Geographic distribution,host plants,and morphological variation of the currently radiating phytophagous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna diekei

To overview the morphological and ecological diversification within a species of phytophagous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna diekei, information concerning its distribution and host plant use was studied. This species was found widely in South East and South Asia from the Philippines through the Greater Sunda islands, a western part of Lesser Sundas, the Malay Peninsula to Sri Lanka. Mikania species (Asteraceae), Mikania micrantha in particular, were the most frequently used host plants, but some other plants belonging to Lamiaceae or Acanthaceae were also used by some local populations. Each population is possibly monophagous. According to morphological analyses, seven populations from four host plants at six sites on four Indonesian islands were grouped into two, one occurring on Java and Kalimantan (Borneo) and another on Sulawesi and Lombok, indicating that they were separated by the Wallace line. This morphological distinction was not correlated with the host plant use.     

Multi-scale patterns in the host specificity of plant-dwelling arthropods: the influence of host plant and temporal variation on species richness and assemblage composition of true bugs (Hemiptera)

The influence of temporal variation in the host specificity of invertebrates to estimates of biodiversity is rarely considered. While patterns at large spatial scales have stimulated much attention, such comparisons are constrained for southern-hemisphere biomes because the patterning of invertebrates on plants is largely unknown. Here, we analyse variation of plant-dwelling Hemiptera from 15 understorey plant species over 18 months in the south-west Australian biodiversity hotspot. Analyses showed significant interactions in species composition between sampling period and plant species. Fauna that were “effectively specialized” (host-specificity index) to plants changed with season, although this was also related to the number of singletons and overall species richness. Sampling from a single season also overestimated the degree of host specificity by 52% and underestimated the perception of species richness when an outbreak of a particular herbivore occurred. High host-specificity values (12.7 hemipteran species per plant) support the case for high estimates of global arthropod richness.     

Temporal variation in the diets of California Quail in western Oregon

This study was designed to describe dietary changes by comparison of information on long-term diet and plant food availability of California Quail ( Callipepla californica ) in western Oregon. We examined crops from 222 California Quail collected in 1976-78 and 1985-87. Diets included 14 key plant foods (annual frequency > 15%) among 53 taxa consumed; 10 of the 14 key foods were similar between time periods. Collectively, key foods contributed 87% of the diet by aggregate dry mass during 1985-87; six species of legumes (family Leguminosae) composed 67% of diet. Relative rankings of availabilities of key foods were similar between 1976-78 and 1985-87. This study revealed that quail were opportunistic within the group of key foods because 9 of the 14 key foods were consumed in different frequencies between the two periods. Legumes were an important dietary component in western Oregon because they composed the bulk of the diet, were among the most frequently consumed, and most were taken in substantially greater proportions than available.     

Diet of the Mogollon vole as indicated by stable-isotope analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N)

There are no published studies on the diet of Mogollon voles ( Microtus mogollonensis ) although this species occurs throughout the Southwest in montane forestlands. Mogollon voles are believed to be herbivorous, selecting the vegetative portion of grass as their dominant food source. Herbivores frequently select more easily digested C 3 plants over C 4 plants; we thus expected Mogollon voles would feed primarily on C 3 plants. We collected hair samples from Mogollon voles captured in northern Arizona between 1967 and 2003 and plant samples from some capture sites. Then we compared stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope ratios to investigate dietary preferences for C 3 or C 4 plants. Mean isotope ratios for C 3 plants we sampled were –26.84‰ ( s = 0.17) for δ 13 C and –0.02‰ ( s = 0.32) for δ 15 N. For C 4 plants, mean isotope ratios for δ 13 C and δ 15 N were –15.04 ‰ ( s = 0.38) and –0.74‰ ( s = 0.55), respectively. Mogollon voles were largely herbivorous based on δ 15 N (mean and standard error: 3.77 ± 0.17‰) and used C 3 plants more than C 4 based on δ 13 C (–24.21 ± 0.14‰). Activities that lead to changes in plant species composition or reduction in C 3 plants in montane grasslands and forests (e.g., excessive ungulate grazing) may reduce habitat quality for Mogollon voles.     

Vegetation complexity and bat‐plant dispersal in Calakmul,Mexico

Fruit production of chiropterochorous plants was studied to test the hypotheses that more complex habitats will harbour: (1) greater plant diversity, (2) higher biomass and density of bat‐dispersed plants, and (3) elevated frugivorous bat abundance. We defined habitat complexity as vegetation structural complexity – the degree of structural arrangement of vegetation. As forested environments are more complex than modified environments, they should harbour more bat‐dispersed species. From 2002 to 2003 in southern Mexico, we observed two fruiting peaks of 56 plant species (20 of which were bat‐dispersed) in tropical subhumid forest, tropical semi‐deciduous forest and modified open areas. Fruit density was greater in the canopy than in the understorey. Phenology alternated across seasons and habitats. Habitat complexity demonstrated no association with bat abundance, fruit mass or fruit density. A positive relationship between fruit mass and frugivorous bat abundance suggests that fruit mass probably influences frugivorous bat movement across time and space.     

Seasonal patterns of arthropod diversity and abundance on big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata

The sagebrush biotype is the largest in the western United States. This vast sagebrush community is thought to harbor equally vast and diverse arthropod communities, but these remain little explored. Our objective was to examine the diversity, abundance, and seasonal phenology of arthropod taxa found on the dominant shrub of the sagebrush ecosystem, big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ). We wanted to improve understanding of this little-studied arthropod assemblage that may play significant roles in the dynamics of sagebrush populations and the sagebrush ecosystem. We sampled free-living and gall-forming arthropods from a stratified random sample of sagebrush plants at the Barton Road Ecological Research Area, Idaho, resulting in a sample of over 8000 individuals and 232 morphospecies. Species richness and abundance declined from May to August, and abundance of most taxa similarly declined over the summer. A few taxa, including Acari (mites), were notably more abundant in August. Fluid feeders were the most diverse and abundant free-living feeding guild during all months and comprised up to 79% of morphospecies. The gall formers included 4713 individuals of 12 species of gall flies ( Rhopalomyia spp.), primarily (97%) R. ampullaria. Abundance of galls increased from small to large (presumably young to old) plants. Overall, A. tridentata was host to a high diversity of arthropods, some of which have potential to cause or mitigate significant damage to their host plant. Arthropods seem likely to have the greatest impact on sagebrush early in the growing season, when they are most diverse and abundant. Documentation of the full diversity of arthropods associated with sagebrush required samples taken throughout the growing season, but a single sample early in the growing season captured a high proportion of taxa.     

Plants of Angel Island, Marin County, California

The floristic composition of Angel Island, Marin County, California, is presented. The vascular flora consists of 416 native and naturalized plants, representing 252 genera and 73 families. Eighty species of ornamental plants persisting from cultivation, representing 64 genera and 39 families, are also identified. The nonvascular flora consists of 42 species of fungi, 7 species of green algae, 8 species of brown algae, and 41 species of red algae. The vascular flora occurs in seven plant communities and is composed mainly of the following plant types: forbs (69 percent), grasses (13 percent), shrubs (8 percent), and trees (4 percent). Approximately 25 percent of the 1605 native and naturalized vascular plants of Marin County occur on Angel Island.       

Revised checklist of the vascular plants of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Prior to 1960, when the senior author wrote a dissertation on the plant ecology of the Paunsaugunt Plateau forests of Bryce Canyon National Park, relatively little plant taxonomic work had been done in the area. A checklist was prepared in 1971 that included 218 species of higher plants. During the field seasons 1978, 1979, and 1980, additional plants were collected during a second plant community study of the forests. The junior author spent the summer of 1980 at the park collecting plants in additional plant communities and organizing the herbarium collection. This checklist includes the additional species collected and updates the nomenclature of the vascular plants presently known to occur within the boundaries of Bryce Canyon National Park.     

SEM analysis of Utah Equisetum stems (Equisetaceae)

The Utah taxa of Equisetum were observed with the scanning electron microscope to test for taxonomic significance of stem morphology. The four Utah species of Equisetum were compared. Stem morphology was shown to be taxonomically significant in most cases. The hybrid E. x ferrissii , recognized in the literature as being extant in Utah but heretofore unrecognized in Utah herbaria, was shown to be present in the flora of the state.     

Adult butterfly feeding–nectar flower associations: constraints of taxonomic affiliation,butterfly, and nectar flower morphology

Butterfly–flower morphological interrelationships were investigated for 108 butterfly species and 20 plants at Nagpur, India. Distinct clusters of higher taxa (families) are disclosed for butterfly morphology and significant morphological and taxonomic associations occur in nectar exploitation. Flower corolla depth generally restricts exploitation by butterflies in relation to proboscis length and butterflies with high wing load indices bias their feeding to plants with massed flowers. However, important exceptions emerge; also, a substantial number of butterflies feed on plants with massed flowers though their proboscises are of marginal length for corolla depths. These butterfly species are significantly smaller, lighter, with lower wing loading and shorter proboscis indices than species which easily access the same flowering plant species. It is suggested that small size and short proboscises could give them a competitive advantage (increased rate of nectar uptake) for exploiting nectar in such situations. The significance of the findings for conservation is discussed.     

Taxonomic diversity,niche width and similarity in the use of plant resources by bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a cerrado area

Most of the studies on the bee fauna of cerrado have shown incomplete approaches, focusing on species diversity or on a fraction of the assemblage. This work presents similarities among bee species based on visited plants and also shows taxonomic diversity of bees for plant resource sets offered by species in a cerrado area (Pé-de-Gigante), one of the few conservation areas of cerrado in the São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 737 specimens, belonging to 71 bee species, were collected visiting 52 plant species. Species clusters based on visited plants show that species of Epicharis, for example, are more similar among themselves than from species of other genera. In addition, bee assemblage showed a nested structure, indicating the presence of specialist species exploiting resources subsets used by generalist species under strong intra-specific and weak inter-specific competitions.     

Effects of prescribed fall burning on a wetland plant community, with implications for management of plants and herbivores

An important contemporary challenge for adaptive resource management is assessing both the direct and indirect effects of management activities by designing appropriate monitoring programs and sound analysis methods. Here we evaluate the effects of prescribed fall burning on a wetland plant community that is managed primarily for spring-migrating geese. During late fall in 2 consecutive years, we burned vegetation in 4 replicate blocks (2.3 ha each) that traversed a natural moisture and associated vegetation gradient. We used ordination, gradient analysis, and contingency table analysis to evaluate how annual changes in relative abundance of plants were affected by burning as well as other important ecological factors. Burning increased species diversity of plants, especially in the 2 wetter vegetation zones, but had no effect on species richness or on the proportion of native plant species. Wetland plant species responded to prescribed burning independently, and their response often differed by vegetation zone and with annual variation in flooding. Burning enhanced the abundance of native foxtail barley ( Hordeum jubatum ) and reduced the abundance of introduced swamp timothy ( Crypsis shoenoides ). Saltgrass ( Distichlis spicata ), a native plant species, was usually less abundant following burning, although the level of response was different for each of the 3 vegetation zones. Two other introduced plant species, quackgrass ( Elytrigia repens ) and reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinaceae ), were less abundant after fall burning, especially when spring flooding was more extensive. Wild geese using the experimental blocks for feeding clearly preferred burned sites, suggesting that fall burning can enhance wetland use by geese during spring. Given that simple manipulations such as burning and flooding of a wetland system may often produce complex results, we suggest that on-going management schemes be regularly evaluated with field experiments such as those conducted in this study.     

Diverse plant taxa used by arboreal succineid snails as microhabitats

Arboreal species of the family Succineidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) eat fungi, algae and diatoms and use plants as microhabitats. However, the specific plant taxa that arboreal succineids use have not been thoroughly examined. In this study, plant species used as microhabitats by two succineid species, Boninosuccinea ogasawarae (Pilsbry) and Boninosuccinea punctulispira (Pilsbry), were examined on the oceanic Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Boninosuccinea ogasawarae and B. punctulispira were recorded on 23 (four introduced and 19 native) and 37 (four introduced and 33 native) plant species, respectively. More individuals of B. ogasawarae and B. punctulispira were found on abundant plant species than on rare plant species. No significant difference in snail density was found between the introduced (Bischofia javanica) and native (Ardisia sieboldii) tree species. Therefore B. ogasawarae and B. punctulispira may use introduced plants as well as native plants as microhabitats.     

Natural history and ecology of foraging of the Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT

Ants are abundant in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in the Brazilian Cerrado, where they can play several roles at different levels of the food chain, including protection of plants against herbivores. Although there are many studies that evaluate the ant–plant interaction in the Cerrado, little is known about the natural history of most species of ants. Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862, for example, is considered one of the main agents of plant biotic defence in Cerrado. But there are no studies specifically focused on this species, which hinders the understanding of how arthropod–plant interactions are structured in Cerrado. Here, we describe the natural history and ecology of the foraging of the C. crassus. We conducted the study from January 2013 to December 2014 in 10 quadrants of 40 m² to measure: the abundance, density and distribution of nests, location of the nests, the internal structure of the nests, the daily foraging of workers out of the nest, the food items they collect and the existence of territoriality and dominance of the workers on the soil and vegetation. We found 18 nests, 13 in the soil and 5 in hollow trunks on the ground with variable internal structures. The distribution of nests is aggregate, with density of 0.045 nests/m² and average distance of 3.73 m between nests. The foraging activity occurs on the daytime during the rainy and dry season. Extrafloral nectar and honeydew were the resources most collected, comprising 83.33% of the resources in the rainy period and 30% in the dry period. Camponotus crassus is a dominant species, especially on vegetation, although it also forages on the soil. This is the first study to evaluate in detail the natural history and foraging ecology of C. crassus, a diurnal, aggressive and territorial ant that mainly forage climbing onto the plants.     

Demographic and environmental relations of two rare Astragalus species endemic to Washington County, Utah: Astragalus holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides

Two endemic locoweeds of Washington County, Utah, Astragalus holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides , were recently listed as federally endangered plant species (Federal Register 2001). They both occur in few, small populations surrounded by increasing human activity in the St. George, Utah, area. Demographic and habitat studies have been ongoing since 1992 and results of those studies are presented here. Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren locoweed) is presently limited to 1 larger population and 2 smaller, isolated populations on the eastern and western edges of its range. It is a short-lived perennial that grows primarily on the Virgin limestone member of the Moenkopi Formation. Density of A. holmgreniorum over the 10-year study averaged about 2 plants per m 2 . The number of living plants of this species perhaps never exceeds 10,000. In drought years A. holmgreniorum populations are as much as 95% smaller than in years with adequate water, and few plants produce flowers that successfully contribute to the seed bank. Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits locoweed) occurs in 4 populations where plant density fluctuated between 0.5 and 4.8 per m 2 during our study period (average = 2.6). This locoweed is restricted to clay soils of the Chinle Formation. Direct threats to both Astragalus species include widespread urbanization, road construction, population fragmentation, and off-highway vehicle use. Indirect threats include competition from aggressive, introduced annual species such as Bromus rubens, B. tectorum, Malcolmia africana , and Erodium cicutarium . Our data show that 3 of 4 species most closely associated with these Astragalus species are introduced. Studies of seed banks and reproduction biology, as well as continued monitoring of these Astragalus species, are critically needed. Studies of the consequences of competition from alien and native species on seedling establishment of these locoweeds are especially needed.     

The host-plant range of twig-girdling beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Onciderini) of the Atlantic rainforest in southeastern Brazil

In this study, the host-plant range of Onciderini beetles was investigated during 4 years in an Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil. Twelve species of Onciderini beetles girdled thirty-six plant species in the study site. In total, 1046 plants were girdled by Onciderini beetles as follows: 44.6% were Vochysiaceae, 15% were Mymosaceae, 12% were Melastomataceae, 9% were Lauraceae, 4% were Anacardiaceae and 15% were distributed among Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Bombacaceae, Fabaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Cecropiaceae, Myrtaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Myrsinaceae. Onciderini beetles did not select hosts randomly. Most of the associations (70%) with host plants were caused by polyphagous beetles and different plant families showed different ratios of polyphagous, oligophagous and monophagous Onciderini in the study site.     

Gray fox and coyote abundance and diet responses after a wildfire in central Arizona

There is a paucity of information on the effects of wildfire on carnivores. We studied the effects of a 237-km 2 catastrophic wildfire in the Mazatzal Mountains, Arizona, on gray foxes ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ) and coyotes ( Canis latrans ). We indexed relative abundance 3 times each year from 1996 to1998 using scat transects in burned and unburned areas. We collected scats to estimate diet and measured small mammal abundance and mast availability in 1997 and 1998. We also measured vegetation cover in burned and unburned sites. Gray fox indices declined 3 months postfire, but after 30 months, indices returned to preburn levels. Coyote indices did not change. Primary foods for both species in burned and unburned sites were mast (fruits of shrubs) and rodents, and diet comparisons between sites became similar as plant succession continued. Scat indices did not correlate with seasonal small mammal abundance. We suspect that the lower abundance indices of gray foxes were related to reduction in cover and food availability, because indices increased as vertical cover and mast crop increased. These data indicate that the effects of this catastrophic fire were short-term but also highlight the importance of preserving shrub and vegetation diversity for gray fox.     

Variation in Lewsia kelloggii (Portulacaceae) with description of a new species endemic to Idaho

Lewisia kelloggii has been understood as a rare plant with a disjunct range in California and Idaho. Examination of herbarium specimens and analysis of isozymes in 6 Idaho and 7 California populations revealed consistent differences between plants of the 2 states. Fixed differences in alleles at 2 loci (AAT2 and PGI1) distinguished Idaho from California plants. Genetic identities based on isozymes between Idaho and California populations averaged 0.58, lower than the average for congeneric plant species. Idaho plants were smaller than most California plants, but California plants were variable. The most consistent morphological difference between Idaho and California specimens was the difference in the number of glands on the margins of bracts and sepals. Idaho plants had 0 (-5) pink glands on each margin of these organs, all on teeth near the tips. In California plants these organs had 12-25 glands on each margin, the distal ones elevated on teeth and the proximal ones sessile. We recognize the Idaho plants as a new species, L. sacajaweana , and retain the name L. kelloggii for the California populations.     

Ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) foraging in aspen stands during winter in northern Utah

Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) population densities are lower in the Intermountain West than elsewhere in the species' range. Throughout much of its range, the Ruffed Grouse is closely associated with quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), in part because aspen buds are an important winter food. Because population fluctuations of Ruffed Grouse have been associated with changes in aspen abundance or chemical composition, we studied winter foraging of the species in the Intermountain West where it has received little attention. Aspen buds were the most prominent forage in the bird's diet, although in contrast to other Ruffed Grouse food habits studies, reproductive buds were not eaten more than vegetative buds, and buds of other deciduous plants were also important (>20% of the diet). Excretion of high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen suggests that grouse in northern Utah are ingesting higher levels of secondary plant compounds than reported elsewhere. Our results show aspen is important in the winter ecology of Ruffed Grouse in northern Utah and suggest that continued loss of aspen may impact grouse populations.     

Bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata Pursh) growth in relation to browsing

The objectives of this study were to compare vegetative and reproductive growth characters of bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata Pursh) stands as they relate to browsing levels. Growth characters were measured on 10 ecologically diverse stands in southwestern Montana on which browsing ranged from 0% to 60% of all current annual long shoot (LS) growth. Bitterbrush plants exhibited both twig-level and plant-level responses to browsing. Total bud density per plant was similar for browsed and unbrowsed sites, but differed ( P P P P P < 0.05). Our data suggest that long-term unbrowsed plants should not be used as a standard for comparison with normally browsed plants.