Search results for "Systematic"
showing 10 items of 7608 documents
Fern-dominated Rock Plant Communities of Tajikistan (Middle Asia)
2015
The results of phytosociological research conducted on the fern vegetation of rock crevices and clefts of the Pamir-Alai Mountains in Tajikistan are presented. During field surveys done in 2010–2013, 78 phytosociological relevés were sampled. Plant species were recorded according to the Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale. A synopsis of the fern communities of the montane and high altitude zones in Tajikistan is proposed. In the examined vegetation plots, species of 9 ferns, 58 angiosperms and 13 mosses were recorded. The most frequent ferns were: Cystopteris fragilis, Cheilanthes persica, Asplenium ruta-muraria, Asplenium ceterach, Adiantum capillus-veneris and Cryptogramma stelleri. Six …
UV reflecting vole scent marks attract a passerine, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor
2002
Diurnal raptors have been shown to use ultraviolet vision and UV-reflecting vole scent marks to find suitable hunting areas. We studied if a passerine species, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor that uses voles as its primary food, may also detect prey-patches in the same way. We conducted a laboratory experiment with ten shrikes. Each individual shrike had four options to choose from: (1) scent marks with UV light, (2) scent marks without UV light, (3) clean arena with UV light, and (4) clean arena without UV light. The birds preferred the scent-marked arena with UV light as measured by the number of scans and the time spent above it. Therefore, we suggest that great grey shrike probab…
Diversity, ecology, distribution and biogeography of Diplura
2021
1. Diplura is the sister group to insects and one of the three basal hexapod groups with unique entognathan mouthparts. The order is divided into 10 families, which include 1008 species in 141 genera, with a high proportion of monotypic genera. They are ubiquitous in soils and subsurface terrestrial habitats, as well as have an important role in overall biogeochemical cycles. 2. We present the first comprehensive review of the global biodiversity and ecology of Diplura. We highlight four aspects of this basal hexapod group: diversity in morpho logical body plans and sizes; ecology in terrestrial environments from soil to caves; food preference and trophic levels, and their biogeographical a…
A quantitative review of the lifestyle, habitat and trophic diversity of dinoflagellates (Dinoflagellata, Alveolata)
2012
This study reviews the trends in the lifestyle, habitat distribution and trophic diversity of the 2377 described species of dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae). Most of the dinoflagellates inhabit marine waters, whereas 17% of the total species have colonized continental waters. Dinoflagellates are dominated by planktonic species, while benthic forms represented 8% of the species. From the total number of species, 49% are heterotrophic (devoid of plastids), while 51% of the species have been reported with plastids (that does not strictly imply autotrophy). All the basal dinoflagellates (ellobiopsids, Duboscquodinida, Syndiniales) are heterotrophic, with the exception of a few Noctilucales (Spatul…
Different trends of neighboring populations of Lesser Kestrel: Effects of climate and other environmental conditions
2019
The sensitivity of population trends to the climate and environment is generally considered a species-specific trait. However, evidence that populations may show different responses to the climate and environmental conditions is growing. Whether this differential sensitivity may arise even among neighboring populations remains elusive. We compared the trends of two neighboring populations of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, using data from a 12-year survey of 158 colonies in Sicily, Italy; the two populations inhabiting a lowland and an highland area, respectively. Population trends were modeled through the TRIM algorithms implemented in R (package rtrim). A reversed U-shaped population t…
An annotated checklist of burrower bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Bali (Indonesia) with new records*
2015
Abstract An annotated checklist of the Balinese Cydnidae is provided. Three species (Chilocoris adelphus, Macroscytus dominiqueae, M. javanus) are recorded for the first time from Bali, including the first Indonesian record for M. dominiqueae. Fromundus pygmaeus is recorded for the second time from the island. Our study increases the number of Cydnidae recorded from Bali to seven, and that known from Indonesia to 58.
A test of male mating and hunting success in the kestrel: the advantages of smallness?
1996
We tested female choice for male wing and tarsus length and body mass in the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), a species in which males average about 10% smaller than females. We also studied how male characters are related to their hunting success. In the laboratory, females preferred lighter males with shorter tarsi as mates, if the difference in those characters between competing males was larger than average. Lighter and shorter-winged males seemed to be better hunters than heavier and longer-winged males. Field observations in a year in which voles were scarce suggested that shorter-winged males were also better food providers in courtship feeding than longer-winged males,although in good v…
Behavioural responses of Eurasian treecreepers, Certhia familiaris, to competition with ants
1997
Competition for a specific resource that is essential for the survival of both the competitors may be intense even between very dissimilar taxa. However, the importance of the effects caused by such interspecific competition has seldom been emphasized. These effects can appear as differences in individual foraging behaviour during the breeding season, which can result in critical variation in fitness. In this study we examined the effects of wood ants (Formica rufa group) on the abundance of other invertebrates on tree trunks and on the foraging site selection of breeding Eurasian treecreepers, which use the same habitat as wood ants. Arthropods were scarcer on the trunks with ants present;…
Personality and body condition have additive effects on motivation to feed in Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata
2012
Several hypotheses have been proposed to account for the adaptive evolution of person-ality, defined as inter-individual differences in behaviour that are consistent over timeand across situations. For instance, the ‘pace-of-life syndrome’ hypothesis suggests thatpersonality evolved as a behavioural correlate of life-history trajectories that vary withinpopulations. Thus, proactivity, corresponding to higher exploratory tendencies or higherboldness levels, has been linked to higher productivity or mortality rates. However, theextent to which proactivity is associated with a higher motivation to forage remainspoorly understood. Moreover, although personality and its effects on foraging behavi…
Diversity and Community Structure of Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the Forest Estate of Artikutza (Spain)
2011
ABSTRACT The present work analyses the diversity of Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the forest of the Artikutza Estate, within the Natural Park, Penas de Aya, in the western Pyrenees. Specimens belonging to this subfamily were collected throughout two cycles and in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 105 specimens, including 20 different species, were collected. Diversity and structure analysis indicated higher diversity for the beech forest habitat, although the community is composed of a few abundant species and many rare species. A relationship between the presence of Opiinae and an increase in temperature was also ascertained.