Publication year: 2012
Source: Biological Conservation, Available online 6 February 2012

Yoram Yom-Tov, Ohad Hatzofe, Eli Geffen

During the course of the 20th century many changes took place in the area encompassing Israel and the Palestinian Authority (hereafter Israel; ca. 28,000 km): the human population grew from ca. 650,000 inhabitants during 1900–1903 () to ca. 10 million in 2008, i.e. a 16-fold increase. This population increase was accompanied by an increase in land use for human needs – agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, construction of buildings and roads, etc., and a dramatic rise in the standard of living.Here we compare the status (distribution and abundance) of the 227 bird species that are breeding or have bred in Israel from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. For each species we documented the environmental factors presumed to have affected it, and examined the effects of taxonomic order, body mass, diet, world and local distribution and nest location on the status of the avifauna. We found that 73.6% of the bird species breeding in Israel had undergone a change in their status during the studied period. While several of the examined factors were significantly related to the observed changes, some of them were also interrelated to some degree, making it difficult to single out the factor responsible for a particular change. The main reasons for the changes were nonetheless assessed as habitat change, introduction of invasive species and poisoning. Habitat change had many forms, most of which are related to agriculture, including irrigation, aquaculture and construction of water reservoirs; but also included afforestation, preservation of the natural forest, urbanization, gardening and the introduction of exotic plants. Habitat change was responsible for a population decline in 64 species and population increase in 62 species. Thirteen species, mostly Falconiformes, were impacted by poisoning. Sixteen invasive species, all of tropical origin, were introduced, of which seven were Psittaciformes. Although changes occurred throughout the country, the birds inhabiting the Mediterranean region were more affected than those inhabiting the desert region, reflecting the denser human population in the former region.

Highlights► We documented the dramatic changes that taken place in Israel’s avifauna. ► We compared past and present distribution and abundance of breeding birds. ► 73% of birds breeding in Israel changed their status during the last 100 years. ► The main reasons for the changes were habitat change, introduction of invasive species and poisoning. ► The future biodiversity of the Israeli avifauna is declining.

Publication year: 2012
Source: Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 269, 1 April 2012, Pages 271-278

María Victoria Lantschner, Verónica Rusch, John P. Hayes

Forest plantations are an increasingly important source of industrial wood around the world, and the design and management of plantations can greatly influence the relationship with wildlife. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of conversion of native open vegetation to conifer plantations on mammalian carnivore assemblages in NW Patagonia, Argentina. We conducted camera-trap surveys at 69 sites and assessed composition of carnivore assemblages and habitat use in conifer plantations and native vegetation. We also evaluated habitat characteristics at stand and landscape scales related to presence of carnivores. Four species of carnivores were detected:Lycalopex culpaeus,Conepatus chinga,Puma concolor, andLeopardus geoffroyi.L. culpaeusandC. chingaused continuous native vegetation most frequently, but also used dense conifer plantations and tended to be more abundant in firebreaks and sparse plantations than in dense plantations.L. geoffroyiwas almost fully restricted to continuous native vegetation, but was also detected in firebreaks and native vegetation remnants between plantations; this species was never detected in plantations.P. concolorwas detected in all habitat types and did not exhibit any preference. The presence of carnivores was associated with understory diversity, tree density, and prey availability at the stand scale, and with amount of area with native vegetation at the landscape scale. Our results suggest that management decisions at the stand and landscape scales can influence habitat quality for wildlife in the region.

Graphical abstract

Highlightsâ–º We assess effects of exotic pine plantations on carnivores in Patagonia. â–º Four species of carnivores were detected. â–º Presence was associated with understory diversity and prey availability. â–º At landscape scale abundance increased with amount of area with native vegetation.

Publication year: 2012
Source: Biological Conservation, Available online 6 February 2012

Yoram Yom-Tov, Ohad Hatzofe, Eli Geffen

During the course of the 20th century many changes took place in the area encompassing Israel and the Palestinian Authority (hereafter Israel; ca. 28,000 km): the human population grew from ca. 650,000 inhabitants during 1900–1903 () to ca. 10 million in 2008, i.e. a 16-fold increase. This population increase was accompanied by an increase in land use for human needs – agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, construction of buildings and roads, etc., and a dramatic rise in the standard of living.Here we compare the status (distribution and abundance) of the 227 bird species that are breeding or have bred in Israel from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. For each species we documented the environmental factors presumed to have affected it, and examined the effects of taxonomic order, body mass, diet, world and local distribution and nest location on the status of the avifauna. We found that 73.6% of the bird species breeding in Israel had undergone a change in their status during the studied period. While several of the examined factors were significantly related to the observed changes, some of them were also interrelated to some degree, making it difficult to single out the factor responsible for a particular change. The main reasons for the changes were nonetheless assessed as habitat change, introduction of invasive species and poisoning. Habitat change had many forms, most of which are related to agriculture, including irrigation, aquaculture and construction of water reservoirs; but also included afforestation, preservation of the natural forest, urbanization, gardening and the introduction of exotic plants. Habitat change was responsible for a population decline in 64 species and population increase in 62 species. Thirteen species, mostly Falconiformes, were impacted by poisoning. Sixteen invasive species, all of tropical origin, were introduced, of which seven were Psittaciformes. Although changes occurred throughout the country, the birds inhabiting the Mediterranean region were more affected than those inhabiting the desert region, reflecting the denser human population in the former region.

Highlights► We documented the dramatic changes that taken place in Israel’s avifauna. ► We compared past and present distribution and abundance of breeding birds. ► 73% of birds breeding in Israel changed their status during the last 100 years. ► The main reasons for the changes were habitat change, introduction of invasive species and poisoning. ► The future biodiversity of the Israeli avifauna is declining.

Publication year: 2012
Source: Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 269, 1 April 2012, Pages 214-221

N. González-Muñoz, M. Costa-Tenorio, T. Espigares

Invasive treeAcacia dealbatawas introduced in the Iberian Peninsula in the 19th century. Nowadays, it is spreading in wide areas in which native vegetation has been altered or removed by human-activities, as in the case ofQuercus roburforests in the northwest of Spain. In this article we assess the impact ofA. dealbatainvasion on soil properties (pH, organic matter, total N,and), light characteristics (direct and diffuse photon flux density and leaf area index) and soil seed bank and established vegetation. We selected three sites where nativeQ. roburforests andA. dealbatainvaded patches grow nearby. Before 2008 autumn rains, we took soil samples under five trees per species (A. dealbataandQ. robur) and site to determine soil seed bank floristic composition and soil properties. In spring 2009 we monitored the floristic composition of the vegetation growing under the same trees. Our results show thatA. dealbatapresence increases total N,andand decreases pH in soils but does not affect light characteristics.Acacia dealbatamodifies soil seed bank composition by decreasing species richness, seed density and the percentage of bryophyte and fern spores, and by increasing the percentage ofAsteraceaeand exotic species. Understorey of invadedA. dealbataforests shows a decrease in species richness and plant cover. Finally,A. dealbatareduces the similarity between the soil seed bank and the established vegetation. These results suggest thatA. dealbatainvasion produces a deep impact onQ. roburforests that hampers their regeneration, even afterA. dealbataremoval.

Highlights► Acacia dealbataincreases nitrogen in soils but decreases pH. ► It decreases species richness and seed density in the seed bank. ► In the seed bank, it increasesAsteraceaeand exotic species presence. ► It decreases species richness and plant cover of established vegetation. ► This invasion deeply impactsQuercus roburforest, hampering native forest regeneration.

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 90, Issue 2, Page 210-221, February 2012.

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 90, Issue 2, Page 193-202, February 2012.

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 90, Issue 2, Page 267-283, February 2012.

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 90, Issue 2, Page 284-290, February 2012.

The American Biology Teacher, Volume 74, Issue 2, Page 111-113, February 2012.

Herpetologica, Volume 68, Issue 1, Page 134-145, March 2012.

Herpetologica, Volume 68, Issue 1, Page 14-21, March 2012.

Herpetologica, Volume 68, Issue 1, Page 3-13, March 2012.

Waterbirds, Volume 34, Issue 4, Page 389-399, December 2011.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Volume 161, Issue 1, Page 87-95, October 2011.

A comparative study of byssogenesis on zebra and quagga mussels: the effects of water temperature, salinity and light-dark cycle.

Biofouling. 2012 Feb;28(2):121-9

Authors: Grutters BM, Verhofstad MJ, van der Velde G, Rajagopal S, Leuven RS

Abstract
The quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) are invasive freshwater bivalves in Europe and North America. The distribution range of both Dreissena species is still expanding and both species cause major biofouling and ecological effects, in particular when they invade new areas. In order to assess the effect of temperature, salinity and light on the initial byssogenesis of both species, 24 h re-attachment experiments in standing water were conducted. At a water temperature of 25°C and a salinity of 0.2 psu, the rate of byssogenesis of D. polymorpha was significantly higher than that of D. rostriformis bugensis. In addition, byssal thread production by the latter levelled out between 15°C and 25°C. The rate of byssogenesis at temperatures <25°C was similar for both species. Neither species produced any byssal threads at salinities of 4 psu or higher. At a salinity of 1 psu and a water temperature of 15°C, D. polymorpha produced significantly more byssal threads than D. rostriformis bugensis. There was no significant effect of the length of illumination on the byssogenesis of either species. Overall, D. polymorpha produced slightly more byssal threads than D. rostriformis bugensis at almost all experimental conditions in 24 h re-attachment experiments, but both species had essentially similar initial re-attachment abilities. The data imply that D. rostriformis bugensis causes biofouling problems identical to those of D. polymorpha.

PMID: 22296220 [PubMed - in process]

Digestive utilization of ozone-exposed forage by rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Environ Pollut. 2012 Jan 30;163C:281-286

Authors: Gilliland NJ, Chappelka AH, Muntifering RB, Booker FL, Ditchkoff SS

Abstract
A mixture of common Southern Piedmont (USA) grassland species (Lolium arundinacea, Paspalum dilatatum, Cynodon dactylon and Trifolium repens) was exposed to O(3) [ambient (non-filtered; NF) and twice-ambient (2X) concentrations] and fed to individually caged New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a digestibility experiment. Forages and feed refusals were analyzed for concentrations of total cell wall constituents, lignin, crude protein, and soluble and hydrolyzable phenolic fractions. Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility by rabbits were significantly lower for 2X than NF forage. Decreased digestibility could not be attributed to lignin concentrations, but was associated with increased concentrations of acid-hydrolyzable and saponifiable phenolics. Exposure of forage to elevated O(3) resulted in decreased digestible dry matter intake by rabbits. Elevated O(3) concentrations could be expected to have a negative impact on forage quality, resulting in decreased nutrient utilization by mammalian herbivores in Southern Piedmont grasslands under projected future climate scenarios.

PMID: 22296918 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Biology of Reproduction, Volume 86, Issue 1, January 2012.

Biology of Reproduction, Volume 86, Issue 1, January 2012.

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 182-192, e-First articles.