Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia Serpentes). The desert homed viper

Cerastes cerastes - a venomous snake native of the desert of North Africa - is present

in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, South

Morocco, SW Arabian Peninsula and SW Israel. The average total length ranges from

30 to 60 cm (tail included). The females are larger than males, but males have heads

and eyes larger than the females. The body is robust, cylindrical and depressed, narrow

neck, thick midsection, tapering tail. One of the most distinctive characteristic of this

species is the presence of supraorbital horns; however, these may be reduced in size or

absent. The colour pattern consists of a yellowish, pale grey, pinkish, reddish, or pale

brown ground colour that almost always matches the substrate colour where the

animal is found. Dorsally, a series of dark, semi-rectangular blotches runs the length of

the body. These blotches may or may not be fused into crossbars. The belly is usually

white, and the tail, which may have a black tip, is usually thin. The desert homed viper

prefers dry, sandy areas with sparse rock outcroppings and doesn't like coarse sand.

Occasionally, it is found around oases and up to an altitude of 1.500 m. Cooler

temperatures, with annual averages of 20 °C or less, are preferred. Cerastes cerastes ,

like all snakes, is a meat eater; it preys primarily on lizard but also on mammals and

birds that inhabit its arid environment. It often lies in ambush, just beneath the sand

with only its horns and eyes exposed, ready to escape from its cover and strike its

victim with stunning swiftness ( photos by Mauro Grano).

Mauro Grano. Via Valcenischia 24, 00141 Roma; e-mail: elaphe58@yahoo.it

Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 297-300

New record of Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1 989) (Crustacea

Palaemonidae) from Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

NoveseTantri 1 , Dyah Perwitasari 1 &Achmad Farajallah 1 *

'Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus IPB Darmaga,

Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.

^Corresponding author, email: achamad@ipb.ac.id

ABSTRACT A new record of freshwater prawn of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea

Palaemonidae) was founded in West Kalimantan, Sintang District, Kelam Permai Subdistrict,

Indonesia. One ovigerous female specimen was collected in Lebak creeks, Ransi Pendek vil-

lage on July 2015. Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1989) from Sintang can be distinguished

from others by morphological character, including egg size, teeth of ventral margin, length

of carpus, length of merus, length of finger and palm as a chela part. Macrobrachium gua

was found under rocks in a surface river with black-tea-colour waters and dense vegetation.

KEY WORDS Creek; egg size; Macrobrachium', morphological character; Sintang.

Received 11.06.2016; accepted 28.07.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Suborder Caridea occur in all aquatic habitats,

they exist in marine to freshwater ecosystems

(Grave et al., 2008). There are three families of

Caridea freshwater species: Palaemonidae, Atydae

and Alphidae. Genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868

(Palaemonidae) is extremely important for food

market and is widely cultivated around the world

(Wowor et al., 2004). Macrobrachium shows a re-

latively high species richness, from fresh to brack-

ish envinroments (Guo & He, 2008). Based on

available literature, in Brunai Darussalam near

Kalimantan, Macrobrachium includes only three

species (Choy, 1991); howeer, in a subsequent study

this number has been updated to fourteen (Wowor

& Choy, 2001). In East Kalimantan, two new spe-

cies have been reported (Wowor & Short, 2007):

Macrobrachium urayang Wowor and Short, 2007

and M. kelianense Wowor and Short, 2007; in West

Kalimatan, there are only a few reports about

Macrobrachium species. Macrobrachium or river

shrimps, freshwater prawn (see Rashid et al., 2013)

and river prawn (see Kingdom & Erondu, 2013)

have complex live histories, some species being

amphidromous (Bowles et al., 2000).

Sintang is a city plenty of rivers, the largest of

which are Kapuas and Melawi. Most species of

Macrobrachium are considered to be found at fresh-

water habitats (Dimmock, 2004) as Kapuas and

Melawi or creeks formed from both rivers. The oc-

currence of Macrobrachium in West Kalimantan

has been poorly reported. This paper reports the

new record of Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1989)

from Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area, West Kalimantan, Sintang District,

298

NoveseTantri etalii

Indonesia, was selected based on information

provided from local fishermen or community

(Oliveira, 2011). Specimens were collected from

creeks, captured using local tools, “bubu” and

“kemansai” (i.e. traps made of plaited bamboo). Be-

side that, hand net was used in the stream area. The

species of collected specimens were identified by

observing and measuring the rostrum, telson and

carapace shape using key identification by Wowor

et al. (2004). Images of collected specimens were

taken using a Sony dsc-wx350 digital camera. The

specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol, then

replaced by 96% alcohol, in laboratory.

RESULTS

Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1989)

Examined material. West Kalimantan, Sintang

District: Kelam Permai Subdistrict. Ransi Pendek

Village. About 2 km from Kelam Hill. One ovi-

gerous female, coll. Fani Irwan, Novese Tantri,

27.VII.2015.

Type of material. West Kalimantan, Sintang:

1 female, coll. Fani Irwan, 27.VII.201 5.

Diagnosis. Ventral of carapace has 1 to 3 teeth

(observed specimen has 2 teeth), carapace has

hepatic spine, chela of second pereiopod not similar

in shape and size, finger was covered by soft and

dense pubescence, carpus was shorter than merus,

all of the body, from carapace to telson, showed

spot-and-line pattern, influenced by the environ-

ment around the creek.

Distribution. Indo-west pacific. East Malaysia,

Sabah. Gumantong cave (Chong, 1989).

Remarks. A total of 18 specimens belonging to

five species were collected. M. gua was represen-

ted by one female (Fig. 5). Fresh specimens of M.

gua have a blade-like rostrumand the carpus shorter

than merus in the second pereiopods. There are six

abdominal somites, as in another Caridean, in M.

gua the second abdominal segment covers the first

and third segment. Normally, ventral margin

rostrum of M. gua has 1 to 3 teeth, but the specimen

found in Febak creek has 2.

The following measurements of specimens

presented in figures 2-5 were obtained: length of

rostrum 0.26 mm (Fig. 4), length of body 39 mm,

length of telson 0.22 mm, length of egg 1.27 mm

(Fig. 2), length of chela 7.35 mm, length of finger

2.93 mm and length of palm 3.81 mm (Fig. 3).

Cornea of the eye was black and standed out, the

rostrum was short, chela was normal or slender,

major second pereiopod has a finger as long as

palm.

DISCUSSION

Macrobrachium gua was firstly reported in

Sabah, Malaysia. The name of “gwa” is adopted

from the Malay name for cave, in allusion to habitat

where the specimens were collected (Chong, 1989).

In Indonesia, we found M. gua (Chong, 1989) in

small creek near Bukit Kelam Sintang area. The

existence of the M. gua was reported on the river

outside cave (in Indonesia) and in river inside cave

(in Gumantong) East Malaysia which indicates that

M. gua includes troglophilus specimens.

Several discoveries of new species of freshwater

prawn in Indonesia, such as M. keliaense and M.

urayang (Wowor & Short, 2007) in East Kali-

mantan and the new record of M. gua in West Kali-

mantan, increase the list of freshwater prawns di-

versity in Indonesian waters.

Macrobrachium gua has a high commercial po-

tential and can be cultivated in freshwater throu-

ghout the world. As a fishery target of freshwater

Figure 1. Map of Sintang District. Province of Kalimantan.

Red circle indicates the location where the specimen was

collected, near from Kelam Hill.

New record of Macrobrachium gua (Crustacea Palaemonidae) from Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

299

Figures 2-5. Macrobrachium gua. Figure 2: egg; Figure 3: chela, the finger as long as palm; Figure 4: carapace and rostrum;

Figure 5: fresh specimens ofM gua, female ovigerous. Scale bar: 1 mm.

prawn aquaculture, biological information of this

species is needed for its sustainable management.

Exploration in biological aspects of M. gua is open

for future studies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank to Mr. Irwan (West

Kalimantan, Sintang District, Indonesia) for his as-

sistance during sample colletion.

REFERENCES

Bowles D.E., Aziz K. & Knight C.L., 2000. Macrobra-

chium (Decapoda: Caridea: Palamonidae) in conti-

guous United States: a review of the species and an

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tacean of Biology, 20: 158-171.

Choy S.C., 1991. The Crustacean fauna of negara Brunei

Darussalam. The Brunei Museum Journal, 7: 117-158.

Chong S.S.C., 1989. Anew species of freshwater prawn,

Macrobrachium gua sp. nov. (Decapoda, Caridea,

Palamonidae) from Sabah, East Malaysia, Borneo.

Crustaceana, 56: 31-38

Dimmock A., 2004. Variation in wild stock of the fresh-

water prawn Amcrorachium australinese (Holthuis,

1950): enviromental influence on external morpho-

logy. [Dissertation], Brisbane. Queensland Univer-

sity of Technology Gardens Point Campus Brisbane

Australia.

Guo Z.L. & He S.L., 2008. One new and four newly

record species of the genus Macrobrachium (Deca-

poda: Caridea: Palamonidae) from Guangdong

province, southern China. Zootaxa, 1961: 11-25.

Grave S.D., Cai Y. & Anker A., 2008. Global diversity

of shimips (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) in fresh-

water. Hydrobiologia, 595: 287-293.

Kingdom T. & Erondu E.S., 2013. Reproductive biology

of African River Prawn Macrobrachium vollenhovenii

(Crustacea, Palaemonidae) in the lower taylor creek,

Niger Delta, Nigeria. Ecologia Balkanica, 5: 49-56.

Oliveira G.C.S., Ready J.S., Iketani G., Baston S., Gomes

G., Sampaio I., & Maciel C., 2011. The invasive

status of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879)

in nothem Brazil, with an estimation of areas at risk

globally. Aqua Invasions, 6: 319-328.

Rashid M.A., Shahjahan R.M., Begum R.A., Alam M.S.,

Ferdous Z. & Kamaruzzaman M., 2013. Fecundity

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and embryonic development in three Macrobrachium

species. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies,

1: 3-11.

Wowor D., Cai Y. & Ng P.K.L., 2004. Crustacea: Deca-

poda, Caridea.In: Yule C.M. & Sen Y.H. (Eds.). Fresh-

water invertebrata of the Malaysian Region. Kuala

Lumpur (KL): Akademi Sains Malaysia, 337-356.

Wowor D. & Choy S.C., 2001. The freshwater prawn of

the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea:

Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Brunai Darussalam.

The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 49: 269-289.

Wowor D. & Short J.W., 2007. Two new freshwater

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 301-310

Diversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) in the

Ramsar wetland: Dayet El Ferd,Tlemcen, Algeria

Redouane Matallah 1 ’*, Karima Abdellaoui-hassaine 1 , Philippe Ponel 2 & Samira Boukli-hacene 1

laboratory of Valorisation of human actions for the protection of the environment and application in public health. University of

Tlemcen, BP 119 13000 Algeria

2 IMBE, CNRS, IRD, Aix-Marseille University, France

^Corresponding author: maatallahredouane@gmail.com

ABSTRACT A study on diversity of ground beetle communities (Coleoptera Carabidae) was conducted

between March 2011 and February 2012 in the temporary pond: Dayet El Ferd (listed as a

Ramsar site in 2004) located in a steppe area on the northwest of Algeria. The samples were

collected bimonthly at 6 sampling plots and the gathered Carabidae were identified and coun-

ted. A total of 55 species belonging to 32 genera of 7 subfamilies were identified from 2893

collected ground beetles. The most species rich subfamilies were Harpalinae (35 species,

64%) and Trechinae (14 species, 25.45%), others represented by one or two species. Accord-

ing to the total individual numbers, Cicindelinae was the most abundant subfamily compris-

ing 38.81% of the whole beetles, followed by 998 Harpalinae (34.49%), and 735 Trechinae

(25.4%), respectively. The dominant species was Calomera lunulata (Fabricius, 1781) (1087

individuals, 37.57%) and the subdominant species was Pogonus chalceus viridanus (Dejean,

1828) (576 individuals, 19.91%).

KEY WORDS Algeria; Carabidae; Diversity; Ramsar wetland “Dayet El Ferd”.

Received 28.06.2016; accepted 31.07.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTP) are pri-

ority habitats according to the Natura 2000 network

of the European Union and are located in various

Mediterranean countries. Priority habitats are those

habitat-types or elements with a unique or im-

portant significance to a diverse group of species

(Zacharias & Zamparas, 2010).

In Mediterranean regions, and more particularly

in North Africa, wetlands contain a very rich, but

declining biodiversity (Bouldjedri et al., 2011). The

temporary ponds appear as real laboratories of sur-

vey of the living world but are poorly known as re-

gards to vegetation and especially fauna, in partic-

ular arthropods. This is especially regrettable than

they became very rare and are threatened of disap-

pearance. The industrialization, the change of the

hydrologic performance, the irrational use of their

resources and the development of the tourism on

the Mediterranean periphery are as many menacing

factors (Hanene et al., 2008). In Algeria, wetlands

are very rarely protected from anthropogenic dis-

turbances, even if they are recognised as conserva-

tion priorities, for instance through the ‘Ramsar

site’ status. In North West Africa, the term “Daya”

is generally applied to define temporary ponds. The

wide range of climatic and altitudinal conditions

302

Redouane Matallah et alii

across Algeria prevent making further generaliza-

tion except that a “Daya” is, usually, a temporary

wetland (Cherkaoui et al., 2003). Many of these wet-

lands, located along the North of Algeria, are im-

portant stop-overs for wildfowl on the migratory

route that connects Africa and Europe (Boix, 2000).

Temporary ponds provide forage, refuge, and a

place for overwintering or estivation for many spe-

cies, including soil macrofauna and microfauna, in-

sects, and birds (Kato, 2001; Thomas et al., 2004;

Katoh et al., 2009; Paik et al., 2009).

Among the organism groups inhabiting wet-

lands, ground beetles are especially useful as envir-

onmental indicators because they strongly respond

to changes in microhabitat conditions, such as mois-

ture content, light intensity, temperature regime, ve-

getation density and substrate composition (Rainio

& Niemela, 2003; Lambeets et al., 2008, 2009).

Coleoptera are important in terms of ecological

research because of their large number of species,

cosmopolitan distribution, and ease of capture

(Barney & Pass, 1986; Floate et al., 1990; Kromp,

1999). Ground beetles are well known organisms,

their habitat choice is very specific and for this

reason they are often used to categorize habitats

(Lovei & Sunderland, 1996) and can be used

as bioindicators (Thiele, 1977). Ground-beetles

(Coleoptera: Carabidae) offer strong potential as

local scale indicators of disturbance effects (Thiele,

1977; Kimberling et al., 2001; Pearce & Venier,

2006; Gaucherel et al., 2007). Among these, ground

beetles except Harpalinae and Zabrinae, are pre-

daceous and feed on small sized invertebrates in-

cluding earthworms, aphids, moths and snails

which play a very important role in the ecosystem

(Lovei & Sunderland, 1996; Holland, 2002), espe-

cially in mountainous and steppe areas (Kromp,

1999; Holland, 2002).

They are well adapted to dynamic flood prone

areas and have a strong flight capacity and, there-

fore, a high dispersal ability (Desender, 2000),

which makes them fast colonizers of emerging or

restored habitats (Lambeets et al., 2008).

More specifically, in wet habitats such as tem-

porary pools, wet grasslands, river sides, and low-

lands with different vegetation, lower soil pH, and

higher soil moisture than surrounding areas, ground

beetles can be characterized by species com-

position, food preference, and habitat selection

(Hengeveld, 1987; Luff et al., 1989; Eyre et al.,

1990; Do & Moon, 2002; Do et al., 2007).

The study was performed to make specific in-

ventories of ground beetles in the Ramsar wetland

(Dayet El Ferd) and to provide fundamental inform-

ation on diversity and community structure of these

beetles.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area and collecting method

The northwest of Algeria comprises a varied

set of environments differing in climate, substrate,

topography and vegetation (Brague-Bouragba et

al., 2007). The study was conducted in the Ramsar

wetland “Dayet El Ferd”, located right in the heart

of the steppe zone, 50 km south of Tlemcen

(34°28'N and 1°15'W). It’s a permanent endorheic

depression with brackish water, surrounded by

pastures and cereal fields and situated between

two mountain chains. The study area is character-

ized by a typical vegetation dominated by Tamarix

gallica L. (Boumezber, 2004). Catching of adult

ground-beetles were obtained with interception

traps on the ground “Barber traps”, on six study

plots regularly distributed over each elevation

stratum for one year between March 2011 and

February 2012.

A total of 6 plots were chosen and each plot was

subdivided into two sub-plots from the pond peri-

phery along two linear transects, in each sub-plot

three pitfall traps were placed for standardized trap-

ping, resulting in a total of 36 traps. The distance

between the sub-plots amounted to at least 1 km,

and at each sub-plot, traps were set out in a trian-

gular pattern.

Carabid fauna was collected using pitfall traps,

which is an adapted trapping method for this family

(Lovei & Sunderland, 1996). Ground beetles mainly

live on the surface of ground, and pitfall traps are

installed considering these features (unbaited so as

to capture the Arthropoda at random without having

an effect on their behaviour). Pitfall traps were con-

structed from round plastic containers with 10 cm

height, 7 cm diameter and 200 ml volume fitted with

a clear plastic funnel. The traps were covered with

plastic lids to keep debris and rain out of the traps.

The number of beetles in pitfall traps is a function

of both individual activity and population density

(Tretzel, 1955; Heydemann, 1957; Chiverton, 1984).

Diversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) in the Ramsar wetland: Dayet El Ferd,Tlemcen, Algeria

303

Plots were sampled twice a month and sampling was

replicated for 12 months (March 2011 to February

2012). All insects collected were preserved in 70%

ethyl alcohol and brought to the laboratory for being

dried, mounted, and identified to the species level

under a stereo-microscope (Nikon SMZ-745T).

Identification to species of the Carabidae was made

using the key of Bedel (1895-1914), Du-Chatenet

(2005). Nomenclature follows Lobl & Smetana

(2003). All specimens once identified were stored in

insect storage boxes.

Community Structure Analysis

Diversity was expressed using the Shannon- Wei-

ner index (FT) (Magurran, 2004), McNaughton’s

dominance index (DI, McNaughton, 1967), Mar-

galefs species richness index (RI, Margalef, 1958),

Pielou’s species evenness index (El, Pielou, 1975)

and Jaccard’s similarity index (SJ, Jaccard, 1908).

The formulas are as follows:

H' =- X (?i x log 2 Pi), when Pp Relative fre-

quency of species i (Pj = nj/N)

n^ means number of individuals at i-th species

and N means total number of individuals (Pielou,

1969).

DI (Dominance index) = (nj + n 2 )/N

nj means number of dominant species indi-

viduals, n 2 means number of subdominant species

individuals, N means total number of individuals

(McNaughton, 1967).

RI (Species richness index) = (S- l)/ln N

S means total number of species and N means

total number of individuals (Margalef, 1958).

El (Evenness index) = H71og2S

H' means species diversity index and S means

total number of species (Pielou, 1975).

Alternatively, the Jaccard index may be calcu-

lated using the following equation:

CJ = a/(a + b + c)

where a: the number of species found in both

sites; b: the total number of species in sample 1 ; and

c: the total number of species in sample 2.

The results of calculated similarity are shown

as dendrograms obtained by the Minitab 1 6 soft-

ware.

RESULTS

A total of 55 species belonging to seven sub-

families were identified from 2893 collected ground

beetles in temporary wetland (Dayet El Ferd) loc-

ated in a natural steppe area (Table 1). Thirty five

species of Harpalinae recorded the highest number

of subfamily species, followed by 14 Trechinae,

2 Cicindelinae, 2 Scaritinae, and the others sub-

families Carabinae, Siagoninae, Apotominae with

1 species each (Fig. 1). The subfamily Cicindelinae

had the maximum number of individuals compris-

ing 38.81% of the total, followed by 998 Harpalinae

(34.49%), 735 Trechinae (25.4%), 32 Scaritinae

(1.1%), 2 Carabinae (0.07%), 2 Siagoninae

(0.07%), and 1 Apotominae (0.03%), respectively

(Fig. 2).

At the genus level, 6 species of Bembidion

Latreille, 1802, 5 species of Harpalus Latreille,

1802, 3 species of Amara Bonelli, 1810, Micro-

lestes Schmidt-Goebel, 1846, Poecilus Bonelli,

1810, 2 species of Acinopus Dejean, 1821, Acu-

palpus Latreille, 1829, Calathus Bonelli, 1810,

Chlaenius Bonelli, 1 8 1 0, Cymindis Latreille, 1806,

Ditomus Bonelli, 1810, Emphanes Motschulsky,

1850 and Pogonus Dejean, 1821, were collected.

The other 19 genera were all represented by single

species. 1087 individuals of Calomera Moutschulsky,

1862 and 593 individuals of Pogonus were collec-

ted, followed by Harpalus and Poecilus with 370

and 190, respectively. The number of individuals of

each species was pooled per plots. The number of

ground beetle species in each surveyed plot varies

from 20 (Plot 6), to 33 (Plot 1) (Fig. 3).

The dominant species was Calomera lunulata

(1087 individuals, 37.57%) and the subdominant

species was Pogonus chalceus (576 individuals,

19.91%), these two species represented 57.48% of

the total catch. Eight of the 55 species occurred in

all 6 plots namely; Bembidion varium, Pogonus

chalceus , Harpalus tenebrosus, Harpalus lethierryi ,

Harpalus oblitus, Laemostenus algerinus, Syntomus

fuscomaculatus, and Poecilus sp. On the other

hand, more than 70% of the species were recorded

in less than five plots, including 1 5 species recorded

in only one plot.

The Dominance index (DI) for each site varied

between 0.48 and 0.74, and the average dominance

index was in the order of Pt.6 > Pt.4 > Pt.5 > Pt. 1 >

Pt.3 > Pt.2, respectively.

The species diversity index (H') for each site

ranged from 1.56 to 2.53, and the average species

diversity index was in the order of Pt.2 > Pt. 1 > Pt.3

> Pt.5 > Pt.4 > Pt.6, respectively.

304

Redouane Matallah et alii

Subfamily

Species

indivi-

duals

Ptl

Pt 2

Pt 3

Pt 4

Pt 5

Pt 6

Cicindelinae

Calomera lunulata (Fabricius, 1781)

1087

240

447

180

216

Lophyra flexuosa flexuosa (Fabricius, 1787)

Carabinae

Calosoma inquisitor (Linnaeus, 1758)

Siagoninae

Siagona europaea europaea (Dejean, 1826)

Scaritinae

Dyschirius chalybeus chalybeus (Putzeys, 1 846)

Distichus planus (Bonelli, 1813)

Apotominae

Apotomus rufithorax (Pecchioli, 1837)

Trechinae

Amara ( Acorius ) metallescens (Dejean, 1831)

Amara (Paracelia) simplex (Dejean, 1828)

Amara sp.

Zabrus (Aulacozabrus) distinctus (Lucas, 1842)

Bembidion ( Peryphus ) andreae (Fabricius, 1787)

Bembidion ( Nega ) ambiguum (Dejean, 1831)

Bembidion ( Emphanes ) latiplaga mateui

(Antoine, 1953)

Bembidion ( Emphanes ) minimum

(Fabricius, 1792)

Bembidion {Notaph emphanes) ephippium

(Marsham, 1802)

Bembidion ( Notaphus ) varium (Olivier, 1795)

Emphanes sp. 1

Emphanes sp.2

Pogonus chalceus viridanus (Dejean, 1828)

576

164

190

Pogonus luridipennis (Germar, 1823)

Harpalinae

Acinopus ( Oedematicus ) megacephalus

(P. Rossi, 1794)

Acinopus sp.

Daptus vittatus (Fischer von Waldheim, 1823)

Harpalus ( Ciyptophonus ) tenebrosus

(Dejean, 1829)

Harpalus lethierryi (Reiche, 1860)

Harpalus microthorax (Motschulsky, 1 849)

Table 1/1. List of ground beetles collected in Dayet El Ferd, Algeria.

Diversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) in the Ramsar wetland: Dayet El Ferd,Tlemcen, Algeria

305

Subfamily

Species

indivi-

duals

Ptl

Pt 2

Pt 3

Pt 4

Pt 5

Pt 6

Harpalinae

Harpalus oblitus patruelis (Dejean, 1829)

184

Harpalus sp.

Acupalpus ( stenolophus ) elegans (Dejean, 1829)

Acupalpus maculatus (Schaum, 1860)

Amblystomus metallescens (Dejean, 1829)

Anisodactylus ( Hexatrichus ) virens

winthemi (Dejean, 1831)

Ditomus sp.

Ditomus sphaerocephalus (Olivier, 1795)

Calathus fuscipes algericus

(Gautier des cottes, 1866)

110

Calathus ( Neocalathus ) mollis atticus

(Gautier des Cottes, 1867)

Laemostenus ( Pristonychus ) algerinus

algerinus (Gory, 1833)

Agonum marginatum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chlaenius (Trichochlaenius) chrysocephalus

(P. Rossi, 1790)

Chlaenius velutinus (Duftschmid, 1812)

Cymindis suturalis pseudosuturalis

(Bedel, 1906)

Cymindis setifeensis brevitarsis

(Normand, 1933)

Lebia ( Lebia ) trimaculata (Villers, 1789)

Microlestes corticalis (L. Dufour, 1820)

Microlestes sp.l

Microlestes sp.2

Philorhizus sp.

Syntomus fuscomaculatus (Motschulsky, 1 844)

Graphipterus exclamationis exclamationis

(Fabricius, 1792)

Orthomus sp.

Poecilus ( Carenostylus ) purpurascens

purpurascens (Deiean, 1828)

103

Poecilus sp.

Poecilus ( Ancholeus ) nitidus (Dejean, 1828)

Zuphium olens olens (P. Rossi, 1790)

Table 1/2. List of ground beetles collected in Dayet El Ferd, Algeria.

306

Redouane Matallah et alii

The species richness index (R') for each site

ranged between 3.18 and 5.91, and the average

species richness index was in the order of Pt. 1

> Pt.2 > Pt.3 > Pt.5 > Pt.4 > Pt.6, respectively.

The species evenness index (E') for each site

was calculated between 0.36 to 0.51, and the aver-

age species evenness index was in the order of Pt.

2 > Pt.l > Pt.3 > Pt.5 > Pt.4 > Pt.6, respectively

(Table 2).

Between most plots, species similarity (Jaccard

index) does not exceed 50% (Table 3). According

to the results of cluster analysis, the Carabid faunas

between plot 3 and plot 4 and between plot 5 and

plot 6 are quite similar and separated from those of

the plots 1 and 2 (Fig. 4).

DISCUSSION

There are few published references on the di-

versity of terrestrial beetles specific to temporary

ponds (Lott, 2001). However, recent work in the

salt marsh of Rechgoun, Algeria, has revealed some

interesting patterns. Wetlands, temporary submer-

sions, are particularly attractive to terrestrial beetles.

Thus, Soldati (2000) lists 32 species in the marshes

of Romelaere (Pas-de-Calais, France), dominated

mainly by Carabidae and Staphylinidae. The Cara-

bidae family is best known taxonomically and eco-

logically, and includes usually good bio- indicators

(Lovei & Sunderland, 1996). Jacquemin (2002)

cites 19 species in salt marshes of Lorraine

(France). 60 species were identified in the marsh of

Frocourt (France) during the months of June and

July 2005 by Borges & Meriguet (2005) against 157

species identified in the mouth of the Moulouya

in Morocco at numerous fragmentary studies by

Chavanon and Mahboub (1998).

Boukli-Hacene & Hassaine (2009) report 20

terrestrial taxa of Carabidae and only two water

beetles in a salt marsh Sebkha of Oran (Algeria)

during a preliminary study conducted between

January and June 2004. A study of Coleopteran

communities was conducted between October 2009

and September 2010 in the salt marsh at the mouth

of the Tafna River (Northwest of Algeria), and 3833

specimens belonging to 140 species were inventor-

ied with 40 species of Carabidae. It was noted that

plot

Pt. 1

0.54

2.4

5.91

0.47

Pt.2

0.48

2.53

5.49

0.51

Pt. 3

0.54

2.27

4.68

0.45

Pt.4

0.7

1.82

3.98

0.37

Pt. 5

0.6

2.08

4.05

0.43

Pt. 6

0.74

1.56

3.18

0.36

Table 2. Various diversity indices calculated for each surve-

yed plot. Dl: Dominance index, H’: Diversity index, R’:

Species richness index, E’: Evenness index.

PI P2

1.000

0.3695

1.000

0.4318

0.525

0.3555

0.5263

0.3333

0.4615

0.2926

0.3888

P3 P4

1.000

0.6388 1.000

0.5675 0.5277

0.4571 0.4545

P5 P6

1.000

0.5161 1.000

Table 3. Similarity matrix at plot-scale (Jaccard Index; black: > 50%; striped: 40-49%; grey: < 40%).

Diversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) in the Ramsar wetland: Dayet El Ferd,Tlemcen, Algeria

307

the large majority of species is represented by a

small number of individuals; this same observations

were made by Menet (1996), Soldati (2000), Boukli-

Hacene et al. (2012), and on inventories of terres-

trial beetles. The result of this research indicated

that there is a diverse fauna of Carabidae in the wet-

land of Dayet El Ferd.

Carabid beetles are increasingly used as taxo-

nomic study group in biodiversity and as bio-indic-

ators in monitoring or site assessment studies for

nature conservation purposes (Luff et al., 1989,

1992; Luff, 1990; Erwin, 1991; Desender et al.,

1991, 1992; Loreau, 1994; Heijerman & Turin,

1995). The very high number of species, estimated

some ten years ago at about 40000 described

species (Atamehr, 2013), as well as the well-

studied pronounced habitat or even microhabitat

preference of many of these (Thiele, 1977) are im-

portant reasons for the increasing interest they get.

Furthermore, the majority of carabid beetles (at

least in steppe areas) are relatively easily collected

in a more or less standardized way by means of pit-

fall trapping. Nevertheless, much discussion re-

mains on the necessary methodologies in sampling

(details of techniques, intensity and duration of

trapping) as well as in diversity assessment (South-

wood, 1978). One problem related to the study

of carabid diversity is to assess which part of the

species caught at a certain site actually belongs to

the local fauna and has reproducing populations

(Finch, 2005). Related to this problem is the ques-

tion of observed turnover in species richness from

year to year on a given site.

A short review of the literature shows that most

authors either deny the problem (i.e. assume that

all species caught on a site belong to the local

fauna and/or that species caught in low numbers

have a small local population) or use a more or

less arbitrary limit between so-called local species

and accidentally caught species. Surprisingly, there

have been few attempts to discriminate between

the two by means of long term population studies

or by investigating additional aspects of the bio-

logy (dispersal power and reproductive charac-

teristics) and ecology (occurrence in surrounding

or nearby other habitats) (Niemels & Spence,

1994; Konjev & Desender, 1996). Several species

were frequent, thus they can be regarded as regular

inhabitants of steppe areas. It has been hypothes-

ised that heterogeneous landscapes have a higher

regional diversity, because meta-community dy-

namics lead to a faster recolonisation of vacant

niches (Duelli, 1997). Apart from the density of

temporary wetlands, the studied landscape features

did not have an impact on regional diversity,

which contradicts the mosaic concept. However,

communities of wetland are distinct from those of

other habitats, primarily because the sites are

flooded. The diversity of wetland and habitat-

specific species was strongly dependent on the

mean duration of flooding. There might be two

Figure 1. Distribution of the species numbers

with respect to subfamilies.

Figure 2. Percentage of the inviduals for each subfamily.

308

Redouane Matallah et alii

iUUU

onn .

1/1

.£

20 1

H-

io 2

- 5

- 0

7UU

SCIO

« 7nn -

1 600

1 500

° 400

1 300

c onn

■

zuu

100

n .

u t i i r t i

Pt. 1 Pt.2 Ft. 3 Ft. 4 Ft. 5 Ft. 6

■ number of individuals

□ number of species

Figure 3. Number of species and individuals

in each surveyed plot.

34.62 56.42 78.21 100.00

Similarity

Figure 4. Cluster analysis of collected ground

beetles in each surveyed plot.

reasons: (i) a high attractiveness of landscapes

with a high mean duration of flooding for potential

immigrants and (ii) a generally high number of

available niches for hygrophilous species in these

landscapes (Duelli, 1997).

Generally, the high diversity of ground-beetle

community was found in plots 1 and 2, where the

environment was well preserved and never flooded.

These conditions created a great number of micro-

habitats that were exploited by a higher number of

species, in contrast, the plot 6 presented the lowest

values of diversity. In accordance with the evenness

values, Dominance index was lowest at plot 1 and

2, whereas in plot 6, it reached its highest value

(0.74). In the latter, Calomera lunulata was defin-

itively a dominant species and prevailed over the

others.

In this wetland, although small, the ecological

challenge is very important given its international

importance (Ramsar wetland) but also because it

ensures a hydrological function (sponge area ensur-

ing regulation floods) and biological functions (e.g.

high diversity of coleopteran fauna). The high biod-

iversity and remarkable presence of species are ar-

guments in favor of protection of this area, highly

endangered. Therefore, these protected areas are

major sites for the development of the carabid fauna

and deserve protection. The more effort must be

made to get more information about the spatio-tem-

poral distribution of carabid species in similar eco-

systems to help to identify and locate endemic

species, rare or endangered species for conserva-

tion.

Our perspective is to expand the research to an

additional number of similar habitats in northern

Algeria.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 311-318

Global climate change and its effects on biodiversity

Paulami Maiti

Department of Zoology, Lady Braboume College, Kolkata P 1/2 Suhrawardy Avenue, Park Circus, Kolkata 700017 India; e-mail:

paulamim262@gmail.com

ABSTRACT Unprecedented rise in greenhouse gas due to undue anthropogenic activities has induced

global warning. It has been speculated that about 1 .4-5.8 °C temperature is likely to increase

by 2100 for which every species and their habitat are at risk. Some species have already

perished while others are on the face of decline. This review work discusses the threats of

global warming and the response of diverse biota to the global climatic shift.

KEY WORDS Climate change; biodiversity; anthropogenic activities; global climate.

Received 16.07.2016; accepted 21.08.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Summers were never so severe, erratic rains

never disturbed us while cyclones and storms never

frequented so often in this part of the continent. Un-

predictable climatic conditions, unnatural disturb-

ances are rampant throughout the globe. Global

climate has become unpredictable and undergone

drastic change that is inversely affecting every life

form on this earth.

Global warming is the gradual increase in the

average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and

its oceans that have induced a gradual change in

the Earth’s climatic pattern. Global temperature has

already risen by 5 °C since the last ice age whereas

mean temperatures of the earth have risen by about

0.6 °C since the last century. Elowever, more than

half of this increase has happened in the last 25

years. It has been speculated that 1.4-5. 8 °C tem-

perature is likely to increase by 2100 (Millennium

Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).

Although global warming is a natural phe-

nomenon induced by volcanic eruptions, shifts in

the tectonic plates, striking of meteors on the earth’s

surface and altered solar outputs yet it can be

mainly attributed to anthropogenic causes (Lovejoy

& Hannah, 2005).

Urbanization, population growth, economic de-

velopment, change in life style, fossil fuel consum-

ption, depletion of forest and altered land use

pattern have induced unpredictable change in the

climatic pattern round the world.

Global warming and cooling are primarily con-

trolled by cyclical variations in the sun’s energy.

The short wavelength solar radiation is readily

transmitted by the atmosphere to heat the surface of

the earth. However energy absorbed by the earth’s

surface is reflected back in the form of long

wavelength infrared rays that are absorbed by

clouds, aerosols and greenhouse gases which re-

main as a blanket over the earth’s surface. These

gases absorb and emit radiation within the thermal

infrared range and trap heat the way glass does in

a greenhouse , preventing it to radiate back into the

space. As a result the energy that is unable to dis-

perse, builds up in the atmosphere culminating to

temperature rise (Maiti & Maiti, 2011).

312

Paulami Maiti

The potential environmental implications of cli-

mate change are many. Temperature rise not only

alters the climatic conditions but also intensely

affects every single species and their habitat.

Moreover, animal behavior, reproduction, popula-

tion size, species richness and their distributions are

also affected. However different ecosystems are im-

pacted differently. Inhabitants of coastal, montane

regions, high- latitude or polar zones and tropical

belts are maximally at risk. About 43% of the

world’s endemic species, 25% of the biodiversity

hotspots around the world, covering a total area of

1 .4% of the earth’s surface, nursing 44% plants,

35% vertebrates are seriously threatened (IUCN,

2000). It has disrupted ecosystem stability with un-

precedented loss of biodiversity.

GREENHOUSE GASES

These are natural or anthropogenic gases that

absorb or re-emit infra red radiation contributing to

global warming.

Carbon Dioxide (C0 2 ) is a potent, natural green-

house gas. Every year about 6.5 billion tones of car-

bondioxide are released in the atmosphere by

anthropogenic sources such as burning of fossil

fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, wood

products, vehicular emissions and industrial release.

Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbondioxide

is 1 and it has a variable atmospheric lifetime, con-

tributing 9-26% to the global temperature rise.

Human economy is run by carbon so progress in

economic development releases more of carbondi-

oxide and since 1980 carbondioxide in troposphere

has been recorded to have increased to 380 ppm. It

has been speculated that an average rise of 550 ppm

of carbondioxide can increase the global temper-

ature by 4.5 °C in the near future. With the advent

of Industrial Revolution carbondioxide concentra-

tion has risen by 31% and will double within the

next 50 to 100 years (Cunningham & Cunningham,

2007).

Methane (CH 4 ): Marsh gas contributes only 4-

9% to the global temperature rise. It has an atmo-

spheric lifetime of around 12 years with a lower

GWP value. It degrades gradually in nature and is

emitted from decay and bacterial fermentation of

organic and municipal landfills, solid waste, live-

stock manure, paddy stubbles and sewage plants.

Besides cattle belching or transport of coal, natural

gas and oil also release considerable amount of gas.

Bogs, fens of Polar Regions besides gas hydrates

under the sea sediments and polar permafrost trap

million tones of methane inside them (Maiti &

Maiti, 2011).

Nitrous Oxide (N 2 0) and Nitrogen dioxide is

emitted from vehicular emission, agricultural and

industrial activities, as well as during combustion

of fossil fuels and decomposition of solid waste.

The gas has an atmospheric lifetime of 114 years

with a GWP of 289 over 20 years. Nitrogen dioxide

is a common component of smog that induces

respiratory ailment and acid rain. The latter has

devastating effects on vegetations and human

properties.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or Freons are chlor-

ine and bromine containing compounds that have

led to the depletion of stratospheric ozone layer.

These were commercially manufactured during the

1930s for use in refrigerants and other cooling sys-

tems. Depending on the chemical nature, the atmo-

spheric lifetime of the gas is 23 to 270 years. In

1987 , the Montreal Protocol appealed to reduce the

production of CFC gases. In 1990 an amendment

was passed that totally banned the production of

these chemicals.

Stratospheric ozone layer occurs naturally

which blocks the harmful UV radiation from the

sun. Atmospheric pollutants such as CFC gases,

halon and even the activities of the supersonic air

craft induce ozone holes, which is actually thin-

ning of the stratospheric ozone layer. This allows

uninhibited ultraviolet radiations from the sun on

the earth’s surface that induces DNA mutation and

related disease such as skin cancer, burns, melan-

oma, leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer, catar-

acts and photokeratitis. Further, it is injurious to

plants as induce lesion and deplete chlorophyll re-

ducing crop productivity (Cunningham & Cunnin-

gham, 2007).

Ground level ozone or troposheric ozone is

formed through a series of complex reaction in-

volving hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the

presence of sunlight. It is highly reactive and an

active component of photochemical smog that con-

tributes to 3-7% of global warming.

Fluorinated gases like perfluorocarbons, and

sulfur hexafluoride are synthetically formed green-

house gases, emitted mostly as an industrial by-

Global climate change and its effects on biodiversity

313

product. These potent greenhouse gases are recently

used as substitutes for CFCs, HCFCs, and halons

and are often referred as High Global Warming

Potential gases.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are ozone-

destroying chemicals that form smog and are re-

leased when fuel is burned. Moreover, certain

aerosols are also effective pollutants.

Interestingly, water vapour is one of the most

potent greenhouse gas contributing to about 36-

72% of the total global warming. It absorbs and

traps enormous amount of radiant infrared rays re-

flected from earth’s surface. Warm air holds more

water vapor per unit volume so wanning associated

with increased level of the other greenhouse gases

actually increase the concentration of water vapor

that further add to temperature rise. Cirrus or high

thin clouds increase surface temperature by trap-

ping solar infrared rays but low thick clouds reflect

incoming solar ray and reflect a cooling effect

(Asthana & Asthana, 2009).

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

The most drastic effect of global warming are

the receding snowcaps of mountains and melting of

polar ice besides rising of average summer temper-

atures, intense rain, overflooding of coastal zones

and expansion of deserts in the interior of the con-

tinent. The third Assessment Report of the Intergov-

emment Panel on Climate Change on Biodiversity

discussed the impact of climate change on biod-

iversity. This has a profound negative effect on crop

fields, forests, coastal wetlands and various biod-

iversity rich ecosystems.

Effects on the Polar and Montane Environment

Following global warming polar ice caps and

glaciers over mountains have started melting signi-

ficantly. With retreating of Gomukh glacier that

feeds the river Ganges significant drying up of the

latter has been observed with profound change in

the climatic conditions of the Indo Gangetic belt.

Glaciers in Scandinavia, Central Europe, Africa,

and South America have already retreated upwards.

As a result watercourses depending on them are

also in the face of challenge. Moreover, huge

amounts of methane have been released from loss

of Arctic and Antarctic permafrost and also from

bogs and fens of sub arctic Siberia and Alaska that

have further added to the agony of temperature rise

(Sanyal, 2006).

With the disappearance of polar ice, many en-

demic species such as polar bears, arctic fox, seals

and penguins, have lost their habitat and have no

place to live and forage. Melting of sea ice in the

Arctic has led to decline in the abundance of algae

that thrive in nutrient-rich pockets of the ice. These

have temperature optima above the ambient water

temperatures at which they reside, and are there-

fore likely to respond to moderate increase in

temperature. These algae are consumed by zo-

oplanktons, which are in turn eaten by Arctic cod,

an important food source for many marine mam-

mals, including seals. Seals are food for polar

bears. Hence, decline in algal population can con-

tribute to the decline in the apex predators disrupt-

ing the entire food chain.

Increased wanning has changed the composi-

tion of the biotic communities and shifted the ve-

getation zones more towards the poles or higher

latitudes. With only 1°C rise in temperature a shift

in 100-160 km towards the higher latitudes

has been observed by more than 5 km per year.

Alaska’s boreal forests have been shifted north-

wards by 100 kilometers. Plant species native to

the mountain region of Alps, have been also shift-

ing upwards by one to four meters per decade. Bi-

otic communities have also started shifting towards

the higher latitudes or higher altitudes and if this

continues then those in the higher range would fi-

nally disappear. Many species may perish with

rising temperature, as they would retreat from their

historic range, to face new competitors in the new

habitat. Species sensitive to wanner climates such

as butterflies, dragonflies, moths, beetles and other

insects have started shifting to higher latitudes or

altitudes especially in the northern hemisphere.

This has induced increased tenitorial aggression

and fight for natural resources. Thus climate op-

tima will be observed which means that animals

would withdraw from their unsuitable native local-

ities and shift to relatively cooler region while

those adapted to higher altitudes or polar zones

would find nowhere to disperse. Red fox has been

already observed to be heading northwards. Spe-

cies with small population size inhabiting in re-

stricted ranges, with limited ability of dispersal or

314

Paulami Maiti

migration are declining at a steady state (Dobson

& Rubenstein, 1989).

Observations reveal that in the Antartican re-

gion, Emperor penguins, dependent on sea ice, have

declined from 300 breeding pairs to 9 in the West-

ern Antarctic Peninsula. Adelie penguins have de-

clined by 70 percent on Anvers Island along the

Antarctic Peninsula but are thriving at more south-

erly Ross Island. Rock hopper penguins have also

suffered.

In the Himalayas, range adjustment has been ob-

served in the Red Panda and Monal Pheasant. These

have migrated to the higher altitudes within Sing-

halilla National Park, leaving their earlier territory

at the lower reaches of Senchal Sanctuary, (Darjeel-

ing). Similarly the snow leopards of alpine Him-

alayan ranges have migrated to the higher altitudes.

However, amphibians are at greater risk as many

species, including the tiny golden frog living in the

misty Monteverde Cloud forest of Costa Rica and

Emerald frogs, are on the edge of extinction due to

increased dryness. There has been a large shift in

the reproductive seasons of many species especially

the egg laying ones and some are reproducing

earlier. In the mountain forests of Central America,

the Harlequin frogs are falling prey to global wann-

ing. About 67% of 110 endemic species have be-

come extinct in just two decades. Similarly, lizards

inhabiting the higher altitudes especially at the

Western Ghats of India and the Himalayan range

are decreasing in population for which the entire

food chain is being threatened. As reptiles tolerate

only narrow temperature range therefore fall prey

to abrupt climatic fluctuations (Lovejoy & Hannah,

2005).

Besides, the picas of the highland areas of West

USA are already extinct. It has been speculated that

15 to 37% fauna will be wiped out in the next 50

years if global temperature continues to increase.

Global temperature has threatened Beater’s Opos-

sum of Victoria, Hairy-nosed wombat of South Aus-

tralia and Koala of Queensland in Australia and

many others.

Problem of Sea level rise

Melting of polar ice caps and glaciers would

make the sea level rise by 4-35 inches at the end of

this centuiy culminating to extensive floods through-

out the low lying coastal regions of the world.

Hence, people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh,

Southern Asia and Egypt will be highly affected. An

UN Environmental Programme (UNEP, 2002) re-

port suggests that 40% of the world’s total popula-

tions that live in coastal zones are at higher risk.

Besides, melting of ice adds significant amount of

freshwater to the sea reducing its salinity that sub-

sequently slows down the thermohaline circulation

(Wood et al., 1999).

Sea level rise with consequent overflooding of

the coastal zones can cause saline water to seep into

the coastal aquifers, estuaries or freshwater bodies

making freshwater and brackish water system un-

suitable for both animals and human use. As a con-

sequence, loss of plant productivity, depletion of

biodiversity, destruction of wetlands, coral reefs or

mangrove forests is foreseen. Coastal settlements,

low-lying islands and coral islands that rely on un-

derground fresh water have been also affected. In

the estuarine areas, seawater intrusion is largely af-

fecting the stenohaline animals.

In India, sea level rise has pushed the mangroves

of the Sunderbans further north, with considerable

shrinking of the ecosystem. The prevailing salinity

of creek waters has increased, due to transgressions

of sea which have affected population of Water

Buffalo Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Swamp

deer Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii (G. Cuvier,

1823), Great One-Horned Rhino Rhinoceros uni-

cornis (Linnaeus, 1758), Indian muntjak Muntiacus

muntjak Zimmermann, 1780, Gharial Gavialis

gangeticus (Gmelin, 1789), Finless porpoise Neo-

phocaena phocaeniodes (Cuvier, 1829), Small

Clawed Otter Aonyx cinerea Illiger, 1815, and the

Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennet, 1833).

At the Gulf of Mannar, damage of the sea grass,

Halodula or Dugong grass due to sea level rise has

consequently affected the population of dugong

(Sanya, 2006).

Temperature rise of sea water

This has induced negative impact on the migrat-

ory routes of birds and fishes. Species composition

and dominance of a community seems to be chan-

ging while sensitive species are going extinct.

Warmer seas could lead to some turtle species be-

coming entirely female, as water temperature

strongly affects the sex ratio of hatchlings. Fre-

quent floods and marine surges have destroyed the

Global climate change and its effects on biodiversity

315

nesting sites for sea turtles and wading birds. In-

creased storminess has damaged the breeding

colonies of albatross. Hundreds of thousands of

seabirds have already failed to breed. The breeding

grounds of Flamingo and Lesser Florican at the

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat have been already des-

troyed. Decrease in precipitation has led to the ex-

tinction of Aldabra banded snails and rockfish crus-

taceans.

Corals reefs are showing signs of stress with

water temperature rise. A rise of 2° to 3°C expels

most of the symbiotic algae zooxanthelae leading

to coral bleaching. Major bleaching event was ob-

served between 1998 and 2002 at the Great Barrier

Marine Parks, Australia. However, reef ecosystem

is resilient to severe stress and can recover after

major setback. Recently Fungia and Brain corals are

observed to have been affected mostly in the Anda-

man and Nicobar islands. In the region of the Ber-

ing Sea disrupting climate change has reduced

productivity and phytoplankton productions nega-

tively affecting the survival of large mammals.

Change in water temperature induces migration of

lobsters to colder climates (Venkataraman et al.,

2003).

Changes in the Terrestrial system

Temperature change is felt greater over land

than over sea. With El Nino conditions devel-

oping, there have been large changes in the redi-

stribution of heat and moisture that caused

droughts and floods in the various parts of the

world. Intense summer, low precipitation in the

tropical regions and semi-arid low-latitude coun-

tries have increased the risk of forest fires and de-

pletion of soil moisture. This is inducing crops and

livestock to perish. With progressive clearance of

evergreen forest, increased summer temperature

and water stress have brought to periods of

drought. There has been a trend towards desertifi-

cation. Arid lands have started losing their fringe

region resulting in expansion of deserts. The Sa-

hara desert in Africa has also shifted northwards.

Some parts of Europe, Central Asia, Africa, Aus-

tralia New Zealand and Mediterranean regions, are

receiving less rainfall. This has culminated into the

crisis of safe drinking water besides loss of food

crop production. Heat waves and drought inter-

fering with plant growth have further reduced car-

bondioxide uptake. With intense summer heat,

thousands of temperature sensitive fruit bats have

also perished in 1998. Unpredictable droughts and

floods, food crisis and heat stress have maximally

affected the third world countries. Besides, the

biota in this region is slowly moving towards a

threshold limit of tolerance to this increased tem-

perature (Maiti & Maiti, 2011).

According to climate models, some regions of

high temperature range would experience pro-

longed heat waves, higher precipitation and conse-

quently increased incidence of floods that will in-

flict greater damage to crops. Plants will suffer due

to water logging and other heat related stress. More-

over, increased outbreaks of pests and pathogens

will be observed as warm climate and wet soil

would allow microbes to grow. Enhanced soil ero-

sion, and contamination of groundwater from seep-

age of pollutants are among the other problems that

would linger. Higher precipitation is also predicted

for polar and sub polar region (Lovejoy & Hannah,

2005).

In places of higher precipitation associated with

warm climatic conditions algae and weeds will dom-

inate the water bodies leading to eutropication. In-

tense precipitation will increase flood, erosion and

increased flow of surface water runoff dumping

more pollutants and sediments in the water bodies.

Isolated freshwater ecosystem supporting rare and

endemic population will be also highly stressed

due to ecosystem alteration, unexpected rise in

temperature and change in precipitation pattern.

Wetland inhabitants such as shorebirds, wading

birds and waterfowls will be highly impacted for

changes in hydrological cycles. Many species of

plant and animals, highly vulnerable to climate

change, will fail to adapt falling prey to the global

warming. With loss of suitable habitat, cold water

fish are also at risk while warm-water fish have

been observed to expand their ranges (Lovejoy &

Hannah, 2005).

There has been marked change in the breeding

season of birds especially in the colder parts of the

world, such as Europe, North America, Latin A-

merica and United Kingdom following shift in sea-

sonal patterns. Shifts in migratory patterns of sev-

eral species of birds have been observed and long

distant migratory birds are at greater risk due to

habitat alteration of their wintering grounds. Grow-

ing water scarcity in many regions has further

316

Paulami Maiti

destroyed the wetlands on which migrating water-

fowls depend.

Observations reveal that bird’s migratory route

and timings have drastically changed. There has

been an advanced spring time arrivals and birds are

departing later in the autumn with subsequent

change in the breeding activities by an average of

1 .9 to 4.8 days per decade over a time frame of 30-

60 years. This has resulted in increased territorial

aggression. European and the western Palearctic

birds have been shown to lay eggs earlier. Migration

have also failed due to unforeseen weather conse-

quences while some birds may have even starved

to death.

Effects on Ocean diversity

Oceans are important carbon sink. The amount

of carbon absorbed in ocean is determined by the

solubility pump and the biological pump. The for-

mer is primarily a function of differential atmos-

pheric C0 2 dissolving in sea water that induces

thermohaline circulation. The biological pump on

the hand consists of the phytoplanktons, shelled ani-

mals (mollusca, protozoas), calcifying organisms

(coccolithophores, foraminiferans) and pteropods

that absorb atmospheric carbondioxide to form car-

bonate shells. The biological pump thus transports

organic and inorganic carbon from the euphotic

zone to other parts of the ocean. With the death of

these animals a part of this assimilated organic car-

bon remains buried in the seabed, that contribute to

the forming of fossil fuels.

In the past two hundred years, acidity of sea

water has increased by 1 unit and likely to rise fur-

ther by 0.5 units in the future. Increased ocean a-

cidification due to rise in atmospheric C0 2 would

affect the biological pump negatively that would en-

danger corals, molluscs and others organisms. As

these form calcium carbonate shells they would

have difficulty in growing their exoskeleton. With

decrease in their population the ability of the ocean

water to absorb more carbondioxide will also de-

crease. The concerted effects of these factors will

actually increase the global build up of this green-

house gas (Jeffries, 1997).

Rise in ocean temperature and alteration of pat-

terns in circulation of currents have also affected

the nutrient delivery system. As cold waters are

more productive than warm waters, warming of the

oceans may disrupt marine food chain threatening

the heat sensitive under water species.

The system of currents supplies the deeper parts

of the water with oxygen and nutrients from the

deep are transported to the surface that helps the

phytoplankton to flourish. Rise in temperature of

water disrupts the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich

waters leading to loss of planktonic populations.

This in turn affects the population of krill which

feeds on these planktons. Reducing the population

of krills has largely threatened whales, larger fish

and seabirds which feed on these creatures. Several

species of whales such as beluga, narwhal, bow-

head, right whales are threatened with changes in

ocean currents and food shortage.

Consequently, decrease in phytoplanktons

would reduce the uptake of carbon dioxide from the

oceans. All these factors have affected the rich food

web in the continental shelf areas on which global

marine biodiversity thrives.

The ‘2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’

estimated that by the end of 2 1 st century, climate

change will be instrumental for most of the global

biodiversity loss. Worldwide, 25% of all mammals

and 12% of birds are already at significant risk.

With prolonged summers in warmer parts of the

world and the shortened winters in the colder re-

gions, the overall shift in the global climate has pro-

found effect on the world’s biotic communities

(Sanyal, 2006).

When temperature rises, it may drive some

plants and animal species to go extinct as their

range shrinks or are forced to compete with inva-

sive species and pathogens moving into their terri-

tory. About 1250 Indian plant species are already

extinct from the wild.

Effects on Human Health

Since there is an optimal temperature specified

for each organism, climate shift has already led to

low crop, dairy and meat production.

Small shifts in temperature can extend the range

of mosquitos increasing the occurrence of malaria,

yellow fever and other vector borne diseases. Ac-

cording to a study by WHO (2002), almost 150,000

people die every year from the ill effects of heat

stress, malaria and malnutrition. The number could

almost become double by 2020. Risk of damage to

people and properties, decrease in food production,

Global climate change and its effects on biodiversity

317

respiratory troubles, skin problems and spread of

infectious tropical diseases and metabolic disorders

are the other problems on the card. Moreover, de-

crease in agriculture, crisis of food and potable

water would challenge the poorer sectors of the

third world countries. This has resulted in increased

cases of environmental refugees.

Reducing Global Warming

Global warming can be reduced either by lower-

ing the release of greenhouse gases or by removal

of greenhouse gas from the environment. This can

be done by adoption of afforestation programs in-

cluding social forestry and plantation outside the

range of forested areas. Automobile or factory emis-

sions, tilling soil, addition of fertilizers and con-

struction of cemented structures release huge

amount of carbondioxide. So minimizing soil dis-

turbance, recovering degraded soil, besides re-

storing grasslands, water bodies and other natural

habitats would help in the process of carbon seques-

tration. Reduction in the use of fossil fuels, burning

of plant materials and adoption of energy efficient

biofuels can effectively mitigate global wanning.

Greenhouse gases can be effectively removed

from the atmosphere by various physical and chem-

ical processes. Moreover, solar energy, biomass

energy, wind, wave or tidal power and other renew-

able energy has to be harnessed as an alternative

to fossil fuels. Reduction of power generation in

the urban sectors, use of energy saving bulbs,

change in lifestyle, alteration in the pattern of

trade or communication, adoption of modern sail

design in shipping and aviation can also brings pos-

itive results.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change “a sustainable forest management

strategy aims at maintaining or increasing forest

carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained

yield of timber, fiber or energy from the forest, and

this will generate the largest sustained mitigation

benefit'. Carbon offset programs have been imple-

mented for planting millions of fast-growing trees

per year to reforest tropical lands.

The blame of global warming goes on man’s

misdeed that limits the survival of other species. For

his endeavor to conquer nature the air is over bur-

dened with pollutants, natural system has been re-

placed by manmade structures with thousands of

species losing their life and habitat. There has been

a pervasive change in the global landscapes that

have modified the ecological background on which

species evolve. Most species are now suffering

from the indirect and subtle changes of global cli-

matic shift. Exploding rise in human populations

along with the need and greed of man has impov-

erished the rich biodiversity on which his own ex-

istence is depended. So, global climatic shift might

be a revenge on nature’s part. If this is allowed to

continue it is certain that man’s existence will be at

stake in the very near future.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are due to Principal, Lady Brabourne

College, Kolkata (India).

REFERENCES

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lems and Solution. S. Chand and Company. New

Delhi, 309 pp.

Cunningham W.P. & Cunningham M.A., 2007. Principles

of Environmental science. Enquiry and applications.

Tata McGraw-Hill Companies. 4th ed., 382 pp.

Dobson A. & Rubenstein D., 1989. The Green House ef-

fect and Biological Diversity. Trends in ecology and

Evolution, 4: 64-68.

Lovejoy T.E.A. & Hannah L., 2005. Climate change and

Biodiversity, Teri Press. New Delhi, 418 pp.

IUCN, 2000. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species;

www.iucnredlist.org

Jeffries M.J., 1997. Biodiversity and Conservation.

Routledge, London, 233 pp.

Maiti P.K. & Maiti P., 2011. Biodiversity its Perception,

Peril and Preservation in the Indian Perspective, PHI.

Leaning Pvt Ltd. New Delhi, 542 pp.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems

and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis.

World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.

Sanyal P, 2006. Forest Conservation, Climate change,

Threat to wildlife. In: Basu R.C., Khan R.A. & Alfred

J.R.B. (Eds.) Environmental Awareness and Wildlife

Conservation; Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata;

pp. 191-195.

Venkataraman K., Satyanarayan Ch., Alfred J.R.B. &

Wolstenholme J., 2003. Handbook on Hard Corals of

India, 1-266.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2002.

Annual Report; www.unep.org

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World Health Report (WHO), 2002. Reducing Risks,

Promoting Healty Life; www.who.int/whr/2002/en/

Wood R.A., Keen A. B., Mitchell J.F.B. & Gregory J.M.,

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in a climate model. Nature, 399: 572-575.

Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 319-324

On some Pliocene Cancellaridae (Mollusca Gastropoda) from

the Mediterranean Basin with description of a new species

M. Mauro Brunetti

Via 28 Settembre 1944 n. 2, 40036 Rioveggio, Bologna, Italy; e-mail: mbmnetti45@gmail.com

ABSTRACT During the study on Pliocene Mediterranean malacofauna the author found the presence of a

new species of the genus Sveltia Jousseaume, 1887 called S. confusa n. sp. The new species

is present both in Zanclean sediments of Southern Spain (Guadalquivir basin and Estepona),

and in Pliocenic sediments of Southern Tuscany. This species had been previously discussed

and figured by various authors as Sveltia varicosa (Brocchi, 1814). During the research were

also found some specimens similar to Ventrilia imbricata (Homes, 1856), a taxon which was

already described for the Austrian Miocene. In this study the taxonomic position of V im-

bricata, along with its presence in Pliocenic sediments and its relashionships with Scalptia

etrusca Brunetti, Della Bella, Forli et Vecchi, 2008, are clarified.

KEY WORDS Pliocene; Cancellariidae; new species.

Received 19.07.2016; accepted 31.08.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

During some research on Pliocene Mediter-

ranean malacofauna it was found the presence of

a new species of the genus Sveltia Jousseaume,

1887 type species Voluta varicosa Brocchi, 1814.

This species was cited by various authors as Sveltia

varicosa (Brocchi, 1814 ), a taxon frequently found

in Italian Pliocene sediments. During the same

research, were also found some specimens similar

to Ventrilia imbricata (Homes, 1856) a species

already described for the Austrian Miocene and, as

confirmed in the present study, also present in the

Iberian Zanclean.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The examined material, collected during surface

investigations, comes from various Pliocene depos-

its from Guadalquivir basin (see Gonzales Delgado,

1985, 1988, 1989, 1993; Landau et al., 2011), and

Zanclean of Southern Tuscany (Bmnetti, 2014). For

the generic attributions used see Brunetti et al.

(2008, 2011).

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS: H =

maximum height of the shell, as measured from the

apex to the ends of the siphonal channel; coll. = col-

lection; exx. = specimens; MGGC = Della Bella

collection, Geological Museum "G. Capellini " in

Bologna; NHMW = Naturhistorischen Museum

Geologisch Palaontologische-Abteilung, Wien;

CDB = Della Bella private collection; CMB =

Mauro Bmnetti collection.

SYSTEMATICS

Classis GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1797

Subclassis PROSOBRANCHIA Milne Edwards, 1 848

320

M. Mauro Brunetti

Ordo STENOGLOSSA Bouvier, 1887

Superfamilia CANCELLARIOIDEA Forbes et

Hanley, 1851

Familia CANCELLARIIDAE Forbes et Hanley, 1851

SubfamiliaCANCELLARIINAE Forbes et Hanley, 1851

Genus Sveltia Jousseaume, 1887

Type species: Voluta varicosa Brocchi, 1814

Sveltia confusa n. sp. (Figs. 1-4, 7, 9)

Narona ( Sveltia ) varicosa (Brocchi, 1814) - Gonzales

Delgado, 1993, tav. 1, figs. 13-14

Narona {Sveltia) varicosa (Brocchi, 1814) - Vera-

Pelaez et al., 1995, p. 148, fig. 3: A-B; fig. 5 C-

Sveltia varicosa (Brocchi, 1814) - Fandau et al.,

2011, p. 32, tav. 16, fig. 6

Sveltia varicosa (Brocchi, 1814) - Brunetti, 2014,

p. 62

Examined material. Holotype MGCC 24539,

Fucena del Puerto (Huelva, Spagna), Fower Plio-

cene 37° 17’54.0”N, 6°43’49.7”W (see also

Fandau et al., 2011). Paratypes (MGGC 24540

and MGGC 24541): same data of holotype.

Other Examined material. Sveltia confusa n.

sp.: Fucena del Puerto (Huelva, Spagna), Fower

Pliocene , 22 exx. (CMB); Santa Catalina (Huelva,

Spagna), Fower Pliocene, 20 exx. (CMB); Vil-

larasa (Huelva, Spagna), Fower Pliocene, 2 exx.

(CMB); Monte Antico (Grosseto, Italia), Fower

Pliocene, 14 exx. (MGGC); Monte Antico (Gros-

seto, Italia), Fower Pliocene, 8 exx. (CMB).

Sveltia varicosa : Cedda (Siena), Zanclean-Pi-

acenzian, 78 exx. (CMB-MGGC); Rio Carbonaro

(Piacenza), Piacenzian, 53 exx. (CMB); Poggio alia

Staffa (Siena), Zanclean, 34 exx. (CMB-MGGC);

Spicchio (Firenze), Zanclean-Piacenzian, 12 exx.

MGGC. Finari (Siena), Piacenzian, 12 exx. (CMB-

MGGC); Monte Padova (Piacenza), Piacenzian,

10 exx. (CMB-MGGC); Ponte a Elsa (Pisa), Pi-

acenzian, 14 exx. (CMB-MGGC); Fagune (Bo-

logna), Zanclean, 13 exx. (MGGC); Torrente

Stirone (Parma), Gelasian, 5 exx. (MGGC).

Description of Holotype. Shell elongated,

robust, medium sized (H = 30.1 mm). Protoconch

multispiral, composed of three straight rounds,

globular with shallow sutures. The transition to

teleoconch is little evident and it is marked by the

presence of three well-spaced ribs. Teleoconch of 6

laps scale-like with slightly convex profile. The

sculpture consists of numerous spiral cords, the

same thickness, ribbon-like; fifteen of them are on

the penultimate whorl, forming small knots on

1 1 axial ribs which are slightly opistocline, angu-

lar, and forming, apically, several spines. The

first whorl has 4 spirals cords, ribbon-like and

equidistant, and ten slightly varicose coasts, apic-

ally angular. Subsequent whorls have similar orna-

mentation, with increasing number of spiral cords

and axial coasts, more and more varicose and scale-

like, giving rise to a very sutural ramp inclined and

flat, apically. The last whorl is 2/3 of the total

height, slightly convex, with spiral sculpture com-

posed of fifty spirals cords of identical size; the

tenth of which forms, intersecting with the axial

ribs, small spines, delimiting the sutural ramp.

Aperture oval, elongated; outer lip internally

provided with very thin lirature. Columellar board

with little evident callus and two folds subparallel,

almost equal in size; navel absent.

Variability. The paratypes do not show sub-

stantial morphological differences from the de-

scribed holotype. Paratype MGCC 24540 with H =

21 mm; paratype MGGC 24541 with H = 25.2 mm.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from

the Fatin confusus -a -um since the new species was

confused with the similar Sveltia varicosa.

Distribution. The new species at present is

known from both Zanclean sediments of Southern

Spain (Guadalquivir basin and Estepona), and from

those related to the Pliocene of Southern Tuscany.

Remarks. Compared to the very similar taxon,

S. varicosa , the new species has spiral sculpture

composed of ribbon-like strings of identical thick-

ness (Fig. 4) while S. varicosa shows larger cords

alternating with several others much thinner (Fig.

6), moreover, in S. confusa n. sp. the axial ribs are

narrower and acute. Even the appearance of the

loop is different: regularly convex in S. varicosa,

with sutural ramp little evident, definitely ramp-like

in S. confusa n. sp. with a suture ramp always in-

clined, well evident and spiny.

On some pliocenic Cancellaridae from the Mediterranean Basin with description of a new species

321

Figures 1-4. Sveltia confusa n. sp. Fig. 1: holotype, Lucena del Puerto (Huelva, Spagna), Zanclean, H = 30.1 mm MGGC

24539. Fig. 2: paratype 1, Lucena del Puerto (Huelva, Spagna), Zanclean, H = 21 mm MGGC 24540. Fig. 3: paratype 2,

Lucena del Puerto, (Huelva, Spagna), Zanclean, H = 25.2 mm MGGC 24541. Fig. 4: Santa Catalina, (Huelva, Spagna),

Zanclean, penultimate whorl sculpture, CMB (scale bar = 5 mm). Figures 5, 6. Sveltia varicosa. Fig. 4: Lagune (Bologna),

Zanclean H = 23.2 mm CDB. Fig. 6: Rio Carbonari (Piacenza), Piacenzian, penultimate whorl sculpture, CMB (scale

bar = 5 mm).

322

M. Mauro Brunetti

Figures 7, 8. Sveltia confusa n. sp. Fig. 7: Monte Antico (Grosseto), Zanclean, H = 16.5 mm CMB. Fig. 8: Santa Catalina,

(Huelva, Spagna), Zanclean, apical whorls, CMB (scale bar = 1 mm). Figure 9. Sveltia varicosa, Poggio alia Staffa (Siena),

Zanclean, apical whorls, CMB (scale bar = 1 mm). Figure 10. Ventrilia cf. imbricata, Santa Catalina, (Huelva, Spagna),

Zanclean, H = 24.2 mm CMB. Figure 11. Ventrilia imbricata , syntype, Enzesfeld (Austria), Miocene, NHMW 1846/0037/

0287, H = 44.5 (from Harzhauser & Landau, 2012, p. 53, modified). Figure 12. Ventrilia cf. imbricata, Santa Catalina, (Huelva,

Spagna), Zanclean, columellar plicae, CMB (scale bar = 5 mm). Figures 13, 14. Scalptia etrusca. G. Poggio alia Staffa

(Siena), Zanclean, columellar plicae, CDB (scale bar = 5 mm). H. Poggio alia Staffa (Siena), Zanclean, H = 30.5 mm CDB.

On some pliocenic Cancellaridae from the Mediterranean Basin with description of a new species

323

Diagnostic character is certainly the peculiar

spiral sculpture. S. confusa n. sp. was figurated as

S. varicosa by various authors (Delgado Gonzales,

1993; Vera-Pelaez et al., 1995; Landau et al., 2011;

Brunetti, 2014). It was examined a great amout of

pliocenic material attributable to S. varicosa , and

among these specimens no transition forms have

been observed. Based on the locations, S. confusa

n. sp. would seem to have a chrono stratigraphic

distribution exclusive to the basal Zanclean and a

wide dissemination both in the Mediterranean

(Estepona, Monte Antico) and Guadalquivir

(Lucena del Puerto, Santa Catalina, Villarasa)

Basins, while S. varicosa would be particularly

abundant in the Piacenziano turning out to be

present up to the Gelasian (Brunetti et al., 2011).

Along with the discoveiy of S. confusa n. sp. it

is reported the discovery of some specimens related

to Ventrilia imbricata (Hornes, 1856) (Figs. 10, 12).

This species was described for the Austrian Mio-

cene, noteworthy, few specimens found in the Plio-

cene of the Guadalquivir Basin deviate from the

Austrian specimens illustrated by Harzhauser &

Landau (2012) (Fig. 11). Herein are reported

(agreed by the Author) the observations on these

populations by Gonzales Delgado (1993): "Las

citas anteriores revisadas de esta especie (ver Da-

voli, 1982) la consideran miocenica, y presenta

ademas un tamano algo menor (en relacion al nu-

mero de vueltas), la ornamentacion axial cercana

al labro mas obsoleta, y pliegues labrale internos.

Probablemente, el ejemplar onubense constituirla

la variedad pliocenica de la especie hornesiana" .

Ventrilia cf. imbricata was found in the gray

sands of Santa Catalina (Huelva, Spain). The report

of V. imbricata from the Pliocene of Estepona

(Landau et al., 2006) consists of an incomplete

specimen, but recognizable, by the loop shape,

corresponding, beyond any doubt, to Scalptia

etrusca Brunetti, Della Bella, Forli et Vecchi, 2008

(Brunetti et al., 2008) (Figs. 13, 14) as later con-

firmed by Landau et al. (2011) and Harzhauser &

Landau (2012). In conclusion, not only S. etrusca

is very different from V imbricata by shell sculpture

and the shape of the loop, but also it is rather a dif-

ferent Genus. In fact, V imbricata shows only two

columellar folds (Fig. 12), typical of the genus Vent-

rilia Jousseaume 1887, whereas S. etrusca has

three folds, which is a diagnostic character of the

genus Scalptia Jousseaume, 1887 (Fig. 13).

It is thus confirmed the presence of specimens

similar to V imbricata in the Spanish Pliocene as

also figured in Landau et al. (2011, p. 30, pi. 15, fig.

13) that could perhaps belong to a different taxon

but, because of the small number of specimens ex-

amined, are, at present (at least), considered as re-

lated to the populations observed in the Austrian

Miocene.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Author is thankful to his friend G. Della

Bella (Monterenzio, Bologna, Italy) for the numer-

ous materials made available and the valuable ad-

vice, and to M. Forli (Prato, Italy) for bibliographic

help.

REFERENCES

Brunetti M.M., Della Bella G., Forli M. & Vecchi G.,

2008. La famiglia Cancellariidae Gray J.E., 1853

nel Pliocene italiano: note sui generi Scalptia

Jousseaume, 1887, Tribia Jousseaume, 1887, Contor-

tia Sacco, 1894, Trigonostoma Blainville, 1827 e

Aneurystoma Cossmann, 1899 (Gastropoda), con

descrizione di una nuova specie. Bollettino Malaco-

logico, 44: 51-70.

Brunetti M.M. , Della Bella G., Forli M. & Vecchi G.,

2011. La famiglia Cancellariidae Forbes & Hanley,

1851 (Gastropoda) nel Plio-Pleistocene italiano: note

sui generi Bivitiella, Sveltia, Calcarata, Solatia ,

Trigonostoma e Brocchinia (Gastropoda). Bollettino

Malacologico, 48: 85-130.

Brunetti M.M., 2014. Conchiglie fossili di Monte Antico.

Tipolito Duemila Group, Campi Bisenzio (FI), 1 18 pp.

Gonzales Delgado J.A., 1985. Estudio sistematico de

los Gasteropodos del Plioceno de Huelva (SW

de Espana). 1. Archeogastropoda. Studia Geologica

Salmanticensia, 20: 45-77.

Gonzales Delgado J.A., 1988. Estudio sistematico de los

Gasteropodos del Plioceno de Huelva (SW de

Espana). 3. Mesogastropoda (Scalacea-Tonnacea).

Studia Geologica Salmanticensia, 25: 109-160.

Gonzales Delgado J.A., 1989. Estudio sistematico de los

Gasteropodos del Plioceno de Huelva (SW de

Espana). 3. Neogastropoda (Muricacea-Buccinacea).

Studia Geologica Salmanticensia, 26: 269-315.

Gonzales Delgado J.A., 1993. Estudio sistematico de los

Gasteropodos del Plioceno de Huelva (SW Espana).

5. Neogastropoda (Volutacea-Conacea). Studia Geo-

logica Salmanticensia, 28: 7-69.

324

M. Mauro Brunetti

Harzhauser M. & Landau B., 2012. A revision of the

Neogene Cancellariid Gastropods of the Paratethys

Sea. Zootaxa 3472: 1-71.

Landau B., Petit R. & Marquet R., 2006. The early Plio-

cene Gastropoda (Mollusca) of Estepona southern

Spain, part 12: Cancellarioidea. Paleobentos, 9: 61-

101 .

Landau B., Da Silva C.M. & Mayoral E., 2011. The

Lower Pliocene gastropods of the Huelva Sands

Formation, Guadalquivir Basin, Southwestern Spain.

Palaeofocus, 4: 1-90.

Vera-Pelaez J.L., Muniz-Solis R., Lozano Francisco

M.C., Martinell J., Domenech R. & Guerra-Merchan

A., 1995. Cancellariidae Gray, 1853 del Plioceno de

la provincia de Malaga, Espana. Treballas de Museu

Geologico de Barcelona, 4: 133-179.

Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 325-330

An updated herpetofaunal inventory for some islets of South-

Eastern Tunisia

Pietro Lo Cascio 1 &Vincent Riviere 2

'Associazione Nesos, via Vittorio Emanuele 24, 98055 Lipari, Italy; e-mail: plocascio@nesos.org

2 AGIR ecologique SARL 147, anc. route d’Esparron, 83470 Saint Maximim-La-Baume, France; e-mail: vincent.riviere@agirecologique.fr

ABSTRACT The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on the

satellite islets of Djerba and the Kneiss Archipelago, and an updated list of their herpeto fauna.

On the whole, the faunal assemblage of the eleven visited islets includes seven species of

reptiles, whose richness seems to be related to the islet size. Stenodactylus sthenodactylus

(Lichtenstein, 1823) and Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) are new records,

respectively, for the Djerba satellites and the Kneiss Archipelago, while new localities were

recorded for the previously known species.

KEY WORDS Reptiles; faunal list; new records; Kneiss Archipelago; Djerba satellites; Tunisia.

Received 22.07.2016; accepted 29.08.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

The small coastal islands of Tunisia are largely

uninhabited and have not undergone to a strong

anthropization, therefore are generally character-

ized by a good level of preservation of their envir-

onmental characteristics and their biodiversity.

However, their biological knowledge is often

lacking (see Lo Cascio & Riviere, 2014).

During a scientific mission organized in 2015

April in the framework of the Mediterranean Small

Islands Initiative PIM, an international program

supported by the French Conservatoire du Littoral,

dedicated to island conservation, we had the oppor-

tunity to carried out herpetological surveys on El

Bessila, El Hajar, El Laboua, Gharbia North

and Gharbia South, belonging to the Kneiss Ar-

chipelago, as well as on some satellites of Djerba,

namely Dzira, El Gata'fa el Bahria, El Gatai'a el

Gueblia, Jlij and two unnamed islets nearby to this

latter that are hereafter indicated as Jlij 2 and Jlij 3.

Some of them have been previously investig-

ated by Tlili (2003), Nouira (2004), and Gobbaa

(2012). The aim of the present paper is to update

the faunal knowledge on both islets’ groups, provid-

ing further records that also concern some islets so

far unexplored.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

Localization of the study area is shown in figure

1 , while the main geographical data of the islets are

given in Table 1 . All these islets have continental

origin, are characterized by a flat morphology, with

an altitude ranging from 1 to a maximum of < 1 0 m

a.s.l., and lie into the isopleth of -10 m, hence their

definitive isolation is dated back to historical times

(see Oueslati, 1995). Both Kneiss and Djerba’s

islets fall within the arid bioclimatic belt, with an

annual precipitation of about 200 mm.

326

Pietro Lo Cascio& Vincent Riviere

•alerme

Houmt Souk

Medinine

Cagliari

El Hajar

El Laboua

El Garbia Nord

El Garbia Sud

Houmt Souk

El Gataia el Bahria

El Gata'ia el Gueblia

10 km

Figure 1. Geographical setting of the study area, South-Eastern Tunisia.

ISLAND

El Bessila

N 34.36639°

E 10.31444°

436.24

3090

El Gharbia-

North

N 34.32128°

E 10.27646°

0.19

6480

El Gharbia-

South

N 34.31999°

E 10.27499°

0.53

6665

El Hajar

N 34.34277°

E 10.29083°

0.01

4405

El Laboua

N 34.32749°

E 10.28194°

0.22

5855

Dzira

N 33.87497°

E 10.73973°

2.44

315

El Gatai'a el

Bahria

N 33.73222°

E 10.71527°

153.21

1500

El Gatai'a el

Gueblia

N 33.69138°

E 10.77388°

72.81

575

Jlij

N 33.59638°

E 10.86722°

149.29

3090

Jlij 2

N 33.57909°

E 10.86893°

1.43

5815

Jlij 3

N 33.57732°

E 10.86966°

0.28

6055

Table 1. Geographical data of the study islands: A) geo-

graphical coordinates; B) surface (ha) (from initiative PIM

Database); C) distance from main island/mainland (m); D)

number of species.

The Kneiss Archipelago includes the tiny islets

of El Hajar, El Laboua, Gharbia North and Gharbia

South, and El Bessila which is the largest of the

group. This latter is formed by sandy plains and

dunes covered by sparse xeric grasslands of the

Lygeo-Stipetea, and by a mosaic of sebkhas and

chotts dominated by salt-marsh plant assemblages

and intersected by tidal channel networks. The islet

is still used for grazing and frequented by fishermen

but without a permanent settlement. The other islets

are mainly composed by sandstone and densely

covered by halophile vegetation. Until recent times,

El Laboua, Gharbia North and Gharbia South were

forming a single island, where in 6th century A.D.

was active a monastery (Trousset et al., 1992).

The satellites of Djerba, in alphabetical order,

are Dzira, El Gatai'a el Bahria, El Gatai'a el Gueblia,

Jlij, Jlij 2 and Jlij 3. All have a flat morphology and

are formed by sandy and limestone outcrops, ex-

cept for Jlij and the nearby islets which are exclus-

ively sandy. The vegetation consists mostly in

xero-thermophile and halophile steppe. The larger

of the group, El Gatai'a El Bahria, hosts an archae-

ological site with remains of tombs, while on El

An updated herpetofaunal inventory for some islets of South-Eastern Tunisia

327

Gatai'a El Gueblia there are ruins of small fishing

settlements and traces of a past agricultural exploit-

ation.

Field work

Field work was done from 7 to 13 April 2015,

spending from some hours to one day on each islet;

El Bessila was also visited noctumally. Visual

encounter surveys have been carried out along lin-

ear transects or on the whole accessible surface of

the smallest islets. Animals have also been actively

searched by lifting stones and by checking their po-

tential shelters. All the found specimens have

been identified, photographed and successively re-

leased at the place of capture. Their identification

was done using the keys given by Joger (1984),

Szczerbak (1989), and Schleich et al. (1996).

Nomenclature and data analysis

The nomenclature follows Sindaco &

Jeremcenko (2008) and Sindaco et al. (2013), ex-

cept for the species formerly included in the genus

Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826, that according to Bauer

(2003) is here referred to Trachylepis Fitzinger,

1843. Faunal data analysis was assessed by using

simple linear regression with 95% confidence limits

and perfomied with the open source software PAST

version 3.04.

RESULTS

Species list

PHYLLODACTYFIDAE

Tarentola cf. mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Previously recorded for El Gataia El Bahria by

Tlili (2003), although this locality has not been

mentioned in the recent review of the Tunisian dis-

tribution of the genus Tarentola Gray, 1 825 (Tlili et

al., 2012a). The record for this islet was however

confirmed by our observations, and the species was

also found on El Gataia El Gueblia and Dzira,

where small populations occur usually in corres-

pondence of vestiges, ruins and/or rocky outcrops.

The lack of these microhabitats on Jlij, Jlii 2 and

Jlii 3 could explain its apparent absence on these

islets.

Remarks. The taxonomy of the Tarentola speci-

mens from Djerba (and virtually from its satellites)

is uncertain, and molecular investigations are still

in progress (W. Tlili, pers. comun.), Joger (2003)

found that they are morphologically very close to

T. mauritanica , but affine to T. deserti Boulenger,

1891 from the results of electrophoretic analysis.

Tlili (pers. comun. in Lo Cascio & Riviere, 2014)

has supposed also their belonging to T. fascicularis

(Daudin, 1802), while no data were given in the

further papers by Joger & Bshaenia (2010), Tlili et

al. (2012a) and Farjallah et al. (2013). Waiting for

a definitive clarification of its status, the popula-

tions of the islets of Djerba are here referred to Tar-

entola cf. mauritanica.

GEKKONIDAE

Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823)

Previously recorded for El Gataia El Bahria by

Tlili (2003), although this locality has not been suc-

cessively mentioned by Tlili et al. (2012b). The

species (Fig. 2) has not been detected on the islet

during our survey, but several habitats seem to

be potentially suitable for this gecko, which is

characterized by nocturnal activity and elusive be-

havior. One specimen was instead found in a diurnal

shelter at El Bessila, despite the nocturnal survey

we performed. This observation represents the first

record of the species for the Kneiss Archipelago.

On this islet S. sthenodactylus seems however rare

Figure 2. A specimen of Stenodactylus sthenodactylus

from El Bessila (Kneiss Archipelago).

328

Pietro Lo Cascio& Vincent Riviere

and localized, as suggested by the lacking of further

observations during a nocturnal prospection.

SCINCIDAE

Chalcides ocellatus (Forsskal, 1775)

Previously recorded for El Gataia El Bahria by

Gobbaa (2012), it has been found also on El Gataia

El Gueblia, Dzira and Jlij, as well as for El Laboua,

El Gharbia North and El Gharbia South. It was

known for Djerba (Escherich, 1896; Mertens, 1946;

Parent, 1981; Tlili, 2003), while it is a new record

for the Kneiss Archipelago.

Trachylepis vittata (Olivier, 1804)

Nouira (2004) has recorded this species (sub

Mabuya vittata) for El Bessila and emphasized that

it was also the first finding for the Tunisian islands,

but the descriptive sheet given in this paper

shows a photo of a specimen belonging to Mesalina

olivieri (Audouin, 1829) (see Nouira, 2004: 4). Its

occurrence on El Bessila is however confirmed

from our observations.

LACERTIDAE

Acanthodactylus boskianus (Daudin, 1802)

Previously recorded for El Gataia El Bahria and

El Gataia El Gueblia by Tlili (2003) and for Jlij by

Gobbaa (2012), it has been found also on Dzira. We

can also confirm the record for El Bessila given by

Nouira (2004).

Mesalina olivieri (Audouin, 1829)

Previously recorded for El Gataia El Bahria by

Tlili (2003), it has been found also on El Gataia El

Gueblia, Dzira and Jlij.

LAMPROPHIIDAE

Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827)

New record for Jlij. The species was previously

known for Djerba (Parent, 1981; Tlili, 2003). We

can confirm also the record for El Bessila given by

Nouira (2004).

DISCUSSION

Two species, Malpolon insignitus and Stenodac-

tylus sthenodactylus, are new records for the satel-

lites of Djerba and the Kneiss Archipelago,

respectively, while for other four species ( Tarentola

cf. mauritanica, Chalcides ocellatus , Acanthodac-

tylus boskianus and Mesalina olivieri) new loc-

alities within the study area are given. Our obser-

vations also allow to confirm all the previous re-

cords given in literature, with the only exception of

S. sthenodactylus for El Gataia El Bahria, where

however its occurrence cannot be excluded.

The Djerba satellites and the Kneiss Archipelago

harbor respectively six and five species of reptiles,

while no amphibians occur on both groups.

Comparing their faunal assemblages, Mesalina

olivieri is a distinctive species of the Djerba satel-

lites, but its absence fromthe Kneiss appears diffi-

cult to explain and is probably related to ecological

constrains, considering that the Olivier’s lizard is

widely distributed and rather common both in con-

tinental and insular areas of Tunisia (Blanc, 1980).

Conversely, the largest islet of Kneiss, El Bessila,

is inhabited by Trachylepis vittata that was not re-

corded for the Djerba satellites, as well as for the

main island, although it occurs on other coastal is-

lands (such as Kuriat and Kerkennah: see Lo Cascio

& Riviere, 2014; Corti et al., 2015) and in several

continental localities, including the southern Tunisia

(Mayet, 1903; Kalboussi & Nouira, 2004).

On the basis of these updated information and

those given in literature for Djerba and Kuriat (Tlili,

2003 and references therein; Lo Cascio & Riviere,

2014), the analysis of the herpetofauna by using a

simple linear regression has shown an highly signi-

ficant correlation between log N species and log

area (r = 0.899, P = 0.0001) (Fig. 3). Species rich-

ness of the coastal Tunisian islets seems therefore

mostly influenced by the island size, as also indir-

ectly confirmed by the absence of herpetofauna on

Jlij 2, Jlij 3 and El Hajar which are, respectively,

the smaller of the Djerba and Kneiss groups.

Among them, the relatively high number of species

found on the tiny islet of Dzira could be justified

by its closeness to the main island, as well as by its

An updated herpetofaunal inventory for some islets of South-Eastern Tunisia

329

Figure 3. Species-area plot (log species - log area) of the

herpeto fauna of some Tunsian coastal islands. Numbers are

as follows: 1) El Bessila, 2) El Laboua, 3) El Gharbia North,

4) El Gharbia South, 5) Dzira, 6) El Gatai'a el Bahria, 7) El

Gata'fa el Gueblia, 8) Jlij, 9) Djerba, 10) Great Kuriat, 11)

Small Kuriat.

environmental heterogeneity, determined by the oc-

currence of limestone and sandy areas together with

some rocky outcrops.

None of the species occurring on both islet

groups is listed among the threatened taxa of the

Red List by IUCN (www.iucnredlist.org) or seems

to be characterized by particular conservation prob-

lems at regional and local levels. However, it should

be emphasized the importance of safeguarding and

maintenance of the reptile populations that repres-

ent the most significant component of the terrestrial

vertebrate fauna in these insular environments, and

that could suffer any small disturbance or environ-

mental alteration in these fragile ecosystems.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to sincerely thanks the parti-

cipants to the PIM mission on Djerba and Kneiss,

Sami Ben Haj, Mohammed Chai'eb, Ludovic

Charrier, Mathieu Charrier, Anis Zarrouk, Frederic

Medail, Ridha Ouni and Philippe Ponel, for their

invaluable help during the field work; the colleague

Wided Tlili, for the useful information; the Agence

de Protection et d’Amenagement du Littoral

(APAL), and especially Morsi Feki and Anis

Zarrouck, for given us the logistical support; all the

team PIM, for their interest in the knowledge and

conservation of the small islands of the Mediter-

ranean.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 331-336

Diversity and population status of waders (Aves) of Bakhira

Tal, a natural wetland in District SantKabir Nagar, Uttar

Pradesh, India

Himanshu Mishra, Vikas Kumar &Ashish Kumar*

Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007 Uttar Pradesh, India

Corresponding author, e-mail: vividashish@gmail.com

ABSTRACT Present study was conducted from April 2015 to March 2016 to assess diversity of waders

(Aves) and its population status in Bakhira Tal. The study area was Bakhira Tal, located in Dis-

trict Sant Kabir Nagar U.P., India. Counting of waders was carried out during early morning

from 6 am to 9 am with the help of binoculars and SLR cameras. Point count method was ap-

plied to count total number of individuals of each species of waders. Identification of birds

was done with the help of key reference books. A total of 28 species of waders were recorded

and identified. Bronze winged Jacana (178) outnumbered rest of the species and minimum

number was shown by Wood Snipe (6). Maximum species diversity was recorded in winter

season (H=3.13 and D=0.048) followed by minimum in summer (H=2.72 and D=0.073). The

data collected were analysed using one way ANOVA. All the calculations were done with the

help of Graph Pad Prism5. Result of analysed data was found to be significant (p<0.05) in case

of winters. Seasonal mean values were compared by applying Tukey's test. The outcome of

this test clearly indicates similarity in diversity of waders between rain and winter.

KEY WORDS Bakhira Tal; diversity; point count; population; waders.

Received 03.08.2016; accepted 05.09.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Waders are defined as a group of medium sized

wading birds, which have a wide variety of bill

structures and possess long legs and toes enabling

them to live and feed in shallow water habitats.

Waders are belonging to following families, viz.

Ardeidae, Charadriidae, Recurvirostridae, Gruidae,

Rallidae, Ciconidae, Jacanidae, Threskiomithidae

and Burhinidae. Waders represent the greatest

species diversity (Tak et al., 2003). Water birds and

wetlands are inseparable elements (Grimmett &

Inskipp, 2007). Wetlands are the main custodians

of the water birds (Weller, 1999; Stewart, 2001).

Wetlands attract a large number of migratory and

resident bird species. Wetlands are defined as tran-

sitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic eco-

system where land is covered by shallow water

(Mitsch & Gosselink, 1986). They are also known

as biological supermarkets because they provide ex-

tensive food chain and rich in biodiversity. Waders

have been seen wading through the shallow waters

and occasionally probing along dry margins of the

wetland. They prefer shallow muddy banks of the

pond and close by small water spots. The migrato-

ry waders need adequate food supply and safety

332

Himanshu Mishra etalii

(Bharat Lakshmi, 2006). Almost all of them leave

the wetland by march-end or early April. Habitats

used by waders are diverse ranging from aquatic

habitat to dry upland meadows, pastures and crop

fields. They usually inhabit in wet lands where they

feed and breed even some species are migratory,

breeding in northern latitudes and migrating to trop-

ics and south of the equator (Howes & Bakewell,

1989). Most of waders migrate to India during

autumn, mainly through the north and north-west

(Balachandran, 2006). They are primarily gregar-

ious in nature. Waders commonly feed on fish,

aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and

crustaceans. Most waders are opportunistic feeders,

capturing food items using bills adapted to probe

mud and animal burrows. Asian water bird census

(Mohan & Gaur, 2008), collects data which is used

as vital tool nationally and internationally for con-

servation and protection of wetlands as water bird

habitat.

In India 243 species of water birds and 67

species of wetland dependent and associated birds

have been reported (Kumar et al., 2005). They form

vital prey base for many living organism in the food

webs of wetlands and are important component of

wetland ecosystem. Waders are also important com-

ponent of nutrient cycle. Bakhira Tal is a natural

wetland which has been converted into Bird Sanc-

tuary in 1990. It is the largest natural flood plain in

U.P. (Uttar Pradesh). It is vast stretch of water body

expanding over an area of 29 km 2 . Due to high

nutritional value and productivity; it provides a long

stretch of feeding and breeding ground for the huge

number of migratory and resident wader’s species.

But among the various habitats, wetlands are con-

sidered as one of the most threatened one in the

world (Prasad et al., 2015). During the last century

the world has lost over 50% of wetlands due to var-

ious anthropogenic activities (Ma et al., 2010).

Wetland habitat is being lost owing to constant

spreading of villages, expansion of crop fields,

discharging of domestic sewage, discharging of in-

dustrial effluent, dumping of solid waste, and over

exploitation of their natural resources and conver-

sion of wetlands into barren lands. This results in

to the loss of biodiversity and disturbance of wet-

land services (Ramachdran, 2006). Moreover, shor-

tage of wetlands during the dry season forces water

birds to gather in dense concentrations, which are

probably highly vulnerable to drought, hunting or

other threats. In Bakhira Tal Saras crane are forced

to feed in the fields, causing major economic losses

and antagonism between farmers and birds. The

loss of wetland reduces the number of stop over

sites for migrating birds as well as nesting species

(Prasad et al., 2004). The present study was carried

out to prepare a checklist as well as current popula-

tion status of waders in study area.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

Present study was carried out in Bakhira Tal,

which was declared a bird sanctuary in 1990 (Forest

and Wild Life Department, Government of Uttar

Pradesh, India). It is the largest natural flood plain

in U.P. (Uttar Pradesh). It is a vast water body ex-

panding over an area of 29 km 2 . The landscape and

terrain of the wetland is almost flat having an aver-

age height of 100 meter representing a typical terai

landscape. The central coordinates of Bakhira Tal

are N 26° 34’ 0” - E 83° O’ 00”. Bakhira Tal pro-

vides a wintering and staging ground for a number

of migratory waterfowls and breeding ground for

resident birds.

Identification

Bird survey was done by using binoculars at

5-6 day intervals. Entire study was carried out from

April 2015 to March 2016. Waders were counted

by 4 main observers to avoid double counting. They

were identified by ‘ Birds of the Indian subconti-

nent' (Inskipp et al., 201 1) a field guide to the birds

of India. Moreover, identification of birds with the

help of key reference books (Grewal et al., 2002,

Ali, 2002 and Grimmett & Inskipp, 2007) was done

successfully.

Census

Bird counting was carried out during early morn-

ing from 6 am to 9 am with the help of binoculars

and SLR cameras. Point count method was used

while total number of bird from each wader species

was recorded. Block count method was adapted for

estimating waders present in flocks either in flight

or on ground.

Diversity and population status of waders (Aves) of Bakhira Tal, a natural wetland in District SantKabir Nagar, India 333

S.N.

Common Name

Species Name

Spring Summer

Rain

Winter Annual Mean±Sd

Wood Snipe

Gallinago nemoricola (Hodgson, 1836)

1.5±3

Bronze winged Jacana Metopidus indicus (Latham, 1790)

178

44.5±7.59

Pheasant tailed Jacana Hydrophasians chirurgus (Scopoli, 1786)

164

41±4.96

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythrops (Pallas, 1 764)

5± 10

Common Redshank

Tringa tot anus Linnaeus, 1758)

6.25±12.5

Yellow wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783)

21.5±6.757

River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1 826)

24.25±6.39

Red wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783)

133

33.25±5.73

Darter

Anhinga melanogaster (Pennant, 1769)

107

26.75±6.99

Long toed Stint

Calidris subminuta (Middenorff, 1853)

3.5±7

Little Stint

Calidris minuta (Lesisler , 1812)

9± 18

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758)

140

35±9.12

Common Sand piper

Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758)

15±13.21

Asian Open bill Stork

Anastomas oscitans (Boddaert, 1783)

147

36.75±10.7f

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala (Pennat,1769)

111

27.75±7.41

European White stork

Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 175 8)

3±6

White necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783)

4.75±3.095

Water Rail

Rallus aquations (Linnaeus, 1758 )

7.5±4.35

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758)

23.25±5.12

Purple Moorhen

Porphyria porphyria (Linnaeus, 175 8)

125

3125±12.39

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758)

8.5=1=17

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1766)

132

33±6.16

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766)

106

26.5±8.736

Intermediate Egret

Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1827)

112

28±4.96

Cinnamon Bittern

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (Gmelin, 1789)

9.75±3.5

Yellow Bittern

Ixobrychus sinensis (Gmelin, 1789)

6±1.63

Black Bittern

Ixobrychus flavicollis (Latham, 1790)

13.5±3.41

Black Crowned

night Heron

Nycticorax nyctiorax (Linnaeus, 1758)

10.25±4.64

Total

383

452

595

715

2145

536.25

±148.30

Table 1. Seasonal variation in the number of waders, Bakhira Tal (District Sant Kabir Nagar U.P., India).

Statistical analysis

Mean and Standard deviation was calculated by

using Microsoft excel. Simpson’s diversity index

(1-D) was used to estimate the biodiversity using

the equations: D = £ ni (ni-1)/ N (N-l), Where D =

Simpson’s Index of Dominance, ni = total number

of individuals of a particular species, N = the total

number of individuals of all species (Simpson,

1949). Similarly Shannon diversity index was

determined by H'= - £(Pi) (In Pi), in which Pi =

Proportion of total species belonging to ith species.

334

Himanshu Mishra etalii

Biodiversity

indices

Spring

Summer

Rain

Winter

Annual

Simpson’s

index(D)

0.062

0.064

0.059

0.044

0.051

Simpson’s index

of diversity( 1 -D)

0.937

0.935

0.941

0.955

0.948

Shannon

diversity index (H)

2.88

2.82

2.90

3.21

3.08

Table 2. Diversity indices of waders in different season.

S.No.

Season

Mean and Standard

deviation

Spring

13.68±12.01

Summer

16.14±14.76

Rain

21.25±17.48

Winter

25.54±12.74

Annual

76.61±52.57

Table 3. Seasonal Mean, standard deviation of waders.

ANOVA Table

F-

Value

P-

Value

Treatment

(between columns)

22202

734.1

3.663

0.0147

Treatment

(within columns)

21640

108

200.4

Total

23850

111

Table 4. Statistical description of parameters obtained

by non-parametric test One way ANOVA.

Tukey's Multiple

ComparisonTest

Mean

Diff.

Significant

(p<0.05)

Summary

95% Cl

of diff.

Group A vs

Group B

-2.464

0.921

-12.35 to

7.422

Group A vs

Group C

-5.464

2.042

-15.35 to

4.422

Group A vs

Group D

-11.86

4.432

Yes

-21.7 to -

1.971

Group B vs

Group C

-3.000

1.121

-12.89 to

6.886

Group B vs

Group D

-9393

3.511

-19.28 to

0.4936

Group C vs

Group D

-6.393

2.390

-16.28 to

3.494

Table 5. Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test among all

groups. Group A-Spring, Group B-Summer, Group C-Rain

&Group D-Winter. Value * is significant less than 0.05,

**less than 0.01 and *** less than 0.001.

The data collected were analyzed using one way

ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. All the calcula-

tions were done with the help of Graph Pad Prism5.

RESULTS

In the present study a total of 28 species of wad-

ers were recorded and identified listed in Table 1

and represented in figure 3. Maximum species

diversity was recorded in winters while least in

summers. Bronzed winged Jacana outnumbered rest

of the species with total count of 178 individuals

while minimum annual count was 6 in case of

Wood Snipe. Bird count was high during and just

after breeding season in case of resident birds and

during winters in case of migratory birds. Diversity

indices are reported in Table 2 and represented in

figure 5. It is apparent from the study that species

diversity was high during the winter season due to

plenty of water and food availability. A gradual rise

was noticed in Simpson’s index of diversity (1 -D)

from spring (0.937) to winters (0.955). Similarly,

Shannon diversity index was maximum in winter

(3.21) followed by minimum in summer (2.82).

Seasonal mean and standard deviation of total

species of waders are listed in Table 3. However, a

detail of mean and standard deviation of individuals

of each species of waders was also mentioned in

Table 1. Outcome of one way ANOVA reveals

significant value (p>0.05) for winter season. Ana-

lyzed data is reported in Table 4. Turkey’s test

shows comparison among mean values of different

season, listed in Table 5. Similar finding were re-

ported by (Sharma & Saini Minakshi, 2014).

DISCUSSION

This was a premier and scientific study of wad-

ers of this Sanctuary. Waders are considered as

a good bio indicators and useful models of the

wetlands for studying the various environmental

problems (Mistiy & Mukherjee, 2015). The study

shows that Bakhira Tal is an important site for win-

tering waders. During the study period a total of 28

species of waders were recorded and identified in

study area. Out of which 8 were recorded as winter

visitor as reported in figure 4. Among these, Little

Stint is most common migrant which breeds en-

Diversity and population status of waders (Aves) of Bakhira Tal, a natural wetland in District SantKabir Nagar, India 335

2500

2000

' ,

■ Spring

1500

■ Summer

1 Rain

1000

■ Winter

A Is i

Spring Summer Rain Winter Annual

Figure 3. Total number of waders in different seasons.

Figure 4. Status of waders of Bakhira Tal.

winter season (Total No. 715) followed by mini-

mum in spring (Total No. 351).

High abundance of waders in a particular wet-

land usually depends on availability of food, nesting

sites and predation risk (Halse et al., 1993). Bakhira

wetland is an important natural wetland of eastern

U.P., rich in wader fauna because it provides ample

of food items, sufficient water supply throughout

the year, breeding and nesting grounds for large

number of migratory and resident waders. Present

study reports that Purple Moorhen is one of the

most beautiful common water birds found in this

wetland. This is the most common breeding resident

of Bakhira Tal, also known as ‘Raima’.

Grey heron, Common Red shank, Spotted Red

shank, Long toed Stint, Little Stint, European White

Stork and common Sand Piper were recognized as

Wintering waders in Bakhira Tal, were highly

susceptible to continuous anthropogenic pressures

in the form of washing of cloths, cattle bathing,

cattle grazing, and entry of domestic sewage,

hunting, fishing, and expansion of crop lands.

Since crop lands are being destroyed by waders to

some extent, Man &Wild conflict was also obser-

ved among the local people of study area and wa-

ders. Consequently, villagers started scaring

campaigns by exploding crackers near the waders

to make them fly from the wetland.

Figure 5. Diversity indices of waders in different seasons.

tirely in the Arctic (Zockler et al., 2005) while some

wintering populations of the medium distance

migrants, such as Redshank, Spotted Red shank

might also originate partly from arctic breeding

grounds. Maximum of waders were recorded in

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 337-344

Study of the effect of a fungicide "the tachigazole" on some

indicators of soil biological activity

WafaTahar 1 *, Ouahiba Bordjiba 1 & Lyamine Mezedjri 1,2

laboratory of vegetable biology and environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Badji Mokhtar, Annaba

23000, Algeria; email: thrwafaz@gmail.com

2 SNV Department, Faculty of Sciences, University August 20th 55, Skikda 21000, Algeria; email: mezedjri.lyamine@gmail.com

^Corresponding author

ABSTRACT This study tests the impact of a pesticide molecule (hymexazole) on, on the one hand, the

physio-biochemistry of hard wheat Triticum durum Desf. (Poales Poaceae) and on the other

hand, the indicators of soil biological activity. To do this, the analysis has focused on total

proteins, proline, the total carbohydrates and total chlorophyll of wheat leaves. Total carbon

and soil organic matter have been also determined. Results reveal that the levels of total

chlorophyll are practically identical in the presence of different doses of the fungicide in

comparison with those of the control dose. The contents of other parameters (total proteins,

carbohydrates and proline) are slightly different from those obtained for witnesses doses.

Finally, the analyzed soil samples show that the values of the total carbon are higher and ex-

ceed the standards in the samples treated with fungicide.

KEY WORDS fungicide; hymexazole; organic matter; physio-biochemical; soil.

Received 24.08.2016; accepted 20.09.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

The intensive use of chemical molecules to kill

pests, weeds and fungi contributes significantly to

the improvement of yields. However, this use leads

parallel, negative consequences for the functioning

of ecosystems. Pesticides cause severe damage to

the environment due to the combined effects of

their anarchical and abusive uses, their persistence

and toxicity. In sum, pesticides have a large part in

the degradation of natural resources. According to

the method of application, they propagate into the

atmosphere over large areas, and due to their per-

sistence, they can persist in the environment for

long periods. Thus, the components of the physical

environment namely, water, soil and plants, are

gravely polluted.

This alarming situation, generated due to the

repeated use of a multitude of plant protection com-

pounds, has show the interest of a reflection on ap-

proaches to improve the biological fertility and

sustainable agricultural development.

It is in this context that this work has been done

and that has the objective to verify the effect of mul-

tiple doses of a fungicide "the Tachigazole" on, on

the one hand, the indicators of biological activity of

treated soil, and on the other hand, some physio-

logical and biochemical parameters of a hard wheat

species Triticum durum Desf. (Poales Poaceae)

developed in situ.

338

WafaTahar etalii

For this, an experiment has been done to try to

verify the consequences resulting from the use of

three different doses of the fungicide hymexazole

and a control dose, on the soil and on the cultivated

plant in situ in pots.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The soil samples are selected at random to a

depth of 0-20 cm in the forest of Edough (Algeria),

considered unpolluted area. Geographic coordinates

are 36°55' North and 07°40' East. The fungicide

used is "Tachigazole", which hymexazole is the ac-

tive substance of a systemic fungicide seed from

Golden Agrochemical Union. It belongs to the

chemical family of Triazines, whose chemical struc-

ture is shown in figure 1.

The considered plant material is hard wheat

Cirta variety of the grass family of the genus

Triticum and the species Triticum durum.

Methods

The solutions of fungicide are prepared in a

mixture of sterile distilled water and methanol at a

rate of 20 parts/80 parts. Three different doses are

chosen:

- a dose to the field divided by 5 (D^ is 9pl/cm 2

- a dose to the field (D 2 ) is 45pl/cm 2

- a dose field multiplied by 10 (D 3 ) or 450

pl/cm 2

- a control dose (D 0 ) containing only sterile

water without fungicide or methanol.

The solutions of different doses are pulverized

directly on the soil before sowing.

After 30 days, a hard wheat sowing is carried

out at a depth of 2 cm, in previously prepared pots,

with 10 grains of wheat per pot.

The experiment was performed on a total of 24

pots with repetition 6 pots per dose.

Data collection

The physio-biochemical parameters are meas-

ured and quantified from the leaves collected in the

tillering of the plant.

The total chlorophyll is expressed in mg/g of

fresh matter (F.M). It is extracted by the method of

Maclciney (1941) improved by Holden (1975), by

Hiscox & Israelsiam (1978) and this by means of a

spectrophotometer.

The determination of total carbohydrates ex-

pressed in mg/g of fresh matter (F.M) is released by

the method of Shields & Burnett (1960).

The extraction of total protein pg/g of fresh ma-

terial (M. F.) is done according to the Bradford

(1976) technique.

The dosage of proline expressed as pg/g of

fresh matter (F.M) is effected by the method of

Monneveux & Nemmar (1986).

The four parameters were obtained by using cal-

ibration curves.

The physico-chemical soil parameters are or-

ganic matter (O.M), which is obtained by the

method Anne (Dabin, 1966). It is expressed in g/kg

of dry matter (D.M). The total carbon that is de-

ducted from the O.M expressed as g/kg of D.M.

Statistical analysis methods of data

The description of different studied character-

istics of the plant and soil is made by calculating

the average (m), standard deviation (s) and the min-

imal values (Xmin) and maximal (Xmax) for each

dose of fungicide.

The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the gen-

eral linear model (GLM) of Minitab software for

data statistical analysis (Minitab Inc., 2014) is used

to compare averages, between them, of the four

doses of the fungicide and this for each character-

istic of interest (Dagnelie, 2009). We consider that

there are significant differences between the means

of four doses when the probability value (p) is less

than or equal to the risk a = 0.05 (p < a = 0.05);

highly significant differences when p < a = 0.01 and

Study of the effect of a fungicide "the tachigazole" on some indicators of soil biological activity

339

very highly significant differences when p < a =

0.001 (Dagnelie, 2009).

The test TUKEY (Dagnelie, 2009) was used to

determine the doses of homogeneous groups char-

acteristic of the plant or the soil (Minitab Inc.,

2014).

Dunnett's test (Dagnelie, 2009) was used to

compare the average of the control dose with each

average of other doses for each parameter of the

plant and soil (Minitab Inc., 2014).

RESULTS

The following Table 1 presents statistical pa-

rameter values obtained by characteristic and per

dose of the fungicide to the plant and the soil.

Average values and standard deviations are plotted

as histograms in the various figures 2-7; which

follow.

The results of the analysis of variance

(ANOVA) are given in Table 2. Examination of the

results of analysis of variance (Table 2) shows that

there are only significant differences between the

averages of 4 doses fungicide total chlorophyll of

the plant and for the O.M and the total carbon in the

soil; then, we notice highly significant differences

for total protein and very highly significant dif-

ferences for contents of the proline and the total

carbohydrates.

The TUKEY's test used, after the rejection of the

hypothesis of equality of averages, by the ANOVA

shows that there exist two homogeneous dose

groups, respectively, total chlorophyll, proline, or-

ganic matter and carbon total, and 3 homogeneous

groups to total protein and carbohydrates. Alpha-

betic letters a, b, c in graphics from figures 2 to 7

designate these groups. The alphabetical letter in-

dicates that the doses in question give consistent re-

sults on average.

Nature of

samples

Variable

Doses

X min

X max

D 0

1.283

0.498

0.528

1.869

ORGANIC

3.693

1.093

1.477

4.257

MATTER

d 2

3.047

1.878

0.583

4.404

d 3

2.032

1.223

0.495

4.180

D 0

0.745

0.289

0.306

1.082

SOIL

CARBONE

2.147

0.636

0.858

2.475

TOTAL

D 2

1.779

1.097

0.340

2.560

d 3

1.257

0.739

0.289

_ 2.431

D 0

52.500

21.900

30.600

74.400

CHLOROPHYLL

37.600

5.710

31.890

43.310

44.000

32.900

11.100

76.900

d 3

109.430

14.010

95.420

_ 123.440

D 0

2.769

0.298

2.476

3.071

PROTEINS

2.172

0.178

2.000

2.357

2.988

0.357

2.571

3.285

d 3

1.817

0.274

1.547

_ 2.095

D 0

0.073

0.056

0.009

0.106

PLANT

PROLINE

D i

0.684

0.036

0.644

0.713

0.046

0.007

0.038

0.530

d 3

0.009

0.001

0.008

_ 0.010

D 0

4.165

0.242

3.920

4.404

CARBOHYDRATES

2.479

0.039

2.447

_ 2.522

3.610

0.251

3.329

3.812

d 3

3.307

0.191

3.092

3.458

Table 1. The values of basic statistical parameters based on soil samples and samples of the wheat plant: the number

of samples (n), the mean (m), standard deviation (s), minimum values ( X min ) and maximum (X max ).

340

WafaTahar etalii

Table 3 presents the results of the Dunnetf s test

calculated on the different characteristics of the

plant and soil. From this Table 3 it can be seen that

there is, each time, two fungicide doses, which give

on average the results identical to those of the con-

trol dose, and this for, respectively, the total chlo-

rophyll, proteins, proline, organic matter and the

total carbon. Moreover, for contents of the carbo-

hydrates, all doses of the fungicide on average give

lower results compared to controls.

- Figure 2 relative to the total chlorophyll (a +

b) shows that the D 3 dose of the fungicide provides

the higher level with an average of 109.43 pg/g

F.M. This result is, moreover, confirmed by the test

TUKEY which classifies that this dose D 3 sepa-

rately and the other doses D 0 , D! and D 2 ; in a single

homogeneous group.

- For protein contents represented by figure 3,

the TUKEY test shows an overlapping 3 homoge-

neous groups of doses. The first group consists of

doses D 0 and D 2 , the second group consists of doses

D 0 and D 1 and the third group D , and D 3 . We notice

that the dose D 0 is similar to D, and D 2 but different

from dose D 3 , and the dose D, is also identical to

D 0 and D 3 , doses but different from the dose D 2 .

The dose D 2 fungicidally induced a stimulation of

the synthesis of proteins with the highest average

2.98 pg/g M.F.

- The total carbohydrates are given in figure 4.

The TUKEY test shows 3 groups of distinct doses.

D 0 dose is the first group with an average rate equal

to the highest 4.16 pg/g F.M. D 1 dose alone repre-

sents a second group with the lowest rate (2.48 pg/g

F.M), and D 2 and D 3 doses form a third homoge-

nous group with no significant difference between

their average. We note that the rates obtained from

the leaves treated with all three doses are lower than

those obtained from the reference dose.

- The levels of proline represented by figure 5

show two dose groups obtained by the TUKEY test.

The first group consists of doses D 0 , D 2 and D 3 with

very low values and, particular^ almost zero for the

D 3 dose (0.009 mg/g F.M). The second group con-

sists only of the D 2 dose that gives the higher aver-

age (0.684 mg/g F.M).

- Figure 6 is related to organic matter content

(O.M). In this figure, we noticed that two dose

groups overlap. The first group consists of doses

D 0 , D 2 and D 3 and the second group consists of

doses D 1; D 2 and D 3 . This shows that the doses D 0

and D| are identical, each at doses D 2 and D 3 , but

are different from each other. D 0 control dose gives,

on average, the lowest value (1.283 g/kg) O.M and

the dose D x gives the higher value (3.693 g/kg).

- Finally, in Figure 7 related to the total carbon

2 dose groups. The doses D 0 , D 2 and D 3 form the

first group and, D 1 and D 2 doses form the second

group. However, we note that the dose D 2 is com-

mon to both groups. The dose witness D 0 has given

the lowest value (0.745 g/kg) of total carbon; while

D 1 dose has given the higher value (2.147 g/kg).

DISCUSSION

In the present study, we tried to compare indi-

cators of biological activity in soil submitted to the

effect of a fungicide "the Tachigazole" and un-

treated control soil to establish a relationship

between the repeated use of the fungicide, environ-

mental parameters and soil fertility. The parameters

analysed show variability in the results. The treated

soils contain more total carbon but with slight var-

iations between concentrations. The contents re-

corded in control samples are the lowest.

The organic material influences the distribution

of the biomass. This latter is of great benefit for the

microorganisms constituting the source of carbon

and energy, which are transformed into new bodies

and products of metabolism, and also play a role in

the solubility of the pesticide (Bordjiba, 2003). The

adsorption of the fungicide on the organic material

increases its solubility and stability in the soil pro-

file (Chiou et al., 1986).

The organic matter in the soil greatly influ-

ences the adsorption of pesticides in causing a

decrease in the adsorption coefficient (Kd) and

increased absorption coefficient (Koc) (Graber

et al., 2010).

We note that treated plants with high doses of

the fungicide registered a significantly lower effect

on chlorophyll a and b. The letter accords perfectly

with the results obtained by Hammou (2001) and

Boutamine & Lahmar (2016), showing that very

few fungicides affect the vital functions of the plant

and in particular on the development of chlorophyll.

We find that there is a close correlation between

the rate of carbohydrate and chlorophyll content.

Carbohydrate levels are lower in treated plants

versus the control. During photosynthesis, electron

Study of the effect of a fungicide "the tachigazole" on some indicators of soil biological activity

341

bfi

wi DO D1 D2 D3 Doses

Figure 2. Total chlorophyll content in the presence of the

four doses of the fungicide (hymexazole). The doses that

have the same alphabetical letter constitute a homogeneous

group according to the test TUKEY.

Figure 3. Content of proteins in the presence of four fungi-

cide doses (hymexazole). The doses that have the same al-

phabetical letter constitute a homogeneous group according

to the test TUKEY.

DO D1 D2 D3 Doses

Figure 4. Content of proteins in the presence of four fungi-

cide doses (hymexazole). The doses that have the same al-

phabetical letter constitute a homogeneous group according

to the test TUKEY.

■gh DO D1 D2 D3 Doses

Figure 5. Content of proline in the presence of four fungicide

doses (hymexazole). The doses that have the same alphabet-

ical letter constitute a homogeneous group according to the

test TUKEY.

DO D1 D2 D3

Figure 6. The organic matter in the presence of four fungi-

cide doses (hymexazol). The doses that have the same al-

phabetical letter constitute a homogeneous group according

to the test TUKEY.

DO D1 D2 D3 Doses

bt'

Figure 7. The total carbon levels in the presence of four fun-

gicide doses (hymexazole). The doses that have the same al-

phabetical letter constitute a homogeneous group according

to the test TUKEY.

342

WafaTahar etalii

Nature of

samples

Variable

Source de

variation

Seq SS

ORGANIC

MATTER

Doses

20.535

6.845

4.230

0.018*

SOIL

TOTAL

CARBONE

Doses

6.746

2.249

4.020

0.022*

CHLOROPHYLL

Doses

9760.50

3253.5

7.270

0.011 *

PROTEINS

Doses

2.415

0.805

9.970

0.004 **

PLANT

PROLINE

Doses

0.932

0.310

279.58

0.000 ***

CARBOHYDRATES

Doses

4.489

1.486

37.220

0.000 ***

Table 2. Results of the analysis of variance (AN OVA) to criteria for the soil and the plant. The number of degree of freedom

(DF), the sum of squared differences (Seq SS), the middle square (MS), the observed value of the variable F Fisher (F) and

the probability (p). *: Significant differences. **: Highly significant differences. ***: Very highly significant differences.

NATURE OF SAMPLE

VARIABLES

DOSES AND MEANS

d 3

d 2

ORGANIC

1.283

2.032

3.047

3.693

MATTER

d 3

d 2

SOIL

CARBONE

0.745

1.257

1.779

2.147

d 3

d 2

CHLOROPHYLL

37.600

44.000

52.500

109.430

d 3

d 2

PROTEINS

1.817

2.172

2.769

2.988

d 3

d 2

PLANT

PROLINE

0.009

0.046

0.073

0.684

d 3

d 2

CARBOHYDRATES

2.479

3.307

3.610

4.165

Table 3. Results of DUNNETT’s test. Averages doses at once underlined bold are identical to

the average of the control dose (D 0 ) for the soil and the plant.

transport along the photosynthetic chain is ensured

by chlorophyll a and b. From there, the electrons

are transferred to different carriers in the chain to

the levels of photosystems I and II till the reduction

of NADP to NADPH 2 necessary to the transforma-

tion of C0 2 into organic molecules, such as carbo-

hydrates (Berkaloff et al., 1997).

Finally, the amounts of total protein are almost

similar in samples treated with all doses of fungi-

cide and are not very far from those of controls. The

Study of the effect of a fungicide "the tachigazole" on some indicators of soil biological activity

343

same was reported by Kloskowski (1992) and Dec

& Bollog (1997), who claim that moderate concen-

trations of pesticides do not greatly affect the level

of proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of agriculture is accompanied

by the use of plant protection products worldwide.

This use has shown particular advantages in in-

creasing production yields by eliminating or reduc-

ing crop predators. However, behind its misdeeds

can hide insidious effects on the different compo-

nents of the environment or human health. The

study, we conducted, was to target soil fertility

under conditions of considerable pollution by dif-

ferent doses of a pesticide molecule. This fertility

was assessed using several indicators of biological

activity, such as total carbon and organic matter.

We have tried to show the influence of a mole-

cule of hymexazole with different concentrations

on the physio-biochemistry dumm wheat Triticum

durum and some indicators of soil biological ac-

tivity.

Due to the quasi-homogeneity and non-varia-

bility of the results recorded in the different samples

treated and control samples, we believe that the

assessment of the chemical fertility of soils polluted

by pesticides seems difficult because of multiple

interactions between the nature of the pollutant, the

physio-chemical soil characteristics and environ-

mental factors.

In addition, the lack of data on soils and norms

of quality of biochemical and organic chemical

and biological quality fertile soils makes assess-

ment of soil quality and fertility difficult and not

obvious.

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et physiologie cellulaires, tome 3. Chloroplastes,

peroxysomes, division cellulaire. Edition Hermann,

180 pp.

Bordjiba O., 2003. Effets des pesticides sur la microflore

fongique du sol. Biodegradation des herbicides par

les souches isolees. These de doctorat es- sciences.

Universite Joseph Fourier, -Grenoble, France, 671 pp.

Boutamine S. & Lahmar R., 2016. Etude de l’effet de

deux pesticides sur les indicateurs de Factivite du sol.

Memoire de mastere, Universite Annaba, Algerie,

60 pp.

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quantitation of microgram quantities of protein util-

izing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analytical

Biochemistry, 72: 248-254.

Chiou C.T., Malcolm R.I., Brinton T.I. & Kile D.E.,

1986. Water solubility enhancement of some organic

pollutants and pesticides by dissolved humic and

fulvics acids. Environmental Science & Technology,

20: 502-508.

Dabin B., 1967. Cah. O.R.S.T.O. M., serie Pedologie,

Vol.5 N° 3, 286 pp.

Dagnelie R, 2009. Statistique theorique et appliquee.

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sions. Edition De Boek et Larcier, Bruxelles, 659

pp.

Dec J. & Bollog J.M., 1997. Determination of covalent

and noncovalent binding interactions between xeno-

biotic chemicals and soil. Soil Science, 162: 858—

874.

Graber Neufeld D.S., Savoeun H., Phoeurk C., Glick A.

& Hernandez. C., 2010. Prevalence and Persistence

of Organophosphate and Carbamate Pesticides in

Cambodian Market Vegetables. Asian Journal of

Water, Environment and Pollution, 7: 89-98.

Hammou M., 2001. Reponse de la carie aux differentes

doses d’application de trois produits fongiques et

caracterisation de ses consequences sur la plante hote

(variete de ble tendre). These de Magistere, Universite

de Constantine, 130 pp.

Hiscox J.D. & Israelsiam G.F., 1978. A method for the

extraction of chlorophyll from leaf tissue without

maceration. Canadian Journal of Botany, 57: 1332—

1334.

Holden M., 1975. Chlorophylls I, chemistry and bio-

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Goodwin. Academic press Edition, New York, 37

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 345-346

An unusual urban refuge for the crested porcupine, Hystrix

cristata (Linnaeus, 1 758) (Mammalia Rodentia): the ancient

Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome (Italy)

Mauro Grano

Via Valcenischia 24, 00141 Roma, Italy; e-mail: elaphe58@yahoo.it

ABSTRACT In this note the author reports the unusual use of ancient catacombs as a daytime refuge for

some specimens of crested porcupine Hystrix cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Rodentia)

belonging to the population of the Villa Ada urban park in Rome.

KEY WORDS Crested porcupine; Hystrix cristata', Rome; Urban Park; Villa Ada.

Received 12.09.2016; accepted 22.09.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

The crested porcupine Hystrix cristata (Lin-

naeus, 1758) (Mammalia Rodentia) is a species of

rodent belonging to the family Hystricidae. The

adult H. cristata has a body length of about 60 to

83 cm, excluding the tail, and a weight from 13 to

27 Kg. This rodent occurs in Italy, North Africa and

Sub-Saharan Africa. It is sometimes asserted that

the porcupine was introduced in Italy by the Ro-

mans, but fossil and sub-fossil remains suggest that

it was probably present in Europe in the Upper

Pleistocene. Recently the Italian distribution area

has had a considerable expansion (Amori &

Capizzi, 2002). At the end of 2010, H. cristata is

recorded throughout the Italian region with exclu-

sion of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Val d’ Aosta (Mori

& Sforzi, 2012). In the province of Rome the cres-

ted porcupine is widely spread and in some places

is rather abundant (Angelici, 2009). The crested

porcupine are active during the night (Corsini et al.,

1995; Angelici, 2009) and spend most of the day-

light hours in their dens located in natural or artifi-

cial caves or in underground tunnels (Monetti et al.,

2005). They are particularly widespread in the agro-

forestry systems of the Mediterranean region. Oc-

casionally can also be found in the green areas loc-

ated within big cities, provided adjacent to a service

area with abundant vegetation (Amori & Capizzi,

2002). Banks of streams and hedges are important

wildlife corridors and are used as ways of expan-

sion (Amori & Capizzi, 2002). Another hallway that

allows crested porcupine easy expansion is con-

sisting of railway lines (Gippoliti com. pers.).

STUDY AREA

Villa Ada, an urban park in Rome (Central Italy)

with a surface of 450 acres (1,8 km 2 ), it is the second

largest park in the city after Villa Doria Pamphili. It

is located along Via Salaria, in the northeastern part

of the city. Its highest relief is Monte Antenne with a

height of 67 m above sea level (Fig. 1). The Cata-

combs of Priscilla are located in Via Salaria just in

front of Villa Ada. These Catacombs are mentioned

in all of the most ancient documents regarding Chris-

tian topography and liturgy in Rome; due to the great

number of martyrs buried therein, were called

346

Mauro Grano

“Regina catacumbarum - The Queen of the Cata-

combs ”. The galleries dug into the tuff, a soft vol-

canic rock used to make bricks and lime, have a total

length of about thirteen kilometers, at various depths.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The presence of the crested porcupine in Villa

Ada has been known since the 80s (Angelici, pers.

com.) and well documented (Zapparoli, 2009).

However, what was not known is the habit of this

rodent to use the long underground passages of the

Catacombs of Priscilla as daytime refuge. In recent

years, religious custodians of the Catacombs, have

repeatedly requested the intervention of the Wildlife

Rescue Centre Lipu of Rome to try to remove some

specimens of crested porcupine which had chosen

as a refuge the long series of tunnels that form the

underground part of the Catacombs of Priscilla

(Manzia, pers. com.). Three of the six entrances of

Villa Ada are located along the Via Salaria, just

opposite to the above mentioned Catacombs.

The crested porcupines spend the daylight hours

in their dens located in natural or artificial caves or

underground tunnels (Monetti et al., 2005). The

long tunnels (about thirteen kilometers) are rarely

Figure 1. Study area: Northeastern part of

Rome (Latium, Italy).

visited, the small distance and the ease of achieving,

have made it possible the use of Catacombs of

Priscilla as daytime refuge for the population of H.

cristata of Villa Ada.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is grateful for the valuable informa-

tion received by Francesco Maria Angelici (Rome,

Italy), Spartaco Gippoliti (Rome, Italy), Francesca

Manzia (Rome, Italy), Emiliano Mori (Massa

Marittima, Italy), and Alessandro Sperduti (Viterbo,

Italy). Also, a special thanks to Cristina Cattaneo

(Rome, Italy) for her invaluable help.

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miferi d’ltalia. Quad. Cons. Natura, 14, Min.

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grafica, Roma, 249-264.

Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 347-352

Updated distribution of Hydromantes italicus Dunn, 1923

(Caudata Plethodontidae): a review with new records and

the first report for Latium (Italy)

Giacomo Bruni 1 *, Riccardo Novaga 2 , David Fiacchini 3 , Cristiano Spilinga 4 & Dario Domeneghettr

'Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Boulevard de la Plaine 2, 1050 Ixelles, Bruxelles, Belgium

2 Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

3 Via Frontillo 29, 62035 Pievebovigliana, Macerata, Italy

4 Studio Naturalistico Hyla s.n.c., Via Aganoor Pompili 4, 06069 Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Perugia, Italy

5 University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy

* Corresponding author, email: giacomo.b90@gmail.com

ABSTRACT The Italian cave salamander Hydromantes italicus Dunn, 1923 (Caudata Plethodontidae) is

an eutroglophilic amphibian found along the Appennines from Emilia-Romagna to Abruzzo,

however the available bibliography shows inconsistencies in distribution data. Herein we

provide an updated distribution of the species, with new records and the first detection for

Latium in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park in the Province of Rieti.

KEY WORDS Italian cave salamander, Hydromantes', distribution data; Monti della Laga; Latium.

Received 12.09.2016; accepted 24.09.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Hydromantes italicus Dunn, 1923 (Caudata

Plethodontidae) is an eutroglophilic salamander

species found both in natural and artificial environ-

ments, such as underground cavities (caves, mines,

etc.) and surface habitats (rock outcrops, dry-stone

walls, etc.).

Like the other plethodontids, H. italicus has no

lungs and breathing occurs through the skin and the

buccal mucosa, for this reason this amphibian can

live only in humid and fresh conditions; in fact H.

italicus spends most of its life into the ground, com-

ing to the surface at night or concomitantly with wet

weather (Lanza et al., 2005).

Hydromantes italicus is one of the three species

of the genus Hydromantes found along the Italian

Peninsula. The known range of the species goes

from the northern limit of Onfiano, province of

Reggio Emilia (Gigante, 2009) to the the southern

limit of Pescosansonesco, province of Pescara

(Lanza et al., 2006). According to Lanza et al.

(2005), H. italicus is present in the regions of

Emilia-Romagna (Provinces of Reggio Emilia,

Modena, Bologna, Ravenna and Forli-Cesena),

Tuscany (Provinces of Lucca, Pistoia, Prato,

Firenze and Arezzo), Umbria (Province of Perugia),

Marche (Provinces of Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona,

Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno) and Abruzzo

(Provinces of Teramo and Pescara). Despite the

proximity of certain reports, the species had never

been found in Latium (Bologna et al., 2000; Lanza

et al., 2006). Hydromantes italicus is also present

in the Republic of San Marino.

348

Giacomo Bruni etalii

Outside of its natural range H. italicus has been

introduced in a cave in the Province of Siena (Cim-

maruta et al., 2013), in the "Gessi di Brisighella"

area (Bassi & Fabbri, 2006) and in Germany in

the "Weser Uplands" in Lower Saxony (e.g. www.

fieldherping. eu/Forum/) .

The altitudinal range varies from 80 m (Garfag-

nana, province of Lucca) up to 1598 m above sea

level (Apuan Alps, province of Lucca) (Lanza et al.,

1995). Despite the presence of suitable environ-

ment, H. italicus is absent from high altitudes on

Apennines (Lanza et al., 1995). To explain this

trend, Lanza et al. (2005) have speculated that the

highest mountains still haven’t been re-colonised

since the Quaternary glaciations, or that H. italicus

isn’t an euryzonal species and is effectively incap-

able to occupy habitats above 1600 m asl.

On the Apuan Alps there is a hybrid zone in

which the genome of H. italicus populations is, to

varying degrees, introgressed with genes of H. am-

brosii bianchii Cimmaruta, Lanza, Forti, Bullini et

Nascetti, 2005. Ruggi (2007) has shown that H. it-

alicus with introgressed alleles occurs at least up to

the provinces of Florence, Bologna and Modena;

instead pure populations are present from Umbria

to Abruzzo and also in the northern limit in the

province of Reggio Emilia.

Consulting the distributional data reported in the

available bibliography, we have noticed inconsist-

encies and lacks of occurrences in some areas. In

this paper we provide a review of the known distri-

bution with new reports and the first data for Latium.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To establish the known distribution of H. it-

alicus, we consulted and compared the distribu-

tional data provided in CKmap (Checklist and

Distribution of the Italian Fauna - version 5.3.8),

in national and regional atlas and in conference

papers.

In particular, we referred to the Atlas of Amphi-

bians and Reptiles of Italy (Razzetti et al., 2006),

Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Tuscany

(Vanni & Nistri, 2006), Amphibians and Reptiles of

Umbria (Ragni et al., 2006), Atlas of Amphibians

and Reptiles of Emilia-Romagna (Mazzotti et al.,

1999), Atlas of Amphibians of Abruzzo (Ferri &

Soccini, 2007) and Atlas of Amphibians and Rep-

tiles of Sibillini Mountains National Park (Fiac-

chini, 2013).

Some data for Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo

have been obtained from the following conference

papers: Fiacchini (2008), Spilinga et al. (2008),

Ferri et al. (2008), Cameli et al. (2016) and from

the monography on European cave salamanders

edited by Lanza et al. (2005).

Moreover, some documented sightings in new

UTM 10x10 km squares were derived from the

maps available on Ornitho.it database (www.

ornitho.it) and from nature enthusiasts.

In addition to searching for new localities in our

back data, we conducted a field research during the

season 2015-2016, looking for H. italicus in some

UTM 10x10 km squares in which the species is re-

ported as absent and in particular in the Province of

Rieti (North-East Latium). We actively searched the

species in surface mainly in rainy nights via flash-

light or during the daytime inspecting the rock

crevices or the stonewalls. We also evaluated the

presence of suitable habitats via Google Street View

(http://maps.google.com). We used a digital camera

for documenting the sightings and a GPS to register

the exact location.

On the updated distributional map (Fig. 1), the

presence sites are shown on the centroid of the

respective UTM square 10x10 Km, sample sites of

Rieti Province (Fig. 2) are shown in WGS 84 Lon-

gitude - Latitude coordinates. Maps were drawn by

Quantum GIS - Valmiera 2.2.0 version.

RESULTS

Layering data reported in the various publica-

tions, we noticed some discrepancies that were un-

related to the publiction dates.

During field surveys, we found H. italicus in 1 1

localities in 9 new UTM 10x10 km squares (Table 1).

We detected the presence of H. italicus in only

one locality in the Province of Rieti, Latium (Table

3). We found 3 adult individuals along the water-

course "Fosso di Valle in Su" that flowing down

from the area of lakes "Lago Secco" and "Lago

della Selva", not far from the locality Poggio d’ Api,

on a sandstones and marls outcrop in the lower

bound of the beech forest (Figs. 3, 4).

One of the Authors (D.F.) received on August

2015 a documented sighting of H. italicus from a

Updated distribution of Hydromantes italicus: a review with new records and the first report for Latium

349

small unregistered cave on the eastern slope of

Monte Utero, in the Municipality of Accumoli, vir-

tually in the new UTM square 33T UH52. Never-

theless, we have investigated neighbouring areas

without being able to corroborate the data.

Excluding two UTM squares where the Italian

cave salamander has been introduced artificially,

the UTM squares occupied by the species according

to published data are 125.

Our new sightings and unpublished data show

that H. italicus is present in at least 142 UTM

squares (Fig. 1).

DISCUSSION

Knowing the distribution of a species is essential

for its conservation and to better understand its eco-

logy and biogeography. The UTM squares reported

in the Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Italy

where H. italicus naturally occurs are 105 (Lanza

et al., 2006). Nevertheless, by adding up pre-ex-

isting and subsequent published data, unpublished

data and new sightings, we demonstrate the pres-

ence of H. italicus in a total of 142 UTM squares.

The report by Ruggi (2007) for Capo d’Acqua, in

Figure 1. Hydromantes italicus updated national distribution. Green dots represent sites in UTM previously published.

Red dots represent new occurences in UTM not yet published: from this study and second-hand data. Blu dots represent

the two known introduced populations. Question marks represent UTM doubtful and not yet confirmed. Figure 2. Sample

sites of the field reserch in Province of Rieti (Latium): 1 Sacro Cuore di Capricchia; 2 Preta; 3 Poggio d'Api (1); 4 Poggio

d'Api (2); 5 Villanova; 6 Pasciano; 7 Grisciano; 8 Cornelle; 9 Sant' Angelo; 10 unnamed road to Macchie piane; 1 1 between

Tino and Accumoli; 12 rx tributary "F.so di Valle Castello"; 13 Libertino; 14 Posta; 15 Scai; 16 Collemagrone; 17 "F.te

Crocetta"; 18 Tino; 19 "F.te i Trocchi". Question mark represent the "M. Utero" area, not confirmed in our study. Figures

3, 4. Hydromantes italicus habitat in Poggio d'Api locality (Fig. 3), one of the three adult individuals observed in the same

site (Fig. 4).

350

Giacomo Bruni etalii

Date

Locality

UTM square

Elevation (m)

Environment

27/01/16

Braceto, Carmignano (PO)

32T PP65

240

Epigeal

2003

Monte Ingino, Gubbio (PG)

33T UJ00

645

Hypogeal

11/01/08

Monte Acuto, Umbertide (PG)

33T TH89

878

Hypogeal

1998

Piano di Nese, Umbertide (PG)

33T TH89

400

Hypogeal

15/05/04

Santa Sabina, Corciano (PG)

33TTH87

226

Hypogeal

09/04/16

Monte Subasio, Assisi (PG)

33TUH17

633

Epigeal

10/08/06

Balza Tagliata, Cerr. di Spoleto (PG)

33T UH34

424

Hypogeal

06/10/06

Bagni di Triponzo, Cerr. di Spoleto (PG)

33TUH34

700

Hypogeal

07/06/15

Valdiea di Camerino, Camerino (MC)

33T UH47

390

Epigeal

12/10/14

Alfi, Fiordimonte (MC)

33T UH46

630

Hypogeal

16/04/16

Vallotica, Sassoferrato (AN)

33T UJ22

460

Epigeal

Table 1 . New localities collected during field survey and not yet published.

Locality

UTM square

References

Ligonchio, Ventasso (RE)

32T PQ00

Sara Lefosse & Alessandro Riga Pers. Comm.

"F.so di Carpineti", Palagano (MO)

32T PQ20

Massimo Gigante Pers. Comm.

Ca Falchetti, San Benedetto Val di Sambro (BO)

32T PP89

Francesco Nigro Pers. comm.

Ponte alia Piera, Anghiari (AR)

32T QP43

Elia Serafini Pers. Comm.

Monte Ascensione, Ascoli Piceno (AP)

33TUH85

Amedeo Capriotti & Giorgio Marini Pers. Comm.

Faeto, Loro Ciuffena (AR)

32TQP12

Nicola Baccetti - Ornitho.it

Anchiano, Borgo a Mozzano (LU)

32T PP26

Enrico Lunghi & Domenico Verducchi - Omitho.it

Cometo, Toano (RE)

32TPQ21

Massimo Gigante - Omitho.it

Table 2. New localities collected from second-hand data.

Date

Locality

UTM square

Amphibian species

8/10/15

Sacro Cuore di Capricchia, Amatrice

33T UH62

8/10/15

Preta, Amatrice

33TUH61

9/10/15

Poggio d’Api, Accumoli (1)

33T UH63

Hydromantes italicus

10/10/15

Poggio d’Api, Accumoli (2)

33T UH63

Rana temporaria

10/10/15

Villanova, Accumoli

33T UH52

Rana italica

10/10/15

Pasciano, Amatrice

33TUH52

Rana italica

8/4/16

Grisciano, Accumoli

33TUH53

8/4/16

Comelle, Amatrice

33TUH51

Tri turns carnifex

8/4/16

Sant’ Angelo, Amatrice

33T UH62

Rana temporaria , Pelophylax sp., Hyla intermedia

8/4/16

Unnamed road to Macchie Piane, Amatrice

33T UH62

Rana italica, Bufo bufo

9/4/16

Poggio d’Api, Accumoli

33T UH63

Rana italica

9/4/16

Between Tino and Accumoli, Accumoli

33T UH52

Hyla intermedia, Bufo bufo

9/4/16

Right tributary "F.so di Valle Castello", Accumoli

33T UH52

Salamandrina perspicillata, Rana italica

9/4/16

Libertino, Accumoli

33T UH52

Triturus carnifex, Rana dalmatina

15/5/15

Posta

33T UH40

15/5/15

Scai, Amatrice

33TUH51

15/5/15

Collemagrone, Amatrice

33TUH51

Rana dalmatina

15/5/15

Comelle, Amatrice

33TUH51

Rana italica

16/5/15

"F.te Crocetta", Accumoli

33TUH53

27/6/16

Tino, Accumoli

33TUH53

Rana italica, Pelophylax sp.

27/6/16

"F.te i Trocchi", Accumoli

33T UH53

Pelophylax sp.

Table 3. Localities investigated in the Province of Rieti (Latium, Italy).

Updated distribution of Hydromantes italicus:o review with new records and the first report for Latium

351

UTM square 33T VG08, is particularly relevant

since represents the first data for the Province of

L’Aquila. Our sighting in the locality of Poggio

d’ Api in the Province of Rieti, despite laying in the

UTM UH63 formerly known for the species, con-

stitutes the first report for the Latium Region. Our

field survey in other zones of the Province of Rieti,

lead us to assume that the species has colonized this

area relatively recently, probably moving up the

right side of the Tronto river’s valley. Furthermore,

it seems plausible that in future the species could

possibly spreads in the area, given the absence of

natural obstacles and the presence of environmental

characteristics compatible with its ecological re-

quirements. On the other hand, the documented

sighting of Italian cave salamander for Monte

Utero, if correct, combined with our negative result

in the search of the species on the left side of the

Tronto’s valley, that anyway could have been

caused by research limits, opens the door to a dif-

ferent way of colonization for this part of the

Province of Rieti. On the basis of genetic findings,

Ruggi (2007) considers reasonable that H. italicus

has had a recent expansion from the Tosco-

Emiliano Apennine south to Abruzzo. This scenario

would explain the partial rarity of the species in the

southern portion of its range, where it could be con-

sidered really threatened (Lanza et al., 2006). In fact

already in the southern part of the Monti Sibillini,

the species is reported in few localities despite the

abundance of limestone substrates that provides

suitable microhabitats (Fiacchini, 2013). The occur-

rence in the Monti della Laga area, at the boundary

between Latium, Abruzzo and Marche regions,

needs to be investigated more carefully in order to

work out the availability and suitability of habitats,

and to evaluate both natural and human threats.

Considering the rarity of H. italicus in the area

of Monti della Laga, protection measures of the

only locality where the species is present will be

strongly required. In fact, it is well-known that an

excessive frequentation of ravines, talwegs, caves

and artificial cavities by the public, together with

the alteration of the natural environment (e.g. wood

cutting) could have a highly negative impact on

salamanders both for microclimate variation in the

refuge surrounding and for habitat damage (Fiac-

chini, 2008; Spilinga et al., 2008). Even though H.

italicus has never been reported in Latium before

this study, the species is listed as protected in the

Regional Law No. 18/1988, and this makes conser-

vation measures easier to apply.

Many of our recent new records refer to indi-

viduals found in epigean environment, where the

detectability of the species is strictly influenced by

meteorological conditions and quite lower than the

one in caves. In order to improve the results during

the investigations of H. italicus in new areas, we

therefore underline the importance of focusing the

research on the surface habitats during favourable

weather conditions (e.g. wet nights or rainy days).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Enrico

Romanazzi (Montebelluna, Treviso, Italy), our great

friend and colleague who always propelled us to

make history with new discoveries. We would like

to thank Sara Lefosse (ASCA, Associazione

Scienze e Comunicazione Ambientale, Rosignano

Marittimo, Italy), Alessandro Riga (ASCA, Asso-

ciazione Scienze e Comunicazione Ambientale,

Rosignano Marittimo, Italy), Massimo Gigante (So-

cieta Reggiana di Scienze Naturali “C. Iacchetti”,

Reggio Emilia, Italy), Francesco Nigro (Bologna,

Italy), Elia Serafmi (Prato, Italy), Amedeo Capriotti

(Ascoli Piceno, Italy) and Giorgio Marini (Ascoli

Piceno, Italy) for providing us their personal obser-

vations. Finally a thought for the inhabitants af-

fected by the recent earthquake of central Italy. In

the hope that the wonderful land in which they live

can be helpful in overcoming this great tragedy.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 353-358

The survey of macrophytes diversity in wetland zone of

Boujagh National Park, Guilan, Iran

Shahryar Saeidi Mehrvarz',Alireza Naqinezhad * 2 , Mokarram Ravanbakhsh 3 ’* & Mohaddese Maghsoudi 3

department of Biology, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

department of Biology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

3 Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Cultural Research (ACECR), Rasht, Iran

’Corresponding author: e-mail: ravanbaklishl355@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to identify the ecological species groups and investigate the diver-

sity among them. The research area comprises a wetland system of Boujagh National Park,

in Northern of Guilan Province, Iran. Vegetation sampling was carried out by 44 sample plots

placed within the different zones in a stratified random manner. In each sampled plot, the

cover percentage value of each species was estimated using Bran-Blanquet scales. Vegetation

was classified using Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). Classification of

plots showed four vegetation groups: “ Cercitophyllum demersum-Nelumbo nucifera, Juncus

acutus-Rubus sanctus , Mentha aquatica-Phragmites australis, Hydrocotyle vu Iga ris - Pit rag-

mites australis ”. Plant diversity in these vegetation groups has been evaluated.The compari-

son of diversity indices among groups was performed with ANOVA test. Results of analysis

of variance in species diversity indices showed significant differences among the groups in

terms of some biodiversity indices. The survey of variation in the groups showed that group

3 had the highest value and group 1 had the lowest in Fisher’s diversity indices and Menhi-

nink’s and Margalef’s richness indices, respectively. In Sheldon’s evenness index group 1 had

the highest and group 2 had the lowest measure. Finally, the overall survey of indices showed

that despite the high richness and diversity in groups 3 and 2, evenness of these groups was

less than group 1 showing the lowest richness and diversity.

KEY WORDS Boujagh National Park; macrophytes; Caspian Sea; Iran.

Received 28.06.2016; accepted 02.08.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Wetland macrophytes are defined as aquatic

emergent, submergent or floating plants growing in

or near water (USEPA, 1998). There are however

some noted shortcomings of using macrophytes as

biological indicators. These include the potential

delay in response time for perennial vegetation, dif-

ficulty in identifying taxa to the species level in cer-

tain seasons and for some genera, different

herbivory patterns and varied pest-management

practices (Cronk & Fennessy, 2001). Despite these

limitations, macrophytes have provided strong si-

gnals of anthropogenic influence (USEPA, 2003).

Know-ledge of the plant communities enables us to

forecast the likely changes in floristic composition

after changes of site factors (Grevilliot & Muller,

2002). Description of patterns in species assembla-

ges and diversity is an essential step before genera-

ting hypotheses in functional ecology (Jonsson &

Moen, 1998).

Vegetation studies on Water and surrounding

354

Shahryar Saeidi Mehrvarz et alii

area in wetland habitats along the southern Caspian

shore have been done by Asri & Aftekhari (2002),

Riazi (1996), Ghahreman & Attar (2003), Shokri et

al. (2004), Asri & Moradi (2006), Jalili et al. (2009),

Zahed et al. (2013) and Naqinezhad & Hosseinza-

deh (2014).

Boujagh National Park (BNP) is the first foun-

ded land-marine National Park and one of nineteen

National Parks in Iran located in Caspian coastline

(Naqinezhad et al., 2006). BNP is a very important

ecosystem complex because of the fact that this area

serves as a very valuable resting, nesting and win-

tering place for a wide variety of waterfowls par-

ticularly Siberian Crane, an endangered migratory

bird (Naqinezhad, 2012). Some studies were con-

ducted on the Flora and identification of species

groups of this national park. The floristic study of

this unique ecosystem was investigated for the first

time by Naqinezhad et al. (2006). They identified

248 vascular plants and 10 bryophytes out of

which six taxa are endemic for the flora of Iran.

Naqinezhad (2012) recognized nine vegetation

types in the area based with physiognomic-ecologic

approach. This study was carried out to identify

ecological species groups of the wetland zone of

Boujagh National Park by phytosociological ana-

lysis of existing vegetation and inventory plant spe-

cies diversity in this part of BNP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

Boujagh National Park is located on the coast of

Caspian Sea. This national park is located in Guilan

Province, about 2 km away from north of Kiashahr

city, and 35 km from northwest of Rasht city. It is

21m below sea level and has an area of 3177 ha.

Its geographical coordinates are 49°51'40"-

49°59'50"E and 37°25'00"- 37°28'50"N. Boujagh

and Kiashahr Lagoons are located within this

national park (Reihanian et al., 2012; Naqinezhad,

2012 ).

Sampling methods

Vegetation surveys were conducted within the

period 2013-2014. A total of 44 sample plots (2 m

x 2 m) were placed within the different zones in a

stratified random manner. In each sampled plot, the

cover percentage value of each species was estim-

ated using Braun-Blanquet scale (Braun-Blaunquet,

1964; Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg, 1974).

Data analysis

Vegetation analysis method

The phytosociological data were collected dur-

ing 2014-2015 using the cover-abundance scales.

A divisive classification of 44 items was carried out,

using the modified TWINSPAN embedded in a

JUICE program (Tichy, 2002). Pseudospecies cut

levels were set to seven and the values of cut levels

to 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Five items were selected as a

minimum group size for division. The fidelity of

species to clusters and diagnostic species for par-

ticular vegetation units were calculated with the

help of presence/absence data using the phi-coeffi-

cient. Threshold value of phi = 0.25 was selected

(Tichy & Chytry, 2006).

Measuring plant diversity

To quantify the diversity of the plant species,

The Shannon- Wiener diversity index (FT), Simpson

diversity index (1-D), Fisher’s alpha-a diversity

index(a), Menhinink richness index (DMn), Mar-

galef richness index (DMg) and Sheldon eveness

index (Buzas & Gibson eveness index) (E3) were

used (Kent & Cocker, 1992; Flarper, 1999). The

formulas are shown in Table 1 .

Comparison of plant diversity

Normality of the data distribution was checked

by Kolmogorov Smirnov test, and Levene’s test

was used to examine the equality of the variances.

One-way analysis (ANOVA) of variance was used

to compare groups with normal distribution data.

Duncan test was used to test for significant differ-

ences in the species richness, diversity and evenness

indices among the groups. This analysis was con-

ducted using SPSS 16.0.

RESULTS

Modified TWINSPAN analysis was based on

The survey of macrophytes diversity in wetland zone of Boujagh National Park, Guilan, Iran

355

44 plots from coastal area of Boujagh National

Park. Four distinct groups of species were identi-

fied (Fig. 1).

Details of each group are as follows:

Group I ( Ceratophyllum demersum-Nelumbo

nucifera). This plant group shows 13 plots situated

in the middle of Boujagh and Kiashahr Lagoons, in

the deepest areas. Ceratophyllum demersum L. and

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. are dominant species.

This group was seen in Boujagh Lagoon with

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. but this species was not

seen in Kiashahr Lagoon. Most important indicator

species include Myriophyllum spicatum L., Pot-

amogeton crispus L., Potamogeton pectinatus, Pot-

amogeton pusillus L., Stuckenia pectinata (L.)

Boemer, and Zannichellia palustris L.

Group II ( Juncus acutus-Rubus sanctus ). This

group with 8 plots grows in wet marginal area of

the lagoons where soil consists of sand and clay.

This group includes a narrow strip on the eastern

and western parts of Kiashahr Lagoon and northern

and southern parts of Boujagh Lagoon. Juncus acutus

L., Rubus sanctus Schreb., Equisetum ramosissimum

Desf. and Geraniumn mode L. are diagnostic spe-

cies.

Group III ( Mentha aquatica-Phragmites austra-

lis). This group shows 6 plots situated in the mar-

ginal area of lagoons where soil is wet and swampy.

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. can be

found in a narrow strip around the lagoons. It is an

invasive-helophyte species and reduces frequency

of hydrophyte in open water. Also Mentha aquatica

L. is an indicator species that can be seen in the

Diversity index

Richness index

Eveness index

H' = ~£pi In Pi=~J(Pi)<logpi)

i 1 ~ 2 _. ni

i - d = y Pf Pi = —

tt N

S-l

° Me = LnN

D M „=4=

e*.

J = a*ln(l+ n /a)

Table 1. Richness, diversity and evenness indices used in

this study. Pi = relative frequency of ith species, S = number

of species(taxa), n is number of individuals, N = Total indi-

vidual of species

most wet area particularly East of Kiashahr Lagoon

and South of Boujagh Lagoon.

Group IV ( Hydrocotyle vulgaris -Phragmites

australis). This group including 17 plots is situated

in the wet marginal (northeastern and eastern) area

of Kiashahr lagoon. This group makes a border

between marginal and open water. Hydrocotyle

vulgaris L., Phragmites australis , Poa annua L.,

and Sambucus ebulus L. are diagnostic species.

Species diversity among groups

First of all, based on Kolmogorov- Smirnov test

it was confirmed that data were normally distrib-

uted. For analyzing the diversity among the groups,

one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.

ANOVA results of diversity indices among groups

and mean and standard error of diversity indices are

listed in Table 2. ANOVA showed that there were

significant differences among groups in terms of

Sheldon’s evenness index and Menhinink ’s rich-

ness index (P<0.05).

Duncan's test of groups is showed in figures 2-

5. Figure 2 shows the changes of Fisher diversity

indices; group 3 and group 1 show the maximum

and minimum values, respectively. No significant

difference was observed between groups 2 and 4.

Figures 3 and 4 show the changes of Menhinink

and Margalef s richness indices among ecological

groups. Group 1 had the lowest value, whereas the

highest value was showed by Group 3. These meas-

urements indicated that there is not significant dif-

ference between groups 2 and 3 for both Menhinink

and Margalef indexes.

Figure 5 shows the changes of sheldon’s even-

ness index among ecological groups. The highest

value of sheldon’s evenness index was in group 1 .

While group 2 had the lowest value. Fort his index

there was not significant difference between groups

3 and 4. Finally, the overall survey of indices

showed that, despite the high richness and diversity

in groups 3 and 2, evenness of these groups was

lower than in group 1 , which had the lowest rich-

ness and diversity.

DISCUSSION

This study, for the first time, introduced ecolo-

gical species groups in wetland zone of Boujagh

356

Shahryar Saeidi Mehrvarz et alii

Diversity index

Mean

square

Mean and standard

error

Diversity index

Shanon diversity index

0.828

0.48

0.188

1.440 ±0.071

Simpson diversity index

0.210

0.88

0.006

0.677 ±0.024

Fisher’s diversity index

2.227

010

3.867

2.022 ±0.209

Richness index

Menhininlc ’s richness

index

2.730

0.05*

0.265

0.644 ±0.049

Margalef richness index

7.2.617

0.06

1.800

1.485 ±0.131

Evenness index

Sheldon’s evenness index

3.856

0.01*

0.087

0.563 ±0.024

Table 2. ANOVA results of diversity indices among groups and mean and standard error of diversity indices.

Figure 1. The cluster analysis to classify

samples by Modified TWINSPANS.

National Park (BNP) assessed by floristic method

and multivariate analysis. Modified TWINSPAN

analysis identified four species groups.

The vegetation groups in the Caspian Sea co-

astal wetlands were analyzed by different methods

such as physiognomic, Braun-Blanquet and multi-

variate methods which led to the identification of

the following groups, communities and types: Ju fi-

cus, Rubus, Sand dune, Halophyte, Hydrophyte

(Shokri et al., 2004); Juncus acutus L., Ruppia

maritima L., Typha latifolia-Phragmites australis,

Schoenoplectus litoralis (Schrad.) Palla, Nelum-

bium caspicum Fisch. ex DC., Ceratophyllum de-

ni ers u m - Myri o p hy 1 1 u m spicatum (Naqinezhad,

2012), Potamogeton pectinatus, Ceratophylletum

demersum-Azolla fdiculoides, Nymphaea alba, Ne-

lumbo nucifera Gaertn., Phragmites australis, Hy-

drocotyle ranunculoides L.f., Typha latifolia L.,

Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl., Sparganium neglec-

tum Beeby, Cyperus transitorius Kiik., Paspalum

distichum L., Cerastium dichotomum L. (Asri &

Moradi, 2006); Lemno minoris-Azolletum fdiculo-

idis, Lemno minoris-Spirodeletum polyrrhizae,

Lemnetum minori-trisulcae, Salvinietum natantis,

Hydrocharitetum morsus-ranae, Utricularietum aus-

tralis, Trapo-Potametum crispi, Trapo-Potametum

pectinati, Potametum pectinati, Ceratophylletum

demersi, Hydrilletum verticillatae, Myriophylletum

verticillati, Nelumbietum nucifei, Batrachietum

trichophylli, Marsileo-Callirichetum brutiae, Pota-

metum nodosi, Phragmitetum australis, Schoeno-

plectetum lacustris, Hydrocotyletum ranunculoidis ,

Iridetum pseudacori, Typhetum latifoliae, Sparga-

nietum neglecti, Nasturietum officinalis, Paspale-

tum distichi, Rorippetum islandicae, Cyperetum

serotini, Alismo-Sagittarietum sagittifoliae, Carice-

tum ripariae, Juncetum effusi, Cyperetum longi,

Bidentetum cernuae, Bidento tiipartitae-Polygonetum

hydropiperis (Asri & Eftekhari, 2002).

Comparing our research to other studies showed

that groups of Mentha aquatica-Phragmites australis

and Hydrocotyle vulgaris-Phragmites australis are

new groups in wetland of southern Caspian Sea.

Naqinezhad et al. (2013) in survay of biomass

in Babol wetlands (cosatal wetlands of southern Ca-

spian Sea) mentioned that Ceratophyllum demer-

sum and Nelumbium nuciferum can be rarely

obseved together, mainly because they grow at dif-

ferent depths. The co-existence of the two species

in the Boujagh wetland conflicts with the above res-

ults. In this case, the overlap of depth ranges of the

two groups of floating (10-140 cm) and submerged

plants (40-160 cm) (Jalili et al., 2009) justifies their

co-existence in the same group.

The survey of macrophytes diversity in wetland zone of Boujagh National Park, Guilan, Iran

357

ANOVA results indicated that group 1 ( Cerato -

phyllum demersum-Nelumbo nucifera) showed less

diversity and richness but more evenness than

others groups. The survey of geographical location

of these groups showed group lis located in a deep

area, whereas other groups are on the sidelines or

shallow area. Low diversity and richness of this

group, compared to other groups, could be due to

the reduction of the area of the deep section and the

increase of the other areas (sidelines and shallow

area); also euhydrophytic plants have less diversity

than terrestrial and marginal ones because of more

uniformity in aquatic ecosystems. In fact, as already

reported (Seabloom et al., 1998), depth gradients

can show floristic differences in wetlands.

Groups 2 and 3 had more diversity and richness

than group 4. Evaluation of functional types of spe-

cies in each of these groups showed groups 2 and 3

consist of emergent indicator species while groups

4 included emergent and floating species. In partic-

ular, marginal groups, i.e. those settled at lower

depth, with low humidity and faraway from the cen-

ter of the lagoon, showedmore richness and di-

versity.

Boujagh National Park is the first land-marine

national park and one of 19 National Parks in Iran

as well as the first one in Guilan Province. Habitat

variation in the study area makes it possible to

provide diversity of plant taxa as well as the devel-

opment of ecologically specialized plant communit-

ies (Naqinezhad et al., 2006). On the other hand,

this unique ecosystem does not show suitable envir-

onmental conditions. The main reasons for the de-

struction of this wetland ecosystem include:

pollution of agricultural land, urban and rural

settlements, agricultural land and industries, imple-

mentation of development projects and infrastruc-

ture such as roads, power transmission lines, port

development of fisheries to Commercial port, cre-

ating fish ponds, illegal hunting, waste accumula-

tion on the eastern part of the wetland, presence of

non-native Azolla species, harvesting of wetland

Figure 2. Changes in Fisher’s diversity index

among ecological groups.

Figure 4. Changes in Margalef ’s richness index

among ecological groups.

3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00

Figure 3. Changes in Menhinink ’s richness index

among ecological groups.

Figure 5. Changes in in sheldon’s evennes index

among ecological groups.

358

Shahryar Saeidi Mehrvarz et alii

margins and widespread and uncontrolled presence

of tourists. Comprehensive management plans

within the framework of the ecosystem can be of

some help inconservation and protection of species

diversity in this park.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the Environmental Re-

search Institute, Academic Center for Education,

Cultural Research (ACECR), for financial support.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 359-364

Notes on the Avifauna in and around Devkhop lake of Palghar,

India

Rao Birendra Singh, Anuja A. Desale, Swapnil J. Keni* & Ravindra G. Gupta

Department of Zoology, S.D.S.M. College, Palghar-401404(M.S.). India

^Corresponding author, e-mail: dr_rbs_sdsm@yahoo.co.in*/ Swapnilkenil3@gmail.com

ABSTRACT In the present paper, the Authors show the results of their research carried out on birds of

a peculiar and interesting natural habitat. The Devkhop Lake is located at the Palghar-

Manor highway about 5 km away from Palghar city (India). It is a perennial lake and it is

a very good site for the water birds including the migratory ones. It also provides a rich

diet to birds. We have surveyed the avian fauna of this area from May 2015 to February

2016 and we recorded total 31 species of birds belonging to 8 orders and 20 families. Pas-

seriformes and Ciconiiformes are the dominating orders in our observations which consti-

tuted 60% of total birds observed in this period. The families Corvidae, Anatidae, Ardeidae

were found dominant with four, four and three species, respectively. In this paper qualitative

enumeration of avifauna is discussed and a comparison is made with other studies on birds

found in similar habitats.

KEY WORDS Avifaunal Diversity; Conservation; Devkhop Lake.

Received 21.07.2016; accepted 30.08.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

The Devkhop Lake is located at the Palghar-

Manor highway about 5 km away from Palghar city.

It is surrounded by deciduous forest and hillocks of

Vaghoba tourist place. Vaghoba hill is the highest

peak in this area. In the neighborhood there are two

Adivashi padas namely Dasturi pada and Kathe

Pada located at the northern and western side of the

lake respectively. It is a good catchment area of rain

water flowing from surrounding hillocks and the

same is being utilized for irrigation, household

things and fishing by local inhabitants. It is a peren-

nial lake as government has constructed dam to-

wards the downwards slope in the northern part of

the lake which is helpful to keep water throughout

the year.

Since water is available through the year and

the lake is isolated from the thickly human popu-

lation of Palghar city, it is a good adobe for resid-

ential and migratory birds (Fig. 1). Anon (2000)

reported that the freshwater biodiversity is the most

threatened of all types of diversity and wetlands are

found to be the richest sites by holding major share

of the existing avifauna. It is being suggested that

the avifauna are important for the ecosystem as

they play various roles as scavengers, pollinators

and predators of insect pests (Padmavati et al.,

2010). Surana et al. (2007) studied the birds of

Chimdi lake of Nepal; Singh & Roy (1990) studied

the ecology of birds of Kawar lake in Bihar.

During the last few decades considerable stud-

ies on avifauna diversity from different fresh-

water bodies of India have been carried out by re-

360

Rao Birendra Singh etalii

searchers like, Osmatston (1922), Ali (1932), Kan-

non (1980), Mujumdar (1984), Davidar (1985),

Newton et al. (1986), Jhingram (1988), Ghosal

(1995), Rathore & Sharma (1999), Yardi et al.

(2004), Kulkami et al. (2005), Kumar (2006).

The primary purpose of this paper is to integ-

rate the principles of ecology with the social and

environment problems of society. Society still

fails to understand her true position in the planet

and knowledge of ecology has not yet taken hold

to produce the kind of wisdom needed for our

own survival. Therefore, there is need of hours for

ecological knowledge to be greater than ever in

this modern technological advance period. The

present study is carried out to find out the avian

diversity and to create the awareness for their

conservation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

This study was conducted in Palghar city of

Maharashtra state which is situated between Geo-

graphic coordinates of Latitude: 19°41 '48" N Lon-

gitude: 72°45'55" E. Elevation above sea level:

17 m = 55 ft. It is a town and a Municipal Council

located about 87 kilometers north of Mumbai.

Palghar lies on the Western Line of the Mumbai Sub-

Figure 1. The Devkhop Lake of Palghar, India.

urban Railway on the busy Mumbai- Ahmadabad

rail corridor. In addition to this, Tembhode Lake,

Ganesh kund and other water bodies are also in the

close proximity of the study area. Agriculture and

fishing in this area are mainly dependent on mon-

soon rain. It is the administrative capital of the

newly formed Palghar District.

Methods

The entire observations were conducted by rig-

orous field surveys all around the lake. Observa-

tions were recorded by using Nikon Action 10x50

binocular and relevant photographs were taken by

Canon 700 D.

Birds were identified with the help of noting,

standard methods given by Ali & Ripley (1969,

1995), Ali (1996, 2002), Grimmett et al. (1999).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Birds are considered as useful biological indic-

ators because they are ecologically versatile and

live in all kinds of habitats as herbivores or carni-

vorous. They are susceptible to the change in wet-

lands or other ecosystems. Some birds are

migratory, which are responsible for fluctuation in

the population of birds that occurs during different

seasons of the year, which may help to know

whether an area is normal or getting polluted, as

total absence of birds may be considered as pollu-

tion indicator (Borale et al.,1994). A total of 31

birds belonging to 8 orders and 20 families were re-

corded between May 2015 and February 2016 from

Devkhop lake and its surrounding area (Table 1).

This is the first record of avian biodiversity of

Devkhop Lake in Palghar district of Maharashtra

state in which the Lake exhibits qualitative variation

in avifauna.

Order Passeriformes (14 species) was the most

represented followed by Ciconiiformes (7), Anseri-

formes (4), Coraciformes (2), Charadrinii formes

(2), Columbiformes (1), Apodiformes (1), and

Gruiforme (1) (Fig. 2).

The families Anatidae and Ardeidae were found

dominant with four and three species, respectively

indicating the wetlands moderately support shore-

birds. The other families were as follows: Musci-

capidae (2), Motacillidae (2), Pycnonotidae (2)

Notes on the Avifauna in and around Devkhop lake of Palghar, India

361

ORDER

FAMILY

SCIENTIFIC NAME

COMMON NAME

PASSERIFORMES

MUSCICAPIDAE

Saxicolodies fulicata (Linnaeus, 1766)

Indian Robin

Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Magpie Robin

MOTACILLIDAE

Motacilla cinere cinere (Tunstall, 1771)

Grey wagtail

Motacilla flava (Swinhoe, 1 863)

Yellow wagtail

STURNIDAE

Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766)

Common myna

NECTARIN IID AE

Nectarinia minima (Sykes, 1832)

Smallsun bird

HIRUNDINIDAE

Hirundo daurica daurica (Linnaeus, 1771)

Redrumped swallows

PYCNONOTIDAE

Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766)

Red vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Redwhiskered bulbul

LANIIDAE

Lanius excubitor (Sykes, 1 832)

Great grey shrike

DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis ( Vieillot, 1817)

Black drongo

CORVIDAE

Corvus splendens (Vieillot, 1817)

House crow

Corvus macrorhynchos (Sykes, 1832)

Jungle crow

PEOCEIDAE

Passer domesticus indicus (Jardine et Selby, 1835)

House sparrow

AN SERIF ORMES

ANATIDAE

Anas poecilorhyncha (J.R. Forster, 1781)

Spot bill duck

Anas crecca (Linnaeus ,1758)

Common teal

Nettapus coromandelianus (Gmelin, 1789)

Cotton teal

Anas clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Shoveller

CICONIIFORMES

ARDEIDAE

Ardeola grayii (Skyes, 1832)

Pond heron

Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766)

Little Egrets

Bubulcus ibis (Boddaret, 1783)

Cattle Egrets

PFIALACROCORACIDAE

Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817)

Little cormorant

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (Stephens, 1826)

Indian shag

CICONIIDAE

Anastomus oscitans (Boddert, 1780)

Asian open bill stork

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Pseudibis papillos (Temminack, 1 824)

Black ibis

CORACIFORMES

ALCEDINIDAE

Halcyon smyrnensis (Oberholser, 1915)

Whitebreasted Kingfisher

COLUMBIFORMES

COLUMBIDAE

Streptopelia chinensis (Gmelin, 1789)

Spotted dove

CHARADRINI1FORMES

JACANIDAE

Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scopoli 1786)

Pheasant-tailed j acana

Metopidius indicus (Latham, 1790)

Bronze winged j acana

APODIFORMES

APODIDAE

Cypsiurus parvus (J.G.Gray,1829)

Palm swift

GRUIFORMES

RALLIDAE

Fulica air a atra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Coot

Table 1 . Check list of birds which were observed in Devkhop Lake

from May 20 1 5 to February 20 1 6

362

Rao Birendra Singh etalii

I Passeriformes

I Ciconiiformes

Anserifonnes

I Charadriniiformes

Columbifonnes

Coracifonnes

Apodiformes

Gruiformes

Figure 2. The Order wise distribution of avian fauna at

Devkhop Lake of Palghar, India.

Corvidae (2), Phalacrocoracidae (2), Jacanidae (2),

Stumidae (1), Nectariniidae (1), Hirandinidae (1),

Laniidae (1), Dicruridae (1), Ploceidae (1),

Ciconiidae (1), Threskiornithidae (1), Alcedinidae

(1), Columbidae (1), Apodidae (1), and Rallidae (1)

(Fig. 3).

As far as the Authors know, a similar type of

study was carried out by Vikas (2015), where 99

birds’ species were recorded in Vansda National

Park, Gujarat. Kurhade (1991) recorded 51 bird

species in Ahmednagar district. Vyawahare (1991)

listed 245 bird species in Dhule district of Mahara-

shtra. Prashant et al. (1994) in their study of coastal

area of Nellore district recorded 78 species of birds.

Terdalkar et al. (2005) listed 45 species of birds

belonging to 18 families around Bhatye estuary,

Ratnagiri.

The present work is an attempt to establish the

richness of the Devkhop Lake in respect of avian

fauna as birds are excellent indicators of ecolo-

gical health. From the above results it could be

made out that the availability of water, safe hab-

itat and food sources for both common and mi-

Figure 3. The family wise distribution of avian fauna at Devkhop Lake of Palghar, India.

Notes on the Avifauna in and around Devkhop lake of Palghar, India

363

gratory birds around the water bodies are import-

ant for the occurrence and abundance of avian

population.

CONCLUSIONS

Around 31 species of birds belonging to 8 orders

and 20 families were recorded in the study area. The

proper and regular maintenance of district water

bodies would further increase the avian diversity /

population along with the incessant bird lovers’

interest for this region.

During our study we also found that local inhab-

itants were collecting the eggs from the lake which

is the cause of great concern for the richness of this

ecosystem and in turn its conservation. Further in-

tensive study of Devkhop lake is required to de-

velop this place for avian conservation and tourists’

pleasure.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are thankful to Dr. Hemant M. Pednekar,

Principal and the Management of S.D.S.M. Col-

lege, Palghar-401404 Maharashtra, India, for mo-

tivation and help during this study.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2016, 7 (3): 365-384

Two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily

(Italy)

Fabio Liberto 1 , Agatino Reitano 2 *, Salvatore Giglio 3 , Maria Stella Colomba 4 & Ignazio Sparacio 5

'Via del Giubileo Magno 93, 90015 Cefalu, Italy; email: fabioliberto@yahoo.it

2 Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Comiso, via degli Stndi 9, 97013 Comiso, Italy; e-mail: tinohawk@yahoo.it

3 Contrada Settefrati, 90015 Cefalu, Italy; email: hallucigenia@tiscali.it 3

3 Universita di Urbino, Dept, of Biomolecular Sciences, via Maggetti 22, 61029 Urbino, Italy; email: mariastella.colomba@uniurb.it

5 Via Principe di Paterno 3, 90144 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: isparacio@inwind.it

’Corresponding author

ABSTRACT In the present paper the Authors describe two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of

Sicily (Italy): Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. from SE-Sicily and Siciliaria calcarae orlandoi n.

ssp. from W-Sicily. The two new species are described by virtue of their distinctive concho-

logical and anatomical features. Additional biological and taxonomic notes are provided.

KEY WORDS Door snails; Clausiliidae; Muticaria', Siciliaria', new taxa; taxonomy; Sicily.

Received 30.07.2016; accepted 01.09.2016; printed 30.09.2016

INTRODUCTION

Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 and Siciliaria Vest,

1867 s. str. are xeroresistant and calcicolous mol-

lusks, widespread, the first, in CE and SE-Sicily and

Maltese Islands, the second in W-Sicily and Egadi

Islands (Alzona, 1971; Beckmann, 1990, 1992;

Cossignani & Cossignani, 1995; Giusti et al., 1995;

Manganelli et al., 1995; Nordsieck, 2007, 2013;

Liberto et al., 2010, 2015; Bank, 2011; Colomba et

al., 2012. The strict connection between the geolo-

gical nature (calcareous) of the soil they live in and

the extremely scarce vagility of specimens results

in island-like distributional patterns and contributes

to high levels of endemism. Nordsieck (2007) listed

6 taxa of specific and subspecific ranks for Muti-

caria and 16 taxa for Siciliaria s. str. Recently, Co-

lomba et al. (2012) described a new species of

Muticaria.

The researches carried out in the last years on

the Sicilian freshwater and land mollusks allow us

to describe two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda

Pulmonata), Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. from SE-

Sicily and Siciliaria {Siciliaria) calcarae orlandoi

n. ssp. from W-Sicily.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. AUPP

= anterior upper palatal plica; BC = bursa copulatrix;

BCD = diverticulum of bursa copulatrix; CD = co-

pulatory duct; CL = columellar lamella; D = shell

width; DBC = duct of the bursa copulatrix; DE = di-

stal epiphallus; FO = free oviduct; G = penial papilla;

GA = genital atrium; H = shell height; L = lunella;

LPP = lower palatal plica (basal plica); P = penis; PD

= diverticulum of penis; PE = proximal epiphallus;

PL = parietal lamella; PLL = parallel lamella; PP =

principal plica; PR = penial retractor muscle; PUPP

= posterior upper palatal plica; SCL = subcolumellar

lamella; SL = spiral lamella; SUL = sulcalis plica; SP

= sutural plica; V = vagina; VD = vas deferens; ex/x

= specimen/s, s.l. = sensu lato; s. str. = sensu stricto.

The materials used for this study are deposited

in the following Museums and private collections:

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Fabio Liberto et alii

A. Brancato collection, Syracuse, Italy (CB); S.

Giglio collection, Cefalu, Italy (CG); Laboratory of

Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology, University of

Urbino, Italy (LCMBU); F. Liberto collection,

Cefalu, Italy (CL); Museo Naturalistico F. Mina

Palumbo, Castelbuono, Italy (MNMP); Museo

Civico di Storia Naturale di Comiso (MSNC);

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova “G.

Doria”, Italy (MSNG); Museo Regionale di Ter-

rasini (MRT); A. Reitano collection, Tremestieri

Etneo, Italy (CR); I. Sparacio collection, Palermo,

Italy (CS); R. Viviano collection, Palermo, Italy

(CV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All specimens were collected by sight on the

soil and under the rocks. Observations on ecology

of these organisms were made directly in the field.

Dry shells have been studied as regard size, colour,

morphology, sculpture, aperture, plicae and lamel-

lae, lunella and clausilium. In order to study and

illustrate genital organs, the specimens were

drowned in water and fixed in 75% ethanol. Re-

productive apparatus was extracted by means of

scalpel, scissors and needles. Photographs were

taken with a digital camera. Height and maximum

diameter of the shell along with some parts of

genitalia were measured (in millimeters) by a

digital gauge. Voucher specimens were stored in

collections listed above. Toponyms (place-names)

are reported following the Portale Cartografico

Nazionale (PCN, http://www.pcn.minambiente.it

/PCN/), Map IGM 1:25000. Each locality and/or

collection site is in the original language (Italian).

All the specimens were studied by a Leica MZ

7.5 steromicroscope. The taxonomic order and no-

menclatural arrangement follow Nordsieck (2007,

2013) and Bank (2011).

RESULTS

SYSTEMATICS

Phylum MOLLUSC A Cuvier, 1795

Classis GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1795

Ordo PULMONATA Cuvier in Blainville, 1814

Subordo STYLOMMATOPHORAA. Schmidt, 1855

Familia CLAUSILIIDAE J.E. Gray, 1855

Subfamilia ALOPIINAE A. J. Wagner, 1913

Tribus MEDORINII H. Nordsieck, 1997

Genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925

Type species: Clausilia scalaris L. Pfeiffer, 1850

Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. (Figs. 1-13)

Examined material. Holotype: Italy, Sicily,

Siracusa, Epipoli, 37°05’20”N, 15 0 13’49”E, 122 m,

legit A. Reitano, 5.V.2015 (MSNC n. 4537). Para-

types: Siracusa, Epipoli, Castello di Eurialo,

37°05'20"N, 15°13'48"E, 112 m, legit A. Reitano

and A. Brancato, 8.XI.2012, 5 exx (LCMBU);

idem, 3 shells (MSNC n. 4537); idem, 49 shells (CL

n. 16514-16562); idem, 8.XI.2012, legit A. Re-

itano, 38 exx (CR); idem, 2 exx (MSNG), idem, 2

exx (MNMP); idem, 37°05'20"N, 15°13'49"E, 122

m, legit A. Reitano, 5.V.2015, 6 exx, 13 shell (CL

n. 16771-16789); idem, legit A. Reitano, 6.IV.2016,

8 exx (CL n. 16798-16805); idem, legit A. Reit-

ano, 6.IV.2016, 28 exx (CS); idem, 37 o 05'20"N,

15°13'48"E, 112 m, legit A. Reitano, 6.IV.2016, 3

exx (MSNC n. 4538, 4539, 4540); idem, 8.VI.2016,

15 shells (CL n. 17293-177307).

Description of Holotype. Shell sinistral, di-

mensions: height: 13.58 mm, maximum diameter:

4.2 mm, cylindrical-fusiform, decollate, rather ro-

bust, light yellowish-grey in colour; external sur-

face with minute, raised, close ribs, 40 ribs on

penultimate whorl; last whorl with robust and spa-

ced ribs; spire slowly and regularly growing, with

4 whorls; last whorl tapering downwards, with el-

evated and curved cervical keel and lower basal

keel; suture moderately deep; umbilicus closed;

square aperture, with 5 lamellae (on parietum and

columellar side) and lunella and 5 plicae (on pal-

atum); on parietum, starting from suture, there are:

very long parallel lamella, emerging in its anterior

portion and well prolonged inside the shell in its

posterior portion; short spiral lamella, deviating

from centre of parietum to adhere to parallel

lamella; (upper) parietal tooth-like lamella; on

columellar side there are a low columellar lamella

and an internal subcolumellar lamella; on palatum

(Fig. 3) there is an evident and raised lunella and,

starting from suture: two sutural plicae, the prin-

cipal plica is robust in its posterior portion, whereas

its anterior portion, fused to anterior upper palatal

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

367

Figure 1. Shell of Muticaria cyclopica n. sp., Italy, Sicily, Siracusa, Epipoli, H: 11.35 mm - D: 3.90 mm (MSNC n. 4537).

Figure 2. Idem, H: 13.95 mm - D: 4.40 mm (CL n. 16527).

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Fabio Liberto et alii

Figures 3-8. Muticaria cyclopica n. sp., Siracusa, Epipoli: palatum, parietum, clausilium. Figure 3. Palatum of holotype

(MSNC n. 4537). Figure 4. Palatum (CLn. 16514). Figures 5-6. Parietum of two specimens (CLn. 16522, 16523). Figures

7-8. Clausilium of two specimens (CL).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

369

Figures 9-13. Genitalia of Muticaria cyclopica n. sp., Siracusa, Epipoli. Figure 9. Genitalia of holotype (MSNC n. 4537).

Figure 10. Internal structure of penis, with penial papilla (same specimen of figure 9). Figure 11. Genitalia (CL n. 16772).

Figure 12. Genitalia (CL n. 16798). Figure 13. Internal structure of penis, with penial papilla (same specimen of figure 12).

370

Fabio Liberto et alii

plica, is thinner and raised; rudimental posterior

upper palatal plica fused to lunella apex; short basal

plica fused to the base of lunella, small and curved

sulcal plica; clausilium slender; plough-like basal

plate, apically pointed, with subparallel columellar

and palatal edges, and rounded sutural angle;

peristome continuous, reflected, distinct from the

wall of the last whorl.

Genitalia (Figs. 9, 10) are characterized by:

short vagina (1.47 mm), very short free oviduct (0.4

mm), well developed ovispermiduct and a short

copulatory duct (0.9 mm) ending in a branched

bursa copulatrix complex: one branch consisting of

a short and wide diverticulum of the bursa copu-

latrix (0.78 mm) and the other branch with very

short bursa copulatrix duct and oval and elongated

(1.52 mm) bursa copulatrix. Penial complex con-

sisting of flagellum, epiphallus, penial diverticulum

and penis; epiphallus (2 mm) divided, by point in-

sertion of robust penial retractor muscle, into prox-

imal and distal portions, the latter very short; very

short and pointed penial diverticulum (0.55 mm)

arising on border between distal epiphallus and

penis; penis short (1.22 mm). Internal walls of penis

without pleat.

Variability. Shell (10 specimens examined)

(Figs. 1,2, 4-8): dimensions in decollate specimens

(4-5 whorls): height: 15.19-12.55 mm (on aver-

age: 13.59 mm); maximum diameter: 4.43-3.90

mm (on average: 4.21 mm). The number of ribs on

2 mm of the penultimate whorl ranges from 9 to 7

(on average, 7.7); parallel lamella from emerging

to scarcely visible in frontal view of the aperture;

spiral lamella adherent or fused to parallel lamella.

Genitalia (5 specimens examined) (Figs. 11, 13):

short to moderately long vagina (1.20-1.65 mm)

and copulatory duct (0.9-1.65 mm); pointed to

round penial diverticulum.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived

from the English word cyclopic referring to the

characteristic ancient Greek cyclopic walls of the

type locality.

Biology and Distribution. Like the other Muti-

caria species, M. cyclopica n. sp. is xeroresistant

and calcicolous and lives on limestone blocks of the

ancient Greek walls of the type locality and under

stones in stony soils.

The genus Muticaria is represented by about 7

taxa, most of which having a strictly limited distri-

bution in C-E and S-E Sicily (Fig. 14) and Maltese

Islands. M. syracusana (Philippi, 1836) is confined

to a few coastal locality of Syracuse province (locus

typicus Syracuse: Philippi, 1836), M. neuteboomi

Beckmann, 1990 (locus typicus Cava d’lspica,

Modica, Raguse province: Beckmann, 1990) occurs

throughout the greater part of the S-E Sicily, M.

brancatoi Colomba, Gregorini, Liberto, Reitano,

Giglio et Sparacio, 2012 has a restricted distribution

to South of Syracuse, and M. cyclopica n. sp., at

moment, is known only for the description locality:

Epipoli, a hill about 150 m high, very close to the

modem city of Syracuse (20-60 m). Muticaria

macrostoma (Cantraine, 1835) is endemic to the

Maltese Islands where it occurs with four subspe-

cies: M. macrostoma macrostoma , M. macrostoma

scalaris (L. Pfeiffer, 1850), M. macrostoma oscit-

ans (Charpentier, 1852) and M. macrostoma mamot-

ica (Gulia, 1861).

Comparative notes. Muticaria cyclopica n. sp.

is morphologically closer to M. brancatoi n. sp. than

other Muticaria species (see Colomba et al., 2012);

for the morphology of other Muticaria species see

Giusti et al. (1995) and Colomba et al. (2010).

However, M. cyclopica n. sp. has a mdimental

posterior upper palatal plica (absent in M. bran-

catoi ), a more raised anterior portion of principal

plica (fused to anterior upper palatal plica), a longer

and often emerging parallel lamella; the genitalia

have a smaller penial diverticulum and the internal

walls of penis without pleats (present in M. bran-

catoi).

Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. is similar to M. syra-

cusana in morphology of shell but it is distinct for

the longer and often emerging parallel lamella, the

thinner anterior portion of principal plica (fused to

anterior upper palatal plica), the mdimental pos-

terior upper palatal plica (more developed in M. sy-

racusana); genitalia have a smaller penial divertic-

ulum and shorter copulatory duct.

Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. is well distinct also

from M. neuteboomi and M. macrostoma mac-

rostoma for the anterior portion of principal plica

fused to anterior upper palatal plica (indipendent in

M. neuteboomi and M. macrostoma spp.) and for

longer parallel lamella which adheres to spiral

lamella (indipendent in M. neuteboomi , M. mac-

rostoma macrostoma, M. macrostoma oscitans and

M. macrostoma scalaris).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

371

Figure 14. Geographic distribution of genus Muticaria in CE

and SE Sicily (in yellow) withM cyclopica n. sp. (triangle),

M. brancatoi (star), M. syracusana (square) and M. neute-

boomi (dots).

Genitalia with very short penial diverticulum,

longer in M. neuteboomi and M. macrostoma mac-

rostoma, M. macrostoma scalaris and M. mac-

rostoma oscitans. Only M. macrostoma mamotica

has a penial diverticulm similar to that of M. cyc-

lopica n. sp.; however, M. macrostoma mamotica

has genitalia with a pleat on the internal wall of the

penis (not present inM cyclopica n. sp.) and a ven-

tricose shell (fusiform in M. cyclopica n. sp.) with

shorter parallel lamella and anterior portion of prin-

cipal plica distinct from anterior palatal plica (fused

in M. cyclopica n. sp.).

Preliminary molecular studies (Gregorini et al.,

2008; Colomba et al., 2010; 2012) showed the ex-

istence of significant genetic differences between

populations attributed either to M. syracusana, M.

neuteboomi or M. brancatoi, including the topo-

typic ones. Moreover, further and more complete

molecular data (personal unpublished data), con-

firmed these preliminary results; furthermore, by

comparing cytochrome oxydase I (COI) partial se-

quences, specimens of M. cyclopica n. sp. turn out

to be genetically distant from all other Sicilian and

Maltese Muticaria populations.

Tribus Delimini R. Brandt, 1956

Genus Siciliaria Vest, 1867

Subgenus Siciliaria Vest, 1867

Type species: Clausilia grohmanniana Rossmassler,

1836

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) calcarae orlandoi n. ssp.

(Figs. 15-30)

Examined material. Holotype: Italy, Sicily,

Corleone, Rocca Busambra, Ficuzza, 27.IX.1981,

legit V.E. Orlando (MRT, n. 31040 Orlando col-

lection, written in the box and in the register:

Siciliaria calcarai n. subsp., det. H. Nordsieck);

Paratypes: same data of holotype, 4 exx (MRT, n.

31041/4 Orlando collection); Corleone, Bosco

Ficuzza, 25.IV. 1971, legit V.E. Orlando, 2 exx

(MRT, n. 4903/4 Orlando collection); Monreale,

Ficuzza, Val di Conti, 23 .III. 198 1 , 2 exx (CS);

idem, legit I. Sparacio, 8 exx (CL n. 17276-

17283); Monreale, Diga Scanzano, 3 l.XII. 1989, 5

exx (CS); Monreale, Bosco del Cappelliere,

2.1.1991, 21 exx (CS); idem, 28.XI.1993, 8 exx

(CS); Godrano, Rocca Busambra, Alpe Cucco,

21.11.2010, 5 exx (CS); Monreale, Bosco Ficuzza,

Ponte Arcera, 37°55 , 42” N; 13°23’01” E;

27.IX.2009; 9 exx, (CLn. 5508-5516); Monreale,

Bosco del Cappelliere, Cozzo San Leopoldo,

37°54 , 53 ,, N, 13 0 22’57”E, 616 m, 2.IV.2016, 4

shells (CV); idem, 3 exx, legit R. Viviano (CL n.

16446-16448).

Other examined material. Siciliaria calcarae

calcarae (Philippi, 1844). Italy, Sicily, Palermo,

San Ciro, 31.X.1986, 7 exx (CS); idem,

38°05’11 ,, N, 13°23’07”E, 190 m, legit Sparacio I.,

28.XI.2015, 2 exx (CLn. 16807-16829); Bagheria,

Monte Catalfano, 30. VI. 2006, 28 exx (CS);

Palermo, base Monte Grifone, Cimitero Santa

Maria di Gesu, 24. VIII. 20 14, 11 ex (CS); Fav-

ignana Island, Grotta delle Uccerie, 37°57 , 04”N,

12°18’18”E; 30 m, 11.IX.2010, 17 exx, 14 shells,

(CL n. 8414-8444); Calatafimi, Le Rocche,

37 0 54’14”N, 12°48’14”E, 493 m, 20.XI.2011, 6

exx, 15 shells (CL n. 10763-10783); Scopello,

Torre Bennistra, 07.XII.20 16, 3 exx (CR); Erice,

Monte Castellazzo, 20.VI.2002, 26 exx (CR);

Castellammare del Golfo, Monte Inici, VI. 1996, 5

exx (CR).

Siciliaria (S . ) calcarae belliemi (Brandt, 1961).

Italy, Sicily, Partinico, Monte Belliemi, 1 .111.2015,

28 exx (CS); idem, 8.V.2016, 34 exx (CS); idem 9

shells (CLn. 17284-17292).

Siciliaria (X) ferrox (Brandt, 1961). Italy, Sicily,

Trabia, Torre Sant’Onofrio, 143 m, 25.VIII.2007,

30 shell (CL n. 2331-2360); Altavilla Milicia,

Grotta Mazzamuto, 15.X.2015, 25 exx (CS).

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Fabio Liberto et alii

Description of Holotype. Dimensions: height

19 mm; maximum diameter 4.8 mm. Shell elong-

ated, fusiform, sinistral, not decollate, obtuse apex,

robust, brown in colour (Figs. 15, 16); external sur-

face with very minute and just raised ribs equally

arranged in all whorl sof teleoconch; 92 ribs on pen-

ultimate whorl. Spire slowly and regularly growing,

with 11 whorls little convex; basal and cervical

keels little distinct; umbilicus closed; suture shallow

with papillae scattered and slightly evident (more

numerous from third to seventh whorl); aperture

about l A of shell height, subovoidal, with 4 lamellae

on parietum and columellar side, lunella, and 4

plicae on palatum. On palatum there is an evident

lateral lunella, starting from suture there are a long

and raised principal plica not fused to lunella apex

and slightly wider in its posterior portion, a short

posterior portion of upper palatal plica fused to lun-

ella apex and an obsolete upper palatal plica re-

presented only by a short, large callosity little in re-

lief, a medium long basal plica, the internal first

part of which is joined to the base of lunella; a short

sulcalis. On parietum and columellar side there are:

non emergent and well raised spiral lamella in

centre of parietum; tooth-like (upper) parietal

lamella, moderately high (inferior) columellar

lamella, non emergent subcolumellar lamella.

Peristome continous, slightly thickened, reflected,

superiorly attached to the wall of last whorl.

Variability. Dimensions of paratypes (not de-

collate) (Fig. 17): height: 18-22 mm; maximum dia-

meter: 4.2-4. 8 mm; ribs on the penultimate whorl

of the shell ranges from 88 to 95 mm, but some ribs

are incomplete or obsolete; sometimes a very little

sutural plica is present; the upper palatal plica can

be veiy small or absent (Figs. 18, 19). Parietum as

in figure 20. Clausilium (Figs. 21-22) with elongate

plough-like basal plate, sutural angle slightly bent

up, palatal and columellar edges of plate nearly par-

allel; outer comer more or less pointed.

Genitalia (5 specimens examined) (Figs. 23-28)

are characterized by: slender and thin free oviduct,

well developed ovispermiduct; bursa copulatrix

complex consist of slender copulatory (3.45-2.8

mm) duct ending in two branches: one branch con-

sisting of a long diverticulum of the bursa copulat-

rix (5.2 mm), second branch consisting of very

short bursa copulatrix duct with cylindrical bursa

copulatrix; vagina short (1.8-2. 5 mm) and uniform

in diameter; vas deferent long and slender, entering

the epiphallus; epiphallus (2. 6-3. 2 mm) divided by

point insertion of robust penial retractor muscle into

cylindrical-conic proximal portion and shorter

distal portion slightly enlarged before entering in

the penis. Penis short (1. 6-2.2 mm), wider than epi-

phallus; internal walls of penis show two weak lon-

gitudinal furrows; conic penial papilla, with slightly

pointed apex and a restriction to the base.

Body. Animal long, narrow, posteriorly pointed,

blackish with a dorsal, narrow and whitish band;

skin tubercle ovale-elongated; upper tentacles

rather short, cylindro-conical, whitish, apically

widened with small black eyes; pneumostome and

genital opening on left side; foot long, narrow, with

sole paler than body.

Biology and Distribution. Siciliaria calcar ae

orlandoi n. ssp. lives under the bark of dead trees

and in the leaf litter of woods vegetating both in

sandstone (Bosco del Cappelliere, Diga Scanzano)

and calcareous (Alpe Cucco, Rocca Busambra)

soils (Figs. 29, 30); in these two last localities

S. calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. is found also on cal-

careous rocks into the woods. This new subspecies

is known for the “Nature Reserve Bosco della

Ficuzza, Rocca della Busambra, Bosco del Cappel-

liere e Gorgo del Drago” an area wich is included

in the Sicani Mountains Regional Natural Park

since 2013.

Siciliaria calcarae s.l. lives on calcareous rocks,

in cavities and under stones on calcareous soils. It is

described from Palermo and is widespread in West-

ern Sicily and the Egadi Islands (see Beckmann,

2004) (Figs. 31,32, 56).

Etymology. The new subspecies is dedicated to

Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (1928-2014, Terrasini,

Italy), who identified this taxon, to his passion for

molluscan studies and his museum activity in Sicily.

Comparative notes. Siciliaria calcarae orlandoi

n. ssp. is distinct from S. calcarae calcarae (Figs.

31, 35, 37-41, 45-55) for the reduced anterior

upper palatal plica (longer and raised in S. calcarae

calcarae who as, rarely, also a small second upper

palatal plica), reduced or absent sutural plica

(present in S. calcarae calcarae), moderately high

columellar lamella (low in S. calcarae calcarae), the

clausilium with sutural angle slightly bent up, thus

palatal and columellar edges of plate are nearly

parallel (sutural angle much bent up in S. calcarae

calcarae).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

373

Figure 15. Holotype of Siciliaria (Si) calcarae orlandoi n. ssp., Italy, Sicily, Corleone, Bosco Ficuzza, h: 19 mm, D: 4.8 mm

(V.E. Orlando coll., MRT). Figure 16. Label of holotype of S. calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. (V.E. Orlando coll., MRT). Figurel7.

Shell of S. calcarae orlandoi n. ssp., Monreale, Bosco Ficuzza, Ponte Arciera, H: 18.65 mm, D: 4.5 mm (CL n. 5512).

374

Fabio Liberto et alii

Figures 18-22. Siciliaria (S.) calcarae orlandoi n. ssp., palatum, parietum and clausilium. Figures 18, 19. Palatum: Monreale,

Bosco Ficuzza, Ponte Arciera (CL n. 5509-5511). Figure 20. Parietum: Corleone, Val di Conti (CL n. 17276). Figures 21,

22. Clausilium: Monreale, Bosco Ficuzza, Ponte Arciera (CL).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

375

Figure 23-28. Genitalia of Siciliaria ( S .) calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. Figure 23. Monreale, Bosco Ficuzza, Ponte Arciera (CL n.

5511). Figure 24. Idem, internal structure of penis, with penial papilla. Figure 25. Monreale, Bosco Ficuzza, Ponte Arciera (CL

n. 5508). Figure 26. Idem, internal structure of penis, with penial papilla. Figure 27. Monreale, Bosco del Cappelliere, Cozzo

San Leopoldo (CL n. 16448). Figure 28. Idem, internal structure of penis, with penial papilla.

376

Fabio Liberto et alii

Figure 29. Siciliaria (S.) calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. in natural habitat. Figure 30. Landscape of Bosco Ficuzza, Monreale.

Figure 31. Siciliaria ( S .) calcarae calcarae in natural habitat. Figure 32. Landscape of San Ciro, Monte Grifone, Palermo.

Figure 33. Siciliaria ( S .) calcarae belliemi in natural habitat. Figure 34. Landscape of Monte Belliemi, Partinico.

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

377

Figure 35. Siciliaria ( S '.) calcarae calcarae, San Ciro, Monte Grifone, Palermo, H: 19.9 mm, D: 4.7 mm (CL n. 16816).

Figure 36. Siciliaria (S.) calcarae belliemi , Monte Belliemi, Partinico, H: 17.35 mm, D: 4.15 mm (CL n. 17284).

378

Fabio Liberto et alii

Figure 37. Siciliaria (S . ) calcarae calcarae , Le Rocche, Calatafimi H: 20.5 mm, D: 4.65 mm (CL n. 10769).

Figure 38. Siciliaria (5'.) calcarae calcarae, Grotta dell’Uccerie, Favignana, H: 18.5 mm, D: 4.1 mm (CL n.8431).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

379

Figure 39. Siciliaria (S . ) calcarae calcarae, San Ciro, Monte Grifone, Palermo: palatum (CL n. 16819). Figure 40. Idem, pa-

rietum (CL n. 1 6820). Figure 41 . Idem, clausilium (CL). Figure 42. Siciliaria ( S .) calcarae belliemi , Monte Belliemi, Partinico:

palatum (CS). Figure 43. Idem, parietum (CL n. 17286). Figure 44. Idem, clausilium (CL).

380

Fabio Liberto et alii

Figure 45. Siciliaria (.S’.) calcarae calcarae, Le Rocche, Calatafimi, palatum (CL n. 10770). Figure 46. Idem, parietum (CL

n. 10771). Figure 47. Idem, clausilium (CL). Figure 48. Siciliaria (S.) calcarae calcarae, Grotta delFUccerie, Favignana,

palatum (CL n. 8432). Figure 49. Idem, parietum (CL n. 8433). Figure 50. Idem, clausilium (CL).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

381

Figures 5 1-55. Genitalia of Siciliaria (S.) calcarae calcarae. Figure 51. San Giro, Monte Grifone, Palermo (CL n. 16807).

Figure 52. Idem, internal structure of penis, with penial papilla. Figure 53. Le Rocche, Calatafimi (CL n. 10764). Figure 54.

Idem, internal structure of penis, with penial papilla. Figure 55. Grotta dell’Uccerie, Favignana (CL n. 8424).

382

Fabio Liberto et alii

Figure 56. Geographic distribution of Siciliaria {S.) calcarae

s.l. in W-Sicily (in red) with type locality of S. (S. ) calcarae

orlandoi n. ssp. (star), type locality of S. (S. ) calcarae calca-

rae (square), and type locality of S. (S. ) calcarae belliemi.

Siciliaria calcarae belliemi Brandt, 1961 (Figs.

36, 42-44), from Monte Belliemi, near Partinico, is

characterized for ribbed whorls (rib-striated in S.

calcarae calcarae and S. calcarae orlandoi n. ssp.);

the anterior upper palatal plica is longer and raised

same as in S. calcarae calcarae. Nordsieck (2002)

considers S. calcarae belliemi a “ transitional form

between neighboring species which may have ori-

ginated by hybridation (c. calcarae/tiberii)” (see

also Beckman, 2004).

Remarks. Siciliaria calcarae s.l. is the more

widespread species of the genus Siciliaria s. str. It

lives from Bagheria in the East to Favignana Island

and Levanzo Island in the West, up to Castelvetrano

in the South.

It is reported in Quaternary deposits of Palermo

(De Gregorio, 1927 sub Clausilia adelina , Palermo,

Pietrazzi) and in in Quaternary deposit Wied tal-

Bahrija in the Island of Malta (Giusti et al., 1995

sub Siciliaria cfr. septemplicata).

Siciliaria calcarae calcarae is morphologically

little variable, nevertheless some taxa were de-

scribed in the past for this mollusk, and nowadays

they are considered synonyms.

Kuster (1847-1862) described Clausilia adelina

on specimens received by the Sicilian naturalist

Luigi Benoit, with type locality “ Inseln Sicilien ”.

The accurate Kuster ’s description and illustration

(Kuster, 1847: PI. 34, figs. 4-6) show that S. adelina

is a S. calcarae with a well developed anterior

upper palatal plica and a low columellar lamella.

These characters are typical of S. calcarae calcarae

and exclude any reference to S. calcarae orlandoi

n. ssp. Benoit (1875, 1882) specifies as distribution

localities for C. adelina : “ Favignana e Bonagia

pres so Calatafimi” .

Pini (1884) described Clausilia {Siciliaria)

brugnonea for Palermo. Also Pini’s description and

illustrations of C. brugnonea allow to refer this

name to the typical S. calcarae calcarae for the

presence of a developed upper palatal plica (Pini,

1884: PI. 2, fig. 16a) and low sinuous columellar

lamella (Pini, 1884: PI. 2 fig. 16b).

Monterosato (1892) described Clausilia (< Si-

ciliaria ) adelina var. subsolida for the Aegadian is-

lands by these few words “piu solida e piii forte-

mente striata’'’ [more solid and more strongly

striated]. This description and the examen of topo-

typic specimens (Figs. 38, 48-50, 55) allowed us to

consider the taxon subsolida clearly distinguished

from S. calcarae orlandoi n. ssp.

Westerlund (1892) described Clausilia {Sicilia-

ria) calcarae var. nodosa from Palermo, with

these words: “ Testa non decollate, tenue regular-

iter costulato-striata, plica palatalis infera per-

brevis, peristoma expansum, incrassatum, margine

externo sub sinulum nodoso, plica palatalis su-

pera secunda tenuis, brevis. Hab. Sicilien, bei Pa-

lermo (A. de Monterosato comm.)” . Monterosato

(1892) specifies that the type series of nodosa

came from Bagheria (East of Palermo). The dia-

gnostic characters of S. nodosa Westerlund, 1892

are the presence of a small secon upper palatal

plica and a small callus on the upper outer edge of

the peristome. A similar species is S. (A) ferrox

Brandt, 1961 which is widespread along the coast

from Termini Imerese in the East to Altavilla Mi-

licia in the West, very close to Bagheria (Reitano

et al., 2007). In fact, S. ferrox has the shell similar

to S. calcarae s.l. but with a second upper pal-

atal plica, therefore as in S. nodosa. Nevertheless,

S. calcarae calcarae occasionally have a little

second upper palatal plica; anyway this is absent

in S. calcarae orlandoi n. sp.; nowdays C. (A)

nodosa Westerlund, 1892 is considered a synonym

of a nominotypical subspecies of S. calcarae

(Bank, 2011; Nordsieck, 2013).

Finally, De Gregorio (1894) described Clausilia

proxima levanzensis from Levanzo Island (Aega-

dian Island, Western Sicily) but, however, for this

little island, only S. calcarae is known (Fiorentino

et al., 2004).

Two news Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

383

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank Aldo Brancato (Syracuse,

Italy), Valeria Patrizia Li Vigni, Ferdinando Maurici

and Fabio Lo Valvo (Museo Regionale di Terrasini,

Italy), Marcello Romano (Capaci, Italy), Arturo and

Roberto Viviano (Palermo, Italy).

We dedicate this work to the memory of our

thear friend Giuseppe Pocaterra (San Pietro in Ca-

sale, Bologna, Italy).

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