Zoodiversity

Valery Korneyev at 70

Editorial — 2026-02-25

Birds of the dump: A study on diversity, abundance and threats in landfills of Tigray region, Ethiopia

T. B. Weldemariam — 2026-01-21

Birds inhabit all habitats, including dumpsites. Most bird research has mainly focused on protected areas, while landfills have been much less studied. Our study was conducted to collect baseline data on the diversity, abundance and threats of avifauna in waste landfills of the Tigray region, Ethiopia, from November 2019 to March 2020. Seven landfill sites in towns with different geographical settings (Maychew, Adwa, Axum, Shire, Sheraro, Humera and Wolkayt) were selected. The point count technique was used to survey the birds. Moreover, interviews and field observations were also conducted to identify threats to birds. Diversity indices and Two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. A total of 2,985 individual birds belonging to 96 species, 32 families and 11 orders were recorded. Family Accipitridae was the most dominant (24 species), followed by Muscicapidae (8 species) and Columbidae (7 species). Hooded Vulture (17.17%) was the most abundant species, followed by Tawny Eagle (8.32%) and Pied Crow (5.46%). The Humera landfill site had the highest bird abundance, while the Maychew landfill had the lowest. A higher abundance of birds was recorded during the morning than in the afternoon. Humera landfill had the highest species diversity index (H′ = 3.56), followed by Wolkayt (H′ = 3.51) and Maychew landfills (H′ = 3.49). Maychew landfill had the highest species evenness (E = 0.778), whereas Shire landfill had the lowest species diversity and species evenness (H′ = 2.89; E = 0.439). Activities of waste collectors, free-ranging domestic animals and waste burning were considered disturbing factors; at the same time, electrocution, hunting and disposal of pollutant wastes were identified as threats to birds. Waste landfills of the region support a diversity of birds. Therefore, bird conservation action is required, such as proper management of landfills. The impact of discarded waste on the long-term survival of birds, especially threatened species, should also be investigated.

Characteristics of ecological preferences of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) based on vegetation data

S. Stukalyuk — 2025-12-17

This study aimed to identify ecological niches of ant species based on vegetation analysis and to assess their adaptation to environmental conditions using phytoindicative methods. Fieldwork was carried out in 2021 in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine, across a range of habitats from natural forests and meadows to agrocenoses and disturbed environments. The analysis revealed marked differences in the ecological preferences and amplitudes of ant species. Lasius niger and Formica cinerea demonstrated the broadest ecological tolerance, particularly to habitat naturalness, humidity, temperature, and soil parameters, indicating high ecological plasticity and adaptability to both natural and anthropogenic environments. In contrast, Formica rufa exhibited a narrower niche, associated mainly with forested habitats and more stable microclimatic conditions. Species such as Myrmica rubra, Tetramorium caespitum, and Formica fusca showed moderate plasticity, with varying responses to nitrogen, salinity, and soil acidity. Some species, including Formica exsecta and Leptothorax muscorum, appeared highly specialized, although limited records constrained interpretation. Phytoindication proved effective for assessing the ecological niches of ants by linking their distribution to vegetation-based environmental gradients. This approach allowed the identification of species with broad versus narrow environmental tolerances and provided insights into their adaptive strategies in heterogeneous landscapes. The findings enhance our understanding of how ant communities respond to environmental variability and demonstrate the value of phytoindication for ecological studies and biodiversity monitoring in changing ecosystems.

Morphological characteristics of the genus Ptilodon (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) larvae with keys to the species

I. V. Dolinskaya — 2025-12-17

The morphological characters of each larval instar of three Palaearctic notodontid moth species belonging to the genus Ptilodon Hübner, 1822, were examined using a scanning electron microscope and digital microphotography. The shape, colour, pattern and chaetotaxy of the head and body; the microsculpture of the head, and the forms and diversity of the setae, stemmata and mouthparts were examined. A comparative morphological analysis of all these structures is provided. The morphological characteristics during larval development and their transformations are discussed. A key to the three species of the genus Ptilodon from the Palaearctic Region is presented. As a result of the comparative morphological analysis, we identified diagnostic and taxonomic characters for the genus Ptilodon and the studied species. The common characters of some taxa within the family are identified.

Reproductive traits of the São Nicolau wall gecko, Tarentola nicolauensis (Gekkota, Phyllodactylidae)

H. Rösler — 2025-12-17

This study provides information on main reproductive characteristics of Tarentola nicolauensis. Egg-laying behavior, clutch size, reproductive effort, size, weight, incubation period and post-oviparous weight loss of eggs as well as hatching characteristics of offspring in captivity were described. It was found that Tarentola nicolauensis produces relatively few clutches in the course of a laying season and that the majority of clutches contain a single large egg rather than two comparatively small eggs. Hatching size and hatching weight of the hatchlings correspond to the egg sizes. These reproductive traits are characteristic of many endemic species of Tarentola of the Cape Verde Islands. Studies on life history and ecology of animals are important for species conservation. Such studies are unfortunately limited for reptiles. Therefore, studies in captivity are important and complement field studies.