The pseudoscorpion-fauna (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) of a floodplain close to Ingelheim/Rhine, with special reference to the effects of the dry-warm winter 2006/2007

From the beginning of May 2005 to September 2007 the pseudoscorpion fauna in a hardwood floodplain forest of the Rhine valley near Ingelheim was investigated. Altogether 587 individuals representing two species from two families were captured using pitfall traps, trunk eclectors and by litter sieving. The warm, dry winter 2006/2007 exhibited a strong influence upon the activity of Neobisium carcinoides (Hermann, 1804). This winter event was followed by an extreme drought in April 2007, which affected the activity maximum of the corticolous species Chernes hahnii (C.L. Koch, 1839). In 2005 and 2006 the activity maximum of C. hahnii was observed in July, whereas in 2007 maturity was achieved earlier in May. Furthermore 31 individuals of N. carcinoides were captured in trunk eclectors. This climbing behaviour correlates with the presence of Lepidocyrtus lignorum (Collembola: Entomobryidae) on the trunks. Keywords: activity, Collembola, drought, false scorpions, Germany, prey captur

Evaluierung von Möglichkeiten zur biologischen Kontrolle der Reblaus durch den entomophagen Pilz Metarhizium anisopliae im ökologischen Weinbau

Seit einigen Jahren werden weltweit erneut Rückgangserscheinungen in Rebanlagen beobachtet, die auf Reblausbefall zurückgeführt werden. Reblausbefall an Wurzeln von Unterlagsreben kann zu vorzeitigem Blattfall, reduziertem Triebwachstum, Ertrags- und Qualitätsverlusten bis hin zum Absterben der Rebstöcke führen. Derzeit sind keine chemischen oder biologischen Pflanzenschutzmittel zur Reblauskontrolle verfügbar. Allerdings wurden in den letzten Jahren erhebliche Fortschritte bei der Entwicklung biologischer Schädlingskontrollorganismen erzielt. Innerhalb dieses Projektes wurden in einem Freilandversuch auf einer organisch bewirtschafteten Versuchsfläche die Effektivität, die Bodenpersistenz und die Einflüsse auf Non-target-Organismen von Metarhizium anisopliae untersucht. Hierbei wurden die mit Metarhizium behandelte Versuchsparzellen mit unbehandel-ten bzw. mit steriler Gerste behandelten Parzellen verglichen. Die Befallshäufigkeit (Porten & Huber 2003) der Rebstöcke mit Reblaus war dabei auf den mit Metarhizium behandelten Parzellen im Bereich der Fahrgasse signifikant geringer. Auch die Befallsintensität war signifikant reduziert. Zwei Monate nach der Applikation wurden für eine biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung ausreichende Dichten im Bereich der Fahrgasse festgestellt. Fünf Monate nach der Applikation wurden erhöhte Metarhizium-Dichten auch im Unterstockbereich auf den behandelten Parzellen gemessen. Bei den durchgeführten Non-target-Untersuchungen konnten im Versuchsvarianten-vergleich keine signifikanten Änderungen der Abundanz oder der Diversität bei Bodeninvertebraten (Ordungen Edaphon gesamt, Collembolen-, Carabiden- und Regenwurmarten) festgestellt werden. Auch bei den untersuchten konspezifischen Pilzzönosen wurden keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Versuchsvarianten festgestellt. Bei den oenologische Begeituntersuchungen (Ertrag, Beerengewicht, °BRIX, Most-pH) zeigten sich ebenfalls keine Unterschiede zwischen den untersuchten Versuchsvarianten

On the larval morphology of Micropterix aruncella (Scopoli, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae).

Larven und Imagines von Micropterix aruncella (Scopoli, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Micropterigidae) wurden auf Almwiesen an der Waldgrenze oberhalb des Ortes Neustift (auf 2000 m NN, Stubaital, Zentralalpen, Österreich) gesammelt: 158 Larven mit einem Kempson-Apparat von der Bodenoberfläche, 81 Imagines (42 Männchen, 39 Weibchen) mit Emergenzzelten zwischen dem 10. Juli und 23. August 2001. Larven der phylogenetisch besonders interessanten Gattung Micropterix (Antennen länger als Kopfkapsel; Kopfkapsel völlig in den Thorax einziehbar; 1.-8. Abdominalsegment mit zugespitzten Abdominalbeinen ohne Häkchen; Körper mit mehreren Reihen abgeflachter, gerippter keulenförmiger Haare; Körperquerschnitt hexagonal) wurden nur selten gefunden und untersucht, die Larve von M. aruncella war bisher nahezu unbekannt. Das Integument zeigt zahlreiche Sonderbildungen, z. B. mit modifizierten Haaren bedeckt Wülste, scheibenförmige Strukturen mit ± wabenförmiger Oberflächenstruktur. Die äußere Anatomie der Antennen, des Labrum, der Mandibeln, Maxillen und des Labium sowie der Beine und Abdominalbeine wird beschrieben, mit Literaturangaben verglichen und durch REM-Aufnahmen und Originalabbildungen ebenfalls dokumentiert. Die Häufigkeitsverteilung der Kopfkapselbreiten zeigt 4 Maxima, die 4 Larvenstadien wahrscheinlich werden lassen, deren Wachstumsrate zwischen 1,2 und 1,7 liegt. Bei der Untersuchung der Larven von M. aruncella wurden Unterschiede zu der Beschreibung von M. calthella durch Lorenz (1961) gefunden, die vielleicht zur Differenzierung der Larven der beiden Arten herangezogen werden können.StichwörterLepidoptera, Micropterigidae, Micropterix aruncella, larval morphology, Central Alps, North Tyrol, alpine pasture land.Larvae and adults of M. aruncella were collected from alpine pasture land near the tree line (2000 m a.s.l., Stubai Valley, northern Tyrol, Central Alps, Austria). 158 larvae were extracted from the superficial soil using the Kempson technique (Meyer 1980) between May and October 1998. 81 adults (42 males, 39 females) were collected in emergence traps between July 10 and August 23, 2001. The integument of the larvae exhibits numerous modifications such as folds, bulges, discs and conical structures. The external anatomy of the mouthparts, antennae and legs are documented by SEM micrographs and original drawings. The frequency distribution of head capsule width of the investigated larvae falls into 4 groups indicative of four instar larvae which according to a progression scale increase at each molt by a ratio of 1.2. - 1.7. The first instar larvae were present only in May. By autumn all had reached the fourth stage. After overwintering, the adults emerged between the middle of July and the middle of August, feasible a two-year life cycle.KeywordsLepidoptera, Micropterigidae, Micropterix aruncella, larval morphology, Central Alps, North Tyrol, alpine pasture land

Um novo método para simular o estado hidrológico do solo em condições naturais

Micro, macro and mesofauna in the soil often respond to fluctuating environmental conditions, resulting in changes of abundance and community structure. Effects of changing soil parameters are normally determined with samples taken in the field and brought to the laboratory, i.e. where natural environmental conditions may not apply. We devised a method (STAFD – soil tubes for artificial flood and drought), which simulates the hydrological state of soil in situ using implanted cores. Control tubes were compared with treatment tubes in which floods of 15, 30, 60 and 90 days, and droughts of 60, 90 and 120 days were simulated in the field. Flooding and drought were found to reduce number of individuals in all soil faunal groups, but the response to drought was slower and not in proportion to the expected decrease of the water content. The results of the simulated floods in particular show the value of the STAFD method for the investigation of such extreme events in natural habitats.As micro, macro e mesofaunas no solo respondem frequentemente à variação das condições ambientais, o que resulta em alterações na abundância e na estrutura da comunidade. Os efeitos das alterações nos parâmetros do solo são normalmente determinados com amostras recolhidas no campo e trazidas ao laboratório, ou seja, onde as condições ambientais naturais podem não ser aplicáveis. Criamos um método (STAFD – tubos de amostra de solo para inundações e secas artificiais), que simula o estado hidrológico do solo in situ com núcleos implantados. As amostras de controle foram comparadas com amostras de tratamentos em que foram simuladas inundações de 15, 30, 60 e 90 dias e secas de 60, 90 e 120 dias no campo. Verificou-se que as inundações e a seca reduziram a quantidade de individuos em todos os grupos de fauna de solo, mas a resposta à seca foi mais lenta e não proporcional à redução prevista no teor de água. Os resultados das inundações simuladas demonstram, em especial, o valor do método STAFD para a investigação desse tipo de eventos extremos nos habitats naturais

Respostas e adaptações de comunidades de colêmbolos (Hexapoda: Collembola) a condições de inundação e hipoxia

Standard ecological methods (pitfall traps, trunk eclectors and soil cores) were used to evaluate collembolan community responses to different flooding intensities. Three sites of a floodplain habitat near Mainz, Germany, with different flooding regimes were investigated. The structures of collembolan communities are markedly different depending on flooding intensity. Sites more affected by flooding are dominated by hygrophilic and hygrotolerant species, whereas the hardwood floodplain is dominated by mesophilic species. The survival strategies of the hygrophilic and hygrotolerant species include egg diapause and passive drifting. The physiological adaptations to hypoxic conditions of several collembolan species were analyzed using a microcalorimeter. The activities were tested under normoxic and hypoxic/anoxic conditions as well as during post-hypoxic recovery. Lactate was increased after hypoxic intervals in the species studied, suggesting that, in addition to a massive decrease in metabolic rate, a modest glycolytic activity may be involved in the tolerance to hypoxia.Foram utilizados os métodos ecológicos padrão (armadilhas "pitfall", armadilhas de tronco e amostras de solo) para avaliar as respostas de comunidade de colêmbolos a diferentes intensidades de inundação. Foram investigados três locais de um habitat de leitos de inundação perto de Mainz, Alemanha, com diferentes regimes de inundação. As estruturas das comunidades de colêmbolos foram nitidamente diferentes conforme a intensidade das inundações. Nos locais mais afetados por inundações, as espécies higrofílicas e higrotolerantes dominaram, ao passo que as espécies mesofílicas foram dominantes nos locais de leitos de inundação com angiospermas. As estratégias de sobrevivência das espécies higrofílicas e higrotolerantes incluem a diapausa dos ovos e o deslocamento passivo. Foi testada a adaptação fisiológica a condições hipóxicas de espécies selecionadas de colêmbolos através de análises por microcalorimetria. A atividade das espécies foi testada em condições normóxicas e hipóxicas/anóxicas e durante a recuperação pós-hipoxia. Verificou-se que o lactato aumentava após condições hipóxicas nas espécies avaliadas, o que sugere que, além de um decréscimo massivo na atividade metabólica, deve haver também certa atividade glicolítica associada à tolerância à hipoxia

Die Pseudoskorpion-Fauna (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) eines Auwaldes bei Ingelheim am Rhein, unter besonderer Ber\ufccksichtigung der Auswirkungen des trocken-warmen Winters 2006/2007

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