Pub Date : 2014-10-09DOI: 10.2174/1874213001407010052
M. Boominathan, G. Ravikumar, M. Chandran, T. Ramachandra
The impact of freshwater discharges from upstream hydroelectric projects on estuarine ecology, particularly on commercial bivalves was seldom ever studied, despite the fact that they contribute substantially to local livelihoods. Such projects have been executed in many rivers of Indian Western Ghats unmindful of their ecological consequences. Through a period of the past five decades, two hydroelectric projects were commissioned in the river Sharavathi of central west coast, in the district of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. Obvious consequences were on mangrove vegetation and fishery, and the livelihoods of fisher-folks were also badly affected. This study in the Sharavathi estuary is with the special objective of assessing the impact on commercial clams of incessant releases of freshwater after power production. For comparison, the study was also carried out in the undammed Gangavali River estuary in the same district. The study covers the diversity and distribution of commercial bivalves in relation to salinity, the key factor that expectedly gets altered due to freshwater releases from dams. The status of bivalves was collected through primary observations, interviews with local fisher-folks, and based on earlier studies. Whereas clam fishery involving Paphia malabarica, Meretrix meretrix, M. casta, Tegillarca granosa, Polymesoda erosa and Villorita cyprinoides goes on rather unchanged in Gangavali estuary, Sharavathi witnessed collapse of clam fishery, following salinity decline, indicative collapse of estuarine ecosystems itself. All clams gathered earlier, barring a lone species Polymesoda erosa, tolerant of low salinity remained here.
{"title":"Impact of Hydroelectric Projects on Bivalve Clams in the SharavathiEstuary of Indian West Coast","authors":"M. Boominathan, G. Ravikumar, M. Chandran, T. Ramachandra","doi":"10.2174/1874213001407010052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001407010052","url":null,"abstract":"The impact of freshwater discharges from upstream hydroelectric projects on estuarine ecology, particularly on commercial bivalves was seldom ever studied, despite the fact that they contribute substantially to local livelihoods. Such projects have been executed in many rivers of Indian Western Ghats unmindful of their ecological consequences. Through a period of the past five decades, two hydroelectric projects were commissioned in the river Sharavathi of central west coast, in the district of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. Obvious consequences were on mangrove vegetation and fishery, and the livelihoods of fisher-folks were also badly affected. This study in the Sharavathi estuary is with the special objective of assessing the impact on commercial clams of incessant releases of freshwater after power production. For comparison, the study was also carried out in the undammed Gangavali River estuary in the same district. The study covers the diversity and distribution of commercial bivalves in relation to salinity, the key factor that expectedly gets altered due to freshwater releases from dams. The status of bivalves was collected through primary observations, interviews with local fisher-folks, and based on earlier studies. Whereas clam fishery involving Paphia malabarica, Meretrix meretrix, M. casta, Tegillarca granosa, Polymesoda erosa and Villorita cyprinoides goes on rather unchanged in Gangavali estuary, Sharavathi witnessed collapse of clam fishery, following salinity decline, indicative collapse of estuarine ecosystems itself. All clams gathered earlier, barring a lone species Polymesoda erosa, tolerant of low salinity remained here.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"52-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-07-11DOI: 10.2174/1874213001407010032
V. Lesovik, A. Ayzenshtadt, M. Frolova, R. Lesovik, V. Strokova
This paper discusses some of the major environmental problems of North-Arctic region. It has been proposed to use provisions of Architectural geonics and "green" composite compounds with nanodisperse organic mineral additive to improve the ecological situation in the region and enhance the effectiveness of the "Man-Material-Habitat" system.
{"title":"\"Green\" Composites for North-Arctic Region Development","authors":"V. Lesovik, A. Ayzenshtadt, M. Frolova, R. Lesovik, V. Strokova","doi":"10.2174/1874213001407010032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001407010032","url":null,"abstract":"This paper discusses some of the major environmental problems of North-Arctic region. It has been proposed to use provisions of Architectural geonics and \"green\" composite compounds with nanodisperse organic mineral additive to improve the ecological situation in the region and enhance the effectiveness of the \"Man-Material-Habitat\" system.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"32-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-06-13DOI: 10.2174/1874213001407010009
J. Ogutu, H. Piepho, M. Said, S. Kifugo
Wildlife populations are declining severely in many protected areas and unprotected pastoral areas of Africa. Rapid large-scale land use changes, poaching, climate change, rising population pressures, governance, policy, economic and socio-cultural transformations and competition with livestock all contribute to the declines in abundance. Here we analyze the population dynamics of 15 wildlife and four livestock species monitored using aerial surveys from 1977 to 2011 within Kajiado County of Kenya, with a rapidly expanding human population, settlements, cultivation and other developments. The abundance of the 14 most common wildlife species declined by 67% on average (2% / yr) between 1977 and 2011 in both Eastern (Amboseli Ecosystem) and Western Kajiado. The species that declined the most were buffalo, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, oryx, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle and gerenuk in Eastern Kajiado (70% to 88%) and oryx, hartebeest, impala, buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe, eland and gerenuk in Western Kajiado (77% to 99%). Only elephant (115%) and ostrich (216%) numbers increased contemporaneously in Eastern and Western Kajiado, respectively. Cattle and donkey numbers also decreased on average by 78% in Eastern Kajiado and by 37% in Western Kajiado. Sheep and goats decreased the least in Eastern (28%) but increased in Western (96%) Kajiadio. Livestock dominated (70-80%) the total large herbivore biomass throughout the 1977-2011 monitoring period. The distribution of wildlife contracted dramatically during 1977-2011, most especially for wildebeest, giraffe and impala. Only zebra and ostrich distributions expanded in the county. However, livestock distribution expanded to densely cover most of the county. Our findings point to recurrent droughts, intensifying human population pressures, land use changes and other anthropogenic impacts, decades of ineffective or failed government policies, legislations, law enforcement, management institutions and strategies as the salient causes of the declines and range compressions. We recommend several urgent measures to rehabilitate the depleted wildlife populations and habitat richness, restore their ecological resilience to droughts and secure pastoral livelihoods.
{"title":"Herbivore Dynamics and Range Contraction in Kajiado County Kenya: Climate and Land Use Changes, Population Pressures, Governance, Policy and Human-wildlife Conflicts","authors":"J. Ogutu, H. Piepho, M. Said, S. Kifugo","doi":"10.2174/1874213001407010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001407010009","url":null,"abstract":"Wildlife populations are declining severely in many protected areas and unprotected pastoral areas of Africa. Rapid large-scale land use changes, poaching, climate change, rising population pressures, governance, policy, economic and socio-cultural transformations and competition with livestock all contribute to the declines in abundance. Here we analyze the population dynamics of 15 wildlife and four livestock species monitored using aerial surveys from 1977 to 2011 within Kajiado County of Kenya, with a rapidly expanding human population, settlements, cultivation and other developments. The abundance of the 14 most common wildlife species declined by 67% on average (2% / yr) between 1977 and 2011 in both Eastern (Amboseli Ecosystem) and Western Kajiado. The species that declined the most were buffalo, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, oryx, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle and gerenuk in Eastern Kajiado (70% to 88%) and oryx, hartebeest, impala, buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe, eland and gerenuk in Western Kajiado (77% to 99%). Only elephant (115%) and ostrich (216%) numbers increased contemporaneously in Eastern and Western Kajiado, respectively. Cattle and donkey numbers also decreased on average by 78% in Eastern Kajiado and by 37% in Western Kajiado. Sheep and goats decreased the least in Eastern (28%) but increased in Western (96%) Kajiadio. Livestock dominated (70-80%) the total large herbivore biomass throughout the 1977-2011 monitoring period. The distribution of wildlife contracted dramatically during 1977-2011, most especially for wildebeest, giraffe and impala. Only zebra and ostrich distributions expanded in the county. However, livestock distribution expanded to densely cover most of the county. Our findings point to recurrent droughts, intensifying human population pressures, land use changes and other anthropogenic impacts, decades of ineffective or failed government policies, legislations, law enforcement, management institutions and strategies as the salient causes of the declines and range compressions. We recommend several urgent measures to rehabilitate the depleted wildlife populations and habitat richness, restore their ecological resilience to droughts and secure pastoral livelihoods.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"9-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-02-07DOI: 10.2174/1874213001407010001
V. Sotola, D. Garneau
Artificial habitat enhancements are important forest structural components that can increase the survival of squirrels (Sciuridae) and thus warrant study. Investigations of squirrel nest box usage can provide useful demographic and community information such as occupancy rates, litter size, habitat preference, species richness and abundance estimates. This artificial nest box study investigated the nesting patterns of squirrels from late winter through early fall 2011 in managed forest stands in Clinton County, New York. Squirrels are sensitive to forest disturbance, hence we compared sites of varying silvicultural activity (e.g., managed for production of timber or maple syrup versus an undisturbed reference stand). A total of 48 nest boxes were constructed and monitored across three separate sites (e.g., reference, logged, and sugaring). Prior research suggested that occupancy may be a function of nest box height (~3.5m and ~5m) and site-specific tree cavity/snags/drey abundance, thus height preference and alternative nesting options were monitored in the survey and analyzed to report detection probability and occupancy estimates in Program Presence. Visual confirmation of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) was made in 81%, 44%, and 13% of the nest boxes in the reference, logged, and sugar site, respectively. Approximately 79% of the nest boxes showed evidence of wildlife visitation (e.g., scat, crushed seeds, or nesting material). Additionally, 87% of the high boxes (5m) versus 71% of the low boxes (3.5m) were utilized, and 17% of all occupancies contained multiple individuals. This survey provides additional multi-season occupancy data for an elusive mammal species under managed habitat regimes. We recommend that management plans include a wildlife habitat component that maintains snag trees and live cavity-trees in forest stands. When appropriate, stand management plans could also include installing habitat enhancement structures such as artificial nest boxes for squirrels.
{"title":"Survey of the Patterns of Nest Box Use Among Squirrels (Sciuridae) in Managed Forest Stands in Clinton County, New York","authors":"V. Sotola, D. Garneau","doi":"10.2174/1874213001407010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001407010001","url":null,"abstract":"Artificial habitat enhancements are important forest structural components that can increase the survival of squirrels (Sciuridae) and thus warrant study. Investigations of squirrel nest box usage can provide useful demographic and community information such as occupancy rates, litter size, habitat preference, species richness and abundance estimates. This artificial nest box study investigated the nesting patterns of squirrels from late winter through early fall 2011 in managed forest stands in Clinton County, New York. Squirrels are sensitive to forest disturbance, hence we compared sites of varying silvicultural activity (e.g., managed for production of timber or maple syrup versus an undisturbed reference stand). A total of 48 nest boxes were constructed and monitored across three separate sites (e.g., reference, logged, and sugaring). Prior research suggested that occupancy may be a function of nest box height (~3.5m and ~5m) and site-specific tree cavity/snags/drey abundance, thus height preference and alternative nesting options were monitored in the survey and analyzed to report detection probability and occupancy estimates in Program Presence. Visual confirmation of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) was made in 81%, 44%, and 13% of the nest boxes in the reference, logged, and sugar site, respectively. Approximately 79% of the nest boxes showed evidence of wildlife visitation (e.g., scat, crushed seeds, or nesting material). Additionally, 87% of the high boxes (5m) versus 71% of the low boxes (3.5m) were utilized, and 17% of all occupancies contained multiple individuals. This survey provides additional multi-season occupancy data for an elusive mammal species under managed habitat regimes. We recommend that management plans include a wildlife habitat component that maintains snag trees and live cavity-trees in forest stands. When appropriate, stand management plans could also include installing habitat enhancement structures such as artificial nest boxes for squirrels.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-11-15DOI: 10.2174/1874213001306010054
R. Adams, Emily R. Snode
In June 2009, we used a novel technique to quantify dispersion patterns among a large group of calling male Epomophorus wahlbergi congregated around five neighboring and synchronously fruiting sycamore fig trees (Ficus sycomorus) in Kruger National Park, South Africa by using the physics of sound attenuation over distance to monitor and map positions of calling males without disturbing their mating behavior. The lack of fruiting sycamore fig trees across the area concentrated males among five fruiting trees along a 10 km stretch of riverine corridor that paralleled the river road. We hypothesized that the patterns of dispersion among calling males would be clumped in relation to fruiting fig trees that attract foraging females. Results show that the distribution of calling perches were clumped (R = 0.75) as opposed to randomly or equally dispersed. In addition, we found that a 2 km section of the corridor contained the majority of calling males and in this area calling males were more tightly clumped (R = 0.58) than across the other 6 kms of corridor. In addition, distances among calling males and their nearest neighbor were significantly less on average (25m) in the higher- density area, than in the lower density areas (315m)(P < 0.001). Although most males were near fruiting figs, they maintained a minimum dispersion and never were observed calling from the same tree. In addition, some males appeared dominant over others and consistently positioned themselves closest to ripe fig trees where females were foraging. Our data give previously unobserved insights into how male Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats position their calling roosts in relation to one another and fruiting fig trees under conditions of extreme drought and limited local food availability.
{"title":"Unique Insights into Dispersion Distances Among Calling Males of Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat in Kruger National Park, South Africa","authors":"R. Adams, Emily R. Snode","doi":"10.2174/1874213001306010054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001306010054","url":null,"abstract":"In June 2009, we used a novel technique to quantify dispersion patterns among a large group of calling male Epomophorus wahlbergi congregated around five neighboring and synchronously fruiting sycamore fig trees (Ficus sycomorus) in Kruger National Park, South Africa by using the physics of sound attenuation over distance to monitor and map positions of calling males without disturbing their mating behavior. The lack of fruiting sycamore fig trees across the area concentrated males among five fruiting trees along a 10 km stretch of riverine corridor that paralleled the river road. We hypothesized that the patterns of dispersion among calling males would be clumped in relation to fruiting fig trees that attract foraging females. Results show that the distribution of calling perches were clumped (R = 0.75) as opposed to randomly or equally dispersed. In addition, we found that a 2 km section of the corridor contained the majority of calling males and in this area calling males were more tightly clumped (R = 0.58) than across the other 6 kms of corridor. In addition, distances among calling males and their nearest neighbor were significantly less on average (25m) in the higher- density area, than in the lower density areas (315m)(P < 0.001). Although most males were near fruiting figs, they maintained a minimum dispersion and never were observed calling from the same tree. In addition, some males appeared dominant over others and consistently positioned themselves closest to ripe fig trees where females were foraging. Our data give previously unobserved insights into how male Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats position their calling roosts in relation to one another and fruiting fig trees under conditions of extreme drought and limited local food availability.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"54-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-08-23DOI: 10.2174/1874213020130516002
J. McKenna
Wetlands are ecologically valuable and complex systems that both link and buffer aquatic and terrestrial systems. Spatial aspects and metacommunity concepts help explain community structure and dynamics, but metacommunity dynamics have not been applied to multiple interacting classes of organisms in temperate wetlands. The aim of this study was to 1) quantify significant patterns of wetland community structure within a large wetland in Central New York, USA at a variety of scales and on several trophic levels in relation to key elements of the physical and biological environment, and 2) evaluate four paradigms of metacommunity dynamics that may explain that community structure. Data on assemblages of three major interacting community components, having different dispersal abilities (birds, fish, and invertebrates), and environmental conditions were collected from aquatic habitats of different size and connectivity. Analysis of diversity and composition in relation to a size-connectivity index (SCI) showed clear evidence of spatial or environmental influences, or both for all major taxa. Aquatic organisms formed distinct assemblages whose spatial arrangement and associated environmental conditions were consistent with one of the two spatially explicit metacommunity paradigms, Mass Effect, Species Sorting, or both. The study wetland was a relatively productive, metacommunity, populated by members of a post-glacial species pool, and maintained within three major habitat types, large pools connected to small ditch-like habitats, and isolated pools. Metacommunity dynamics differed by organism class, but habitat was clearly heterogeneous, eliminating Patch Dynamics and Neutral Models. Aerial insects showed little metacommunity dynamics, with a weak habitat condition link to the Species Sorting mechanism. Aquatic invertebrates and aquatic vertebrates showed evidence of both Mass Effect and Species Sorting, with strong environment influences emphasizing the latter; social behavior modified Species Sorting for aquatic birds. The multi-taxon approach revealed important couplings among wetland community components; active management of wetland habitat via altered water supply and connectivity may allow aquatic organisms to escape disturbance and recolonize habitat, but will likely change community structure. Controlled experiments on organism demographics and movements would help clarify the processes of community maintenance in this and other wetlands.
{"title":"Multi-Class Community Structure within a Temperate FreshwaterWetland Complex: Evidence for the Metacommunity","authors":"J. McKenna","doi":"10.2174/1874213020130516002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213020130516002","url":null,"abstract":"Wetlands are ecologically valuable and complex systems that both link and buffer aquatic and terrestrial systems. Spatial aspects and metacommunity concepts help explain community structure and dynamics, but metacommunity dynamics have not been applied to multiple interacting classes of organisms in temperate wetlands. The aim of this study was to 1) quantify significant patterns of wetland community structure within a large wetland in Central New York, USA at a variety of scales and on several trophic levels in relation to key elements of the physical and biological environment, and 2) evaluate four paradigms of metacommunity dynamics that may explain that community structure. Data on assemblages of three major interacting community components, having different dispersal abilities (birds, fish, and invertebrates), and environmental conditions were collected from aquatic habitats of different size and connectivity. Analysis of diversity and composition in relation to a size-connectivity index (SCI) showed clear evidence of spatial or environmental influences, or both for all major taxa. Aquatic organisms formed distinct assemblages whose spatial arrangement and associated environmental conditions were consistent with one of the two spatially explicit metacommunity paradigms, Mass Effect, Species Sorting, or both. The study wetland was a relatively productive, metacommunity, populated by members of a post-glacial species pool, and maintained within three major habitat types, large pools connected to small ditch-like habitats, and isolated pools. Metacommunity dynamics differed by organism class, but habitat was clearly heterogeneous, eliminating Patch Dynamics and Neutral Models. Aerial insects showed little metacommunity dynamics, with a weak habitat condition link to the Species Sorting mechanism. Aquatic invertebrates and aquatic vertebrates showed evidence of both Mass Effect and Species Sorting, with strong environment influences emphasizing the latter; social behavior modified Species Sorting for aquatic birds. The multi-taxon approach revealed important couplings among wetland community components; active management of wetland habitat via altered water supply and connectivity may allow aquatic organisms to escape disturbance and recolonize habitat, but will likely change community structure. Controlled experiments on organism demographics and movements would help clarify the processes of community maintenance in this and other wetlands.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"24-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68056200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-08-23DOI: 10.2174/1874213001306010047
J. Tintner, B. Klug
In 2002, large riparian parts of the river Kamp in Lower Austria were affected by a flood which eradicated almost all vegetation at the riverside. From 2003 to 2012 the authors documented early stages of succession at five specific sites with characteristic vertical and horizontal distances to the river. Phytosociological releves were performed. Ecological indicator values, life traits, diversity indices (species number, evenness) and Sorensen index were used to describe the development within this period. The results demonstrate that, after five years, succession had usually reached a stage where highly competitive species like Phalaris arundinacea or Alnus glutinosa dominate. The first year after the flood annuals, lots of them common ruderals, dominated. The second year a change to biennial species took place. This transition was paralleled by a numeral maximum of species in the second year. Differences were only evident at a site where vegetation had not been completely eradicated by the flood. At this site a rudimentary stage of annuals was directly followed by an increase of Phalaris arundinacea that had been formerly present as well. Succession dynamics were stronger where conditions did not favor competitive species, which led to higher evenness values. Evenness values decreased, whenever Phalaris or Alnus achieved the dominance. As a matter of fact, these vegetation types showed a minimum in biodiversity. Maxima of evenness were found in vegetation with a high percentage of ruderals and short- living species.
{"title":"Early Successions in the Floodplain of the Kamp River (Austria)","authors":"J. Tintner, B. Klug","doi":"10.2174/1874213001306010047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001306010047","url":null,"abstract":"In 2002, large riparian parts of the river Kamp in Lower Austria were affected by a flood which eradicated almost all vegetation at the riverside. From 2003 to 2012 the authors documented early stages of succession at five specific sites with characteristic vertical and horizontal distances to the river. Phytosociological releves were performed. Ecological indicator values, life traits, diversity indices (species number, evenness) and Sorensen index were used to describe the development within this period. The results demonstrate that, after five years, succession had usually reached a stage where highly competitive species like Phalaris arundinacea or Alnus glutinosa dominate. The first year after the flood annuals, lots of them common ruderals, dominated. The second year a change to biennial species took place. This transition was paralleled by a numeral maximum of species in the second year. Differences were only evident at a site where vegetation had not been completely eradicated by the flood. At this site a rudimentary stage of annuals was directly followed by an increase of Phalaris arundinacea that had been formerly present as well. Succession dynamics were stronger where conditions did not favor competitive species, which led to higher evenness values. Evenness values decreased, whenever Phalaris or Alnus achieved the dominance. As a matter of fact, these vegetation types showed a minimum in biodiversity. Maxima of evenness were found in vegetation with a high percentage of ruderals and short- living species.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"47-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68055030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-07-12DOI: 10.2174/1874213001306010010
N. Cáceres, A. F. Machado
Didelphis aurita and D. albiventris are widely distributed in South America, with a range of sympatry in the limit of their distribution, particularly in Araucaria mixed ombrophilous forest in the southern Atlantic Forest. We investigated the spatial, feeding, and time use between these morphologically similar species in a remnant of Araucaria forest in southern Brazil for one year. We tested the hypothesis that these species when in sympatry segregate each other in space use, diet, and/or activity time. We expect that they segregate between each other primarily in the dimension of space use, as occurs for Australian congeneric marsupials. We used a mark-capture-release protocol for obtaining data. We analysed the spatial segregation by measuring the distance of captures in relation to the remnant centre, stream and edges. There were significant differences in the use of space, as adult females of D. aurita used mainly the remnant interior and stream sides, and D. albiventris females its edges or open areas. The consumption of feeding resources, particularly fruits, was different mainly between females and during the breeding season. However, there was no difference in the activity time between species. We believe that the territorial behaviour of D. aurita females had a crucial role in this spatial segregation with D. albiventris females, leading to a diet differentiation, particularly for fruits which were highly available inside the remnant. Interspecific competition between females is thought to be the main reason maintaining D. albiventris females far from the richest parts of the remnant. The mechanism behind this ecological segregation is discussed, and an ecological niche shift when both species are in sympatry is suggested, rather than the ghost of competition past.
{"title":"Spatial, Dietary and Temporal Niche Dimensions in Ecological Segregationof Two Sympatric, Congeneric Marsupial Species","authors":"N. Cáceres, A. F. Machado","doi":"10.2174/1874213001306010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001306010010","url":null,"abstract":"Didelphis aurita and D. albiventris are widely distributed in South America, with a range of sympatry in the limit of their distribution, particularly in Araucaria mixed ombrophilous forest in the southern Atlantic Forest. We investigated the spatial, feeding, and time use between these morphologically similar species in a remnant of Araucaria forest in southern Brazil for one year. We tested the hypothesis that these species when in sympatry segregate each other in space use, diet, and/or activity time. We expect that they segregate between each other primarily in the dimension of space use, as occurs for Australian congeneric marsupials. We used a mark-capture-release protocol for obtaining data. We analysed the spatial segregation by measuring the distance of captures in relation to the remnant centre, stream and edges. There were significant differences in the use of space, as adult females of D. aurita used mainly the remnant interior and stream sides, and D. albiventris females its edges or open areas. The consumption of feeding resources, particularly fruits, was different mainly between females and during the breeding season. However, there was no difference in the activity time between species. We believe that the territorial behaviour of D. aurita females had a crucial role in this spatial segregation with D. albiventris females, leading to a diet differentiation, particularly for fruits which were highly available inside the remnant. Interspecific competition between females is thought to be the main reason maintaining D. albiventris females far from the richest parts of the remnant. The mechanism behind this ecological segregation is discussed, and an ecological niche shift when both species are in sympatry is suggested, rather than the ghost of competition past.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"10-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68054967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-06-11DOI: 10.2174/1874213020130516001
J. Peñuelas, J. Terradas
Life on Earth is the result of a continuous accumulation of information by combination and innovation riding on endo and exosomatic energy gradients and discontinuous destructions.
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Pub Date : 2013-02-08DOI: 10.2174/1874213001306010001
A. McCall, D. Carr
Inbreeding in plants causes various declines in fitness estimates across many species and may also affect adaptive phenotypic plasticity, as observed in tolerance to herbivory. Although there are a growing number of studies looking at this effect, there are still not enough to make general conclusions about the relationship between homozygosity and tolerance or resistance. In this work, we examined whether drastic herbivory, destruction of the flowering apex, was affected by inbreeding in three populations of Mimulus guttatus. We found that inbreeding increased tolerance to simulated herbivory in one population, had no effect on tolerance in another, and decreased tolerance in a third. These results point to the importance of the underlying genetic histories of individual populations, which are the fodder for the action of inbreeding. It may be difficult to find consistent effects of inbreeding on plastic traits like tolerance because of the relatively unpredictable relationship between heterozygosity and plasticity in general.
{"title":"Does Inbreeding Affect Tolerance to Inflorescence Damage in Mimulus guttatus","authors":"A. McCall, D. Carr","doi":"10.2174/1874213001306010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874213001306010001","url":null,"abstract":"Inbreeding in plants causes various declines in fitness estimates across many species and may also affect adaptive phenotypic plasticity, as observed in tolerance to herbivory. Although there are a growing number of studies looking at this effect, there are still not enough to make general conclusions about the relationship between homozygosity and tolerance or resistance. In this work, we examined whether drastic herbivory, destruction of the flowering apex, was affected by inbreeding in three populations of Mimulus guttatus. We found that inbreeding increased tolerance to simulated herbivory in one population, had no effect on tolerance in another, and decreased tolerance in a third. These results point to the importance of the underlying genetic histories of individual populations, which are the fodder for the action of inbreeding. It may be difficult to find consistent effects of inbreeding on plastic traits like tolerance because of the relatively unpredictable relationship between heterozygosity and plasticity in general.","PeriodicalId":39335,"journal":{"name":"Open Ecology Journal","volume":"6 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68054954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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