Engineering rodents create key habitat for lizards

There is growing recognition among ecologists that ecosystem engineers play important roles in creating habitat for other species, but the comparative and combined effects of co-existing engineers are not well known. Here, we evaluated the separate and interactive effects of two burrowing rodents, Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) and banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis), on lizards in the Chihuahuan Desert grassland (USA). We found that the mounds and burrow systems of both rodent species provided important habitat for lizards, with lizard abundance being 2 to 4-fold higher on mounds than in adjacent areas without mounds. Kangaroo rat mounds supported greater numbers of lizards than prairie dog mounds, but the prairie dog colony with kangaroo rats supported 2-times more lizards than the landscape with only kangaroo rats. A greater number of mound habitats were available for lizards where prairie dogs and kangaroo rats co-occurred, and the rodents created unique structural mound types with different spatial distributions on the landscape. Our results demonstrate the importance of burrowing rodents in creating habitat for other animals, and that the combined effect of ecosystem engineers, especially those with large ecological roles, can be complementary and additive in areas where they co-occur.     

Two species of benthopelagic calanoid copepods of the genus Neoscolecithrix Canu, 1896 s.s. from New Zealand and the segregation of Cenognatha n. gen.

Two species of benthopelagic calanoid Copepoda, Neoscolecithrix cf. magna (Grice, 1972) and N. ornata n. sp., are described from the upper slope off North Cape, New Zealand. Neoscolecithrix ornata is distinguished from other species of Neoscolecithrix Canu, 1896 s.s. that have a female leg 5 terminal segment with 4 spines (2 terminal and 1 on each border) principally by the transverse row of long, fine spines on the female genital double somite; and by the more squat terminal segment of leg 5 (length/width ratio about 3.7). This is the second time Neoscolecithrix has been recorded from New Zealand. A new genus, Cenognatha n. gen., is distinguished from Neoscolecithrix principally because: rostrum short (bearing 2 filaments); mandibu‐lar gnathobase masticatory margin with slender dorsal spinulose seta; maxilla endite 1 with 5 well‐developed setae, endite 3 without brush‐like sensory seta, endopod usually with 3 long worm‐like sensory setae and 5 brush‐like setae; posterodistal border of basis of legs 1–3 without spines; distal segment of female leg 5 and its basis subequal in length; male leg 5 of similar lengths on both sides (styliform on right), endopod present at least on 1 side, 1‐segmented and spine‐like on right.     

An examination of the trout population of five lakes near Rotorua,New Zealand

Five lakes, varying from 10 to 100 hectares in area and each containing an existing population of Salmo gairdneri, were gill‐netted and stocked with tagged fish each year from 1960 to 1965 to determine the effect of regular stocking on the size and numbers of fish present. There was little natural spawning of trout in most of the lakes. Growth in length and weight of tagged fish was computed and an annual estimate of population calculated from the netting returns. Appendices give details of the statistical analyses of the data.

Fish production has been correlated with the trophic status of the lakes as indicated by their temperature and oxygen content. There was no clear relationship between lake size and trout production but trout production decreased as the environment became more eutrophic. Results also showed a close inverse relationship between numbers supported and average weight achieved by the trout. It is concluded that the angling potential of local lakes can be maintained despite the eutrophication resulting from intensive agricultural development of the catchments. These lakes will produce large‐sized fish if the trout population is kept relatively small.

Loss in weight in brown and rainbow trout as a result of spawning activities in local lakes and streams was found to be similar. Both male and female fish lost between 22 and 40 percent of their weight over a spawning period. This probably accounted for the observed low‐condition factor among older fish in the lake populations.     

New species of benthopelagic copepod Xantharus (Calanoida: Scolecitrichidae) from the upper slope,eastern central New Zealand

Xantharus Andronov, 1981 is reported, for the first time from New Zealand, from the upper slope (306 m) off the southeastern coast of North Island (41°04.10′S, 176°22.05′E). Xantharus cryeri n. sp. females differ from the three known species by a combination of characters: antennules that extend to the distal border of pedigerous somite 2; ancestral segment XVIII of the antennule with 1 seta; mandible basis with 3 setae; maxilla endite 1 with 5 setae; leg 1 basis with inner distal border lined with small spinules; and leg 5 is squat, with all segments as long as wide and the 2 terminal spine‐like extensions of the terminal segment approximately as long as the articulated, inner, subterminal spine.     

Phylogeography of New Zealand's coastal benthos

During the past 30 years, 42 molecular studies have been undertaken in New Zealand to examine the phylogeography of coastal benthic invertebrates and plants. Here, we identify generalities and/or patterns that have emerged from this research and consider the processes implicated in generating genetic structure within populations. Studies have used various molecular markers and examined taxonomic groups with a range of life histories and dispersal strategies. Genetic disjunctions have been identified at multiple locations, with the most frequently observed division occurring between northern and southern populations at the top of the South Island. Although upwelling has been implicated as a cause of this disjunction, oceanographic evidence is lacking and alternative hypotheses exist. A significant negative correlation between larval duration and genetic differentiation (r² = 0.39, P < 0.001, n = 29) across all studies suggests that larval duration might be used as a proxy for dispersal potential. However, among taxa with short larval durations (<10 days) there was greater variability in genetic differentiation than among taxa with longer pelagic periods. This variability implies that when larval duration is short, other factors may determine dispersal and connectivity among populations. Although there has been little congruence between the phylogeographic data and recognised biogeographic regions, recent research has resolved population subdivision at finer spatial scales corresponding more closely with existing biogeographic classifications. The use of fast‐evolving and ecologically significant molecular markers in hypothesis‐driven research could further improve our ability to detect population subdivision and identify the processes structuring marine ecosystems.     

Sediment macrobenthos off eastern Waiheke Island,Hauraki Gulf,New Zealand

Aspects of sea-bed structure and benthic-macroinvertebrate species composition, distribution, richness and diversity in coastal waters off eastern Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, are reported. In contrast to the sole historical account of sea-bed community structure from this same region, no widely distributed assemblages of species are recognised throughout it; no two sites share the exact same complement of species; and almost all sites are less than 80% similar in their taxonomic composition, most considerably so. Species richness and diversity are reported to vary with substratum type and depth, and spatially; species occurring within muds are the least diverse and species rich, followed by those of muddy gravels, and then gravels; many taxa prove common to the three substratum types; and dominance of taxa is recognised to decrease with an increase in substratum complexity, from muds to gravels, and species richness. With the exception of invasive marine species, apparent changes in the composition of assemblages throughout this region over the eight-decade period that data span are considered artefacts of the way in which such assemblages were historically defined. We recommend historical accounts of sea-bed community distributions throughout Hauraki Gulf be interpreted with caution, especially when attempting to use such schematic depictions to determine whether changes have occurred in assemblage composition.     

Preliminary description of a new species of Paraw aldeckia (Crustacea Amphipoda: Lysianassidae) from New Zealand (note)

A preliminary diagnosis is given for Parawaldeckia stephenseni from New Zealand, and the genus is briefly reviewed.     

Effect of the herbicide triclopyr on the abundance and species composition of benthic aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Ahuriri River,New Zealand

Abundance and species composition of aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates were compared between an area sprayed with the herbicide Grazon (active ingredient triclopyr), and an upstream control site (no triclopyr). Five Surber samples were collected from each of three riffles in control and treatment sites on eight occasions over a 1‐month period. Aquatic invertebrate species composition was similar in treatment and control sites, and did not change over time. The five taxa that made up 91–95% of all invertebrates by abundance did not vary significantly in treatment compared to control riffles. Abundance of three of the 15 most common taxa (>10 individuals per riffle) differed significantly between treatment and control sites over time. However, none of these fluctuations correspond to the presence of known concentrations of triclopyr in water samples, and it is unlikely that the declines resulted from triclopyr. These results are discussed with reference to known lethal concentrations of triclopyr for some invertebrates, and to the effect of floods on invertebrate populations.     

Environmental predictors of decapod species richness and turnover along an extensive Australian continental margin (13–35° S)

The use of environmental data in biogeographic studies of the deep sea is providing greater insight into the processes underlying large‐scale patterns of diversity. Recent surveys of Australia's western continental margin (~100–1100 m) provide systematic sampling of invertebrate megafauna along a gradient of 22° of latitude (13–35° S). Diversity patterns of decapod crustaceans were examined and we investigated the relative importance of environmental and spatial predictor variables on both species richness (alpha diversity) and species turnover. Distance‐based linear models (DistLM) indicated a suite of variables were important in predicting species turnover, of which temperature and oxygen were the most influential. These reflected the oceanographic features that dominate distinct depth bathomes along the slope. The numbers of species within samples were highly variable; a small but significant increase in diversity towards the tropics was evident. Replicated sampling along the margin at ~100 m and ~400 m provided an opportunity to compare latitudinal patterns of diversity at different depths. On the shallow upper slope (~400 m) temperature was disassociated from latitude and the latter proved to be the best predictor of sample species richness. The predictive power of latitude over other variables indicates that proximity to the highly diverse Indo‐West Pacific (IWP) may be important, especially considering that almost 40% of species in this study had a wide IWP distribution. In the management of Australia's marine environments, geomorphic surrogates have been emphasised when defining areas for protection. We found sea‐floor characteristics were relatively less important in predicting richness or community composition.     

2010年秋季黄河口及其邻近海域中小型浮游动物的群落特征

为掌握黄河口邻近水域中小型浮游动物的现状并弥补此类重要浮游生物类群在以往调查研究中的欠缺, 于2010 年9 月在黄河口及其邻近海域用浅水Ⅱ型浮游生物网采集了浮游动物样品, 分析了中小型浮游动物的种类组成、丰度分布、优势种、生物多样性及群落结构。本次调查共鉴定浮游动物成体48 种, 浮游幼虫21 类, 桡足类和水螅水母为最主要的浮游动物类群, 分别占浮游动物成体种数的37.5%和20.8%。浮游动物丰度为2 300.1～266 232.0 个/m³, 平均丰度为37 074.3 个/m³。优势种(类)8种, 分别为夜光虫、强额拟哲水蚤、小拟哲水蚤、背针胸刺水蚤、异体住囊虫、桡足类无节幼虫、双壳类幼体以及腹足类幼体, 其中夜光虫为研究水域最主要优势种。对各站位物种组成和丰度进行分析,调查水域中小型浮游动物可划分为4 个组群, 各组群的分布格局受到水温、盐度和海流的共同影响。该研究为此水域生态系统的长期变化研究提供了重要基础资料和参考依据。