Eleven species of parasitoids were found to attack 7 species of wheat aphids in Iran. The Simpson's Index of diversity (D) used to compare the aphidiine diversity in various cereal crop systems in geographically different regions of Iran ranged from 0.197 to 0.488, depending on locality. There were significant differences among species diversities at different altitudes. The central highlands (1000-1500 meters above mean sea level) were the areas with the most diverse aphid parasitoid complex, differing significantly from that at lower and higher altitudes. We found that altitude explained about 10% of the cereal aphid parasitoid distribution pattern in Iran. Species of the genus Aphidius Nees were the most abundant and widely distributed. These were Aphidius rhopalosiphi De Stefani, Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetski, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae Haliday. A. uzbekistanicus, Ephedrus plagiator (Nees) and Ephedrus persicae Froggat were encountered mainly on the plains at lower altitudes. Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) was mainly recorded at higher altitudes in Iran along with its dominant parasitoid species, Diaeretiella rapae (MIntosh). The fact that Iran is close to the presumed area of D. noxia origin (Central Asian submountains) could be very important in further biological control efforts against this pest aphid. According to our results, Aphidius ervi Haliday is a very rare parasitoid of cereal aphids in Iran, which contrast with its high abundance in Europe and North America.
The expansion of urban areas is one of the most significant anthropogenic impacts on the natural landscape. Due to their sensitivity to stressors in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, dragonflies and damselflies (the Odonata) may provide insights into the effects of urbanisation on biodiversity. However, while knowledge about the impacts of urbanisation on odonates is growing, there has not been a comprehensive review of this body of literature until now. This is the first systematic literature review conducted to evaluate both the quantity and topics of research conducted on odonates in urban ecosystems. From this research, 79 peer-reviewed papers were identified, the vast majority (89.87%) of which related to studies of changing patterns of biodiversity in urban odonate communities. From the papers regarding biodiversity changes, 31 were performed in an urban-rural gradient and 21 of these reported lower diversity towards built up city cores. Twelve of the cases of biodiversity loss were directly related to the concentrations of pollutants in the water. Other studies found higher concentrations of pollutants in odonates from built-up catchments and suggested that odonates such as Aeshna juncea and Platycnemis pennipes may be candidate indicators for particular contaminants. We conclude by identifying current research needs, which include the need for more studies regarding behavioural ecology and life-history traits in response to urbanisation, and a need to investigate the mechanisms behind diversity trends beyond pollution., Giovanna Villalobos-Jiménez, Alison M. Dunn, Christopher Hassall., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The status of mammals in Europe was assessed according to IUCN Red List Criteria and regional Red Listing guidelines. We found that nearly one in six (15%) of Europe’s 231 mammal species were threatened (IUCN categories CR, EN, VU), with a further 9% considered Near Threatened. Marine mammals faced particularly high levels of threat, with 22% of marine species (n=27) versus 14% of terrestrial species (n=204) assessed as threatened. More than a quarter (27%) of mammals had declining populations. A further 32% were stable and 8% increasing; 33% were of unknown population trend. Terrestrial mammal biodiversity was greatest in south-eastern Europe (the Balkan Peninsula, Hungary, and Romania) and in the mountainous regions of Mediterranean and temperate Europe. Habitat loss and degradation was the greatest threat to terrestrial mammals in Europe, although human disturbance, pollution, accidental mortality (e.g., secondary poisoning, vehicle collisions), overexploitation and invasive species were also important. The main threats to marine mammals were accidental mortality (e.g., fisheries bycatch), pollution and overexploitation. EU Member States have committed to halt biodiversity loss by 2010, but the evidence from this study suggests that this target is unlikely to be met and significant actions must take place to halt the decline of mammal biodiversity in Europe. The results presented here provide a baseline against which future progress can be measured
The aim of the present study was to find groups of moths suitable for estimating changes in the abundance and richness of local and regional biodiversity in a temperate forest. We captured macro-moths from May to October over a 5-year period (2005–2009) at various sites in Mt. Jirisan National Park (JNP) in southern Korea. Six taxa were selected based on a strong correlation between the number of species in these taxa and total number of species of large moths: Ennominae (Enn), Arctiinae (Arc), Hermininae (Her), Notodontidae (Not), Drepanidae (Dre) and Ophiderinae (Oph). Of these, combinations of four groups were found to have the best predictive capability. We determined whether these indicator groups could be used to reveal mean differences in species abundance according to spatial (forest type, altitude) and temporal variables (monsoon season) since moth composition and abundances were closely related with these variables. The mean differences in the groups of moths in the two types of forest (Arc, Dre, Enn, Not), two altitudes (Dre, Enn, Her, Oph) and two seasons (Dre, Enn, Oph) were significant. Overall, it was revealed that a set of four groups, including two taxa (Dre and Enn), could be used to show differences in local and regional biodiversity of moths in southern Korean temperate forest., Jeong-Seop An, Sei-Woon Choi., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The examination of eight spotted skates, Raja straeleni Poll, resulted in the discovery of four new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849, namely A. microhabentes sp. n., A. microtenuis sp. n., A. crassus sp. n., and A. dolichocollum sp. n., located off the Western Cape of South Africa. With a total of over 200 valid species of Acanthobothrium recognised worldwide, the use of an integrative approach becomes imperative in the interest of simplifying interspecific comparisons between congeners. In accordance with this, the four new species were incorporated into the category classification system established by Ghoshroy and Caira in 2001, where they were identified as category 2 species, which, at present, includes 47 recognised species of Acanthobothrium. Nevertheless, each of the four new species exhibits postovarian testes, a most intriguing and highly unusual feature among Acanthobothrium, instantly differentiating them from most congeners. This feature has been reported in 12 congeners, which have previously been considered to be restricted to waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Not only do the four new congeners represent the first species of Acanthobothrium reported from southern Africa, but they also represent the first reported species with postovarian testes from the southern Atlantic Ocean. and Regarding the legitimacy of the four new species, only two other category 2 species are reported to exhibit this feature, namely A. popi Fyler, Caira et Jensen, 2009, and A. bobconniorum Fyler et Caira, 2010, to which the four congeners were compared to. Acanthobothrium microhabentes sp. n. is the smallest of the congeners and differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer testes and postovarian testes, a shorter body, fewer proglottids, a shorter scolex, and longer cephalic peduncle. Acanthobothrium microtenuis sp. n. differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer testes and postovarian testes, a shorter scolex, longer cephalic peduncle, and the possession of columnar spinitriches on the anterior region of the terminal proglottid. Acanthobothrium crassus sp.n. differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer postovarian testes, a narrower cirrus-sac, larger vitelline follicles, and a longer cephalic peduncle. Acanthobothrium dolichocollum sp. n. is the longest of the four new species and differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer postovarian testes, more postporal testes, a larger body, more proglottids, larger testes and vitelline follicles, and an exceptionally long cephalic peduncle. Apart from differences in overall size, the four new species differ in a combination of measurements for the scolex, vitelline follicles, muscular pad and cephalic peduncle, and the number of proglottids and testes. The four species were recovered from a previously unexplored host and locality, expanding the host associations and geographical distribution of the genus.
Dry calcareous grassland is one of the most species-rich and endangered ecosystem in Central Europe. Despite the dramatic loss of grassland in the second half of the 20th century due to abandonment of agricultural land or afforestation, new grasslands developed on former arable land. The main objective of this studywas to assess the effect of age on the vegetation and habitat properties of calcareous grasslands. We found that the history (former land use, age of habitats) of grassland localities has had a fundamental effect both on the species composition of the vegetation and habitat properties. Significant differences were found, especially in soil reaction and water-holding capacity. Therefore, we can state that both history and habitat properties determine the recent species composition pattern. Consequently, it was possible to identify species indicating the historical status of the grasslands. Indicators of ancient grassland (i.e., patches continuously used as pastures at least since 1830) could be assigned to typical Festuco-Brometea species but also more widespread grassland species such as Carex flacca, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Carlina vulgaris, Cirsium acaule, Hippocrepis comosa and Scabiosa columbaria. Indicators of recent grasslands (i.e., patches temporarily farmed as arable fields after 1830) belong to different phytosociological classes: Festuco-Brometea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei and Secalietea cerealis. Festuco-Brometea species restricted to recent grasslands were e.g. Thymus pulegioides subsp. carniolicus, Stachys alpina, Rhinanthus alectorolophus and Onobrychis viciifolia. The two latter species are survivors from the former arable cultivation, the first was an arable weed and the second a widespread fodder plant, but are now considered to be characteristic species of calcareous grasslands. Therefore, we claim that the occurrence of these species indicate calcareous grasslands that were previously arable fields and that recent grasslands are a monument to historical land use. Rare and/or endangered species were not only found in ancient but also in recent grasslands. Furthermore, recent grasslands have a high species diversity. Thus both, ancient and recent calcareous grasslands should be considered equally valuable from a nature-conservation point of view.
The European stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, is recognised as a flagship species for biodiversity conservation. Although the species is widely distributed across Europe declines have led to it being granted protected or endangered status in a number of countries and regarded as "near threatened" by the IUCN. The integration of genetic approaches into conservation efforts is urgently needed but has been impeded to date by the lack of appropriate genetic markers. To provide such a resource the development of the first microsatellite loci for stag beetle is described. Loci were identified using two methods (i) enriched library cloning (ELC) and (ii) Restriction enzyme Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq). Inefficient microsatellite detection using the ELC method suggests that RAD-Seq, or other Next Generation Sequencing based methods, may ultimately be more cost effective for obtaining informative suites of markers for this and other coleopteran species. 18 loci were characterised by genotyping 42 UK specimens collected as prey leftover/roadkill. All loci produced unambiguous genotypes and were polymorphic. Though preliminary, estimates of genetic variability suggest UK populations may be genetically depauperate. The microsatellite loci represent a suite of genetic markers that can be applied to non-invasive population monitoring and numerous other areas of Lucanus conservation and evolutionary research., Niall J. McKeown, Deborah J. Harvey, Amy J. E. Healey, Ilze Skujina, Karen Cox, Alan C. Gange, Paul W. Shaw., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Vybrat vhodnou metodu sběru hmyzu tak, aby byla efektivní a přitom poskytovala relevantní data, není vůbec snadné. Na základě rozsáhlého datového souboru se ukázalo, že zemní pasti, standardně používaná metoda při ekologickém výzkumu epigeických členovců, zaznamenaly jen polovinu druhů střevlíků ve srovnání s metodou individuálního sběru. Výrazně se lišily i vlastnosti zaznamenaných druhů, v pastech převládaly druhy velké, kdežto ve vzorcích z individuálního sběru druhy drobné. Ale i metoda individuálního sběru má své mouchy, protože její účinnost do značné míry závisela na terénních zkušenostech sběratele. Ideálním řešením zajišťujícím co nejkompletnější záznam společenstev střevlíků se zdá být kombinace obou metod sběru dat., The selection of a proper sampling technique for ecological research into insect assemblages is a tough nut to crack. Based on extensive field study, I have shown that the commonly employed "pitfall trapping" technique recorded just half the number of carabid species compared to the individual collection technique. There were also differences in species trait representation in samples originating from each particular technique. Pitfall traps efficiently recorded large species but missed smaller ones, which were frequently recorded by individual collection. The main shortcoming of the individual collection technique is the dependence of its efficiency on the field experiences of each particular researcher. A combination of both investigated sampling techniques seems to be the best way to gain as complete records of carabid assemblages as possible., and Michal Knapp.
Charakter krajiny je v oblasti centrálních Apenin již na první pohled výrazně různorodý. Dynamicky formovaný reliéf pokrývá pestrá mozaika vegetačních typů. Zdejší lesy jsou od dávných dob obhospodařované pařezinovým způsobem, což je typ managementu, který byl na území bývalého Československa běžný až do minulého století. Typicky šlo o dubové a dubohabrové lesy, jejichž biodiverzita dlouhodbě klesá. Návštěva a studium lesů centrálních Apenin poskytuje hodnotné souvislosti pro řešení problému klesající druhové diverzity v někdejších pařezinách střední Evropy., The landscape of the central Apennines is markedly diverse. Dynamically formed relief is covered by a mosaic of different vegetation types. For centuries, local forests are managed as coppices - type of management common in former Czechoslovakia up to last century. Biodiversity of these oak and oak-hornbeam forests gradually declines due to the abandonment of coppicing. Thus, a visit to the central Apennines and study of their forests provide a valuable insight into the problem of species diversity decline in the former coppices of Central Europe., and František Máliš, Roberto Canullo, Radim Hédl.