Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity.
BACKGROUND: The diversity and complexity of invertebrate communities usually result in their exclusion from conservation activities. Here we provide a step process for assessing predominantly ground-dwelling Afrotemperate forest invertebrates' (earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, ants, molluscs...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2010-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2817749?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818361618735562752 |
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| author | Charmaine Uys Michelle Hamer Rob Slotow |
| author_facet | Charmaine Uys Michelle Hamer Rob Slotow |
| author_sort | Charmaine Uys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: The diversity and complexity of invertebrate communities usually result in their exclusion from conservation activities. Here we provide a step process for assessing predominantly ground-dwelling Afrotemperate forest invertebrates' (earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, ants, molluscs) potential as surrogates for conservation and indicators for monitoring. We also evaluated sampling methods (soil and litter samples, pitfall traps, active searching quadrats and tree beating) and temporal (seasonal) effects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Lack of congruence of species richness across taxa indicated poor surrogacy potential for any of the focus taxa. Based on abundance and richness, seasonal stability, and ease of sampling, molluscs were the most appropriate taxon for use in monitoring of disturbance impacts. Mollusc richness was highest in March (Antipodal late summer wet season). The most effective and efficient methods were active searching quadrats and searching litter samples. We tested the effectiveness of molluscs as indicators for monitoring by contrasting species richness and community structure in burned relative to unburned forests. Both species richness and community structure changed significantly with burning. Some mollusc species (e.g. Macroptychia africana) showed marked negative responses to burning, and these species have potential for use as indicators. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite habitat type (i.e., Afrotemperate forest) being constant, species richness and community structure varied across forest patches. Therefore, in conservation planning, setting targets for coarse filter features (e.g., habitat type) requires fine filter features (e.g., localities for individual species). This is especially true for limited mobility taxa such as those studied here. Molluscs have high potential for indicators for monitoring, and this requires broader study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:19:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-207ba53902c5408dafc9eabf9a7185de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:19:33Z |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-207ba53902c5408dafc9eabf9a7185de2022-12-21T23:31:09ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032010-01-0152e910010.1371/journal.pone.0009100Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity.Charmaine UysMichelle HamerRob SlotowBACKGROUND: The diversity and complexity of invertebrate communities usually result in their exclusion from conservation activities. Here we provide a step process for assessing predominantly ground-dwelling Afrotemperate forest invertebrates' (earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, ants, molluscs) potential as surrogates for conservation and indicators for monitoring. We also evaluated sampling methods (soil and litter samples, pitfall traps, active searching quadrats and tree beating) and temporal (seasonal) effects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Lack of congruence of species richness across taxa indicated poor surrogacy potential for any of the focus taxa. Based on abundance and richness, seasonal stability, and ease of sampling, molluscs were the most appropriate taxon for use in monitoring of disturbance impacts. Mollusc richness was highest in March (Antipodal late summer wet season). The most effective and efficient methods were active searching quadrats and searching litter samples. We tested the effectiveness of molluscs as indicators for monitoring by contrasting species richness and community structure in burned relative to unburned forests. Both species richness and community structure changed significantly with burning. Some mollusc species (e.g. Macroptychia africana) showed marked negative responses to burning, and these species have potential for use as indicators. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite habitat type (i.e., Afrotemperate forest) being constant, species richness and community structure varied across forest patches. Therefore, in conservation planning, setting targets for coarse filter features (e.g., habitat type) requires fine filter features (e.g., localities for individual species). This is especially true for limited mobility taxa such as those studied here. Molluscs have high potential for indicators for monitoring, and this requires broader study.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2817749?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Charmaine Uys Michelle Hamer Rob Slotow Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. PLoS ONE |
| title | Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. |
| title_full | Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. |
| title_fullStr | Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. |
| title_short | Step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity. |
| title_sort | step process for selecting and testing surrogates and indicators of afrotemperate forest invertebrate diversity |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2817749?pdf=render |
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