A review of ploidy in the genus Prosopis (Leguminosae)

The genus Prosopis contains 44 species of trees and shrubs, the majority of which originate in the Americas. Most species are reported to be diploid, with a somatic chromosome number of 2 n  = 28. There are rare reports of polyploidy, although it is thought that these may represent polysomaty in root tissues. However, flow cytometry has recently indicated that P. juliflora is entirely tetraploid with a somatic chromosome number of 2 n  = 56. In order to clarify the situation, an extensive review of ploidy in Prosopis was undertaken, the first of its kind. The ploidy levels of 124 samples of Prosopis from 21 countries, including both the natural and introduced ranges, were analysed using flow cytometry. In addition, a comprehensive literature review was carried out, examining 305 published ploidy values and covering 32 of the 44 species of Prosopis . Flow cytometry analysis suggests that P. juliflora is the only tetraploid species, with a somatic chromosome number of 2 n  = 4 x  = 56, whilst the remainder of the species analysed are diploid with 2 n  = 2 x  = 28, including the first report for P. articulata (2 n  = 28). A critical review of published ploidy values shows that all species of Prosopis are reported to be entirely diploid, except P. glandulosa , P. juliflora , and P. koelziana , for which both diploid and tetraploid values have been recorded. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 425–438.     

The Minimum Capture Proportion for Reliable Estimation in Capture–Recapture Models

Summary .   We derive estimates of the minimum capture proportion required to obtain a reliable estimate of the population size for several continuous and discrete-time capture–recapture models. The models considered are     , and     in the notation of Otis et al. , (1978, Wildlife Monograph 62 , 1–135). Numerical results with simulation studies are given, and two real examples for the model     are also considered. Potential applications of these results are suggested.     

采用地统计学方法对水曲柳人工纯林表层根量的估计

采用地统计学的变异函数分析方法定量研究了水曲柳纯林表层根量的空间异质性特征,利用地统计学的克里格内插法结合定积分,对水曲柳纯林表层(0～10 cm)各类型根量进行了估测。结果表明:1)水曲柳细根(<2 mm)、粗根(≥2 mm)、活根和土壤总根变异函数曲线的理论模型符合球状模型,其它植物活根符合指数模型,水曲柳及其它植物死根符合线性模型。水曲柳及其它植物死根的空间变异主要是由随机性因素引起;水曲柳细根、粗根、活根、其它植物活根和土壤总根的空间变异主要是由结构性因素引起,且空间自相关程度均属中等(空间结构比在2 5 %和75 %之间)。水曲柳粗根的空间变异尺度为13.2 m,水曲柳细根、水曲柳活根、土壤总根和其它植物活根的空间变异尺度均大于33.9m。根据理论模型的拟合参数估计,水曲柳细根、水曲柳活根和土壤总根的空间变异尺度为6 1m,其它植物活根为183m。(2 )平均值成对二样本t检验结果表明,变异函数分析结果基础上的克里格内插法适用于水曲柳样地各空间位置处各类型根量的估计。利用此估计值,拟合其与位置坐标值之间的多元回归关系均为二元十次余弦级数多项式。利用此多项式,通过定积分的方法(积分区间为整块样地的大小) ,估计出水曲柳纯林表层根量为1.5 92 6 t/ hm2 ,水曲柳细根为0 .6 86 5 t/     

海河流域生态需水核算

从生态系统角度分析了生态需水内涵和生态需水与生态用水概念的差别。探讨了海河流域自然陆地、河流、湿地、城市 4种生态系统类型生态需水核算方法 ,并对其生态需水量进行了核算。大气降水首先被天然植被利用后形成地表径流 ,才能被人类管理利用来满足经济水量和生态水量需求。从水资源管理来说 ,河流、湿地、城市等生态需水来源于径流性水资源可称为狭义生态需水 ,而包括利用降水性水资源的天然植被生态需水在内的全部生态系统生态需水可认为是广义的生态需水。狭义生态需水是水资源管理及生态需水研究和关注的重心。研究结果表明 :海河流域河流生态需水 31.6 4× 10 8m3,占多年平均天然径流量的 12 % ;湿地生态需水为 34.31× 10 8m3,占 13% ;城市生态需水量 10 .83× 10 8m3,占 4 .1% ,3项合计占径流总量的 2 9.1%。生态需水量是一个动态的值 ,随生态保护目标的提高和经济的发展核算结果必然发生变化 ,维护生态环境质量的状况不同 ,也存在最大、最小生态需水量的阈值问题 ,此类问题需今后进一步研究     

Estimates of forest floor litter frog communities: A comparison of two methods

Estimates of forest leaf litter frog density, mass, richness and diversity given by the widely used 8 m × 8 m large plot method (LPM) were compared with estimates obtained by a newly proposed method (small 2 m × 1 m plots with leaf removal; SPLR). The study site was an undisturbed area of the Atlantic Rainforest of Ilha Grande, an island located in the south of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Twenty‐four LPM (totalling 1536 m² of forest floor) and 90 SPLR (totalling 180 m² of forest floor) were performed. The estimates obtained by the two methods differed markedly, indicating that even using a much smaller sampling area (11.7% of that of LPM), SPLR gave frog density estimates six times higher, and frog mass estimates approximately 2.5 times higher than estimates provided by LPM. The species richness and diversity obtained by the two methods were similar, despite the fact that the total area sampled with SPLR was much smaller. These data suggest that LPM may underestimate the abundance and biomass of leaf litter frogs in a given area.     

Traits of brown trout prey in relation to habitat characteristics and benthic invertebrate communities

A trait database based on habitat, behavioural and morphological characteristics of invertebrates enabled invertebrates known to have differential vulnerability to salmonid predation to be discriminated. Among all of these traits the most important were associated with invertebrate spatial proximity to salmonids (macrohabitat preference), potential conspicuousness and accessibility (e.g. flow exposure, mobility, tendency to drift, trajectory and agility) and handling efficiency (body flexibility and size). Data on benthos assemblages and brown trout salmo trutta diets collected over two consecutive summers in different macrohabitat types (e.g. pools, runs and riffles) of two Pyrenean streams demonstrated that: (i) decrease in torrential flow characteristics of habitats was associated with changes in invertebrate body shape and movement, and a decrease in body flexibility and tendency to drift; (ii) brown trout tended to feed on the most vulnerable invertebrates (e.g. those living in exposed microhabitats and with a high tendency to drift, agility and aggregation), except in faster flowing habitats. The results suggest that the potential vulnerability of benthic invertebrates increased with increases in flow (torrential) characteristics. Also, the database compiled on traits explained differences among brown trout diets, especially in slow flowing areas.     

‘Heaven’ for serpents? A mark–recapture study of tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) on Carnac Island,Western Australia

Abstract Animals resident on small islands provide excellent opportunities to carry out detailed mark–recapture studies. Populations are closed and ecosystems are often simpler than those of mainland sites. These factors enable the study of cryptic species that have otherwise been neglected. Snakes are notable for their secretive nature and, as a result, few natural populations have been accurately described through long‐term mark–recapture monitoring. A population of tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) was studied on Carnac Island, a small limestone island (16 ha) off the coast of Western Australia. Population estimates show that snake density is very high, with more than 20 adult snakes per ha. This equates to a biomass of more than 100 kg of a top predator concentrated in a very small area. Such a high predator density can be explained because adult snakes feed mainly on chicks of nesting birds that breed in large colonies on Carnac but forage elsewhere. Substantial annual growth rates in body size in most individuals suggest that food availability is high on Carnac. Growth rates decreased more sharply in adult females than in males, whereas annual changes in body mass were similar in both sexes, probably because of the high energetic costs of reproduction experienced by females. Surprisingly, the sex ratio was highly biased, with males largely outnumbering females.     

村镇土地资源利用优化结构模式研究

土地资源是自然资源的一个重要组成部分 ,也是人类赖以生存的物质基础 ,充分合理地利用自然资源 ,因地制宜地实行专业生产 ,多种经营 ,使农、林、牧、副、渔各业生产因地而异地发展 ,逐步实现区域化、专业化、社会化和商品化 ,对于我们这样一个人口密度大的国家是非常重要的。尤其是随着改革开放、经济建设不断深入发展 ,一些新的社会问题随之产生。在农村乡镇 ,由于缺乏合理规划 ,宅基地和集体基建大量占用良田 ,劳力外流 ,土地资源利用不合理 ,农林牧结构不协调 ,造成耕地减少、质量下降 ,生态环境恶化。在这种情况下 ,对村镇土地资源利用…