Leafhopper diversity in home gardens – results of a survey in four countries across Europe (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha)

Despite urbanisation being one of the main drivers of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, home gardens can provide habitat for a wide range of species. Here we report the results of a leafhopper survey in 12 gardens in four European countries (Germany, Serbia, Austria and Bulgaria). Sampling was conducted in a semi-standardised way across the summer 2020. In total, 143 Auchenorrhyncha species with 2,361 adult specimens were recorded, including several red-listed species. The number of species per garden varied between 9 and 58. On average, around 26 species were found. Leafhopper diversity was positively influenced by garden area, age, plant diversity, extensive management and the cover of forests and parks in the surroundings, but also by the number of sampling dates. We conclude that extensively managed home gardens across Europe can support diverse communities of leafhoppers which is crucial in times of severe insect declines

Leafhopper diversity in home gardens – results of a survey in four countries across Europe (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha)

Despite urbanisation being one of the main drivers of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, home gardens can provide habitat for a wide range of species. Here we report the results of a leafhopper survey in 12 gardens in four European countries (Germany, Serbia, Austria and Bulgaria). Sampling was conducted in a semi-standardised way across the summer 2020. In total, 143 Auchenorrhyncha species with 2,361 adult specimens were recorded, including several red-listed species. The number of species per garden varied between 9 and 58. On average, around 26 species were found. Leafhopper diversity was positively influenced by garden area, age, plant diversity, extensive management and the cover of forests and parks in the surroundings, but also by the number of sampling dates. We conclude that extensively managed home gardens across Europe can support diverse communities of leafhoppers which is crucial in times of severe insect declines.Despite urbanisation being one of the main drivers of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, home gardens can provide habitat for a wide range of species. Here we report the results of a leafhopper survey in 12 gardens in four European countries (Germany, Serbia, Austria and Bulgaria). Sampling was conducted in a semi-standardised way across the summer 2020. In total, 143 Auchenorrhyncha species with 2,361 adult specimens were recorded, including several red-listed species. The number of species per garden varied between 9 and 58. On average, around 26 species were found. Leafhopper diversity was positively influenced by garden area, age, plant diversity, extensive management and the cover of forests and parks in the surroundings, but also by the number of sampling dates. We conclude that extensively managed home gardens across Europe can support diverse communities of leafhoppers which is crucial in times of severe insect declines

Primary Structure of Selected Archaeal Mesophilic and Extremely Thermophilic Outer Surface Layer Proteins

The archaea are recognized as a separate third domain of life together with the bacteria and eucarya. The archaea include the methanogens, extreme halophiles, thermoplasmas, sulfate reducers and sulfur metabolizing thermophiles, which thrive in different habitats such as anaerobic niches, salt lakes, and marine hydrothermals systems and continental solfataras. Many of these habitats represent extreme environments in respect to temperature, osmotic pressure and pH-values and remind on the conditions of the early earth. The cell envelope structures were one of the first biochemical characteristics of archaea studied in detail. The most common archaeal cell envelope is composed of a single crystalline protein or glycoprotein surface layer (S-layer), which is associated with the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane. The S-layers are directly exposed to the extreme environment and can not be stabilized by cellular components. Therefore, from comparative studies of mesophilic and extremely thermophilic S-layer proteins hints can be obtained about the molecular mechanisms of protein stabilization at high temperatures. First crystallization experiments of surface layer proteins under microgravity conditions were successful. Here, we report on the biochemical features of selected mesophilic and extremely archaeal S-layer (glyco-) proteins