The tropical rainforest elevation gradients, extending from lowlands to treeline, often represent global maxima of biodiversity and are models for community studies.
We surveyed geometrid moths along ...a complete rainforest gradient from 200 to 3700 m asl. in Papua New Guinea. The 16,424 moths collected with light traps represented 1102 species, a high diversity for such system. We demonstrated the importance of molecular data for taxonomy as COI sequences (DNA barcodes) changed the definition of 19% of morphological species.
The abundance of geometrids did not change with elevation while their species richness peaked at 1200 m asl. The mid‐elevation diversity peak is a common, but poorly understood, pattern for geometrids. It was best explained by the species richness of the vegetation. At the same time, the community was exposed to opposing trends in abiotic favourability (decreasing temperature) and biotic favourability (decreasing predation by ants, birds and bats) with elevation, potentially contributing to such unimodal trends in species richness.
Beta diversity of communities separated by 500 m elevation increased with increasing elevation, reflecting decreasing mean elevational range of species—a pattern opposite to that expected under the Rapoport's rule.
The total number of species along the elevation gradient corresponded to 280% of the highest local community diversity. This enrichment of species underscores the key role of long elevational gradients in maintaining high regional diversity and makes them a conservation priority, especially as they also allow for redistribution of species in response to climate change.
We studied 1102 species of geometridae moths along a continuous tropical rainforests gradient in Papua New Guinea, from 200 m lowland to 3700 m asl timberline forest.
We recorded a mid‐elevational peak for the geometridae moths, with 1200 m asl as the most species‐rich elevation. The mid‐elevational peak was best explained by vegetation species richness.
Beta diversity of communities separated by 500 m elevation increased with elevation, reflecting decreasing mean elevational range of species, a pattern opposite to that expected under Rapoport's rule.
Aims: We aim to document elevational richness patterns of geometrid moths in a globally replicated, multi-gradient setting, and to test general hypotheses on environmental and spatial effects (i.e. ...productivity, temperature, precipitation, area, mid-domain effect and human habitat disturbance) on these richness patterns. Location: Twenty-six elevational gradients world-wide (latitudes 28° S to 51° N). Methods: We compiled field dataseis on elevational gradients for geometrid moths, a lepidopteran family, and documented richness patterns across each gradient while accounting for local undersampling of richness. Environmental and spatial predictor variables as well as habitat disturbance were used to test various hypotheses. Our analyses comprised two pathways: univariate correlations within gradients, and multivariate modelling on pooled data after correcting for overall variation in richness among different gradients. Results: The majority of gradients showed midpeak patterns of richness, irrespective of climate and geographical location. The exclusion of humanaffected sampling plots did not change these patterns. Support for univariate main drivers of richness was generally low, although there was idiosyncratic support for particular predictors on single gradients. Multivariate models, in agreement with univariate results, provided the strongest support for an effect of area-integrated productivity, or alternatively for an elevational area effect. Temperature and the mid-domain effect received support as weaker, modulating covariates, while precipitation-related variables had no explanatory potential. Main conclusions: Despite the predicted decreasing diversity-temperature relationship in ectotherms, geometrid moths are similar to ants and salamanders as well as small mammals and ferns in having predominantly their highest diversity at mid-elevations. As in those comparative analyses, single or clear sets of drivers are elusive, but both productivity and area appear to be influential. More comparative elevational studies for various insect taxa are necessary for a more comprehensive understanding of elevational diversity and productivity.
A new species of Sicyopus, a sicydiine goby, is described from specimens collected in streams of New Britain (Papua New Guinea). It differs from other species of this amphidromous genus by a ...combination of characters including a second dorsal fin with one spine and ten segmented rays, fewer scales in lateral series and transverse back series, and smaller predorsal and caudal peduncle lengths.
TThe euryhaline species Cestraeus plicatilis Valenciennes 1836 (Mugilidae; Mugiliformes) was previously recorded from the Philippines Islands to New Caledonia, except Solomon Islands, Bismark ...Archipelago, New Guinea and Admiralty Islands. The present occurrence extends the distribution area of this species to New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
L’espèce euryhaline Cestraeus plicatilis Valenciennes 1836 (Mugilidae ; Mugiliformes) a été répertoriée précédemment des îles Philippines à la Nouvelle-Calédonie, excepté aux îles Salomon, à l’archipel Bismark, en Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée et aux îles de l’Amirauté. Le présent signalement permet d’élargir l’aire de répartition de cette espèce à la Nouvelle-Bretagne occidentale, Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée.
Bats represent an important, but poorly known component of mammal diversity in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Our surveys in two altitudinal rainforest gradients recorded 43 bat species of which six (
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sp.) fell outside of their known altitudinal ranges. This enlargement could reflect the lack of past sampling, or a genuine range extension, potentially in response to climate change. Our study highlights the importance of baseline data on the altitudinal distribution of vertebrates, including bats, in PNG for the monitoring of their response to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance.
Citizen science has been gaining momentum in the United States and Europe, where citizens are literate and often interested in science. However, in developing countries, which have a dire need for ...environmental data, such programs are slow to emerge, despite the large and untapped human resources in close proximity to areas of high biodiversity and poorly known floras and faunas. Thus, we propose that the parataxonomist and paraecologist approach, which originates from citizen-based science, is well suited to rural areas in developing countries. Being a paraecologist or a parataxonomist is a vocation and entails full-time employment underpinned by extensive training, whereas citizen science involves the temporary engagement of volunteers. Both approaches have their merits depending on the context and objectives of the research. We examined 4 ongoing paraecologist or parataxonomist programs in Costa Rica, India, Papua New Guinea, and southern Africa and compared their origins, long-term objectives, implementation strategies, activities, key challenges, achievements, and implications for resident communities. The programs supported ongoing research on biodiversity assessment, monitoring, and management, and participants engaged in non-academic capacity development in these fields. The programs in Southern Africa related to specific projects, whereas the programs in Costa Rica, India, and Papua New Guinea were designed for the long term, provided sufficient funding was available. The main focus of the paraecologists' and parataxonomists' activities ranged from collection and processing of specimens (Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea) or of socioeconomic and natural science data (India and Southern Africa) to communication between scientists and residents (India and Southern Africa). As members of both the local land user and research communities, paraecologists and parataxonomists can greatly improve the flow of biodiversity information to all users, from local stakeholders to international academia. La ciencia ciudadana ha estado ganando ímpetu en Estados Unidos y en Europa, en donde los ciudadanos son alfabetizados y con un continuo interés por la ciencia. Sin embargo, en los países en desarrollo - que tienen una urgente necesidad de información ambiental - dichos programas emergen lentamente, a pesar de los grandes recursos humanos sin utilizar en las proximidades de las áreas de biodiversidad alta y con flora y fauna poco conocidas. Por esto, proponemos que la estrategia de los parataxónomos y los paraecólogos, que cual surge a partir de la ciencia basada en la ciudadanía, es muy adecuada para las áreas rurales de los países en desarrollow. Ser un parataxónomo o un paraecólogo es una vocación que conlleva una ocupación de tiempo completo apoyada por un entrenamiento extensivo, mientras que la ciencia ciudadana involucra la participación de voluntarios. Ambas estrategias tienen sus méritos dependiendo del contexto y de los objetivos de la investigación. Examinamos cuatro programas actuales de paraecológos y parataxónomos en Costa Rica, India, Papúa Nueva Guinea y en el sur de África, y comparamos sus orígenes, objetivos a largo plazo, estrategias de implementación, actividades, retos clave, logros e implicaciones para las comunidades residentes. Los programas apoyaron a la investigación continua sobre la evaluación, el monitoreo y el manejo de la biodiversidad y los participantes se involucraron en el desarrollo de capacidades no-académicas dentro de estos campos. Los programas en el sur de África se relacionaron con proyectos específicos, mientras que los programas en Costa Rica, India y Papúa Nueva Guinea fueron diseñados para el largo plazo, siempre y cuando se tuviera suficiente financiamiento disponible. El enfoque principal de las actividades de los paraecólogos y los parataxónomos varió desde la recolección y el procesamiento de especímenes (Costa Rica y Papúa Nueva Guinea) o de datos socioeconómicos y de ciencias naturales (India y sur de África) hasta la comunicación entre los científicos y los residentes (India y sur de África). Como miembros de la comunidad de usuarios locales del suelo y de la comunidad científica, los paraecólogos y los parataxónomos pueden mejorar enormemente el flujo de información sobre la biodiversidad para todos los usuarios, desde accionistas locales hasta académicos internacionales.
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