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Abstract In times of more frequent global change‐type droughts and associated tree mortality events, competition release is one silvicultural measure discussed to have an impact on the resilience of managed forest stands. Understanding how trees compete with each other is therefore crucial, but different measurement options and competition indices (CI) leave users with a difficult choice, as no single competition index has proven universally superior. To help users with the choice and computation of appropriate indices, we present the open‐source TreeCompR package, which handles 3D point clouds and classical forest inventory data, enabling the calculation of both innovative point cloud‐based indices and traditional distance‐dependent indices. It serves as a centralized platform for exploring and comparing different CIs, allowing users to test and select the most suitable CI for their specific research questions within a common interface. To evaluate the package, we used TreeCompR to quantify the competition situation of 307 European beech trees from 13 sites in Central Europe. Based on this dataset, we discuss the interpretation, comparability and sensitivity of the different indices to their parameterization and identify possible sources of uncertainty and ways to minimize them. The compatibility of TreeCompR with different data formats and different data collection methods makes it accessible and useful for a wide range of users, specifically ecologists and foresters. Due to the flexibility in the choice of input formats as well as the emphasis on tidy, well‐structured output, our package can easily be integrated into existing data‐analysis workflows both for 3D point cloud and classical forest inventory data.

This study aims to explore and improve the understanding of the biodiversity of beetles in the Maamora forest, one of the largest cork oak forests in the world. A survey was carried out over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), using both active and passive traps. A total of 8247 individuals were collected, representing 256 species, belonging to 42 families of Coleoptera order. Most of the beetle species belonged to the families Tenebrionidae (27 species), Carabidae (27 species) and Curculionidae (24 species). Out of the 256 species identified, 216 have been included in this document. We only selected species of high heritage value; 53 were saproxylic, including 6 rare species; 29 were endemic, and 26 species were identified as new records for the Moroccan entomofauna. These results provide the first checklist of beetle fauna in the Maamora forest, which will contribute new information on the distribution of beetles in the cork oak forests of Morocco.

The study investigated the spatial and seasonal variations in arthropod diversity using different trapping methods within two types of cedar forests (dead and healthy) in Belezma National Park, located in Batna. The field survey was carried out from January 2017 to December 2018, employing three sampling techniques: Barber pots, coloured traps, and suspended traps. A total of 108 species belonging to four classes, 13 orders, and 66 families were recorded. Representing 95.4% of the total species richness, insects were the predominant class, with 46 species. Within this class, Hymenoptera had the highest incidence (46.01%), followed by Diptera (23.6%). The Shannon-Weaver index exceeded 3 across stations, seasons, and sampling methods, indicating high diversity. Additionally, Equitability values surpassed 70% across all observations. PERMANOVA analysis revealed significant differences in composition between the different stations, seasons, and sampling methods. This research highlighted several key factors influencing arthropod diversity, including the condition of the habitat (dead vs. healthy cedar forests), seasonal variations, and the effectiveness of various sampling techniques.

Few bee inventories have investigated the interaction between bees and plants in the restinga in Santa Catarina State, a highly anthropized coastal environment, due to its value. In this context, in the southern coastal region of the State, the bee community and their foraging resources were ecologically analyzed, aiming to obtain data that support their conservation. For sampling, bees were collected over one year in herbaceous restinga and Laguna (SC) dunes, using entomological nets, trap dishes, and aromatic baits. The bees and plants were prepared, identified, and quantified. Ecological indices were calculated. Eighteen species of bees and sixteen species of associated plants were found. The collector’s curve stabilized, and richness estimators indicated a possible richness of 21.57 to 26.25 species. The five subfamilies of bees occurring in Brazil were found, with Halictinae having the highest richness and Apinae having the greatest abundance. Andreninae showed only one species (Callonychium luteimaculatum), as abundant as Apis mellifera. The plants most visited in terms of bee diversity are typical of the restinga and are highly attractive to bees. The periods with the highest results were spring and summer. The variation in temperature and the increase in plant richness increased bee abundance and richness, highlighting the region’s seasonality. The bee community showed a conservative generalist condition, which is favorable for species living in inhospitable conditions, providing moderate robustness. Due to the lack or absence of nesting resources, the studied bee community appears to originate from nearby adjacent areas.

ABSTRACT Given the vulnerability of large and medium‐sized mammal communities to climate change and human disturbances, understanding the spatial–temporal dynamics of these communities is essential for effective conservation planning. However, in many biodiversity hotspots, precise biological community assessments are insufficient. From 2012 to 2022, we deployed 784 camera traps in eight nature reserves (including sub‐reserves) and one State Forest Farm (SFF, less strictly protected than a reserve) to study the composition and distribution of large and medium‐sized mammals in tropical Xishuangbanna. The findings revealed the following: (1) Forty‐three species, encompassing six orders, 17 families, and 37 genera, were documented. Among the species in historical data, nine species were not detected in this survey. (2) Smaller and more fragmented reserves lacked larger body‐sized predators and herbivores, and most common species showed lower relative population abundance. Conversely, the SFF exhibited high mammal diversity. (3) The community composition of large and medium‐sized mammals varied significantly across the nine sites, particularly among threatened species. Our findings highlight the uneven distribution of these mammal communities in Xishuangbanna, with rare and large‐sized species facing increased vulnerability to rapid environmental changes. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the importance of considering species specificity and uniqueness in conservation planning for maintaining regional‐scale biodiversity.

Abstract Monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies. Recent advances in satellite remote‐sensing measurements allow us to track greenhouse gas emissions globally. This study assessed CO2 emissions from various point or local sources, particularly power plants in India, using 8 years of concurrent high‐spatial resolution OCO‐2 satellite measurements. A Gaussian plume (GP) model was used to evaluate the power plant emissions reported in the Carbon Brief (CB) database. In total (39 cases), 42 different power plant CO2 emissions were assessed, with 26 of them being assessed more than once. The estimated power plant CO2 emissions were within ± 25% of the emissions reported in the CB database in 11 out of 39 cases and within ± 50% in 18 cases. To evaluate the EDGAR and ODIAC CO2 emission inventories in terms of missing and highly underestimated sources, we estimated the cross‐sectional (CS) CO2 emission flux for 45 cases. We identified the possible omission of power plant emissions in three cases for both inventories. Furthermore, we also showed 17 cases in which CO2 emissions from unknown (non‐power plant) sources were highly underestimated in the EDGAR and ODIAC CO2 emission inventories. Due to the simplicity of the employed approaches and their lower computational requirements compared to other methods, they can be applied to large data sets over extended time periods. This enables the acquisition of initial emission estimates for various sources, including those that are unknown and underestimated.

Spiders, as predatory arthropods, play essential roles in ecosystem equilibrium and serve as bioindicators. To contribute to the understanding of spider diversity in northeast Algeria (Annaba province), a survey of spider fauna was conducted in both forest and urban sites over two consecutive years using the "hand collecting" method. A total of 879 adult spiders (681 females and 198 males) were identified, representing 25 families and 67 species. The Salticid Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) was the most abundant species, with 127 specimens collected. The most abundant families were Salticidae and Araneidae, with counts of 171 and 139 individuals, respectively. The Shannon-Weaver index varied from 2.17 to 3.68 bits across the different sites, while evenness values ranged from 0.60 to 0.75. This study significantly expanded the known spider species in Annaba province from 96 to 138.

The Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes are global biodiversity hotspots. Despite this, they are constantly losing their natural habitats, making it urgent to conduct fauna inventories for the conservation of taxa such as dragonflies (Odonata). These insects provide fundamental environmental services to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and are poorly sampled in some regions of Minas Gerais state. In this regard, the present study aimed to inventory the Odonata community in the surroundings of Luminárias, a municipality located in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This area consists of a transition between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, with biotic and abiotic attributes suggesting the creation of a Conservation Unit (CU) to provide data on the distribution of this taxon for future conservation actions. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2024, in 10 locations, totaling 690 hours of sampling effort. Fifty-seven species were recorded, distributed among seven families, with four species at some risk of extinction or with insufficient data, according to the IUCN or ICMBio. Considering the significant richness of Odonata fauna obtained in this study, which includes threatened species, it is urgent to establish management actions for the protection of these populations, including the creation of a CU.

The Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes are global biodiversity hotspots. However, these environments still face large knowledge gaps concerning fauna inventory studies, such as those on harvestmen. Our study aimed to sample harvestmen species in a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, contributing to future biodiversity assessments and conservation efforts in Brazil. The surveys were conducted in the municipality of Luminárias, southern Minas Gerais state, between May 2023 and March 2024. We collected 185 individuals from six species and three morphospecies with a wide geographical distribution, but whose conservation status has not been assessed, which may affect their protection. Additionally, loss of native vegetation may lead to reductions in their populations. Our study supports current literature, which suggests the need for more inventories and the creation of a Conservation Unit in the Luminárias region.

Abstract Aim Considering the importance of knowing the organisms that make up the environments impacted by human activities, we aimed to create an inventory of the ichthyofauna of a bauxite mining area in the Eastern Amazon in this work. Methods Specimens were collected with sieves, trawls, and gill nets at 37 points in rivers and streams during two expeditions (July 2017 and September and October 2017). After euthanasia and laboratory processes, we identified each individual to the lowest possible taxonomic level, and samples were deposited in scientific collections. We analyzed the conservation status of the species on state, national, and international lists. Results A total of 109 species were identified, belonging to 28 families and six orders, emphasizing the Characiformes order (57 species) and the Characidae family (22 species). We identified two new species, and none are threatened with extinction. Conclusions The high species richness recorded in the Potiritá River basin is noteworthy, considering its relatively small area. This diversity should be considered in future environmental impact studies and in monitoring the ichthyofauna in areas affected by human activities.

Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae are families of Diptera that cover, respectively, about 3,100 and 1,000 species described worldwide. The species of these families have medical and veterinary importance, due to their role as vectors of pathogenic agents. The Diptera fauna is little known in many Brazilian ecosystems, including some phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic Forest. In the present study, two expeditions were carried out, one in the rainy season and the other in the dry season, using four traps baited with fish and exposed for 48 hours in the field in the Parque Natural Municipal Atalaia in the municipality of Macaé. The collected material was sorted and assembled at Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade - NUPEM/UFRJ and transported to Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Sistemática de Diptera - Museu Nacional, UFRJ (MNRJ), for later identification. A total number of 712 specimens of Calliphoridae and 27 of Sarcophagidae were collected. The sampling effort for Sarcophagidae collection was average, since the species accumulation curve continues to rise, unlike the Calliphoridae curve, which remains stable. The study included species considered asynanthropic, as Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani, 1850) (Calliphoridae), but also invasive species, like those of the genus Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Calliphoridae). Therefore, the present study contributed to expand knowledge about both families in the Atlantic Forest, in Rio de Janeiro, and emphasized the importance of continuing studies in the region, as many species are asynanthropic, while others are invasive, which can result in the inhibition of the native ones.

Abstract High individual detection success enables precise estimates of density and the ability to monitor trends in abundance for wolverine and other low‐density species, information that is critical for the implementation and assessment of conservation measures. We evaluated a dataset that included six different wolverine capture–recapture studies over a large gradient in wolverine (Gulo gulo) density to provide recommendations for increasing detection. We examined factors related to bait station components, habitat, and seasonal timing. Accounting for variation in wolverine density and trap duration, our results suggest that bait stations setups having a run pole, frame, and camera to photograph unique ventral color patterns, in addition to hair snag devices, identify more individual wolverine than those without. The presence of snow is a habitat feature that also increases individual detection. Female detection rates were lower than male detection rates at the onset of the reproductive denning season in late February and early March compared with January and early February. We found latency to detection was independent of wolverine density, but greater in areas with human influence. Relatively high rates of genotyping success (55%) were predicted by even a single guard hair left at bait stations, while underfur required ~15 hairs for similar success. Longer sampling intervals reduced genotyping success in spring, more so for underfur than guard hair. Hair samples acquired from barbwire were of higher quality than those from either alligator clips or gun brushes. To improve individual detection for wolverine inventory and monitoring, we recommend deploying run pole setups in areas with low human disturbance that will retain snow into late spring. Extending the winter trapping effort into April and May could increase the chances of detecting denning females. Latency to detection suggests that traps should be active for more than a month, especially in human‐influenced areas, but genotyping success suggests that traps should also be cleared of hair samples at smaller intervals of a month or less, during late winter/spring.

The study of the Algerian islands’ myrmecofauna was undertaken for the first time, particularly on Habibas Island. The inventory of Habibas Island identified 13 ant species. The island’s plant formations, such as the xerophilous shrub group and the xerophilous halophilous shrub group, show a significant correlation with species distribution. Some species, such as Pheidole pallidula, are found in all the formations, while others, such as Aphaenogaster senilis, are specific to a single formation. The centesimal and occurrence frequencies of the species vary considerably, highlighting the predominance of Messor capitatus on the island. The study also revealed significant differences between Algerian islands and islets in terms of ant species richness. Tetramorium biskrense, Pheidole pallidula, Messor barbarus, Crematogaster scutellaris, and Cataglyphis viatica are present on several islands, while others are specific to a single island, such as Crematogaster laestrygon on the Sahel islet. Statistical modellings, such as simple non-linear and multiple regression, did not show any significant correlation between ant richness and factors such as the island’s size, its isolation degree, and its floristic richness. However, the latter does seem to have a more or less significant influence on ant distribution. Spearman’s correlation test revealed significant similarities between certain islands, while others showed significant differences. These results highlight the importance of the individual characteristics of each island in determining ant composition.

Aim. The results of the inventory of species composition of epiphytic lichens and aphyllophoroid fungi on two 1 ha sample plots in lowland floodplain forests are presented. Such integrated studies of these groups of organisms are poorly known. Fungi, including lichenized fungi, are essential components of forest ecosystems. Data on their diversity and substrate distribution can provide important information on the condition and biological value of the forests studied. Material and Methods. The main method of the fieldwork was the "1‐ha method". For the alpha‐diversity study, two 1‐ha sample plots were established in well‐preserved forest areas: the first one in a site of mixed broad‐leaved forest with lianas, and the second one in communities dominated by Carpinus betulus and Quercus robur. The specimens were collected from all variety of woody substrate within plots in spring and autumn 2023. Results. We have revealed 89 species of lichens and 60 species of aphyllophoroid fungi. The lichen families Arthoniaceae, Lecanoraceae, Physciaceae, Ramalinaceae and Roccellaceae contain 47.2 % of all species. High proportion of lichens with Trentepohlia photobiont (29.2 %), significant number of Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniaceae, Lecanographaceae, Roccellaceae) and crustose lichens (75.3 %) have been noted. Among the aphyllophoroid fungi identified in the sample plots, 11 species are new to Dagestan, including three species (Antrodia leucaena, Coronicium gemmiferum, Steccherinum litschaueri) recorded for the Caucasus for the first time. Fourteen species are new to the Samursky National Park. Conclusion. The study of alpha diversity and substrate preferences of xylobionts revealed the richest and most specific phorophytes, as well as some ecological features of the surveyed plots. Most of the species were found on the bark and wood of Carpinus betulus, Populus alba and Quercus robur. The majority of species reported for the first time for the region have been recorded on these tree species. We expand the number of known species on Populus alba, on which only few species were previously known. High proportion of lichens with the Trentepohlia photobiont and the predominance of crustose species were revealed. In terms of basidiomata morphology, corticioid fungi dominated over polypores and clavarioids in general. The leading ecological and trophic group of aphyllophoroid fungi are saprotrophs. Revealed features indicate a significant contribution of the wood of the main forest‐forming tree species to the preservation of the species richness of myco ‐and lichen biota.

Our study was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 at the Mekhada marsh, a wetland of international importance, located in northeastern Algeria. This site hosts large concentrations of waterbirds in winter, including waders. Through this investigation in the region, we proposed to characterise and analyse the population structure of this group of birds, which remains very poorly documented in Algeria. The results obtained indicate the presence of 16 species belonging to three families and nine genera. The maximum number of birds was counted in January 2022 (2417 individuals).

Island ecosystems support diverse aquatic invertebrate communities comprising endemic taxa. Documentation of existing species is important for conservation. In this study, a checklist of marine opisthobranch from the Republic of Mauritius is presented. A combination of benthic surveys (50 m×5 m in triplicates), rover diving techniques and photo documentation were used over two years (2018–2020) within 35 sheltered and unsheltered lagoons. Morphological and molecular analysis were used for identification. Species composition within sheltered and unsheltered areas in Mauritius was estimated using the Bray-Curtis similarity. The checklist featured 117 species belonging to 61 genera and 28 families, of which 13 are new records. The findings increased the knowledge of opisthobranch diversity from the Mauritius by 15.4%. Among the listed species, the distribution range of Cyerce nigra, Actinocyclus papillatus, and Phyllidia picta extended from the Western Pacific to the South Western Indian Ocean. Molecular analysis of the undescribed Gymnodoris sp. showed it resembled Gymnodoris sp. from Hawaii and were different by a genetic distance value of 10.6%. The species richness and evenness were higher within the sheltered regions of Mauritius which harboured the food resource of opisthobranch. These areas as compared to unsheltered regions were heavily populated, suggesting the probable influence of wave actions on opisthobranch diversity and abundance. The order Nudibranchia was reported as most speciose, with 86 species. The Sacoglossa and Nudibranchia were observed only on macroalgae and sponges respectively. High abundance was also recorded on shipwrecks which are the most common form of artificial reefs. With the inclusion of observations from previous studies, 201 species belonging to 94 genera and 36 families are now known from the Mauritius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the commune of Bel Younech, which constitutes the eastern part of the Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SBEI) of Jbel Moussa (Tangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima, NW Morocco), 13 geosites have been selected along a 14-stop georoad. These sites are characterized by relevant geological diversity representing structural geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, petrology, geomorphology, hydrogeology and hydrology. Some of these geosites also have a very interesting geoculture. The geodiversity sites have been evaluated using a numerical methodology based on recent literature that aimed to reduce the subjectivity related to any evaluation process. The evaluation concerned the scientific value (SV), the potential for educational use (PEU), the potential for tourist use (PTU) and the risk of degradation (DR), which was quantified using various criteria by assigning scores ranging from 0 to 4. The results of the quantitative assessment show that 8 sites with a scientific value greater than or equal to 3.5; this value allows them to be considered as geosites. The average values of the PUE and PUT were very high (3.7 and 3.5) while the risk of degradation was moderate (2.03). The values obtained justify the need of valorization and conservation of Bel Younech commune geosites by integrating the fundamental concepts of sustainable development. In fact, all the geosites are located on a 14-stop georoad; this could serve the geotourism as well as promote the activity and economic development of this commune. This work could be used for scientific, educational (within the framework of earth sciences) and touristic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings are often complex and hindered by identifying and measuring deformation in boththe building itself and its elements. However, we have the assistance of 3D laser scanningtechnology which allows us to collect geometric data. Scanners are particularly effective formeasuring high and hard-to-reach locations. This paper focuses on the measuring and mod-eling of roof drainage installations, which are usually placed at elevated heights, making itimpossible to measure using traditional methods. Rain gutters need constant monitoringin order to fulfill their function and ensure proper drainage of rainwater. Laser scanningproduces a point cloud which can be converted in a 3D model using software such as LeicaCyclone, AutoCad and ReCap. This study demonstrates the successful utilization of laserscanning in identifying geometric features and deformations in building installations.

The inventory of the carabid family at two forest sites in the Belezma national park namely an oak grove site and a cedar site during a period ranging from May 2017 to April 2018, has shown the counting of 27 taxa that have been inventoried by Barber pitfall traps. The results showed that the Quercus ilex site has slightly more species (25 species) compared to the Cedrus atlantica one (23 species). However, the Harpalinae subfamily is quantitatively the better one represented at both sites. The Shannon and Simpson indices report slightly higher figures in the Cedrus atlantica site with respectively (2.38) and (0.87), which explains the higher Jaccard index of similarity (78 %). The boxplot analysis of the two sites shows better representation in the Cedrus atlantica site although there are more outliers in the Quercus ilex site.

Inventories provide important information about species, both from a biogeographic perspective and in terms of their conservation status. Among insects, dragonflies are extensively surveyed in Brazil; however, significant knowledge gaps still exist regarding the distribution of these organisms in the country, particularly in threatened biomes such as the Atlantic Forest. In this study, we present data on an Odonata community collected in the Serra do Papagaio State Park between 2015 and 2016. We recorded 64 species, including six new records for the state of Minas Gerais, along with ten species with problematic conservation status, either due to a lack of distribution data or some degree of extinction risk. Our results highlight the importance of inventories in expanding our knowledge of species distribution and providing data that can aid in the assessment of their conservation status.

Forest cockroaches are among the insects that play an important and effective role in forest formations, they are insects with incomplete metamorphosis belonging to the order of Blattodea. This work is a contribution to the knowledge of Blattoptera species existing in the forest environments of Aflou’s region (Laghouat; Algeria).The inventory was carried out monthly in the El-Khnegue Forest (Aflou) from February 2019 to May 2019. It revealed the presence of six species of forest Cockroaches, which belongs to 4 genera of the Blattelidae family. After identification, it was demonstrated that, these species were: Dziriblatta nigriventris (Chopard, 1936), Dziriblatta stenoptera (Chopard, 1937), Loboptera ovolobata (Bohn, 1991), Loboptera decipiens (Germar, 1817), Phyllodromica zebra (Rhen, 1903) and Ectobius sp. (Stephens, 1835). Our results showed also that the soil and the thin layers of litter provide favorable habitat for the development of different species. The litters are composed mainly of leaves, which give very high organic carbon content with little humidity.

Mosquitoes are considered as vectors of serious human diseases. The prevention of parasitic and arboviral vector-borne diseases is based mostly on vector control strategies. This control cannot be effective unless a strong knowledge of mosquito biology and distribution in the working area. In this context, and in order to improve the knowledge on the specific diversity of the culicids fauna in the region of Khenchela (northeast of Algeria), an inventory of mosquitoes was carried out for the first time in this region. Larval collection was conducted in various types of habitats through continuous monitoring of seven sites from May 2020 to September 2021.Systematic study revealed the presence of 10 species belonging to 5 genera; including Culexpipiens (Linneaus, 1758), Culexterritans (Walker, 1856), Culextheileri (Theobald, 1903), Culexmodestus (Ficalbi, 1890), Culisetalongiareolata (Macquart, 1838), Culisetaannulata (Schrank, 1776), Aedesgeniculatus (Olivier, 1791), Aedesvexans (Meigen, 1830), Orthopodomyiapulcripalpis (Rondani, 1872) and Uranotaeniaunguiculata (Edwards, 1913). The species Cx. pipiens was the most abundant (44.26 %) followed by Cs. longiareolata (39.57 %). The variation of diversity in the different sites depends on the type of breeding habitat. Our findings provide very important information on biodiversity, distribution and the relationship between species abundance and ecological factors. Therefore, the results can be very useful for the design and implementation of effective control programs.

The seasonal deciduous forest, also known as dry forest, is characterized by the deciduity of tree species and two well-defined seasons which cause drastic changes in its physiognomy, and the seasonality of rainy periods directly impacts the forest’s biological communities. Social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) are well documented. However, some ecosystems in which they occur, such as the deciduous forest, are still subsampled. This study aimed to assess the response of social wasp communities to the dry season in a deciduous forest in the Mata Seca State Park, in the North of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Insects were collected over 24 days divided into four field campaigns, each with six continuous days of collection (February, May, July, and November 2021), encompassing one campaign per season. All specimens were sacrificed and stored in 70% alcohol and later dry mounted for identification. The Kruskal-Wallis (KW) H test was performed to verify the difference between species richness, number of total colonies, and number of colonies of each tribe in relation to the collection station. In total, 131 colonies of eight species were located, particularly Polybia occidentalis (Olivier, 179), with 39 colonies, Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1791), with 33, Mischocyttarus cassununga, with 21, and Protonectarina sylveirae (Saussure, 1854), with 13. Six species, five of which were from the Epiponini tribe, were collected in the four seasons. The responses of social wasps to the periods of drought in the deciduous forest vary with tribe. While Epiponini populations can keep colonies active in the dry season, Polistini cannot. Meanwhile, P. versicolor responds positively to the onset of the rainy season, increasing its population.

This work concerns the inventory of invertebrates in the apple tree plot of Dorset golden variety in Tizi-Ouzou area by using four methods of trapping (Barber traps, coloured traps, sweep net and butterflies net) during the study period from July 2015 until June 2016. This study allowed us to collect 214 species belonging to 96 families, 18 orders and five classes of invertebrates. Ecological indices make it possible to account for the qualitative and quantitative diversity of invertebrates present in the environment. The objective of this inventory is to identify potential predators and parasites of infested pests to apple tree cultivation by emphasising on the different trophic regimes of species.

Mosquitoes play an important role in public health, they are responsible for the transmission of pathogens that cause infectious diseases to both humans and animals. The study of this fauna biodiversity is necessary to determine the vector species of diseases. Our inventory of mosquitoes in Tizi-Ouzou province has been updated in this study, it was carried out from April to September, 2021 at 43 breeding sites, spread over ten different communes. The inventory was based on the sampling of larvae and the capture of adults on human bait. The identification of Culicidae inventoried revealed the presence of 14 species belonging to five genera and two subfamilies. We report the first citation of four species for this region, these are Culex (Culex) laticinctus Edwards, 1913, Culex (Culex) mimeticus Noe, 1899, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) berlandi (Seguy, 1921) and Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) richiardii (Ficalbi, 1889). The genus Coquillettidia was cited for the first time in Tizi-Ouzou. The data of this study was exploited by the ecological indices in order to have the relative abundance and the frequency of occurrence.

Odonata sampling effort in the state of Minas Gerais has intensified throughout the 21st century. However, research on these insects in some regions and ecosystems such as the Deciduous Forest are incipient, and the effect of prolonged dry periods over these insects is still unknown. This study thus aimed to assess changes in adult Odonata species composition over one year in a Brazilian Deciduous Forest and the Odonata species richness in the Mata Seca State Park in the Manga and Itacarambi municipalities in the Northern region of the state of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Twenty-four days of sampling were distributed in February, May, July and November, adopting an active search through entomological nets close to lentic environments (Lagoa Angical, Lagoa Comprida, Lagoa Encantada, Lagoa da Prata and two wetlands of Lajedo da Lua); lotic environments (São Francisco river) and in associated terrestrial ecosystems. In total, 55 species were collected. Rainy and dry periods altered Odonata communities’ composition but did not affect species richness and abundance due to the presence of permanent lagoons associated with the São Francisco river. This study shows the importance of the Mata Seca State Park for preserving Odonatofauna in the state of Minas Gerais and for protecting those permanent lagoons.

Mosquitoes are the most terrifying both for their abundance and for the diseases they transmit. They are vectors of malaria, lymphatic filariasis and arbovirus such as yellow fever, dengue, viral encephalitis and African horse sickness. These characteristics give this fauna prominent importance and health interest. To identify the most widespread mosquito species, we conducted for the first time an inventory in the Aures region more particularly the wilaya of Batna (East of Algeria) from May 2017 to January 2020, we studied their diversity, abundance and distribution. The sampling is done by monthly surveys of the various localities chosen, using the dipping method to collect the larvae. In the various sites prospected, we were able to collect a total of 8275 mosquito individuals presented by nine species belonging to four different genera: Culiseta, Culex, Aedes and Anopheles of which the genus Culiseta is the best represented, particularly with the species Culiseta longiareolata (52.07%). It appears from what we have obtained that the Batna region reveals a significant diversity of mosquitoes. This study aimed to inventory the Culicidian species more broadly by surveys in several localities of Batna region at the level of different environments. This will allow us to know the faunistic composition of the region, to collect and record information on the vectors, their habitats and the conditions that favors their multiplication within a given area.

Recently, Martins-Silva (2022) published the article entitled “Checklist of Aquatic Heteroptera genera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado Biome), with family and genera identification key”. The paper provides information on which genera of aquatic Heteroptera would occur in the Cerrado biome and an identification key to families and genera, based on specimens deposited in the Aquatic Invertebrates Collection of the University of Brasília, Brazil. However, it presents many problems, including misidentifications, lack of care with references, scientific names and taxonomic authorities, and poor grammar, syntax and spelling. Here, we express our concern about this paper and provide identification corrections for specimens figured in it whenever possible.

We reported the hymenopteran fauna (except Formicidae) in a floodable area in the South Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The study was conducted in a riparian forest of the Miranda river, located in the Passo do Lontra region, Corumbá. The collection occurred in the dry season of August 2016 using different capture methods. A total of 137 individuals distributed in 18 families, 43 genera, and 64 morphospecies (10 nominal) were collected. The families with the greatest richness were Diapriidae and Ichneumonidae with 11 morphospecies each (17% of the total), followed by Platygastridae and Braconidae with 10 and nine, respectively. Two species were newly recorded for Brazil: Gryonoides pulchellus Dodd, 1920 (Platygastridae) and Losada penai Fritz, 1873 (Crabronidae), plus 22 new records for Mato Grosso do Sul. This study increases about 5.2% of the wasp fauna recorded in Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as for the Pantanal.

Mosquitoes are important living organisms that participate in the different levels of food chains. However, many families include vector species capable to transmit viruses, bacteria and parasites to both humans and animals, threatening the public health. The goal of this work was to describe the biological diversity of mosquito species in different areas in M'sila; Algeria based on the ecological nature of their habitat. The breeding sites found were 18 distributed in five areas (Berhoum, Bou Saâda, El hamel, Hammam Dhalaa and M'sila). The inventory that was carried out from September to April every year from 2017 to 2019 has revealed 14 species of Culicidae distributed through three genera. The Culiseta longiareolata species was the most predominant, occupying different types of permanent and temporary breeding sites. However, the distribution of species based on the ecological types of these sites revealed: Anopheles cinereus, Anopheles sergentii, Culex brumpti, Culex deserticola, Culex hortensis, Culex impudicus, Culex laticinctus, Culex martinii Culex modestus,Culex perexiguus,Culex pipiens, Culex theileri and Culiseta longiareolata species presence The study of mosquito populations in the M’sila region has never been approached ecologically, biologically and systematically. Focus of this study was devoted to the systematics of Culicidae species, as well as the characterization of their structure, using ecological parameters as well as the study of Spatio-temporal variations, of the Culicidae population.

Abstract Background Current automated forest investigation is facing a dilemma over how to achieve high tree- and plot-level completeness while maintaining a high cost and labor efficiency. This study tackles the challenge by exploring a new concept that enables an efficient fusion of aerial and terrestrial perspectives for digitizing and characterizing individual trees in forests through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that flies above and under canopies in a single operation. The advantage of such concept is that the aerial perspective from the above-canopy UAV and the terrestrial perspective from the under-canopy UAV can be seamlessly integrated in one flight, thus grants the access to simultaneous high completeness, high efficiency, and low cost. Results In the experiment, an approximately 0.5 ha forest was covered in ca. 10 min from takeoff to landing. The GNSS-IMU based positioning supports a geometric accuracy of the produced point cloud that is equivalent to that of the mobile mapping systems, which leads to a 2–4 cm RMSE of the diameter at the breast height estimates, and a 4–7 cm RMSE of the stem curve estimates. Conclusions Results of the experiment suggested that the integrated flight is capable of combining the high completeness of upper canopies from the above-canopy perspective and the high completeness of stems from the terrestrial perspective. Thus, it is a solution to combine the advantages of the terrestrial static, the mobile, and the above-canopy UAV observations, which is a promising step forward to achieve a fully autonomous in situ forest inventory. Future studies should be aimed to further improve the platform positioning, and to automatize the UAV operation.

Landslide hazard of 2017 in Rangamati district had devastating impacts on development, thereby making landslide susceptibility mapping a prerequisite for disaster risk management. This study aims to map the future landslide susceptible areas by overlaying the landslide inventory of 2017 with causative factor maps using WoE and MFR and compare their results to determine that statistical model describes the susceptibility of the landslide occurrence better than the other. The analysis shows that although both models define the spatial relationship of past landslides with the triggering factors in a same way but in case of mapping, MFR had overestimated the high and low susceptible areas and underestimated the moderate susceptible areas than WoE. When validated from success rate curve by plotting the percentage of landslide susceptibility index rank against the percentage of cumulative landslide occurrence, it shows that the WoE model describes the landslides better than the MFR model. About 20% of the high susceptible areas include 85% of the total landslide area in case of the WoE model but the MFR model includes only 20%. On the other hand, the WoE model describes that 30% highly susceptible area covers more than 99% of the total landslide area while MFR defines only 78%.

The Cerrado biome is one of the global hotspots of biodiversity, and non-volant small mammals represent a significant portion of Cerrado species richness (45%) and endemism (86%). Nevertheless, we still lack a comprehensive picture of small mammal diversity patterns and drivers throughout the Cerrado. Here we surveyed small mammals across 45 sites to address species richness, abundance, and composition patterns and their drivers within and across sites, habitats, and localities at the world’s most diverse tropical savanna. As hypothesized, we found: (1) rich assemblages (12–21 species) characterized by few abundant and several intermediate-level and rare species; dominated by oryzomyine and akodontine cricetid rodents, and thylamyine and marmosine within marsupials, each tribe showing distinct habitat requirements; (2) strong habitat selectivity, with assemblages composed of forest dwellers, savanna specialists, and grassland inhabitants; and (3) similar species richness (α-diversity) but high species turnover (β-diversity) across sites, habitats, and localities, suggesting that horizontal stratification (within localities) and geographic location (across the Cerrado) are key drivers of small mammal diversity in tropical savannas. Thus, habitat heterogeneity and geographic location can be inferred as the main factors shaping species richness, abundance, and composition across the analyzed multiple spatial scales. Moreover, we found that geographical distance as well as the distance to neighbor biomes better explained species turnover, indicating landscape history and phylogenetic constraints as the major determinants of Cerrado small mammal diversity, as also evidenced for plants and other animal groups. These data highlight the need to preserve the mosaic of habitats across the different regions of the biome to conserve most of the Cerrado biodiversity.

Restinga forests are plant formations that occur on plains of quaternary sandy deposits along the Brazilian coast. Despite historical reduction of the Restinga forests, little effort has been made to know the butterfly fauna of these areas. This paper is an important contribution to the butterfly’s knowledge, being the second inventory in the Restinga forest of northeastern Brazil. The survey was conducted in the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest (FLONA de Cabedelo, following the Portuguese abbreviation) and aimed to provide preliminary information on the butterflies richness in this region. A total of 89 butterfly species and 1,503 individuals were recorded at FLONA de Cabedelo. Hesperiidae was the richest family (34 species), followed by Nymphalidae (33) Pieridae (eight), Lycaenidae (seven), Riodinidae (five), and Papilionidae (two). In general, the butterfly fauna of the FLONA de Cabedelo is dominated by species widely distributed and commonly found in open or forested areas in Brazil. Five species are new records in Paraíba state: Calydna sturnula (Geyer), Theope foliorum (Bates), Cogia hassan (Butler), Vehilius inca (Scudder), and Chiothion asychis (Stoll). We suggest carrying out monthly samplings which will certainly increase the list of species herein presented.

In a global context, few studies have investigated the effects of urbanization on apifauna, as well as the importance of green areas in urban centers for the conservation of local bee fauna. In Brazil, this line of research is still quite recent, with most studies carried out in regions with a predominance of the Atlantic Rainforest phytogeographic domain. For the Brazilian state of Bahia, such research is still scarce and, especially, if we consider the large territorial dimension that this state denotes. In the area that covers the Cerrado, few studies have been carried out that inventory the urban apifauna. In this paper we present a list of bee species recorded in urban areas of the city of Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil, which represent the first apifauna inventory in the Western region of Bahia. Specimens were collected fortnightly from November 2019 to April 2020, using two sampling methods: colored water traps (ARCAs/pantraps) and entomological net, in two remnants of vegetation used as sampling points. A total of 749 specimens were sampled, distributed in four families, 18 tribes, 29 genera, and 45 species. A total of 369 (49.3%) specimens were collected using the entomological net and 380 specimens (50.7%) by using the ARCAs. Our results showed that the area with the highest level of urbanization had bioindicator species of degraded environments, which benefit from urbanization, and despite the urban growth, the fragments found in the matrix can serve as a refuge for bee fauna, as long as they are well planned.

Urban trees play an important role in helping cities adapt to climate change, but also are vulnerable to changes in climate themselves. We developed an approach for assessing vulnerability of urban tree species and cultivars commonly planted in cities in the United States Upper Midwest to current and projected climate change through the end of the 21st century. One hundred seventy-eight tree species were evaluated for their adaptive capacity to a suite of current and future-projected climate and urban stressors using a weighted scoring system based on an extensive literature review. These scores were then evaluated and adjusted by leading experts in arboriculture in the region. Each species or cultivar’s USDA Hardiness Zone and American Horticultural Society Heat Zone tolerance was compared to current and future heat and hardiness zones for 14 municipalities across Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota using statistically downscaled climate data. Species adaptive capacity and zone tolerance was combined to assign each species one of five vulnerability categories for each location. We determined the number of species and trees in each category based on the most recent municipal street tree data for each location. Under a scenario of less climate change (RCP 4.5), fewer than 2% of trees in each municipality were considered highly vulnerable across all 14 municipalities. Under a scenario of greater change (RCP 8.5), upward of 25% of trees were considered highly vulnerable in some locations. However, the number of vulnerable trees varied greatly by location, primarily because of differences in projected summer high temperatures rather than differences in species composition. Urban foresters can use this information as a complement to other more traditional considerations used when selecting trees for planting.

Abstract Human land use is fragmenting forests around the globe, increasing the edge density in forest landscapes. More frequent natural disturbances also increase the presence of edges in forest ecosystems. Studying a mountain landscape in the Eastern Alps, we contrasted 661 plots situated at varying distances from a stand edge with 615 plots sampled in forest interiors. Our objectives were (1) to analyze the strength of edge effects on forest structure, functioning, and diversity; (2) to determine the penetration depth of edge effects into the forest interior; and (3) to quantify the difference between permanent edges (i.e., to a different land cover type) and transient edges (as created e.g., by natural disturbances). Edges affected forest biomass accumulation negatively (basal area, litter depth, live tree carbon), but had positive effects on diversity (variation in tree diameter, effective plant species number, plant species richness, number of red‐listed plant species). Biodiversity indicators responded most strongly to the presence of edges. The maximum distance of a significant edge effect was

Social wasps participate in food webs, act as biological control agents in small crops and the natural environment, and act as potential pollinators. The objective of this study was to carry out an inventory of social wasps in five phytophysiognomies with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance in São Paulo, Brazil. The collections were performed by active search and attractive traps to survey social wasps. We collected wasp for one year with collection campaigns every other month totaling six campaigns for site. We collected a total of 913 individuals representing 31 species and eight genera. The species with the highest abundances were Agelaia pallipes and Agelaia vicina. The highest richness of social wasps was found in the riparian forest and regenerating Cerrado. We conclude that social wasp richness and diversity varies according to habitat vegetation characteristics and that these effects are likely mediated by resulting differences in the provision of resources and nesting locations among the different environments. The areas in this study have suffered considerable vegetation loss due to common farming practices, however, the existing fragments are still capable of hosting a rich social wasp fauna.

The Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia comprises a zone of high levels of biodiversity and endemism of plants, vertebrates and insects. However, there are still several gaps on the knowledge of the local Lepidoptera diversity. The objective of this study was to conduct an inventory of butterflies in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil to provide information on species richness. Butterflies were sampled with insect net from March 2018 to March 2019, and November 2019 to February 2020, totaling 150 h of sampling effort. Additionally, we used Van Someren-Rydon traps for collecting frugivorous butterflies in September 2018 and February 2019 representing 1,080 trap-hours. A total of 228 butterfly species were recorded. Hesperiidae (86 spp.) and Nymphalidae (77 spp.) were the most representative families, followed by Riodinidae (32 spp.), Lycaenidae (21 spp.), Pieridae (10 spp.) and Papilionidae (2 spp.). The local butterfly fauna is composed of species found in open or disturbed forest edges, and secondary vegetation. Most of the sampled species is broadly distributed in Brazil Morpho menelaus coeruleus (Perry, 1810) (Nymphalidae), Jemadia hospita hephaestos (Plötz, 1879) (Hesperiidae) and several species of Lycaenidae and Riodinidae represents a new record for northeastern Brazil.

The environmental monitoring programs used to assess the quality of the habitats are often common to insects, mainly as frugivorous butterflies, as easily accessible biological indicators. These have ample availability of information, an easy to perform and low cost study method, in addition to responding easily to environmental changes, making it an efficient tool in environmental diagnosis. The way or objective of this work was to inventory as frugivorous butterflies in two different points, edge and center of an urban fragment belonging to the Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, state of Mato Grosso, using as an environmental indicator. As a hypothesis, it was believed to detect differences in species richness, the amount of composition and composition between two areas. A sampling was carried out between the months of February and May 2019, using 10 Van Someren-Rydon weapons, of which six were distributed at the edges and four in the center (interior) of the fragment. Take place as trapped collections once a week lasting three days at each event. 105 individuals belonging to nine species of Nymphalidae were captured, respectively, as subfamilies: Biblidinae (71), Satyrinae (31) and Charaxinae (03). There was no significant difference between species richness, quantity and composition in the edge area and in the center of the fragment.

In order to contribute to the myrmecological fauna knowledg of the Guerrouche forest massif based in northeastern Algeria. A study was conducted on three oak groves (Quercus suber, Q. canariensis and Q.afares). A total of 60 plots were surveyed by using four sampling methods (manual capture, bait, pitfall and Winkler). The inventory revealed 34 ants species belonging to 15 genus and 4 sub-families; Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae and Ponerinae. Dispatch as follow, 22 species for Cork oak, 14 for Algerian oak and 17 for Afares oak. Myrmicinae dominate in Cork oak and in Algerian oak (82.83 and 81.23% respectively) while in the Afares oak, Formicinae are largely in the lead (68.54%). This study revealed an endemic species to Algeria (Aphaenogaster testaceo-pilosa ssp canescens), three endemic’ species to Algeria and Morocco (Camponotus laurenti, Messor antennatus ans Aphaenogaster foreli) and one endemic to Algeria and Tunisia (Bothriomymrmex decapitans). Comparison of the four sampling methods effectiveness, used reveals that it’s the bait (80.7% of the species total number harvested in the all stations) and manual capture (49.69% of the species total number harvested in the all stations), which allowed the capture of the largest number of species followed by pitfalls traps (31.64% of the species total number harvested in the all stations). The Winkler was much less effective (5.55% of the species total number harvested in the all stations).

Deforestation and habitat fragmentation affect to a great extent larger wild mammals, which require large areas to establish their populations. These mammals can have important functions in the structure and dynamics of tropical forests, acting as seed dispersers, herbivory regulators, and umbrella species. In the present paper, we characterize the community of medium and large wild mammals in a semi-deciduous seasonal forest fragment, a denominated IB Forest (Institute of Biosciences) in Edgardia Experimental Farm, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. By adopting sand plots on three trails as the main method, we identified the occurrence of nine species, besides the occurrence of one species by direct visualization. Some of these are in national red lists — Leopardus pardalis and Puma concolor are listed as threatened and Sapajus cf. nigritus as Near Threatened in São Paulo State; Puma concolor is also listed as Vulnerable at the national level. Thus, we emphasize the importance of this forest remnant as a wildlife refuge, which makes it necessary to monitor the occurrence of these animals in the area and conserve similar remnants in the region.

Nematodes, also known as roundworms, are among the most abundant groups of animals on the planet. If you had pinworms as a child, you’ve experienced nematodes firsthand – and are not alone, as at any given time, about a third of the world’s population is believed to be infected by some kind of nematode para- site. Nematodes, many species of which are not parasitic, are also incredibly common denizens of coastal sediments, and an important source of nourishment for shellfish and bigger worms, which themselves are forage species for other animals. Because of this, roundworms are critical components of the coastal food web, and hence a meaningful “bottom-up” indicator of coastal ecosystem functioning.

The checklist of spiders of Rajasthan State in India is provided here, which is represented by 71 species of spiders included under 47 genera of 15 families. The most species-rich families reported so far are Araneidae and Gnaphosidae with 14 species each, followed by Lycosidae with 12 species. Studies done on the spider fauna of Rajasthan State till date is reviewed.

The Bolsa Chica Wetlands have undergone extensive engineering works in 2004-2007 to restore different levels of tidal action in different sectors of the wetlands. Different properties of nematode communities can be used to make management decisions and evaluate restoration success. Published studies have shown among others that nematode abundance increases, while their diversity and evenness decrease, in conditions of nutrient enrichment. From past observations we hypothesize that the following spatial and temporal patterns will occur in Bolsa Chica:- From the beginning of our sampling efforts, we expect to find that Outer Bolsa Bay harbors fewer nematodes, but more species and more equitable numbers per species, compared to Inner Bolsa Bay.- As the effects of tidal restoration kick in, we expect to find progressively more species and evenness but lower abundance in the full tidal restoration area.- As the effects of tidal restoration kick in, we expect to find a more moderate increase in species and evenness versus a moderate drop in abundance in the muted tidal restoration area.- Additionally, we expect a significant change in the taxonomic composition of nematodes in the two restoration sectors.

The available information on snake taxocenosis in Northeast Brazil is still incipient. To contribute to filling this gap, this study describes the composition of snake species from an Atlantic Forest Protected Area, Dois Irmãos State Park - PEDI, in Pernambuco. Data were collected using the methods: (1) occasional encounters, (2) active search, (3) interception and pitfalls, performed bimonthly for three years. 117 snakes were registered, distributed in five families, 21 genera, 23 species. Xenodon rabdocephalus species had its geographical distribution expanded by 742.2 km from the nearest registered location. The first order Jackknife index estimated a richness of 30 species and the rarefaction curve did not reach asymptote, indicating that there are still species to be found in the study area. The registration of rare and endemic species indicates the good quality of the area, but have highlighted a warning about the warns of the anthropic pressure suffered by PEDI, putting at risk the conservation of its fauna and flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, the oldest forest reserve in Malaysia established in 1900, lies in the center of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city. Over time it has been reduced from 17.5 ha to 9.37 ha but still retains important biodiversity. Its lowland equatorial rain forest has never been logged and tall emergent species to 35 m tall and 124 cm diameter persist. Since 1900, 499 plant species (2 lycophytes, 25 ferns, 39 monocots and 433 dicots) have been recorded. This year-long survey refound 425 species, including the rare Tarenna rudis (Rubiaceae), a local endemic found only in Selangor state. The multi-layered structure of lowland dipterocarp forest (16 Diperocarpaceae species were recorded) is intact. However, with diminishing size, the edge effect is more pronounced with secondary forest species, from trees to herbs, becoming established. In 2009, declared as the KL Forest Eco Park, it is important for its biodiversity, history, accessibility to the public for recreation (forest walks), scientific study, education (natural history, bird-watching, etc), as well as serving as a green lung in the bustling city. Baseline data, such as this survey, enables scientific management that will maintain the forest structure and biodiversity.

The inventory of tabanids of Ivory Coast includes both a review of historical datasets as well as the results of recent targeted field investigations in the North of Ivory Coast from 2000 to 2002 and Banco forest in 2012. The family Tabanidae known as horse flies has been estimated to consist of 4,500 existing species throughout the world. Four genera are known to be of medico-veterinary importance and include: Haematopota, Tabanus, Atylotus and Chrysops. The documented results of 28 sites provide significant information to update on the Tabanidae list of Ivory Coast. 70 species and 14 genera have been identified till date such as genus Tabanus with 40 species (57.14 %), genus Haematopota with 10 species (14.29 %), genera Atylotus, Chrysops and Hippocentrum with three species (4.29 %), genera Ancala, Rhigioglossa with two species (2.86%). Seven genera with only one species identified. T. taeniola, T. besti, T. secedens, T. thoracinus, H. decora, H. griseicoxa and H. torquens were captured in at least five regions.