Freshwater macroinvertebrates of Lord Howe Island

Studies on freshwater invertebrate fauna on islands are rare but a few suggest species richness can be high. A survey of the freshwater invertebrates of Lord Howe Island (LHI) yielded 38 taxa, bringing the total recorded from LHI to 54. The majority of the taxa from the survey were from the Insecta, with 15 Diptera (true flies), five hemipterans (true bugs) and five trichopterans (caddisflies). Two species of gastropods, three mites and eight other arthropods were also found. The total number of taxa on LHI, although smaller than other islands, is the highest per unit area ever recorded (3.9 taxa per km²). High levels of endemism were recorded for most taxonomic groups and two previously undescribed chironomid species were found. However, further taxonomic and genetic work is necessary in order to assess true levels of endemism by investigating the genetic similarities and differences of these taxa with nearby islands.     

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.     

The Zoo Dilemma

Preoccupations with regulatory and legal liability issues in marine environmental monitoring have led to programmes based on reductionist models that use nonbiological parameters which are indirect measures of biotic condition. The ability to assess the effectiveness of current monitoring programmes to protect the marine environment at regional and national scales does not currently exist. Current monitoring programmes rarely serve the function for which they were intended: an accurate and sensitive source of information from which conditions and trends can be defined and recognized, and management decisions made. In addition, the natural variability of systems is problematic and must be documented in order to distinguish natural from anthropogenic changes in environmental conditions. Owing to their ecological importance, numerical abundance, and sensitivity to a variety of toxicants and pollutants, amphipod crustaceans have long been known as sensitive environmental indicators. However, application and use of amphipods in such programmes is limited to the few regions where ongoing comprehensive taxonomic and natural history investigations have been undertaken. Potential for amphipods as bioindicators exists in a wide variety of environments, especially in the tropics, but their incorporation into such programmes is dependent upon completion of taxonomic surveys and inventories.     

Vertical distribution of liverwort communities and their relationship with environmental factors in a karst sinkhole in south-western China

ABSTRACT

Understanding the relationships between the vertical distribution of liverwort communities and associated environmental factors is vital for biodiversity conservation in karst sinkholes. The abundance index, α and β diversity indices were used to analyse the characteristics of liverwort communities in the Monkey-Ear Sinkhole (280 m deep, entrance diameter 300 m, width 280 m). A Generalised Linear Model was used to study the vertical distribution of liverwort communities, and the relationships between their vertical distribution and environmental factors were analysed with Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Forty-two liverwort taxa from 22 genera in 19 families were identified in the sinkhole. The liverwort assemblages were dominated by the families Plagiochilaceae and Lejeuneaceae. The α and β diversity appeared to fluctuate randomly among the four depths sampled. The highest degree of environmental heterogeneity was found at the lower-middle section of the sinkhole; liverwort community diversity at the base was much higher than that found at the upper, middle or lower-middle sections. The environment at the base of the sinkhole was more complex than at the other three depths, providing a range of habitats that facilitated the coexistence of multiple liverwort communities. The abundance of species, genera and families in liverwort communities followed the sequence: base > upper section > middle section > lower – middle section. There were significant differences in liverwort communities at the four depths. In the sinkhole, liverwort communities fell into three distribution groups: wide, moderate or narrow distribution along the vertical direction. The communities with a broad distribution, found from the upper section to the base, were affected by a combination of light, humidity and temperature, and were classified as mixed factor dependent; those with a moderate distribution found mostly in the mid and lower-middle sections were primarily dependent on temperature and humidity, and were classified as temperature and humidity dependent; and those with a narrow distribution found at the base of the sinkhole were mainly influenced by humidity, and were classified as humidity dependent.     

Annotated checklist and distribution of Culicoides biting midges of Ukraine (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Despite the great socio-economic impact of Culicoides-borne diseases, there is little work on the reassessment of the faunistic and distributional data on this important group of vectors in the territory of Ukraine. Along with the literature review, materials were collected and slide-mounted using the conventional techniques for this study. The revised and commented list of 55 valid species names of the genus Culicoides recorded from Ukraine and their distribution is presented. New collection localities are given for Culicoides griseidorsum Kieffer, Culicoides atripennis Shevchenko and Culicoides newsteadi s.l. Culicoides triangulatus Shevchenko and Culicoides ukrainensis Shevchenko described from Ukraine are recognized as nomina dubia, whereas Culicoides tentorius Austen and Culicoides furcillatus Callot, Kremer and Paradis were excluded from the list. The current state of knowledge on Ukrainian Culicoides fauna should be characterized as rather understudied. Collectively, this suggests that further research efforts are needed, especially in view of the fact that the species recognized as vectors of the economically important diseases of animals are among the most abundant representatives of the genus. Moreover, the article highlights taxonomic problems within certain taxa and provides an outline of its further research perspectives.     

菏泽市赵王河公园景观水域浮游植物调查及水质评价

对赵王河公园景观水体进行了调查，分析了浮游植物的种类、组成和多样性指数，并对水体的理化性质进行了检测．结果表明，赵王河公园景观水体中浮游植物有8个门，38个科，79个属，153个种，其中绿藻门种类最多．浮游植物的平均细胞密度为7．441×10^6L^-1，多样性指数d值在3—4之间，H值在1—2之间，e值在0．3～0．5之间，反映出水体污染程度为中污染．水体的pH值呈弱碱性，总氮的均值为3．41mg／L，总磷的均值为0．22mg／L，叶绿素a含量的均值为12．81μg／L，表明水体富营养化．     

沱湖自然保护区鸟类群落结构及其多样性指数分析

2008年4月～2009年5月,采用样线法对沱湖自然保护区的鸟类物种多样性进行了调查,共记录有鸟类13目33科69种,其中国家Ⅰ类保护鸟类2种、国家Ⅱ类保护鸟类6种、安徽省地方重点保护鸟类31种.69种鸟类中古北界鸟类42种(62.0％),东洋界鸟类6种(8.5％).69种鸟类中留鸟有12种,占鸟类总数的16.9％;侯...     

海洋硅藻多样性与生态作用研究

硅藻是海洋浮游植物的主要类群,也是海洋生态系统中的主要初级生产者,在海洋生态系统的物质循环和能量流动中起着极其重要的作用,但人们对海洋硅藻多样性和生态作用的认识还很有限.在叙述海洋硅藻多样性、生态作用及硅藻分类学与系统学的国内外研究动态和最新进展的基础上,概述了厦门大学硅藻课题组近年来在海洋硅藻分类学与系统学、多样性与生态分布、硅藻数据库与计算机自动识别、微型硅藻与硅藻隐形种、硅藻遗传地理差异、硅藻对环境和气候变化的响应机制、硅藻细胞硅吸收与硅质壁形成机制等方面的主要研究进展和取得的主要成果.     

红松阔叶林择伐后早春植物物种及多样性变化研究

调查发现，红松阔叶林经择伐后，与对照林分相比，不仅早春优势植物种类及其在群落中的地位有一定的改变，物种种类组成也发生了较大的变化．从物种多样性指数上看，除优势度指标经择伐林分升高外，种数、丰富度指数、Shannon—Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数都稍低于对照林分．     

构建向海自然保护区生态环境教育体系的对策研究

从构建吉林省向海自然保护区生态环境教育体系的角度,阐述了在向海实施生态环境教育的意义,提出了创建向海中小学校的环境教育基地、提高不同群体的环境意识水平、建立向海自然保护区现代化网络平台、加强生态环境教育的国际交流以及在生态旅游中倡导环境教育的理念等对策。