Effects of Natura 2000 on nontarget bird and butterfly species based on citizen science data

ABSTRACT The European Union's Natura 2000 (N2000), is one of the largest international networks of protected areas. One of its aims is to secure the status of a pre-determined set of (targeted) bird and butterfly species. However, also non-target species may benefit from N2000. We evaluated how the terrestrial component of this network relates to the abundance of non-targeted, more common bird and butterfly species using data from long-term volunteer-based monitoring programs in 9,602 sites for birds and 2,001 sites for butterflies. In almost half of the 155 bird species assessed, and particularly among woodland specialists, abundance increased with the proportion of N2000 sites in the landscape. The corresponding positive relationship was found for 27 of the 104 butterfly species, although most of these species were generalists. These positive relationships disappeared for most of the species when land-cover covariates were taken into account, hinting that land-cover is a primary factor defining the positive effects of the N2000 network. The increase in abundance with N2000 was correlated with the specialization index for bird species, but not for butterfly species. Although the N2000 network supports higher abundance of a large spectrum of species, the low number of specialist butterfly species showing a positive association stresses the need to implement management plan improving the quality of habitats of N2000 areas potentially harboring openland butterfly specialists. For a better understanding of the processes involved, we advocate for a standardized collection of data on N2000 sites. Article impact statement: Across Europe the abundance of a majority of nontarget birds and a quarter of nontarget butterflies increased with Natura 2000 coverage. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reservedpeerReviewe

Contribution à l'étude des coléoptères de Guyane : tome 9

Based on literature and the study of 345 specimens, four species are known and two are likely to be present in French Guiana. A key to species and a list of data are provided. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) showed that the three main localities are somewhat distinct, as well as the years 2007-2008 and 2011. Phenology shows that species are flying all year round, with a wide peak of H. cavifrons and H. curvatus during the dry season and early rainy season, fact also shown by the MCA results. On the contrary, H. diadema is more abundant during the first half of the year (rainy season). Monthly abundances appear to be significantly correlated with rainfalls of the previous 2nd and 7th months for H. cavifrons, 2nd and 3rd months for H. curvatus. However, the lack of knowledge of the biology of the species(developmental time, number of annual generations) prevents any hypothesis to be confirmed

Fruit feeding Cetoniinae community structure in an anthropogenic landscape in West Africa

The potential contribution of palm plantations to the conservation of forest-dwelling Cetoniinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) is assessed in southern Benin. Sample plots of 10 aerial traps per habitat type were set in two sites containing a forest patch, a palm plantation and some agricultural land. Overall, 2,217 individuals belonging to 31 species were collected. Typical species of each habitat were identified with the IndVal method (Dufrne and Legendre 1997). Species were categorized into three habitat-groups: forest specialists (11 species), farmland and open habitat specialists (9 species) and ubiquitous, generalist species found in all habitats (5 species). Only six species were too rare for assessing habitat preference. Palm plantations host a low density of Cetoniinae with no unique species. However, species composition reveals that they are used by forest specialist species that avoid open habitats like farmlands, therefore providing structural connectivity. Cetoniine flower beetles have potential as an indicator group, which can be used in multi-taxa approaches for habitat assessments in Africa. Using species-level metrics, their response to habitat change is clear, including the response of common species. This method is selective, cost-effective in time and materials, and species identification is rather straightforward