bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertrauen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger in ihre Gesundheitssysteme
Authors: Wendt Claus
Published: July 2009

Einleitung

Gesundheitssysteme sind einem umfassenden Reformprozess unterworfen, der sich seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre intensiviert hat. Diese Reformen erhöhen die Unsicherheit für die Patienten, da sie unter anderem den individuellen Entscheidungsprozess bei einem Arztbesuch verändern und häufig Mehrbelastungen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger vor allem bei der zahnärztlichen Versorgung und der Versorgung mit Arzneimitteln beinhalten. Das Vertrauen in Gesundheitssysteme kann dadurch erheblich beeinträchtigt werden.
The magnitude of error in conventional bulk-sediment radiocarbon dates from central North America
Authors: Grimm Eric C. , Maher Louis J. , Nelson David M.
Published: July 2009

Although the carbon-reservoir problem with bulk-sediment radiocarbon dates from lakes has long been recognized, many synoptic studies continue to use chronologies derived from such dates. For four sites in central North America, we evaluate chronologies based on conventional radiocarbon dates from bulk sediment versus chronologies based on accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates from terrestrial plant macrofossils. The carbon-reservoir error varies among sites and temporally at individual sites from 0 to 8000 yr. An error of 500–2000 yr is common. This error has important implications for the resolution of precise event chronologies.
New URL for the IPA website
Authors: Nicolaidis Katerina
Published: July 2009

The IPA website first went live on 25 January 1996. It was created by John Buchanan (Computing Service, University of Glasgow) and Mike MacMahon (Department of English Language, University of Glasgow). In those far-off days, over two hours could be needed to download a copy of the IPA chart – and users were warned that they would need to have at least 8MB of RAM on their computers! A revised version appeared in 2005, thanks to Jean Anderson of the STELLA Project, and Ewan MacLean, a web designer in Glasgow.
Small mammals and habitat structure in lowland rain forest of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Kemper Catherine , Bell David T.
Published: July 2009

A method of assessing rain forest structure by ranking relative abundance of 41 habitat variables was used to describe habitat differences among six trapping sites (324 subsites). Variables included aspects of all vegetation layers but concentrated on those considered to be important to small mammal distribution. Ordination and classification methods resulted in similar analyses of the data. Differences in habitat structure were primarily related to the moisture conditions of the trapping sites and secondarily to their successional age (regenerating versus primary forest). The most important habitat variables for differentiating between sites were LITTER, CLEARING, SOILS, PIG DAMAGE, FLOODING, FAN PALM, EMERGENTS, CANOPY SURFACE and SEEDLINGS. Habitat structure also varied within sites with some suggestion of small-scale patterning.

Small mammal captures were more likely in drier sites and subsites, but there was no difference in trap success between regenerating sites and primary forest sites. Greater numbers of species were captured in sites containing a variety of habitats, a discrete layering of vegetation and an extensive understorey. Small mammal captures were positively associated with five habitat variables (EMERGENTS, LITTER, ROTTING LOGS, SEEDLINGS, ROUGH BARK) and negatively associated with five others (LAYERS, BERTAM, SEDGES, PIG DAMAGE, FLOODING). The destruction caused by pigs is thought to be a major factor since it reduces litter and food availability over wide areas.Leopoldamys sabanuswas the most abundant small mammal captured (40/68 individuals) and trap success differences among sites (0.4–1.9%) reflect its preference for higher, well-drained habitats.

The study demonstrates the usefulness of a simple method of ranking habitat features according to importance/abundance thus eliminating the all but impossible task of direct measurements in this complex system. This simple method of habitat description provides a basis for studying variables influencing faunal distribution patterns.
The estimation of temporal processes in tropical rain forest: a study of primary mixed dipterocarp forest in Indonesia
Authors: Riswan Soedarsono , Kenworthy J. B. , Kartawinata Kuswata
Published: July 2009

In the absence of growth rings it is difficult to give a precise time scale for processes associated with the re-establishment of tropical rain forest. This paper explores other methods by which a time scale may be constructed. The proportions of primary and secondary species, an index of similarity, biomass measurements, girth dimensions and gap size are all considered from sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data from primary, secondary and experimentally cleared forest sites are compared to estimate the minimum time required for various phases involved in the re-establishment of tropical rain forest after disturbance. A simple model is proposed to accommodate the data and other estimates in the literature. The model predicts a minimum period for the stablization of secondary species numbers as 60–70 years and the replacement of primary species as 150 years at which point gap formation is initiated. After approximately 220–250 years biomass stabilizes while individual trees exist for over 500 years.
A population study of small rodents in a dry sub-humid grassland in Kenya
Authors: Martin G. H. G.
Published: July 2009

Estimates were made of rodent longevity, population biomass and production in a dry sub-humid grassland area in Kenya, The results were based on a live-trapping study made over a 27-month period. During this time fourteen species of rodents and four species of insectivores were recorded from the area of the trapping grid. The most numerous species werePraomys natalensis, Mus triton, Mus minutoidesandLemniscomys striatus.

Breeding took place in both wet seasons, coinciding with peaks in rodent populations. Densities ranged from 6.6 ha-1to 52.4 ha-1, and estimates of net annual production varied from 5485 g ha-1year-1to 7221 g ha-1year-1. Rodent populations appear to turn over every six to nine months.

The results are discussed in relation to studies in other tropical grassland areas of Africa.
The phenology and diversity of praying mantids in Ghana
Authors: Edmunds Malcolm
Published: July 2009

Praying mantids (Insecta: Dictyoptera, Mantodea) attracted to light at a savanna site in Ghana (Legon) were studied over 34 months. 1771 insects of 26 species were recorded, most of which were males. There was a gradual decline in numbers during the study, which was probably due to habitat deterioration. Significantly more mantids were attracted to light on new moon nights than when the moon was full. For the second commonest species, Sphodromantis lineola, a significant correlation was found between mantid numbers and rainfall per month. Some species appear to have two peaks of abundance per year, others only one, while the commonest species, Miomantis paykullii, shows no clear seasonal pattern, but longer term studies are required to confirm these tentative conclusions.

Three measures of diversity are calculated and compared with mantid data from elsewhere in the tropics. Diversity at Legon was found to be very similar to that at Lamto, Côte d'lvoire, despite different methods of collecting the insects, but the mantid fauna of Panama is less diverse than at the two African sites. Suggestions to account for this result are presented.
Adaptations of carabid beetles to dry habitats in East Africa
Authors: Andersen Johan , Zachariassen Karl Erik , Maloiy Geoffrey M. O. , Kamau John M. Z.
Published: July 2009

The rates of water loss and humidity preference of carabids from dry tropical habitats have been studied and compared with corresponding data from temperate carabids and tropical tenebrionids. Within each group of beetles the rate of relative water loss decreases with increasing body size. Carabids from dry tropical areas have rates of water loss which are lower than those of temperate species, but considerably higher than the values for tenebrionids from dry tropical habitats. Small temperate carabids can stay in dry air for only a few hours, whereas large tropical tenebrionids may survive for weeks without becoming critically dehydrated. Given the choice between a dry and a humid atmosphere, well hydrated beetles of all groups will initially choose the dry atmosphere. Most temperate carabids will switch to humid atmosphere after a few hours and tropical carabids after 1–3 days, whereas tropical tenebrionids may remain in dry air for almost 3 weeks. The temperate carabids are very sensitive to dehydration and will shift to a humid atmosphere when dehydrated by only 2–5%. Tropical carabids and tenebrionids will shift first when they are dehydrated by 7–20% of their body weight in a hydrated state, implying that these beetles are considerably less sensitive to water loss than temperate carabids.
Exotic species invasion into Mauritius wet forest remnants
Authors: Lorence David H. , Sussman Robert W.
Published: July 2009

Two stands of mature evergreen wet forest in Mauritius (Mascarene Islands) were sampled for floristic composition to assess the extent of invasion by weedy exotic phanerogams (Brise Fer, 550 m alt.; Bon Courage, 200–260 m alt.). All individuals ≥ 2.5 cm dbh were recor ded in 50×2 m transects totalling 0.1 ha at each site, and 2×2 m seedling plots totalling 40 m were also sampled at each site. Both forests showed a high degree of invasion. Although exotics constituted only 5% of woody species ≥ 2.5 cm dbh at Brise Fer and 14.5% at Bon Courage, they comprised 34.8% and 20.8% of the individuals, respectively. Seedling plots at both sites were dominated by exotics, which comprised 20.6% of the species and 97.4% of the individuals at Brise Fer, and 22.2% of the species and 73.9% of the individuals at Bon Courage. Comparisons are made with Macabé forest, sampled nearly 50 years ago. These data suggest that unless steps are taken to check the spread of exotics, floristic composition at these sites will shift towards total invasion and degradation as has occurred elsewhere on Mauritius.
Habitat differences in cocoa tree flowering, fruit-set, and pollinator availability in Costa Rica
Authors: Young Allen M.
Published: July 2009

Phenological patterns of flowering and fruit-set were studied in cocoa trees (Theobroma cacao) (Sterculiaceae) at monthly intervals in two contrasting habitats in Costa Rica for a one-year period. One of these habitats, a well-maintained plantation, had irregular and broken shade cover {Erythrinatrees in particular) while in the other habitat, a ‘cocoa forest’, cocoa trees were heavily shaded byHuara crepitans(Euphorbiaceae). ‘Matina’ variety cocoa trees of about the same age (50–60 years) were censused in both habitats. Cocoa-pollinating midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae and Cecidomyiidae) availability was estimated by sampling immature stages in experimentally-distributed ground-cover breeding substrates, comparing overall abundances and species numbers between the two habitats over three census dates (dry, mid-rainy, and late-rainy seasons), along with examination of fungal-rotted (diseased) cocoa pods both on trees and the ground.

Although total flower production was much greater in the plantation habitat, total production of new pods was similar between habitats. Flowering followed a cyclic temporal pattern in the forest but not in the plantation. Sudden leaf drop of forest shade trees in the dry season probably triggered a cyclic response in which flowering peaked in the first half of the rainy season.

There was an inverse relation for frequencies of mature cocoa pods killed by squirrels and pathogenic fungi (Monilia roreriandPhytophthora) between the two habitats: squirrel-killed pods were far more abundant in the plantation than in the forest, and the opposite for fungus-killed pods. Fungus-killed but otherwise intact pods, and not squirrel-killed pods rotting on trees, were a major breeding site for midges, particularly during the late rainy season. Ceratopogonidae were most abundant in the dry season and frequently encountered in cocoa pod husks and banana tree trunk sections in both habitats, and much more so in the forest habitat. The abandoned cocoa plantation (cocoa forest) supported a more diverse assemblage of pollinating midges than the plantation.

In the plantation but not in the forest, a negative correlation was discovered between distance from shade trees and the numbers of pods on trees, suggesting greater pollinating activity by midges in cocoa trees beneath shade trees than away from them. The uniform dense shade cover in the adjacent forest probably obliterated such a pattern.
Floristic and structural changes during old-field succession in the Mexican tropics in relation to site history and species availability
Authors: Purata Silvia E.
Published: July 2009

Community patterns along a successional sequence of abandoned fields within a tropical rain forest environment are described in terms of floristic composition and structure. Temporal patterns were summarized and main axes of variation extracted by multivariate methods.

External factors – length of cropping period, regrowth age, and proportion of the perimeter occupied by forest communities or remnants (here called forested perimeter) – were related to floristic and structural data on 40 sites. Multivariate direct gradient analysis showed overall floristic development to be positively related to regrowth age and forested perimeter, and negatively related to length of cropping period.

Structural development was shown by multiple regression to be positively related to regrowth age and negatively to length of cropping period; but forested perimeter had no significant relation to site structure. The type of crop grown showed no significant relation with floristic or structural development of the regrowth.

These results indicate that the conditions of the vegetation around a site have a great effect on community recovery, particularly in its species composition, whilst structure seems to be affected more directly by parameters which imply time.
Small mammal community structure and composition in the Cerrado Province of central Brazil
Authors: Mares Michael A. , Ernest Kristina A. , Gettinger Donald D.
Published: July 2009

Community structure, macrohabitat selection, and patterns of species co-occurrence were examined during a 14-month study of small mammals in the Cerrado Province of central Brazil. Data were collected from mark-recapture grids in brejo and gallery forest, and from live-trapping and specimen collection in all habitat types within cerrado (campo limpo, campo sujo, cerrado [s.s.], cerradão, brejo, valley-side wet campo, and gallery forest). Gallery forest supported the highest species richness, most complex vertical distribution of species, highest level of trophic diversity, and highest macroniche diversity. Degree of habitat selection varied widely. All habitat types supported both rodents and marsupials, although marsupials tended to be much less common in the grasslands (campos) than in woodlands (cerrado) and forests (cerradão, gallery forest). Some species, such asDidelphis albiventris, occurred in all habitat types, while others were much more restricted.Oryzomys bicolor, for example, ocur-red only in gallery forest. No habitat type had a completely distinct fauna: overlap in species composition always occurred with at least one other habitat type. Because of the great variability of habitats, and the fact that subsets of the mammal fauna were frequently habitat specific, the overall species richness of any portion of mixed cerrado vegetation is remarkably high.
Fruiting and frugivores at a strangler fig in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico
Authors: Coates-Estrada Rosamond , Estrada Alejandro
Published: July 2009

Diurnal and nocturnal censuses were conducted on animal visitors at a single strangler Ficus aff. cotinifolia (H.B.K.) tree during the entire period of ripe fruit availability. Fruit fall to the ground was measured with fruit traps, and chemical analyses were conducted on the figs. Fourteen species of birds, four species of nonvolant mammals and two species of bats consumed the figs. Of the total number of ripe figs accounted for during the sampling period (N= 1.9 X 105), 42% fell to the ground, 45% were removed by mammals and 13% by birds. Frugivores such as the howling monkey Alouatta palliata, the cacomistle Bassariscus sumichrasti, the keel-billed toucan Ramphastos sulphuratus and fruit-eating bats removed the largest amounts of figs from the tree and deposited seeds of 13 plant species other than figs below the tree crown.
Leaf production, growth rate, and age of the palm Prestoea montana in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico
Authors: Lugo Ariel E. , Batlle Carmen T. Rivera
Published: July 2009

Long-term growth rates of 32 palms (Prestoea montana) were studied using height and diameter measurements taken four times between 1946 and 1982. All leaf scars were counted to estimate leaf production rate, and the distance between scars was measured to establish relationships between leaf production and height growth. Height and diameter growth and leaf production of these palms were not constant during this 36-year period. A greater distance between leaf scars was indicative of rapid height growth but not of high leaf production rate. Dominant palms always grew fast (> 20 cm/yr) in height when they were small, but height growth slowed down when they reached the canopy. Small palms with slow height growth remained suppressed and lost the capacity to grow rapidly in height as adults. Diameter growth decreased with age from 0.07 cm/yr (SE = 0.02) between 1946–51 to 0.01 cm/yr (SE = 0.003) between 1951–82. Annual leaf production averaged 4 leaves/yr over the 36 years of study, was significantly different (P = 0.001) between 1946–51 (5.6 leaves/yr) and 1951–82 (3.8 leaves/yr), and was 4.6 leaves/yr for palms that grew >5 m since 1946 and 3.7 leaves/yr for those that remained suppressed. The best estimate for the mean age of all palms was 61.1 yr (SE = 2.4), obtained from long-term population leaf production rates.
Site characteristics and the distribution of tree species in Mixed Dipterocarp Forest on Tertiary sediments in central Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Baillie I. C. , Ashton P. S. , Court M. N. , Anderson J. A. R. , Fitzpatrick E. A. , Tinsley J.
Published: July 2009

Site data from 291 forest inventory plots in Mixed Dipterocarp Forest in central Sarawak were simplified by factor analysis. The distribution of the 33 commonest canopy tree species was related to site factor scores by ‘t’ tests. There appears to be a degree of edaphic influence on the distribution of many species. Fairly constant soil characteristics related to the lithology of the parent material appear to be more important than ephemerally variable pro perties such as organic matter or exchangeable cations. Magnesium appears to be particularly important, possibly because of an effect on the capacity of mycorrhizal root systems to absorb phosphorus.
Tree population dynamics at Kade, Ghana (1968-1982)
Authors: Swaine M. D. , Hall J. B. , Alexander I. J.
Published: July 2009

Changes in two 1-ha samples of Moist Semi-deciduous forest at Kade, Ghana are described for 14 years from 1968 to 1982. Density of trees ≥10 cm dbh was 552 ± 13 ha−1and the basal area was 30.85 ± 1.38 m2 ha−1, and showed little variation over the study period: diameter class distributions did not change significantly. There were 120 species of tree ≥10 cm dbh, including seven immigrants and seven emigrants.

Mortality did not differ significantly between diameter classes, but was significantly greater amongst trees showing negative diameter increment. Total mortality for the 2 ha over the 12-year period 1970–1982 was 216 trees (1.77% yr−l) and was balanced by a recruitment of 212 trees to the measured population.

Growth rates were highly variable within species populations. Overall, bigger trees tended to have higher growth rates. Successive diameter increments in individual trees were strongly correlated, and were still significant after 10 years. These results support the idea that the faster-growing individuals are the more likely to reach the canopy.

Estimates of the age of trees by summing mean passage times for successive diameter classes is shown to be misleading because similar calculations using only the fastest-growing trees gives substantially lower estimated ages.

Although overall forest composition showed little change, a few species showed small but significant imbalance between recruitment and mortality. Recruitment and mortality differed significantly from overall rates for some species, but only markedly for the megaphanerophyte Celtis mildbraedii which had lower than average rates for both mortality and recruitment.
Relict mangrove stand on Last Interglacial terrace, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean
Authors: Woodroffe Colin D.
Published: July 2009

A unique stand of mangroves of the genus Bruguiera occurs on the shore terrace at Hosnies Spring, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. The mangrove stand, of about 0.33 ha, occurs 120 m inland and over an elevational range of 13 m, from 24 to 37 m above sea level. It is flooded by freshwater from a spring which trickles over a partially-cemented calcsinter concretion gravel with mud. Trees reach 30–40 m high, and 80 cm diameter breast height. The size structure is bimodal with few trees in the 10–25 cm dbh size classes, but abundant propagules, seedlings and saplings. The shore terrace contains corals, some in their position of growth, and has been shown by Uranium-series dating to be Last Interglacial in age. Several alternative explanations of how the mangroves reached this site are examined. One explanation is that this stand of mangroves has persisted at the site for approximately 120,000 years since the Last Interglacial. While this cannot be proved it does appear that the stand is relict and is actively regenerating in this unusual location.
Frugivory and seed dispersal in Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico
Authors: Coates-Estrada Rosamond , Estrada Alejandro
Published: July 2009

Fruit production, frugivore foraging activity and seed dispersal was studied at 10 Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) trees during an entire fruiting season. Fruits dehisced during the first six months of the year offer to potential dispersal agents a package of 8–24 arillate seeds. Insects and fungi, however, killed up to 14% of the seeds potentially available for dispersal before fruit dehiscence. Visitation by 24 species of birds and one mammal to the trees closely followed the availability of arillate seeds. The foraging activity of Peromyscus and Heteromys rodents accounted for ≥ 80% mortality of the seeds deposited under the crown of the parent tree. Among those seedlings that became established under the crown mortality was ≥ 90% after 12 months. Seeds dispersed under conspecific fruiting trees experienced intense predation by vertebrates. Field experiments showed that seeds and seedlings planted ≥ 30 m away from adult trees survived significantly longer than those planted under the crown and at distances ≤ 30 m. An unequivocal advantage to dispersal away from the tree and under allospecific trees was evident from the data. A very narrow range of frugivores (N = 8 species) accounted for the quality component of dispersal services to the trees. The tree with the lowest animal visitation and fruit crop was the most efficient in the dispersal of its seeds.
Water potential gradients for gaps and slopes in a Panamanian tropical moist forest's dry season
Authors: Becker Peter , Rabenold Peter E. , Idol Jacquelyn R. , Smith Alan P.
Published: July 2009

Soil water potentials were measured weekly by psychrometers at 20 cm depth during the dry season in a tropical moist forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. There was a persistent gradient of decreasing soil moisture from gap centre to gap edge to adjacent understorey at both a large and a small gap. On both a north-south and an east-west transect, the soil was drier (water potentials were more negative) on an upland surface than on moderate slopes. This trend was reflected in the predawn, total water potentials of shallow-rootedPsychotria horizontalisand deep-rootedTrichilia tuberculatameasured in the understorey during the last two months of the dry season.P. horizontalisfrom the wettest sites on the transects had higher osmotic potentials at full hydration and at zero turgor, indicating less drought resistance than for conspecifics from the driest sites.
Growth and photosynthesis of Aechmea magdalenae, a terrestrial CAM plant in a tropical moist forest, Panama
Authors: Pfitsch William A. , Smith Alan P.
Published: July 2009

Aechmea magdalenae is a terrestrial bromeliad that dominates areas of forest understorey on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Nocturnal CO2 uptake via crassulacean acid metabolism was the primary means of carbon gain under well-watered conditions and all light regimes. The ability to maintain a positive carbon balance under conditions of very low light was demonstrated by laboratory measurements of photosynthesis and forest measurements of growth. Low-light-grown juvenile rosettes had the same daily net assimilation whether tested at photon flux densities of 15 or 300 μmol m−2 s−1 Growth rates of rosettes in treefall gaps were similar to those of plants in closed canopy forest. Growth rates of forest plants were increasingly correlated with canopy openness as the wet season progressed due to increased growth by gap plants, suggesting that water availability rather than light may limit growth during the annual dry season.
Studies on Acacia mangium in Kemasul Forest, Malaysia. I. Biomass and productivity
Authors: Tsai Lim Meng
Published: July 2009

Malaysia is establishing large-scale plantations for reforestation and the production of wood for pulp and paper as well as for light construction. The main species used currently is the exotic legume Acacia mangium. The above-ground biomass, litter production and litter accumulation in a four-year-old stand in Peninsular Malaysia were studied. The mean diameter at breast height (dbh) was 12 cm. The mean annual increment (MAI) in dbh of individual trees ranged from 0.9 to 5.1 cm while MAI in height of sample trees ranged from 2.9 to 5.5 m. The total above-ground biomass of the stand was 90.4 t ha−1, consisting of 57.6 t stem, 14.1 t branch and 5.4 t leaf. Litter production averaged 10.23 t ha−1 yr−1 with leaf litter making up 87.4% of the total. Leaf litter accumulation amounted to 6.64 t ha−1 and the turnover constant of leaf litter was estimated at 1.35. The high productivity is discussed in relation to the high turnover of foliage and the low turnover of litter.
Litterfall and litter nutrient content in primary and secondary Amazonian ‘terra firme’ rain forest
Authors: Dantas Mario , Phillipson John
Published: July 2009

Litterfall in primary and secondary forests (‘capoeira’) in eastern Brazilian Amazonia was measured fortnightly from August 1979 to October 1980. The nutrient contents of the litter (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) were determined.

Litterfall differed between the two forest types (primary forest − 8.04 t ha−1yr−1; secondary forest − 5.04 t ha−1yr−1). The value obtained for primary forest was similar to those reported elsewhere in Brazil (mean = 8 t ha−1yr−1) and from other regions of S. America (mean = 7.20 t ha−1yr−1).

Prediction of net primary production from litterfall at the primary forest site gave rise to values of 14.47 and 26.53 t ha−1yr−1. Estimates of net primary production in ‘capoeira’ ranged from 9.07 to 16.63 t ha−1yr−1.

Seasonality of litterfall was more marked in ‘capoeira’ than primary forest but in both cases was less pronounced than elsewhere in Brazil.

Nutrient concentrations were highest in ‘capoeira’ litter, a finding which accords with results from other tropical sites; nevertheless input of nutrients per unit area of forest floor was greatest in the primary forest.
Population demography and sex ratio in a Neotropical damselfly (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in Costa Rica
Authors: Hamilton Linda D. , Montgomerie Robert D.
Published: July 2009

Throughout the latter part of the dry season (January-April) of 1985 and 1986, we studied the demography of mature adults in a small population of Argia chelata along a stream at Monteverde, Costa Rica. Males defended sunlit spots along the stream between 1030 h and 1400 h central standard time each day and females visiting these sunlit spots were soon mated. By individually marking all mature adults in the population we found that there was no significant difference between the sexes in daily survival rates (0.85 for males and 0.86 for females). Lifetime mating success was positively correlated with longevitiy in both males and females but the ability of males to obtain a mate appeared to be independent of age.

Although the sex ratio at emergence was 1:1, that of mature adults at the stream was strongly male-biased (87% male), perhaps as a result of a longer or more risky prereproductive period in females related to the costs of egg formation. We argue that the strongly male-biased sex ratio has important effects on the mating system of this species in that the male contact-guards the female for the entire oviposition period each day. Although this limits each male to mating with one female per day, it probably ensures that the male will fertilize most of the eggs laid by the female that day.
Red coloration of tropical young leaves: a possible antifungal defence?
Authors: Coley Phyllis D. , Aide T. Mitchell
Published: July 2009

Many woody species in humid tropical forests synchronously flush entire canopies of young red leaves. Numerous unsuccessful attempts have been made to explain the adaptive value of this visually striking phenomenon. In the humid tropics, fungal attack is a potentially important source of mortality for expanding young leaves. We propose that the anthocyanins responsible for the red coloration of young leaves may play a protective role against invasions by leaf-attacking fungal pathogens.

Fungus-growing leaf cutting ants (Atta columbica Guerin) were used in choice tests because they are known to select against leaves or chemicals containing fungicidal properties. In feeding trials with leaf discs from 20 common species, ant preference decreased significantly with increasing anthocyanin content. In feeding trials with pure anthocyanin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavylium chloride) presented on oat flakes, ants again showed a significant dosage dependent preference. This suggests that even low concentrations of anthocyanins may be harmful to the fungal colonies of ants. Additional work on the effects of anthocyanin on leafattacking fungi is encouraged.
The breeding season and diet of Arvicanthis in northern Nigeria
Authors: Rabiu Safianu , Fisher Martin
Published: July 2009

The breeding season and diet of the rat Arvicanthis was monitored from December 1983 to November 1985 in the semi-arid Sudan savanna at Kano, Nigeria, West Africa. Breeding began 1–2 months before the start of the rainy season and ceased at the beginning of the dry season. The diet of Arvicanthis was omnivorous, but with seasonal differences. Monocotyledons and dicotyledons predominated in the diet in the dry season, with seeds and insects increasing in the diet in the rainy season. The major differences between the ecology of Arvicanthis at Kano and on the East African savanna were that in East Africa the breeding season is longer and begins after the start of the rainy season. These and other dissimilarities between the biology of Arvicanthis in the two areas could be due to the effect of climatic differences on food supply and to the possible existence of different taxonomic groupings of Arvicanthis in the two regions.
Phenology and diversity of necrophagous Diptera in a Hong Kong forest
Authors: So Ping-Man , Dudgeon David
Published: July 2009

Necrophagous Diptera were sampled in a seasonal tropical mixed forest in Hong Kong from February 1985 to May 1986 using carrion-baited traps. Six families of flies were caught but only Calliphoridae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae were considered. They made up a total of 14,669 flies of 21 species in the sample. Total species abundance followed Fisher's log-series distribution. The commonest five species were calliphorids, constituting 79.44% of the total combined catch. Temperature was apparently the main factor affecting seasonality of necrophagous Diptera in Hong Kong. Fluctuations in total abundance, species richness and H' followed seasonal changes in weekly mean air temperatures.
An elephant (Loxodonta africana) survey using dung counts in the forests of the Central African Republic
Authors: Fay J. Michael
Published: July 2009

In May and June of 1989 data on elephant (Loxodonta africana) dung density were collected in the main forested areas of the Central African Republic. A total of 147.0 km of line transects (N = 14 transects,= 10.50 km, SD = 3.79) was completed. Dung was recorded in 37.4% of the 294 sectors of 0.5 km each. The overall dung density was estimated to be 266 piles km-2(= 382, SD = 383.7). The highest dung density was found in the proposed Dzanga-Sangha Reserve in the extreme south-west with 1166 piles km-2(N = 12 sectors of 0.5 km). The south-eastern forests were found to have an intermediate dung density of 336 piles km-2(N = 215 sectors of 0.5 km,= 419, SD = 308). In the eastern section of the south-western forests no dung was recorded along survey transects (N = 67 sectors of 0.5 km). These data indicate that elephant populations are still relatively high in the forests of south-western and south-eastern Central African Republic, while the population in the eastern section of the south-western forests has diminished to a very low level.
The carnivore community in a dry tropical forest mosaic in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand
Authors: Rabinowitz Alan R. , Walker Susan R.
Published: July 2009

An assessment of carnivore species richness and food habits was carried out in a 100 km2 area of dry tropical forest in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Twenty-one carnivore species of five families were found to be feeding on at least 34 mammal species, as well as birds, lizards, snakes, crabs, fish, insects, and fruits. Forty-four percent of the prey identified in faeces of larger carnivores, primarily leopards, consisted of barking deer, Muntiacus muntjak. Sambar deer, macaques, wild boar, porcupine, and hog badger were important secondary prey items. In faeces from small carnivores (< 10kg), murid rodents accounted for 33% of identified food items. The two most frequently encountered mammalian prey species were the yellow rajah rat, Maxomys surifer, and the bay bamboo rat, Cannomys badius. Non-mammal prey accounted for 21.3%, and fruit seeds for 12.4%, of all food items found in small carnivore faeces.
Distribution and abundance of a tropical rodent, the spiny rat, on islands in Panama
Authors: Adler Gregory H. , Seamon Joshua O.
Published: July 2009

The insular distribution and abundance of the spiny rat (Proechimys semispinosus) were studied by live-trapping rats on 50 small forested islands in Gatun Lake, Republic of Panama. Rats were found on 29 of these islands. Rat abundance was not correlated with island size or isolation, in contrast to temperate rodents, and may be due to the highly patchy nature of tropical forests and the differing floristic compositions of the study islands. Rat occurrence on islands was related positively to island size and negatively to island isolation. All islands greater than 2.1 ha contained spiny rats, whereas most islands less than 0.9 ha did not contain rats. The relationship between occurrence, size, and isolation are illustrated by a three-dimensional response surface. Results suggest that colonization and extinction regularly occur on these islands and that (1) larger islands with year-round fruit production, regardless of isolation, will have persistent populations of rats, (2) small isolated islands will never or only very rarely have rats owing to a lack of a year-round food source and the difficulty of immigration, and (3) small near islands frequently will have rats when fruits arc present. No other species of mouse-or rat-like rodents were captured on the islands. We suggest that P. semispinosus is a better colonist than other sympatric forest species, is more of a habitat generalist, and has a more flexible demographic structure allowing persistence in heterogeneous and changing environments.
A plot study of forest floor litter frogs, Central Amazon, Brazil
Authors: Allmon Warren D.
Published: July 2009

Abundance and distribution of frogs inhabiting the litter layer of an area of primary lowland rain forest in Central Amazonia were studied over a period of 15 months by sampling 498 plots each 5m × 5m. The litter frog fauna of the area consists of 23 species, but only 12 of these were encountered in the plots, and 84% of the frogs encountered belonged to only six species. Total abundance and diversity within the plot data are strongly seasonal and peak in the late wet season. Both are positively correlated with litter volume and moisture. Most of this variation is due to seasonality of reproduction, as indicated by patterns of occurrence of juveniles of the most abundant species.

These results indicate that the plot sampling method docs not sample the entire fauna adequately. Since this technique has been used to study other tropical forest litter herpetofaunas, however, comparison with other studies may be useful. Species diversity of litter frogs appears to be approximately the same in lowland primary forest sites studied, averaging around 20 ‘regular’ species. Abundances, however, vary widely. Central American communities contain 14–15 frogs (100m)-2, African 9–10, South American 4–6, and South-east Asian 1–2. These differences may be due to differential nutrient availability in forests of different ages and/or on different soils.
Floodplain ‘murundus’ of Central Brazil: evidence for the termite-origin hypothesis
Authors: De Oliveira-Filho Ary Teixeira
Published: July 2009

‘Campos de murundus’ are a typical landscape of Central Brazil characterized by countless rounded earthmounds (the ‘murundus’), which are covered by woody ‘cerrado’ (savanna) vegetation and are found scattered over a grass-covered surface (the ‘campo’). A detailed study was carried out in the region of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso on a particular campo de murundus (area of 5.065 ha) lying in a sedimentary depression where the earthmounds are true islands during the annual floods, allowing the colonization both by cerrado plants and by termites. The mounds were mapped and measured for their size and shape. Mounds' diameters ranged from 0.2 to 22.0 m and heights ranged from 0.1 to 1.1m. The 445 smaller mounds (< 0.8 m diameter) were found to have a clumped distribution, occupying 0.1% of the area. They are actually small termite nests built byArmitermes euamignathus. The 80 larger mounds (> 0.8 m diameter) were uniformly distributed, occupying 6.3%, of the area. These mounds are colonized byCornitermes snyderiandCornitermes bequaertiwhich build big termite nests on the summit of the mounds. Soil analyses indicated a close similarity between the campo and the surrounding cerrado whose soils had coarser texture and were poor in nutrients. Soils of the earthmounds and termite nests showed finer texture, lower pH and higher amounts of mineral nutrients. It is suggested here that this particular type of campo de murundus is formed mainly from the localized activity of nest-building by termites, followed by nest degradation, during many generations of termite colonies.
Population structure, density and biomass of large herbivores in the tropical forests of Nagarahole, India
Authors: Karanth K. Ullas , Sunquist Melvin E.
Published: July 2009

We studied the population structure, density and biomass of seven ungulate and two primate species in the tropical forests of Nagarahole, southern India, using line transect sampling and roadside/platform counts, during 1986–87. The estimated ecological densities of large herbivore species in the study area are: 4.2 muntjac km−2, 50.6 chital km−2, 5.5 sambar km−2, 0.8 four-horned antelope km−2, 9.6 gaur km−2, 4.2 wild pig km−2, 3.3 elephant km−2, 23.8 hanuman langur km−2and 0.6 bonnet macaque km−2. Most ungulates have female-biased adult sex ratios. Among common ungulate species, yearlings and young of the year comprise about a third of the population, suggesting relatively high turn-over rates. Three species (muntjac, sambar and four-horned antelope) are solitary, while others form groups. The study area supports a wild herbivore biomass density of 14,744 kg km−2. Among the three habitat types within the study area, biomass is lower in dry deciduous forests when compared with moist deciduous or teak plantation dominant forests. Using our results, we have examined the factors that may contribute towards maintenance of high ungulate biomass in tropical forests.
Hurricane Hugo: damage to a tropical rain forest in Puerto Rico
Authors: Basnet Khadga , Likens Gene E. , Scatena F. N. , Lugo Ariel E.
Published: July 2009

Hurricane Hugo of September 1989 caused severe damage to the rain forest in the north-rust corner of Puerto Rico. We assessed the severity of damage distributed in space, species, and size-classes of trees in the Bisley Watersheds of the Luquillo Experimental Forest. We analyzed pie- and post-hurricane data for vegetation from transects established in 1987 and 1988. The severity of damage was significantly greater in valleys than on ridges and slopes. All the species exceptDacryodes excelsa, Sloanea berteriana, andGuarea guidoniashowed 100% severe damage. Large trees (> 70 cm DBH) were highly susceptible to hurricane damage, but there was no clear pattern in the small size-classes.D. excelsa(tabonuco) was the most resistant to damage by the hurricane. Tabonuco which has extensive root-grafts and root anchorage to bedrock and subsurficial rocks, apparently can survive frequent hurricanes and continue as a dominant species in this montane tropical rain forest. The high frequency of hurricanes, which can override other ecological and topographic factors, may largely determine the overall spatial pattern of species in this rain forest.
Ant recolonisation of rehabilitated bauxite mines of Poços de Caldas, Brazil
Authors: Majer Jonathan D.
Published: July 2009

The ant species were sampled in one campo (grassy shrubland), one mata (semideciduous rain forest) and 11 rehabilitated bauxite mine plots at Poços de Caldas, in the humid sub-tropical climatic region of Brazil. Rehabilitation was either by planting AustralianEucalyptusspp, the BrazilianMimosa scabrellatree, or by planting mixed mata trees. Sixty-eight ant species were recorded, of which 26 were exclusively found in the native vegetation and 16 were confined to the rehabilitated plots. Ant species richness built up most rapidly in areas rehabilitated with mixed mata species and least rapidly in areas withEucalyptus. Younger rehabilitated plots appeared to be developing a campo-type ant community, although evidence indicates that more mata ant species will colonise once tree canopy closure takes place. Rate of ant return in Australia is positively correlated with the quantity and distribution of rainfall – the rates in the current study concur with those from humid sub-tropical climatic zones within Australia, suggesting that similar constraints to the succession may be operating. If found to be the case, this would have practical implications for planning and evaluating the success of rehabilitation.
Forest ecology on Java: human impact and vegetation of montane forest
Authors: Smiet Alfred C
Published: July 2009

Natural forests on Java have been generally cleared and remnants are now confined to mountain areas Although legally protected, these forests are used by local people for products like firewood, timber and fodder Locally, such exploitation is carried out daily by hundreds of people, whose livelihood depends on forest products Using a landscape-guided approach, a 15,500 ha area of montane forest in East Java has been sampled and analysed at the sylvatic mosaic level Vegetation types, sociologic species groups and vegetation structure are described for landscape units The most accessible landscape units have the most degraded forest with basal area values < 15 m2 ha−1 and a canopy closure of < 20% The least accessible units have relatively undisturbed forest with basal area values of > 45 m2 ha−1 and a canopy closure of > 60% Human activities such as tree cutting have altered species composition and modified forest structure to such an extent that large stretches of forest have been replaced by woodland or shrubland Forest degradation is described as a human induced process in which basal area and canopy closure are ultimately reduced, in spite of regrowth Comparison with other forest areas on Java shows that degradation as a result of tree cutting is a widespread phenomenon
Aspects of rodent ecology in Lunyo Forest, Uganda
Authors: Okia Nathan O
Published: July 2009

A study of small rodents was conducted in a small lake-shore forest (Lunyo) in southern Uganda between April 1970 and December 1972 Using capture recapture methods, data on population changes and breeding of six murid species were obtained At the beginning of the study, populations of Lophuromys flavopunctatus and Praomys jacksoni were higher during the mid-annual dry season (June-September), but later fluctuated with rainfall Breeding coincided with rainfall in all species but in Praomys jacksoni and Oenomys hypoxanthus breeding occurred in both wet and dry months The growth rate of laboratory reared Praomys jacksoni and Lemniscomys striatus was comparable to that in the forest within the 20–60 g weight ranges The growth rate of Lophuromys flavopunctatus in the laboratory was lower than in the forest Nonsignificant differences in growth rates were observed between individuals of different litters of the same species Except in L striatus, testicular descent in males occurred at an earlier age than vaginal opening in females The average litter size ranged from a high of 4 5 for L striatus to a low of 2 7 for O hypoxanthus
Balanites wilsoniana: elephant dependent dispersal?
Authors: Chapman Lauren J. , Chapman Colin A. , Wrangham Richard W.
Published: July 2009

This study demonstrates that forest elephants (Loxodonta africana) play a key role as seed dispersal agents for the upper canopy forest tree, Balanites wilsoniana. Seed that passed through elephants had a much greater probability of germinating (50.7%) than seeds from fruits eollected directly from the tree (3%). Of 515 seeds that were collected from under parent trees, 89.1% were rotten at the time of collection, 2.6% had been eaten by forest pigs, 2.8% had been killed by squirrels, and 0.7% had been killed by insect damage. The remaining 4.8% of the seeds were still alive. In 150 hours of focal observations on B. wilsoniana trees, two fruits were seen to be destroyed by squirrels, no fruits were seen to be consumed by potential dispersers, and no evidence of scatter hoarding was found. Experimental seedling stations placed out under parent trees and away from parent trees indicated no significant effect of dispersal on seedling survival. Although elephants are not essential for the successful germination of B. wilsoniana seeds, they do greatly increase probability of germination and play a vital role in their dispersal, suggesting that this is a highly interdependent plant-animal seed dispersal system.