Best environmental predictors of breeding phenology differ with elevation in a common woodland bird species

Temperatures in mountain areas are increasing at a higher rate than the Northern Hemisphere land average, but how fauna may respond, in particular in terms of phenology, remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess how elevation could modify the relationships between climate variability (air temperature and snow melt‐out date), the timing of plant phenology and egg‐laying date of the coal tit (Periparus ater). We collected 9 years (2011–2019) of data on egg‐laying date, spring air temperature, snow melt‐out date, and larch budburst date at two elevations (~1,300 m and ~1,900 m asl) on a slope located in the Mont‐Blanc Massif in the French Alps. We found that at low elevation, larch budburst date had a direct influence on egg‐laying date, while at high‐altitude snow melt‐out date was the limiting factor. At both elevations, air temperature had a similar effect on egg‐laying date, but was a poorer predictor than larch budburst or snowmelt date. Our results shed light on proximate drivers of breeding phenology responses to interannual climate variability in mountain areas and suggest that factors directly influencing species phenology vary at different elevations. Predicting the future responses of species in a climate change context will require testing the transferability of models and accounting for nonstationary relationships between environmental predictors and the timing of phenological events.     

Wildfires in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania: Burned areas,underlying causes and management challenges

The Eastern Arc Mountains are one of the most important ecosystems that conserve biodiversity in the world. These ecosystems are threatened by the increasing occurrence of wildfires. Nevertheless, there is inadequate information useful for the development of effective strategies to prevent or respond to future fires. This paper analyses the current extent of dry season fires, underlying causes and the effectiveness of the fire management strategy being implemented in and around the Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve (UNFR) between 2016 and 2021. Differenced Normalised Burn Ratio derived from Landsat satellite images was applied to determine the extent of burned areas, and focus group discussions were held to determine the underlying causes of fires and the extent of implementation of fire management strategies. About 2% (472 ha) of reserved UNFR and 5% (2,854 ha) of unreserved forests were burned in 2017. Some of the fires impacted on 60% (370 ha) of the grassy Lukwangule plateau, which is home to a fire‐sensitive endemic species. The underlying causes of fires varied spatially across the mountains but generally, fire escaping from farm preparation and hunting activities were found to be the most prevalent. On average, survey participants perceived that fire management strategy objectives were achieved by only 29% mainly constrained by a shortage of financial and human resources. Our findings suggest that ignitions and fire spread in UNFR could be prevented or controlled through sustainable funding of fire management activities and the effective engagement of local communities in the management of the reserve.     

福州市生态系统生产总值核算

开展生态系统生产总值(GEP)核算是推进生态文明制度建设的必要措施,也是将生态效益纳入经济社会发展评价体系的重要举措。本研究以福州市为研究对象,通过构建具有“山、海、城”特色的生态系统价值核算体系,对2015和2018年福州市GEP进行核算,从时空变化角度对福州市GEP进行对比。结果表明: 2015、2018年福州市GEP分别为9205.92、10472.42亿元,人均GEP分别为13.02、14.39万元,生态产品供给服务价值分别为941.81、1102.61亿元,生态调节服务价值分别为6364.20、5988.51亿元,生态文化服务价值分别为1899.91、3381.3亿元。与2015年相比,2018年福州市GEP增加1266.50亿元,增幅为13.8%,主要得益于生态产品供给服务价值和生态文化服务价值的增加。然而,生态调节服务价值减少375.69亿元,降幅为5.9%,主要源于气候调节、水流动调节和水质净化服务价值的减少。福州率先探索建立一套具有山、海、城特色的核算体系,可以为福建省其他城市及我国其他地区的核算工作提供“福州样板”,同时助推建立生态价值实现的长效机制。     

喀斯特山地城市内山体绿地对城市热岛的减温效应——以安顺市西秀区为例

山体绿地是喀斯特山地城市内典型的城市绿地景观类型,其对于改善城市生态环境、提升喀斯特山地城市生态服务功能具有重要作用。以黔中典型喀斯特山地城市安顺市为研究对象,运用2011年和2016年两期热红外遥感影像和城市景观结构空间数据,在反演分析城市热岛效应及其强度时空分布特征的基础上,运用冷热点分析剖析了山体绿地与城市热岛效应冷点分布区的关系,揭示山体绿地对城市热岛的减温效应。结果表明:基于Landsat热红外遥感数据反演地表温度结果显示,2011—2016年,安顺市西秀区平均反演地表温度升高约4℃;主城区一带热岛效应呈现加剧趋势,但总体热岛面积呈下降趋势,绿岛区多分布于水体和山体绿地中,且山体绿地对热岛效应减缓作用逐年增大;热/冷聚集面积呈现上升趋势,约40%~50%的冷聚集区由山体绿地贡献,热聚集区主要由建筑用地和其他用地构成;500 m格网尺度下,山体绿地面积与地表温度呈显著负相关,表现为山体绿地面积占格网比例每增加10%,地表温度将降低0.17~0.27℃。研究结果可为喀斯特山地城市山体绿地管理、城市绿地空间规划和城市热环境缓解提供科学依据。     

涌泉根灌下水氮耦合对陕北山地苹果光合特性、产量和水氮利用的影响

以陕北山地7年生‘寒富’苹果树为试验材料,设置3个灌水水平[高水(W₁,85%～100%θ_f,θ_f为田间持水量)、中水(W₂,70%～85%θ_f)、低水(W₃,55%～70%θ_f)]和3个施氮水平[高氮(N₁,600 kg·hm^-2)、中氮(N₂,400 kg·hm^-2)、低氮(N₃,200 kg·hm^-2)],研究涌泉根灌条件下水氮耦合对山地苹果树光合特性、产量和水氮利用的影响。结果表明: 相同灌水条件下,随着施氮量的减少,苹果树叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(g_s)和瞬时水分利用效率(WUE_i)降低,但胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)增加;相同施氮条件下,随着灌水量的减少,叶片P_n、T_r、g_s和WUE_i降低,而C_i增加。W₁N₁处理的P_n、T_r日均值最大,但与W₁N₁处理相比,W₂N₂处理的WUE_i最大。苹果产量、灌溉水利用效率(IWUE)和氮肥偏生产力(NPFP)受灌水和施氮量的显著影响,W₂N₂处理的产量最高(26761 kg·hm^-2),减小灌水量和增大施氮量使IWUE显著提高,而增大灌水量和降低施氮量使NPFP显著增加。回归分析表明,产量和IWUE同时获得最优解时,灌水量和施氮量组合最接近W₂N₂处理。因此,W₂N₂处理为涌泉根灌条件下陕北山地苹果最佳的水氮组合模式。     

兰州兴隆山土壤微生物的分布及其相关特性分析

目的以兰州兴隆山不同区域的土壤微生物为研究对象,分析比较土壤微生物数量与土壤酶活性之间的相关性。方法利用不同方法测定土壤理化性质、微生物数量以及土壤相关酶活特性;采用三区划线法进行土壤微生物的分离与纯化,通过16S rDNA和ITS方法进行优势菌株鉴定。结果兰州兴隆山土壤中微生物菌群数量由多到少依次为细菌、放线菌、真菌。通过分离纯化后,对其中的2株优势菌进行了鉴定,初步推断X2为萎缩芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus atrophaeus)细菌,Z2为栎生青霉属(Penicillium glandicola)真菌。从酶活特性可知,阳面的土壤过氧化氢酶活性比阴面高;随着海拔高度的增加,过氧化氢酶活性呈现增加趋势;阳面的土壤脱氢酶活性总体比阴面高,并且随着海拔梯度的升高,土壤脱氢酶活性也在不断升高。从相关性分析可知,不同海拔土样间微生物数量与酶活性之间表现出明显的相关性。结论兰州兴隆山土壤微生物数量丰富,且细菌数量居多;不同阴、阳面土壤微生物的层次分布以及活性也各有不同。以上研究可为兰州兴隆山土壤生态系统演替等提供参考依据,并为土壤生态环境的治理做铺垫。     

旅游干扰对云丘山景区内植被的影响

选择云丘山景区为研究区域,以该区域的主要植被为研究对象,采用样方法对旅游干扰对云丘山景区内植被的影响进行了研究,共设置了40个乔木样方,并利用TWINSPAN聚类分析以及旅游干扰程度（TDD）对所取样方进行分析。结果表明：TWINSPAN聚类分类将景区内的植物群落划分为5个群系,其中、群系Ⅱ中伴人植物的优势度明显高于其它。干扰程度分析表明,在景区的40个乔木样方中,只有4个样方基本没有受到干扰,有3个样方受到中度干扰,其余的33个样方均为轻度干扰。TWINSPAN聚类分析科学合理地对旅游活动作用下植被景观的类型特征进行了分析。旅游干扰程度（TDD）直观地反映出各个样方所在地植被被干扰的程度,该研究结果可为旅游管理者提供一定的理论依据。     

THE PROCESSING OF UNCONFINED,NATURALLY ENTRAINED LEAVES IN TWO LOW-ORDER SOUTHERN AFRICAN MOUNTAIN STREAMS

Summary

Breakdown of unconfined and confined leaves of the riparian tree Brabejum stellatifolium L. was investigated in two low order mountain streams (Window Stream and Langrivier) in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. At both sites, 5000 unconfined leaves were released in April and another 5000 in December 1990. The leaves were marked and half of them presoaked in river water prior to release. Leaves reaching a net 100 m below the point of release were removed periodically. On termination of the experiments, the study reaches were cleared of the remaining marked leaves. The distance which these leaves had travelled, and the retentive feature at which they were found were recorded. All leaves were weighed after recovery. In December 1990, leaves confined in coarse-mesh bags were placed on the stream beds of the two sites. Decay rates of unconfined leaves differed between streams and seasons but not between wetted and dry leaves or those of contrasting initial size and weight. In winter, breakdown of unconfined leaves was rapid (t₅₀ of 6.6d and 23.9d for Langrivier and Window Stream respectively). In summer, breakdown of unconfined leaves was slower (t₅₀ of 58d, Langrivier), but more rapid than leaves confined in mesh bags (t₅₀ of 77d, Langrivier). Distance travelled downstream had no significant effect on leaf breakdown. Different retentive features resulted in different rates of decay. Leaf weight loss in winter and summer at both sites was greatest in riffles (17–80%) and runs (21–78%). In all cases, stranded (exposed and out of the water) leaves lost the least weight (4–38%).     

THE BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF A SOUTH AFRICAN MOUNTAIN STREAM AND ITS RESPONSE TO FIRE

Summary

The effects of a late-summer prescribed burn on the temperature and benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of a south-western Cape mountain stream were investigated over a period of 12 months. Temperature and discharge regimes appear well-defined and relatively predictable from year to year. As in other mediterranean-type ecosystems, seasonal changes in the structure of the invertebrate community and the relative abundance of different feeding groups appear to be associated primarily with changes in the physical environment. Distinctive summer and winter communities were identified, with chironomids dominating the fauna in summer and simuliids dominant in winter. Although the riparian vegetation was only slightly damaged by the fire, a heavy, aseasonal leaf-fall occurred shortly afterwards. The canopy remained sparse for approximately four months. Stream temperature in the post-burn year was not demonstrably affected by increased exposure to solar radiation, however, probably because the canopy remained open during the winter months. The fire appeared to have little effect on the invertebrate fauna. Apart from five rare elements of the biota, all species recorded in the pre-burn year were present in the post-burn year and in similar densities. It is concluded that the riparian vegetation is of major importance in maintaining the integrity of the stream environment.