Predictive modeling for allopatric Strix (Strigiformes: Strigidae) owls in South America: determinants of their distributions and ecological niche‐based processes

Strix (Strigidae) is a worldwide genus of 17 owl species typical of forested habitats, including Rusty‐barred Owls (S. hylophila), Chaco Owls (S. chacoensis), and Rufous‐legged Owls (S. rufipes) in South America. These species are distributed allopatrically, but the ecological traits that determine their distributions remain largely unknown and their phylogenetic relationships are unclear. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to identify variables explaining their distribution patterns and test hypotheses about ecological divergence and conservatism based on niche overlap analysis. For Rusty‐barred Owls and Chaco Owls, climatic factors related to temperature played a major role, whereas a rainfall variable was more important for Rufous‐legged Owls. When niche overlaps were compared, accounting for regional similarities in the habitat available to each species, an ecological niche divergence process was supported for Chaco Owl‐Rusty‐barred Owl and Chaco Owl‐Rufous‐legged Owl, whereas a niche conservatism process was supported for Rusty‐barred Owl‐Rufous‐legged Owl. Different ecological requirements support current species delimitation, but they are in disagreement with the two main hypotheses currently envisaged about their phylogenetic relationships (Chaco Owls as the sister taxa of either Rufous‐legged Owls or Rusty‐barred Owls) and support a new phylogenetic hypothesis (Rufous‐legged Owls as sister taxa of Rusty‐barred Owls). Our findings suggest that speciation of Rusty‐barred Owls and Rufous‐legged Owls was a vicariant event resulting from Atlantic marine transgressions in southern South America in the Miocene, but their niche was conserved because habitat changed little in their respective ranges. In contrast, Chaco Owls diverged ecologically from the other two species as a result of their adaptations to the habitat they currently occupy. Ecological and historical approaches in biogeography can be embedded to explain distribution patterns, and results provided by SDMs can be used to infer historical and ecological processes in an integrative way.     

Carayonovus n. gen. from Reunion Island – aberrant new genus of Anthocoridae or representative of a new family (Heteroptera: Cimicoidea)?

Carayonovus insignis n. gen., n. sp., a remarkable new genus and species of Heteroptera, is described from Reunion Island. It is tentatively placed in the family Anthocoridae (Cimicoidea), but because of its remarkable sexual dimorphism and possession of characters not normally associated with this family or even with Cimicoidea, the genus is discussed in terms of the validity or otherwise of including it in these taxa. Its habitat preference is also examined.     

Interaction between zinc and calcium in skeletal muscle in young growing rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether zinc and calcium could interact at the tissue level. In the first part of the study, adult rats were injected with ZnCl₂ dissolved in a physiological saline solution to determine the effects of Zn on Ca levels in various tissues. In the second part of the study, weaned rats (at day 22 postnatally) were fed a diet supplemented with Zn until day 50 and were then sacrificed. In both instances, blood, brain, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle were taken and analyzed. In the Zn-injected group, the brain, heart, and liver showed no interaction between Zn and Ca. The skeletal muscle, in contrast, showed a decrease in Ca in the homogenate, whereas Zn contents showed a significant increase at the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Likewise, in the Zn-supplemented group, the Zn content of the SR vesicle of the skeletal muscle showed an increase, whereas Ca content of the pellet (14,000 g), which contains cell debris, nucleus, mitochondria, and SR vesicles of this group, showed a decrease. Current findings suggest antagonistic effects between Zn and Ca on this tissue. Zn may play a critical role in cellular function through the alteration of itnracellular distribution of Ca in skeletal muscle.     

Endogenous Release of γ-Aminobutyric Acid from the Medial Preoptic Area Measured by Microdialysis in the Anaesthetised Rat

The characteristics of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release as monitored by microdialysis have been investigated in the chloral hydrate anaesthetised rat. The high outflow of GABA following insertion of the microdialysis probe (membrane 2 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter) into the medial preoptic area was found to decline to a stable baseline level after 2 h. After this time, perfusion with a medium containing 100 mM potassium ions evoked a 56-fold increase in GABA outflow. The addition of the calcium channel blocker verapamil (100 microM) to the perfusion medium induced significant 25 and 50% reductions in basal and potassium-stimulated GABA outflow, respectively. In the same animals, verapamil caused an 80% decrease in potassium-stimulated noradrenaline outflow. The glutamic acid decarboxylase inhibitors 3-mercaptopropionic acid and L-allylglycine added to the perfusion medium at a concentration of 10 mM reduced basal GABA release by approximately 50% with different time-courses of action. Ethanolamine-O-sulfate, a GABA-transaminase inhibitor, induced significant increases in basal GABA outflow 90 min after inclusion in the perfusion medium. These results demonstrate that microdialysis is a suitable technique with which to monitor extracellular levels of GABA and provide in vivo data on GABA release and degradation mechanisms.     

Spatial pattern of pine wilt disease caused byBursaphelenchus xylophilus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) within aPinus thunbergii stand

To understand the mechanism of spread of pine wilt disease caused by the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is vectored by a cerambycid, Monochamus alternatus, the spatial distribution of trees weakened by the nematode was examined within a Pinus thunbergii stand from June to October for 4 years. The weakened trees were distributed in a clumped pattern in 1980 and 1981, at an early stage of infestation. In many cases, they showed a double-clumped pattern. The degree of aggregation was higher in June or July than after August. They were uniformly distributed in June or July 1982 and in June 1983 whereas they showed a double-clumped pattern after August. The trees were frequently weakened in June or July when they were near the trees weakened during the previous year. At quadrat sizes of more than 25 m², spatial overlapping was pronounced between trees weakened during June–July of the current year and those weakened in the previous year. The seasonal changes in spatial distribution of weakened trees were explained by the interaction among M. alternatus, B. xylophilus and Pinus trees.     

Inclusion of phytosociological data in an index of vegetation fire danger: application and mapping on the Karst area around Trieste (Italy)

In this paper we propose a method to produce maps of fire danger index (FDI). The index includes in the formula a vegetation pyrogenic potential index (VPPI) based on floristic phytosociological data. The map of FDI is produced by integrating available phytosociological maps of vegetation, geomorphology and climate, using the Geographic Information System technology. The method is applied to an area of the coastal Classical Karst (NE-Italy). While fire risk maps based on the incidence of previous fires are useful for facilitating emergency operations, e.g. the allocation of fire fighting resources, we conclude that the proposed index offers an effective tool to plan actions for fire prevention.     

喀斯特地区农村劳动力转移对生态恢复的影响及其区域差异——基于酉阳和沿河的农户调查数据

喀斯特地区的生态恢复对于促进国土空间的生态修复、实现区域生态安全具有重要意义。基于酉阳县和沿河县的383份农户调查数据，从微观的农户尺度运用Tobit模型分析喀斯特地区农村劳动力转移对生态恢复的影响，并关注其对酉阳县和沿河县生态恢复的影响差异。研究结果表明：①研究区劳动力转移现象明显，47.67%的农村劳动力发生了转移；②研究区生态恢复情况总体较好，酉阳县的生态恢复好于沿河县；③农村劳动力转移通过农业劳动力的流失效应和非农收入的替代效应促进了喀斯特地区的生态恢复；④劳动力转移的程度不同，对生态恢复的作用强度也不同。沿河相对滞后的劳动力转移程度，使得其生态恢复稍弱于酉阳。为促进喀斯特地区生态恢复，政府应有序引导农村劳动力向非农就业转移，提高转移农户的非农化程度。     

基于生态系统服务供需的景感尺度特征分析和应用

自然生态系统与人类感知的交互作用是景感生态学关注的焦点，与生态系统服务的供需紧密关联。生态系统、生态过程、生态系统服务以及人的需求均具有一定的时空尺度特征，因此，由这些过程产生的"景感"也具有时空尺度特征，并依赖于这个过程的尺度特征相互作用。梳理生态系统服务供需关系与景感营造规划的尺度特征，探索二者相互联系，进而提出基于景感生态学理论，通过景感营造实现生态系统服务供需平衡的多尺度实现路径。从空间维度，体现从"社区-城市-流域-区域"的多尺度景感规划框架，从应用维度，体现从生态系统服务需求探索-关键指标体系识别-多源谜码数据感知-景感营造与规划设计的具体流程。通过多尺度的联合景感营造，调整自然供给水平与人类不同尺度的生态系统服务需求以期达到平衡，从而实现人类生存环境福利与居民福祉提升的目标。在此基础上，结合雄安新区规划建设实例，从多尺度景感营造的角度为城市绿色生态建设与可持续发展提出优化建议。主要结论：（1）基于"社区-城市-流域-区域"的多尺度景感分析框架，将景感要素与生态系统服务供需思想融入城市规划，在不同尺度上趋善优化，对于实现可持续发展城市规划和管理具有重要指示意义；（2）雄安新区规划设计需更系统和细致地考虑人类感知需求，通过多尺度景感营造设计，共同实现雄安新区的可持续发展与人居环境提升。其中，在社区尺度，需重点关注社区植被配置和居民的休闲游憩；在新区尺度重点关注绿地系统网络构建；在大清河流域尺度重点关注河流健康与水文调节；在京津冀区域尺度需注重山体通风廊道与生态屏障的构建与优化。