Owing to habitat loss, the entire breeding population of the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, a flagship bird species of fen mires, is now limited to scattered areas in east-central Europe. The breeding biology of the Aquatic Warbler was studied between 2012 and 2015 in calcareous fens dominated by the Cladietum marisci sedge community at the south-western range limit of the species, near Chełm, in south-east Poland. Two nesting peaks were observed during the breeding season, corresponding to first and second breeding attempts. Nest densities were greater during the first- rather than the second-brood period but singing male densities did not differ between the brood periods. Clutch size and post-hatching fledging success were significantly lower during the second-brood period. Total nest fledging success (whether or not a nest fledged at least one young) was 76.6% in 124 nests with known outcomes with an average of 2.7 (± SE 0.2) fledglings per nest. Mayfield probability of nest survival was 56.9% with losses mainly due to predation (55%), nest desertion or female predation (28%), and changes in water level (14%). Nest survival to fledging increased along the gradient of increasing levels of litter layer thickness, stagnating water, and vegetation height at the nest, and increasing height of the nest above the soil. Fledgling production tended to be lower than in the Biebrza Marshes (north-east Poland) habitats, assumed to be optimal for breeding. Otherwise, the reproductive success estimates did not deviate from nests found in the core breeding areas in north-east Poland or Belarus. Brood feeding frequency (15.5 ± 1.0/hour) was similar to that observed in the Biebrza Marshes. Our results suggest that the calcareous fens at the margins of the current species’ range provide a suitable breeding habitat. However, as the nesting area has contracted, management programmes tailored to the ecological requirements of the Aquatic Warbler are required.

This study tested for social monogamy in Alpheus brasileiro Anker, 2012. We also analysed egg production in this species. Sampling was conducted bimonthly from March 2013 to January 2014, and specimens were collected manually in the intertidal estuarine zone of Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 186 specimens (92 males and 94 females) were captured, and ~46% of them were found living in heterosexual pairs. The carapace length (CL mm) of paired males and females was positively correlated. We analysed 35 females carrying eggs underneath the abdomen: 28 of these females had eggs in stage I of development, four had eggs in stage II, and three had eggs in stage III. The average (±SD) mean fecundity for females carrying early (stage I) eggs was 149 (±93) eggs. Egg volume differed significantly among developmental stages, with a 35.4% increase in egg volume between stages I and III. The egg volume and size (CL) of females correlated positively. A positive correlation between the number of eggs and carapace length was found, with a proportional increase in the number of eggs according to the size of females. Our results suggest that the studied population of A. brasileiro is socially monogamous and provide the first insights into egg production in this species.

The reproductive ecology of piassava palm (Attalea funifera Mart.) was investigated for 19 months in the Atlantic forests of eastern Brazil. Its breeding biology is characterized by the production of functionally female, male and bisexual inflorescences. Staminate sterility is positively correlated with number of pistillate flowers. Staminate and pistillate flowers are receptive at anthesis. Bagging tests for apomixis were negative. Although geitonogamy can occasionally occur, outcrossing predominates. Pollen is relatively dry, but wind pollination is not a significant factor in cross pollination. Although inflorescences are visited by large numbers of insects, pollination is effected mainly by small sap beetles (Mystrops sp.) and weevils (Phyllotrox tatianae), which feed and breed in fertile staminate flowers. Pistillate flowers, which offer no reward to pollinators, appear to attract insect visitors by olfactory and visual imitation of staminate flowers, that is, via Bakerian mimicry. Flower production, fruit maturation, leaf production and leaf abscission occur continuously throughout the year. Flowering exhibits a distinct peak during the warmest months (Dec–Apr). Given its ubiquity throughout the region, A. funifera may well serve as a flowering and fruiting keystone species.