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By the year 2539 almost 75% of all freshwater mollusc species within Europe will be lost. The transformation of natural ecosystems, the extension of infrastructure, as well as agriculture are the main threats. The Roman snail (Helix pomatia L. 1758) has been part of human culture for centuries and is protected by law as an endangered species in several regions, and at the same time regarded and treated as a pest, making the conservation of this species difficult.
The aim of this thesis was to create a better understanding of H. pomatia and its functional role within the ecosystem. Eight subpopulations were studied regarding its role within the food web, the use of empty shells as a mircohabitat and its influence on vegetation by showing food preferences. The latter, due to the fact, that a strong predation pressure can minimize habitats, which leads to higher pressure on the local vegetation and a limited possibility of shells being used as a microhabitat.
First, the relationships between H. pomatia individuals, subpopulations and their predators were analysed. The total number and percentage of shells that showed external attack marks by predators (32%) and internal utilization marks by Diptera pupae (45%) were analysed and correlated to morphometric traits of shells. Signs of external attack and internal utilization marks were positively correlated (R = 0.79; P = 0.020). External attacks were more regular in larger shells and internal utilization was more frequent in shells with higher body density.
The second chapter focuses on the shells of H. pomatia and their value as microhabitat for shell adopters in different vegetation forms and during two sample periods. Out of 618 collected shells, 91.4 % were inhabited and the average was 1.5 time higher in summer, than in autumn. The number of shell adopters per shell was 1.5 times higher in herbaceous vegetation, than in areas dominated by trees. Shell width (P = 0.008), but not shell height (P = 0.078) had a significant higher influence.
Finally, food preferences of H. pomatia were analysed, showing a pronounced preference for Urtica dioica (35% of all 697 feeding interactions) and plant litter (44%). Only 27 out of 143 available plant species were eaten and a literature review confirmed U. dioica as a food plant for 19 other terrestrial snail species. The width and height of the snail shells were related to the feeding height as smaller, juvenile snails fed higher in vegetation (384mm ± 327mm) compared to adult individuals (68mm ± 194mm) (P<0.001).
These results highlight the importance of H. pomatia in the studied ecosystem. H. pomatia is an important food source for predators and host for parasitoids, the shells offer habitat and refuge for soil organisms and as a relatively specialized herbivore and decomposer H. pomatia contributes to herbivory and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
Hopefully this study may help to motivate future conservation efforts.
The existence of large deposit of crude oil in the Nigerian Niger-Delta accords the region a strategic position in the country’s economy. However, activities associated with the oil and gas industry have resulted in extensive and in some instances indelible damages on the ecosystems. The destructive effect of hydrocarbon on bionetwork necessitated this study that aimed at evaluating the potential of adopting microbial and biosurfactant technology as tools for bioremediation. The research involved gas chromatography monitoring of hydrocarbon degradation in polluted soil, microbiological/molecular identification of hydrocarbon degraders and the evaluation of biosurfactant production by indigenous bacteria. The performance of four treatments involving; co-treatment with mixed bacterial consortium and close-to-nature surfactants (Bioversal QF and Bioversal UK), treatments with mixed bacteria culture, single bacteria culture and treatment with close-to-nature surfactants only were evaluated for the mineralization of hydrocarbons contained in 500g of 2% crude oil contaminated soil supplemented with NaH₂PO*₄2HO₂, KHP₂O₄ and NHC₄l as nutrient sources over a period of 20 weeks. Six indigenous biosurfactant producing and/or hydrocarbon degrading bacteria strains were isolated namely: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp, Achromobacter sp, Stenotrophonas sp, Lysinibacillus sp. and Delftia sp. Molecular characterization of sequenced polymerase chain reaction products of these cultured bacteria using Nucleotide Basic Local Alignment Search Tool confirmed close relationships ranging from 98.83% to 100% with those on the NCBI databank. Co-treatment with mixed bacteria culture and Bioversal UK/Bioversal QF yielded synergetic impact that enhanced 73.35% and 71.52% degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon respectively. Treatments with close-to-nature surfactants and with mix bacterial culture recorded 53.61% and 54.58%. The use of single bacteria strains resulted in the mineralization of 46% - 62.26% total petroleum hydrocarbon while their use as a consortium yielded 54%. Liquid chromatography-Mass spectrometry assessment of extracellular polymeric substances produced by cultured bacteria strains indicated the presence of rhamnolipids (L-rhamnosyl-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoic acid with a mass of 504.654 Da) and lipopeptides (2-(Hydroxymethyl) phenyl 6-O-palmitoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside with a mass of 524.687 Da). Extracellular polymeric substances produced yielded emulsion index ranging from 70.70% to 75% and 39% to 65% with crude oil and heptane respectively. EPS yields ranging from 1.34 g/ml to 1.5 g/ml were recorded.
Objective of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre (CRC/TR) 38 was the study of structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development. It was assumed that the initial phase is characterized by less structured and therefore less heterogeneous ecosystems. Thus, analysis of young ecosystems in their initial stages should provide better insights into ecosystem functioning. Following this basic concept, the idea of the CRC/TR 38 was to analyze the establishment of new structures and processes which lead to a growing structuring and in consequence to a growing complexity and heterogeneity in an artificially created watershed. Further, with the help of this step-by-step development of the ecosystem it was aimed to learn from occurring feedbacks, which appear between old and newly emerging structures and patterns in order to better understand also the behavior of more mature systems. Special emphasis was placed on the spatial and temporal dynamics of both evolving structures and related processes and their interactions. In summary, the CRC/TR 38 was able to identify a number of structures and processes that are considered to be relevant and specific for young systems.
30 sampling sites at 5 mining areas and reference sites in Lower Lusatia were studied for succession of Collembola. The study took place from 2001 to 2004. Two chronosequences were chosen, one for afforestation sites and one for sites with free succession. Additional data about some soil parameters (pH, organic matter content, water content, water capacity, conductivity, phosphate, ammonium and nitrate) are also given. Most soil parameters increase with age and/or vegetation development. Only pH decreases after melioration whereas no correlations were found for phosphate. At all study sites, 13.733 specimens, distributed across 84 species were identified with Mesaphorura macrochaeta and Parisotoma notabilis as most abundant species. Succession was studied on different levels. On the level of species and ecological groups, succession is from meadow species to forest species, but on the level of specimens and ecological groups, succession is from meadow species over eurotopic species to forest species. A model for species succession is offered on the level of specimens, presented separately for the epigaeic and the endogaeic community. Both successional developments could be divided into five parts: For the epigaeic community, the 1st stage is defined as sites without vegetation. Species found here are Pseudoanurophorus alticolus, Schoetella ununguiculata, Bourletiella pruinosa and Brachystomella parvula. At the 2nd stage, already some sparse vegetation can be found. Some sites are also covered densely by moss. Here, Cryptopygus thermophilus, Isotoma anglicana and Lepidocyrtus cyaneus are found fort he first time. The 3rd stage is defined as sites with dense vegetation, generally Calamagrostis epigejos dominated sites. Oldest sites have already some shrubs made of young pines or are clearings in young woodland. Several species are found here for the first time in notable dominances: Entomobrya lanuginosa, Entomobrya multifasciata, Lepidocyrtus lignorum, Isotoma viridis, Lepidocyrtus lanuginosus, Sminthurinus aureus, Sphaeridia pumilis and Tomocerus flavescens. The fourth stage is made up by afforestations up to 43 years on reclamation sites. 5 more species are found here: Entomobrya nivalis, Neanura muscorum, Orchesella flavescens, Paratullbergia macdougalli and Tomocerus vulgaris. The 5th stage would be the climax stage, an old oak forest. It is probably not comparable to a true primeval forest, but the type of forest typical for today’s mining sites. Only 2 species were found here: Micraphorura absoloni and Entomobrya corticalis. For the endogaeic community, data is even more based on statistical evidence. Succession of the endogaeic community is more dependent on soil parameters and succession of microflora. Generally, succession is from Mesaphorura atlantica on acidic sites and Proisotoma minuta on sites with higher pH to a Mesaphorura macrochaeta community, followed by a Parisotoma notabilis dominated community. Older afforested sites are dominated by Isotomiella minor and old oak forest on undisturbed sites by Folsomia penicula. Duration of the single successional stages depends on parameters like pH, moisture, vegetational structure and availability of certain fungi as basic food resource.