Allozyme polymorphism was investigated in adult males of the stenotopic peat bog (tyrphobiontic) noctuid moth, Coenophila subrosea Stephens, from three isolated peat bog localities in Austria (Styria) and Czech Republic (South and North Bohemia). Of the eighteen enzyme loci examined, twelve were polymorphic and six monomorphic. Significant deviations of genotype frequencies from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed at about one third of polymorphic loci within the populations. The average heterozygosities for the populations from three geographically distinct localities ranged from 0.192 to 0.245, and 61% of the loci were polymorphic. The FST mean value of 0.0675 was higher than that found in most other Lepidoptera. The genetic distances based on allozyme heterozygosity ranged from 0.019 to 0.051, with the population from South Bohemia being the most distant. The genetic distances and FST values do not reflect the geographic distances between the populations. Morphometric analysis revealed a difference between the Austrian Purgschachen Moor and Bohemian populations. These isolated relict peat bogs are habitat islands inhabited by unique "geographical races" of tyrphobiontic taxa., Jan Šula, Karel Spitzer, 4 obrázky, 5 tab., and Lit.
During a survey of 23 wet heathland sites in Flanders (north Belgium) in 1999 and 2000, using both manual nest searching and pitfall traps as sampling techniques, we found 28 ant species. One species (Myrmica lonae) was new to the Belgian fauna and several rare species were encountered. Three ecological groups could be distinguished based on soil preference: the first group of species was characteristic of sandy soil, the second contained species that were more numerous on peat soil (with Sphagnum spp.), and the third group of species had no soil preference. Ant nest numbers increased strongly between 1999 and 2000, especially on the plots that were inundated during the winter of 1999-2000, but the number of ant species did not differ significantly between years. Ant nest density showed an optimum at a Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) cover of about 45%; the number of species did not show such an optimum. Pitfall traps yielded more species than manual nest searching; in particular temporary social parasites, species with a large foraging range and winged females from the surrounding habitats were missed by the latter technique. Finally, we give some recommendations for the conservation of, and suitable management measures for, ants on wet heathland.
The birds along twenty 500 m lengths of coastal borrowdyke (water-filled ditches left when clay is extracted to make a sea wall) in eastern England were counted in spring 2004 and occurrence related to features of habitat. A total of 45 species was recorded with species richness ranging from 5–21. The most widespread species were little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, mute swan Cygnus olor, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, moorhen Gallinula chloropus, coot Fulica atra, sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, all typical wetland birds. Of 20 habitat variables measured, six (open water, narrow and broad marginal Scirpus, width, and low and tall thick scrub) were significant in describing species abundance data in a Canoco analysis. The linear coastal habitat of borrowdykes is regionally important for the conservation of some wetland species and current rotational management for land drainage purposes maintains the variety of habitats to retain a diversity of bird species.
Halting and reversing declines of black grouse populations in Britain represents a major conservation challenge. Programmes of dedicated management aiming to benefit black grouse have been introduced on several sites and areas across the species’ British range. These initiatives generally employ various managements, most aimed at improving habitat conditions, but some at reducing direct sources of mortality. Black grouse populations appear to respond to such conservation initiatives, with increases in numbers following the introduction of management in all six cases examined. However, these increases were not always sustained, and the frequent lack of control sites and baseline data means that there is limited ability to assess the full impact of management, and to distinguish management effects from the effects of coincident environmental variation. Similarly, it is difficult to identify the specific managements critical to producing black grouse response. Evidence exists for benefits of reducing large herbivore densities and of reducing generalist predator abundance, although these may be temporary in the case of herbivore reductions. Variation in annual productivity appeared to be a major determinant of population trends at two sites where productivity estimates were available, suggesting that responses to management may often arise via effects on productivity.
We used butterfly assemblages to evaluate the ecological value of habitat mosaics within garrigue ecosystems in Cyprus. To understand the importance of the local plant communities for Cypriot butterflies, five plots in each of two habitat types (grass-dominated or shrub-dominated) were surveyed weekly for a period of five months in order to assess the abundance, species richness and diversity of butterflies. A total of 810 butterflies of 16 species were recorded. Indices of butterfly diversity, calculated across the whole season, were similar between grassland and shrubland dominated mosaics. However, species richness of all butterflies was consistently higher in grassland dominated mosaics throughout the whole season. The peak abundance of all butterfly species occurred during mid-season (late April - early May), with similar numbers observed in both habitat types. However, a greater abundance was observed during early and late season in grassland patches. The abundance of endemic species (Maniola cypricola, Hipparchia cypriensis, Glaucopsyche paphos) peaked earlier in the season in shrubland patches, but was higher in grassland patches in late season. This difference in seasonal timing of endemic abundance was dominated by the seasonal dynamics of M. cypricola. These results suggest that, while garrigue is characterised by its shrub flora, management to maintain a mosaic of grassland and shrubland could act to maximise the abundance and richness of indicator species groups of conservation importance. and Özge Özden, David J. Hodgson.
Golf is a popular sport, with increasingly large areas of urban and peri-urban land being designated for golf course development. Yet, more than half of the land area of a typical golf course is considered rough and out-of-play areas that can, if managed appropriately, provide habitats for wildlife. Using pitfall traps, 6944 carabid beetles belonging to 72 species were collected from five urban golf courses and three areas designated for golf course development around the city of Helsinki, Finland in 2007. The courses were rich in carabid species and distinct in their species assemblages. Golf courses were dominated by habitat generalists, species capable of flight and medium to large-sized species. The three courses with areas designated for further golf course development showed that the assemblages of beetles associated with these golf courses have retained many elements from the pre-existing habitats. The oldest golf course is characterised by a more evenly distributed and diverse carabid beetle assemblage, probably due to its higher habitat heterogeneity and longer successional development. However, even this golf course is dominated by generalist species, implying that golf courses may not provide suitable habitats for specialists. It is assumed that the high species richness of golf courses is attributed to the high habitat diversity of these environments, ranging from the strongly human-modified to more natural patches, which provide habitats for many generalist and open-habitat species. Golf courses may, however, with the appropriate management of out-of-play areas provide an opportunity for conserving biodiversity.
I review the effects of habitat fragmentation on carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) and examine whether the taxon could be used as an indicator of fragmentation. Related to this, I study the conservation needs of carabids. The reviewed studies showed that habitat fragmentation affects carabid assemblages. Many species that require habitat types found in interiors of fragments are threatened by fragmentation. On the other hand, the species composition of small fragments of habitat (up to a few hectares) is often altered by species invading from the surroundings. Recommendations for mitigating these adverse effects include maintenance of large habitat patches and connections between them. Furthermore, landscape homogenisation should be avoided by maintaining heterogeneity of habitat types. It appears that at least in the Northern Hemisphere there is enough data about carabids for them to be fruitfully used to signal changes in land use practices. Many carabid species have been classified as threatened. Maintenance of the red-listed carabids in the landscape requires species-specific or assemblage-specific measures.
We compared the habitat use by giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in selectively logged forests and timber plantations in the Changqing National Reserve, Shaanxi, China. The results indicated that giant pandas preferred selectively logged forests to abandoned timber plantations. Habitat use of the giant panda was strongly influenced by the over storey canopy cover. Dense over storey canopy in abandoned timber plantations appeared to impede bamboo growth and then resulted in low food availability for the giant pandas. Thus, the abandoned timber plantations were not suitable habitats for giant panda.
Nine species of the family Cobitidae live in Croatia. Seven species belong to the genus Cobitis and one each to the genera Sabanejewia and Misgurnus. Species such as the C. jadovaensis Mustafić et Mrakovčić, 2008, C. bilineata Canestrini, 1866, C. dalmatina Karaman, 1928, C. illyrica Freyhof et Stelbrink, 2007 and C. narentana Karaman, 1928 live in the Adriatic River Basin (the northern Mediterranean), while the C. elongatoides Bacescu et Maier, 1969, C. elongata Heckel et Kner, 1858, S. balcanica Karaman, 1922 and M. fossilis Linnaeus, 1758 inhabit watercourses of the Danube River Basin. Although most Adriatic taxa appear to be endemic to this area, some researchers have revealed new phylogenetic relationships, suggesting the possibility of more recent taxa exchange with Danube freshwater fish fauna. All members of these genera inhabit either running and/or standing waters. According to IUCN methodology, S. balcanica, C. elongata and M. fossilis in the Danube watershed and C. dalmatina and C. narentana in the Adriatic watershed have been classified as vulnerable. C. elongatoides is in the lower risk category. The newly determined species C. bilineata, C. illyrica and C. jadovaensis will be in the endangered category. Here we present the majority of a total of 20 areas and water bodies included in the proposal of Natura 2000 and which have been selected for the conservation of the species from the family of the Cobitidae.
RAPD-PCR method is now widely employed in genetic research and is a powerful asset when trying to identify species. In the present work, RAPD genetic markers were obtained for distinguishing between three species of the genus Gobio that show substantial morphological resemblance. Different profiles were observed: six species-specific markers were detected for G. gobio, four for G. kesslerii and nine for G. uranoscopus. These markers were reproducible, dependable and very helpful in differentiating between these species.