不同林龄马尾松人工林土壤节肢动物群落结构

于2011年春季(5月)和秋季(10月),研究了长江上游地区3、8、14、31和40年生马尾松林土壤节肢动物群落结构.结果表明:试验共捕获土壤动物4045只,隶属57科.土壤节肢动物的个体密度和类群数量随土壤深度增加显著降低,且这种趋势随林龄的增加而增加.不同林龄马尾松林土壤节肢动物的优势类群和常见类群差异较大,且土壤节肢动物的个体密度和类群数量差异显著.与其他林龄相比,造林3年的马尾松林土壤节肢动物的群落结构及多样性差异显著,群落相似度低.马尾松林的土壤节肢动物个体密度和类群数量及生物多样性在8年生阶段最高,此后,随林龄的增加明显降低.马尾松林地力可能随林龄的增加而衰退,对马尾松人工林的植被调控和改造宜在8年生阶段进行.     

热带人工林土壤动物群落的次生演替和发展过程探讨

在广东小良地区的桉林迹地上,对不同林龄的阔叶混交林土壤动物的组成进行比较,探讨群落随林龄的增加而变化的过程。以多样性为基础,可将这里土壤动物群落的演替和发展分成3个阶段,即增长期、过渡期和稳定期。在林龄20多年后,群落发展可进入最后阶段。不同类群的演变程序:(1)湿生动物个体数逐渐增加,直至平稳;(2)昆虫中不稳定类群逐渐减少;(3)白蚁种群在增长期前段迅速增加,随后即在较低水平上受到控制;(4)蚯蚓在增长期后段才出现,并迅速成为优势类群。过渡期及其以前的蚯蚓种类主要为寒(虫宪)蚓属(Ocnerodrilus),稳定后为环毛蚓属(Pheretima)。     

松嫩草原不同演替阶段大型土壤动物功能类群特征

大型土壤动物处于整个土壤食物网的最顶端,其各功能类群控制着其他动物所需资源的有效性,是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分。为了查明松嫩草原大型土壤动物的功能类群特征,在2006年5—10月期间,逐月对松嫩草原羊草、羊草+虎尾草、虎尾草、碱茅、碱蓬和光碱斑6个演替阶段大型土壤动物的功能类群组成、结构、多样性等特征进行研究。依据其食性将该区土壤动物划分为杂食性、植食性、捕食性和腐食性4个功能类群其中,杂食性土壤动物个体密度所占比例最多为39.16%,植食性土壤动物的类群数所占比例最多为50.00%,腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数所占比例均最小,分别为8.09%和12.82%。各功能类群土壤动物个体密度和类群数的相关性不显著(P0.05)。从水平结构来看,总体上各功能类群土壤动物在羊草群落和羊草+虎尾草群落个体密度和类群数较多,在无植被的光碱斑生境土壤动物的个体密度和类群数较少,植食性土壤动物的个体密度和类群数、杂食性土壤动物个体密度、腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.01)。植食性和腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数相关性显著(P0.05)。垂直结构上,0—10 cm土层和20—30 cm土层除捕食性土壤动物个体密度以外,其它各功能类群土壤动物个体密度随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.05或P0.01);10—20 cm土层,除腐食性土壤动物个体密度以外,其它各功能类群土壤动物个体密度随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.05或P0.01)。0—10cm土层,植食性和杂食性土壤动物个体密度(P0.05)相关性显著;10—20 cm土层,植食性和腐食性土壤动物个体密度(P0.05)相关性显著。不同演替阶段对各功能类群土壤动物的多样性影响程度有所不同。4种功能类群土壤动物在羊草群落和光碱斑之间相似性指数较低,个体数量组成在演替初期的羊草群落和演替后期的光碱斑差异比较大。以上研究结果表明,松嫩草原不同退化演替阶段能够降低大型土壤动物功能类群组成和结构复杂性。     

森林演替过程中优势树种凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响

为了进一步认识森林群落演替机理,研究了黄土高原马栏林区处于不同演替阶段的森林土壤微生物组成,以及优势树种凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响.采用凋落叶浸提液处理不同类型的土壤,利用土壤浸提液固体培养基测定微生物数量,以系统聚类和主成分分析等方法进行数据分析.结果表明:微生物总数量及土壤细菌数量按白桦(Betulaplatyphylla)林→油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)林→辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)林递增;在先锋森林群落向顶极群落演替过程中,微生物组成的综合性指标Shannon-Wiener指数呈下降趋势;土壤微生物3大类群中,数量较少者对Shannon-Wiener指数的大小变化起着较大作用;依据可培养微生物组成,8种土样可划分为3个类群,辽东栎及油松凋落叶对土壤微生物组成的影响不同,辽东栎凋落叶对土壤微生物学性质的作用更强;马栏林区森林土壤微生物组成与植被类型及演替阶段关系密切;演替高级阶段森林优势树种凋落叶可能通过其对土壤微生物组成的改造优势,逐渐改变土壤的微生物学性质,进而促进植被演替.     

放牧后自然恢复沙质草地土壤节肢动物群落结构与多样性

以中国科学院奈曼沙漠化研究站为依托,对不同放牧强度后自然恢复沙质草地土壤节肢动物群落进行了调查,分析了土壤节肢动物群落结构及其多样性变化,探讨了植被和土壤环境对土壤节肢动物群落的影响.结果表明: 无牧草地土壤动物种类丰富,个体数量较多,多样性最高;中牧后恢复草地土壤动物个体数量少,但主要类群较多,分布较均匀,多样性较高;重牧后恢复草地土壤动物主要类群少,但个体数量多,多样性较高;而轻牧后恢复草地土壤动物分布均匀性最差,多样性最低.植物个体数、高度及盖度和土壤酸碱度是影响不同放牧强度后恢复草地土壤动物种类和个体数量分布的主要因素.说明沙质草地经过12年的围封可以一定程度上恢复土壤动物群落,而放牧干扰对土壤动物群落的负面影响是长期的.     

云南松林次生演替阶段土壤细菌群落的变化

土壤细菌多样性是维持森林生态系统功能的关键因子,森林演替是影响其动态变化的重要因素。研究云南松林不同演替阶段土壤细菌群落结构及其多样性的变化规律,有助于深入理解森林生态系统恢复过程的驱动机制。本研究以云南省永仁县皆伐后形成的针叶林、针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林为对象,基于Illumina Hiseq高通量测序技术,分析森林演替过程中土壤细菌群落组成、结构、多样性及其影响因子的变化。结果表明: 土壤细菌的种群分类单元、Ace指数、Chao1指数和Shannon指数均随着演替进行呈减少趋势,演替早期阶段土壤的细菌总数、菌群丰富度及复杂程度最高。不同演替阶段细菌群落结构存在显著差异,其中,针阔混交林的差异最大,变形菌门和酸杆菌门为各演替序列共有的优势类群,放线菌门、绿弯菌门和Patescibacteria是演替早期的优势类群,且随着演替进行呈现减少趋势;变形菌门和WPS-2相对多度随演替进行呈增加趋势。土壤pH和乔木层物种丰富度是驱动次生演替过程中土壤细菌群落组成变化的关键因子。随着演替的进行,土壤细菌多样性减少,群落组成差异加大。     

西双版纳不同演替状态热带次生林土壤节肢动物群落特征

采用样地调查法,对西双版纳4种不同演替状况热带次生林：中平树(Macavanga denticulate)、崖豆藤(Millettia laptobotrya)、野芭蕉(Musa acuminata)与黄竹(Dendrocalamus membranaceae)林的土壤节肢动物群落结构与季节变化进行了研究．结果表明,4类不同演替状况次生林土壤节肢动物群落在数量优势类群组成上无较大差异,蜱螨目为所有4类林地的突出优势类群,膜翅目、弹尾目和鞘翅目在不同林地中分别为不同数量等级的次优势类群,而在常见和稀有类群的组成上,各林地表现出较大的差异．土壤节肢动物类群数、个体数和DG多样性指数以正向演替的崖豆藤林最高,偏途演替的黄竹林最低,但中平树、崖豆藤和野芭蕉林的差异不大．4类林地土壤节肢动物类群数和个体数的垂直分布分别以凋落物层和土壤表层(0～5cm)最高,其它各层分布因林地不同各异,并存在明显的季节差异．各林地土壤节肢动物个体数和类群数的季节消长总体表现出干季和雨季初期与末期高于雨量最大的雨季中期,由于不同林地植被结构、凋落物数量和质量以及土壤水热状况不同,其季节变化显现样地差异,除了受林地降水量和温度变化影响外,食物的丰欠和栖息场所的干扰状况也有重要的影响作用．     

黑土区免耕秸秆不同覆盖频率下大型土壤动物群落结构特征

为探讨免耕玉米秸秆不同覆盖频率下大型土壤动物群落组成、结构和季节变化,于2015年4、7和10月,在中国科学院吉林省梨树县保护性耕作试验基地,对免耕玉米秸秆不同覆盖频率各样地进行大型土壤动物群落调查。结果获得大型土壤动物26类,隶属2门5纲13目,线蚓为优势类群,不同类群在各处理样地所占数量比例存在差异。免耕秸秆不同覆盖频率样地大型土壤动物个体密度、类群丰富度和多样性指数均高于常规耕作样地。各处理样地大型土壤动物群落个体密度的最高值均出现在10月,类群数量和多样性则以7月最高。不同土壤动物类群对免耕秸秆覆盖频率增加的响应存在差异。相对常规耕作,免耕秸秆覆盖频率的增加可显著提高腐食性类群密度。     

不同林龄马尾松人工林林下植物多样性与土壤理化性质

为了解长江上游低山丘陵区不同林龄的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林植物物种多样性与土壤特性的变化特征及其联系,选取不同林龄的马尾松人工林作为研究对象,对林下植物多样性和土壤理化性质进行研究。结果表明:(1)3年生马尾松林下喜光植物较多,随林龄增加人工林郁闭度增大,耐阴植物增多。(2)林下物种丰富度指数中龄林最大,成熟林略有下降但明显高于幼龄林。草本层、灌木层的Simpson指数和Shannon指数随林龄增加均呈现早期波动、中期下降、后期增加的变化趋势。(3)随林龄增加,土壤各理化指标的变化不尽相同,但到成熟林时期,土壤有机质、全氮、全磷含量均有所升高,说明马尾松林到成熟林阶段其土壤肥力状况得到一定的提升。(4)群落演替过程中物种多样性变化与土壤因子存在一定相关性,土壤pH、土壤含水量、全磷与植物多样性的关系最为密切。土壤理化性质影响着物种更新和演替进程,同时林下植物群落的演替导致土壤水分和养分发生变化,使得土壤基质的稳定性提高,为更多物种的生存、定居、生长发育提供良好的条件。     

白三叶(Trifolium repens)入侵对城市草坪生态系统土壤动物的影响

土壤动物是土壤生态系统中十分活跃的生物类群之一,也是城市草坪生态系统的重要组成部分。由于外来植物白三叶入侵,草坪土壤动物可能受到直接或间接的影响,进而改变城市草坪生态系统功能及过程。研究白三叶入侵对城市草坪生态系统土壤动物的影响,可为进一步了解外来植物入侵机制及城市草坪的建植养护提供理论依据。采用野外调查的试验方法对4种不同入侵程度下城市草坪的土壤动物群落特征和土壤理化性质进行了研究。结果如下：4种不同入侵程度的草坪样地共捕获土壤动物30099只,隶属于19目43科,其中小杆科、线蚓科和跳虫科为优势类群;土壤动物个体数量和类群数量整体表现为中度入侵 > 轻度入侵 > 对照 > 重度入侵,符合中度干扰假说;土壤动物个体数量和类群数量的季节动态主要表现为夏秋较高,冬春较低。CCA分析显示,土壤理化因子中铵态N对土壤动物影响相对较小,可能与白三叶改善了草坪土壤的供N水平并使其不成为土壤动物分布的限制因子有关;同时,土壤理化因子对土壤动物优势类群影响较小,而主要影响常见和稀有类群。总体而言,一定程度的白三叶入侵增加了土壤动物群落的多样性,但当达到重度入侵时,白三叶形成单优群落,减少了植物多样性,进而使土壤动物可获得的生活资源减少,土壤动物群落多样性呈下降趋势;白三叶入侵后通过改变土壤理化性质,影响到土壤动物常见和稀有类群,并最终改变草坪土壤动物的群落结构。     

Long-Term Trends in Faunal Recolonization After Bauxite Mining in the Jarrah Forest of Southwestern Australia

Abstract Fauna serve a key role in many forest ecological processes. Despite this, few studies have considered long‐term faunal recolonization after mining and rehabilitation of forest ecosystems. In the jarrah forest of southwestern Australia, permanent fauna monitoring sites have been established in bauxite mined areas rehabilitated in 1990 and in a range of representative unmined forest control sites. At each site mammals, birds, reptiles, and ants were surveyed in 1992, 1995, and 1998. The aims of the monitoring were to develop a better understanding of faunal recolonization trends, to produce recommendations for promoting fauna return, and to consider which techniques and fauna groups are best suited for monitoring recolonization. The results showed that successional trends varied between fauna groups. Generalist foraging mammals recolonized rapidly, whereas small predators took longer. Feral mice were initially abundant and then declined. Birds gradually recolonized, and after 8 years bird communities were very similar to those in unmined forest sites. Reptile species took longer, and after 8 years numbers of species remained lower than in unmined forests. Species richness and diversity of ants in 8‐year‐old rehabilitation were comparable with those of unmined forest in some rehabilitated sites but were lower in others. The composition of ant communities was still different from that of unmined sites. Ant species that only use disturbed forest declined rapidly in abundance as rehabilitation aged. The results suggest that although the rates of faunal recolonization will vary, with time most or all mammal, bird, reptile, and ant species should inhabit rehabilitated bauxite mines. The densities of many are likely to be similar to those in unmined forest, but for others it is too early to know whether this will be the case. Techniques for promoting fauna return are discussed. This study demonstrates that no single fauna group is suitable for use as an overall “indicator” of faunal recolonization; different fauna species and groups reflect different aspects of faunal succession.     

Assemblages of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in humid forest habitats of different stages of succession in the Puszcza Knyszyńska Forest (northeastern Poland)

During a period of three years (2006-2008) the carabid fauna in wet and humid forest habitats of different stages of succession was studied at the Puszcza Knyszynska (north-east part of Poland). The aim of this study was to determine how the assemblages of the carabid fauna change in relation to the ongoing process of succession. Using pitfall traps, 24 plots were sampled. The plots were located in stands of different age, from two year old plantations to more than 100 year old forests. Additionally, the stands were ordered in three moisture classes (wet, humid and very humid) and two classes of soil richness. As indicators for change in the carabid fauna in relation to age of the stands Mean Individual Biomass (MIB), species diversity and share of forest species were used. By applying multivariate statistics the relation of the different habitat characteristics to changes in the carabid fauna was examined. During the study 8903 individuals belonging to 57 species were collected. Pterostichus niger represented 28% of the total catches and therefore the most common species. Another common species, Pterostichus melanarius, contributed to 13% of the total catch. This species was caught at every plot, even in the old forests. In contrast to the results obtained by Szyszko (1990) for fresh and dry pine stands, in this study the relation of MIB with the age of forest was not significant. Although the number of species was rather constant, the number of individuals belonging to the group of forest species significantly increased with the ageing of the forest. The multivariate analysis showed a relationship with ageing of the stands and soil richness rather than with moisture and size of the forest. According to the present paper, clear cuttings in wet and humid habitats do not cause a strong degradation of the carabid fauna.     

Dependence on Fire in Wood-living Insects: An Experiment with Burned and Unburned Spruce and Birch Logs

Several boreal wood-living insect species breed exclusively in recently burned forest. However, the reason for this dependence on fire is largely unknown. Here wood-living insects and other arthropods were sampled from burned and unburned logs of birch and spruce in a burned forest, together with unburned logs at a clearing and in an uncut forest, during two years of succession after tree death. Burned spruce logs hosted fewer beetles than unburned logs. Notably, bark-beetles and their associated fauna, responded negatively to fire-scorching of the logs while arthropods that feed on ascomycete fungi responded positively. Fire-scorched logs more often had visible ascomycete fungi, and lost their bark faster than unburned logs. However, despite this obvious effect of fire-scorching of the logs, the species composition in burned and unburned logs at the burned site was more similar than in unburned logs at the three different sites. A larger diversity of beetles, when measured with rarefaction, was found for fire-scorched logs. When sites were compared, birch logs had the most diverse fauna at the burned site and spruce logs in the uncut forest. Pyrophilous insect species were almost exclusively confined to the burned forest, but occurred in both burned and unburned logs. These species may be divided into two groups: (1) mycophagous species that need burned substrate per se because ascomycete fungi are favoured by burning, and (2) phloem-feeders and predators that are favoured by some habitat characteristic of recently burned forest rather than of burned wood.     

Colonization and succession of benthic macroinvertebrates in a new reservoir

The purpose of this study was to examine the colonization and succession of benthic macroinvertebrates in shallow areas (<7 m) of Lake Anna, a new mainstream impoundment in the southeastern U.S.A. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled for the first three years after filling by means of artificial substrates placed on the bottom and retrieved with SCUBA. Lake Anna was well colonized by benthic macroinvertebrates during the summer season immediately after impoundment. The total density of organisms increased in each of the first three years. Major changes in the fauna occurred between the first and second years, but the changes between the second and third years were more subtle. The fauna could be divided into two distinct groups based upon the time when the organisms were most consistently abundant. The first colonizers appeared to be dependent upon the components of the former terrestrial ecosystem for food and habitat. As autochthonous factors began to regulate succession, diversity increased and the dominant species shifted to an assemblage of second colonizers. These factors included: (1) decomposition of terrestrial vegetation and detritus leaving bare substrate, (2) sedimentation, (3) improved food quality of the organic matter in the sediment because of ingestion and egestion by the organisms themselves, (4) increased plankton populations, and (5) appearance of macrophytes. As the second colonizers became firmly established in the third year, distinct patterns of spatial distribution began to appear among species with similar niches.     

Do Eucalyptus plantations host an insect community similar to remnant Eucalyptus forest?

Abstract We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest‐using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south‐western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest‐using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species (Gonipterus scutellatus) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf‐feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.     

海南岛霸王岭热带低地雨林植被恢复动态

热带次生林具有重要的物种保育和固碳功能, 然而高强度的干扰会导致次生林早期出现类似季雨林的阶段, 因而群落恢复速度和方向是当前热带生态学研究中最为关注的议题之一。该文以海南岛在刀耕火种弃耕地形成的不同演替阶段的次生林为研究对象, 比较森林不同恢复时间(12年、25年、55年)群落中的不同年龄(幼树、小树、成年树)个体与低地雨林老龄林的物种组成、多样性和群落结构差异, 探讨刀耕火种弃耕地恢复过程中的群落组配过程。首先, 在海南岛霸王岭林区内建立7个1 hm²(100 m × 100 m)的样地, 并调查样地内所有胸径≥ 1 cm的木本植物个体(不包括木质藤本)的种类、胸径大小和树高。无度量多维标定法(NMS)排序结果表明, 刀耕火种弃耕地恢复群落与老龄林的物种组成存在明显差异, 并且其物种组成差异随着径级增加而逐渐减小。刀耕火种弃耕地群落物种累积速度缓慢, 25年和55年恢复群落的种面积、种个体和种多度曲线无差异, 存在一个明显的停滞阶段。与物种组成相比, 群落结构恢复相对较迅速, 但仍没有形成老龄林阶段中的复杂结构。萌生个体在早期恢复群落中占有较高比例, 其个体密度和胸高断面积分别占总数的39.9%和55.9%, 但在恢复中后期迅速降低。刀耕火种弃耕地恢复群落中以先锋种和非先锋喜光种为主。虽然耐阴种随演替而逐渐增加, 但恢复中后期群落中的耐阴种重要值仅为老龄林的27.7%。这些结果表明, 虽然刀耕火种弃耕地恢复群落缓慢地逐渐接近最终恢复目标, 但仍然存在 很大的不确定性。刀耕火种弃耕地恢复过程中的异速恢复和停滞阶段需要纳入今后群落演替模型构建和森林固碳效益核甘共苦算中。     

Forest Succession Endangers the Special Ant Fauna of Abandoned Quarries along the River Meuse (Wallonia,Belgium)

In Western Europe, old abandoned mining sites and quarries are often of high biodiversity and conservation value due to the presence of a number of endangered species. In the southern part of Belgium (Wallonia), many ancient quarries near the river Meuse are rather small and were abandoned from 50 to more than 100 years ago. In 2003, we collected 26 ant species by pitfall trapping in four of these quarries. In addition to common ones, several rare species, usually associated with mesomorphic to xeromorphic grasslands, were found in high numbers. Quarries undergoing forest succession were dominated by eurytopic species and by species typical of wet shadowy places, a fauna far less valuable in terms of nature conservation. Therefore, we suggest a management that halts further forest succession of open mesomorphic and xeromorphic habitat patches in these quarries. To assess and monitor the nature value of the ant fauna of these sites, we propose a so‐called habitat preference approach, wherein each species is assigned to one of the following three habitat preference categories: (1) eurytopic, (2) bound to wet shadow‐rich habitats, or (3) bound to dry open habitats. The stenotopic species of the last category are all endangered in Belgium and of high conservation value. The proportion of the total number of captured specimens included in the latter habitat preference category group is strongly reduced as scrub and tree encroachment advances. This proportion can therefore be used as a proxy to monitor the effects of management measures that prevent further forest succession.     

Bole epiphytic lichens as potential indicators of environmental change in subtropical forest ecosystems in southwest China

Lichen epiphytes are applied as excellent environmental indicators worldwide. However, very little is known about epiphytic lichen communities and their response to forest dynamics in subtropical China. This paper proposes the applications of the cover, diversity, and functional traits of epiphytic lichens to assess environmental changes associated with succession in subtropical forests of southwest China. Bole lichens were sampled from 120 plots of eight representative forest types in the Ailao Mountains. Total cover, species richness, diversity and community structure of bole lichens differed significantly among forest types, and the highest cover and diversity occurred in the Populus bonatii secondary forest (PBSF). Sixty-one indicator species were associated with particular forest types and more than 50% occurred in the PBSF. Both cover and diversity of most lichen functional groups varied regularly during forest succession. Lichen pioneer species were not displaced by competitively superior species as succession proceeds and cyanolichens were more prevalent in secondary forests. The results also highlight the importance of habitat variables such as canopy openness, host diversity, forest age, tree size, the size of the largest tree, tree density, and basal area on the lichen community. Consequently, our findings support the notion that epiphytic lichens, in terms of cover, diversity, species composition and functional traits can be used as effective indicators for large-scale and long-term forest monitoring. More importantly, the narrowly lobed foliose group was the best candidate indicator of environmental conditions in this region. The combined application of lichen indicator species and functional groups seemed to be a more reliable and more powerful method for monitoring forest dynamics in subtropical montane ecosystems.     

Soil animal communities at five succession stages in the litter of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong,China

Soil animals are abundant in forest litter layer,but little attention has been Paid to the vertical distribution of community structure of soil animals in the layers at different plant community succession stages.The forest litter layer can be divided into fresh litter layer(L),fermentation layer(F)and humus layer(H),which may represent different litter decomposition stages.The aim of the study is to ascertain the vertical distribution features of soil animal communities among the three litter layers and the change in the succession process of the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest(EBLF)in Tiantong,Zhejiang Province,China.Soil animal communities in the five plant communities at different succession stages were investigated during the 2003 winter.Soil animals,which were collected by using Tullgren funnels,amounted to a total of 13381 individuals falling into 2 phyla,8 classes and 20 orders.The dominant groups were Acarina and Collembola,accounting for 94.24% of the total individuals,with the number of Acarina individuals 7.66 times than that of Collembola.The common group was Diptera.The results indicated that there was a distinctive vertical distribution of the soil animal communities in the forest litter laver,but it differed from that in soil below the litter layer.In contrast to those in the soil,the soil animals in the litter layer generally tended to increase in both group abundance and density from the top fresh litter layer to the bottom humus layer.Altogether 19 groups and 59.03% of total individuals were found in the bottom layer,while only 8 groups and 5.35% of the total individuals in the top.Moreover,there were some variations in the distribution of the soil animals at different plant succession stages.85.19% of Homoptera and 100% of Symphyla were found in the litter layer at the climax succession stage.while 75.61% of Thysanoptera at the intermediate succession stage.Therefore,these groups might be seen as indicative groups.The total numbers of soil animal groups and individuals in the litter layers greatly changed in the succession process of the EBLF.They both were greatest at the climax,moderate at the intermediate and smallest at the primary succession stage.However,the main soil animal groups in the litter at the different succession stages were essentially the same.They were Acarina,Collembola,Diptera and Lepidoptera.Although similarity analysis revealed that the soil animal communities in the litter at the intermediate succession stage were most similar to those at the climax succession stage,they differed greatly from each other in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index.The Shannon-Wiener index was highest at the climax succession stage and lowest at the intermediate succession stage.Finally,the paper discusses the following three questions:the role of soil animals as indicators for plant community succession;the role of different soil animal groups in the litter decomposition at different stages;and the major factors affecting the composition and distribution of soil animals in the litter.This paper provides a new perspective for the research on the succession mechanism of plant communities and the decomposition functions of soil animals.     

A survey of stream invertebrates in the Cow Green basin (Upper Teesdale) before inundation

In 1967 a programme was initiated by the Freshwater Biological Association to study fish populations within the proposed Cow Green reservoir basin and in the Tees downstream of the dam, before and after impoundment. This paper describes the result of a supporting study on aquatic invertebrates covering the pre-impoundment period 1967–70. The benthic faunas of six streams in the reservoir basin, the Tees below Cauldron Snout and Maize Beck, a tributary ofthe Tees below the dam, were studied. Species list are presented for each habitat and changes in seasonal and annual abundance are discussed. All areas sampled lie at altitudes between 440 and 550 m O.D. and are situated amongst moorland and limestone grassland. Conditions in the streams ranged from slow-flowing peaty reaches to small streams with moss-covered bottoms and larger stony rivers and streams with relatively unstable bottoms. Samples were taken in riffles and pools using the ‘kick’ method wherever possible. An attempt was made to quantify kick-sample catches by comparing them with shovel-sample catches which cover a known area of stream bottom. It was found that 10 5 kicks gave a catch equivalent to the populations of 1 m², giving a population density of about 1200 animals/m for the reservoir-basin riffles. Over 120 taxa were recorded, 100 of which were at the species level. In the reservoir-basin streams, 116 taxa were found with seventy-one in Maize Beck and fifty-six in the Tees below Cauldron Snout. Ephemeroptera were the most abundant group in the reservoir basin and Maize Beck faunas with Rhithrogena semicohrata, Heptagenia lateralis and Baetidae being the most abundant forms, although Ecdyonurus spp. especially E. dispar were much more common in Maize Beck. In other groups Leuctra spp. and Gammarus pulex were very common. In the Tees below Cauldron Snout Limnaea peregra, Chironomidae and Baetidae formed the bulk of the fauna and Plecoptera were uncommon. Amongst the reservoir basin streams Weelhead Sike supported the largest number of species and species groups (eighty-one), and all the streams had forty-nine or more taxa represented. Information on seasonal changes in the numbers of those species or species groups composing 90% or more of the total fauna is presented. Faunal density was high in May with Ephemeroptera, particularly Ecdyonuridae, and the plecopteran Leuctra inermis being the most abundant forms. In August, the numbers of animals appeared t o fall and common members of the community were Baetidae, Diptera, Leuctra fusca and Ecdyonuridae. In October, Ecdyonuridae particularly R. semicolorata, were most abundant. A comparison ofthe bottom fauna of riffles and pools was made and more animals were found in riffles than in pools. The effect of gravel extraction on the bottom fauna of the Tees was examined. A severe drop in the numbers of animals was observed after extraction. Diptera were the first group to return to their pre-disturbance density. Elminthidae and Annelida were worst affected and slowest to recover. The fauna of the area is discussed and possible reasons for its relative species richness are put forward. Habitat diversity and chemical richness appear to be the most likely reasons for the relatively large number of species found.