Canopy seed bank structure in relation to: fire,tree size and density

To assess the canopy seed bank structure of Pinus halepensis, we measured the level of serotiny and the seed bank size and density of trees in unburned stands and post-fire regenerated stands in Israel. We analysed the effects of tree size, tree density and fire history on the level of serotiny. The level of serotiny decreased with an increase in tree height. The high level of serotiny in short trees could be explained by selection to increase regeneration chances after burning at pre-mature age. Also, limitation of long-distance seed dispersal opportunities in short trees may favour high serotiny levels. The level of serotiny was higher in post-fire stands than in unburned stands, suggesting a fast selection for serotiny by fire. Unburned stands had a higher total stand seed density than post-fire regenerated stands, but the proportion of seeds in serotinous cones of the total stand seed density was higher in post-fire regenerated stands. The fact that P. halepensis bears simultaneously serotinous and non-serotinous cones reflects its dual strategy as both a post-fire obligate seeder, mainly from serotinous cones and an early coloniser during fire-free periods, mainly from non-serotinous cones. The relative investment in these strategies is dependent on fire history and varies with tree height. Furthermore, mature brown cones can contribute to post-fire regeneration in case of spring fires, and serotinous cones are known to open partially also in dry spell events. Thus, post-fire regeneration and invasion are strategies, which seem to complement each other.     

Predatory Efficiency of Crayfish: Comparison Between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Species

The invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii is highly dispersed within lentic waters in northern and central Italy. It is a polytrophic predator, exerting a strong influence on animal communities, including amphibians, fish, gastropods, and insect larvae. The indigenous species Austropotamobius italicus, inhabiting lotic waters, behaves as a generalist – but not opportunistic – species. The object of this study was to compare the predatory pressure exercised by the two species on potential prey, i.e., anuran tadpoles, urodelan larvae, fish fry, larvae of insects, and gastropods. Three main conclusions were drawn: (1) both species are skilled predators, adopting a sit-and-wait strategy, (2) the two crayfish seemed to form a `search image' of familiar prey, as the result of either visual or chemical perceptual changes, and (3) at least in the laboratory, P. clarkii readily switched to naive prey for it (tadpoles of Rana italica and larvae of Limnephilidae), unlike the less opportunistic A. italicus. These results furnish suggestions on the trophic preferences of the two crayfish species and provide a partial understanding of the effects that the invasive species have on the community dynamics. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Allozyme variation in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.): Variation, breeding system, and implications for current conservation practice

Sustained harvest of wild North Americanginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) for overtwo centuries has led to heightenedconservation concern and a recent interest inthe population genetics of this species. Thisstudy examined allozyme variation from 32 wildand 12 cultivated populations of Americanginseng to: (1) document the amount anddistribution of genetic variation over a wideportion of the species' natural range, (2)examine genetic differences between wild andcultivated populations, and (3) provideindirect estimates of its breeding system. Strong genetic differences between wild andcultivated populations were found in the amountof variation within populations and thedistribution of variation among populations. Wild populations were significantly lower inall within-population diversity measures, butcontained significantly higher levels ofvariation partitioned among populations. Similarities between wild and cultivatedpopulations were also found. As a whole,cultivated and wild groups shared nearly allalleles, and populations of both groups showedstrong homozygote excess compared toexpectations under random mating. Thehomozygote excess is best explained by highlevels of selfing. In wild populations,significant correlations were found betweengenetic diversity and estimated populationsize, and between interpopulation geneticdistance and geographic distance. Overall, theresults for wild populations suggest that theyare influenced by high levels of genetic driftand low migration among populations. Conservation implications for American ginsengare discussed with particular emphases on: (1)the current debate surrounding the existence ofwild populations, (2) the ongoing practice ofintroducing cultivated seed into wildpopulations, and (3) the collection of geneticmaterial for the establishment of breedingprograms.     

鸟类的资源分配和生活史策略

本文综述了对资源分配理论的研究。使用了对小黑背鸥和红嘴山鸦的研究 ,表明卵产生中的资源分配和相关的生活史策略对个体发育和长期适合度有多方面的影响 ,对于种群存活有重要意义     

生物学发明及其专利保护

本参考中国专利法,欧洲专利法及美国、日本的相关专利法条和有关国际公约讨论了生物学发明及其获得专利保护的一般方法和原则,以期帮助有关企业和科研机构能有效地对相应地发明进行专利保护。     

Forest regeneration in abandoned coffee plantations and pastures in the Cordillera Central of Puerto Rico

Forest structure and species composition were described in abandonedshade and sun coffee plantations and abandoned pastures in Puerto Rico. Foreststructural characteristics were similar to older forest sites afterapproximately 30 yr of recovery. The historical presence of shadecoffee plantations as the dominant agricultural activity in the region hasresulted in the homogenization of secondary forest composition. The continuousdominance of Coffea arabica and species used for shade inabandoned shade coffee contributed to a slower rate of species compositionchange in comparison to abandoned pastures. Abandoned pastures were initiallycolonized by a group of light demanding and/or wind dispersed species and thenby shade tolerant species characteristic of abandoned shade coffee plantations,suggesting that the secondary forests of abandoned shade coffee plantation arethe major source of species in this landscape. The presence of a few isolatedbig trees in sun coffee plantations appeared to facilitate colonization ofwoodyspecies similar in composition to abandoned shade coffee plantations. In amultivariate analysis, time since abandonment and elevation were the variablesthat explained the majority of variability in species composition among sites.However, a few native species (e.g. Guarea guidonia,Casearia sylvestris, Ocotealeucoxylon) were common regardless of land use history or elevation.In contrast, important old forest species (e.g. Sloaneaberteriana, Dacryodes excelsa,Manilkara bidentata) were rare or absent from most of thesecondary forest stands suggesting the need to reintroduce these species. Landmanagement and conservation efforts can be improved by incorporating theeffectsof land use history on secondary forest dynamics.     

城市森林研究进展与发展战略

城市是一个以人类活动为中心的社会．经济．自然复合生态系统,城市森林是城市生态系统重要的组成部分,是城市生态系统健康和城市可持续发展的基础和保障,具有重要的生态服务功能。本文阐述了城市森林产生的背景、概念、范围和国内外的研究现状,以及当前城市森林研究的热点问题,最后提出了城市森林的发展战略。     

三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝的保护遗传学研究

采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝 (Myricarialaxiflora)的 13个自然居群和 1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶遗传变异进行了初步研究。检测了 5个酶系统 ,得到 13个等位酶位点 ,遗传多样性及其遗传结构分析结果表明 :疏花水柏枝具有较高水平的遗传多样性 ,平均多态位点比率P =78.7% ,每位点平均等位基因数A =1.8,平均预期杂合度He=0 .317,高于中国植物特有种的平均水平 ,且群体中杂合基因型个体偏多 ;其遗传变异主要发生于居群内 ( 84.86 % ) ,居群间又存在一定的遗传分化 (Gst=0 .15 14) ,居群间平均基因流Nm =1.40 1,居群间遗传距离为 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .176 ;UPGMA聚类分析显示疏花水柏枝在三峡湖北境内的白水河—泄滩一带分为上游和下游 2个居群组 ;武汉植物园迁地保护的混合居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。在分析讨论疏花水柏枝遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上 ,探讨了疏花水柏枝濒危的主要原因 ,推断其应为第四纪冰期影响后的古孑遗种。最后 ,在评价迁地保护成果的基础上 ,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。     

孑遗植物银杏群体遗传多样性的ISSR分析

采用ISSR分子标记技术,对江苏泰兴、美国纽约的栽培银杏(Ginkgo biloba)群体和中国3个可能为野生的银杏自然群体(浙江西天目山、贵州务川、湖北大洪山区)的遗传多样性水平和群体遗传结构进行了研究。用13个引物对5个群体共66个样品进行扩增,共得到88个清晰的扩增位点,其中多态性位点62个,多态位点百分率(PPB)为70．45％。POPGENE分析结果表明：与其他裸子植物相比,银杏具有丰富的遗传变异(He=0．2408;Ho=0．3599)。贵州务川群体的遗传多样性水平最高(PPB=56．82％,He=0．2089,Ho=0．3087),江苏泰兴栽培群体(PPB=34．09％,,Ho=0．1269,Ho=0．1858)和美国纽约的栽培群体(PPB=23．86％,,He=0．0884,Ho=0．1312)的遗传多样性水平较低。Nei′s遗传多样性分析和AMOVA分析表明,3个可能的自然群体间出现了一定程度的遗传分化(Gst=0．1476,Φst=14．26％)。群体间一定程度的遗传分化可能是人为选择压力和基因流障碍引起的。根据Nei′s遗传距离矩阵分别构建了群体间和个体间的遗传关系树状图。由UPGMA聚类分析可知,贵州务川群体与浙江西天目山群体优先聚类;美国纽约群体与湖北大洪山群体具有较近的亲缘关系,它们可能为同一野生群体的后裔。通过对银杏群体遗传结构的分析并结合群落学调查研究,结果表明：贵州务川银杏群体很可能为野生自然群体。基于银杏群体遗传学和生态学的研究结果,建议在自然银杏群体最适生境和遗传多样性最高的贵州务川建立银杏保护区。由于银杏群体间出现了一定程度的分化,建议3个自然群体间可进行植株和幼苗相互移栽,以提高群体间的基因交流,以最大限度地保护银杏的遗传多样性。     

Effects of fish chemical cues on tadpole survival

The indirect effects of goldfish chemical cues on tadpole survival and predation by other predators (e.g. dragonfly nymph and crayfish) were tested in a field experiment. Fish chemical cues were found to affect tadpole survival when dragonfly nymphs were present. In contrast, this indirect effect was not detected in the presence of crayfish. The results from the present study found that predators, even without predation, can affect the predatory efficiency of other predators, and that the degree of such an indirect effect may differ among the foraging strategies of predators.