral indices were calculated. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were developed to analyze the possible effects of landscape coverage and vegetation indices on the abundance of mosquitoes. The model's results showed the abundance of Ae. aegypti was better modeled by the minimum values of the NDVI index, the maximum values of the NDBI index and the interaction between both variables. In contrast, the abundance of Ae. albopictus has to be better explained by the model that includes the variables bare soil, low vegetation and the interaction between both variables.

Linaria subbaetica (Plantaginaceae), a new species from the south of the Iberian Peninsula

Linaria subbaetica, a new species from the south of the Iberian Peninsula, is here described, illustrated, and compared with its morphologically closest relatives from L. sect. Supinae: L. badalii, L. caesia, and L. supina. The species is characterised by being annual, and having usually revolute leaves, a short and corymbiform inflorescence at anthesis with a pilose-glandulose axis, a white to pale-yellow corolla (yellow to orangish palate), bearing a spur equalling to slightly longer that the rest of the corolla, and black seeds with a tuberculate and papillose disc surface and a thickened wing. L. subbaetica is an endemic species, growing on calcareous mountains, in the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, Córdoba province (Andalusia, Spain).

Stopping Winter Flooding of Rice Fields to Control Invasive Snails Has no Effect on Waterbird Abundance at the Landscape Scale

The invasive apple snail (Pomacea maculata) appeared in 2010 in the Ebro Delta Natural Park, an important area for rice production and waterbird conservation in the eastern Mediterranean. To control crop damage, farmers stopped flooding their rice fields in winter, an agri-environmental scheme (AES) applied for more than 20 years in some European and American regions to favor flora and fauna from wetlands, including wintering waterbirds. Thus, apple snail control is controversial because of its potential side effects on international waterbird conservation efforts. Despite the fact that 10 years have passed since the first flooding limitations, and the alarms raised by the managers of the Natural Park, the side effects of apple snail management on waterbird conservation have not been evaluated. Here we fill this gap by analyzing a 35-year time series to assess whether abundance trends of 27 waterbird species, from five functional groups, decreased in the Ebro Delta after stopping winter flooding. We considered the effects of confounding local factors by also assessing trend changes in l’Albufera, a similar nearby not invaded wetland where flooding has not been interrupted. In addition, as a control of the positive effect of winter flooding, we also assessed whether abundance trends increased in both wetlands after applying this AES winter flooding. Our results showed complex and decoupled trend changes across species and geographical areas, without statistical evidences, in general or for any particular functional group, on the positive effect of winter flooding in both wetlands neither on the negative effect of its cessation in Ebro Delta. These results suggest the safety of this apple snail control in terms of waterbird abundance at a landscape scale. In addition, these results question, at least in two important wintering areas in Europe, the attractor role associated with the flooding agri-environmental scheme applied for decades.

Confirmation of the presence of steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Giurgiu County (Romania) after more than 5 decades

This paper confirms the presence of steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii in Giurgiu County after more than 50 years. Mustela eversmanii is considered a vulnerable species, being listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. The specimen was found within the Site of Community Importance - ROSCI0043 Comana, included in the Natura 2000 network, which significantly overlaps with the protected natural area (Comana Natural Park). Currently, the steppe polecat is not added to the list of the Standard Form, because its presence was uncertain. We consider that this discovery is valuable and has important implications for the conservation of the species.

INFORMATION ABOUT FLORA OF THE UST-BELSKY NATURE PARK (UDMURT REPUBLIC)

The article presents the results of a long-term study of the indigenous flora of the Ust-Belsky Nature Park. A list of vascular plants is given. There are 588 plant species from 299 genera and 87 families. The territory of the park consists of 2 clusters. They are located on different banks of the Kama River. The list contains cluster information for each plant species. Only 477 plant species are common to the two clusters, while the remaining species are characteristic of individual sections of the natural park. There are 68 such types in cluster 1, and 43 in cluster 2. In the course of floristic studies in different years, the growth of 23 rare plant species listed in the Red Book of the Udmurt Republic was recorded on the territory of the Ust-Belsky Natural Park.

Bats from the Pedra Branca Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Pedra Branca Forest is located in a highly-urbanised region of the central portion of Rio de Janeiro City, comprises the largest urban forest on the continent and is isolated from other Atlantic Forest remnants. The local flora and fauna are protected by three conservation units (Pedra Branca State Park, Prainha Municipal Natural Park and Guaratiba State Biological Reserve) and one biological station (Fiocruz Atlantic Forest Biological Station—EFMA). Here, we provide an updated list of the bat fauna for the remnant. The results are based on samplings at EFMA and literature data from Pedra Branca State Park and Prainha Natural Park. The three sampling sites combined resulted in 31 species, 23 genera and four families. Phyllostomidae was the richest family with 24 species, followed by Vespertilionidae with five species (3%) and Molossidae and Noctilionidae with one species. The local bat fauna was predominantly composed of species with a broad geographic distribution.

Natural park as part of the strategy for the development of sustainable tourism in Teriberka settlement (Murmansk region)

For the first time in the practice of creating regional specially protected natural areas in the Murmansk region, a socio-anthropological study was carried out. The purpose of the investigation was to study the attitude of residents of a rural settlement to the creation of a natural park in the context of sustainable tourism development in a remote area. The main component of this strategy is the interaction of all parties interested in the comfortable development of tourism in settlements. In the article, based on the classifications proposed by Urry and Cohen, the views of the local population were analyzed and the types of Teriberka visitors were identified. The predominant kind of tourist in Teriberka is romantic. That solitary traveler represents an individualistic-oriented person the main motive of travel of which is admiring natural objects. This kind of tourist is complemented by the individual mass tourist traveling alone or with a group of travelers who already know each other. Based on the results we are able to assume that indigenous people are tolerant towards tourists and are not against the development of tourist activities in the village. The attitude of the local population for tourists visiting these territories was revealed, the main problems of the settlements were determined. The main of these are an abundance of garbage, a lack of toilets, a lack of control of inappropriate behavior of visitors; environmental pollution; damage to nature, etc. The study has shown that most of the local residents reacted positively to the idea of creating a natural park. Most part of the respondents agrees with the opinion that the creation of a natural park will help preserve the natural and cultural heritage of this unique historical settlement.