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Plant-invertebrate-vertebrate biodiversity and food web patterns along Mt Wilhelm and other complete altitudinal rainforest gradients.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Ants mosaic in tropical lowland forest: Take a look on a bigger scale
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Organizing large-scale biodiversity inventories in the tropics: lessons from IBISCA projects
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Leponce, M.1, Pascal, O.2, Novotny, V.3,4 & Y. Basset5 (1) Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium (Maurice.Leponce@naturalsciences.be); (2) Pro-Natura International, France; (3) University of South Bohemia, Czech Rep.; (4) Czech Academy of Sciences; (5) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Republic of Panama. Background: IBISCA is an international and informal network of biodiversity experts conducting large-scale biotic inventories in various regions of the World (www.ibisca.net). Each IBISCA project is a collective effort addressing a global ecological question. IBISCA-Panama (2003-2004) aimed at estimating the overall arthropod diversity of a lowland rainforest while the Papua New Guinea survey (2012-2014), conducted in the framework of the “Our Planet Reviewed” programme, aimed at assessing the diversity generated by the elevational factor, from sea level up to the tree line. Methods: All projects are multi-taxa (with an emphasis on plants and arthropods), multi-strata and multi-methods. A central database (DB) is at the heart of each project. Results: The data flow follows a 10 step standard process: (1) sampling design which is often a trade-off between sampling effort and representativeness; (2) pre-printing of permanent labels with unique codes for samples and specimens; (3) collection of specimens with standardized mass collection methods; (4) on-site pre-sorting of material by helpers (para-taxonomists, students) to Order level; (5) further sorting to Family level by Taxonomic Working Group (TWIG) leaders and dispatching of specimens to experts; (6) identification of the material to (morpho-)species level by taxonomic experts who send afterwards the results to their TWIG leader; (7) control of the quality of data by TWIG leaders who fill a data entry template and send it to the database administrator; (8) import and cleaning of the data by the database administrator; (9) analysis and publication of the data by participants, either collectively or individually; (10) export of the DB to a public repository of data. Assisted data entry with high tech equipment (barcode scanner, PDA) reduces the risk of errors. Discussion/conclusion: Our experience shows that the main bottleneck in the data flow is the processing of the huge quantity of specimens collected. Solutions include securing enough funds for this critical step, training research technicians (para-taxonomists/ecologists) to assist main investigators and focusing on a limited number of informative yet tractable taxa. An additional benefit is that providing employment to local research assistants supports initiatives of local communities to conserve their forests.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Our Planet Reviewed 2012 biodiversity survey along Mt Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Spatio-temporal variation of ant distribution among ground layers in an Andean tropical forest
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Canopy exploration and paraecologist training in Papua New Guinea
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Canopy exploration and paraecologist training in Papua New Guinea Leponce, M. (1) (1) Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, (Maurice.Leponce@naturalsciences.be) Background: Papua New Guinea rainforests are among the most biodiverse on Earth. They still cover extensive areas but are being altered at a rapid rate. Their biodiversity is still largely unexplored especially in the treetops, called the canopy. The New Guinea Binatang Research Center, led by Prof. V. Novotny, is seeking for innovative solutions to promote ecological research, capacity building and nature conservation. Methods: For exploring the canopy biodiversity, new tools based on hot air or helium balloons were developed by a French NGO, Opération Canopée. The balloons were used to collect in situ plants and insects, ants in particular. Results: Ants reigned in the canopy. They were sometimes found living inside extraordinary myrmecophytes (Myrmecodia, Hydnophytum) which adapted their structure to accommodate the ants. A few territorial dominant ants such as Oecophylla or Crematogaster excluded each other from tree crowns, forming “ant mosaics”. Discussion/conclusion: For protecting native rainforests an innovative approach, linking biodiversity research and capacity building, was implemented. Gifted naturalists, called parataxonomists and paraecologists, were recruited in villages and trained by internationally-renowned scientists. Research stations created local employment. This source of income added to money from sponsors allowed local communities to obtain access to a higher level of education and health care without having to give in to the pressure related to deforestation. Video HD 16:9, French, English subtitles, 12min. Full version “In the treetops of Papua New Guinea” available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04h2FLb1HtA
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Contrasting ant diversity and distribution between ground, understorey and canopy rainforest strata along Mt Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Dna barcoding and ecological surveys of the ants of southern Atlantic forest: looking at the tip of the iceberg in a biodiversity hotspot
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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DNA barcoding and ecological survey of the ants of Iguazu National Park: looking at the tip of the iceberg in a biodiversity hotspot
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Understanding patterns of species diversity can only be achieved by long-term research and the integration of taxonomical, ecological and behavioral data. Here we studied the diversity and ecology of ants of Iguazu National Park (INP), Argentina, using six sampling techniques. DNA barcodes were used to uncover cryptic diversity, test species/morphospecies delimitation accuracy, and link unidentified male and queen specimens with their worker caste. Results: INP houses 195 described ant species and an additional 49 morphospecies. Leaf litter sampling and pitfall traps were the most efficient sampling methods, while surface baiting revealed the prevalence of large predatory species at different times of the day. Comparing baiting to other sampling methods provided information on species co-existence and the presence of possible dominance hierarchies among ant species. We obtained the DNA barcodes of 312 specimens from 124 species (51% of the ants of INP). Our analyses evidenced a clear barcode gap in all species but two, with an average distance to the nearest neighbor of 15.75%, almost eight times larger than the mean distance to the furthest conspecific (2.07%). Eighty-three percent of the sequence clusters obtained with different clustering algorithms (ABGD, RESL, TCS) matched the reference species or morphospecies, while 10% highlighted possible cryptic diversity. In terms of efficacy, this barcode library allowed a correct identification in more than 94% of the species/morphospecies, and to assign a species name to 69% of the unidentified males and queens. Significance: This study evidences that DNA barcodes are a valuable tool for identifying the ants of the Atlantic Forest, a global diversity hotspot. Furthermore, our project provides a framework for understanding the ecology and the taxonomic diversity of the ants of this region, including the identification of currently undescribed reproductive castes and the discovery of possible cryptic species.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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New species of Microraptor gives a glimpse on their ecological diversification
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RBINS Staff Publications 2016
