Search results for " species"
showing 10 items of 2593 documents
Tree age‐dependent changes among epiphytic bryophyte communities in Mediterranean environments. A case study from Sicily (Italy)
2010
Abstract The epiphytic bryophytes inhabiting trees of different size/age in a Quercus ilex wood from Madonie Mountains (northern Sicily, Italy) were studied with the purpose of describing the changes that take place in the bryophyte stratum during the tree lifespan. Results indicate an increase of bryophyte cover combined with a progressive decrease of epiphytic lichens and the existence of an active process of species and community substitution. The way these processes take place corresponds to a succession sequence, which is characterised by a high number of pioneer species on the youngest trees and a sharp decline of species number on middle‐aged and old trees due to the great spread of …
First breeding evidence of marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) in Libya.
2014
4 pages; International audience; The first evidence of breeding of Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) in Libya, North Africa, is reported. In June 2012, at Mallaha wetland, in Tripoli, Libya, two dead ducklings were found that were later genetically identified as Marbled Duck. This breeding evidence suggests that this and other duck species may breed elsewhere in Libya. Better knowledge on Libyan, and more generally on north African, waterbirds is needed to document the population size and the status of these species. Such information will be important to secure the future of threatened species, such as the Marbled Duck.
Habitat preference of endangered Eastern Iberian Reed BuntingsEmberiza schoeniclus witherbyi
2011
Capsule Careful management is required to maintain or create habitats with the correct proportions of rush with reeds that are preferred by this subspecies. Aims To determine the habitat requirements of Eastern Iberian (Western Iberian Reed Buntings were not included in the study) Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi, a subspecies endemic to a few marshes in France, Spain and Morocco, with a population of 254–360 breeding pairs. Methods Twenty-five wetlands in Spain were surveyed and presence/absence of Iberian Reed Buntings was deteremined together with data on 41 environmental variables. The relationships between the birds and habitat data were investigated using glm. Results Prop…
Dynamics of Ostracoda (Crustacea) assemblages in a Mediterranean pond system (Racó de l'Olla, Albufera Nat. Park) with focus on the exotic speciesCan…
2013
Coastal pond systems can account for a rich aquatic faunal diversity and complex functioning due to interplay between freshwater wetlands and marine influences. Within the large Albufera wetland Natural Park, Raco de l'Olla is constituted by a set of permanent and temporary ponds with strict protection level for migrating bird conservation. Its terrestrial faunal diversity and dynamics has been partially characterized in previous studies, but nothing was known about its ostracod communities. Benthic samples collected monthly for 1 year in 11 points through the pond system, together with limnological information, allowed establishing a sound knowledge on its ostracod community and population…
The Status of Romanogobio uranoscopus (Agassiz, 1828) Species, in Maramureş Mountains Nature Park (Romania)
2017
Abstract The condition of aquatic habitats typically occupied by Romanogobio uranoscopus within the Maramureş Mountains Natural Park fluctuates, in the best cases, between reduced to average. Good or excellent conservation status is now absent for populations of this species in the researched area. The identified human impact types (poaching, minor riverbeds morphodynamic changes, solid and liquid natural flow changes, destruction of the riparian vegetation and bush vegetation, habitat fragmentation/isolation of population, organic and mining pollution and displaced fish that are washed away during the periodic flooding in the lotic sectors uniformized by humans) are contributing to the dim…
Structural variables drive the distribution of the sensitive lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in Mediterranean old-growth forests
2015
a b s t r a c t We tested the hypothesis that structural variables related to old-growth features affect the distribution of Lobaria pulmonaria in a Mediterranean National Park of Italy. A total of 36 plots, with old-growth characteristics and representing overall three forest types (beech- oak- and mixed- forests) were studied. The lichen was absent in about half of the sites, suggesting that the selection of old-growth forests based solely on structural features is not sufficient to predict the presence of this species, which therefore proves to be rather sensitive and selective. Its abundance was related to high tree circumference and basal area, and to availability of deadwood, confirmi…
Rapid recovery of invertebrate communities after ecological restoration of boreal mires
2015
Mire degradation due to drainage for forestry results in the loss of mire specialist species. To halt the loss in biodiversity, ecological restoration is needed and already implemented. However, a major challenge in ecological restoration is whether actions taken have the desired outcome. Key abiotic and biotic conditions for the successful restoration of invertebrate communities can be identified by testing the “Field of Dreams” hypothesis, which postulates that if a habitat is successfully restored, species will return. This study was conducted in nine boreal mires located in Eastern Finland, 1–3 years after restoration. Parts of each mire were drained for forestry during the 1960s and 19…
Maritime antarctic lakes as sentinels of climate change
2012
Remote lakes, such as lakes from the Maritime Antarctica, can be used as sentinels of climate change, because they are mostly free of direct anthropogenic pressures, and they experience climate change as a main stressor capable of modifying the ecosystem structure and function. In this paper, the content of a lecture that has been presented at the First Conference of Lake Sustainability, which has been centred in our studies on lakes from Byers Peninsula (Maritime Antarctica), are summarized. These included physical, chemical and biological studies of these lakes and other freshwater ecosystems, which highlighted the relevance of biotic interactions for these ecosystems and its sensibility …
Bio-ecological, phytosociological and conservation aspects of relictual and disjointed populations ofSimethis mattiazzi(Vandelli) Sacc. (Xanthorrhoea…
2012
Abstract Two populations of Simethis mattiazzi (Xanthorrhoeaceae) were recently discovered in the Channel of Sicily – (1) Punta Bassana (Marettimo Island) and (2) Mount S. Giuliano (western Sicily) – at a considerable distance from the nearest stations hitherto known, located in southern Sardinia, the Pontine Islands Archipelago and Tunisia. The taxonomical and distributive aspects of this species are analysed to highlight the relictual and biogeographical significance of the disjointed and fragmentary nuclei distributed in several small islands of the Channel of Sicily, the Italian Peninsula and North Africa. Some morphological, biological, ecological and phytosociological aspects of the t…
Invasion ecology of the alien tussock grassNardus stricta(Poaceae) at Lake Pukaki, Canterbury, New Zealand
2005
Abstract The European matgrass Nardus stricta has naturalised in New Zealand, often on damp soils within wetlands and grasslands. In this paper, we present for the first time field data on the ecology of this alien invader in New Zealand, from eight kettle‐hole wetlands on lateral moraine along the western side of Lake Pukaki, South Canterbury. The invaded wetland sites were all acidic but varied in other soil characteristics. Nardus stricta was the most dominant species within these wetland communities with 40% of all plots showing more than 50% coverage, and 21% having more than 90% cover. Species richness (including vascular plants and mosses) at some sites was relatively high (c. 40 spe…