Colonisation of secondary habitats in mining sites by Labidura riparia (Dermaptera: Labiduridae) from multiple natural source populations

BackgroundOpen cast lignite mines, sand pits and military training areas represent human-made, secondary habitats for specialized xerothermophilous and psammophilous species. Rare species, including the earwigLabidurariparia,are found in high population densities in such sites. However, it is unknown from which sources colonisation took place and how genetic variation compares to that of ancient populations on natural sites.MethodsUsing nine microsatellite markers, we analysed genetic variation and population structure ofL. ripariain 21 populations in NE Germany both from secondary habitats such as lignite-mining sites, military training areas and a potassium mining heap, and rare primary habitats, such as coastal and inland dunes.ResultsGenetic variation was higher in populations from post-mining sites and former military training areas than in populations from coastal or inland dune sites. Overall population differentiation was substantial (FST = 0.08;FʹST = 0.253), with stronger differentiation among primary (FST = 0.196;FʹST = 0.473) than among secondary habitats (FST = 0.043;FʹST = 0.147). Differentiation followed a pattern of isolation by distance. Bayesian structure analysis revealed three gene pools representing primary habitats on a coastal dune and two different inland dunes. All populations from secondary habitats were mixtures of the two inland dune gene pools, suggesting multiple colonization of post-mining areas from different source populations and hybridisation among source populations.DiscussionPopulations ofL. ripariafrom primary habitats deserve special conservation, because they harbour differentiated gene pools. The majority of theL. ripariapopulations, however, thrive in secondary habitats, highlighting their role for conservation.Implications for insect conservationA dual strategy should be followed of conserving both remaining natural habitat harbouring particular intraspecific gene pools and secondary habitat inhabited by large admixed and genetically highly variable populations.

Ranunculus polyphyllus Willd. still grows in Slovakia

Ranunculus polyphyllus is a Eurosiberian species of the Eurasian forest-steppe zone, extremely rare in the western part of its distribution range, in Central Europe. In Slovakia, this lowland semiaquatic plant has its westernmost border, where only a few historic locations are known, and which have not been confirmed since 1965: one on the Podunajská nížina Lowland and three on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland. These records, however, do not include any vegetation data. The species has been recently rediscovered in Slovakia on the Východoslovenská nížina Lowland: one historical site was confirmed in 2020 in the periodically inundated pasture near Strážne settlement, and a second site was found in 2021 near Zemplínske Hradište in a flooded depression in intensively used agricultural land which was formerly used as rice fields. In its European range, this species has been observed only in natural wetlands, and its ability to occupy secondary habitats has not yet been reported. Here we provide new data on the recent occurrence of Ranunculus polyphyllus in Slovakia with regard to its vegetation and habitat conditions.

WILD SPECIES OF VASCULAR PLANTS ON THE TERRITORY OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE KURGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

An annotated checklist of the spontaneous component of the flora of the Botanical garden of Kurgan University is presented, which included 559 species and 7 nototypes from 323 genera and 81 families, which is 66.7 % of the flora of Kurgan. For each taxon, the status of its inclusion in the flora is given (native or adventive on the territory of the Southern Trans-Urals), briefly indicated: life form, type of area, ecological and phytocenotic characteristics. When characterizing aboriginal species, the summary indicates their ability to settle in secondary habitats (from species incapable of weed and occasional apophytes that are not resistant in secondary habitats to apophytes that are resistant in secondary habitats). Of the plants of the natural flora growing on the territory of the Botanical Garden, 156 species (27.6 % of the list) do not weed and are found in areas occupied by natural vegetation. Of the plants of the natural flora growing on the territory of the Botanical Garden, 156 species (27.6 % of the list) do not weed and are found in areas occupied by natural vegetation. Of the plants of the natural flora growing on the territory of the Botanical Garden, 156 species (27.6 % of the list) do not weed and are found in areas occupied by natural vegetation. Rarely observed on ruderal and segetal habitats of 133 species (23.5 %) (unstable apophytes); are regularly observed in secondary habitats of 127 species (22.4 %) (resistant apophytes). Of the 140 species introduced by man, 6 species (1.0 %) were recorded on the territory under consideration once and, possibly, dropped out of the flora (they can be classified as ephemerophytes); 63 epecophytes (11.1 %) are species that are stably observed only in secondary habitats, and 73 agriophytes (12.9 %) are invading natural communities.

Physical Factors Impacting the Survival and Occurrence of Escherichia coli in Secondary Habitats

Escherichia (E.) coli is a fecal microbe that inhabits the intestines of endotherms (primary habitat) and the natural environment (secondary habitats). Due to prevailing thinking regarding the limited capacity of E. coli to survive in the environment, relatively few published investigations exist regarding environmental factors influencing E. coli’s survival. To help guide future research in this area, an overview of factors known to impact the survival of E. coli in the environment is provided. Notably, the lack of historic field-based research holds two important implications: (1) large knowledge gaps regarding environmental factors influencing E. coli’s survival in the environment exist; and (2) the efficacy of implemented management strategies have rarely been assessed on larger field scales, thus leaving their actual impact(s) largely unknown. Moreover, the persistence of E. coli in the environment calls into question its widespread and frequent use as a fecal indicator microorganism. To address these shortcomings, future work should include more field-based studies, occurring in diverse physiographical regions and over larger spatial extents. This information will provide scientists and land-use managers with a new understanding regarding factors influencing E. coli concentrations in its secondary habitat, thereby providing insight to address problematic fecal contamination effectively.

The role of reedbeds in secondary habitats during the migration and breeding of reed warblers

The reedbeds provide essential habitat for many Acrocephalus and Locustella species during both breeding and migration periods. The nesting and the migration of these species have been the subject of detailed research over the past half century in the Carpathian Basin. However, these studies have focused primarily on natural habitats and large reedbeds and thus, little is known about the role of smaller habitat fragments in the migration and nesting of these species. During my work, I studied the spring and autumn migration of five passerines in a landscape dominated by agricultural land in Southeast Hungary. Field observations were carried out to survey the populations of different species between 2010–2019. To study their migration, I used the method of bird ringing between 2016–2019 in an oleaster forest and a drainage canal. I was able to determine the migration periods of the species and in autumn, to calculate the time spent in the research area based on the recaptures. In conclusion, reedbeds in secondary habitats play a similar role in the migration of the most common Acrocephalus and Locustella species as in the natural habitats in different regions of the Carpathian Basin. There are differences among species in the timing of migration, the length of time spent here, and the accumulated fat stores. As these species nest in small numbers in the area, primarily individuals from more distant populations occur here during the migration.

Birch Bog on Anthropogenically Transformed Raised Bogs. A Case Study from Pomerania (Poland)

Birch bog is formed on the margins of or within raised bogs, on secondary habitats. The study aim was to understand the vegetation and mycological diversity of birch bog on the background of habitat conditions on raised bogs subject to anthropogenic changes, including 15 areas located on seven bogs. Two of the analyzed areas were located on a peat bog not subject to human impact. Phytosociological and mycosociological relevés were taken and substrate analyses were carried out (pH, humidity, N-NH4, N-NO2, N-NO3 and P-PO4). Based on habitat predictors, two area groups were distinguished, differing primarily in humidity. More humid habitats were present on the margins of bogs, and were characterized by lower acidity and higher N-NH4 and P-PO4 abundance. Despite the fact they were enriched by runoffs from the neighboring arable fields, this was not always reflected in the plant and fungi species richness. Quercus robur appeared on less humid habitats, which may be a symptom of unfavorable changes toward habitat drying. In the majority of cases, changes in the habitat independent of the birch patches located and the human impact type are not yet reflected in the vegetation. However, they may be indicated by the fungal diversity, highest in former peat extraction pits, and lowest in pristine peat.

Crustacean-sponge symbiosis: collecting and maintaining sponge-inhabiting barnacles (Cirripedia: Thoracica: Acastinae) for studies on host specificity and larval biology

Sponges are common in coral reefs and provide secondary habitats and shelter to a very diverse associated biota. To examine the symbiotic relationships between crustacean associates and their sponge hosts, the most important step is to collect live crustaceans and sponges for subsequent taxonomic identification as well as for larval rearing and experiments on larval biology. Using sponge-inhabiting barnacles as a model, we describe a set of collection procedures, identification methods, and laboratory-rearing systems for maintaining living barnacles and their host sponges. These methods also permit observing the behavior of the barnacle symbionts, including feeding, mating, as well as larval development and settlement, information that can be applied to the study of host-specificity, larval biology, and host selection.

Biodiversity and temporal patterns of macrozoobenthos in a coal mining subsidence area in North China

Coal resources play a strategic role in the long-term development of China. Large-scale mining has a considerable impact on the landscape, and it is a long-term heritage of industrialization unique to the Anthropocene. We investigated the macrozoobenthos and water in nine mining subsidence wetlands at different developmental stages (3–20 years) in North China. A total of 68 species were found, and the macrozoobenthos community in the newly formed wetlands showed high diversity. We believe that this high diversity is not random; rather, the high diversity was because of the special origin and development of the wetland. We used three time slices from the timeline of the development of the newly formed wetlands and compared them. It was found that the macrozoobenthos community was significantly affected by the change in the subsidence history. We emphasize that coal mining subsidence should not be merely identified as secondary man-made disasters, as they are often secondary habitats with high conservation value, and their conservation potential lies in the fact that these secondary habitats can replace rapidly decreasing natural wetlands.

Storage reservoirs beyond a lake district as secondary habitats for caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) in an area of karst origin (SE Poland)

Shallow and vegetation-rich storage reservoirs can be a very important element of a hydrological network supporting specific fauna. However, their ecological potential for many insect groups is often neglected in hydrobiological studies in contrast to lakes. Therefore, caddisfly fauna was studied at different levels of its organization as well as environmental drivers of the species' distribution across three reservoirs (SE Poland). The species' composition and assemblages distinguishingly showed close relationships with the caddisfly fauna of meso- and eutrophic lakes. Quantitative naturalness index (Wns) of caddisfly fauna in all reservoirs was higher in comparison to this value obtained for regional lakes. Oxygen reduction potential, temperature, electrical conductivity (physical and chemical variables of water), shading, elodeids (structural variables of reservoirs) and the average distance to the nearest water bodies (landscape variables in buffer zones of reservoirs) were all significant for caddisflies in CCA models. Analysis of functional groups revealed two characteristic features of these habitats: the lack of rheophiles and an evenly balanced trophic structure. Shallow reservoirs, despite their origin and human intervention, can provide important secondary habitats for specific invertebrate fauna. Practical guidelines are also given concerning management practices favourable to aquatic biota.