Bird diversity and endemism along a land‐use gradient in Madagascar: The conservation value of vanilla agroforests

Land‐use change is the most important driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and particularly so in the tropics, where natural habitats are transformed into large‐scale monocultures or heterogeneous landscape mosaics of largely unknown conservation value. Using birds as an indicator taxon, we evaluated the conservation value of a landscape mosaic in northeastern Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot and the center of global vanilla production. We assessed bird species richness and composition by conducting point counts across seven prevalent land‐use types (forest‐ and fallow‐derived vanilla agroforests, woody and herbaceous fallow that are part of a shifting cultivation system, rice paddy, forest fragment and contiguous old‐growth forest). We find that old‐growth forest had the highest species richness, driven by a high share of endemics. Species richness and community composition in forest‐derived vanilla agroforest were similar to forest fragment, whereas fallow‐derived vanilla agroforest was most comparable to woody fallow. The open land‐use types herbaceous fallow and rice paddy had fewest species. Across forest fragments, vanilla agroforests, and woody fallows, endemic bird species richness was positively correlated to landscape‐scale forest cover. We conclude that both fallow‐ and forest‐derived vanilla agroforests play an important but contrasting role for bird conservation: Fallow‐derived agroforests are less valuable but take fallow land out of the shifting cultivation cycle, possibly preventing further degradation. Conversely, forest‐derived agroforests contribute to forest degradation but may avoid total loss of tree cover from forest fragments. Considering the land‐use history of agroforests may thus be a promising avenue for future research beyond the case of vanilla. Abstract in Malagasay is available with online material     

基于三温模型的南宁市蒸散量估算及其影响因素

蒸散发是水文能量循环和气候系统的关键要素。研究蒸散发的时空变化特征及其响应气候、土地利用的变化规律,对理解城市流域水循环和生态过程效应具有重要意义。本研究基于三温模型和MODIS影像,估算并分析2001—2018年南宁市的蒸散量时空演变特征,并探讨了主要气候要素、土地利用类型对蒸散量的影响规律和驱动模式。结果表明: 2001—2018年,南宁市年均蒸散量在495.7～781.1 mm,年际相对变化率为-22.5%～23.1%,整体呈上升趋势;区域蒸散量呈南北高、中间低的分布格局,市区蒸散量显著低于郊区。南宁市蒸散量与气候因子呈显著的复相关性,气温对蒸散量的影响大于降水,在郊区呈气温驱动型,而市区则存在多种驱动类型复合现象。南宁市各土地利用类型的平均蒸散量大小依次为:林地(823.4 mm)>草地(675.6 mm)>耕地(582.9 mm)>建设用地(346.6 mm)。土地利用类型的转变是导致区域蒸散量发生显著变化的主要下垫面因素。     

辽西北沙地苹果-大豆间作对土壤养分和微生物量分布的影响

为了解辽西北沙地果农间作系统中土壤养分及微生物量分布特征,选取研究区具有代表性的苹果(Malus pumila)-大豆(Glycine max)间作系统为研究对象,对间作系统0~60 cm土层、0~300 cm水平距离范围内的土壤养分和微生物量进行了测定,并与大豆单作、苹果单作进行对比。结果表明:辽西北沙地苹果与大豆间作系统中土壤养分十分匮乏,全氮、碱解氮、有效磷极缺乏;在水平方向上,随距苹果树距离的增加,间作系统中土壤有机质、碱解氮、全磷、有效磷总体上呈现先降低再升高后趋于平稳的变化规律;各养分竞争激烈区位于果树带区[0,100 cm);在垂直方向上,苹果与大豆间作系统各土壤养分均表现出表聚性,表土层(0~20 cm)土壤养分含量显著高于深土层(20~60 cm);土壤微生物量碳、氮在果树带区及表土层含量高,且在该区域细菌数量高;间作与单作各土壤养分、微生物量在表土层差异较大,差异性随土层加深而缩小,间作系统除碱解氮外对土壤养分表现为负效应,不能满足间作系统对土壤养分的需求,尤其对土壤氮素、磷素竞争需求量较大。综上所述,辽西北沙地苹果-大豆间作系统中存在明显的竞争关系,竞争激烈区域位于果树带区,应在此处加强氮肥和磷肥施加。     

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。     

沙生植物沙鞭不同居群形态变异研究

以沙鞭(Psammochloa villosa Bor.)20个自然居群为研究对象,对其株高、花序长度、旗叶长度、旗叶宽度和小穗长度等12个表型性状进行形态变异研究。结果显示,12个性状群体间F值为1.832~8.958,达到显著或极显著水平,表明沙鞭不同居群表型性状存在广泛变异,且变异程度各不相同;主成分分析结果显示,前4个主成分代表了沙鞭形态多样性的82.277%,其中旗叶长度、旗叶宽度、颖片长度、小穗长度等是造成不同居群表型性状差异的主要因素;依据欧式距离对参试居群进行的UPGMA聚类分析结果表明,当遗传距离为20.5时,可以将20个沙鞭野生居群划分为两类,且各表型性状并没有依居群地理分布而聚类。     

Spatial co‐localisation of extreme weather events: a clear and present danger

Extreme weather events have become a dominant feature of the narrative surrounding changes in global climate with large impacts on ecosystem stability, functioning and resilience; however, understanding of their risk of co‐occurrence at the regional scale is lacking. Based on the UK Met Office’s long‐term temperature and rainfall records, we present the first evidence demonstrating significant increases in the magnitude, direction of change and spatial co‐localisation of extreme weather events since 1961. Combining this new understanding with land‐use data sets allowed us to assess the likely consequences on future agricultural production and conservation priority areas. All land‐uses are impacted by the increasing risk of at least one extreme event and conservation areas were identified as the hotspots of risk for the co‐occurrence of multiple event types. Our findings provide a basis to regionally guide land‐use optimisation, land management practices and regulatory actions preserving ecosystem services against multiple climate threats.     

A first revision of the Italian Ecoregion map

Abstract

According to advances in phytogeographic knowledge, a revision of boundaries for the Italian Ecoregions have been made. Main changes relate to the southern and eastern limits between Temperate and Mediterranean Divisions. The revision triggered a comprehensive update of Ecoregions for an improved support to biodiversity and sustainable management initiatives.     

History of West Mediterranean newts,Pleurodeles (Amphibia: Salamandridae), inferred from old and recent DNA sequences

MtDNA sequences (396 bp cytochrome b and 369 bp 12S rRNA) from recent material and old museum specimens indicate Pleurodeles poireti and P. waltl form independent clades with 7.76% genetic divergence. Within P. poireti, populations from Djebel Edough, NE Algeria are very distinct with 6.12% genetic divergence from the remainder and may deserve separate species status. Away from Djebel Edough, P. poireti consists of three distinct clades (coastal NW Tunisia; central N Algeria; Constantine plus inland NW Tunisia) with a maximum genetic divergence of only 1%. P. waltl contains two clades with 2.96% genetic divergence, one in SE and E Spain plus north Morocco, the other in Portugal and SW and central Spain. Pleurodeles probably invaded NW Africa from SW Europe during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, when land contact was first established at 5.6 Ma, and then interrupted at 5.3 Ma. Molecular clocks, calibrated in the assumption that the latter event separated P. waltl and P. poireti, suggest that Pleurodeles diverged from its sister taxon, Tylototriton, at about 8.6–10 Ma. Djebel Edough P. poireti separated at about 4.2 Ma, perhaps through isolation on a temporary, now ‘fossil’, island initiated by the Messinian crisis. Differentiation in remaining P. poireti may have been caused by Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, while bifurcation in P. waltl appears to have taken place in the Pliocene approximately between 3.2 and 2 Ma. This species reached Morocco very recently, perhaps as a result of human introduction. Use in Pleurodeles of the slower divergence rates estimated in some other salamandrids results in a less parsimonious historical hypothesis that does not fit known geophysical events.     

Three new species of the carnivorous snail genus Perrottetia Kobelt, 1905 from Thailand (Pulmonata,?Streptaxidae)

Three new species of the streptaxid snail genus Perrottetia are described from north and northeastern Thailand, Perrottetia aquilonaria sp. n., Perrottetia dermapyrrhosa sp. n. and Perrottetia phuphamanensis sp. n. Each species is endemic to a single or a few limestone mountain ranges. The species are characterized by the morphology of their genital organs, as well as by shell characters. Perrottetia aquilonaria sp. n. has a club shaped distal penis and large penial hooks are present and penial papillae cover almost the entire penial hook portion; adjacent areas possess low reticulated folds. Perrottetia dermapyrrhosa sp. n. has a long genital atrium and the penial sheath is about two-thirds of the penis length. Penial hooks are long, scattered and sunken into deep ovate hollows; vaginal hooks are present. Perrottetia phuphamanensis sp. n. has a rounded and protruded shell periphery. The aperture is subcircular, peristome is thick and the second parietal lamella is adjacent to the first parietal lamella; a basal lamella is the smaller than in the other Thai species.