长江口盐沼湿地不同亚生境的大型底栖动物群落组成和多样性差异

2015年7月—2016年6月每月在长江口盐沼湿地采集潮沟、光滩和盐沼(以海三棱藨草为主)三种亚生境的大型底栖动物样本,分析其群落组成和多样性差异。结果表明:共采集到大型底栖动物21种,隶属4门、5纲、15科,以软甲纲(7种)和多毛纲(4种)种类较多;潮沟和盐沼亚生境的优势种无差异;盐沼底栖动物物种数最高,潮沟次之,光滩物种数最低;盐沼底栖动物的密度和生物量均高于其他2种亚生境;三种亚生境的大型底栖动物密度两两间差异显著(P0.05),而生物量无显著差异(P0.05);盐沼底栖动物群落的Shannon多样性指数最高(1.08),光滩次之(1.03),而潮沟最低(0.63);光滩底栖动物群落的Simpson物种丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数值均高于潮沟和盐沼,反映光滩底栖动物群落种类密度的分布相比其他2种亚生境较为均匀;通过群落聚类和非度量多维标度分析发现,盐沼和潮沟亚生境的大型底栖动物群落结构较为相似,而与光滩差异较大,引起两者差异的主要贡献种是谭氏泥蟹、河蚬、背蚓虫等。     

长江口海三棱藨草带生长季大型底栖动物群落变化特征

2006年4—11月对长江口崇明东滩海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)带大型底栖动物群落进行了定位调查研究。每月1次采用样方法对大型底栖动物和植被进行同步取样;在鉴定、计数和生物量(干重)测定分析的基础上,进行了多样性测度以及聚类、排序等统计分析。研究结果表明,生长季内海三棱藨草带大型底栖动物的多度和生物量整体呈上升趋势,但是月间存在一定波动变化,9月份多度最高,平均为1536ind/m2,10月份生物量(干重)最高,平均为21.60g/m2;不同月份优势类群组成、多度及生物量特征存在明显差异,瓣鳃类仅在部分时段表现出优势特征。物种数整体呈V字型变化特征,在8月份达到最低值。由于种间个体数量分布的变化滞后于整体物种数的变化,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数的峰谷变化滞后于物种数变化,即物种数在5月份达到最低,而多样性及均匀度指数在6月份达到最小值。海三棱藨草带大型底栖动物群落的月间变化特征,在很大程度上是水文(包括水动力条件)以及植被等因素综合作用的结果,但在不同时期主导因子或者不同因子协同作用不同。它们的直接影响是导致底栖动物种类组成、多度变化,进而改变整体生物量和多样性特征。     

长江口湿地三个演替阶段大型底栖动物群落特征

2001—2005年对长江口新生沙洲九段沙(上沙、中沙、下沙)盐沼演替序列不同阶段[盐渍藻类阶段(SA)、海三棱草(Scirpusmariqueter)—草(Scirpustriqueter)阶段(MT)、芦苇(Phragmitesaus-tralis)—互花米草(Spartinaalterniflora)阶段(AA)]的大型底栖动物群落特征进行了分析研究。大型底栖动物群落的物种数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、密度及生物量都是MT>AA>SA。SA、AA优势种的生活型分别是底内型、穴居型;MT优势种的生活型是底上附着型和穴居型。不同沙洲相同盐沼演替阶段大型底栖动物群落结构都较为相似,盐渍藻类阶段的相似性最高;不同演替阶段间差别明显,SA和AA间差别最大。不同盐沼演替阶段大型底栖动物群落特征的明显差异,既反映了环境沿盐沼演替序列的梯度变化,也体现了不同盐沼对底栖动物群落作用的差别,同时也显示了大型底栖动物对不同盐沼演替阶段生境的适应。     

河口盐沼植物对大型底栖动物群落的影响

通过对长江口崇明东滩盐沼海三棱燕草带大型底栖无脊椎动物进行取样调查,研究了不同盐沼底栖动物群落结构及其多样性特征,分析了盐沼植物群落特征与底栖动物群落的关系。研究发现。（1）沿着河口盐沼海拔梯度,从低位盐沼到高位盐沼,底栖动物群落结构及多样性具有明显的梯度变化;（2）盐沼植被与底栖动物群落有密切的关系,尤其是植株高度,地下部分生物量与底栖动物密度,Shannon-Weiner多样性指数,物种丰度的相关性最显著。（3）盐沼植被影响底栖动物群落,是由于植物的地下部分和地下部分结构导致盐沼生境结构复杂,增加了沉积物表层环境的结构异质性,使生境多样化,给底栖动物提供大量生活空间,（4）不同盐沼带海三陵蔗草群落的差异,提供了盐沼表层地貌的变化,这种变化及植物结构的复杂化,在这一些动物提供拓殖地的同时,也为底栖动物躲避捕食者提供了避护所;（5）盐沼植被可以改变口潮滩生境中的沉积环境,并通过消浪、缓流及调节有机质的输入动态和沉积作用而影响底栖动物群落的组成和结构。     

长江口湿地三个演替阶段大型底栖动物群落特征

2001—2005年对长江口新生沙洲九段沙(上沙、中沙、下沙)盐沼演替序列不同阶段［盐渍藻类阶段(SA)、海三棱biao草(Scirpus mariqueter)—biao草(Scirpus triqueter)阶段(MT)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)—互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)阶段(AA)］的大型底栖动物群落特征进行了分析研究。大型底栖动物群落的物种数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、密度及生物量都是MT>AA>SA。SA、AA优势种的生活型分别是底内型、穴居型；MT优势种的生活型是底上附着型和穴居型。不同沙洲相同盐沼演替阶段大型底栖动物群落结构都较为相似，盐渍藻类阶段的相似性最高；不同演替阶段间差别明显，SA和AA间差别最大。不同盐沼演替阶段大型底栖动物群落特征的明显差异，既反映了环境沿盐沼演替序列的梯度变化，也体现了不同盐沼对底栖动物群落作用的差别，同时也显示了大型底栖动物对不同盐沼演替阶段生境的适应。     

长江口海三棱藨草带生长季大型底栖动物群落变化特征

2006年4—11月对长江口崇明东滩海三棱藨草（Scirpus mariqueter）带大型底栖动物群落进行了定位调查研究。每月1次采用样方法对大型底栖动物和植被进行同步取样；在鉴定、计数和生物量（干重）测定分析的基础上，进行了多样性测度以及聚类、排序等统计分析。研究结果表明，生长季内海三棱藨草带大型底栖动物的多度和生物量整体呈上升趋势，但是月间存在一定波动变化，9月份多度最高，平均为1 536 ind/m2，10月份生物量（干重）最高，平均为21.60 g/m²；不同月份优势类群组成、多度及生物量特征存在明显差异，瓣鳃类仅在部分时段表现出优势特征。物种数整体呈V字型变化特征，在8月份达到最低值。由于种间个体数量分布的变化滞后于整体物种数的变化，Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数的峰谷变化滞后于物种数变化，即物种数在5月份达到最低，而多样性及均匀度指数在6月份达到最小值。海三棱藨草带大型底栖动物群落的月间变化特征，在很大程度上是水文（包括水动力条件）以及植被等因素综合作用的结果，但在不同时期主导因子或者不同因子协同作用不同。它们的直接影响是导致底栖动物种类组成、多度变化，进而改变整体生物量和多样性特征。     

长江口新生湿地大型底栖动物群落时空变化格局

为了解长江口新生湿地大型底栖动物时空变化格局,2004年11月—2005年10月对九段沙湿地的3个沙洲以及各主要生境进行了调查。结果表明:九段沙湿地大型底栖动物密度和生物量均呈春季最高,夏、秋季下降,秋季末和冬季回升的趋势,整体生物多样性水平较低,分布不均匀。夏季上沙和中沙底栖动物密度存在显著差异,四季生物密度和生物量空间梯度为下沙>上沙>中沙。由物种组成分析可知,九段沙湿地大型底栖动物群落时空变化与优势种的消长有关。各季海三棱藨草带和藨草带底栖动物密度和生物量最高,芦苇和互花米草次之,光滩区域最低,且群落季节波动大。外来物种互花米草生境下底栖动物群落特征与土著种芦苇生境下无显著差异。     

海三棱藨草及互花米草对模拟盐胁迫的响应及其耐盐阈值

盐度作为滨海湿地的关键环境因子之一,影响盐沼植物的存活、生长及分布。未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵,将导致滨海湿地的盐沼植物面临高盐胁迫的挑战,进而影响滨海湿地生态系统的结构和功能。本研究选择长江口中低潮滩的主要先锋植物海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)为对象,通过人工控制实验,比较不同盐度处理下两种盐沼植物存活、营养生长及繁殖的响应,并确定两种盐沼植物存活的耐盐阈值,从而比较未来盐水入侵背景下,本地物种海三棱藨草及外来物种互花米草对盐胁迫的响应和适应性。结果表明:(1)海三棱藨草和互花米草的存活率随着盐度的增加均呈下降趋势,相同盐度处理下互花米草的存活率显著高于海三棱藨草的存活率(P0.05);(2)盐胁迫明显影响了海三棱藨草和互花米草的生长,随着盐度的增加,海三棱藨草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量均呈逐渐下降的趋势,而互花米草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量呈先增加后下降的趋势,均在盐度为10‰时最高;(3)海三棱藨草和互花米草的分蘖数及结穗率均随着盐度增加呈下降趋势,盐胁迫在一定程度上抑制了两种植物的繁殖能力;(4)互花米草存活的耐盐阈值为43‰,高于海三棱藨草存活的耐盐阈值(21‰);(5)外来物种互花米草比本地物种海三棱藨草具有更强的耐盐性,未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵将对本地物种海三棱藨草产生更加严重的影响。     

广西北海西村港互花米草对红树林湿地大型底栖动物群落的影响

为了解互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵红树林的生态影响, 作者对位于北海市西村港的红树林湿地以及周边互花米草盐沼的大型底栖动物群落多样性和群落结构进行了研究。2012年10月至2013年9月连续4次取样, 按照取样时间研究大型底栖动物的种类、物种组成、生物量和生物多样性等群落特征的差异, 探讨互花米草入侵红树林湿地对大型底栖动物的影响。本研究共采集底栖动物16种, 隶属于5门7纲15科, 其中互花米草群落10种, 红树林湿地12种。研究发现互花米草入侵后中国绿螂(Glauconome chinensis)个体数量剧增, 导致不同采样时间互花米草盐沼的大型底栖动物生物量均显著高于红树林湿地; 除个别月份外, 红树林湿地大型底栖动物的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均显著高于互花米草群落。基于生境-采样时间的双因素方差分析结果表明, Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson指数在两种生境间差异显著; 两种生境的Margalef丰富度和Pielou均匀度指数在不同采样时间差异显著; 大型底栖动物生物量和物种数量在两种生境间和不同采样时间差异均显著。基于多元回归分析的研究结果表明, 互花米草密度是影响大型底栖动物生物量的关键因子, 而互花米草株高可以解释物种个体数量、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Simpson指数在两种生境的变化。对不同采样时间大型底栖动物群落结构的非度量多维度(non-metric multidimensional scaling, NMDS)分析结果表明, 红树林与互花米草群落的大型底栖动物群落相似性很低。总而言之, 在西村港地区, 互花米草入侵虽然增加了大型底栖动物的生物量, 但由于优势物种的凸显, 显著降低了大型底栖动物群落的多样性, 且种类组成与群落结构与红树林群落相比已有差异。由此可见, 互花米草入侵红树林对当地的大型底栖动物群落多样性造成影响。     

不同发育时间的互花米草盐沼对大型底栖动物群落的影响

2004-2006年对长江口崇明东滩湿地芦苇(Phragmites australis)盐沼和不同发育时间的互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼的大型底栖动物群落特征进行分析研究.结果表明:互花米草盐沼发育初期,大型底栖动物群落以腹足类为主,物种丰富度(D=2.18)和多样性(H′=2.19)均低于芦苇盐沼(D=2.61, H′=2.29);随着时间的推移,互花米草与本地生物逐渐形成互动和稳定的格局,大型底栖动物群落组成中多毛类的种类逐渐上升(由3种变为6种),物种数和物种丰富度也上升,从而逐步形成新的大型底栖动物群落,物种丰富度(D=2.70)和多样性(H′=2.48)逐渐上升并高于芦苇盐沼(D=2.19, H′=2.09);从大型底栖动物群落的重新形成到稳定阶段,需要若干年的时间.     

Evidence for effects of Spartina anglica invasion on benthic macrofauna in Little Swanport estuary,Tasmania

Spartina anglica is an exotic perennial grass that can rapidly colonise the intertidal zone of temperate estuaries and lagoons. Consequently, there is considerable concern about its impact on estuarine flora and fauna. This study provides the first investigation of ecological impacts by S. anglica in Australia. The objective was to investigate the impacts of S. anglica on benthic macroinvertebrate communities inhabiting mudflat and native saltmarsh habitats at Little Swanport estuary, Tasmania. The null hypothesis that species richness and species abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in exotic S. anglica marsh does not differ from adjacent native saltmarsh and mudflat habitats was tested. Eighteen species and 3716 macroinvertebrates were collected from 60 intertidal core samples in three habitats. Species richness, total abundance of invertebrates, crustacean abundance and mollusc abundance of mudflat communities were significantly (P < 0.05) lower when compared to those inhabiting adjacent S. anglica marsh and native saltmarsh. However, species richness and total abundance of invertebrates of native saltmarsh and S. anglica marsh did not differ significantly. Ordination of macroinvertebrate data clearly separated mudflat sites from vegetated sites but showed remarkable similarity between exotic and native vegetated sites.     

Habitat linkages: the effect of intertidal saltmarshes and adjacent subtidal habitats on abundance, movement, and growth of an estuarine fish

In this study we used pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) in field experiments to examine linkages between intertidal saltmarsh and adjacent subtidal habitats. Pinfish are more than twice as abundant in intertidal marshes adjacent to seagrass beds than in those adjacent to the unvegetated subtidal bottom. Movement of pinfish between the marsh edge and the adjacent subtidal habitat was greater for fish captured in areas with both intertidal and subtidal vegetation than in those with intertidal vegetation and adjacent unvegetated mudflats. This movement provides an important link between habitats, allowing transfer of marsh-derived secondary production to subtidal seagrass beds and vice versa. Pinfish held in enclosures with both intertidal and subtidal vegetation were, on average, approximately 90% heavier than fish held in enclosures with intertidal vegetation and unvegetated subtidal bottom. Because saltmarshes and seagrass beds contribute to the production of living marine resources, active measures are being taken to preserve and restore these habitats. The results from this study have direct application to decisions concerning site selection and optimal spatial proximity of saltmarsh and seagrass habitats in the planning of restoration and mitigation projects. To maximize secondary production and utilization of intertidal marshes, managers may opt to restore and/or preserve marshes adjacent to subtidal seagrass beds. Received: 31 May 1996 / Accepted: 23 October 1996     

Patch selection by mottled sculpin (Pisces: Cottidae) in a southern Appalachian stream

1. We examined the effects of prey abundance on patch selection by a benthic fish, the mottled sculpin ( Cottus bairdi ), in a fourth order, southern Appalachian stream (North Carolina, U.S.A.). This habitat is a mosaic of small (i.e. < 0.5 m²), relatively discrete patches.
2. Patches were characterized in terms of physical habitat variables, detritus (coarse particulate organic matter, CPOM) and macroinvertebrate abundance (number and biomass). We quantified patch selection by comparing the characteristics of patches utilized by sculpin with those of locally available patches. Locally available patches were selected using a constrained random sampling design (i.e. randomly selected within a 2 m radius from each fish). We also examined the relationship between macroinvertebrate abundance, CPOM and the physical characteristics of available patches.
3. Patches selected by sculpin contained significantly higher macroinvertebrate abundances (both number and biomass) than locally available patches in five out of six seasonal samples. Sculpin also occupied patches with significantly higher amounts of CPOM in three out of five seasonal samples. Patches utilized by sculpin, however, could not be consistently differentiated from locally available patches on the basis of physical variables. In addition, macroinvertebrate abundance was not consistently related to physical habitat variables or CPOM during the course of the study.
4. Our results suggest that sculpin are able to assess patch quality on the basis of prey abundance and select patches that potentially maximize energy gain. This behaviour may produce an increase in individual fitness, especially when prey distributions are not consistently related to habitat variables. Quantifying patch use in relation to prey abundance may help elucidate the causal factors determining habitat use by benthic fishes in other lotic systems.     

Mosquito distribution in a saltmarsh: determinants of eggs in a variable environment

Two saltmarsh mosquitoes dominate the transmission of Ross River virus (RRV, Togoviridae: Alphavirus), one of Australia's most prominent mosquito‐borne diseases. Ecologically, saltmarshes vary in their structure, including habitat types, hydrological regimes, and diversity of aquatic fauna, all of which drive mosquito oviposition behavior. Understanding the distribution of vector mosquitoes within saltmarshes can inform early warning systems, surveillance, and management of vector populations. The aim of this study was to identify the distribution of Ae. camptorhynchus, a known vector for RRV, across a saltmarsh and investigate the influence that other invertebrate assemblage might have on Ae. camptorhynchus egg dispersal. We demonstrate that vegetation is a strong indicator for Ae. camptorhynchus egg distribution, and this was not correlated with elevation or other invertebrates located at this saltmarsh. Also, habitats within this marsh are less frequently inundated, resulting in dryer conditions. We conclude that this information can be applied in vector surveillance and monitoring of temperate saltmarsh environments and also provides a baseline for future investigations into understanding mosquito vector habitat requirements.     

Patch selection by mottled sculpin (Pisces: Cottidae) in a southern Appalachian stream

1. We examined the effects of prey abundance on patch selection by a benthic fish, the mottled sculpin ( Cottus bairdi ), in a fourth order, southern Appalachian stream (North Carolina, U.S.A.). This habitat is a mosaic of small (i.e. < 0.5 m²), relatively discrete patches.
2. Patches were characterized in terms of physical habitat variables, detritus (coarse particulate organic matter, CPOM) and macroinvertebrate abundance (number and biomass). We quantified patch selection by comparing the characteristics of patches utilized by sculpin with those of locally available patches. Locally available patches were selected using a constrained random sampling design (i.e. randomly selected within a 2 m radius from each fish). We also examined the relationship between macroinvertebrate abundance, CPOM and the physical characteristics of available patches.
3. Patches selected by sculpin contained significantly higher macroinvertebrate abundances (both number and biomass) than locally available patches in five out of six seasonal samples. Sculpin also occupied patches with significantly higher amounts of CPOM in three out of five seasonal samples. Patches utilized by sculpin, however, could not be consistently differentiated from locally available patches on the basis of physical variables. In addition, macroinvertebrate abundance was not consistently related to physical habitat variables or CPOM during the course of the study.
4. Our results suggest that sculpin are able to assess patch quality on the basis of prey abundance and select patches that potentially maximize energy gain. This behaviour may produce an increase in individual fitness, especially when prey distributions are not consistently related to habitat variables. Quantifying patch use in relation to prey abundance may help elucidate the causal factors determining habitat use by benthic fishes in other lotic systems.     

Habitat formed by the invasive macroalga Caulerpa filiformis (Suhr) Hering (Caulerpales,Chlorophyta) alters benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in Peru

The green macroalga Caulerpa filiformis has been spreading on shallow soft sediment habitats along the Peruvian coast, colonizing previously unvegetated sediments to create monospecific meadows. We examined the nature of the impact of C. filiformis meadows on the density, taxonomic richness and assemblage structure of epifaunal and infaunal benthic macroinvertebrates. Specifically, we tested whether the spread of C. filiformis has resulted in different macroinvertebrate assemblages than those formed by the dominant native macroalgae (i.e., Rhodymenia spp.) and unvegetated sediments. Surveys were undertaken in two bays in each of two locations, in central and southern Peru, during winter 2017 and summer 2018. In general, our results show that macroinvertebrate assemblages were similar across all three habitats, although there were some differences, related to location and time, but with no clear patterns observed. Taxonomic richness and density was generally higher in the vegetated habitats than the unvegetated habitat, and where there were differences between the two vegetated habitats there was no consistent pattern of which habitat supported the highest richness or density. Given invading C. filiformis is primarily colonizing unvegetated habitats it would appear that this species is creating a new niche which supports similar assemblages, but higher taxonomic richness and density than unvegetated habitats. While our study suggests that C. filiformis is having a limited ecological impact we recommend that actions be put in place to limit the spread of this invasive species at the same time as increasing monitoring of the ecological impacts of this species as lags in the ecological impacts of invasive species are common.

     

盐地碱蓬盐沼与相邻泥质滩涂湿地迁徙期鸻鹬类的群落组成及行为差异

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)盐沼湿地是黄渤海地区河口区域的重要湿地类型, 是水鸟迁徙停歇期的重要栖息地。本研究以辽河口国家级自然保护区为研究地点, 通过对盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地和相邻泥质滩涂两个固定样区连续三年的水鸟组成调查和行为观察, 分析盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地在鸻鹬类多样性维持和栖息地利用中的作用。共记录到鸻鹬类水鸟28种6,348只次, 其中盐地碱蓬湿地记录到4科13种, 泥质滩涂记录到4科27种, 泥质滩涂的物种多样性显著高于盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地。此外, 盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地与相邻的泥质滩涂的鸻鹬类鸟类群落组成存在较大差异, 盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地的鸟类群落组成以体型较大的大杓鹬(Numenius madagascariensis)、白腰杓鹬(N. arquata)、灰鸻(Pluvialis squatarola)等为主, 而泥质滩涂以环颈鸻(Charadrius alexandrinus)、黑腹滨鹬(Calidris alpina)等小型鸻鹬类为主, 这说明两种生境在鸟类多样性维持中具有不同的功能。行为分析发现, 泥质滩涂中栖息鸟类的主要行为为取食(58.71%-93.26%), 而盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地鸟类的行为既包括较大比例的取食, 也包括休息, 特别是在春季迁徙期。这进一步说明, 两种生境在水鸟的栖息地利用中具有一定的生态功能差异。尽管盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地记录到的鸟类物种数和数量均低于泥质滩涂, 但是, 两种生境中存在较大比例的共同分布物种, 这说明其生态功能具有较强的生态互补性, 二者作为一种独特的湿地景观组合, 在鸻鹬类迁徙停歇期的栖息地利用和物种多样性维持中发挥着不可替代的作用。     

Lack of correlation between surface macrofauna,meiofauna, erosion threshold and biogeochemical properties of sediments within an intertidal mudflat and mangrove forest

This article describes the relationship between 10 selected properties of the sediments (chlorophyll a and b, colloidal and total carbohydrate, water concentration, sediment type, organic matter, erosion threshold and erosion rate) and meio- and macrofauna within and among three different habitats in an urbanized intertidal mudflat/mangrove forest in Tambourine Bay, Sydney Harbour, Australia. Many of the biogeochemical variables were significantly different among habitats, often grading from mudflat to mangrove canopy. In contrast to previous studies, patterns of distribution of macrofauna among habitats were weak. For the meiofauna, only copepods showed any significant difference among habitats, with the greatest numbers in the open mudflat habitat and least under the mangrove canopy. There was a gradient in fauna among the habitats; overall macrofauna abundances were greatest under the mangrove canopy and least on the mudflat, while meiofauna abundance was greatest in the pneumatophore habitat and least under the canopy. Correlations between fauna and properties of sediment were generally weak. When the habitats were analysed separately, some correlations were strengthened but relationships were inconsistent. Thus, while some taxa vary significantly among habitats there was not a strong relationship between biogeochemical properties and either macro- or meiofauna. This suggests that localised factors other than the measured properties of the sediments are driving patterns in fauna at these small scales, which requires further investigation to be unravelled.     

长江口杭州湾鸻形目鸟类群落季节变化和生境选择

在长江口南岸杭州湾北岸滨海滩涂进行了鸻形目鸟类的资源调查,以及鸟类栖息地选择模式分析,2004年3月至2005年1月共统计到鸟类25种,春季优势种为大缤鹬(Calidris tenuirostris)、尖尾缤鹬(Calidris alpine)和红颈滨鹬(Calidris ruficollis);夏季为环颈(Charadrius alexandrinus)、青脚鹬(Tringa nebularia)和蒙古沙(Charadrius mongolus),秋季为环颈、红颈滨鹬和青脚鹬,冬季为黑腹滨鹬(Calidris alpina)、环颈和泽鹬(Tringa stagnatilis),鸟类总体数量呈春季>秋季>冬季>夏季,海堤外(自然滩涂)和堤内(人工湿地)鸟类种数四季大致相等,但鸟类平均密度季节差异显著。通过对样点内鸟类与环境因子进行多元分析,初步总结出堤外滩宽和光滩宽是影响鸟类栖息的最关键因子,海三棱草(Scirpus× mariquete)覆盖比例和潮上坪宽度的影响程度次之。堤内浅水塘比例和裸地比例是影响形目鸟类分布的关键因子,海三棱草覆盖比例也起正向作用。而人类干扰大、芦苇(Phragmites communis)/互花米草(Spartina alternifloral)密植和高水位的区域不利于鸟类利用。     

Effects of habitat edges on American lobster abundance and survival

Habitat edges frequently possess distinct ecological conditions that affect interactions such as competition and predation. Within a species' preferred habitat, the structural complexity and resource availability of adjacent habitats may influence the effect of edges on ecological processes. In nearshore waters of New England, American lobsters (Homarus americanus) inhabit fragmented cobble reefs that often are bordered by unvegetated sediment and occasionally by seagrass. We determined whether proximity to cobble patch edges, microhabitat characteristics within cobble habitat, and the type of habitat adjacent to cobble patches (seagrass or unvegetated sediment) influence the density and survival of juvenile and adult American lobsters in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA. We surveyed naturally occurring cobble patches and artificial cobble reefs to determine how the odds of finding lobsters varied with distance from the edge and habitat type. Additionally, we tethered lobsters at different distances from the edge inside and outside of cobble patches to determine how lobster relative survival varied with edge proximity and habitat type. In cobble habitat, the odds of finding large lobsters (adolescents and adults > 40 mm carapace length (CL)) were highest near patch edges regardless of adjacent habitat type, whereas smaller lobsters (e.g. emergent juveniles 15-25 mm CL) were more abundant in patch interiors when seagrass bordered cobble patches. The odds of finding lobsters also increased with the relative amount of cobble cover within patches. In predation experiments, lobster relative survival after 6 h was lowest outside of cobble and increased toward cobble patch interiors, but after 24 h this trend disappeared or reversed. Seagrass appeared to offer greater refuge for lobsters than did unvegetated sediment. Our results suggest that proximity to patch edges influences lobster distribution and survival, and that edge effects on lobsters vary with life history phase and with the type of habitat adjacent to cobble patches.