Genetic structure and historical demography of Schizothorax nukiangensis (Cyprinidae) in continuous habitat

Geographic distance, different living habitats or Pleistocene climatic oscillations have frequently been found to shape population genetic structure in many species. The genetic structure of Schizothorax nukiangensis, a high altitude, valuable fish species, which is distributed throughout the Nujiang River, was investigated by mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), cytochrome b (cytb), and the mitochondrial control region (MCR) of S. nukiangensis were concatenated for examination of population structure and demographic history. The concatenated data set (2405 bp) implied a pronounced genetic population structure (overall F_ST = 0.149) and defined two population units. Strong differentiation was detected between the Sanjiangkou (SJK) population and other populations due to environmental heterogeneity, dispersal ability, and/or glacial cycles. Additional DNA sequencing of the nuclear RAG2 gene also examined significant differentiation between two units and between SJK and the upstream populations (U‐unit). Recent expansion events suggest that S. nukiangensis may have undergone a rapid increase during warm interglacial periods. Surprisingly, S. nukiangensis appears to have undergone an obvious expansion during the last glaciations (LG) for cold hardiness and a sharp contraction from 1.5 ka to the present. However, two population units exhibited different reflections during the LG, which might be closely related to their living habitats and cold hardiness. A clear pattern of isolation by distance was detected in S. nukiangensis due to feeding habits, limited dispersal ability, and/or philopatry. It is vitally important that more attention be given to S. nukiangensis due to low genetic diversity, lack of gene flow, and recent population contraction.     

A comparison of breeding population estimators using nest and brood monitoring data

For many species, breeding population size is an important metric for assessing population status. A variety of simple methods are often used to estimate this metric for ground‐nesting birds that nest in open habitats (e.g., beaches, riverine sandbars). The error and bias associated with estimates derived using these methods vary in relation to differing monitoring intensities and detection rates. However, these errors and biases are often difficult to obtain, poorly understood, and largely unreported. A method was developed to estimate the number of breeding pairs using counts of nests and broods from monitoring data where multiple surveys were made throughout a single breeding season (breeding pair estimator; BPE). The BPE method was compared to two commonly used estimation methods using simulated data from an individual‐based model that allowed for the comparison of biases and accuracy. The BPE method underestimated the number of breeding pairs, but generally performed better than the other two commonly used methods when detection rates were low and monitoring frequency was high. As detection rates and time between surveys increased, the maximum nest and brood count method performs similar to the BPE. The BPE was compared to four commonly used methods to estimate breeding pairs for empirically derived data sets on the Platte River. Based on our simulated data, we expect our BPE to be closest to the true number of breeding pairs as compared to other methods. The methods tested resulted in substantially different estimates of the numbers of breeding pairs; however, coefficients from trend analyses were not statistically different. When data from multiple nest and brood surveys are available, the BPE appears to result in reasonably precise estimates of numbers of breeding pairs. Regardless of the estimation method, investigators are encouraged to acknowledge whether the method employed is likely to over‐ or underestimate breeding pairs. This study provides a means to recognize the potential biases in breeding pair estimates.     

Detecting soil salinity with MODIS time series VI data

Mapping of salinization using the satellite derived vegetation indices (VIs) remains difficult at broad regional scales due to the low classification accuracy. Satellite derived VIs from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have more potential because the MODIS balances the requirements of spatial detail, spectral and temporal density and tends to reflect vegetation responses through time. However, the relationship between MODIS data and salinity may be underestimated in previous studies because the MODIS time series data were not investigated thoroughly, especially regarding vegetation phenology. This study assessed the applicability of MODIS time series VI data for monitoring soil salinization with a series of MODIS pixels selected in the Yellow River Delta, China. The hidden information in vegetation phenology was investigated by improving the quality of VIs time series data with the Savitzky–Golay filter, extracting the phenological markers and differentiating VIs time series data based on vegetation types. The results showed that the quality of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series data were improved by the Savitzky–Golay filter, which could provide more accurate thresholds of phenological stages than the empirical definition. The seasonal integral of EVI (EVI-SI) extracted from the smoothed EVI time series profile was verified as the best indicator of the degree of soil salinity. Additionally, the correlation of EVI-SI and soil salinity was highly dependent on land cover heterogeneity, and the ranges of correlation coefficients were as high as 0.59–0.92. EVI-SI was linearly correlated with EC_e in cropland with a high model fit (R² = 0.85). The relationship of EVI-SI and EC_e fit best with a binomial line and EVI-SI was able to explain 70% of the variance of EC_e. Despite the poor fit of the linear regression model in mixed sites limited by spatial resolution (R² = 0.32), MODIS time series VI data, as well as the extracted seasonal parameters, still show great potential to assess large-scale soil salinization.     

Taxon-specific physico-chemical change points for stream benthic invertebrates

Freshwater organisms face numerous stressors, such as nutrient enrichment, contaminant pollution, sedimentation and alterations in stream hydrology and habitat structure. One of the most significant and widespread stressors in European freshwaters is expected to be water pollution from intensive land use. However, the information on critical threshold concentrations at which taxa decline or increase in frequency and abundance is missing for the large majority of river benthic invertebrate taxa. The main aim was to determine ecological change points for benthic invertebrate taxa at which rapid alterations in species frequency and abundance occur as a consequence of relatively small changes in the environmental gradient. These change points can be interpreted as critical threshold concentrations. A total of 468 river benthic invertebrate taxa and nine physico-chemical variables describing the daytime dissolved oxygen, chloride, nutrient concentrations and organic load were analyzed. We selected 751 river sites from a nationwide range of locations in Germany for this investigation. Depending on the physico-chemical variable, between 20.6% and 48.8% of the total number of tested taxa were assigned with a valid change point. All taxa were assigned to negative or positive response groups depending on the response direction. Except for daytime dissolved oxygen, negative responding taxa are referred to as decreasers and positive responding taxa as increasers, respectively. In total, 25.8–100% of the decreasers’ change points were below (and above in the case of daytime dissolved oxygen) the background values defined as quality criteria for German rivers by the water authorities. This indicates that stricter quality criteria may need to be set to reach the good ecological status according to the European Water Framework Directive. The calculated daytime dissolved oxygen change points were essentially in line with the species saprobic values and taxon-specific change points for physico-chemical variables fit well with the data provided in other international studies. We deliver valuable knowledge about the sensitivities and response schemes of river benthic invertebrate species. This information is especially useful for the development of efficient management and policy tools to predict the likelihood of occurrence of individual species under different levels of anthropogenic impact.     

开都河流域天山桦树轮宽度年表的建立及其气候响应

利用开都河流域中段采集的天山桦树芯样本,建立了这一采样点的树轮宽度年表。该年表的特征参数与其他地区已有的桦木树轮宽度年表相近,且能较好地反映研究区内天山桦树轮宽度变化的基本特征。该年表与研究区内雪岭云杉树轮宽度年表间的相关分析表明,两者在全频域、高频域及低频域上均存在显著正相关。树木生长气候响应分析结果显示,天山桦树轮宽度与降水量的相关则不显著;而与上年12月呈显著正相关(r= 0.346,P < 0.01,n=59),与当年6月的平均气温呈显著负相关(r=-0.312,P < 0.01,n=60)。该年表存在2.1、4.0a和~50a变化准周期,并且其与3月多元El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)指数存在相似的变化趋势。     

黄河口湿地有机碳来源及其对碳埋藏提升策略的启示

滨海湿地是地球上具有多种独特功能的生态系统,是地球上重要的碳库之一,其在全球碳循环中的作用在近年来越来越受到人们的重视。总结了用C/N、稳定碳同位素和生物标志物等方法追踪黄河口湿地有机碳来源的研究成果,并据此探讨了黄河口湿地的固碳提升策略。黄河口湿地是我国典型的滨海湿地,碳来源复杂,但各种示踪方法均表明有机碳的来源中陆源输入较海源输入优势明显,而且陆源输入以地表径流和植被为主,但海源输入从内陆向近海逐渐增强,碳的来源有明显的时空变化并且受到人类活动的强烈干扰。从有机质来源看,提升黄河口湿地的碳埋藏能力应该从合理调配河流淡水资源、保护植被、加快植物群落演替等方面入手。目前有机碳来源的研究还存在覆盖区域有限、碳源区分粗略、影响因子研究较少等问题,缺乏系统性,多限于观测,对机制的理解十分薄弱,因此难以对碳埋藏能力的提升提供定量化的指导。今后的研究要从以下几个方面加强:1)不同区域和不同环境条件之间的比较研究;2)探寻更具特异性的生物指标、优化数据模型,使来源区分更细致;3)不同来源有机质在沉积物中埋藏效率的对比研究;4)构建湿地碳埋藏能力评估体系,综合考虑各方面因素研发和集成能够最大限度提高滨海湿地碳埋藏能力的技术。     

基于地下水恢复的塔里木河下游生态需水量估算

为探明生态输水后地下水响应带范围及地下水恢复下生态需水量,以塔里木河下游大西海子水库至台特玛湖段为研究区,基于2000—2010年生态输水和地下水埋深分布特征,分析了塔里木河下游生态输水后两岸地下水位恢复状况,并借助遥感和地理信息系统技术对研究区生态需水量进行了研究。结果表明:塔河下游地下水位的抬升幅度与输水量的大小呈一定的正相关关系,并存在一定的时效性。2004—2010年地下水处于长期的负均衡状态,多年下降幅度明显。塔河下游英苏、喀尔达依、阿拉干和依干不及麻断面地下水响应幅度分别为1195、1050、2281 m和1000 m。历经11a输水后,塔里木河下游地下水总恢复需水量为7.06×108m3,其中,齐文阔尔河段为4.98×108m3,老塔里木河段为2.09×108m3,地下水恢复至生态水位4.5m需要5—8a的时间。保护塔里木河下游大西海子以下所有天然植被面积(96114.09 hm2)的生态需水量为0.587×108m3,保护下游地下水响应带天然植被面积(41439.85 hm2)的生态需水量为0.21×108m3。     

漓江上游典型森林植被对降水径流的调节作用

利用野外同步长期定位观测林外降雨、地表径流和河川径流的方法,对漓江上游典型森林植被的生态水文过程进行观测研究。结果表明:1)流域降水年内分配极不均匀,50a年降雨量总体变化趋势不明显。林冠截留受林外降雨特征的影响,也与植被类型密切相关。2)地表径流平均滞后时间为70 min。在连续降雨的情况下,降雨滞后效应不再明显,甚至出现地表径流与降雨同步的现象,小降雨可能产生大的地表径流,从而加大流域在雨季发生洪灾的风险。3)湿季径流系数略大于旱季,干季降水量减少,且森林植被消耗大量水分,减少了枯水期径流的产生,增大发生旱灾的风险。森林植被延长河川径流持续时间,使一次持续18 d的降水过程形成的径流,在降水停止后能延续24 d。降雨后退水持续时间与前期降水及后期降水叠加有关。目的为揭示漓江上游森林植被对降水径流的调节作用,客观评估漓江上游水资源潜力、加强流域水资源管理和森林经营提供科学依据。     

汾河太原河段浮游植物多样性及微囊藻产异味物质成因

2012年7月和10月,对汾河太原河段浮游植物多样性及微囊藻产异味物质进行了调查研究,并对其水质进行了评价。结果显示:(1)共鉴定出浮游植物6门65属126种,其中绿藻门种类最多,有25属57种,其次为硅藻门,有26属40种,蓝藻门有9属20种,其它门种类相对较少,包括裸藻门2属5种,甲藻门2属2种,隐藻门1属2种;(2)2012年7月份的优势种为蓝藻门的微小平裂藻(Merismopedia tenuissima)、不定微囊藻(Microcystis incerta),硅藻门的尖针杆藻(Synedra acus),绿藻门的四尾栅藻(Scenedesmus quadricauda)、美丽网球藻(Dictyosphaerium pulchellum)和甲藻门的微小多甲藻(Peridinium pusillum),10月份的优势种为蓝藻门的微小平裂藻、阿氏浮丝藻(Planktothrix agardhii)、两栖颤藻(Oscillatoria amphibia),硅藻门的尖针杆藻,绿藻门的四尾栅藻和隐藻门的啮蚀隐藻(Cryptomonas erosa);(3)2012年7月份和10月份迎泽桥段浮游植物平均细胞密度分别为188.28×106个/L和58.66×106个/L,南内环桥段浮游植物平均细胞密度分别为83.78×106个/L和65.99×106个/L,表明水体为富营养型;(4)Margalef多样性指数(D)为2.04—2.68,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)为0.49—1.00,Pielou均匀度指数(J)为0.13—0.26,数据分析显示汾河太原河段水质为中度污染至重污染;(5)通过对分离纯化的微囊藻挥发性异味物质的检测,8株微囊藻中有6株可产生明显的异味。经过嗅味判断及与常见异味种类标准品的比对,确定这6株微囊藻产生的异味物质主要为β-环柠檬醛(β-cyclocitral)。     

珠江口及毗邻海域营养盐对浮游植物生长的影响

基于2006年7月(夏季),10月(秋季)和2007年3月(春季)的现场调查数据,对珠江口及毗邻海域中的营养盐和叶绿素a等环境生态因子的时空分布特性进行了对比分析,研究了氮磷比与叶绿素a含量和种群多样性之间的联系,探讨了该海域营养盐对于浮游植物生长的影响。结果表明:(1)研究海域营养盐表现出较强的季节和空间差异性,总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)浓度均值春季(1.545 mg/L、0.056 mg/L)和夏季(1.570 mg/L、0.058 mg/L)均大于秋季(1.442 mg/L、0.034 mg/L),且春夏季浓度空间差异更明显。(2)调查期间海域营养盐含量超标现象突出,夏季尤为明显。无机氮(DIN)总体均值0.99 mg/L,超四类海水标准限值1倍,活性磷酸盐(PO4-P)总体均值0.021 mg/L,DIN∶PO4-P平均值为130;叶绿素a浓度与营养盐、p H、温度有较显著的相关性。(3)叶绿素a浓度较高的站位,具有较高的DIN∶PO4-P值,但浮游植物多样性指数偏低,优势种明显,主要为中肋骨条藻。氮磷比的改变会影响不同生长特性的浮游植物间的竞争和种群结构的改变;今后海洋污染治理中,在控制氮、磷污染时要注意氮磷比的改变可能造成的浮游生态影响。