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Biodiversity Journal 2014, 5 (1): 1-92

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 001-002
    Hock Ping Guek & Roberto A. Pantaleoni
    The genus Ankylopteryx Brauer, 1864 (Neuroptera Chrysopidae)
  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 003-008

    Amir Biranvand, Reza Jafari & Mehdi Zare Khormizi
    Diversity and distribution of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Lorestan Province, Iran

    ABSTRACT
    The present study was conducted from April to September 2012 to assess biodiversity and distribution of Coccinellids (Coleoptera Coccinellidae) in five regions of the west of Lorestan Provine, Iran. Specimens of coccinellid beetles were collected by netting and hand picking from Shorab, Veisian, Sarabdore, Teshkan and Kashkan. Identification of these beetles showed twenty-two different species. Oenopia conglobata (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 386, 24%) was recorded as the most abundant species as well as widely distributed on all over the regions. When distributions of all the areas were compared, it was concluded that Coccinellidae was mostly distributed in the Shorab area. The maximum and minimum species diversity indices were obtained in Shorab (Simpson’s diversity index = 0.90) and Kashkan (Simpson’s diversity index = 0.67) regions, respectively. Maximum similarity index (0.89) was observed between Sarabdore and Kashkan regions.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 009-018

    Alessandro Ciampalini, Maurizio Forli, Andrea Guerrini & Franco Sammartino
    The marine fossil malacofauna in a Plio-Pleistocenic section from Vallin Buio (Livorno, Tuscany, Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper the occurrence of marine fossil malacofauna in a Plio-Pleistocenic section from Vallin Buio (surroundings of Livorno) is described. Three different mollusc associations are present. The oldest one is typical of the Italian Lower Pliocene, the other two, are characteristic of the Upper Pleistocene fauna. Specimens, sometime poorly preserved, are not numerous for each section, but all the identified species are compatible with the respective fossil associations. The fossil malacofauna in the calcarenitic level referred to the Upper Pleistocene shows a remarkable affinity with the biotic component of the posidonietum biocenosis.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 019-024

    Lin Lin, Ivan Rapuzzi, Li Jingke, Zhang Xueping & Gao Meixiang
    Notes on the Genus Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 of Mount Bing-La-Shan, Xifeng County, Liaoning Province, Northeast China (Coleoptera Carabidae)

    ABSTRACT
    The present work provides some preliminary data on the genus Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 collected from Mount Bing-La-Shan, Xifeng County, Liaoning Province, Northeast China. Thanks to these studies, some species show a greater distribution than previously known. In these locations is reported a new population of Carabus (Carabus) xiuyanensis Deuve et Li, 1998.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 025-038

    Cesare Brizio & Filippo Maria Buzzetti
    Ultrasound recordings of some Orthoptera from Sardinia (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    During August 2013, Ultramic 250 by Dodotronic was field-tested for application in Orthopteran acoustic biodiversity studies. The songs of four species were recorded: Uromenus brevicollis insularis Chopard, 1924, Rhacocleis baccettii Galvagni, 1976, Svercus palmetorum palmetorum (Krauss, 1902) and Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993. The recording campaign proved the viability of Ultramic 250 for field use and provided the opportunity to assess the presence in South-Western Sardinia of two less documented species, Svercus palmetorum palmetorum (Krauss, 1902) and Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 039-054

    Salvatore Pasta, Arnold Sciberras, Jeffrey Sciberras & Leonardo Scuderi
    Analysis of the vascular flora of four satellite islets of the Egadi Archipelago (W Sicily), with some notes on their vegetation and fauna

    ABSTRACT
    This paper represents the first contribution on the vascular flora of the stack named Faraglione di Levanzo and of three satellite islets of Favignana, i.e. Prèveto, Galeotta and a stack located at Cala Rotonda. A sketch of their vegetation pattern is also provided, as well as a list of all the terrestrial fauna, with some more detailed information on the vertebrates. The finding of some bones of Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1758 is the first record for the whole archipelago and deserves further investigations. The floristic data have been used in order to analyze life-form and chorological spectra and to assess species-area relationship, the peculiarity of local plant assemblages, the occurrence of islet specialists, the risk of alien plants invasion and the refugium role played by the islets. The significant differences among the check-lists compiled by the two different couples of authors during their own visits to Prèveto and Galeotta underline the need of planning regular and standardized field investigations in order to avoid an overestimation of local species turnover rates.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 055-060

    Antonio Mazzei, Pietro Brandmayr, Salvatore Larosa, Maria Grazia Novello, Stefano Scalercio & Teresa Bonacci
    Spatial distribution of Calomera littoralis nemoralis (Olivier, 1790) in a coastal habitat of Southern Italy and its importance for conservation (Coleoptera Carabidae Cicindelinae)

    ABSTRACT
    The spatial distribution of Calomera littoralis nemoralis (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera Carabidae Cicindelinae) was studied on the marine sandy beach area of 1 km, near the mouth of a stream in Catanzaro province (Southern Italy, Calabria). During the sampling period (July-August 2011-2012) we investigated the distribution of adults of C. littoralis nemoralis by visual census method and the spatial distribution of larval burrows of C. littoralis nemoralis along three transects (A, B, parallel to the coast line; C, embracing the river mouth). All the transects were selected by soil microclimate (a higher or lower humidity) and food availability. Larval burrows distribution was performed using QGIS. The dispersal index (ID) shows regular distribution of adults along transects A and B while in C the individuals are aggregated. Concerning the larval galleries distribution, the QGIS analysis shows a significant difference in their spatial distribution. The sampled data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. This is the first report on spatial distribution of adults and larvae of C. littoralis nemoralis in relation to soil humidity and food availability. The adult home range of this species is much larger than the reproductive habitat, that seems limited to wet sandy river bank around the mouth. The importance of such experimental studies for cicindelid conservation is briefly discussed.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 061-068

    Vikram Singh & Harjeet Singh Banyal
    Preliminary ecological studies on the Lepidoptera from Khajjiar lake catchment, Himachal Pradesh, India

    ABSTRACT
    A study on the Lepidoptera from Khajjiar lake of District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh revealed the presence of 49 species of butterflies belonging to 41 genera and 10 families. Analysis of data revealed that family Nymphalidae and Satyridae (12 species each) dominated the Lepidoptera fauna of Khajjiar lake catchment, followed by Pieridae and Lycaenidae (6 species each), Hesperiidae (4 species), Papilionidae (3 species), Erycinidae and Danaidae (2 species each), and Acraeidae and Riodinidae (1 species each). Categorization of the species further revealed that of these 49 species, 5 were very common, 32 common, 5 uncommon and 7 were rare. Moreover, 3 species were listed in Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Lethe scanda (Moore, 1857) and Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) placed under scheduled II and Castalius rosimon (Fabricius, 1775) under scheduled IV of the Act. Our study revealed that forest area supports the highest diversity of butterflies followed by lake areas and human settlements.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 069-086

    Gianfranco Caoduro, Roberto Battiston, Pier Mauro Giachino, Laura Guidolin & Giuliano Lazzarin
    Biodiversity indices for the assessment of air, water and soil quality of the “Biodiversity Friend” certification  in temperate areas

    ABSTRACT
    “Biodiversity Friend” is a standard certification developed in 2010 by World Biodiversity Association to evaluate the biodiversity and promote its conservation in agriculture. The procedure to obtain the certification considers the environmental impacts of the agricultural activities on the agrosystem and the biodiversity and suggests operational strategies to improve the environmental quality of the agriculture areas. The evaluation is referred to 12 actions related to low-impact methods of pest and weed control, reconstitution of soil fertility, rational management of water resources, diffusion of hedges, woodlands and nectariferous plants, conservation of agricultural biodiversity, soil, air and freshwater quality through Biodiversity Indices, use of renewable sources for energy supply, lower CO2 production and CO2 storage and other actions that may have beneficial effects on biodiversity.
    The environmental conditions of the agrosystem are evaluated by biomonitoring of air, water and soil. The biodiversity of soil and aquatic macroinvertebrates and the biodiversity of epiphytic lichen communities decrease very quickly when the soil, water and air conditions are altered by different causes such as pollution, synthetic and organic pesticides, bad land use practices, etc. The protocol of the three indices of the standard certification “Biodiversity Friend”: Lichen Biodiversity Index (LBI-bf), Freshwater Biodiversity Index (FBI-bf), and Soil Biodiversity Index (SBI-bf) are here presented in detail.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 087-091

    Giovanni Onore, Davide Badano & Roberto A. Pantaleoni
    Heliographic signalling in Haploglenius Burmeister, 1839 (Neuroptera Ascalaphidae)

    ABSTRACT
    The males of the ascalaphid genus Haploglenius are equipped with a movable pronotal flap, covering a white thoracic membrane, whose function remains poorly known. Few recent original observations, conducted on undisturbed specimens in their natural environment, suggest that this structure is part of a complex visual communication system based on intermittently showing the bright, reflecting, thoracic white area on a dark background. This behaviour is probably associated with courtship.