02760nas a2200217   4500008004100000245011700041210006900158300001400227490000700241520205400248653001102302653001702313653002402330653002502354653002502379100002902404700001402433700002302447700001902470856005302489       2003                        eng d00aThe pristine rain forest? Remnants of historical human impacts on current tree species composition and diversity0 apristine rain forest Remnants of historical human impacts on cur  a1381-13900 v303 aAim Tropical rain forests are often regarded as pristine and undisturbed by humans. In Central Africa, community-wide disturbances by natural causes are rare and therefore current theory predicts that natural gap phase dynamics structure tree species compo- sition and diversity. However, the dominant tree species in many African forests recruit poorly, despite the presence of gaps. To explain this, we studied the disturbance history of a species-rich and structurally complex rain forest. Location Lowland rain forest in Southern Cameroon. Methods We identified the recruitment conditions of trees in different diameter classes in 16 ha of species-rich and structurally complex old growth rain forest. For the identification of recruitment preference we used independent data on the species com- position along a disturbance gradient, ranging from shifting cultivation fields (repre- senting large-scale disturbance), to canopy gaps and old growth forest. Results In nine of sixteen 1-ha forest plots the older trees preferred shifting cultivation fields for recruitment while younger trees preferred gaps and closed forest conditions. This indicates that these nine sites once experienced large-scale disturbances. Three lines of evidence suggest that historical agricultural use is the most likely disturbance factor: (1) size of disturbed and undisturbed patches, (2) distribution of charcoal and (3) his- torical accounts of human population densities. Main conclusions Present-day tree species composition of a structurally complex and species-rich Central African rain forest still echoes historical disturbances, most probably caused by human land use between three to four centuries ago. Human impact on African rain forest is therefore, contrary to common belief, an issue not of the last decades only. Insights in historical use will help to get a more balanced view of the pristine rain forest, acknowledging that the dualism between old growth and secon- dary forest may be less clear than previously thought.10aafrica10abiodiversity10ahistorical land use10ashifting cultivation10atropical rain forest1 aVan Gemerden, Barend, S.1 aOlff, Han1 aParren, Marc, P.E.1 aBongers, Frans  uhttps://insectafgseag.myspecies.info/fr/node/50802858nas a2200277   4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001400200490000700214520204300221653001702264653002402281653001902305653001502324653002302339653001102362653001602373653002502389653001602414653001702430100002102447700001902468700001902487700002102506856005302527       2011                        eng d00aSpecies pool structure determines the level of generalism of island parasitoid faunas0 aSpecies pool structure determines the level of generalism of isl  a1657-16670 v383 aAim To examine whether island parasitoid faunas are biased towards generalists when compared with the mainland and their species pool, and to evaluate the effects of climate, island characteristics and regional factors on the relative proportions of idiobionts (i.e. generalists) and koinobionts (i.e. specialists) of two parasitic wasp families, Braconidae and Ichneumonidae. Location Seventy-three archipelagos distributed world-wide. Methods We used data on the distribution and biology obtained from a digital catalogue and several literature sources. We related level of generalism, measured as the ratio between the number of idiobiont and koinobiont species, to climatic, physiographic and regional factors using generalized linear models. We compared models by means of Akaike weighting, and evaluated the spatial structure of their residuals. We used partial regressions to determine whether the final models account for all latitudinal structure in the level of generalism. Results Islands host comparatively more idiobionts than continental areas. Although there is a latitudinal gradient in the level of generalism of island faunas correlating with both environmental factors and island characteristics, the most important determinant of island community structure is their source pool. This effect is stronger for ichneumonids, where generalism is higher in the Indomalayan region, arguably due to the higher diversity of endophytic hosts in its large rain forests.Main conclusions The level of generalism of island parasitoid faunas is largely constrained by regional factors, namely by the structure of the species pool, which emphasizes the importance of including regional processes in our understanding of the functioning of ecological communities. The fact that generalist species are more predominant in islands with a large cover of rain forests pinpoints the importance of the indirect effects of ecological requirements on community structure, highlighting the complex nature of geographical gradients of diversity.10abiogeography10acommunity structure10aichneumonoidea10aidiobionts10aindomalayan region10aisland10akoinobionts10alatitudinal gradient10aparasitoids10aspecies pool1 aSantos, Ana, M C1 aQuicke, D.L.J.1 aBorges, P.A.V.1 aHortal, Joaquín  uhttps://insectafgseag.myspecies.info/fr/node/43000869nas a2200277   4500008004100000245006800041210006800109300001200177490000700189653002500196653002500221653002600246653002200272653002000294653002200314100001900336700002300355700002500378700002000403700002100423700002800444700002500472700002300497700001800520856005300538       1999                        eng d00aMatrix habitat and species richness in tropical forest remnants0 aMatrix habitat and species richness in tropical forest remnants  a223-2290 v9110aamazonian rainforest10aextinction proneness10ahabitat fragmentation10alandscape ecology10amatrix habitats10aspecies invasions1 aGascon, Claude1 aLovejoy, Thomas, E1 aJr, O.R., Bierregaar1 aMalcolm, Jay, R1 aStou, Phillip, C1 aVasconcelos, Heraldo, L1 aLaurance, William, F1 aZimmerman, Barbara1 aTocher, Mandy  uhttps://insectafgseag.myspecies.info/fr/node/31103108nas a2200253   4500008004100000245009700041210006900138260002500207300001200232490000700244520232700251653002802578653002502606653001402631653001602645653002902661653001902690653001602709653002502725653001702750100001802767700001602785856005302801       2003                        eng d00aFaunal composition of geometrid moths changes with altitude in an Andean montane rain forest0 aFaunal composition of geometrid moths changes with altitude in a  bWiley Online Library  a431-4400 v303 aAim The objective of this study was to describe and interpret the changes in faunal composition in the moth family Geometridae (Lepidoptera) along a small-scale eleva- tional gradient in a tropical montane rain forest. This gradient was compared with a large-scale latitudinal gradient in Europe. Location Investigations were carried out in the province Zamora-Chinchipe in southern Ecuador along a gradient ranging from1040to2677 mabove sea level at twenty-two sites. Methods Moths were sampled with light-traps in three field periods in 1999 and 2000 and subsequently sorted and determined to species or morphospecies. Results We analysed 13,938 specimens representing 1010 species of geometrid moths. The proportional contribution of subtaxa to the local geometrid fauna changes along the elevational gradient at all systematic levels considered. While proportions of species of the subfamilies Ennominae, Sterrhinae and Geometrinae significantly decrease, the propor- tion of Larentiinae increases with increasing altitude. Changes also occur within the subfamilies Ennominae and Larentiinae. The host–plant specialist ennomine tribes Cassymini, Macariini and Palyadini completely vanish, and the proportion of the tribe Boarmiini decreases at high altitudes. In contrast, the remaining tribes (mostly comprising polyphagous species) either do not show proportional changes (Azelinini, Nacophorini, Nephodiini, Ourapterygini) or even increase (Caberini, Cratoptera group). Within Lar- entiinae, the species proportion of the genus Eois decreases, whereas concomitantly the proportion of Eupithecia increases. There is a remarkable similarity between the altitu- dinal patterns in Ecuador and those found along the latitudinal gradient in Europe. Main conclusions Species of the subfamily Larentiinae seem to be particularly well- adapted to harsh environmental conditions, towards both high altitudes and latitudes. They might disproportionately profit from lower predation at higher altitudes. Many changes in the faunal composition can be explained by expected host–plant requirements of the species involved. Our results show that diversity estimates based on taxon ratios which are assumed to be constant must be regarded with caution because such ratios can change rapidly along environmental gradients.10abiodiversity indicators10aelevational gradient10aEnnominae10ageometridae10ahost–plant specialists10aindicator taxa10aLarentiinae10alatitudinal gradient10ataxon ratios1 aBrehm, Gunnar1 aFiedler, K.  uhttps://insectafgseag.myspecies.info/fr/node/216