The effects of landscape attributes on Lepidoptera communities were studied in an agricultural area in Calabria (S-Italy). The association between a set of community descriptors and landscape metrics was determined using a multi-scale approach. Lepidoptera were sampled using yellow sticky traps in 10 olive groves. The landscape in 5 concentric areas, with radii from 250 to 1250 m, around each sampling site was analyzed. The composition and configuration of the landscape were calculated both at the landscape and class level based on the main classes of land use. The following life-history traits of Lepidoptera were considered: (i) dispersal ability of adults, (ii) habitat preferences and (iii) diet breadth of larvae. An index of community vulnerability was calculated by combining life-history traits and species diversity. There were no significant correlations between any of the landscape metrics and species richness or between species richness and abundance of natural or semi-natural habitats. However, life-history traits were significantly correlated with some landscape metrics, depending on the spatial scale. Most notably, landscape diversity is positively correlated with community vulnerability. The presence of sensitive species in olive orchards, but not species richness per se, is associated with the presence of natural and semi-natural habitats in the surrounding agricultural landscape. In conclusion, responses of communities to landscape changes are more likely to be revealed by an analysis of ecological traits, than species richness. In particular, the vulnerability index, used in this joint analysis of the main ecological traits, seems to be an effective descriptor of the relationships between communities and landscape., Stefano Scalercio ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Bolbelasmus (Bolbelasmus) unicornis (Schrank, 1789) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) is a rare and threatened beetle distributed mostly in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe. As a species of special conservation significance it is included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive of the European Union. Several new records of this species documented using light traps and soil sampling were recently reported in Serbia (the central part of the Balkan Peninsula). In this paper we present and discuss the current distribution of this species in the region studied based on GIS occurrence data. The distribution is mapped and values of environmental variables within this beetle's range are quantified using GIS technology. In addition, we predict its potential range in Serbia using a model based on the current distribution of this beetle, environmental variables and distribution of its food source.
In July 2004 and 2006, tributaries of the River Neretva and surrounding karstic fields (polje) in Bosnia and Herzegovina were sampled, and new data on spined loaches (Cobitis) and accompanying freshwater fish fauna gathered. spined loaches were found in the River Bregava and Hutovo blato wetland, which are directly connected to the River Neretva, in the River Trebišnjica in Popovo polje, in Lake Krenica and the River Matica in Imotsko polje, and in the River Lištica drainage in Mostarsko blato. However, Cobitis were not found in karstic fields situated more westward (Livanjsko polje, Duvanjsko p., Kupreško p. and Glamočko p.), nor in karstic fields situated northward from the River Trebišnjica (Nevesinjsko polje, Fatničko p., Dabarsko p. and Gatačko p.). Neither were they found in the River Trebižat, which lies closer to the River Neretva than does Imotsko polje. Based on morphological and molecular characters, spined loaches inhabiting the rivers Trebišnjica and Bregava, and Hutovo blato were identified as Cobitis narentana Karaman, 1928, while specimens from Imotsko polje and Mostarsko blato were classified as Cobitis sp. Until now, a single species of spined loach, C. narentana, had been recorded from the lowermost part of the River Neretva basin. Our new findings suggest that the species diversity of the spined loaches in the Neretva basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina might be underestimated and that a detailed taxonomic study is required to determine the Cobitis diversity in this area.
Thee species of the genus Gobio occur in the hydrographical network of the Czech Republic, belonging to the basins of three seas (the North, black, and Baltic seas). G. Gobio is distributed over streams belonging to all three sea basins. It is most common in their middle reaches, which are inhabited by fish communities of the Barbus-Chondrostoma type. Compared to that past, the population numbers of this species have not undergone any marked changes. G. kesslerii occurs only in the Bečva River (a tributary to the Morava River) and in the Morava River upstream of the mouth of the Bečva River (danube basin, Black Sea). G. albipinnatus is distributed over the Morava and Dyje rivers and their tributaries (Danube basin, Black Sea). Compared to a century ago, the extent of distribution of G. albipinnatus has dropped to about 50%, which is due chiefly to stream canalisation and water pollution. At present, G. albipinnatus has been ascertained in the lower part of the River Labe, yet there are some doubts as to the originality of this occurrence. The localities of G. albipinnatus and/or G. kesslerii are shared with G. Gobio, with which they hybridise. No evidence is available of the occurrence of G. uranoscopus (Agassiz, 1828) in the Czech Republic, although it does occur in neighbouring Slovakia and Austria. The most important devastation factors, which limited the distribution of the gudgeon in the past, include the construction and operation of dams and weirs, stream canalisation and water pollution. National laws project G. kesslerii as critically endangered and G. albipinnatus as endangered. Both species are listed in European conservation laws (Council Directive no. 92/43/EEC) and, therefore, special areas of conservation have been delimited for them within the NATURA 2000 system.
Hainan Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi hainanus) was once widely distributed in Hainan Island of China. With the rapid increase of human population and the fast expansion of agriculture in the recent 350 years of Chinese history, the habitat of the deer has been greatly reduced. Habitat loss and hunting have driven the deer to the verge of extinction. The last group of 26 deer was protected at Datian Nature Reserve (DNR) which was founded in 1976. The habitat at present remains only 13.14 km2 at DNR, just 4.38–6.57% of that of the 1950’s. The deer population increased to over 1,000 individuals in 2003 under the protection of enclosure building along the boundary of DNR. Moreover, an off-site conservation approach for the deer has been launched since 1990. A total of 83 deer from DNR had been accumulatively introduced to establish off-site populations by the end of 2000. The off-site conserved populations had reached 263 by the end of 2002, of which 246 animals were born in captivity or semi-captivity. A new off-site population in the natural environment was founded by introducing 65 animals from DNR during July to December 2003. The deer population still however faces challenges of habitat limitation, decrease of genetic diversity, inbreeding and poaching. Conservation approaches needed to practice immediately have been proposed in this paper.
Dry calcareous grasslands are among the most species-rich and endangered ecosystems in the Central- European landscape. They are of anthropogenic origin and mainly a result of grazing by domestic animals. Due to land-use changes in the last century, particularly in the 1960s, they were often abandoned or afforested. Therefore, in 1975 long-term experiments were started in the southwestern Germany (Baden-Württemberg) to determine the effectiveness of alternative management treatments in maintaining grasslands and their species composition. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of grazing (reference management treatment), mowing once a year, mulching twice a year, mulching every second year, burning once a year and succession (abandonment) on the population structure (in terms of density, age structure, reproduction mode) and seasonal germination niche of a dwarf shrub, Helianthemum nummularium, and a herbaceous plant, Lotus corniculatus. To study the age structure, annual ring analyses were applied. The classification of the reproduction mode, either by seed or vegetatively, was carried out by differentiating the central under-ground organ either as a root (in this case the individual has established from seed) or rhizome (the individual has developed from clonal multiplication). The seasonal germination niche was derived from the age structure. Management clearly affected population density and age structure. Highest density of individuals was found in the grazing and the lowest in the succession treatment. In the mulching every second year and succession treatments populations were senescent. Management also affected reproduction mode in H. nummularium. Regeneration by seed was especially enhanced by mowing and burning but was inhibited by mulching twice and succession. In the latter treatments H. nummularium reproduced only clonally. Helianthemum nummularium germinated mainly in autumn but burning by breaking the dormancy of seeds initiated germination in spring. A similar pattern was detected in L. corniculatus: burning increased germination rate in spring. Comparing population characters (density, age, reproduction mode) to the traditionally used grazing treatment, mowing was most similar and for L. corniculatus additionally burning. This is in contrast to the assessment of the vegetation of the management treatments where mowing and mulching twice per year maintain a similar floristic composition. Finally, the analysis of the population structure revealed important mechanisms behind population and vegetation dynamics.
This study investigates the influence of microhabitat on the presence of several species of fungivorous beetles in basidiocarps of Fomes fomentarius (L.) Kickx. All dead basidiocarps of F. fomentarius from fragments of forest in an agricultural landscape in Norway were sampled and dissected, and their content of Cis jacquemarti Mellié, 1848/C. alter (Silvferberg, 1991) (did not distinguish between individuals of these two species), C. bidentatus (Olivier, 1790), C. lineatocribratus Mellié, 1848, Ennearthron cornutum (Gyllenhal, 1827) (Ciidae) and Dorcatoma dresdensis Herbst, 1792 (Anobiidae) were identified. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that these species responded differently to the microhabitat variables. The incidence of these beetles was associated with the size (volume), position (height above ground) and moisture content of the basidiocarps. The analyses also indicated possible interspecific interactions between some of the beetles. The presence of some of the species mainly in basidiocarps at particular stages of degradation indicates a successional pattern of occurrence of these species. Together these results indicate that basidiocarps of F. fomentarius are a heterogeneous resource for fungivorous beetles. This has implications for conservation: To preserve the diversity of fungivores, sufficient dead wood has to be left in forests to assure an adequate supply of F. fomentarius basidiocarps of different quality.
Gas exchanges and related leaf traits of three co-occurring species of genus Cypripedium (C. yunnanense Franch., C. guttatum SW., and C. flavum P.F. Hunt et Summerch.) were investigated in a scrubland at 3 460 m a.s.l. in the Hengduan Mountains. The considered species had similar photosynthetic responses to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and air temperature. The photosynthetic capacity (Pmax), carboxylation efficiency (CE), apparent quantum efficiency (AQE), PPFD-saturated rate of electron transport (Jmax), respiration rate (RD), and leaf nitrogen content per unit area (LNC) of C. guttatum were higher than those of C. yunnanense and C. flavum. The highest Pmax of C. guttatum was related to the highest LNC and the lowest ratio of intercellular CO2 concentration to atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca). However, no significant differences in stomatal conductance (gs) and relative stomatal limitations (RSL) were observed among the three species. Hence biochemical limitation had a dominant role in
Pmax differences among the considered species. and S. B. Zhang ... [et al.].
Plant names based on the original material from a restricted region are scientifically important for the study of local biodiversity. Names typified with or entirely based on the original material from the Czech Republic are studied in the present paper; the names are confined to cases of generally accepted names published and taxa described in the period 1753–1820. Some names with original material coming from a border region (mostly near the Polish border) are included, too. Brief notes and references are given to introduce the authors of names and the history of their herbarium collections. New data are given on publications and herbaria of F.W. Schmidt, T. Haenke and J. E. Pohl, including examples of their handwritings; the other authors being C. Linnaeus (and J. Burser), J. Zauschner, K. L.Willdenow, J. C. Mikan, K. Sternberg, H. A. Schrader, L. Trattinick, K. B. Presl, J. S. Presl, P. M. Opiz, I. F. Tausch and H. G. L. Reichenbach. Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes are given on Aconitum plicatum, Allium senescens subsp. montanum, Gagea bohemica, Plantago uliginosa, Spergularia salina, Valeriana officinalis, V. exaltata, V. sambucifolia and Veronica triloba. A number of names are typified (lecto-, neo- , epitypes): Allium montanum, Athyrium distentifolium, Erysimum arcuatum (= Barbarea vulgaris subsp. arcuata), Schmidtia (= Coleanthus) subtilis, Epilobium nutans, Ornithogalum bohemicum (= Gagea bohemica), Hieracium sudeticum, Myosotis sparsiflora, Cynoglossum (= Omphalodes) scorpioides, Pedicularis sudetica, Phyteuma nigrum, Plantago uliginosa (with an identification key), Poa laxa, Soldanella montana, Symphytum bohemicum, Thlaspi caerulescens, Valeriana exaltata (with notes on the typification of V. officinalis), V. sambucifolia, Veronica triloba (with a note on the status of names in Čelakovský‘s works), Viola sudetica and V. saxatilis. The other names included in the list are Avenula planiculmis, Cardamine amara subsp. opicii, Eriophorum vaginatum, Hieracium rupestre (= H. schmidtii), Luzula sudetica, Mentha longifolia, Potentilla lindackeri, Rosa elliptica, Salix silesiaca, Stipa capillata and Viola rupestris. A few cases of names excluded from the list are also analysed: Achillea millefolium subsp. sudetica, Alchemilla fissa, Carex bohemica, Dactylorhiza longebracteata, Gagea pusilla, Geranium bohemicum, Matricaria recutita, Veronica dentata, Spergularia salina (correct name: S. marina), Gentianella obtusifolia, Myosotis alpestris and Mentha rotundifolia. For most cases, conservation status and situation at the original localities (in many cases in protected areas) are discussed.
Seven populations (Oľšava/Hornád R., Oľšava/Topľa R., Ublianka R., Ondava R., Ipeľ R., Malý Dunaj R. and Vlára R.) of Balcan spined loach were subjected to phylogenetic analysis based on variability of the cytochrome b gene and mitochondrial specific marker. They were separated in to five groups but these groups were represented by specimens from different populations. Genetic distances among populations and among groups were quite low. Subsequently, analysis of relations among our groups and sublineages of Danubian-Balkanian complex of Sabanejewia was made. the first four groups were genetically close to sublineage III, while the fifth one to the sublineage IV. These findings agree with the conclusion about conspecificity of analysed Danubian-Dniester populations belonged to monotypic S. balcanica. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the most suitable populations for the restoration of this species in the Bečva River are populations dwelling the Ipeľ and Vlára rivers.