Environmental DNA Monitoring of Biodiversity Hotspots in Danish Marine Waters

We investigated the use of eDNA metabarcoding for supplementing traditional diver-based monitoring of biodiversity of marine boulder reefs within the photic zone. The applied sampling design made it possible to evaluate the usefulness of eDNA monitoring as a supplement for traditional monitoring. Specifically, this study aimed to (1) assess the local influence of boulder reefs on biodiversity across the North Sea to Baltic Sea transition zone and (2) investigate the importance of environmental gradients for patterns in community structure. On samples collected during August 2020, we compared the composition and abundance of species associated with nine reefs, representing an environmental gradient of salinity (16–33 psu), water temperature (16–21°C) and water depth (6–29 m). At each reef site, water was sampled near the bottom just above the reef and on average 2.6 km upstream and downstream (location) and sequenced with metabarcoding using COI, 18S and 12S rDNA primers. eDNA identified 400 species, diver-based observations identified 184 with an overlap of 70 species (12%) and 81 genera (18%). While eDNA identified many infaunal species, it did not detect several macroalgal species which dominated in the diver-based observations. Multivariate analysis of eDNA and diver-based community structure both distinguished between reef communities, with a significant match between patterns observed by the two methods (r = 0.37, p = 0.02). Furthermore, the eDNA approach made it possible to identify significant differences in species composition between upstream, above-reef and downstream locations, suggesting that eDNA leaves a local footprint in benthic habitats. Patterns in both eDNA and diver-based species composition and richness were significantly related to geographical distance, salinity, water temperature and water depth. Despite of low detection of macroalgae, the eDNA sampling provided a substantial supplement to traditional diver-based monitoring of biodiversity around benthic hotspots in the Danish marine waters and therefore we recommend to add eDNA methods to conventional monitoring programs in the future.

A Comparative Diversity Analysis of Soil Nematodes of Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Diversity of Nematode communities in Pir Panjal range of Jammu and Kashmir along with nematodes’ driven indices were studied. Himalayan mountainous areas of district Rajouri were selected. Community composition and trophic structure (feeding types) were assessed and were analyzed at various altitudes and across varied habitats, which differ significantly on moving from low elevation to high elevation areas. A total of 47 genera were recorded across mountain clines. In terms of taxonomic groups, in higher elevations, the order Dorylaimids represent 55.18%, followed by Tylenchida 28.85%, Mononchida 2.38%, Rhabditida 2.18%, and Aphelenchida 2.05%, whereas in the lower reaches, the order Rhabditida represent 30.18%, followed by Dorylaimids 28.75%, Tylenchida 15.85%, Mononchida 10.05% and Aphelenchida 1.05%. In terms of trophic groups, in the upper reaches, omnivores (56.6%) predominate, representing highest number, followed by plant parasitic (33.4%), bacterivore (4.2%), predatory (3.2%) and fungivore (2.60%). In the lower reaches, Bacterivores (38.08%) predominates, followed by omnivores (29.85%), plant parasitic (18.5%), predatory (12.5%) and fungivores (1.07%). The total nematode abundance and diversity were found increasing with elevation This pattern applied to most genera and feeding types. Across the regions, nematode diversity and community composition increases positively with elevations and richer habitats as given by Simpson index and Shannon-Weaver index. We conclude that nematode assemblages are potentially good bioindicators of climate change. They reacted sensitively and predictably to the changing environment. Thus, nematodes have suitability for long-term monitoring of biodiversity and community changes. Sampling techniques are well standardized and inexpensive. Furthermore, feeding types of nematodes can be determined with minimal taxonomic skills.

A database of global coastal conditions

Remote sensing satellite imagery has the potential to monitor and understand dynamic environmental phenomena by retrieving information about Earth’s surface. Marine ecosystems, however, have been studied with less intensity than terrestrial ecosystems due, in part, to data limitations. Data on sea surface temperature (SST) and Chlorophyll-a (Chlo-a) can provide quantitative information of environmental conditions in coastal regions at a high spatial and temporal resolutions. Using the exclusive economic zone of coastal regions as the study area, we compiled monthly and annual statistics of SST and Chlo-a globally for 2003 to 2020. This ready-to-use dataset aims to reduce the computational time and costs for local-, regional-, continental-, and global-level studies of coastal areas. Data may be of interest to researchers in the areas of ecology, oceanography, biogeography, fisheries, and global change. Target applications of the database include environmental monitoring of biodiversity and marine microorganisms, and environmental anomalies.

Plant diversity assessment of selected forest sites of Gaya district of Bihar, India

Regular inventorization and monitoring of biodiversity is paramount for its conservation and sustainable utilization. Gaya district of the Bihar is endowed with rich biodiversity. For proper understanding of plant diversity, quantitative status of the vegetation is essentially required. The aim of the study was to assess different forest sites of the Gaya district of Bihar in India for their plant diversity. Study was carried out in these randomly selected eleven forest sites (Site I to Site XI). A total of 174 species belonging to 150 genera and58 families(48 Dicotyledons, 7 monocotyledons and 3 pteridophytes) were reported from all eleven study sites. Five largest families in the area were Poaceae (22 spp.), Fabaceae (14 spp.), Asteraceae (11 spp.), Rubiaceae (9 spp.) and Acanthaceae (7 spp). Different diversity attributes such as Important Value Index (IVI ), Species richness, Shannon Wiener index, Concentration of dominance and Evenness for tree, shrub and herb layers were estimated. For different sites highest IVI values for tree, shrubby and herbaceous layers were reported.Shannon wiener Index values for tree, shrubby and herbaceous layer of Nagobar site were estimated3.376, 1.986 and 2.350 respectively. Tree diversity was highest at Nagobar site whereas shrub and herb diversity was also reasonably better than most of the sites. Hence, it was revealed from the study that Nagobar site was most diverse site in the Gaya district. Study will be immense use for officials of forest department, researcher, students etc. for carrying out conservation and management work. Similar kind of study should be carried out in different forest sites of the country to get capture the status of the plant diversity for conservation and sustainable utilization.

Open access digital tools’ contribution for mapping and monitoring of biodiversity

Biodiversity constitutes a source of natural richness of life on Earth, including all the variety of living organisms. The United Nations Organization proclaimed the period between 2011 and 2020 as the International Decade of Biodiversity. Knowing that the majority of the existing information about species distribution is not promptly reachable, the adoption of Georeferencing tolls as a brace for mapping, managing and handling of the biodiversity stands out. The present essay aims to describe the development and implementation of the Digital Atlas of Herpetofauna from the state of Pernambuco, a new digital tool of open access, which integrates data about species, their natural histories and their spacial distribution. For its development, the Joomla!, version 1.5.26, was adopted as Content Management System and the MySQL as Database System, these were integrated to the Library System PROJ.4 in order to enable graphic projections. The result is the developed tool itself, applying the combination of geographic data stored by mapping based on web browser. This study presented advantages found in the use of open access digital tools for mapping and monitoring species, pointing that its use is a very effective way to aggregate and communicate information about biodiversity.

MONITORING OF BIODIVERSITY OF FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE TALAS RIVER

The aim of the current paper was the study of biodiversity of the flora and fauna of the Talas river. During the process of the research hydrobiological, ecological and biological aspects on the issue of the Talas river were studied. Water area of the reservoirs, is divided into spring, creek, river, water bodies and lake according to geographical position.

Biodiversity assessment in the area of Olimpiada Mining and Processing Plant, Polyus Krasnoyarsk

This article addresses some problems connected with the assessment of biodiversity in the area of Olimpiada Mining and Processing Plant, Polyus Krasnoyarsk. The outcome of two years-long (2018–2019) integrated monitoring of natural and manmade eco-systems is presented. The main landscape types are identified using satellite images and route observation data. The structure of habitat on the natural landscape and in the disturbed areas is estimated, with identification of: the sites with pronounced environmental impact of mining (overburden and waste rock dumps and slopes, manmade water reservoirs and banks); abandoned or reclaimed manmade objects; urban territory of the miners settlement; control (baseline) sites (pyrogenic-nature and primary forest, valley and flood-plain planting). It is emphasized that the soil cover and the thermal background in the test territory has been essentially transformed, which can greatly affect local biodiversity. Inspection of the natural and manmade eco-systems in the area of Olimpiada MPP has revealed 177 species of plants, including 153 species of higher vascular plants, 14 species of mosses and 10 species of lichens. The flora of vascular plants represents 46 families and 112 kinds. The species resistant to anthropogenic transformation are identified. The fauna biodiversity is represented by 34 species of mammals (Mammalia) from 5 orders (insect-eating, rodents, carnivores, cloven-footed and wing-handed animals) as well as by 110 species of birds Aves). The marker species are specified for monitoring of small mammals and birds in the test region. The research findings point at the required monitoring of biodiversity both in the territory of the mining and processing plant and in the adjacent undisturbed baseline area.

Foresight Workshop on Advances in Ocean Biological Observations: a sustained system for deep-ocean meroplankton

Recent advances in technology have enabled an unprecedented development of underwater research, extending from near shore to the deepest regions of the globe. However, monitoring of biodiversity is not fully implemented in political agendas and biological observations in the deep ocean have been even more limited in space and time. The Foresight Workshop on Advances in Ocean Biological Observations: a sustained system for deep-ocean meroplankton was convened to to foster advances in the knowledge on deep-ocean invertebrate larval distributions and improve our understanding of fundamental deep-ocean ecological processes such as connectivity and resilience of benthic communities to natural and human-induced disturbance. This Meroplankton Observations Workshop had two specific goals: 1) review the state-of-the-art instrumentation available for meroplankton observations; 2) develop a strategy to implement technological innovations for in-situ meroplankton observation. Presentations and discussions are summarised in this report covering: i) key challenges and priorities for advancing the knowledge of deep-sea larval diversity and distribution: ii) recent developments in technology and future needs for plankton observation, iii) data integration and oceanographic modelling; iv) synergies and added value of a sustained observation system for meroplankton; v) steps for developing a sustained observation system for deep-ocean meroplankton and plans to maximise collaborative opportunities.

Quantifying ecoacoustic activity in the Amazon rainforest through Information Theory quantifiers

Automatic monitoring of biodiversity by acoustic sensors has become an indispensable tool to assess environmental stress at an early stage. Due to the difficulty in recognizing the Amazon’s high acoustic diversity and the large amounts of raw audio data recorded by the sensors, the labeling and manual inspection of this data is not feasible.Therefore, we propose an ecoacoustic index that allows us to quantify the complexity of an audio segment and correlate this measure with the biodiversity of the soundscape. The approach uses unsupervised methods to avoid the problem of labeling each species individually. The proposed index, named the Ecoacoustic Global Complexity Index (EGCI), makes use of Entropy, Divergence and Statistical Complexity. A distinguishing feature of this index is the mapping of each audio segment, including those of varied lenghts, as a single point in a 2D-plane, supporting us in understanding the ecoacoustic dynamics of the rainforest. The main results show a regularity in the ecoacoustic richness of a floodplain, considering different temporal granularities, be it between hours of the day or between consecutive days of the monitoring program. We observed that this regularity does a good job of characterizing the soundscape of the environmental protection area of Mamirauá, in the Amazon, differentiating between species richness and environmental phenomena.