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Riparian forests are important ecosystems providing a spectrum of ecosystem services such as erosion control, nutrient modification and improvement of water quality in adjacent streams. In many countries management of riparian forests are restricted to protect aquatic biota as vegetation, especially woody plants provide nutrient uptake from soil preventing stream water over-enrichment. However not all tree and ground cover vegetation species carry the same positive effect on stream quality. Aim of our study was to link the water quality with vegetation composition in riparian forests. Vegetation data were collected along the 15 streams in the eastern Baltics (Latvia) with different water quality to determine relationship between wooden plants and understory vegetation, we used detrended correspondence analysis and indicator species analysis. Our results suggested that there is an evident productivity gradient between tree and understory vegetation species. From understory vegetation grass species dominated in oligotrophic conditions, they have wider root system and can protect soil against the erosion. Wood volume had significant impact on grass species. Nitrogen fixing species were found in fertile soils and in presence of Alnus incana L. Indicator species analysis approved that Alnus incana L. was found by the rivers with low water quality. We recommend shift of dominant tree and shrub species to favour habitat for grass species and reduce presence of vegetation contributing nitrogen into the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents new data on species composition, number and distribution of the larvae of dragonflies (Odonata) in new environmental conditions of the different habitats of in the lake Mehman. Field works conducted in 2015 - 2017 in the lake Mehman resulted in the rearings of 25 species and forms of dragonfly larvae. Seven of these L. nympha, S. fusca, E. viridulum, İ. pumilio, O. concellatum, L. depressa, L. quadrimaculata, Cordulia sp. are new to the lake. Species Lestes virens, and I.elegans, were found in winter, spring and autumn of 2015 and winter and autumn of 2017; C.scitulumin winter and autumn of 2015; C.hastulatum - winter, spring and autumn of 2017; E.fatimein winter and autumn of 2015 - 2017; in winter and spring of 2015 - 2017. Species C. mercuriale, C. scitulum, L. virens, İ. elegans, C. puella, E. najas, O. albistylum are observed in the lake in all seasons and are dominated by widespread. It should be noted that the decrease in the number of larvae of dragonflies in the summer, especially at depths of up to 0.5 m is due to their intensive consumption by fish and water birds and emergence of adult dragonflies which leave the lake. On the other hand, in summer period, the volume of oxygen in shallow water of the lake Mehman greatly reduced, and asa result of evaporation of water, the amount of salts in water is increased. In such circumstances, the probability of occurrence of freshwater organisms in the benthos is naturally decreased. The study of the distribution of larvae of dragonflies on specific habitats of the lake revealed their maximum development on plant and silty habitats, and the minimum - on black silty sand. Changes in biomass of benthic organisms as well as larvae of dragonflies, which developed very poor is analyzed. Poor development of dragonfly larvae in the lake Mehman characterized, on the one hand with their intensive consumption by fish and water birds and on the other hand - the steady worsening of the environmental conditions of the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands, in the transformed agricultural landscape, play an important role in preserving and enriching biodiversity. The study covered 35 mid-field wetlands. Floristic and phytosociological investigations allowed us to determine the species composition of the plant communities present in the analysed wetlands. The mapping of existing plant communities was performed on each studied object. A route method was used to determine the ranges of plant patches using the GPS location system. Within the scope of each identified community, homogeneous places were designated, according to commonly used Braun-Blanquet method. The cover of species in each phytosociological relevés was given according to the Braun-Blanquet scale. Plant species were recorded during the spring and summer from 2012 to 2014 at each location in 25m2 plots. The studied wetlands were characterized of a large diversity of plant communities, and the most valuable were phytocenoses: Molinietum caeruleae, Sphagno-Caricetum rostratae, Caricetum davallianae, Sphagnetum magellanici, Eriophoro-Sphagnetum and Betulo-Salicetum repentis. There were numerous stands of rare species of plants, for example Ostericum palustre, Liparis loeselii, Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum, Carex davalliana, Salix lapponum and Betula humilis. There were also habitats from Annex I of the Natura 2000 Habitats Directive. Among the serious threats of the studied wetlands, drainage, pollution of waters, overgrowing with bushes and trees were distinguished. The conducted research has shown the optimal directions of activities to protect the biodiversity of these valuable natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamics of an ecosystem implies any changes in area borders location and replaces in the initial species composition. Generally, dynamics occurs under the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors. They always act together, diminishing or intensifying each other. The authors consider phenomenon woodlands case study, which are located on different mountain ranges both in semi damp and semiarid sectors of Altai-Sayan ecologic region. It should be noted that species composition of woodlands is various even within the same range. Thus, for example, the north part of West Sayan range is covered with dark coniferous forests with motley grasses, undershrubs and moss, while the southern one is characterized by the dominance of larch forests with steppe species in the underbrush at that. Natural factors of ecosystems dynamics imply long-term climate fluctuations, elemental forces of nature, invasions of pests at al. Since 1960s there's an insignificant trend of temperature increasing at a practically constant level of precipitation in Altai-Sayan ecologic region. It's well-known that the upper forest level is limited by cumulative growing degreedays, while the lower level is determined by the amount of precipitations. But the reaction to climate changes is feasible for at least one period of forest generation change. Therefore, the visible transformations may become remarkable at least in 100 years. Besides that, it should be pointed out that highland forest ecosystems are resistant regarding external actions by the microclimate function of biota. As to concerned region the changes in forest ecosystems are caused generally by the anthropogenic load. Nowadays the massive and rapid deforestation in Siberia is a serious problem which continues for many years. There are several main reasons of deforestation: agricultural development, logging, windbreaks and forest fire. Reforestation may take place in different ways depending on the initial biodiversity, geomorphological characteristics of area, slope orientation as well as intensity and duration of anthropogenic influence. For instance, on the hilly lands or steep slopes one of the features of forest succession is mentioned: the recovery of initial coniferous occurs except small-leaved forest intrusion. On the other hand, on overwetted plains fir and cedar forests are replaced by birch, alder and aspen communities. It's important to note, that forest widening is observed in some areas at lower tree line, that leads to an extension of forest areas altitude diapason, but that isn't an indicator of humidity increase. It just brings out the reduction in anthropogenic load (for example, abandoned plowed fields in Minusinsk or Tuva depressions are overgrown with cedar tracts). According to our investigation the anthropogenic impact on forest ecosystems dynamics in Altai-Sayan ecoregion is much more considerable than natural one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A descriptive study of species composition, community structure and biomass was conducted in compartment 107, which is a rehabilitated area at Kenaboi Forest Reserve, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. The objective is to determine the forest structure and species composition in a rehabilitated area of Kenaboi FR since enrichment planting had done. A sample plot of 1 hectare was censused and a total of 395 trees with diameter = 5 cm DBH were recorded. A total of 285 individual trees were identified belonging to 20 families and the commonest family was Dipterocarpaceae with 193 individuals. The highest tree density per ha was Shorea acuminata at 33% followed by S. parvifolia, 10% and S. leprosula, 6%. The biggest tree was Artocarpus elasticus Reinw. ex Blume with a diameter of 101 cm. The total basal area was 34.48 m²/ha, whereby the highest basal area was between 45 - 54.9 cm DBH class that contributed 10.21 m²/ha (30%). The total biomass estimation (above ground and below ground) was 792.57 t/ha. Dipterocarpaceae contributed the highest total biomass at 545.14 t/ha with S. acuminata contributed the highest total biomass of 330.45 t/ha. This study will contribute to the knowledge of regeneration forest especially on how the ecological process restoring the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in rehabilitated forest by practicing the enrichment planting of native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research has been carried out in 2013-2014 in an organic farm located in Medsėdžiai village, Klaipėda district, and intensive farm located in Laiviai village, Kretinga district. Four agrocenoses have been investigated: wheat, triticale, oat, and multiannual grassland. Five pitfall traps were set out in each of agrocenosis and the traps were active from the last decade of April until the last decade of August. Ground beetle adults that were detected during the study belonged to 27 species and 15 genera. The most abundant ground beetle species were Poecilus cupreus L., Pterostichus melanarius Ill, Amaraa aenea Deg, Carabus cancellatus Ill., Harpalus rufipes Deg., Anchomenus dorsalis Pontop. and Bembidion properans Steph., representatives of which were detected in large numbers in all without an exception investigated agrocenoses and in both types of farming. Two seasonal activity peaks of P. cupreus L. abundance were distinguished in the organic farm: first in the beginning of June and the second in the mid-July. Meanwhile, in the intensive farm it was observed in late May. Click beetle adults, identified in the study, were prescribed to 6 species and 4 genera. The most abundant click beetle species were Agriotes obscurus L., Agriotes lineatus L. and Agriotes sputator L. which occurred without an exception in all the agrocenoses and both types of farms. It was determined that the highest click beetle adults' activity in the intensive farm was observed in the end of July while the maximum of click beetle adults' activity in the organic farm was defined in June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies were carried out in four agrocenoses of different tillage intensity (intensively cultivated land, I-II year perennial grass, natural meadow and reclaimed pasture) in the vicinity of Pociūnėliai town, Radviliškis district in 2011-2012. Five pitfall traps were set out in each of agrocenosis and the traps were active from May 28th till August 15th. The traps were checked every two weeks. In the course of the study, a total of 98 adult specimens of click beetles were caught, belonging to eight species: Actinecerus sjaelandicus Mull., Agriotes lineatus L., Agriotes obscurus L., Agriotes sputator L., Agrypnus murinus L., Athous haemorrhoidalis Fabr., Hemicrepidius niger Hbst. and Oedostethus quadripustulatus F. Most of the specimens were caught by the traps in the reclaimed pasture and the smallest number of beetles was found in agrocenosis of I-II year perennial grass. Agriotes obscurus was found in all the studied agrocenoses. Actenicerus sjaelandicus and Athous haemorrhoidalis were detected only in natural meadow and were not found in any other studied agrocenosis. The activity of adult click beetles was determined to reach its peak in June - July period. The largest number of the beetles caught in the studied agrocenoses belonged to the species Agriotes obscurus and the rarest were Athous haemorrhoidalis representatives. The eudominants of all of the caught adult click beetles consisted of the following two species: Agriotes obscurus and Oedestethus quadripustulatus. The number of the adult click beetles caught in the pitfall traps decreased as the intensity of land tillage varied. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn that the abundance of click beetles in agrocenoses is influenced by an intensity of land tillage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the updated checklist of the species Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as potential vectors for bluetongue virus (BTV) in Sardinia, Italy. It identifies C. imicola as the principal vector of BTV in Sardinia. However, it says, during the first half of the year, other species of Culicoides are active vectors such as obsoletus, scoticus, newsteadi, pulicaris and punctatus. The checklist provided includes corrections on misidentified species in previous list.

The amphibians and reptiles occurring in Balgarka Natural Park (NP), are a representative sample of the lowland and middle mountain range herpetofauna of the Stara Planina Mountains. Here we present the first detailed and targeted mapping for the NP. The data were collected mostly in 2012-2013, mainly based on visual searches using the transect method; additionally we sampled using funnel-trapping and dip-netting for the aquatic species. We collected data for all 96 of the 2×2 km UTM squares of the NP. Based on 1155 observations we identified ca. 7673 individuals (including amphibian larvae), from 10 species of amphibians (~46% of the species diversity at the national level), from which 4 were salamanders (Caudata, ~50%) and 6 tailless amphibians (Anura, ~43%), and 13 species of reptiles (Reptilia, ~35%), including 3 turtles (Testudines, 75%), 5 lizards (Sauria, ~33%), and 5 snakes (Serpentes, 28%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field data on the terrestrial mammalian fauna (Eulipotyphla, Lagomorpha, Rodentia, Carnivora, Artiodactyla) of Lozen fountain collected from 2005 untill 2019 were summarized. Several methods were used: live trapping, pitfall trapping, camera trapping, transects for signs (e.g. prints and scats), and visual observations. The investigation revealed relatively high species richness of the mammalian fauna in the area. The species composition of mammal associations in forested and open habitats, the conservation status and zoogeographic classification of the recorded species are presented. The distribution and habitat preferences of particular species (Neomys fodiens, Muscardinus avellanarius, Canis aureus, etc.) are discussed. The significance of the natural and the semi-natural habitats in Lozen Mountain for mammalian populations is considered. The main threats for the mammals and their habitats on the territory of Natura 2000 site "Lozenska planina" (BG0000165) are emphasized and recommendations for future management and monitoring activities are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kresna Gorge is a biodiversity hotspot with high conservation value not only for Bulgaria, but the Balkan Peninsula. In the gorge region, many rare, endemic, and protected species and habitats are found (Hubenov 2012). Since the beginning of the 21 century, several road and highway projects have threatened the ecological prosperity of this area. Intensive chiropterological research in the last 25 years (beginning in 1993) has revealed that the Kresna Gorge is an area of great importance for bats, providing habitats for more than 50% of the 33 species present in Bulgaria (Petrov 2001). There is growing evidence that roads negatively affect bats' populations (Altringham and Kerth 2016). Theoretical studies have shown that in some situations, collisions might lead to population decline (see references in Altringham and Kerth 2016). Identifying parts of the road where bats experience collisions more frequently can have strong conservation implications. Between 2013 and 2016 we recorded roadkilled bats on a weekly basis, from March to October. We monitored a 16 km section of a high-traffic intensity road passing through the Kresna Gorge. We recorded 78 dead bats on the road, belonging to 10 species. During our survey, we recorded Myotis brandtii (Eversmann, 1845), a new species for the bat fauna of the Kresna Gorge. The presence of two species, Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817) and Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817), previously with single or doubtful records, were confirmed. Statistically significant hotspots of roadkill were modelled using Getis-Ord Gi statistic. We identified five road stretches as hotspots for bat accidents. They are all relatively close to bridges, tunnel exits, and/or bat roosts. four study adds new data on the bats' species composition in the gorge, as well as it demonstrates that road elements in this section of the Pan-European Corridor IV concentrate and increase road accidents with bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recently published paper (Popgeorgiev et al. 2019), we compiled for the first time published and unpublished data on localities of the herpetofaunal species observed up to ca. 10 km south of the Bulgarian Danube River. Overall, we identified 687 published records belonging to 62 cells of the 10×10 km MGRS grid. Another 1918 records with real coordinates of our unpublished data from the past ca. 13 years belong to 1269 cells of the 1×1 MGRS grid. As a result, 34 native species - 15 amphibians (4 salamanders and 11 frogs) and 19 reptiles (1 turtle, 2 tortoises, 8 lizards and 8 snakes), and one invasive turtle, have been recorded; further species findings are unlikely. This study further identifies areas that are under-sampled and species such as Pelophylax lessonae that are cryptic. Our data are especially relevant concerning the high economic incentives to change the hydrology of the Danube, which will likely negatively impact the biodiversity along the river and its surrounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]