栖息地荒漠化对草原沙蜥食性的影响

栖息地退化会使环境中蜥蜴的可利用食物资源发生改变。采用剖胃法对内蒙古自治区鄂尔多斯市准格尔旗和达拉特旗地区采集的草原沙蜥样本进行了食性分析。对固定沙丘、半固定沙丘和流动沙丘三类样地中77个实胃样本的652只(套)食物进行鉴定和分析的结果表明,这些食物主要为节肢动物,分为35类,隶属3纲11目32科;也在少部分个体(4.69%)的胃容物中发现少量(1.95%)植物碎片。上述三类栖息地中,草原沙蜥对蚁科、蚜科、瓢虫科、叶蝉科和茧蜂科昆虫均有较大的捕食比例;但相比固定沙区栖息地,草原沙蜥在半固定及流动沙丘中增减的食物种类均比较多,导致草原沙蜥在流动沙区与其他两类样地之间有较大的食物相异性。从固定沙丘、半固定沙丘到流动沙丘,随栖息地荒漠化程度的增加,草原沙蜥捕食食物类群的丰富度逐步减少,辛普森优势度指数相应地下降,但营养生态位宽度、香农威纳多样性指数和皮洛均匀性指数却在流动沙丘栖息地上明显增大。这表明鄂尔多斯地区的草原沙蜥是以捕食昆虫等节肢动物为主、兼食极少量植物的杂食性动物。栖息地荒漠化所致的环境变化显著地影响草原沙蜥的食物组成,使其觅食的食物种类逐步减少。     

浑善达克沙地植物群落物种多样性与土壤因子的关系

2004年8月,以浑善达克沙地植物群落样方调查资料为基础,对流动-半流动沙丘、固定沙丘、丘间低地和淖尔边缘4种生境的21种群落类型的物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数、生态优势度指数和均匀度指数进行比较分析,并通过相关分析对各种指数与土壤因子的关系进行了研究.结果表明:分布在流动-半流动沙丘的植物群落的物种丰富度指数和物种多样性指数最低,生态优势度指数较高,群落均匀度指数高于其它3种生境;固定沙丘的物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数最高,优势度指数最低;丘间低地和淖尔边缘的植物群落的丰富度指数和多样性指数低于固定沙丘,但高于流动-半流动沙丘,优势度指数高于固定沙丘,均匀度指数低于流动-半流动沙丘.相关分析表明,均匀度指数与土壤pH以及全氮含量显著相关,丰富度指数与有机质含量显著相关.     

兰州北山三种蜥蜴春季食性分析

兰州地区密点麻蜥、丽斑麻蜥和草原沙蜥的春季食物均为动物食物。无论在栖息地重叠地区还是非重叠地区,三种蜥蜴的食物种类在种间均无显著差异（Ｆ＝０．８６１,ｄｆＴ＝２,ｄｆＥ＝３６,Ｐ〉０．０５）。种内不同性别和年龄食性无显著差异。     

中国东北西部地区沙质荒漠化过程与植被动态关系的生态学研究——群落多样性与沙质荒漠化过程

依据东北西部沙质荒漠化地区植被的分类与排序,分析了不同演替梯度上植被群落多样性指数与DCA排序坐标值的相关关系,利用其探讨群落多样性与沙质荒漠化过程的关系;科尔沁沙地、呼伦贝尔沙地,1)植物群落的生态优势度λ、Renyi的均匀度E1与群落分布的地下水位有显著的相关关系;2)植物群落Hill的多样性指数H0,H1、Hill的均匀度Eh、Hill指数的均匀度E′1与海拔、湿润系数、Thornthwaite指数、降水量、地下水位、放牧干扰等有显著的相关关系;3)植物群落Renyi的多样性指数N0,N1、Heip修正的均匀度Ep、Alatalo修正的均匀度E′h与经度、温暖指数、冷暖指数、Thornthwaite指数、土壤有机质、地下水位、放牧等干扰有显著的相关关系。4)呼伦贝尔沙地的完工-海拉尔沙带,樟子松林、贝加尔针茅羊草草甸草原;科尔沁沙地的油松林、羊草草甸草原、丛生禾草草原具有较高的多样性,各群落类型随着沙质荒漠化过程的逐渐加剧,物种丰富度逐渐降低,其递减趋势分为旱生沙化系列、湿生沙化系列、盐水至水生系列。按各群落类型的物种丰富度递减顺序可分为6个级别,6个级别所含的群落类型分别对应着稳定沙地(A、B),固定沙丘(C),半固定沙丘(D),半流动沙丘(E),流动沙丘(F)。     

科尔沁沙地植被恢复演替进程中群落土壤种子库研究

研究了科尔沁沙地植被恢复演替进程中各群落土壤种子库种类组成、密度以及物种多样性等特征。主要结论是:①科尔沁沙地植被退化后的恢复演替是一种次生的中途恢复演替。演替各阶段土壤种子库密度为流动沙丘<半流动沙丘<固定沙丘,从流动到半流动沙丘阶段,土壤种子库密度平均增加了709%;从半流动到固定沙丘阶段,土壤种子库密度平均增加了393%。从流动到半流动沙丘阶段是土壤种子库密度的快速增长期。②植被恢复演替过程中,土壤种子库组成均以1年生草本植物为主(优势度为60.40%~91.83%),到演替中后期阶段,多年生草本植物的种类有所增加,但其所占比例仍很小。③演替各阶段群落种子库物种多样性指数分别为0.6616、0.7736、0.7281、1.0939、1.0648和0.9682,可见种子库物种多样性最高的群落并非是演替历史最大的群落。④恢复演替系列各阶段土壤种子库间的相似性系数都较大,在0.368~1.000范围之内,任一群落总是与其下一阶段最邻近的群落具有最高的相似性系数。     

环境温度对荒漠沙晰和密点麻晰体温的影响及其对环境温度的选择

荒漠沙蜥和密点麻蜥的体温都随环境温度的变化而变化,相关非常显著（P<0.001）。在相同环境温度条件下,荒漠沙蜥的体温约高于密点麻蜥3 ℃。荒漠沙蜥集中选择38-40 ℃的环境,密点麻蜥选择35-37 ℃的环境。荒漠沙蜥的热僵死阈值为44-48 ℃,致死温度（TL[50]）为48 ℃,密点麻蜥的热僵死阈值为42-46 ℃,致死温度（TL[50]）为46 ℃。两种蜥蜴对低温的耐受性基本相似,冷僵温度为0- -3 ℃,致死低温（TL[50]）：荒漠沙蜥为-2.3 ℃,密点麻蜥为-2.5 ℃。两种蜥蜴的这些差异与种的特征、栖息环境及体形的大小有关。     

巴丹吉林沙漠南缘植被物种多样性及其与土壤特性的关系

通过对巴丹吉林沙漠南缘地区植被的野外调查,探讨了植被物种组成与物种多样性对样地沿距沙漠中心的距离变化的响应,以及物种多样性与土壤因子间的关系。结果表明:(1)研究区主要物种共计10科18属20种,植物种类以沙漠旱生植物为主,样地的植被群落类型都是灌木与草本植物群落。(2)随着样地向沙漠外缘的延伸,植物种类和数量逐渐增多,群落结构更加复杂化和多样化;样地Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson指数呈上升趋势,优势度指数逐渐下降;灌木层与样地的α多样性指数变化趋势一致,草本层变化幅度较小;β多样性指数中BrayCurtis指数呈下降趋势,说明植物群落之间的物种替换速率降低。(3)物种多样性指数与土壤因子的相关关系及逐步回归分析表明土壤有机质和土壤全氮含量对植被的影响显著,土壤表层20~40cm中的土壤速效磷与样地物种多样性和草本层物种多样性之间具有显著相关关系。     

废用条件下大鼠和达乌尔黄鼠骨骼肌氧化应激和抗氧化防御能力与肌萎缩的比较研究

有鳞类(蛇和蜥蜴)具有较发达的嗅器和犁鼻器,对其不同种类嗅觉结构的认识有助于阐明爬行动物化学感觉的进化。本文采用组织学方法比较了草原沙蜥(Phrynocephalus frontalis)、荒漠沙蜥(P. przewalskii)、密点麻蜥(Eremias multiocellata)和秦岭滑蜥(Scincella tsinlingensis)的嗅器及犁鼻器。结果发现,草原沙蜥的鼻腔较为狭长,秦岭滑蜥呈梨形,其他两种蜥蜴的鼻腔略成圆形。秦岭滑蜥的嗅上皮最厚,其次是密点麻蜥和草原沙蜥,荒漠沙蜥最薄。犁鼻器主要由犁鼻腔、犁鼻感觉上皮、犁鼻神经及蘑菇体等组成,没有腺体。草原沙蜥和荒漠沙蜥的犁鼻腔较为宽阔,密点麻蜥和秦岭滑蜥的较窄。4种蜥蜴的犁鼻感觉上皮均较嗅上皮厚,蘑菇体向后逐渐缩小至消失,犁鼻感觉上皮成闭环状,包围犁鼻腔。密点麻蜥和秦岭滑蜥的犁鼻感觉上皮位于犁鼻器的背侧,蘑菇体位于腹侧;与此不同,两种沙蜥的犁鼻感觉上皮偏向于犁鼻器的腹内侧,蘑菇体位于背外侧。密点麻蜥的犁鼻感觉上皮最厚,其次为秦岭滑蜥,两种沙蜥最薄;秦岭滑蜥犁鼻感觉上皮的感觉细胞密度最高,其次是密点麻蜥,两种沙蜥最低。这些结果提示,密点麻蜥和秦岭滑蜥对嗅觉信号的依赖和投入较两种沙蜥多;4种蜥蜴犁鼻器的结构差异间接地佐证了有鳞类犁鼻器系统发生的特异性。     

科尔沁沙地恢复演替进程中群落物种多样性与地上生物量的关系

生物多样性与生产力的关系是当前生态学中研究的重点之一,以科尔沁沙地为研究对象,研究了沙地植被恢复演替进程中物种多样性与地上生物量的关系。结果表明:(1)科尔沁沙地植被恢复演替过程中,物种数量逐渐增加,从流动沙丘的6种到固定沙丘的30种,增加了4倍。一年生草本植物在各群落中占绝对优势,但随着演替的进行,生活型呈现多样化,多年生植物种类明显增加。藜科植物在流动沙丘阶段优势度明显,之后逐渐下降;禾本科植物的种数和优势度逐渐增加,在群落中的地位逐渐增强。多重比较表明,群落的地上生物量存在显著差异(F=18.926,n=360,P0.001),从流动沙丘到固定沙丘(3个恢复阶段的均值计算)地上生物量增加了580%。(2)随着演替的进行,群落Simpson指数、Shannon-winner指数和均匀度指数均呈现增加的趋势。(3)回归分析显示,群落物种多样性和生物量之间存在显著的负二次函数关系即单峰型函数关系,表明中等生产力水平物种多样性较高。     

环境温度对荒漠沙蜥和密点麻蜥体温的影响及其对环境温度的选择

荒漠沙蜥(Phrynocephalus przewalskii strauch)和密点麻蜥(Eremias multiocellata Guenther)的体温都随环境温度的变化而变化,相关非常显著(P<0.001)。在相同环境温度条件下,荒漠沙蜥的体温约高于密点麻蜥3℃,荒漠沙蜥集中选择38—40℃的环境,密点麻蜥选择35—37℃的环境。荒漠沙蜥的热僵死阈值为44—48℃,致死温度(T_(L50))为48℃,密点麻蜥的热僵死阈值为42—46℃,致死温度(T_(L50))为46℃。两种蜥蝎对低温的耐受性基本相似,冷僵温度为0——3℃,致死低温(T_(L50)):荒漠沙蜥为-2.3℃,密点麻蜥为-2.5℃。两种蜥蜴的这些差异与种的特征、栖息环境及体形的大小有关。     

Habitat suitability models for the sand lizard Liolaemus wiegmannii based on landscape characteristics in temperate coastal dunes in Argentina

The knowledge of environmental variables associated with the species occurrence allows the recognition of sites which fulfil ecological requirements eventually used for conservation of species. The coastal dunes of Argentina are inhabited by sand lizards. Anthropic activities have severely degraded this ecosystem, affecting the habitat structure at a large scale. In this context, the effects of landscape characteristics on the sand lizard's (Liolaemus wiegmannii, Liolaemidae) presence were analysed to build habitat suitability maps along the coastal dunes of Argentina. A thematic map of study area was obtained from supervised classification of satellite images to identify landscape characteristics. Surveys were conducted during the lizard activity season, and landscape variables were measured in two spatial units. All information collected was compiled into a Geographic Information System. The relationship between the presence of lizards and landscape variables was evaluated by Generalized Linear Models. The predictions of these models were transferred by using Geographic Information System to habitat suitability maps. Almost all individuals (80%) were observed in semi‐fixed dunes. The analysis of landscape metrics in the two spatial extents showed complementary results. The habitat suitability models suggest that: (i) heterogeneous landscapes composed by disaggregated patches of semi‐fixed dunes and low or null percentages of active dunes distant from the coastline are the preferred environments, and (ii) human modifications such as urbanizations and forestation of dunes, have a negative impact on species occurrence. Suitable habitats were almost absent in those sectors of coastal dunes with highest level of urbanization, whereas they were distributed almost continuously in those areas without human disturbances.     

土壤非保护性有机碳对荒漠草原沙漠化的响应

沙化草地的恢复与重建是干旱半干旱区生态建设的重要内容,分析荒漠草原沙漠化过程中土壤非保护性有机碳分配比例的变异规律对于探讨沙化草地恢复机制具有重要的理论价值。以干旱、半干旱地区荒漠草原不同沙化阶段的土壤为研究对象,分析土壤粗颗粒有机碳、细颗粒有机碳、轻组有机碳含量和分配比例的分布特征、土壤非保护性有机碳转化为保护性有机碳的速率。结果表明:荒漠草原发生逆向演替后,土壤细颗粒有碳含量和分配比例表现为固定沙地荒漠草地半固定沙地流动沙地;粗颗粒有机碳含量表现为荒漠草地半固定沙地流动沙地固定沙地,粗颗粒有机碳分配比例表现为流动沙地半固定沙地荒漠草地固定沙地;轻组有机碳含量和分配比例递减。颗粒有机碳、轻组有机碳、土壤有机碳对草地沙漠化的敏感性不同,颗粒有机碳较轻组有机碳和土壤有机碳敏感性强,其中细颗粒有机碳较粗颗粒有机碳敏感性强。随着草地沙漠化程度的增强土壤非保护性有机碳分配比例呈下降趋势,表明草地沙漠化降低土壤质量。荒漠草地退化至流动沙地土壤非保护性有机碳转化为保护性有机碳的速率整体呈上升趋势。     

Colonization of novel White Sands habitat is associated with changes in lizard anti‐predator behaviour

Colonization of novel habitats is often associated with differences in ecological community composition. For small diurnal animals, differences in predator diversity and abundance can lead to behavioural shifts in the novel habitat. The eastern fence lizard Sceloporus undulatus (Bosc and Daudin, 1801) recently colonized the gypsum dunes of White Sands, a predator‐poor community relative to the predator‐rich community of the surrounding Chihuahuan dark‐soil habitat. We used field experiments to assess S. undulatus anti‐predator behaviour in white‐sand versus dark‐soil habitats, and used laboratory assays to determine whether behavioural differences could be mediated by hormonal regulation. Overall, we found that white‐sand lizards were less vigilant but more wary than their dark‐soil counterparts; it took them longer to detect a simulated predator, but once detected they were more likely to retreat from their perches than dark‐soil lizards. At the proximate level, differences in anti‐predator behaviour could not be explained by differences in plasma hormone levels (corticosterone and testosterone); we detected elevated corticosterone for lizards in our stress treatment relative to control treatment, but found no differences between habitats in baseline or acute corticosterone levels. At the evolutionary level, we suggest that differences in anti‐predator behaviour may be explained by differences across habitats in predation environment, habituation, and/or the cost of retreating. Our study implicates changes in predator community composition in mediating ecological divergence in behaviour. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 657–667.     

Lizard assemblages in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Lizard assemblages were surveyed in eight selected habitats in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico. We compared the species composition and relative abundance among habitats, considering habitat characteristics, such as vegetation type, vegetation ground coverage, and soil types. Thirteen lizard species were recorded. The most abundant species in almost all habitats was Uta stansburiana, accounting for 59% of all observations. Cnemidophorus tigris was the second most abundant species, accounting for 12% of all observations. The richest habitat was the rocky lower elevations of the Sierra de San Francisco (nine species). However, the habitat with the highest diversity value was Scammon's dunes. Implications of our findings for lizard conservation in this biosphere reserve are discussed.     

Effect of gestation temperature on sexual and morphological phenotypes of offspring in a viviparous lizard, Eremias multiocellata

It has been documented in some reptiles that thermal environment can induce variation in sex ratio and morphological phenotypes of offspring. Here, the viviparous lizards (Eremias multiocellata) were maintained under different temperatures during pregnancy to test the effects of this treatment on sexual and morphological phenotypes of offspring, and to investigate whether this lizard is subject to temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). The warmer temperatures resulted in shorter gestation periods and a higher ratio of male: female births; however, gestation temperature did not affect the neonates’ body mass or snout–vent length (SVL). The gestation temperatures also had significant effects on the mean litter size. Therefore, our results show that the viviparous lizard E. multiocellata might be a TSD species, providing the mothers the opportunity to manipulate the sex ratio of their offspring.     

Response of lizard community structure to desert grassland restoration mediated by a keystone rodent

Many grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert have transformed to shrublands dominated by creosotebush (Larrea tridentata). Grassland restoration efforts have been directed at controlling creosotebush by applying herbicide over large spatial scales. However, we have a limited understanding of how landscape-scale restoration affects biodiversity. We examined whether restoration treatments in southern New Mexico, USA have influenced the community structure of lizards, which are sensitive to shrub encroachment. We compared lizard community structure on 21 areas treated with herbicide from 7 to 29 years ago with paired untreated areas that were dominated by shrubs and matched by geomorphology, soils, and elevation. To examine mechanisms underlying responses to restoration, we tested whether the abundance of a grassland specialist, Aspidoscelis uniparens, depended on time since treatment, treatment area and isolation, and local habitat quality. Because lizards use rodent burrows as habitat, we tested whether community structure and A. uniparens abundance depended on the abundance of the keystone rodent, Dipodomys spectabilis. Treated areas had reduced shrub cover and increased grass cover compared to untreated areas. Lizard community composition differed strongly between areas, with four species responding to treatments. Divergence in community composition between treated–untreated pairs was greatest for old treatments (≥22 years), and community composition was influenced by D. spectabilis. In particular, the abundance of A. uniparens was greatest on old treatments with a high density of D. spectabilis. Overall, our results demonstrate lizard community structure responds to grassland restoration efforts, and keystone species can shape restoration outcomes. Reestablishment of keystone species may be a critical constraint on the recovery of animal biodiversity after habitat restoration.     

Effects of long‐term fox baiting on species composition and abundance in an Australian lizard community

Abstract We report on the effects of almost a decade of 1080‐fox baiting on a lizard community in a mosaic Australian habitat. Replicated comparisons of baited versus non‐baited control areas with near‐identical histories of bush fires, grazing and climate showed a higher density of red fox tracks (Canis vulpes) in the non‐baited areas. Furthermore, the fox‐baited areas showed a more than five times higher density of sand goannas (Varanus gouldii), a species that strongly overlaps the red fox in food niche breadth and is itself a direct target of fox predation, in particular its eggs and young. Exclusion of predators from a natural habitat led to significant increases in the density of small lizards, suggesting that predation can drive lizard population dynamics in this ecosystem. Replicated pitfall‐trapping in three habitats in the control areas (with high fox and low goanna density) versus the baited areas (with low fox and high goanna density) showed that fox baiting had positive effects on the density of diurnal scincid lizards in open grassland, whereas the control areas showed higher density of nocturnal gecko lizards. Our interpretation is that fox removal may result in a shift in the top predator towards the sand goanna. Historically, this indigenous, endemic species was the natural top predator. It has co‐evolved with its prey and that may have moulded it into a more efficient lizard predator per encounter than the introduced fox.     

Is Habitat Preference Associated with Locomotor Performance in Multiocellated Racerunners(Eremias multiocellata) from a Desert Steppe?

Locomotor performance in lizards is strongly affected by structural habitat. Understanding this relationship allows us to predict species distributions across habitat types. However, little information is available about the ecological role of the locomotion of multiocellated racerunner(Eremias multiocellata) in the desert steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Herein, we studied the effects of habitat structure on the locomotor performance of this lizard species in the field. We found that the sprint speed of this lizard declined significantly with increasing vegetation coverage. Manipulative experiments were further conducted to examine the effects of branch barriers and surface substrates on the sprint speed of the lizard. We found that the sprint speed was significantly influenced by the surface substrates and branch barriers, and there were no interactions between them. Branch barriers impeded sprint speed, and E. multiocellata showed better locomotor performance on sandy rather than loamy substrates. Our results indicate that E. multiocellata tends to occupy open areas with sandy substrates, but its locomotor performance is not closely associated with habitat preference.     

Spatial ecology of bluetongue lizards (Tiliqua spp.) in the Australian wet–dry tropics

New technologies for quantifying animal locations enable us to document habitat‐selection patterns of cryptic taxa in extraordinary detail. Northern bluetongues (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) and centralian bluetongues (Tiliqua multifasciata) are large heavy‐bodied scincid lizards that are broadly sympatric in the wet–dry tropics of north‐western Australia. We used data from GPS‐based radiotelemetry (n = 49 lizards, tracked for 2–121 days, total n = 61 640 locations) to examine the size, internal structure and overlap of lizard home ranges. Despite substantial habitat differences at our two study sites (semi‐arid and relatively pristine habitat at Keep River National Park, Northern Territory, vs. highly disturbed and fragmented flood plain habitat in an agricultural area near Kununurra, Western Australia), home ranges were similar between the two areas, and between the two species. Our radio‐tracked lizards continued to disperse into previously unused areas throughout the duration of the study, so that the total areas used by lizards continued to increase. Based on the minimum convex polygon method, total home ranges averaged 4 ha (range 2–12 ha), but only about two‐thirds of each home range was used intensively. Each home range had multiple core areas, and overlap of core as well as peripheral areas (especially with same‐sex conspecifics) was high at the disturbed (Western Australia) site where lizard densities were high. The concentration of lizard activity within small core areas, often used by multiple individuals, suggests that these heavily used sites are critical to lizard conservation. However, the lizards' infrequent long‐distance displacements also make them vulnerable to changes in the wider landscape mosaic. Because GPS‐based radiotelemetry can quantify habitat use at finer spatial and temporal scales than earlier technologies, it can provide a robust base for management of at‐risk fauna.