中国鹅掌楸自然种群动态及其致危生境的研究

本文对天然鹅掌楸的地理分布、种群特征及其环境因子影响等方面进行了分析讨论,试图揭示其致危机理。鹅掌楸星散间断分布型式、种群规模较小、种群结构的衰退趋势和对生境的特定要求,反映出该物种正处在濒危状态。并提出自然种群的消亡是由于处于“致危生境”的缘故。应借助于人为帮助,改善生境条件,将不同种群的鹅掌楸引种到合适的生境中,扩大其种群规模,促进不同种群之间的基因交流,以利保护。     

鹅掌楸种群间光生态适应性的分化

通过对鹅掌楸７个不同种群幼苗的光合生长年进程、光合速率、光饱和点和光补偿点,以及不同光生境条件下的叶绿素含量和叶绿素ａ／ｂ比值的实验测定和生长量的统计,结果表明,种群间存在明显的光生态适应性分化。该物种地理分布上的西部亚区种群的光合适应能力和生长势总体上强于东部亚区的种群。而在西部亚区中又以金平、盐津种群的适应力和生存力更强。本研究支持该物种种群的生存能力由西向东逐渐下降,居于东部亚区中的种群其濒危程度更为严重的观点。这种濒危过程中的生态适应性的分化,说明该物种的濒危,在很大程度上是“致危生境”造成的。     

通过遗传多样性探讨极小种群野生植物的致濒机理及保护策略: 以裸子植物为例

遗传多样性是生物多样性的重要组成部分, 然而由于资源的过度开发利用和生境的破碎化影响了物种的遗传多样性, 甚至威胁到物种的生存适应性和生物多样性。极小种群野生植物是亟待保护的国家重点保护濒危植物,遗传多样性研究对揭示极小种群致濒机理及保护策略具有重要意义。生境破碎化会造成物种遗传多样性降低、种群间分化增加、基因流减少等, 使种群濒危。但在某些物种中, 繁殖特征、进化历史等生物和生态因素的不同也可能造成近期生境破碎化后遗传效应的延迟。裸子植物进化历史悠久, 包含许多孑遗物种, 由于生活史周期长, 遭受生境破碎化后可能短期内显示不出遗传效应的改变, 但长期很难恢复。本文以裸子植物为例综述了濒危植物的遗传多样性研究的案例, 探讨了濒危裸子植物应对环境恶化的维持机制、致濒因素和保护方案, 旨在说明通过遗传多样性研究充分认识极小种群致濒机理对高效保护极小种群野生植物的重要性。     

迁地保护中普通野生稻和长喙毛茛泽泻种群动态及评价

通过对江西东乡含濒危植物普通野生稻（Ｏｒｙｚａｒｕｆｉｐｏｇｏｎ）和长喙毛茛泽泻（Ｒａｎａｌｉｓｍａｒｏｓｔｒａ－ｔｕｍ）的群落在余江县实施重建,研究并评价了迁地保护后的濒危植物种群动态。结果表明,普通野生稻种群呈迅速增长的趋势,分布面积迅速扩大,有性繁殖正常,实生苗补充在种群增长中起重要作用;无性繁殖旺盛,对新生境表现出良好的适应性。在两年实验研究期间,长喙毛茛泽泻种群数量和分布面积迅速扩大,在良好生境中通过有效扩散使种群占据塘底有利生境,并通过无性繁殖及短暂有性繁殖实现种群更新。两个濒危种迁地保护是成功的,杂草是阻碍两个濒危植物种群增长的主要原因,水位控制是实验塘生境管理的重要手段。     

关于物种濒危等级标准之探讨--对IUCN物种濒危等级的思考

为了保存地球上的生物多样性,我们需要根据物种的种群数量与分布、种群数量波动与分布区下降速率来评定濒危物种的濒危等级,并针对物种的濒危等级提出具体的保护措施。1994年11月,IUCN第40次理事会会议正式通过了经过修订的Mace-Lande物种濒危等级标准作为IUCN物种濒危等级标准。IUCN濒危物种红色名录虽然不是国际法和国家法律,但是对于政府间组织、非政府组织的保护决策以及各国的自然法律法规的制定有着深远的影响,在保护生物学理论研究中也发挥了一定作用。我们在研究制定中国水生野生生物濒危等级标准时发现,如果直接应用IUCN物种濒危等级标准评定水生野生生物濒危等级将存在一些问题。如：(1)如何区别对待那些本来就数量稀少、分布区狭窄的物种和那些由于人类活动而导致其种群数量与生境面积急剧下降的物种?(2)不同的动物类群能否应用同一濒危标准尺度?(3)如何区别对待物种边缘分布区和核心分布区的种群数量与密度的差异?(4)如何处理种群的局部灭绝、局部濒危?(5)一些濒危物种在野生环境中濒危,但是这些物种可以人工繁殖,如何处理可以人工繁殖的濒危物种?(6)如果没有种群与栖息地的精确历史资料和统计数据,怎样应用物种的濒危标准评估其濒危等级?在实践中,我们针对这些问题提出了解决方案。考虑与国际流行的IUCN物种濒危等级标准接轨,我们提出来一个由“无危”、“值得关注”、“受胁”、“濒危”和“灭绝”等5个级构成的濒危等级系统,其中“值得关注”、“受胁”、“濒危”又分为“一般”与“高度”两个亚等级。我们提出应区分“生态濒危物种”、“进化濒危物种”;对于不同生物类群,应区分物种的生活史对策,制定不同生活史物种的濒危标准。对于r-对策物种,引入“经济灭绝”这一等级,将这一等级对应于“受胁”等级,以解决缺少物种数量的统计数据和历史数据这一难题;区别对待特有物种,将其濒危等级提升一等;引进集合种群(metapopulation)概念,将集合种群的局域种群(local population)作为“个体”对待。     

孑遗植物四合木(Tetraena mongolica)的濒危肇因与机制

对我国特有单属种孑遗植物四合木 (Tetraena mongolica Maxim) 的地理分布、生境条件、种群数量动态、空间分布格局、种间关系、种群的生命表、生殖力表、有性生殖、无性繁殖和遗传变异等种群生态学特征及其濒危肇因进行了系统分析.研究结果表明:四合木种群为高群集分布,种群曲线属Leak凸型.年龄结构不合理,其存活曲线接近于Deevey ê型,且将演化为小种群,群落内的生境异质性显著,种群处于不稳定阶段.四合木从开花期到结果期,生殖分配 (RA) 呈下降的趋势,生殖过程中胚胎发生败育、种子向幼苗难以转化使其有性生殖受阻,生活史趋于断裂,是最终导致其濒危的重要内因.分布区城市化、工业化以及过度放牧等原因造成其种群孤立和生境破碎化是物种导致濒危的外因,四合木生态适应性和生境适宜性下降造成遗传多样性逐步丧失.同时提出对我国特有植物四合木进行异地保护的可能性与必然性.     

广西稀有濒危植物迁地保护评价

从迁地保护的内容、适应性、有效性等方面对桂林植物园迁地保护稀有濒危植物进行评价,结果表明:迁地保护的稀有濒危植物科学性强,96%以上的物种有科学记录,除了银杏等少数几个种属于“保护性收集”外,其它都是“具有保护意义的收集”;75%的种适应或基本适应迁移地的环境,原分布于广西的种明显比分布于广西区外的种适应性更强。按照最小存活种群的标准,该园有73种稀有濒危植物迁地保护有效。     

穿山甲种群概况及保护

穿山甲（Manis spp．）是我国Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物,也是国际自然与自然保护联盟（IUCN）濒危物种红色名录中定为濒危（EN）等级的物种。由于近20年来的乱捕滥猎和栖息地的丧失,该物种的野外种群数量急剧下降,直至枯竭的边缘。通过分析我国穿山甲野外种群现状和保护中存在的问题,探讨该物种的保护策略,为相关国际公约和我国野生动物主管部门对该物种保护等级的调整提供依据,以期为科学制定我国野生穿山甲保护行动计划提供参考和保护决策依据。     

广东象头山国家级自然保护区兰科植物垂直分布格局

于2019～2022年对广东象头山国家级自然保护区内的兰科植物进行专项调查,记录兰科植物种类、数量、生活型、海拔、生境等信息,分析保护区内兰科植物的垂直分布格局,并根据《广东高等植物红色名录》和《国家重点保护野生植物名录》对各海拔高度兰花濒危等级的物种数量进行统计。结果显示：(1) 实地记录兰科植物33属48种,多数种类种群数量较少;(2) 随着海拔上升,各海拔梯度的兰科植物总种数和不同生活型的种数均呈现“中间高度膨胀型”分布特点,峰值在中低海拔区域;(3) 濒危物种主要集中在海拔200～500 m区间;(4) 相邻海拔段的兰科植物种类相似性系数较高,垂直梯度差异越大,相似性系数越小。低海拔地区可能由于人为干扰频繁,兰科植物物种多样性较低;中海拔物种多样性最丰富;高海拔地区生长环境较苛刻,物种数量较少。     

湖北万朝山自然保护区珍稀濒危植物优先保护定量研究

该研究采用样线法和样地法,对湖北万朝山自然保护区的珍稀濒危保护植物资源进行了调查,并运用濒危系数、遗传价值系数和物种价值系数,计算出综合评价值,对其优先保护顺序进行了定量分析。结果表明:保护区内共有珍稀濒危保护植物47种,隶属于34科44属;根据综合评价值对珍稀濒危保护植物物种进行优先保护评价排序,其中Ⅰ级优先保护物种有9种,Ⅱ级优先保护物种有23种,Ⅲ级优先保护物种有12种,Ⅳ级优先保护有物种3种。通过分析珍稀濒危保护植物分布特征,发现该保护区珍稀濒危植物分布相对集中,并且在900~1 600 m海拔段,珍稀濒危保护植物物种和数量分布最多。该研究结果更加真实有效地为该保护区管理部门制定该地区珍稀濒危植物保护计划提供了科学依据,使其更加高效有力地指导本保护区的保护工作。     

鹅掌楸雌配子体败育对生殖的影响

胚珠和雌配子体败育是限制鹅掌楸生殖成功的一个重要因素。中国东部和西部鹅掌楸种群在雌配子体发育的各阶段上的败育程度有差异,以西部种群的发育较好。西部分布区较合适的生境促进了胚囊的发育,一定温度和湿度的环境可以活化珠心细胞输送营养物质供给雌配子体发育,提高受精和结籽的能力     

六种彩叶植物营养成分及有害元素含量分析

以六种彩叶植物紫叶李、红花木、红叶石楠、红枫、鸡爪槭和金叶女贞的叶片为材料,对其营养成分及有害元素含量进行了测定及分析。结果表明:蛋白质和可溶性糖含量以红花木为最高,维生素C含量以红枫为最高,β-胡萝卜素含量差异最大,紫叶李最高达15.99mg·kg-1。六种彩叶植物矿质营养元素种类齐全,其中红花木的营养元素总量最高。六种彩叶植物均含有18种氨基酸成分,必需氨基酸和总氨基酸含量各不相同,但必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的比例却较为一致,且都高于40%。六种彩叶植物叶片内均含有一定量的铅、镉、砷、汞等有害元素,但有害元素尤其是砷和汞的含量均低于允许量。     

Population genetic structure of Monimopetalum chinense (Celastraceae), an endangered endemic species of eastern China

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Monimopetalum chinense (Celastraceae) standing for the monotypic genus is endemic to eastern China. Its conservation status is vulnerable as most populations are small and isolated. Monimopetalum chinense is capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually. The aim of this study was to understand the genetic structure of M. chinense and to suggest conservation strategies. METHODS: One hundred and ninety individuals from ten populations sampled from the entire distribution area of M. chinense were investigated by using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). KEY RESULTS: A total of 110 different ISSR bands were generated using ten primers. Low levels of genetic variation were revealed both at the species level (Isp=0.183) and at the population level (Ipop=0.083). High clonal diversity (D = 0.997) was found, and strong genetic differentiation among populations was detected (49.06 %). CONCLUSIONS: Small population size, possible inbreeding, limited gene flow due to short distances of seed dispersal, fragmentation of the once continuous range and subsequent genetic drift, may have contributed to shaping the population genetic structure of the species.     

Landscape scale genetic effects of habitat fragmentation on a high gene flow species: Speyeria idalia (Nymphalidae)

Detection of the genetic effects of recent habitat fragmentation in natural populations can be a difficult task, especially for high gene flow species. Previous analyses of mitochondrial DNA data from across the current range of Speyeria idalia indicated that the species exhibited high levels of gene flow among populations, with the exception of an isolated population in the eastern portion of its range. However, some populations are found on isolated habitat patches, which were recently separated from one another by large expanses of uninhabitable terrain, in the form of row crop agriculture. The goal of this study was to compare levels of genetic differentiation and diversity among populations found in relatively continuous habitat to populations in both recently and historically isolated habitat. Four microsatellite loci were used to genotype over 300 individuals from five populations in continuous habitat, five populations in recently fragmented habitat, and one historically isolated population. Results from the historically isolated population were concordant with previous analyses and suggest significant differentiation. Also, microsatellite data were consistent with the genetic effects of habitat fragmentation for the recently isolated populations, in the form of increased differentiation and decreased genetic diversity when compared to nonfragmented populations. These results suggest that given the appropriate control populations, microsatellite markers can be used to detect the effects of recent habitat fragmentation in natural populations, even at a large geographical scale in high gene flow species.     

Landscape genetics in the subterranean rodent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ctenomys</Emphasis> “<Emphasis Type="Italic">chasiquensis</Emphasis>” associated with highly disturbed habitats from the southeastern Pampas region,Argentina

Studies of genetic differentiation in fragmented environments help us to identify those landscape features that most affect gene flow and dispersal patterns. Particularly, the assessment of the relative significance of intrinsic biological and environmental factors affecting the genetic structure of populations becomes crucial. In this work, we assess the current dispersal patterns and population structure of Ctenomys “chasiquensis”, a vulnerable and endemic subterranean rodent distributed on a small area in Central Argentina, using 9 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We use landscape genetics approaches to assess the relationship between genetic connectivity among populations and environmental attributes. Our analyses show that populations of C. “chasiquensis” are moderately to highly structured at a regional level. This pattern is most likely the outcome of substantial gene flow on the more homogeneous sand dune habitat of the Northwest of its distributional range, in conjunction with an important degree of isolation of eastern and southwestern populations, where the optimal habitat is surrounded by a highly fragmented landscape. Landscape genetics analysis suggests that habitat quality and longitude were the environmental factors most strongly associated with genetic differentiation/uniqueness of populations. In conclusion, our results indicate an important genetic structure in this species, even at a small spatial scale, suggesting that contemporary habitat fragmentation increases population differentiation.     

湖北河岸带植物中华蚊母树遗传多样性的SRAP分析

利用SRAP分子标记技术,对湖北省河岸带植物中华蚊母树的4个自然居群和1个迁地居群的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行了分析。结果表明,中华蚊母树物种具有较高水平的遗传多样性,7对SRAP引物进行PCR扩增的多态性位点百分率(PPF)为80.43%,每个位点的等位基因数(A)为2,有效等位基因数(Ae)为1.34,总遗传多样性Nei’s基因多样性指数(Hp)为0.215 9,Shannon信息多样性指数(I)为0.350 9。在居群水平上,5个居群总的遗传变异Ht为0.218 8,居群内的遗传变异Hs为0.193 4,居群间的遗传分化系数Gst为0.116 1,表明在总的遗传变异中有88.39%变异存在于居群内,仅11.61%存在于居群间,居群间的基因流Nm为3.807 2,表明居群间有较大程度的基因交流。UPGMA聚类分析和主成分分析显示中华蚊母树主要分为两个居群组,在长江三峡沿岸香溪和乐天溪由于遗传距离比较近聚为一小类再与高家堰聚为一大类,而沿渡河和三峡植物园居群聚为另一大类,表明迁地居群三峡植物园的中华蚊母树与来自巴东沿渡河居群的样本亲缘关系最近,且三峡植物园迁地保护居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。同时在分析讨论了中华蚊母树遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上,评价了中华蚊母树的保护策略,并在评价保护成果的基础上,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。结果还表明SRAP标记是分析中华蚊母树遗传多样性和遗传结构非常可靠的一种标记,而且这是使用SRAP标记研究中华蚊母树的首次报道。     

Population genetic consequences of geographic disjunction: a prairie plant isolated on Great Lakes alvars

Species may often exhibit geographic variation in population genetic structure due to contemporary and historical variation in population size and gene flow. Here, we test the predictions that populations on the margins of a species' distribution contain less genetic variation and are more differentiated than populations towards the core of the range by comparing patterns of genetic variation at five microsatellite loci between disjunct and core populations of the perennial, allohexaploid herb Geum triflorum. We sampled nine populations isolated on alvar habitat within the eastern Great Lakes region in North America, habitats that include disjunct populations of several plant species, and compared these to 16 populations sampled from prairie habitat throughout the core of the species' distribution in midwestern Canada and the USA. Alvar populations exhibited much lower within-population diversity and contained only a subset of alleles found in prairie populations. We detected isolation by distance across the species' range and within alvar and prairie regions separately. As predicted, genetic differentiation was higher among alvar populations than among prairie populations, even after controlling for the geographic distance between sampled populations. Low diversity and high differentiation can be accounted for by the greater contemporary spatial isolation of alvar populations. However, the genetic structure of alvar populations may also have been influenced by postglacial range expansion and contraction. Our results are consistent with alvar populations being founded during an expansion of prairie habitat during the warmer, hypsithermal period approximately 5000 bp and subsequently becoming stranded on isolated alvar habitat as the climate grew cooler and wetter.     

Modeling future range expansion and management strategies for an invasive squirrel species

Successful management of an invasive species requires in depth knowledge of the invader, the invaded ecosystem, and their interactions. The complexity of the species-system interactions can be reduced and represented in ecological models for better comprehension. In this study, a spatially explicit population model was created using the RAMAS software package to simulate the past and future invasion dynamics of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in the fragmented habitat in case study areas in Ireland. This invasive squirrel species causes economic damage by bark stripping forest crops and is associated with the decline of its native congener (S. vulgaris). Three combinations of demographic and dispersal parameters, which best matched the distribution of the species shortly after introduction, were used to simulate invasion dynamics. Future population expansion was modeled under scenarios of no control and two different management strategies: fatal culls and immunocontraceptive vaccination programmes. In the absence of control, the grey squirrel range is predicted to expand to the south and southwest of Ireland endangering internationally important habitats, vulnerable forest crops, and the native red squirrel. The model revealed that region-wide intensive and coordinated culls would have the greatest impact on grey squirrel populations. Control strategies consisting solely of immunocontraceptive vaccines, often preferred by public interest groups, are predicted to be less effective. Complete eradication of the grey squirrel from Ireland is not economically feasible and strategic evidence-based management is required to limit further range expansion. Ecological models can be used to choose between informed management strategies based on predicted outcomes.     

Using demographic data to better interpret pitfall trap catches

The results of pitfall trapping are often interpreted as abundance in a particular habitat. At the same time, there are numerous cases of almost unrealistically high catches of ground beetles in seemingly unsuitable sites. The correlation of catches by pitfall trapping with the true distribution and abundance of Carabidae needs corroboration. During a full year survey in 2006/07 in the Lake Elton region (Volgograd Area, Russia), 175 species of ground beetles were trapped. Considering the differences in demographic structure of the local populations, and not their abundances, three groups of species were recognized: residents, migrants and sporadic. In residents, the demographic structure of local populations is complete, and their habitats can be considered "residential". In migrants and sporadic species, the demographic structure of the local populations is incomplete, and their habitats can be considered "transit". Residents interact both with their prey and with each other in a particular habitat. Sporadic species are hardly important to a carabid community because of their low abundances. The contribution of migrants to the structure of carabid communities is not apparent and requires additional research. Migrants and sporadic species represent a "labile" component in ground beetles communities, as opposed to a "stable" component, represented by residents. The variability of the labile component substantially limits our interpretation of species diversity in carabid communities. Thus, the criteria for determining the most abundant, or dominant species inevitably vary because the abundance of migrants in some cases can be one order of magnitude higher than that of residents. The results of pitfall trapping adequately reflect the state of carabid communities only in zonal habitats, while azonal and disturbed habitats are merely transit ones for many species of ground beetles. A study of the demographic structure of local populations and assessment of the migratory/residential status of particular carabid species are potential ways of increasing the reliability of pitfall trap information.     

Regionally high rates of hybridization and introgression in German wildcat populations (Felis silvestris, Carnivora, Felidae)

While the western populations of the wildcat ( Felis silvestris silvestris ) in Germany come into contact with wildcats in France and Switzerland, the eastern distribution area is geographically completely isolated and consists of scattered subpopulations. To investigate population structure, evolutionary relationships and degree of hybridization with domestic cats we analysed the mitochondrial control region of 86 cats in combination with 11 microsatellite loci of 149 cats. According to our microsatellite data, German wildcats are divided into two separate populations corresponding to the western and eastern distribution areas. We found no indication of a further subdivision of the eastern population. German wildcat populations are genetically distinct from domestic cats in the main, but we identified 18.4% of the whole wildcat sample as being of hybrid origin, corresponding to 4.2% of the eastern and 42.9% of the western wildcat population, and 2.7% of the domestic cat sample. The mitochondrial haplotypes form a network of three connected clusters and reveal a high level of genetic diversity, especially within the eastern population. Our findings are explained at best in terms of continuous introgression between domestic cats and wildcat populations and differing degrees of recent hybridization in the various populations. Future conservation efforts should focus on preserving the existing gene flow between the isolated distribution areas, but also on preventing the spread of hybrids and limiting the habitat alterations that lead to increased contact with domestic cats. In conclusion we discuss possible evolutionary reasons for the still traceable genetic integrity of the wildcat despite its long history of interbreeding.