Evidence of sodium limitation in ants and termites in a Neotropical savanna

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Natalie A. Clay ◽  
Donald B. Shepard ◽  
Adrian A. Garda ◽  
Daniel O. Mesquita ◽  
Alexandre Vasconcellos
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Neotropical Savanna ◽  
Nacl Concentration ◽  
Neotropical Savannas ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Type Water ◽  
Conservation Concern

Abstract Nutritional ecology of ropical ecosystems like Neotropical savannas, which are of high conservation concern, is understudied. Sodium is essential for heterotrophs but availability often falls short relative to plant consumer requirements. Savanna plant consumers like ants and termites should be sodium-limited due to high temperatures, nutrient-poor soils, and lack of oceanic sodium deposition. We tested the hypothesis that Neotropical savanna ants and termites are sodium-limited. Termites were tested by supplementing 0.25 m2 plots with H2O (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, or 1.0% NaCl and measuring termite presence and artificial substrate mass loss after 1 week. Ants were tested by collecting ants that recruited to H2O (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0% NaCl and 1.0%, 10%, and 20% sugar baits on paired diurnal–nocturnal transects. Termites were 16 times more likely to occur on 1% NaCl than H2O plots and wood-feeding termites were most frequent. However, the decomposition rate did not differ among treatments. Ant bait use increased with increasing NaCl concentration and 1% NaCl usage was similar to sugar bait usage. Ants were 3.7 times more active nocturnally than diurnally, but contrary to predictions bait type (water, sugar or NaCl) usage did not differ between day and night. Together, these results provide strong evidence of sodium limitation in Neotropical savannas.

Ecological specialization is associated with high conservation concern in skates (Chondrichthyes, Rajiformes)

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-228
Author(s):  
S. A. Barbini ◽  
L. O. Lucifora ◽  
D. E. Sabadin ◽  
D. E. Figueroa
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Specialization ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Concern

Effects of N Deposition Induced by Environmental Pollution on Litter Decomposition Rate of Cortex phellodendri chinensis in Shenyang City

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 1913-1917
Author(s):  
Fang Qin Guo ◽  
Wei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Shenyang City ◽  
Litter Decomposition Rate ◽  
Cortex Phellodendri

The effects of N deposition induced by environmental pollution on litter decomposition rate in Shenyang city are analyzed by the reciprocal transplant experiment. By contrasting environments and intraspecific variations in Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis leaf litter quality on mass loss rates to investigate the effects of N deposition on mass loss rates in urban and suburb. The results showed that N deposition in urban significantly affected litter decomposition rate by affecting litter quality and environmental conditions. There was a faster decomposition rate when the environmental conditions or litter quality was affected by N deposition.

scholarly journals Counting complete? Finalising the plant inventory of a global biodiversity hotspot

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Treurnicht ◽  
Jonathan F. Colville ◽  
Lucas N. Joppa ◽  
Onno Huyser ◽  
John Manning
Keyword(s):  
Growth Form ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Species Discovery ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Steady Rate ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Species Descriptions

The Cape Floristic Region—the world’s smallest and third richest botanical hotspot—has benefited from sustained levels of taxonomic effort and exploration for almost three centuries, but how close is this to resulting in a near-complete plant species inventory? We analyse a core component of this flora over a 250-year period for trends in taxonomic effort and species discovery linked to ecological and conservation attributes. We show that >40% of the current total of species was described within the first 100 years of exploration, followed by a continued steady rate of description. We propose that <1% of the flora is still to be described. We document a relatively constant cohort of taxonomists, working over 250 years at what we interpret to be their ‘taxonomic maximum.’ Rates of description of new species were independent of plant growth-form but narrow-range taxa have constituted a significantly greater proportion of species discoveries since 1950. This suggests that the fraction of undiscovered species predominantly comprises localised endemics that are thus of high conservation concern. Our analysis provides important real-world insights for other hotspots in the context of global strategic plans for biodiversity in informing considerations of the likely effort required in attaining set targets of comprehensive plant inventories. In a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, we argue for a focused research agenda across disciplines to increase the rate of species descriptions in global biodiversity hotspots.

Salinity effects on mass loss and nutrient release in the litter decomposition of peatland macrophytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Batistel ◽  
Gerald Jurasinski ◽  
Hendrik Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
The Other ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Prime Concern

&lt;p&gt;Global mean sea level had been rising and accelerating in the last decades affecting coastal wetlands that are important carbon stores since they are susceptible to fluctuating water levels. Climate-change-driven sea-level rise, which is predicted to reach about one to two meters by 2100, may lead to dramatic shifts in the vegetation composition of coastal wetlands consequently influencing ecosystem functions including photosynthetic activity, biomass production, litter decomposability, and ultimately the pattern and rates of nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and greenhouse gas exchange. In this regard, aside from water level, changes in salinity that may especially influence the decomposition of dead plant material are also of prime concern.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we provide a comparative evaluation of the decomposition rates of the dominant macrophytes in different nearby freshwater and brackish peatlands. We assumed that the degradability of leaf litter differs among species due to the difference in chemical composition. Two peatland sites, Schutower Moor (freshwater) and Diedrichshagen Moor (brackish) were selected to compare the decomposition rate and nutrient release of &lt;em&gt;Phragmites australis&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Carex&lt;/em&gt; sp. and &lt;em&gt;Schoenoplectus tabernaemontanii &lt;/em&gt;as influenced by salinity. We used the litterbag method using senescent leaves or stem parts (for &lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii&lt;/em&gt;) of the macrophytes that were collected in late autumn. We deposited 30 litterbags per species per site and retrieved 5 of these per site after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 months, respectively.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Regardless of site and species, the highest mass loss occurred in the first 35 days of decomposition with a strong decrease thereafter with almost flat slopes. The initial decay rates of the same species did not differ significantly between sites. However, the initial mass loss of the &lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii&lt;/em&gt; litter was significantly higher than the other species. This species has the highest decay coefficient of 0.008 d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; and 0.006 d&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; in freshwater and brackish sites, respectively. These decay rates are up to four times faster compared to the other species resulting in empty litterbags a year after deployment indicating the complete decomposition of&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii &lt;/em&gt;while other species had between 40% to 60% dry mass remaining. Initially, the carbon and nitrogen contents of &lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii &lt;/em&gt;were significantly lower than those of the other species while its initial sulfur content was significantly higher than of the other species.&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii &lt;/em&gt;retained a relatively high amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and magnesium throughout decomposition compared to the other species. This keeps the C:N, C:P, C:S, C:Mg and N:P ratios nearly constant from the start to the end of the study suggesting continuous microbial activities due to the availability of such nutrients in the detritus of&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii&lt;/em&gt;. This confirms that&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;P. australis&lt;/em&gt;&amp;#160;and&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;Carex&lt;/em&gt;&amp;#160;sp. contribute to the formation of peat while&amp;#160;&lt;em&gt;S. tabernaemontanii&amp;#160;&lt;/em&gt;does not.&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Litter quality showed to be a more important factor affecting decomposition than the little difference in salinity between sites (e.g. annual average of 3psu) that did not significantly affect the decomposition rate of macrophyte litter. Therefore, future similar studies should consider comparing sites with higher salinity levels.&lt;/p&gt;

An interactive identification key for genets and oyans (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genettinae, Genetta spp. and Poiana spp.) using Xper2

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1717 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHILIPPE GAUBERT ◽  
ANTOINE CHALUBERT ◽  
GUILLAUME DUBUS
Keyword(s):  
Identification Key ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Taxonomic Description ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Knowledge Platform ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Qualitative Characters ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
User Friendly

We built an interactive identification key (IIK) to provide a user-friendly tool for the problematic identification of the Genettinae species (Genetta spp. and Poiana spp.) using Xper², a knowledge platform dedicated to taxonomic description and identification. A total of 45 qualitative characters were described after the observation of > 4500 specimens, representing 19 species. Assessing among-species discrimination efficiency per character partition and character, we were able to establish a list of 13 characters from skull and coat likely to optimize species identification among Genettinae. Genetta maculata and G. “letabae”, which belong to the large-spotted genet complex, was the only species pair that could not be distinguished. The IIK of Genettinae we propose herein (http://lis.snv.jussieu.fr/apps/xper/data/genettes/ web/) may be used to assist regular-basis update of distribution ranges, a needed effort for several poorly known species of high conservation concern.

scholarly journals Population estimates for tidal marsh birds of high conservation concern in the northeastern USA from a design-based survey

The Condor ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney A. Wiest ◽  
Maureen D. Correll ◽  
Brian J. Olsen ◽  
Chris S. Elphick ◽  
Thomas P. Hodgman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Marsh ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Marsh Birds ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Northeastern Usa

scholarly journals Avian Community Structure as a Function of Season, Habitat Type, and Disturbance, in Mole National Park, Northern Region (Ghana)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Ayine Nsor ◽  
Emmanuel Acquah ◽  
Grace Mensah ◽  
Vincent Kusi-Kyei ◽  
Samuel Boadi
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
National Park ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Ordination Techniques ◽  
Bird Habitat ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Concern

The study assessed factors that influenced bird-habitat preference, diversity, and spatial distribution in Mole National Park. Birds were identified using point count sampling method, while ordination techniques were performed to determine the influence of environmental factors on bird-habitat preference. A total of 4951 individuals belonging to 131 species were identified across the four habitat types in the wet (n= 3033) and dry (n= 1648) seasons. Despite the high abundance and richness of birds in the woodland and shrubland habitats, grassland habitat was the most diverse, due to the high spatial evenness distribution of the birds. Bushfire, patchiness, and animal trampling were the key environmental determinants in bird assemblages and habitat preferences and accounted for 62.02% and 81.82% variations in the two seasons. Rarer birds like White-Backed Vulture (NT) and White-Headed Vulture (CR), Bateleur Eagle (NT), and Woolly-Necked Stork (VU), with high conservation concern, suggest intensification of conservation effort, while the dominance of Sahel Bush-sparrow was probably due to their broad range habitat preferences and ability to adapt to environmental conditions across these habitats. These species could be used as indicators of habitat quality, if future scenarios restrict their movement or distribution in narrow range habitats.

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