La Formación Paraná (Mioceno tardío) aflora de forma discontinua en la Provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina, a lo largo del río Paraná entre las ciudades de La Paz y Victoria. Estos sedimentos fueron depositados en el marco del ascenso global del nivel del mar que inundó la cuenca chacoparanense. El arreglo regresivo de los estratos en el perfil litoestratigráfico indica el movimiento del agua retirándose de la cuenca, acumulando los sedimentos de los depósitos marinos propios de esta unidad litoestratigráfica. Producto de este avance del mar y apoyados por la afinidad entre la fauna del mar Caribe con las del Atlántico sur, algunos autores propusieron la existencia de una conexión a través de un brazo marino entre las grandes cuencas amazónica y chacoparanense. Con el objetivo de determinar la plausibilidad de esta hipótesis, así como la exacta composición de la fauna, sus relaciones paleobiogeográficas y el contexto geológico y paleoambiental en que se depositaron los sedimentos de la Formación Paraná, se estudiaron 13 localidades ubicadas en la provincia de Entre Ríos, se levantaron perfiles litológicos en 12 de ellas, se analizaron las secciones sedimentológicamente (mediante descripciones megascópicas y petrográficas), se dató un estrato de forma indirecta una de las localidades resultando una edad isotópica por 87Sr/86Sr de 9,47 Ma y se realizó un muestreo paleontológico controlado. Se analizaron los aspectos tafonómicos (tanto atributos bioestratinómicos como diagenéticos) y paleoecológicos (reconociendo y analizando estadísticamente categorías ecológicas). Se recolectaron un total de 1890 especímenes y se estudiaron 10 colecciones en repositorios del país y del exterior. El análisis sistemático de las asociaciones permitió reconocer una biodiversidad corregida de 67 taxones de invertebrados e icnofósiles, incluyendo nuevas formas. Se ajustó el modelo para la interpretación del ambiente depositacional de la unidad, propuesto aquí como un gran mar interior de condiciones someras, de baja profundidad y dominado por mareas, discutiéndose la inclusión del llamado “Conglomerado Osífero” dentro la Formación Paraná. Se elaboró un esquema paleoecológico que integra la evidencia obtenida del análisis del registro fósil, permitiendo proponer la fauna como una asociación mixta que incluyó formas marinas de ambientes litorales y otras de áreas de menor salinidad que habitaron en subambientes de la misma formación. Se corroboraron las relaciones paleobiogeográficas de la fauna de la Formación Paraná, en relación con otras unidades de edades equivalentes de América del Sur, siendo la Formación Camacho la que tiene mayor afinidad taxonómica. Finalmente, de los resultados obtenidos, se apoya la hipótesis de una conexión intermitente entre las cuencas Chacoparanense y Amazónica que permitió el pasaje de taxones de ambientes acuáticos de agua dulce o de baja salinidad entre ambas cuencas, y se descarta la idea de una conexión netamente marina epicontinental entre ambas cuencas. / The Paraná Formation (late Miocene) outcrops continuously along the left bank of the Paraná River, in the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina, between the cities of La Paz and Victoria. These sediments were deposited during a global sea level rise that flooded the Chaco plains. The regressive beds in the lithostratigraphic section indicate a retreating sea that accumulated the marine sediments constituting the Paraná Formation. Some authors suggested –on the basis of its faunal affinities with the Caribbean faunas– the existence of some kind of connection by means of a marine seaway linking northern and southern South America. In order to determine the plausibility of this hypothesis, together with the exact composition of the fauna, its paleobiogeographic relations and the geological and paleoenvironmental contexts in which the unit was deposited, 13 localities in the province of Entre Ríos were studied, and sections were measured at 12 of them. Sections were sedimentologically analyzed (by megascopic and petrographic descriptions). One bed at one of the localities was indirectly dated, yielding an 87Sr/86Sr age of 9.47 Ma. A controlled paleontological sampling was performed. Taphonomic aspects were analyzed (biostratinomically and diagenetically). Paleoecological aspects were also dealt with (recognizing and statistically analyzing ecological categories). A total of 1890 specimens were collected, and 10 previous collections were consulted. Systematic analysis of the associations allowed recognizing a corrected biodiversity of 67 invertebrate taxa and ichnotaxa, including new species. Environmental interpretation was adjusted and is herein considered as a great interior tide-dominated shallow sea. Inclusion of the “Conglomerado Osífero” in the Paraná Formation is discussed. A paleoecological framework integrating information from the fossil record is set forth, suggesting a mixed fauna including littoral and others from low salinity subenvironments. The paleobiogeographic relation of the Paraná Formation with other equivalent units was corroborated, resulting in a higher affinity with the Camacho Formation from Uruguay. Results obtained support the hypothesis of an intermittent connection between the Chaco-Paranense and Amazonian basins, allowing the dispersion of freshwater or low-salinity taxa from one area to the other. A marine epicontinental connection between these two basins is discarded.

Artificial reefs are being built in most parts of the world for a wide variety of purposes. Divingtourism is a common motivator for the construction of many reefs, particularly in the tropics,although the most widely used purpose is to improve or reconstruct hard bottom habitats andincrease the yield from fisheries. There are two main reasons for why aquatic life is attracted toartificial reefs. They provide excellent protection by often being hollow or filled with crevicesand cavities and increasing opportunities for improved foraging through accumulating biomassand extending the foraging range of an organism by acting like stepping stones. Sweden is acoastal country with few artificial reefs. In this study, two reefs were constructed in the sea offthe coast of Halmstad, Sweden to test small scale artificial reef production, marine organismcolonisation of the reefs during the first year, and to increase the local marine life diversity.Many marine organisms that would not normally occur in the sites where the reefs wereconstructed were observed, such as Symphodus melops and Anguilla anguilla. The reefs alsoprovided a new “clean slate” substrate for the settling of sessile organisms such as Urticina felinaor partially sessile organisms (i.e. during a certain stage of their life-cycle) such as some speciesof Cnidaria polyps. The tested method to construct these reefs was relatively cost effective for itspurpose. However a few minor but vital improvements, such as better binding materials, areneeded. Local marine life in the area has become more diverse during the experiment and thatalone is enough reason to motivate construction of similar reefs along the Swedish coast. / Artificiella rev anläggs runt om i världen med en mängd olika syften. Det är vanligt att dykturism används som anledning för att bygga artificiella rev, speciellt i tropikerna. Restaurering av hårdbottenrev och mål att öka kommersiella fiskebestånd är dock de största motiveringarna. Det finns två huvudsakliga orsaker till varför akvatiskt liv attraheras av konstgjorda rev. De erbjuder utmärkt skydd i form av håligheter och sprickor, samt att de ökar möjligheterna för födosök genom att ackumulera biomassa och fungera som ”stepping stones”, det vill säga utöka födosökningsområdet. Sverige är ett kustland med få artificiella rev. Två rev anlades i Laholmsbukten, Kattegatt, just utanför Tjuvahålan i Halmstad med syftet att undersöka effektiviteten och nyttan av småskaliga rev, att studera marina organismers kolonisering av reven och att öka den lokala biodiversiteten. Många marina organismer som inte borde förkommit i området där reven anlagts tidigare observerades. Ett par exempel är Symphodus melops) och (Anguilla anguilla). Reven fungerade även som rena underlag för sessila organismer att fästa på. Djur som till exempel havsros (Urticina felina) och Cnidariapolyper noterades. Metoden för att konstruera reven visade sig vara kostnadseffektiv i förhållande till syftet, men några viktiga steg, bland annat fästmaterialet, behöver förbättras. Den lokala artmångfalden ökade efter anläggningen av reven och borde vara nog motivering för att fortsätta bygga liknande rev längs den svenska kusten.

No description available.

Early nineteenth-century Eurocentric perceptions of natural history led to the flora and fauna of Australia being thought of as deficient and inferior compared with those of other lands. By the 1820s, Australia had become known as ???the land of contrarieties???. This, and Eurocentric attitudes to nature in general, influenced the expectations and perceptions of immigrants throughout the century. Yet at the same time there was developing an aesthetic appreciation of the natural history of Australia. This thesis examines the tension between these two perceptions in the popular natural history writing of the nineteenth century, mainly through the writing of five authors ??? George Bennett (1804-1893), Louisa Anne Meredith (1812-1895), Samuel Hannaford (1937-1874), Horace Wheelwright (1815-1865) and Donald Macdonald (1859?-1932). George Bennett was a scientist, who saw Australian plants and animals more as scientific specimens than objects of beauty. Louisa Meredith perceived them in the familiar language of English romantic poetry. Samuel Hannaford used another language, that of popular British natural history writers of the mid-nineteenth century. To Horace Wheelwright, Australian animals were equally valuable to the sportsman???s gun as to the naturalist???s pen. Donald Macdonald was the only one of these major writers to have been born in Australia. Although proud of his British heritage, he rejoiced in the beauty of his native land. His writing demonstrates his joy, and his novel attitude to Australian natural history continued and developed in the present century.

More than two-thirds of Australia is classified as arid or semi arid and receives less than 500 mm of rain annually. Throughout these arid areas, rivers and drainage lines (which often have their catchments in higher rainfall areas) act as arteries for vast amounts of water to flow into these dry landscapes. Many inland rivers, including the Paroo, Bulloo and Cooper Creeks, have highly variable flow rates and can go many years with very little or no flow. As a result of the hydrology of these areas, they contain different soil characteristics and vegetation communities from the surrounding arid landscapes. For example, soil nutrients are thought to be higher along drainage lines and on floodplains due to sediment deposition and decomposition of organic material. Also, vegetation in these areas needs to not only survive drought conditions (as a plant or propogule), but also periodic inundation and flood events. These characteristics are thought to make these areas more productive than the surrounding arid lanscapes and are thought to be important habitats for flora and fauna. There has been much debate over the importance of riparian corridors to vertebrate species. Several studies internationally in mesic areas have suggested that riparian corridors contain higher levels of biodiversity than the surrounding habitats, although this pattern is not replicated in all areas or for all taxonomic groups. Many of these studies suggest that the difference in biodiversity between riparian areas and adjacent habitats should be greater in xeric areas where the habitat differences between these areas are greatest. Other studies have suggested that diversity is not necessarily greater but riparian areas are important habitats for different species and may act as a refuge for some species. In Australia, very few studies have been conducted on the importance of riparian corridors to vertebrates in arid areas, despite these habitats being under threat from grazing, flow alteration and flow diversion. In this study I examined the role of the Field River in the Simpson Desert as a potential refuge for vertebrate species and compared diversity and population dynamics of vertebrates at dune and riverine sites. Specifically this study aimed to: 1) determine if species richness of vertebrates along the Field River was greater in riverine ecosystems than the surrounding dune habitats; 2) quantify how the riverine habitats differed in terms of floristics, vegetation complexity, soils and water availability from the surrounding landscapes; 3) determine the dynamics of terrestrial vertebrate populations along the Field River; and 4) determine if the abundance, diversity and demographics of small vertebrate populations along the Field River was different from populations in the sand dune fields on a broader landscape scale. These questions were examined on Ethabuka Station in the Simpson Desert, Queensland, from 2006 to 2008. The riparian corridor along the Field River was found to have a range of characteristics that make it unique from the surrounding dune habitats. Soils along the riverine corridor were found to be characterised by more than 20% clay while soils on the dune crest were characterised by no more than 5% clay. Further, soil carbon and nitrogen was significantly higher in the riverine corridor than in the dune habitats and decreased with distance from the catchment. Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) cover was low in the corridor but dominated the dune swale. Number of trees and cover by trees and non-spinifex grasses were also significantly higher in the riverine corridor when compared to the surrounding dunes. Following the rainfall, annual cover was also significantly greater and they persisted much longer than in the dunes. There was very little difference in the diversity or number of invertebrates between the different habitat types. Species richness was estimated to be highest (48 species) in the riverine centre and lowest in the floodplain (30 species). The riverine habitats had different species pools when compared to the dune habitats. Several species including Amphibolurus longirostris and Litoria rubella exclusively inhabited the riverine habitats while others such as the skinks Ctenotus ariadnae and Ctenotus dux were captured only in the dune habitats. Results from a Canonical Correspondence Analysis suggest that the distribution of some species in arid areas, such as the introduced House Mouse (Mus musculus), may be correlated with habitat characteristics associated with the riverine corridor, e.g. soil moisture or high annual cover. Abundance, body condition and reproduction of mammals along the Field River was generally driven by time. On a local scale, habitat had little effect on the abundance of the Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) and Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis youngsoni), although M. musculus showed some preference for the riverine corridor. Abundance and reproduction of both rodent species increased following rainfall while S. youngsoni abundance was strongly seasonal with increases in abundance in autumn and winter. More than 45% of all captures were reptiles and this group was the most diverse and conspicuous fauna group along the riverine corridor. Abundance of the two most common lizard species, the Military Dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis) and Central-netted Dragons (Ctenophorus nuchalis), was significantly affected by time, with the abundance of both species decreasing dramatically 12 months after rainfall, possibly due to increased predation. Abundance of the Beaked Gecko, Rhynchoedura ornata, began to decrease prior to rainfall, suggesting a factor other than habitat structure or food availability causing the decline. The skink, Lerista labialis, showed strong seasonal trends in abundance and body condition, which suggested that within the desert riverine corridor the species was not reliant on rain-induced changes in food availability. To compare the effect of habitat on species richness, composition and population dynamics at a regional scale, sites along the riparian corridor were compared with dune sites located 500 m to 45 km from the Field River. On this scale, species species richness varied spatially with only one of the riverine sites having higher estimated species richness than the dune sites. Species turnover was greater in riverine sites despite the habitat data suggesting that primary production in these sites was more stable. Some species were able to persist at riverine sites at all times of the year but were only present in the community at dune sites following rainfall, suggesting that the riverine sites may be a more stable habitat for some species. Composition analysis revealed that dune and riverine habitats contain different communities, and some species, particularly Amphibolurus longirostris and Litoria rubella, probably rely on the river for their habitat requirements. Population dynamics including abundance, reproduction and body condition of seven species were compared between dune and riverine habitats. Only four, M. musculus, L. labialis, C. nuchalis and S. youngsoni, showed any significant affect of habitat on abundance. Abundance of C. nuchalis, S. youngsoni and L. labialis were generally more abundant in the dune habitats although the affect was only significant for some sampling sessions. The only species that was significantly more abundant in the riverine habitats than dune habitats was the introduced M. musculus. This species appears to be reliant on the riverine corridor, only appearing commonly in the dune habitats following rainfall. For most species, the number of juveniles captured increased following the rainfall in January 2007 but only in C. nuchalis and P. hermannsburgensis was there any significant difference between habitat types. For both species, generally more juveniles were captured in the dune habitats than in the riverine habitats. This study provided information on the role of the Field River to vertebrate fauna on Ethabuka Station. Although, the study focused only on one ephemeral desert river, it could be considered representative of similar desert rivers such as the Hay, Plenty and Hale rivers further west in central Australia. The riverine corridor did represent a different habitat to the surrounding sand dunes, and some characteristics, such as greater soil moisture, soil nutrients and annual cover, suggest that it may have greater and more stable primary production. Although the species studied did not generally have greater abundance and body condition, or reproduce more in the riverine corridor, many species including the Long-nosed Dragon (Amphibolurus longirostris), Desert Tree Frog (Litoria rubella) and Pygmy Mulga Monitor (Varanus gilleni) are likely to rely on the habitat that the riverine corridor provides. With expanding human populations placing greater pressure on rivers around the world, particularly in arid areas, it is imperative that we understand the ecology of these riparian systems so that effective management and conservation strategies can be developed.

More than two-thirds of Australia is classified as arid or semi arid and receives less than 500 mm of rain annually. Throughout these arid areas, rivers and drainage lines (which often have their catchments in higher rainfall areas) act as arteries for vast amounts of water to flow into these dry landscapes. Many inland rivers, including the Paroo, Bulloo and Cooper Creeks, have highly variable flow rates and can go many years with very little or no flow. As a result of the hydrology of these areas, they contain different soil characteristics and vegetation communities from the surrounding arid landscapes. For example, soil nutrients are thought to be higher along drainage lines and on floodplains due to sediment deposition and decomposition of organic material. Also, vegetation in these areas needs to not only survive drought conditions (as a plant or propogule), but also periodic inundation and flood events. These characteristics are thought to make these areas more productive than the surrounding arid lanscapes and are thought to be important habitats for flora and fauna. There has been much debate over the importance of riparian corridors to vertebrate species. Several studies internationally in mesic areas have suggested that riparian corridors contain higher levels of biodiversity than the surrounding habitats, although this pattern is not replicated in all areas or for all taxonomic groups. Many of these studies suggest that the difference in biodiversity between riparian areas and adjacent habitats should be greater in xeric areas where the habitat differences between these areas are greatest. Other studies have suggested that diversity is not necessarily greater but riparian areas are important habitats for different species and may act as a refuge for some species. In Australia, very few studies have been conducted on the importance of riparian corridors to vertebrates in arid areas, despite these habitats being under threat from grazing, flow alteration and flow diversion. In this study I examined the role of the Field River in the Simpson Desert as a potential refuge for vertebrate species and compared diversity and population dynamics of vertebrates at dune and riverine sites. Specifically this study aimed to: 1) determine if species richness of vertebrates along the Field River was greater in riverine ecosystems than the surrounding dune habitats; 2) quantify how the riverine habitats differed in terms of floristics, vegetation complexity, soils and water availability from the surrounding landscapes; 3) determine the dynamics of terrestrial vertebrate populations along the Field River; and 4) determine if the abundance, diversity and demographics of small vertebrate populations along the Field River was different from populations in the sand dune fields on a broader landscape scale. These questions were examined on Ethabuka Station in the Simpson Desert, Queensland, from 2006 to 2008. The riparian corridor along the Field River was found to have a range of characteristics that make it unique from the surrounding dune habitats. Soils along the riverine corridor were found to be characterised by more than 20% clay while soils on the dune crest were characterised by no more than 5% clay. Further, soil carbon and nitrogen was significantly higher in the riverine corridor than in the dune habitats and decreased with distance from the catchment. Spinifex (Triodia basedowii) cover was low in the corridor but dominated the dune swale. Number of trees and cover by trees and non-spinifex grasses were also significantly higher in the riverine corridor when compared to the surrounding dunes. Following the rainfall, annual cover was also significantly greater and they persisted much longer than in the dunes. There was very little difference in the diversity or number of invertebrates between the different habitat types. Species richness was estimated to be highest (48 species) in the riverine centre and lowest in the floodplain (30 species). The riverine habitats had different species pools when compared to the dune habitats. Several species including Amphibolurus longirostris and Litoria rubella exclusively inhabited the riverine habitats while others such as the skinks Ctenotus ariadnae and Ctenotus dux were captured only in the dune habitats. Results from a Canonical Correspondence Analysis suggest that the distribution of some species in arid areas, such as the introduced House Mouse (Mus musculus), may be correlated with habitat characteristics associated with the riverine corridor, e.g. soil moisture or high annual cover. Abundance, body condition and reproduction of mammals along the Field River was generally driven by time. On a local scale, habitat had little effect on the abundance of the Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) and Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis youngsoni), although M. musculus showed some preference for the riverine corridor. Abundance and reproduction of both rodent species increased following rainfall while S. youngsoni abundance was strongly seasonal with increases in abundance in autumn and winter. More than 45% of all captures were reptiles and this group was the most diverse and conspicuous fauna group along the riverine corridor. Abundance of the two most common lizard species, the Military Dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis) and Central-netted Dragons (Ctenophorus nuchalis), was significantly affected by time, with the abundance of both species decreasing dramatically 12 months after rainfall, possibly due to increased predation. Abundance of the Beaked Gecko, Rhynchoedura ornata, began to decrease prior to rainfall, suggesting a factor other than habitat structure or food availability causing the decline. The skink, Lerista labialis, showed strong seasonal trends in abundance and body condition, which suggested that within the desert riverine corridor the species was not reliant on rain-induced changes in food availability. To compare the effect of habitat on species richness, composition and population dynamics at a regional scale, sites along the riparian corridor were compared with dune sites located 500 m to 45 km from the Field River. On this scale, species species richness varied spatially with only one of the riverine sites having higher estimated species richness than the dune sites. Species turnover was greater in riverine sites despite the habitat data suggesting that primary production in these sites was more stable. Some species were able to persist at riverine sites at all times of the year but were only present in the community at dune sites following rainfall, suggesting that the riverine sites may be a more stable habitat for some species. Composition analysis revealed that dune and riverine habitats contain different communities, and some species, particularly Amphibolurus longirostris and Litoria rubella, probably rely on the river for their habitat requirements. Population dynamics including abundance, reproduction and body condition of seven species were compared between dune and riverine habitats. Only four, M. musculus, L. labialis, C. nuchalis and S. youngsoni, showed any significant affect of habitat on abundance. Abundance of C. nuchalis, S. youngsoni and L. labialis were generally more abundant in the dune habitats although the affect was only significant for some sampling sessions. The only species that was significantly more abundant in the riverine habitats than dune habitats was the introduced M. musculus. This species appears to be reliant on the riverine corridor, only appearing commonly in the dune habitats following rainfall. For most species, the number of juveniles captured increased following the rainfall in January 2007 but only in C. nuchalis and P. hermannsburgensis was there any significant difference between habitat types. For both species, generally more juveniles were captured in the dune habitats than in the riverine habitats. This study provided information on the role of the Field River to vertebrate fauna on Ethabuka Station. Although, the study focused only on one ephemeral desert river, it could be considered representative of similar desert rivers such as the Hay, Plenty and Hale rivers further west in central Australia. The riverine corridor did represent a different habitat to the surrounding sand dunes, and some characteristics, such as greater soil moisture, soil nutrients and annual cover, suggest that it may have greater and more stable primary production. Although the species studied did not generally have greater abundance and body condition, or reproduce more in the riverine corridor, many species including the Long-nosed Dragon (Amphibolurus longirostris), Desert Tree Frog (Litoria rubella) and Pygmy Mulga Monitor (Varanus gilleni) are likely to rely on the habitat that the riverine corridor provides. With expanding human populations placing greater pressure on rivers around the world, particularly in arid areas, it is imperative that we understand the ecology of these riparian systems so that effective management and conservation strategies can be developed.

Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning). Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Univ., Diss.-2004--Trier, 2003. / Literaturverz. S. [372] - 405.