Ecology of Urban Bees: A Review of Current Knowledge and Directions for Future Study

Urban bee ecology is an emerging field that holds promise for advancing knowledge of bee community dynamics and promoting bee conservation. Published studies of bee communities in urban and suburban habitats are fewer than those documenting bees in agricultural and wildland settings. As land lost to urbanization is predicted to increase in coming years the necessity of studying urban bee populations is growing. We reviewed 59 publications on urban bee ecology with the following goals, to assess current knowledge, to highlight areas in need of further research, and to suggest applications of study findings to bee conservation. Methodological variation between studies was discussed in the context of data interpretation. Identified trends in urban areas included the following, negative correlation between bee species richness and urban development, cavity-nesters increase in abundance in urban habitats, and floral specialists are scarce. Future directions for studying urban bee ecology include incorporation of landscape-scale assessments, conducting manipulative experiments and actively designing urban bee habitats. We include descriptions of plant and habitat management techniques derived from our research in northern and southern California urban habitats to promote development of bee-friendly habitats

Controlling Cockroaches Without Synthetic Organic Insecticides.

4 p

Präparation funktionalisierter, mikrostrukturierter Hydrogele zum Nachweis von pH-Änderungen und enzymatischen Reaktionen mittels beugungsoptischer Methoden

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Präparation funktionalisierter, mikrostrukturierter Hydrogele zum Nachweis von pH-Änderungen und enzymatischen Reaktionen mittels beugungsoptischer Methoden. Hydrogele sind dreidimensionale elastische Polymernetzwerke, die überwiegend aus einer Flüssigkeit bestehen, die vom Polymernetzwerk umschlossen wird. Hydrogele sind umgebungssensitiv, d.h. sie reagieren mit einer Änderung ihres Quellungszustan-des, wenn sich die Umgebungsbedingungen verändern. Je nach ihrer Zusammensetzung reagieren Hydrogele auf die Änderung der Lösungsmittelzusammensetzung, der Tem-peratur, der Ionenstärke oder des pH-Werts. Das in dieser Arbeit eingesetzte pH-sensitive Hydrogele wurde durch den Einbau der Enzyme Glucoseoxidase und Katalase um eine Selektivität gegenüber Glucose erweitert. Die Funktionsweise des beugungsoptischen Sensors beruht auf der Wechselwirkung eines einfallenden Laserstrahls mit der im Mikrometermaßstab regelmäßig strukturi-erten Hydrogelmatrix. Durch die Beugung des Laserlichts an dem mikrostrukturierten Hydrogel entstehen mehrere Beugungsreflexe. Im Gegensatz zur Lage variieren die Intensitäten der einzelnen Beugungsordnungen, wenn die Hydrogelmatrix ihre Form ändert. Das Quellverhalten des pH-sensitiven Hydrogels wurde vor der Verwendung im Sensor an makroskopischen Gelproben in Abhängigkeit von der Ionenstärke und des pH-Werts untersucht. Mit dem beugungsoptischen Sensor und pH-sensitiven Hydrogel wurden Messungen mit unterschiedlich konzentrierten Natriumchlorid-Lösungen und Lösungen mit ver-schiedenen pH-Werten bei konstanter Ionenstärke durchgeführt. Mit dem enzymhalti-gen Hydrogel wurden Messungen mit unterschiedlich konzentrierten Glucoselösungen durchgeführt

The Twisted Magnetic Field of the Protobinary L483

We present H-band (1.65 μm) and SOFIA HAWC+ 154 μm polarization observations of the low-mass core L483. Our H-band observations reveal a magnetic field that is overwhelmingly in the E–W direction, which is approximately parallel to the bipolar outflow that is observed in scattered IR light and in single-dish 12CO observations. From our 154 μm data, we infer a ∼45° twist in the magnetic field within the inner 5″ (1000 au) of L483. We compare these new observations with published single-dish 350 μm polarimetry and find that the 10,000 au scale H-band data match the smaller-scale 350 μm data, indicating that the collapse of L483 is magnetically regulated on these larger scales. We also present high-resolution 1.3 mm Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array data of L483 that reveals it is a close binary star with a separation of 34 au. The plane of the binary of L483 is observed to be approximately parallel to the twisted field in the inner 1000 au. Comparing this result to the ∼1000 au protostellar envelope, we find that the envelope is roughly perpendicular to the 1000 au HAWC+ field. Using the data presented, we speculate that L483 initially formed as a wide binary and the companion star migrated to its current position, causing an extreme shift in angular momentum thereby producing the twisted magnetic field morphology observed. More observations are needed to further test this scenario

New species of Mesoplia (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from Mesoamerica.

36 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm.This paper investigates the bionomics of the cleptoparasitic bee Mesoplia sapphirina Melo and Rocha-Filho, sp. nov. (described in the appendix), and of its ground-nesting host Centris flavofasciata Friese found along the Pacific coast of Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. We explore the host-nest searching behavior, egg deposition, and hospicidal behavior of M. sapphirina. Anatomical accounts of its egg, first, second, and fifth larval instars are presented and compared with published descriptions of other ericrocidine taxa. Nests of the host bee as well as its egg and method of eclosion are also described

HAWC+/SOFIA Polarimetry in L1688: Relative Orientation of Magnetic Field and Elongated Cloud Structure

We present a study of the relative orientation between the magnetic field and elongated cloud structures for the $\rho$ Oph A and $\rho$ Oph E regions in L1688 in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud. Combining inferred magnetic field orientation from HAWC+ 154 $\mu$m observations of polarized thermal emission with column density maps created using Herschel submillimeter observations, we find consistent perpendicular relative alignment at scales of $0.02$ pc ($33.6"$ at $d \approx 137$ pc) using the histogram of relative orientations (HRO) technique. This supports the conclusions of previous work using Planck polarimetry and extends the results to higher column densities. Combining this HAWC+ HRO analysis with a new Planck HRO analysis of L1688, the transition from parallel to perpendicular alignment in L1688 is observed to occur at a molecular hydrogen column density of approximately $10^{21.7}$ cm$^{-2}$. This value for the alignment transition column density agrees well with values found for nearby clouds via previous studies using only Planck observations. Using existing turbulent, magnetohydrodynamic simulations of molecular clouds formed by colliding flows as a model for L1688, we conclude that the molecular hydrogen volume density associated with this transition is approximately $\sim10^{4}$ cm$^{-3}$. We discuss the limitations of our analysis, including incomplete sampling of the dense regions in L1688 by HAWC+.Comment: To be published in Ap

The magnetic field in the Milky Way filamentary bone G47

Funding: R.J.S. acknowledges funding from an STFC ERF (grant ST/N00485X/1).Star formation primarily occurs in filaments where magnetic fields are expected to be dynamically important. The largest and densest filaments trace the spiral structure within galaxies. Over a dozen of these dense (∼104 cm−3) and long (>10 pc) filaments have been found within the Milky Way, and they are often referred to as "bones." Until now, none of these bones has had its magnetic field resolved and mapped in its entirety. We introduce the SOFIA legacy project FIELDMAPS which has begun mapping ∼10 of these Milky Way bones using the HAWC+ instrument at 214 μm and 18′′.2 resolution. Here we present a first result from this survey on the ∼60 pc long bone G47. Contrary to some studies of dense filaments in the Galactic plane, we find that the magnetic field is often not perpendicular to the spine (i.e., the center line of the bone). Fields tend to be perpendicular in the densest areas of active star formation and more parallel or random in other areas. The average field is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the Galactic plane or the bone. The magnetic field strengths along the spine typically vary from ∼20 to ∼100 μG. Magnetic fields tend to be strong enough to suppress collapse along much of the bone, but for areas that are most active in star formation, the fields are notably less able to resist gravitational collapse.Peer reviewe

Stand Characteristics and Leaf Litter Composition of a Dry Forest Hectare in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

One hectare of tropical dry forest in Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica was mapped and all trees larger than 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) identified. The same hectare was sampled for leaf litter and the two data sets, forest and litter, were compared. Dominant and subdominant species of the forest are represented in the leaf litter, whereas rare tree species are highly variable in their representation in the leaf litter. Relative abundance of dominant and subdominant tree species is represented well by the litter although absolute rank-order is nor identical between source forest basal area and leaf litter mass. The litter adds a significant component to the source forest data owing to the presence of vines and lianas, and more rarely small trees or shrubs. This indicates that litter studies may be able to add depth to forest diversity surveys. The source forest also was used to test foliar physiognomic reconstructions of climate that have been proposed recently by paleobotanists as an alternative to taxonomic affinities methods. The observed climate of the area does not conform to the climatic values that were predicted by application of these new methods. RESUMEN Una hectÁrea de bosque seco tropical en el Area de ConservaciÓn de Guanacaste, Costa Rica fue mapeada, y todos los Árboles mayores de 10 cm de dap fueron identificados. En la misma hectÁrea, se tomaron muestras de hojarasca y los dos colecciones de datos. bosque y hojarasca, fueron comparadas. Se encontrÓ que las especies dominantes y subdominantes del bosque estaban representadas en las muestras de hojarasca, mientras que la presencia de especias arbÓreas raras en las muestras de mojarasca fue muy variable. La abundancia relativa de especies arbÓreas dominantesestÁ bien representada en la hojarasca aunque el Área basal del bosque de origen y la masa de hojarasca no heron idÉnticos en rangos absolutos. La hojarasca aÑade un componente significativo a los datos del bosque de origen debido a la presencia de bejucos y lianas en la hojarasca, y mÁs raramente Árboles pequeÑos y arbustos. Estos datos indican que los estudios de hojarasca pueden incrementar la precisiÓn de las estimaciones de la diversidad de los bosques. El bosque de origen fue usado tarnbien para examinar reconstrucciones del clima basados en la fisiognomia foliar recientemenre propuesras por paleobotÁnicas como una alternativa a mÉtodos de afinidad raxonÓmicas. El clima observado en el Área no corresponde con los valores climÁticos que fueron predecidos por la aplicaciÓn de estos nuevos mÉtodos.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73234/1/j.1744-7429.1997.tb00034.x.pd

The role of anthropogenic habitats in freshwater mussel conservation

Anthropogenic freshwater habitats may provide undervalued prospects for long-term conservation as part of species conservation planning. This fundamental, but overlooked, issue requires attention considering the pace that humans have been altering natural freshwater ecosystems and the accelerated levels of biodiversity decline in recent decades. We compiled 709 records of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida) inhabiting a broad variety of anthropogenic habitat types (from small ponds to large reservoirs and canals) and reviewed their importance as refuges for this faunal group. Most records came from Europe and North America, with a clear dominance of canals and reservoirs. The dataset covered 228 species, including 34 threatened species on the IUCN Red List. We discuss the conservation importance and provide guidance on how these anthropogenic habitats could be managed to provide optimal conservation value to freshwater mussels. This review also shows that some of these habitats may function as ecological traps owing to conflicting management practices or because they act as a sink for some populations. Therefore, anthropogenic habitats should not be seen as a panacea to resolve conservation problems. More information is necessary to better understand the trade-offs between human use and the conservation of freshwater mussels (and other biota) within anthropogenic habitats, given the low number of quantitative studies and the strong biogeographic knowledge bias that persists.This publication is based upon work from COST Action CA18239, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). A.M.L. was financed by the Institute of Environmental Sciences Jagiellonian University (N18/DBS/000003) and K.N. by the Aragón Government. The authors acknowledge Jarosław Andrzejewski, Bartosz Czader, Anna Fica, Marcin Horbacz, Tomasz Jonderko, Steinar Kålås, Tomasz Kapela, Bjørn Mejdell Larsen, Maciej Pabijan, Katarzyna Pawlik, Ilona Popławska, Joanna Przybylska, Tomasz Przybył, Mateusz Rybak, Kjell Sandaas, Jarosław Słowikowski, Tomasz Szczasny, Michał Zawadzki and Paweł Zowada for providing detailed information on specific examples concerning freshwater mussels in anthropogenic habitats. We thank the editor and two anonymous referees for the valuable suggestions made, which increased the clarity of our manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio