Factors influencing the distribution of aquatic plant communities in Irish canals

Terrestrial tardigrades are often found in the lichens and mosses growing on trees and rocks. The assertion that tardigrades in these habitats are very patchy in their distribution has rarely been backed by quantitative sampling. This study assesses spatial variability in tardigrade populations inhabiting small patches (0.1 cm² to over 5 cm²) of moss and lichen on trees and rocks at three sites in the United States of America. Tardigrades were collected from four replicate rocks in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, with 30 lichen patches collected on two adjacent boulders and 20 moss patches on a second pair of boulders. In Fort Myers and in Citrus Springs, Florida, 30 lichen patches per tree were collected from two pairs of trees. The tardigrades in each sample were extracted, mounted, identified, and counted. The variation in tardigrade abundance among lichen or moss patches within rocks or trees was very high; the only consistent pattern was that very small patches usually lacked tardigrades. Tardigrade diversity and abundance also varied greatly within sites when lichens and mosses of the same species from different rocks and trees were compared (in the most extreme case one tree had numerous individuals of two tardigrade species present while the other had almost no tardigrades). The results of this quantitative sampling support the assertion that tardigrades are very patchy in distribution. Given the considerable time investment required for the quantitative processing of tardigrade samples, this high spatial variability in tardigrade diversity and abundance requires that researches testing ecological hypotheses about tardigrade abundance check variability before deciding how many samples to take.     

Population density and species composition of moss-living tardigrades in a boreo-nemoral forest

This study investigates for the first time the tardigrade fauna in a variety of different mosses from a coniferous forest and an adjacent clear-cut area in southern Sweden. Tardigrades were found in a majority of the samples. Sixteen species were recorded, of which the cosmopolitan species Macrobiotus hufelandi was the far most common. Some mosses, particularly species with "wefts" growth form, contained more tardigrades than other mosses, indicating that growth form may have an impact on tardigrade abundance. Mosses of the same species collected from a forest and from a clear-cut, respectively, did not show a general trend in the overall abundance of tardigrades, but the forest tended to contain more species. Five species of tardigrades ( Murrayon dianae, Isohypsibius sattleri, Platicrista angustata, Diphascon belgicae and Diphascon pingue ) never previously reported from Sweden were recorded.     

Interspecific Association and Substrate Specificity in Tardigrades from Florida, Southeastern United States

The distribution of terrestrial tardigrades in the Gulf Coast states of the United States is poorly known. Only one species has been reported in Florida. In this study moss, liverwort, lichen and fern samples (47 identified species) from trees and shrubs were collected from all 67 Florida counties. These samples contained 20 species of tardigrade. All possible pairs of tardigrade species and tardigrade and substrate were tested for interspecific association. Only three significant negative and one positive interspecific association between tardigrades were detected. Evidence for substrate specificity was weak. Although some tardigrade species were significantly associated with mosses or foliose lichens in general, no significant association between a tardigrade species and a substrate species was detected.     

Preliminary Studies of the Tardigrade Fauna of the Faroe Bank

Four cruises to the Faroe Bank have collected bottom samples for qualitative analysis of the meiofauna. The preliminary results show a very rich tardigrade fauna, with a large proportion of species new to science. At present 35 species of tardigrades belonging to 4 families (6 sub-families) have been found, of these are 22 new to science (63%). The 35 species comprise more than 20% of all known marine tardigrades. Halechiniscidae is represented by 30 species (1 Euclavarctinae, 11 Styraconyxinae, 12 Tanarctinae, 3 Halechiniscinae, 2 Florarctinae and 1Dipodarctinae). This family comprises 87.87% of the specimens sorted out so far. Specimens from the subfamilies Tanarctinae (46.63%) and Styraconyxinae (31.54%) are dominating. Batillipedidae is represented with 3species (8.63% of the specimens) and Coronarctidae (1.89%) and Stygarctidae (1.61%) with a single species each. Samples with similar sediment from 104—260 m depth have similar species distribution in the families. This implicates that the sediment is the key factor involved in the species distribution and that depth is less important. The calcareous sediment is a unique substrate and the tardigrade fauna of the Faroe Bank can be compared with that of sub-tropical and tropical coralline sand. The composition of species exhibits a strong taxonomic affinity with the tardigrade fauna from more southern latitudes, i.e. the Mediterranean Sea and the south-eastern coast of USA.     

Soil-inhabiting Tardigrade Communities in Forests of Central Japan

This study was carried out for the purpose of detecting the relationship between soil-inhabiting tardigrade communities and environmental factors of various forests. Nine forests in the southern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, Central Japan, were selected for this study. Four vegetation types were designated; broadleaved (evergreen/deciduous), coniferous and orchard. In these sites, dry weight of leaf litter, soil pH, soil hardness, soil moisture content and porosity ratio were measured. Wet soil faunal frequencies were also described. The Baermann funnel method was adopted for collecting tardigrades, and DIC microscopy was used for specific identification. To clarify the correlation between environmental variables and tardigrade faunae, multivariate analysis was applied. The tardigrade fauna occurred as two distinct groups. The first group primarily contained Macrobiotus species. The second group contained the genus Diphascon (e.g. D. nobilei, D. patanei, D. prorsirostre). An exception to this was D. pingue, included in the former. Most of the Diphascon species were concentrated in Nebu (coniferous forest site), while, Macrobiotus species were dominant in other sites. Distinct environmental factors could not be identified, but the nematodal frequency was recognized as the main factor in forming these groups. The uniqueness of Nebu, which does not correspond to large-scaled vegetational classification, was substantiated by statistical data. Nebu’s coniferous forest apparently has created a unique environment for sustaining rare species (Diphascon species). This study concluded that forests should be evaluated not only by the macroscopic factors, such as landscape, but also by the microscopic communities, such as those including the tardigrades.     

The Distribution of Tardigrades Upwind and Downwindof a Missouri Coal-Burning Power Plant

Significant differences occurred in the density of tardigrades, rotifers, and nematodes and the diversity of tardigrades between collecting sites located upwind and downwind from a coal-burning power plant in Missouri. The oak tree species and lichen genera also varied in the two areas. Tardigrade and rotifer densities were greater in upwind sites, whereas nematode density was higher in downwind samples. One tardigrade species (Ramazzottius sp.) was found only at the upwind sites, and one species (Echiniscus sp.) was only in the downwind samples. In contrast, three species (Macrobiotus sp., Minibiotus sp., and Milnesium tardigradum) were found both upwind and downwind but in different densities in the two areas. The study presents baseline data for long-term monitoring of the effects of environmental factors on nematode and rotifer densities as well as tardigrade density and diversity.     

A Large-scale, Multihabitat Inventory of the Phylum Tardigrada in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA: A Preliminary Report

An All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) is underway in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), with the goal of attempting to identify all species of life in the 2000 km² park. The GSMNP is a hotbed of biodiversity, a U.N. Biosphere Reserve, and one of the largest protected, deciduous forests in the temperate world. We have completed two field seasons of work on the tardigrades in the park (2001–2002). As of July 2003, we have collected 420 samples from soil/decomposed leaf litter, lichens and mosses on trees, and stream sediment and periphyton. A few samples from caves, bird nests, and lichens/mosses on rocks were also collected. Samples were taken from within permanent plots established for the ATBI, representing the major biological communities of the GSMNP. Tardigrades were extracted from samples using centrifugation with Ludox AM™, individually mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer’s medium, and studied with phase contrast and DIC microscopy. We have examined 1524 slides from 60 samples as of July 2003. Prior to our work, only three species of tardigrades had been previously reported from a few samples in the park. We have now recorded 42 species, 8 of which we believe may be new to science. Species richness estimates were calculated using EstimateS 6 software for each of the major tardigrade habitats. Overall, we predict that there are 47 to 76 species in the GSMNP, with generally similar species richness in soil, lichen, moss, and stream habitats. Species richness estimates were also used to determine that the number of tardigrade species was greater in mosses at breast height on trees than in mosses at the base of trees.     

Ecological Distribution and Community Analysis of Tardigrada from Choccolocco Creek, Alabama

A seasonal survey of tardigrade populations in the riparian zone of the Choccolocco Creek, Alabama, was undertaken from August 1994 through December 1995. Six sites within the riparian zone were sampled in different portions of the creek. At each site, 3 trees with cryptogams were sampled six times during survey period. From a total of 108 samples, 1,588 tardigrades were extracted and individually mounted on slides in Hoyer's medium. The community was dominated (86%) by specimens in the genus Macrobiotus. One species of Echiniscus was new to science and will be described in a separate paper. No significant difference was found between tardigrade occurrence (total number of individuals) and season, moss genera, or tree species. However, there was a significant relationship between the number of tardigrades and site, indicating the need for additional replicate samples. Simpson's and Shannon-Wiener's species diversity indices indicated that species richness and evenness were low. Jaccard's and Standard's community similarity indices suggested that the communities within the riparian zone were dissimilar along Choccolocco Creek.     

Tardigrade Fauna of the Region between Oka and Volga Rivers (Russia) and Patterns of their Distribution in Substrates and Habitats

The region between the Oka and Volga rivers has been largely neglected with respect to tardigrade biodiversity. In the present study a total of 21 species from 7 genera, 3 families, 2 orders and only 1 class of tardigrades were present, and some of their ecological preferences were noted. The tardigrades in the studied region were mainly cosmopolitan. Eurytopic, hygrophilic and xerophilic species were common while obligate freshwater species were not found. There is a marked similarity in the tardigrade fauna within similar habitats from different locations within the region.     

Distribution of Tardigrades within a Moss Cushion: Do Tardigrades Migrate in Response to Changing Moisture Conditions?

The distribution of tardigrades within the layers of the cushion moss Grimmia alpicola Hedwig, 1801 was investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the tardigrade species present within the moss layers during both wet and dry periods and to determine if migration occurred in response to changing moisture conditions. Samples of the moss were removed from concrete caps on brick fence posts before and after rainfall and separated into two sections (top and bottom). The tardigrades from each layer and moisture condition were identified to species. Data for each species were statistically analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the numbers of individuals present in the top and bottom layers of the moss under both wet and dry conditions.

Five tardigrade species were identified, including two species new to science: Macrobiotus sp. n.; Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840; Echiniscus viridissimus Peterfi, 1956; Echiniscus perviridis Ramazzotti, 1959; and Echiniscus sp. n. The new species will be described in a forthcoming paper. No significant differences were found in the numbers of individuals of four of the five species in each layer within the moss or for each moisture condition. Only one species, E. viridissimus, was significantly more frequent in the top layer of the moss, regardless of moisture condition.

Migration within the moss cushion was not detected in any of these five species as a result of changes in moisture conditions. In xeric moss species, it may not be beneficial for tardigrades to migrate to avoid desiccation. Instead, they apparently undergo anhydrobiosis in both the top and bottom layers of the moss cushion.     

Graphical Presentation of the African Tardigrade FaunaUsing GIS with the Description of Isohypsibius malawiensis sp. n. (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from Lake Malawi

The tardigrade fauna of the African continent is reviewed and presented graphically using Worldmap, a Geographical Information System (GIS) developed for exploring geographical diversity patterns in large biological datasets. References to the African tardigrade fauna have been gathered from published literature and supplemented with unpublished species information from the collection of Prof. Reinhardt M. Kristensen (RMK), Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen. 156 species belonging to 36 genera of tardigrades are present. They consist of 105 eutardigrade species and 51 heterotardigrade species, of which 42 species are semiterrestrial and 9 species are marine. The presence of tardigrades are reported from 20 countries, but of these 9 are represented by a single reference. Marine tardigrades in particular have been neglected, with only a single report from the shores of the African continent. Data from the RMK collection of samples from Egypt is included in the analysis.

The scattered and sparse knowledge of the African tardigrade distribution makes general conclusions difficult, but emphasises the large regions which require further investigation. The current distribution patterns corresponds with easy accessible or ‘tourist’ locations. Regions where GIS could be used to illustrate ecological preferences are also pointed out by the analysis.

Isohypsibius malawiensis sp. n. is described from Lake Malawi. It has a smooth body surface and lacks eyes. The heteronych claws are without lunulae, but below the claws a double arched cuticular bar is present. The dorsal and ventral apophyses of the buccal tube have a large drop-shaped swelling. The first macroplacoid is the largest followed by the second, which is only slightly larger than the third; microplacoid is absent. Males are smaller than females. Females lay only one to two very large eggs in the exuvium. The Malpighian tubules are clover-shaped. The new species is interstitial in coarse sediment and no other tardigrade species were present.     

新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南部沙垄不同部位藻类的垂直分布特征

 通过2005和2006年夏季两次对新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南部荒漠土壤中藻类植物进行采样、培养、鉴定和生物量测定,分析了该区沙漠沙垄不同部位藻类物种组成、优势种和生物量的垂直变化。结果表明：1）在不同地貌部位的不同层次中,藻类的种类组成均有所差异。2）藻类优势物种主要集中在0～2 cm层次中,2 cm以下的土层中藻类细胞很少,绝大部分土层以具鞘微鞘藻(Microcoleus vaginatus)为第一优势种,有些部位的土层中第一优势种是伪双点颤藻(Oscillatoria pseudogeminata),如垄间低地和迎风坡的1～2 cm中。此外,大型集胞藻（Synechocystis crassa）、舟形藻 (Navicula sp.)、卵圆双眉藻(Amphora ovalis)数量也较多。3）除垄顶外,藻类生物量在其它3个部位不同层次的差异呈极显著水平（p<0.01）,生物量由表及里锐减;在同一土层,藻类生物量基本表现为垄间低地最高,迎风坡与背风坡居中, 垄顶最低,不同地貌部位对藻类生物量影响呈显著或极显著水平。     

大气CO2浓度上升和氮添加对南亚热带模拟森林生态系统土壤碳稳定性的影响

大气CO₂浓度升高和氮(N)添加对土壤碳库的影响是当前国际生态学界关注的一个热点。为阐述土壤不同形态有机碳的抗干扰能力, 运用大型开顶箱, 研究了4种处理((1)高CO₂浓度(700 µmol·mol^-1)和高氮添加(100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) (CN); (2)高CO₂浓度和背景氮添加(CC); (3)高氮添加和背景CO₂浓度(NN); (4)背景CO₂和背景氮添加(CK))对南亚热带模拟森林生态系统土壤有机碳库稳定性的影响。近5年的试验研究表明: (1) CN处理能明显地促进各土层中土壤总有机碳含量的增加, 其中, 下层土壤(5-60 cm土层)中的响应达到统计学水平。(2)活性有机碳库各组分对处理的响应有所差异: 不同土层中微生物生物量碳(MBC)的含量对各处理的响应趋势基本一致, 各土层中的MBC含量均为CN > CC > NN > CK, 其中0-5 cm、5-10 cm、10-20 cm 3个土层的处理间差异都达到了显著水平; 10-20 cm与20-40 cm两个土层中的易氧化有机碳处理间有显著差异; 而对于各土层中水溶性有机碳, 处理间差异均不明显。(3)各团聚体组分中的有机碳含量的响应也有所差异: 20-40 cm与40-60 cm土层中250-2000 μm组分的有机碳含量存在处理间差异; 40-60 cm土层中53-250 μm组分的有机碳对各处理响应敏感, CC处理和NN处理都有利于该组分碳的深层积累, 尤其CN处理下的效果最为明显; 在各处理10-20 cm、20-40 cm及40-60 cm土壤中, < 53 μm组分中的碳含量间差异显著。大气CO₂浓度上升和N添加促进了森林生态系统中土壤有机碳的增加, 尤其有利于深层土壤中微团聚体与粉粒、黏粒团聚体等较稳定组分中有机碳的积累, 增加了土壤有机碳库的稳定性。     

Invertebrates associated with moss communities at Canada Glacier,southern Victoria Land,Antarctica

The invertebrate faunal composition of moss-dominated flushes near the Canada Glacier was, as in similar habitats in continental Antarctic regions, numerically dominated by protozoa, rotifers, nematodes and tardigrades. Mites were of lesser abundance. Although collembola occur in the Taylor Valley, none were found at the study site. The finding of a catenulid flatworm is significant as microturbellarians have only rarely been recorded from Antarctica. Nematode, tardigrade and rotifer densities recorded were comparable to those in other Antarctic regions. These groups were found at a mean depth ranging from 5 to 10.83 mm in the moss. A greater percentage of all groups were in the upper 5 mm of moss cores in post-melt samples than in pre-melt samples.     

滇东南岩溶山地次生林土壤种子库储量与优势成分

采用样线取样与温室萌发实验相结合的方法 ,调查了滇东南典型岩溶山地次生林的土壤种子库储量及其优势成分。结果发现 ,岩溶山地次生林下贮存有丰富的植物种子 ,在厚度为 1 0cm的表层土壤中的种子储量变动于 493 0～ 1 493 0粒 /m2 之间 ,高于对照成熟林的 3 780粒 /m2 。在 1 0cm的垂直剖面上 ,单位体积的种子储量在厚度为 0～ 2、2～ 5、5～ 1 0cm的三个层面间逐渐下降 ,但 5～ 1 0cm土层内仍然储藏了大量的种子。三种次生林的乔、灌、草、藤的比例组成与对照成熟林的差异不大 ,无论是种子个体数量还是物种种类数都以草本为主 (平均为 85 .5 %和 69.9% ) ,灌木次之 (平均为 1 2 .8%和 1 9.4% ) ,藤本 (平均为 1 .6%和 4.2 % )和乔木 (平均为 0 .6%和 6.5 % )稀少。在所研究的三个次生林样地内种子数量处于前三位的种子都来自菊科的紫茎泽兰 (Eupatoriumadenophorum) ,胜红蓟 (Ageratumconyzoides) ,劲直白酒草 (Conyzastricta) ,一点红(Emiliasonchifolia)等四个物种中的三个种 ,与成熟林下的土壤种子库中前三位物种基本相同。土壤种子库与地表植被间的相似性较小。     

滇东南岩溶山地退化植被土壤种子库的储量与组成

 在云南省东南部3个典型岩溶地点的土壤种子库储量与组成的研究表明,不同地点代表不同退化与恢复阶段的次生林、灌丛与退化草地的土壤内均储藏有丰富的植物种子,其密度值变动于4 090～14 930粒·m－2之间;物种数23～45种,其中草本物种及其种子储量最丰, 灌木次之,乔木和藤本及其种子稀少。在0～10 cm土层内,随着深度的加深,种子密度由0～2 cm,2～5 cm,5～10 cm逐渐减少,次生林的降低幅度相对较小。相对而言,种子密度值、物种数都以次生林为高,灌丛与退化草地之间的差异较小。同时次生林种子库中的乔、灌木的种子数量相对较多,而草本相对较少。从物种组成来看,少数物种的种子在库中的储量十分丰富,且各种子库间在物种组成上有很大的相似性,同一地点的3种植被类型间的两两相似性系数在0.6～0.7之间,不同地点的任一两类型间的相似性系数在0.4～0.6之间。9.3%的物种在所有样地内都出现。每一种子库中储量最丰的前3位都来自菊科的胜红蓟（Ageratum conyzoides）、劲直白酒草(Conyza stricta)、紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum)、一点红（Emilia sonchifolia）,唇形科的鸡骨柴（Elsholtzia fruticosa）,蔷薇科的长毛绣线菊(Spiraea martinii var. pubescens)。     

元江流域干热河谷灌草丛土壤种子库与地上植物群落的物种组成比较

土壤种子库与地上植被之间的关系和相似性是长期争议的群落生态学问题之一。本研究旨在通过比较元江流域干热河谷典型灌草丛群落与其土壤种子库的物种组成, 探讨土壤种子库与地上植物群落存在怎样的相似性关系。在元江干热河谷上、中、下游选取典型灌草丛群落, 采用典型样地调查法进行植物群落调查, 同时在样方内采集0-5 cm、5-10 cm、10-15 cm三层土壤样品, 采用萌发实验研究土壤种子库的种子数量和物种组成, 并与地上植物群落进行比较。结果表明: (1)全部调查样方的地上植被中共包含种子植物76种, 隶属于25科64属, 主要集中在豆科、禾本科、菊科、大戟科, 群落物种组成以多年生草本为主、灌木为辅; (2)土壤种子库中共发现33种植物, 隶属于14科32属, 以旱生型禾本科、豆科、菊科物种为主; (3)土壤种子库中的植物种子密度在表层土壤中最高, 随着土层的加深而递减; (4)各样方的土壤种子库与地上群落共有物种数较少, 相似性较低; 土壤种子库密度与地上群落的种群密度没有显著的相关性。总体而言, 本研究发现元江流域干热河谷典型灌草丛群落其土壤种子库与地上群落之间没有显著的相关性, 并且地上群落和土壤种子库都有外来入侵种类。     

小兴安岭原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林土壤有机碳库比较研究

土壤有机碳含量是全球生态系统碳储量变化的重要指标之一,本研究以空间替代时间序列的方法,分别选取了小兴安岭地区原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林并测定土壤有机碳库、土壤全氮含量、土壤微生物量碳及土壤相关理化性质,结果表明,土壤有机碳含量(SOC)、土壤全氮含量(TN)、土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、土壤含水率等指标随着土壤层的深度增加而逐渐减少最后趋于稳定,而土壤容重随着土壤层的加深而增大。在原始林中0~10和10~20cm层的SOC、TN含量差异不显著,而次生林则差异显著。原始阔叶红松林和枫桦次生林的土壤有机碳密度(SOCD)分别为21.46和21.3 kg·m^-2,差异不显著。原始林和次生林的平均有机碳含量分别为35.79,28.6 g·kg^-1,土壤全氮含量分别为2.86,1.83 g·kg^-1,枫桦次生林MBC与SOC的线性相关性高于原始林。结果表明原始林土壤肥力高于次生林,在今后次生林的管理中应适当混栽针叶树种,原始林中应适当间伐使地下碳储量增加。