Abstract: We studied arthropod occurrence in fallow land, extensively used pastures, extensively used meadows (cut twice or three times a year) and intensively used meadows (cut more than three times a year) in Upper Bavaria. Medium-sized arthropods (5-15mm) were encountered much less frequently on intensively used and fallow land than on pastures and extensively used meadows. Large individuals (>15mm) were observed most frequently on pastures but were hardly found on intensively used meadows. In autumn they occurred almost exclusively on pastures and fallow land. Species richness was the highest on pastures and the lowest on intensively used meadows. The study underscores the depletion of arthropod fauna and in particular the decline of large arthropods on intensively used meadows. It indicates that extensively used meadows and extensively used pastures in particular are the most favourable sources of nutrition for insectivores such as reptiles, amphibians, birds or bats.

Keywords: land use, habitat management, grazing, species diversity, insects

Abstract: The rapid loss of biodiversity due to habitat degradation and over exploitation has necessitated the conservation prioritization of habitats, species and communities for conservation. The prioritization of habitats and communities through qualitative and quantitative assessment of vegetation is prerequisite for initiating any conservation and management programme. Therefore, an attempt has been made to; (i) identify the habitats and communities; (ii) evaluate habitats and communities for species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species; (iii) prioritize habitats and communities for conservation. Fifteen (15) habitats and fourteen forest (14) communities distributed between 2490-4000m were recorded. Overall, 35.71% communities were broad-leaved, 57.14% coniferous and 7.14% mixed. The habitats and communities have been evaluated for the species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species. Based on these attributes habitats and communities have been prioritized. Among communities Abies pindrow - Pinus wallichiana mixed, Fraxinus xanthoxyloides, Picea smithiana - Pinus wallichiana mixed and Cedrus deodara -Acer cappadocicum mixed showed highest CPI and habitats forest, shady moist showed highest CPI value. Regular monitoring of the prioritized habitats and communities has been suggested. Also, mass scale propagation of native, endemic, economically important and threatened species and their plantation in the Lahaul valley have been suggested.

Keywords: structure, composition, habitat, community, conservation, prioritization

Abstract: Climate change has a great impact on the build and the work of natural ecosystems. Disappearance of some population or growth of the number in some species can be already caused by little change in temperature. A Theoretical Ecosystem Growth Model was investigated in order to examine the effects of various climate patterns on the ecological equilibrium. This paper examines the diversity of a theoretical ecosystem on the grounds of changing in temperature-climate patterns. Simulations were made from the simplest case to the more complex exercise to explain harder questions. Daily temperature values were calculated according to various functions. The effect of existing climate patterns (historical or future daily temperatures) was analysed where temperature values were from various climatic zones. In this paper it is examined what kind of environmental conditions result larger diversity related to the velocity of reproduction.

Keywords: analogous places; climate change; climate modelling; diversity; ecosystem

Abstract: To understand the use of Chromolaena odorata in different agricultural systems and ecosystems, findings of several scientific studies conducted in different areas have been assessed in this review paper. Some authors considered C. odorata as a serious weed because of its ability: to regenerate and colonize uninvaded areas; to be a threat to some ecosystems and environment; to reduce the biodiversity of grasslands, savannahs and forests; and to be a considerable problem in commercial tree plantations as it suppresses the growth of young pine and eucalypt trees. Others argued that the species may be considered as a beneficial fallow plant rather than a weed, because it may be considered as a welcome plant rather than a weed in some agricultural systems, when considering the expected properties of species for fallow improvement. The following are the main reasons why C. odorata is considered as a fallow because of it ability: to be a nutrient sink and its potential benefit to the crop as regular source of organic matter and nutrients after slashing; to have a beneficial effect on exchangeable K concentration; to be used as green manure; to be better adapted as a fallow plant on acidic soils than some leguminous

Keywords: tropical and subtropical ecosystems, invasive plant

Abstract: Considering insect populations, we can see that climate change affects in many ways: it can cause a shift in geographical spread (Porter et al., 1991; Ward and Masters, 2007), abundance (Ayres and Lombardero, 2000; Olfert and Weiss, 2006) or diversity (Conrad et al., 2002; Feehan et al., 2009; Sharon et al., 2001), it can change the location, the timing and the magnitude of outbreaks of pests (Volney and Fleming, 2000), and it can define the phenological or even the genetic properties of the species (Gordo and Sanz, 2006; Klok and Chown, 2001; Parmesan, 2007). Long-time investigations of special insect populations, simulation models and scenario studies give us very important information about the response of the insects far away and near to our century. Getting to know the potential responses of insect populations to climate change makes us possible to evaluate

Keywords: climate change, insects, pest management, simulation, agriculture

Abstract: The present study examined the use of ghassoul, natural clay available in large quantities under the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, for the removal of the basic dye, methylene blue, from aqueous solutions. The effect of initial dye concentrations, agitation time, pH and temperature on adsorption capacities of methylene blue was investigated. The initial pH of the aqueous solution and the change of temperature (25-55 °C) were found to have little effect on the adsorption process. The adsorption was a rapid with 90-99% of the dye removed within the first 10-20 min. The adsorption kinetics are described successfully using a pseudo-second order rate equation and the rate constant decreases with increasing the initial concentration of MB. Experimental and calculated kinetic data for equilibrium are well expressed by Langmuir isotherm. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of ghassoul was determined with the Langmuir equation as well as the pseudo-second-order rate equation and found to be >290 mg dye per gram of the adsorbent. The results indicate that ghassoul could be employed as a low cost alternative to commercial activated carbon in wastewater treatment for the removal of colour and dyes.

Keywords: natural clay, basic dye, adsorption kinetics