Anthropogenic noise reduces bird species richness and diversity in urban parks

Anthropogenic noise is becoming more prevalent in the world and has been shown to affect many animal species, including birds. The impact of such noise was measured in Neotropical urban parks to assess how the noise affects avifauna diversity and species richness. We sampled bird species, and concurrently measured sound pressure (noise) levels (L_eq, equivalent noise levels) in eight urban green areas or parks located in a large city (Belo Horizonte) in south‐eastern Brazil over a 1‐year period. The diversity of sampled points was measured by means of total species richness, Fisher's alpha and Shannon–Wiener diversity indices. Noise levels within all parks were greater than those in natural areas. We found that an increase in noise levels and the area of open habitats surrounding sampling points were negatively related to species richness. Social factors reflecting increased urbanization, such as higher incomes, were also negatively correlated with bird species richness. However, noise was the factor that explained most of the variance. These results suggest that anthropogenic noise can have a significant negative impact on the conservation value of urban parks for bird species.     

新薛河底栖动物物种多样性与功能多样性研究

研究功能多样性与物种多样性关系及其随环境梯度的变化规律,有助于理解生物在群落中的共存机制;然而,二者间关系的研究在淡水生态学中尚鲜见报道。通过对新薛河典型河段(A缓流河段、B断流河段、C有机污染河段、D对照河段、E人为干扰河段)底栖动物季节性调查,就物种多样性和功能多样性时空动态及关系进行了研究。结果表明:在空间序列上,物种多样性指数在B河段均最低,表明间歇性断流对物种多样性影响重大。功能丰富度在D河段最高,A河段最低;功能均匀度在A河段高于其他河段;功能分离度在A、B河段最高,D河段最低。在时间序列上,物种丰富度和Shannon指数均值在10月份最低,4月份最高;均匀度指数在12月份最低,10月份最高。3个功能多样性指数于各季节间差异显著、相互独立,主要受水文条件和底栖动物生活史影响。相关分析表明,功能多样性指数间无显著相关性;功能丰富度同物种丰富度和Shannon指数相关显著,功能均匀度同物种均匀度相关显著。逐步回归分析发现,功能丰富度受物种丰富度和Shannon指数影响显著,功能均匀度受物种均匀度影响显著;功能多样性和物种多样性指数间拟合度总体不高。研究结果进一步表明:相对物种多样性,功能多样性对生境梯度变化响应更加全面。     

Direct and indirect effects of nitrogen deposition on species composition change in calcareous grasslands

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been identified as a major threat to biodiversity, but field surveys of its effects have rarely focussed on sites which are actively managed to maintain characteristic species. We analysed permanent quadrat data from 106 plots in nature reserves on calcareous grassland sites in the United Kingdom collected during a survey between 1990 and 1993 and compared the data with the results from resurvey of 48 of these plots between 2006 and 2009. N deposition showed no significant spatial association with species richness, species diversity, or the frequency of species adapted to low nutrient conditions in the 1990–1993 dataset. However, temporal analysis showed that N deposition was significantly associated with changes in Shannon diversity and evenness. In plots with high rates of N deposition, there was a decrease in species diversity and evenness, a decline in the frequency of characteristic calcareous grassland species, and a lower number of rare and scarce species. As all sites had active management to maintain a high diversity and characteristic species, our results imply that even focussed management on nature conservation objectives cannot prevent adverse effects of high rates of N deposition. Structural equation modelling was used to compare different causal mechanisms to explain the observed effects. For change in Shannon diversity, direct effects of N deposition were the dominant mechanism and there was an independent effect of change in grazing intensity. In contrast, for change in herb species number, indirect effects on soil acidity, linked to both N and S deposition, were more important than direct effects of N deposition.     

Correlating species and spectral diversities using hyperspectral remote sensing in early‐successional fields

Advances in remote sensing technology can help estimate biodiversity at large spatial extents. To assess whether we could use hyperspectral visible near‐infrared (VNIR) spectra to estimate species diversity, we examined the correlations between species diversity and spectral diversity in early‐successional abandoned agricultural fields in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of north‐central Virginia at the Blandy Experimental Farm. We established plant community plots and collected vegetation surveys and ground‐level hyperspectral data from 350 to 1,025 nm wavelengths. We related spectral diversity (standard deviations across spectra) with species diversity (Shannon–Weiner index) and evaluated whether these correlations differed among spectral regions throughout the visible and near‐infrared wavelength regions, and across different spectral transformation techniques. We found positive correlations in the visible regions using band depth data, positive correlations in the near‐infrared region using first derivatives of spectra, and weak to no correlations in the red‐edge region using either of the two spectral transformation techniques. To investigate the role of pigment variability in these correlations, we estimated chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin concentrations of five dominant species in the plots using spectral vegetation indices. Although interspecific variability in pigment levels exceeded intraspecific variability, chlorophyll was more varied within species than carotenoids and anthocyanins, contributing to the lack of correlation between species diversity and spectral diversity in the red‐edge region. Interspecific differences in pigment levels, however, made it possible to differentiate these species remotely, contributing to the species‐spectral diversity correlations. VNIR spectra can be used to estimate species diversity, but the relationships depend on the spectral region examined and the spectral transformation technique used.     

Animal species diversity driven by habitat heterogeneity/diversity: the importance of keystone structures

Aim In a selected literature survey we reviewed studies on the habitat heterogeneity–animal species diversity relationship and evaluated whether there are uncertainties and biases in its empirical support. Location World-wide. Methods We reviewed 85 publications for the period 1960–2003. We screened each publication for terms that were used to define habitat heterogeneity, the animal species group and ecosystem studied, the definition of the structural variable, the measurement of vegetation structure and the temporal and spatial scale of the study. Main conclusions The majority of studies found a positive correlation between habitat heterogeneity/diversity and animal species diversity. However, empirical support for this relationship is drastically biased towards studies of vertebrates and habitats under anthropogenic influence. In this paper, we show that ecological effects of habitat heterogeneity may vary considerably between species groups depending on whether structural attributes are perceived as heterogeneity or fragmentation. Possible effects may also vary relative to the structural variable measured. Based upon this, we introduce a classification framework that may be used for across-studies comparisons. Moreover, the effect of habitat heterogeneity for one species group may differ in relation to the spatial scale. In several studies, however, different species groups are closely linked to ‘keystone structures’ that determine animal species diversity by their presence. Detecting crucial keystone structures of the vegetation has profound implications for nature conservation and biodiversity management.     

湖泊富营养化对轮虫群落结构及物种多样性的影响

2005年7月至2006年6月, 我们对安徽省芜湖市境内5个湖泊中轮虫的群落结构及部分水质特征参数进行了调查, 用相关加权综合营养状态指数(TLIc)评价了各湖泊的营养水平, 分析了其中的轮虫群落结构、多样性指数及其与TLI_C之间的关系。经鉴定, 5个湖泊中共采集到轮虫79种, 隶属18科31属; 不同营养水平湖泊中出现的轮虫种类数有明显的差异(P<0.01)。除龙窝湖外, 其余4个湖泊中的轮虫种类数与TLI_C均呈显著负相关关系(r＝–0.984, P<0.05)。湖泊水体的富营养化进程显著地提高了轮虫总密度和第一优势种的优势度, 降低了轮虫群落的均匀度和物种多样性指数。     

Additive diversity partitioning as a guide to regional montane reserve design in Asia: an example from Yunnan Province,China

Aim Data on spatial and temporal turnover in species composition within a region is essential to design regional protected areas. Montane systems are often recognized as biodiversity hotspots. The primary objective of this study is to identify patterns of montane bird diversity across multiple spatial and temporal scales using an additive diversity partitioning framework. Location The Ailao Mountains, central Yunnan Province, China. Methods We used point counts to sample bird communities in four elevational zones, on eastern and western slopes, during both the breeding and the non‐breeding seasons. Diversity (richness and Shannon) was partitioned across space (points, elevational zones and slopes) and time (seasons). We used permutation tests to compare observed values to values expected by random chance. A complementary cluster analysis was also used to evaluate beta diversity. Results Overall, the gamma diversity was attributed to significantly higher beta diversity (relative to that of randomization tests) among elevational zones and, to a lesser extent, between slopes. For Shannon–Wiener Index, beta diversity between seasons was significantly higher than expected and had a similar contribution to the gamma diversity as with beta diversity between slopes. Hierarchical cluster analysis supported the findings for Shannon–Wiener Index. The contribution of beta diversity among points to gamma diversity within each elevational zone generally lessened with increasing elevation. Main conclusions Our results show significantly high levels of beta diversity among elevational zones and between slopes, as well as between seasons for Shannon diversity, in a small area of the Ailao Mountain range. Thus, a regional montane reserve system should cover the entire elevational gradient and multiple slopes, rather than only the montane crest. Furthermore, higher pattern diversity in lower elevational zones suggests that larger areas should be preserved at lower elevational zones. Finally, the design of regional reserve systems require more studies conducted at multiple seasons at a regional scale.     

Effects of herbivore species richness on the niche dynamics and distribution of blue sheep in the Trans-Himalaya

Aim To understand the community structure of mountain ungulates by exploring their niche dynamics in response to sympatric species richness. Location Ladakh and Spiti Regions of the Western Indian Trans‐Himalaya. Methods We used the blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, a relatively widely distributed mountain ungulate, as a model species to address the issue. We selected three discrete valleys in three protected areas with similar environmental features but varying wild ungulate species richness, and studied blue sheep’s diet and habitat utilization in them. Habitat variables such as slope angle, distance to cliff and elevation at blue sheep locations were recorded to determine the habitat width of the species. Faecal pellets were collected and microhistological faecal analysis was carried out to determine the diet width of blue sheep in the three areas with different ungulate species richness. Blue sheep’s niche width in terms of habitat and diet was determined using the Shannon’s Index. Results The habitat width of blue sheep had a negative relationship with the number of sympatric species. However, contrary to our expectation, there was a hump‐shaped relationship between blue sheep’s diet width and the sympatric species richness, with the diet width being narrower in areas of allopatry as well as in areas with high herbivore species richness, and the greatest in areas with moderate species richness. Main conclusions We suspect that the narrow diet width in allopatry is out of choice, whereas it is out of necessity in areas with high herbivore species richness because of resource partitioning that enables coexistence. We suggest that interactions with sympatric species lead to niche adjustment of mountain ungulates, implying that competition may play a role in structuring Trans‐Himalayan mountain ungulate assemblages. Given these results, we underscore the importance of including biotic interactions in species distribution models, which have often been neglected.     

长山列岛邻近海域鱼类群落种类组成和多样性时空变化

为了解黄、渤海生态系统交错带长山列岛邻近水域鱼类群落种类组成和多样性,根据2016年10月,2017年1月、5月及8月进行的鱼类资源底拖网调查数据,应用相对重要性指数、物种多样性指数、k优势度曲线等方法,研究了长山列岛邻近海域鱼类群落种类组成、物种多样性时空变化及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明: 该海域共计捕获鱼类77种,以温水性、底层、洄游性鱼类为主,优势种组成季节变化明显,春季、冬季主要优势种为黄鮟鱇,夏季以日本鲭、鳀等中上层鱼类为主。全年共计出现洄游性鱼类46种,季节间物种迁移指数均在100以上,其中秋季物种迁移指数最大。鱼类群落物种丰富度指数在春季最高、Shannon多样性指数和均匀度指数在秋季最高。夏季物种丰富度指数与表层水温呈显著负相关;冬季物种丰富度指数与水深、底层水温呈极显著正相关,Shannon多样性指数与底层水温呈极显著正相关。长山列岛邻近海域作为黄、渤海两大生态系统的交错带,鱼类群落表现出高物种多样性、洄游种多以及明显的时空异质性。     

Relationships between species diversity or community structure and productivity of woody-plants in a broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Jiaohe,Jilin, China

Aims Based on the dataset of a broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Jiaohe, Jilin Province, this research compared the influences of species diversity and community structure on productivity. We aim to explain the relationship between diversity and productivity for better forest management. Methods We used the data of 10 973 woody-plants in a 11.76 hm² large sample plot and analyzed the correlations between 7 different indices of species diversity or community structure and productivity. Structural equation model was used to compare the effects of species diversity and community structure on productivity. Important findings The results showed that: (1) Both species diversity and community structure had significant effects on productivity when they were considered separately in linear regression analysis, i.e. species evenness was negatively correlated with productivity, the Shannon index of community structure was positively correlated with productivity and the Gini index was negatively correlated with productivity. (2) In the structural equation model, when simultaneously considered, community structure had stronger influence on productivity than species diversity. Our research suggests that, the effects of community structure on productivity are greater than species diversity and it is important to increase community structure complexity to improve forest productivity during forest management.     

Effect of species richness and relative abundance on the shape of the species accumulation curve

Abstract We explain how species accumulation curves are influenced by species richness (total number of species), relative abundance and diversity using computer‐generated simulations. Species richness defines the boundary of the horizontal asymptote value for a species accumulation curve, and the shape of the curve is influenced by both relative abundance and diversity. Simulations with a high proportion of rare species and a few abundant species have a species accumulation curve with a low ‘shoulder’ (inflection point on the ordinate axis) and a long upward slope to the asymptote. Simulations with a high proportion of relatively abundant species have a steeply rising initial slope to the species accumulation curve and plateau early. Diversity (as measured by Simpson's and Shannon–Weaver indices) for simulations is positively correlated with the initial slope of the species accumulation curve. Species accumulation curves cross when one simulation has a high proportion of both rare and abundant species compared with another that has a more even distribution of abundance among species.     

Epilithic and epipelic diatoms in the Sandusky River,with emphasis on species diversity and water pollution

Benthic diatom communities were collected seasonally from silty and rocky substrates to survey the water quality of the Sandusky River. Even though species composition was highly variable along the river, recurrent changes in relative abundance of specific diatom taxa and changes in overall community composition delineated areas where discharge of treated sewage affected water quality of the river. Changes in species diversity (Shannon formula), not decreases in diversity, marked the site where greatest pollution had occurred. Problems with using species diversity indices to indicate pollution tend to be related to predicting decreases in diversity in response to decreases in water quality. Evidence in the Sandusky River and the theories of diatom community dynamics suggest that species diversity can be greater in polluted areas than less polluted areas.     

Environmental drivers of species composition and functional diversity of dung beetles along the Atlantic Forest–Pampa transition zone

Human activities are causing a rapid loss of biodiversity, which impairs ecosystem functions and services. Therefore, understanding which processes shape how biodiversity is distributed along spatial and environmental gradients is a first step to guide conservation and management efforts. We aimed to determine the relative explanatory importance of biogeographic, environmental, landscape and spatial variables on assemblage dissimilarities and functional diversity of dung beetles along the Atlantic Forest–Pampa (i.e. forest–grassland) transition zone located in Southeast South America. We described each site according to their biogeographic position, environmental conditions, landscape features and spatial patterns. The compositional dissimilarity was partitioned into turnover and nestedness components of β‐diversity. Mantel tests and generalised dissimilarity models were used to relate β‐diversity and its components to biogeographic, environmental, landscape and spatial variables. Variation partitioning analysis was used to estimate the pure and shared variation in species composition and functional diversity explained by the four categories of predictors. Biome domain was the main factor causing dung beetle compositional dissimilarity, with a high species replacement between Atlantic Forest and Pampa. Biogeographic, environmental, landscape and spatial distances also affected the patterns of dung beetle dissimilarity and β‐diversity components. The shared effects of the four sets of predictors explained most of the variation in dung beetle composition. A similar response pattern was found for dung beetle functional diversity, which excluded biogeographic effects. Only the pure effects of environmental and spatial predictors were significant for species composition and functional diversity. Our results indicate that dung beetle species composition and functional diversity are jointly driven by environmental, landscape and spatial predictors with higher pure environmental and spatial effects. The forest–grassland transition zone promotes a strong species and trait replacement highly influenced both by environmental filtering and dispersal limitation.     

长白山多孔菌物种多样性、区系组成及分布特征

多孔菌是木材腐朽真菌的一个重要类群,通过将木材中的纤维素、半纤维素和木质素分解成为可被自身和其他生物利用的营养物质,从而促进森林生态系统中的物质循环.经过十几年的考察和采集,发现长白山地区多孔菌物种多样性非常丰富,Shannon多样性指数达到5.06,共有246种,占中国多孔菌总数的40.7％,分别隶属于担子菌门6个目11个科80个属,其中优势科为多孔菌科.物种区系地理成分以北温带成分和世界广布成分为主,其他几种区系成分也有分布,具有明显的北温带成分区系特征.松属是长白山地区多孔菌最重要的寄主树木,该地区41.5％的多孔菌生长在松属上.该地区多孔菌主要营腐生生活,其数量与生长基质腐烂程度的相关系数达到了0.89,呈显著相关,对长白山森林生态系统的物质循环起着重要作用.长白山多孔菌物种保护程度比较高,其中稀有种和濒危种的数量均相对较多,濒危种18种,占到全国濒危种数量的37.5％.多孔菌除了在森林生态系统中发挥重要生态功能外,很多种类本身具有较高的经济价值.在保护好该生物类群的前提下,可以合理开发和利用这些宝贵的生物资源.     

Small area and low connectivity constrain the diversity of plant life strategies in temporary ponds

Aim

(i) To determine whether area and connectivity of temporary ponds can predict plant species diversity, and the diversity and abundance of different plant life histories; (ii) To explore whether pond connectivity with the river prior to river regulation predicts better plant diversity patterns than current pond connectivity, suggestive of possible effects of connectivity loss.

Location

Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Romania, Europe.

Methods

We fitted linear and generalized linear models (LM and GLM) to examine whether pond area and current distance from the Olt River predict plant species richness, Shannon diversity and relative cover of different social behaviour types and overall plant species richness and Shannon diversity. Using historical maps, we measured pond distance from the river ca. 60 years before the Olt River was regulated, and we refitted the LM and GLM models using pond area and past distance from the river as independent variables.

Results

Total plant species richness increased with pond area, and it decreased with the distance from the river, but total plant Shannon diversity index was affected, positively, only by pond area. The strength of responses to pond area and connectivity of species richness, Shannon diversity and relative cover varied across the different social behaviour types. Past and current distances between ponds and riverbeds had similar effects on plant diversity, with some evidence for stronger effect of the present connectivity on specialist species Shannon diversity and a weaker effect on disturbance tolerants, generalists and competitors.

Main Conclusions

Pond area and connectivity with the landscape are important predictors of the diversity of plant life history strategies, and therefore, useful tools in pond conservation. Consistent species richness and Shannon diversity responses of wetland specialists to pond area and connectivity make this life history type well suited for monitoring pond condition.     

物种与物种多样性

本文首先讨论生物物种的科学概念和生物学本质，分析物种客观存在的自然属性和物种概念的局限性，认为物种的生物学属性和物种多样性的科学属性之间有着本质联系。物种多样性研究的实质是研究生物物种的生物学多样性。度量物种多样性程度有多种方法，但物种数目是物种多样性程度最直接、也是最基本的表达，估计物种多样性数目是当前国际上物种多样性研究的核心与热点内容。物种多样性产生的根源是物种形成，物种绝灭速率是维持物种多样性的关键因素。本文简要总结了物种形成与绝灭的基本模式和机制，通过分析生物地理区系与物种多样性研究的密切关系，说明物种的区系成份分析是物种多样性大尺度格局研究的重要内容。     

山西七里峪茶条槭群落特征及物种多样性研究

运用TWINSPAN对山西七里峪茶条槭群落类型进行划分,并采用Patrick指数、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Alatalo指数研究群落的物种多样性。结果表明:TWINSPAN将茶条槭群落的73个样方划分为10个群丛;各群丛的物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数之间存在差异,群丛Ⅲ和Ⅶ的丰富度指数和多样性指数较高,群丛Ⅰ的多样性指数较低;各群丛乔木层、灌木层和草本层之间的物种多样性也存在差异,多样性指数大致表现为草本层高于灌木层高于乔木层。土壤中的有机质、速效钾、含水量是影响茶条槭群落物种多样性的主要因素。     

Connections between species diversity and genetic diversity

Species diversity and genetic diversity remain the nearly exclusive domains of community ecology and population genetics, respectively, despite repeated recognition in the literature over the past 30 years of close parallels between these two levels of diversity. Species diversity within communities and genetic diversity within populations are hypothesized to co‐vary in space or time because of locality characteristics that influence the two levels of diversity via parallel processes, or because of direct effects of one level of diversity on the other via several different mechanisms. Here, we draw on a wide range of studies in ecology and evolution to examine the theoretical underpinnings of these hypotheses, review relevant empirical literature, and outline an agenda for future research. The plausibility of species diversity–genetic diversity relationships is supported by a variety of theoretical and empirical studies, and several recent studies provide direct, though preliminary support. Focusing on potential connections between species diversity and genetic diversity complements other approaches to synthesis at the ecology–evolution interface, and should contribute to conceptual unification of biodiversity research at the levels of genes and species.     

北京东灵山辽东栎林植物物种多样性的多尺度分析

多尺度分析物种多样性格局能够为有效保护生物多样性提供重要信息.利用物种多样性的加法分配法则分析了样方-坡位-坡面等级尺度系统辽东栎林植物物种多样性(gamma多样性)的alpha多样性和beta多样性在各尺度上的分配关系.结果表明以物种丰富度为指标的区域物种多样性的最大贡献来自坡面尺度,表明坡面尺度是维持辽东栎林物种多样性的有效尺度;而对Simpson多样性和Shannon多样性的最大贡献则来自样方内,这决定于群落物种优势度和稀有度格局;各尺度间beta多样性组分随尺度的增大而增大可能是环境异质性和扩散作用的综合结果.各尺度间Shannon多样性对总体多样性的贡献大于Simpson多样性的贡献是偶见种在各尺度间分配的结果.物种多样性分配的加法法则为物种多样性格局的多尺度分析提供了理论框架,是检验物种多样性格局形成机制的有效方法.     

羌塘高寒草地物种多样性与生态系统多功能关系格局

传统的生物多样性-生态系统功能研究大多侧重于单一生态系统功能与物种多样性的关系,忽略了生态系统的重要价值在于其能够同时提供多种功能或服务,即生态系统的多功能性。基于藏北羌塘高寒草地样带调查数据,选取植被地上生物量、地下生物量、土壤全氮、硝态氮及铵态氮含量、土壤全磷含量、土壤有机碳储量等7个与植物生长、养分循环、土壤有机碳蓄积相关的参数来表征生态系统多功能性。采用上述参数转换为Z分数后的平均值计算多功能性指数(M)。分析了不同生物多样性指数与生态系统多功能指数的关系以及年降水量和年均温度对物种多样性和生态系统多功能性指数的影响。结果表明,物种丰富度指数与生态系统多功能性之间呈极显著的正相关关系,Shannon-wiener和Simpson物种多样性指数也与多功能性指数间呈显著的正相关,但多功能性指数与Pielou均匀度指数没有表现出明显的相关关系。物种丰富度与表征植物生长、养分循环以及土壤有机碳蓄积的生态系统功能指数间也均呈极显著的正相关关系。降水格局显著影响羌塘高原物种丰富度和生态系统多功能指数,二者均随年降雨量的增加而显著增加,但物种多样性指数并未与年降水量呈现显著相关关系。研究强调了群落物种丰富度即群落物种数量对维持生态系统多功能性的重要意义,这意味着由于人类活动导致的物种丧失可能会给藏北高寒草地生态系统多功能和生态服务带来更为严重的后果。就退化草地恢复或草地可持续管理而言,在藏北羌塘地区,本地植物种的物种丰富度恢复和维持应作为重要目标之一。