Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
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Polyphyly of the genus Stenurella (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae): Consensus of morphological and molecular data
Get PDFStenurella genus is represented by nine small-sized and widely distributed Palaearctic species. Representatives of the genus play a key role in the pollination of wild angiosperms, accelerate the detritus cycle and make a significant contribution to the forest food web. A number of species with heterogeneous morphological features found within the single Stenurella genus indicate the need for revision of the taxonomy this genus. The previous attempt to resolve the intrageneric composition of Stenurella was rather artificial because it did not take into an account evolutionary relationships. In this study we tested the existing model of Stenurella intrageneric subdivision using both morphological and molecular approaches. Our results showed that the genus Stenurella is polyphyletic and consists of two unrelated clades. The first clade comprises six species (S. jaegeri, S. novercalis, S. bifasciata, S. melanura, S. hybridula and S. approximans) and the second includes three species (S. septempunctata, S. vaucheri and S. nigra). Moreover, we found that the second clade is closely related to Rutpela due to both morphological and molecular phylogeny. Based on our findings, we revised the present structure of the genus Stenurella and transferred three species of the second clade to the genus Rutpela, sensu novo. The genus Rutpela was redescribed in the light of our results. Furthermore, we subdivided the genus Stenurella, sensu nov. into two subgenera, Stenurella, subgen. sensu nov. and Priscostenurella, subgen. sensu nov., respectively. Also, the genus Rutpela, sensu nov. was subdivided into four subgenera including Nigrostenurella, Rutpela, Eduardvivesia, subgen. nov. and Nigromacularia, subgen. nov. The assessment of the place of Stenurella, sensu novo and Rutpela, sensu novo within Lepturini based on molecular phylogeny, showed that Stenurella, sensu novo belongs to the Anoplodera-branch and Rutpela, sensu novo nested within the Leptura-branch. These together with morphological features confirmed our idea of the evolutionary distinctiveness of Stenurella, sensu novo and Rutpela, sensu novo. We assumed that the general external morphological similarity of Stenurella, sensu novo and Rutpela, sensu novo was the result of convergent evolution, driven by mimetic selection toward imitation of ants or wasps. Finally, our study establishes a natural phylogenetic taxonomy of Stenurella
Influence of air temperature and humidity on Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari, Mesostigmata) locomotor activity in a laboratory experiment
Get PDFStratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley, 1956) (Acari, Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) is a predatory soil mite massively produced in laboratories in many countries of the world. The existing spheres of S. scimitus application vary in many parameters, especially temperature and relative humidity. In this article, we analyzed temperature and humidity appropriate for fastest spread of soil predatory mite S. scimitus. Mites should be released to a new environment in such a way that they would distribute in a greenhouse, garden or field as fast as they can (i.e. providing maximum migration activity of S. scimitus), on the one hand, and provide maximum efficient control of number of target phytophage species (i.e. providing maximum trophic activity), on the other hand. In our experiment, at 14 ºC temperature, most specimens of S. scimitus did not leave the migratory circle for 10 seconds. In 15–19 ºC range, only 14.7% of mites left the migratory circle, and their examined activity in 10 s was only 5–10 mm. In 20–24 ºC range, 27.5% of mites left the migratory circle, their migratory activity increased to 15–23 mm. In 25–33 ºC range, the moving activity increased even more, the mites left the migratory circle at the first opportunity that had (some even jumped off the circle to the experimental field), 95.8% of the mites left the circle in 10 s, their examined activity reached 25–60 mm in 10 seconds. Study of thermo- and hygro-preferences for various groups of invertebrates helps to better describe their ecological niche in multidimensional space of ecologic factors
The longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of Ukraine: Results of two centuries of research
Get PDFThe study of the longhorn beetles fauna in Ukraine has been going on for two centuries. During this time, huge collections of materials have been accumulated. These enabled a comprehensive view of the fauna of the longhorn beetles in Ukraine to be formed. However, despite this, the first complete list of the longhorn beetles of the fauna of Ukraine was compiled by Zahajkevych only in the late twentieth century. He listed 275 species. Decades later, Bartenev supplemented Zahajkevych’s list with five more species, suggesting that there are 280 species in Ukraine. In 2009, Bartenev expanded his previous list to 284 species. Recently, however, the fauna of the longhorn beetles in Ukraine has been fluctuating due to climate change. The southern species are actively expanding their range to the north, and seven new species of longhorn beetles have been identified in Ukraine over the past decade. In addition, the new synonymy is also the reason for changes in the list of the longhorn beetles in Ukraine. In particular, from Bartenev’s latest list, I removed 14 synonymous species and 5 species that have never been registered in Ukraine. In total, the list of the longhorn beetles I have revised includes 279 species from 114 genera, 44 tribes and 6 subfamilies. One of them, Batocera lineolata Chevrolat, 1852, is not naturalized in Ukraine and is known from the only record of a female reared from wooden packaging materials. The degree of study of the longhorn beetle fauna of the physiographic regions of Ukraine is very uneven. The fauna of the western, northern, eastern and extreme southern regions of Ukraine is the most fully studied. At the same time, the fauna of the central regions of Ukraine is still very poorly known. Further research on the longhorn beetles in Ukraine should be conducted in two directions: 1) completing the lists for physiographic regions and 2) monitoring fauna changes under the influence of climate change
Ontogenetic structure of cenopopulations of Allium pskemense (Amaryllidaceae) in Uzbekistan
Get PDFMany plants of the Allium genus are economically valuable as vegetables. For example, Asian countries are the largest producers of Allium pskemense B. Fedtsch. Ontogenetic spectrum – a sensitive population indicator of changes in the environment – has been noted as useful in recording the age condition of plants. The study focused on the ontogenetic structure of five cenopopulations of A. pskemense, revealing that the examined cenopopulations growing in different ecological-coenotic environmental conditions are normal, and mainly incomplete, i.e. do not include all age groups. Their ontogenetic spectrum was left-sided, and only the coenotic populations 2, 4, 5 coincided with the characteristic spectrum. Depending on ecological-phytocoenotic living conditions, density of individuals in the studied communities ranged 1.75 to 4.50 ind./m2, whereas the ecological density was within 2.00 to 5.29 ind./m2. The research determined that the ontogenetic spectrum shifted to the centered type temporarily due to the uneven processes of the development. Similarities of biological features (long mature generative condition, prevalence of mode of reproduction by seeds, low viability of young individuals) of individuals of this species in various locations, type of cenopopulation, characteristic actual ontogenetic spectra indicate stable conditions for the studied CPs in forbs-Ziziphora-shrub (cenopopulation 5) communities in Uzbekistan
Ecological and faunal characteristics of helminths of wetland birds in North-Western Uzbekistan
Get PDFThe article studies some faunistic features of helminths of wetland birds in the ecological crisis zone in North-Western Uzbekistan. Parasites of wetland birds collected in the basin of the lower reaches of the Amu Darya during the hunting seasons of 2018–2022 were used as material for this work. 500 individuals of birds representing 39 species from 24 genera, 13 families and 9 orders were examined using the parasitological dissection method. The article discusses the distribution and ecology of the helminths in the studied groups of birds. A total of 112 helminth species were identified in the region – 28 species belong to the class Cestoda, the class Trematoda is represented by 57 species, Nematoda – 23 and Acanthocephala – 4 species. 92 species of heminths were identified in the study area for the first time. The work provides original data on the structure of the helminth fauna from 9 orders of wetland birds. Various paths of helminth transmission in the circulation of infection were specified. The researchers identified four ways parasites use to enter their definitive host: helminths penetrate the host’s body when the latter eats other organisms, intermediate or reservoir hosts of helminths, which are part of the definitive’s host’s diet; helminths enter the host as mechanical impurity to food or water; they make active efforts to penetrate their host; helminths are transmitted by the intermediate host when the latter forages on the definitive host. Most of intermediate hosts for representatives of the class Cestoda were crustaceans – inhabitants of different types of water bodies; Oligochaeta are also included here as second or reservoir hosts. The development of trematodes occurs with the participation of aquatic molluscs acting as the first intermediate host. Various species of insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals were identified as the second hosts. Nematoda use a wider range of intermediate hosts (Oligochaeta, crustaceans, insects – aquatic and terrestrial). Fish and amphibians were registered as the second and reservoir hosts of nematodes. The food chains of individual orders of wetland birds largely determine the composition of helminths parasitising them and are the main factor in the formation of their helminth fauna. These processes undoubtedly occur in time and space under the strict control of environmental factors
Biodiversity of Sciaridae (Diptera) in Ukraine
Get PDFSciarids (Diptera, Sciaridae) or black fungus gnats are small, mainly dark coloured insects whose larvae usually develop in rotting plant remains permeated by fungal hyphae. Typical habitats for sciarids are shaded forests and wet meadows, but some species can migrate from natural biotopes to anthropogenic ecosystems and live as synanthropes. We have investigated ecological and chorological features of sciarids in Ukraine since 2012. Within this work, we collected imagoes during expeditions and excursions in different biotopes using the Malaise trap, by the method of sweeping and with exhauster directly from substrate. Collected imagoes were placed into 5 mL vials with 70% ethanol. In the lab fixed material was dehydrated in absolute ethanol and mounted on the slides in Euparal. Previous registrations are based on 6 field collections, two of them were carried out in the XIX century, 4 observations of “army worms” and two pest records. From published material of these collections 78 sciarid species were known from 17 genera in 8 more or less specified localities of Ukraine. Our sciarid study in the country expanded the data on registered sciarids by adding 18 new species and enriched information about the distribution of sciarids by 86 new findings of previously known species in 12 regions (Volyn, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne and Ternopil) of Ukraine. The current checklist of Sciaridae of Ukraine contains 96 species from 17 genera in 168 localities. Through comparison with Germany, whose sciarid fauna is studied much better, for Ukraine we can predict the presence approximately 400 sciarid species, so the species diversity of Sciaridae in Ukraine still poorly known for the known species does not exceed 25 percent of presumed existing species here. The majority of sciarid findings are registered in different types of broadleaf forest biotopes, only a few species have been found also in grassland habitats. Some sciarid species show synanthropic attraction and have been registered in anthropogenic habitats, for example Bradysia fenestralis (pest of cultivated plants in greenhouses), Corynoptera dentiforceps, Scatopsciara atomaria and Corynoptera tridentata. Larvae of Bradysia placida develop in rotten wood, also development of Corynoptera membranigera preimaginal phases possibly takes place in the fruit bodies of fungi (Neoboletus luridiformis, Russula sp.) and Mycetozoa (Fuligo septica)
The genus Crataegus (Rosaceae) in Armenia (an updated review)
Get PDFThe Rosaceae family plays a leading role in the dendroflora of Armenia. The Pyrus, Sorbus, Crataegus, Cotoneaster, Rubus and Rosa genera representing the family are of great importance in Armenia in the formation of various plant coexistences. With its species composition and taxonomic diversity, Crataegus is one of the largest genera in the Rosaceae family. Growing in Armenia in low, medium and high mountain zones, Crataegus has a great role in the formation of dendroflora: they are an important element of a number of forest coexistences, form a sub-forest with other representatives of dendroflora, grow in arid sparse forests, scrub, shoreline areas of mountain rivers. Crataegus is a valuable plant resource. Some species produce tasty and nutritious fruits that are rich in sugars, organic acids, mineral salts and vitamins. Since ancient times, the people of Armenia have used it in food and folk medicine, for example there is a decoction of hawthorn root and bark dyed threads. Currently, Crataegus has great economic importance. Drought-resistant and frost-resistant species are used as grafts for obtaining high-value varieties of apple, pear, and quince, decorative species are suitable for greening cities and settlements, creating living fences. Furniture and carpentry tools are made from its hard and strong natural wood. Due to their hardiness, some species of Crataegus are promising for the creation of arid arboretums in the lower and middle mountain zones of Armenia. In Armenia the genus Crataegus is represented by 23 species belonging to three sections: Crataegus, Pentagynae C. K. Schneid. and Azaroli Loud. Species C. ulotricha Pojark. ex Gladkova, C. razdanica Pojark. ex Sargsyan, C. gabrielianae Pojark. ex Sargsyan, C. susanykleinae Gabrieljan et Sargsyan and C. gregorianii Gabrielian et Sargsyan are endemic to Armenia. An updated key is provided to identify species based on new data. Altitudinal and geographical distribution of species, habitat, flowering and fruiting time are given
Distribution of black fungus gnats (Diptera, Sciaridae) in Morocco, with an updated list of species and an emphasis on Moroccan crop pest species
Get PDFThe present work deals with the spatial distribution of the sciarid species (black fungus gnats) recorded from Morocco throughout the major biogeographical regions: Rif, Eastern Morocco, Atlantic Plain, Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Anti-Atlas, providing for the first time an atlas of the distribution of Moroccan sciarid fauna. The analysis of the species distribution showed differences between the regions, revealing that the High Atlas and the Rif hosted the greatest specific richness. Of the surveyed sites, forests, crop fields, and aquatic habitats seem to be the most favourable for supporting many sciarid species. Ecological preferences for each species are discussed, indicating a clear preference for medium altitudes ranging from 500 to 1000 m. Alongside the study on the distribution of species, a review of the species recorded in Morocco and gathered from the literature has enabled us to update the checklist of sciarid species, which comprises 65 so far in Morocco. Particular emphasis focused on black fungus gnats considered potentially harmful, with the aim of assessing their distribution in the country, has revealed that Bradysia transitata, B. trivittata, B. xenoreflexa, Lycoriella sativae, Scatopsciara subarmata were collected from strawberry greenhouses (Rosaceae: strawberries), Bradysia placida, B. santorina, B. scabricornis, B. tilicola, B. trivittata and Camptochaeta jeskei were collected from fruit trees (Rosaceae: almond trees), Bradysia santorina, Corynoptera saccata and C. semipedestris were found on palms (Arecaceae: date palms), Scatopsciara atomaria and S. curvilinea were captured in crop fields (Poaceae, Fabaceae), Bradysia scabricornis, Bradysiopsis vittata were collected from Liliaceae, Scatopsciara atomaria was also found on Asteraceae and Solanaceae, and Corynoptera praeparvula was exclusively reported from Solanaceae
The degradation of forest areas in Morocco: Case of Benslimane province
Get PDFThis article aims to shed light on the process of known degradation of the forest area of Benslimane province during the period 1990–2020 and to specify the most important human causes which contributed to it (quarries, extension of the built-up area, the impact of agricultural activities, grazing and collection of firewood), by using remote sensing techniques (spatial images for the years 1990–2000–2010–2020) to produce Land Cover maps. The following satellite images were used, Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI, with a spatial precision of 30 m, the Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin (SCP) in QGIS was used for atmospheric correction, and the Spectral Angle Mapping algorithm for the images’ classification. The rating evaluation of the Kappa coefficient shows the following ratios for the years 1990–2000–2010–2020 respectively ; 0.89–0.90–0.90–0.93. The results showed that the forest area of Benslimane province has declined by 11.4% or about 6,027.7 ha between 1990–2020 at the rate of 200 ha/year, which has been turned into matorral land or bare land. This forest also lost 35.2% of its vegetative density and has become much sparser, while the original grazing areas surrounding it have been reduced by 50.4%. Moreover, the area of quarries increased by 1,097.4%, the percentage of built-up area increased by 328.2%, and the agricultural area expanded by 32.7%. These results can be used as preliminary data for future studies and can help policymakers focus on the real drivers of forest degradation, in order to develop interventions to ensure the sustainability of natural resources
Impact of climate change on forest resources: Case of Quercus rotundifolia, Tetraclinis articulata, Juniperus phoenicea, J. oxycedrus, J. thurifera and Pinus halepensis
Get PDFForest resources in the Ourika watershed are subject to several anthropogenic and climatic degradation factors. As for the human factor, this degradation of forest resources is explained by the bad practices exercised by the local population expressed by the cutting of live wood, carbonization, and overgrazing. In terms of the climatic factor, the decrease in the amount of rainfall and the increase in temperature contribute to the exacerbation of the degradation of these resources. In order to better understand the evolution of plant cover in a changing climate context, this study highlights an assessment of the impact of climate change on forest dynamics based on a process-based model at the forest landscape scale which makes it possible to simulate the changes according to growth, succession, disturbances (fire, wind, insects, etc), forest management, and land use change. This analysis is based on the use of the LANDIS-II model and the PnET-succession extension. Projections of the dynamics of forest communities are made using climate projections from the Japanese global circulation model adopted by Morocco (model for interdisciplinary research on climate – earth system models) and this by adopting the two climate scenarios , representative concentration pathways 4.5 and 8.5. The results obtained highlight the spatial distribution of the ecosystems studied after 100 years with a quantitative evaluation of the total average biomass of these resources as a function of climatic disturbances. In general, the estimated total biomass will decline over the coming years under the joint effect of the climate change and the aging of forest stands, while on the other hand, the distribution of potential areas for species settlement remains independent of the effect of these climate changes