四川峨眉山珙桐群落的初步研究

本文通过对峨眉山珙桐群落分布、生境条件、区系组成、群落外貌和结构等方面的分析,认为该群落的性质是一种典型的中亚热带中山山地常绿、落叶阔叶混交林植被;适宜分布于温暖、潮湿、雨量充沛、云雾多、日照少、山势陡峻、沟谷切割很深的地段;群落中植物种类丰富,区系组成复杂,古老植物较多,从区系地理成分的分析反映出该区域植被具有中国—日本植物区系的基本特征。 该群落的自然更新是通过种子繁殖和萌蘖等方式的互补来实现,从而使其成为较稳定的群落。但目前该群落正遭到较严重的破坏,应采取人工辅助更新等切实措施加以保护。     

Incidence of exercise-associated hyponatremia during a high-altitude 161-km ultramarathon

[Purpose]Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) is a well-known condition among endurance athletes at low altitudes. The incidence of EAH during ultramarathons at high altitudes warrants further investigation. This prospective observational study was conducted on the participants of the Leadville Trail 100 run, a 161-km race held at a high altitude (2,800 m-3,840 m).[Methods]Venous blood samples were collected before and immediately after the race. The participants completed an electronic survey after the race. Our main outcome measure was the post-race serum sodium ([Na⁺]) level.[Results]Of the 672 athletes who started the race, 351 (52%) successfully completed the event within the 30-hour cut-off. Post-race blood samples were collected from 84 runners (66 finishers). Both pre- and post-race blood samples were collected from 37 participants. Twenty percent of the post-race participants had EAH. Only one post-race participant had a [Na⁺] level of <130 mmol/L. All participants with EAH were asymptomatic. One participant had an abnormal pre-race [Na⁺] level (134 mmol/L). Female participants had a significantly higher rate of EAH than male participants (40% vs. 16%; p=0.039). Age, body mass index, weight changes, race completion status, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and urine specific gravity were not associated with the development of EAH. Lower postrace [Na⁺] levels were associated with higher serum creatine kinase values (R²=0.1, p<0.005).[Conclusion]High altitude (3,840 m peak) does not appear to enhance the incidence of EAH after an ultramarathon footrace. This suggests that ambient temperature (low temperatures reduce risk), sex (female predilection), endurance running, and overhydration are more prominent risk factors for EAH than high altitude.     

A preliminary investigation of urinary testosterone and cortisol levels in wild male mountain gorillas

Urinary steroid hormone levels were measured in wild male mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) to determine how levels of testosterone and cortisol corresponded with age and social rank. Urine samples were collected noninvasively from 18 males, ranging in age from 3–26 years, in three groups of wild mountain gorillas at the Karisoke Research Center, Rwanda, Africa, and samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassay procedures. Males were classified as being immature (<7 years), maturing (10–13 years), or adult (+13 years of age). Immature males had significantly lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of cortisol than both maturing and adult males. No differences in testosterone or cortisol levels were found between maturing and adult males. Dominant males exhibited a trend toward significantly higher levels of testosterone than subordinate males, but no difference was found between cortisol levels of dominant and subordinate males. These results suggest that the increase in testosterone associated with puberty occurs prior to any outward sign of development of secondary sexual characteristics. Within-group male–male competition may affect testosterone levels, but the lack of difference in cortisol levels between dominant and subordinate males suggests that subordinate males are not socially stressed, at least as measured by cortisol. Am. J. Primatol. 43:51–64, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Infanticide and the evolution of pair bonds in nonhuman primates

Social relationships between adult males and females vary widely among mammals. In general, interactions between the sexes, particularly those of an affiliative nature, are associated with and, indeed, often limited to the period of copulation or female estrus.¹ Nevertheless, cohesive male-female bonds persist beyond estrus in some species, particularly nonhuman primates,² for reasons that remain largely obscure. Protection from male infanticide has been offered as a potential benefit to females of bonds with males in a variety of primates, including mountain gorillas and gibbons. Here I evaluate this hypothesis within a comparative framework that considers alternative costs and benefits of social relationships between the sexes.     

Elevation‐related climatic factors dominate soil free‐living nematode communities and their co‐occurrence patterns on Mt. Halla,South Korea

Nematodes play vital roles in soil ecosystems. To understand how their communities and coexistence patterns change along the elevation as well as to determine the best explanatory factors underlying these changes, we investigated free‐living soil nematodes on Mt. Halla, South Korea, using an amplicon sequencing approach targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Our results showed that there was significant variation in the community diversity and composition of soil nematodes in relation to elevation. The network interactions between soil nematodes were more intensive at the lower elevations. Climatic variables were responsible explaining the elevational variation in community composition and co‐occurrence pattern of the nematode community. Our study indicated that climatic factors served as the critical environmental filter that influenced not only the community structure but also the potential associations of soil nematodes in the mountain ecosystem of Mt. Halla. These findings enhance the understanding of the community structure and co‐occurrence network patterns and mechanisms of soil nematode along elevation, and the response of soil nematodes to climate change on the vertical scale of mountain ecosystems.     

Hydraulic Microdistribution of Cased Caddis Larvae in an Austrian Mountain Brook

Water velocity acting at the upper edge of the case opening was measured at the locations of 1074 cased caddis larvae along a cross section of the Seebach near Lunz Biological Station (Lower Austria). In addition, Froude number, boundary Reynolds number, bottom shear stress and thickness of the viscous sublayer were measured at the center of contagious sampling squares of 30 × 30 cm over the same cross section. Measurements were made at monthly intervals from 2 November 1993 to 24 October 1994 using an impeller-meter (Ott C2; propeller diameter = 30 mm) and a set of FST hemispheres. A total of 16 species was recorded with Drusus biguttatus Pictet, Allogamus auricollis Pictet and Potamophylax cingulatus Stephens being most abundant. Maximum values of current velocity and hydraulic stress parameters (e.g. Froude numbers up to 0.90) were recorded for D. biguttatus. P. cingulatus and Glossosoma conformis Neboiss, whereas lowest values of hydraulic stress parameters were observed in Sericostoma flavicorne Schneider. In addition, up to 40% of the population in Drusinae species and P. cingulatus was over-represented in high stress areas at the streambed, whilst up to 36% of the population in S. flavicorne and Allogamus spp. were over-represented in low stress areas.     

The largest trees in Australia

Large old trees have many critical ecological functions. We collated information about Australia's tallest and largest (by circumference) trees from several databases. The 20 tallest trees in Australia are currently all Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) found primarily in Tasmania. There are also some Mountain Ash trees in Victoria which are over 90 m tall and still increasing in height. The 20 largest (by circumference) trees are distributed throughout four states (NSW, TAS, WA and VIC) with Mountain Ash accounting for more than half of the trees on this list. Making this information available in one location increases its accessibility and allows for priority species and areas for conservation to be more easily identified. Documenting the size and condition of trees, together with their location, will enable them to be revisited and monitored in the future. This practice will allow changes in tree condition, occurring through growth and/or deterioration, to be documented. We trust that by increasing the accessibility of this information, we encourage more people to take an interest in the ecology and conservation of large old trees. This is important given the past and present cultural significance of trees to Australia's First Nations People and the need to preserve this information and appreciation for nature.