Influence of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and playa wetlands on pollinator communities in the Southern High Plains, USA

A report on the butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) diversity of the Upper Ganga River Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh, India

This study provides a primary inventory of the butterfly diversity of the Upper Ganga River Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh, India. The study was carried out in two phases, first in March 2019 and then in November 2019. A total of 44 species of butterflies belonging to 34 genera and five families were seen in the area. The species observed in the study site belonged to the families Hesperiidae (4 genera, 4 species), Lycaenidae (4 genera, 4 species), Nymphalidae (18 genera, 24 species), Papilionidae (2 genera, 4 species), and Pieridae (6 genera, 8 species). Three of these species are legally protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

Bee and Flowering Plant Communities in a Riparian Corridor of the Lower Rio Grande River (Texas, USA)

The Rio Grande in Texas is the geopolitical boundary between the United States and Mexico. Considered one of the world's most at-risk rivers, it has been impacted by intensified management by both countries sharing its watershed. Invasion by Arundo donax (Linnaeus) (Poales: Poaceae), giant reed, has been extensive in the riparian corridor, with potential impacts on native wildlife. A need exists to better understand the ecological communities in these habitats to support strategies for enhancing resources for pollinators. We sampled bee and flowering plant communities monthly over 2 yr along a 3.22 km stretch of the lower Rio Grande in Webb County, TX. Bee and plant richness and abundance were bimodal with peaks in March-April and September in both riparian and upland habitats. The bee community was similar across habitats and sampling dates and dominated by a few common species. Anthophora occidentalis (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Lasioglossum sp. L (Curtis) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were indicator species of the riparian habitat, and Halictus ligatus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) was an indicator species of the upland habitat. Three plant species were indicator species in riparian habitats, spiny pricklepoppy (Argemone sanguinea Greene) (Papaverales: Papaveraceae), spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata Linnaeus) (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), and Pennsylvania cudweed (Gamochaeta pensylvanica Willdenow) (Asterales: Asteraceae). Analysis showed a positive relationship between bee richness and abundance with flowering plant diversity, increasing bee richness within an optimal temperature range 25-30°C, and higher bee abundance with increased average monthly precipitation. This geographically extensive riparian corridor could be managed using ecological restoration to enhance resources for pollinators.

Landscape Context Influences the Bee Conservation Value of Wildflower Plantings

Pollination provided by bees is a critical ecosystem service for agricultural production. However, bee populations are at risk from stressors such as habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. On-farm wildflower plantings is one mitigation strategy to provide habitat and resources for bees. In many instances, government programs can subsidize the installation of these plantings for private landowners. Semi-natural habitat (SNH) in the landscape is also important for bee conservation and may alter the effectiveness of wildflower plantings. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of wildflower plantings and interactions with SNH in the landscape for promoting bee abundance and richness. Bee surveys were conducted over 2 yr at 22 sites in eastern Virginia and Maryland. Wildflower plantings, averaging 0.22 ha in size, were installed and maintained by cooperators at 10 of the sites. In total, 5,122 bees were identified from 85 species. Wildflower plantings did not alter bee communities independently, but bee abundance was greater on farms with plantings and 20-30% SNH in the landscape. Bee abundance and richness had nonlinear responses to increasing SNH in the landscape. The positive effects for richness and abundance peaked when SNH was approximately 40% of the landscape. Similar to predictions of the intermediate-landscape complexity hypothesis, increases in bee abundance at wildflower sites were only detected in simplified landscapes. Results indicate that small wildflower plantings in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. only provided conservation benefits to bee communities under specific circumstances on the scale studied, and that conserving SNH across the landscape may be a more important strategy.

Changes in nutrient balance, environmental effects, and green development after returning farmland to forests: A case study in Ningxia, China

Returning sloping farmland (>25°) to forest/grassland (RFTF) is an effective ecological measure for soil and water conservation. However, changes in nutrient cycles and green development are still unclear. Ningxia, in Northwestern China, began to implement RFTF in 2000. Here, we used the NUFER model to calculate the input and loss of nitrogen and phosphorus, utilization efficiency, production and consumption at food-chain scale in Ningxia for the period 1985-2015. Five aspects comprised the evaluation of green development: society, economy, resources, environment, and productivity. Results showed that forest coverage rate increased from 7.74% to 33.2%, while cropping area decreased by 6.6%. NH₃ loss increased from 53,000 to 83,000 tons (56%), N₂O increased from 1200 to 2300 tons (92%) and leaching loss from 18,000 to 62,000 tons (240%). Phosphorus leaching loss increased from 13,000 to 35,000 tons (130%). The environmental cost of food nitrogen per unit of production decreased from 8 to 6.7 kg/kg (19.4%). Nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies decreased by 4.8% and 58% in crops-animal systems, respectively, but increased by 652% and 430% in animal husbandry systems. The proportion of animal protein production increased from 18.3% to 39.0% (113%). The major source of organic waste was livestock and poultry manure and urine (70%). Indicators for achieving green development level increased from 14 to 18 (14.7%). Improving the level of scientific and technological management of aquaculture system, increasing the proportion of organic matter returned to farmlands, and paying attention to the combination of planting and breeding will effectively promote future cycling efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus in the food chain, and the sustainability of agriculture towards green development.