Seeds of many species of plants may survive for a long time in the soil and germinate when brought to the surface, but
whether they are subsequently eaten by seed predators is unknown. We examined the preferences of three species of carabids
(Coleoptera: Carabidae) for 25 species of seeds and determined the difference in palatability between freshly dispersed and those
buried for six years. The stability of their preferences was tested using a collection of seeds of different species, each of which was
offered fresh or after being buried. Carabid beetles readily accepted previously buried seeds as food. In total, Pseudoophonus
rufi pes and Amara littorea ate more fresh seeds than previously buried seeds, while the opposite was true for Harpalus affi nis. The
seeds of some species were even more attractive to carabids after burial than in the fresh state. For all the species of carabids
tested, the diet breadth was similar when the beetles were fed fresh or buried seeds, but the preferences for fresh and buried seed
of particular species were correlated only in P. rufi pes and A. littorea. We measured the seed characteristics (mass and viability)
likely to be associated with the loss of attractiveness to carabids during burial. The change in carabid consumption was not related
to changes in any of these characteristics. This fi nding indicates that factors responsible for variation in seed acceptability are
complex. This study provides the fi rst conclusive evidence that invertebrate seed predators will feed on seeds from seed banks,
although they prefer fresh seeds.
Species in the carnea complex of the common green lacewing are predators of the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae in both cultivated pistachio plantations and on wild pistachio plants in Iran. The seasonal occurrence of common green lacewings was monitored in pistachio orchards from 2007 to 2008. In addition, the effect of different temperature regimes on preimaginal development, survival and prey consumption of the predatory lacewing Chrysoperla lucasina fed on A. pistaciae nymphs were studied under controlled conditions. The adults of common green lacewings first appeared on pistachio trees in mid April and were most abundant in early July, decreased in abundance in summer and increased again in October. The relative density of common green lacewings was higher in pistachio orchards where the ground was covered with herbaceous weeds than in those without weeds. In the laboratory females of C. lucasina laid an average of 1085 eggs over 60 days at 22.5°C. The maximum prey consumption occurred at 35°C when the larvae consumed 1812 fourth instar psyllid nymphs during their larval period. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.11. The total development (egg-adult) required 385 degree-days above the theoretical lower developmental threshold of 9.6°C. and Fatemeh KAZEMI, Mohammad Reza MEHRNEJAD.
A phytosociological synthesis of the segetal vegetation in the Czech Republic was performed using methods of the Zürich-Montpellier school. In total, 712 relevés made by the author in this country in 1955–2000 were classified, and 22 associations and one unranked community were distinguished. Each syntaxon is characterized by diagnostic species, documented by a synoptic table, and the syntaxonomy, structure, species composition, ecology, dynamics, distribution and variability of each syntaxon are commented on. Names are revised according to the rules of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. All syntaxa belong to the class Stellarietea mediae and associations are assigned to the orders Centaureetalia cyani (alliances Caucalidion lappulae, Fumario-Euphorbion, and Sherardion), Atriplici-Chenopodietalia (alliances Scleranthion annui, Polygono-Chenopodion polyspermi, Arnoseridion minimae, and Panico-Setarion), and Eragrostietalia (alliance Eragrostion).