Floristic inventory and diversity assessment of a lowland African Montane Rainforest at Korup,Cameroon and implications for conservation

Twenty modified‐Whittaker plots were stratified at different sampling locations from February to May of 2008 in the central zone of Korup National Park, Cameroon. Our interest was to assess floristic diversity and investigate their relationship with environmental variables. Diversity profiles and rank abundance–curves were used for diversity analysis while canonical correspondence analysis and species–response curves were used to investigate the relationships between the response and explanatory variables. Of the 66 families identified, the Rubiaceae (999 species) were the most abundant. The Sterculiaceae (basal area = 10.482 m² ha^?1) were the dominant family, while the co‐dominant families included the Ebenaceae (basal area = 9.092 m² ha^?1) and the Euphorbiaceae (basal area = 8.168 m² ha^?1). Soil variables explained 54.3% of total variation in family distribution. Canonical axes were related to different environmental gradients: axis1 was related to increasing canopy cover (r = 0.6951); axis 2, increasing Magnesium (r = 0.8465) and effective cation exchange capacity (r = 0.5899); axis 3, increasing effective cation exchange capacity (r = 0.5536); while axis 4, increasing Phosphorus concentration (r = 0.5232). Our results demonstrate the advantage which diversity profiles have over single or combination of indices, and the importance of using a combination of methodologies in diversity analysis.     

Aspects of community ecology of amphibians and reptiles at Bonny Island (Nigeria), an area of priority relevance for petrochemical industry

Finima Nature Park, situated in Bonny Island (Niger Delta, Nigeria), is a protected forested area placed within one of the most industrially developed (and environmentally polluted) regions of the whole African continent. Amphibian and reptile community composition in relation to season and microhabitat characteristics was studied, by a combination of field techniques, during the wet and dry seasons of 2007 and 2008. Overall, a total of 21 species of reptiles from nine families (with 668 individuals caught) and eight amphibian species from five families (492 individuals caught) were recorded. Nearly 94% of the amphibian individuals and most of the species were recorded, especially during the wet season, whereas most of the reptiles were found with no inter‐seasonal differences. However, Agama agama and Mabuya affinis were found especially during the dry season. As for microhabitat use, the reptile species showed a clear, aggregated preference for two microhabitat types (dry leaves and under logs), which are probably crucial when these animals need to lose body temperature to avoid overheating. Concerning amphibians, the various species used the available microhabitats in a way expectable from their main ecological traits, with toads differing from aquatic frogs, and these differing from arboreal frogs.     

华北驼绒藜种群数量动态与生殖特性的相关性

采用立木级法研究华北驼绒藜种群的大小级结构,利用各龄级的存活数编制种群静态生命表和存活曲线,构建时间序列预测图对种群数量动态过程进行预测,利用生活史特征观察结果分析其生殖对策,探讨了生殖特性与种群动态的关系。结果表明:华北驼绒藜种群幼龄和老龄级个体数较少,中龄级个体数量较多,呈稳定或衰退趋势;种群生命表和存活曲线的分析表明,尽管生境条件不同,但存活曲线基本接近DeeveyⅢ型;种群数量的时间序列预测表明,华北驼绒藜种群会随时间推移,呈现老龄级株数先增加后减少的趋势,种群稳定性长期维持困难;生活史特征表明,华北驼绒藜在长期进化过程中形成了兼具r-对策和k-对策的双重特性来维持种群的相对稳定。良好的生殖适应性是物种发展的关键,华北驼绒藜种群年龄结构、生命表、存活曲线以及时间序列预测图反映出其种群数量动态与生殖特性具有密切的相关性,传粉系统效率低、胚胎发育过程营养失调、种子向幼苗的转化率低以及种群更新对母株的依赖性强等生殖生物学特性与种群动态相吻合;生境恶劣和人为干扰也成为其种群发展的制约因素。     

First known gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Arecaceae: Normanbyomyia fructivora gen. & sp. n. damaging fruit of the black palm, Normanbya normanbyi, in tropical Australia

Abstract  A new species of gall midge, Normanbyomyia fructivora gen. & sp. n., was found infesting flowers and fruit of the black palm, Normanbya normanbyi (Arecaceae), in the tropical forest of north-eastern Australia. Larvae of the gall midge live between the perianth and the young fruit causing abnormal fruit growth. Infested fruit are substantially smaller than healthy ones, fall off prematurely and decay on the ground without producing seedlings. Normanbyomyia , a new genus erected for the new species is placed within the supertribe Lasiopteridi and is characterised by a conspicuous female abdominal segment 8 that is inflated and strongly sclerotised, and wide male parameres that loosely sheath the aedeagus and bear no papillae. A key to Australian Lasiopteridi is provided. The new species becomes the first described gall midge that feeds on a plant from the palm family, Arecaceae.     

Semisynthesis and in vitro anticancer activities of andrographolide analogues

The plant Andrographis paniculata found throughout Southeast Asia contains Andrographolide 1, a diterpenoid lactone, which has antitumour activities against in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models. In the present study, we report on the synthesis of andrographolide derivatives, 3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide (2), 14-acetyl-3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide (3) and 14-acetylandrographolide (4), and their in vitro antitumour activities against a 2-cell line panel consisting of MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) and HCT-116 (colon cancer cell line). Compounds 2 and 4 were also screened at the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their activities against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines derived from nine cancer types. Compound 2 was found to be selective towards leukaemia and colon cancer cells, and compound 4 was selective towards leukaemia, ovarian and renal cancer cells at all the dose-response parameters. Compounds 2 and 4 showed non-specific phase of the cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells treated at different intervals with different concentrations. NCI's COMPARE and SOM mechanistic analyses indicated that the anticancer activities of these new class of compounds were not similar to that of standard anticancer agents, suggesting novel mechanism(s) of action.     

神农架大九湖湿地公园的植被现状与保护对策

大九湖湿地公园共有维管植物103科273属411种,分别占整个神农架自然保护区维管植物科、属、种的51.8%、31.3%和14.9%。在植物地理区系成分上,以温带成分为主。大九湖湿地公园的植被可划分为4个植被型组,7个植被型,20个群系。黑三棱群落(Form.Sparganium stoloniferum)和睡菜群落(Form.Menyanthes trifoliata)为中国首次记载。食虫植物黄花狸藻(Utricularia aurea)和圆叶茅膏菜(Drosera rotundifolia)及苔草群落(Form.Carexargyi)中的浮毛茛(Ranunculus natans)均为神农架地区首次记载,并且圆叶茅膏菜和浮毛茛亦为湖北省首次记载。在全面调查大九湖湿地公园植被现状的基础上,结合大九湖湿地公园存在的主要问题,提出了相应的保护对策。     

广州市越秀公园鸟类多样性与保护对策

对广州市越秀公园鸟类的多样性进行了调查,共记录鸟类43种,隶属8目20科。其中留鸟27种,夏候鸟2种,冬候鸟8种,其它繁殖鸟6种。对夏冬季及不同生境的鸟类群落特征进行比较分析,得到夏季鸟类的数量、密度、优势度都比冬季高,而多样性指数和均匀性指数却比冬季低;南秀湖畔大草坪、金印游乐场、竹林、南秀树林、南秀湖和环市路旁6种生境中鸟类的种类、数量和多样性差异较大,以金印游乐场鸟类的多样性最高。根据公园内不同环境鸟类多样性状况提出了保护对策。     

Environmental Correlates for Species Richness among Amphibians and Reptiles in a Climate Transition Area

Correlations between environmental factors and the distribution of amphibian and reptile species richness were investigated in a climate transition area, Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), in North-Western Portugal. Using presence-data at a local-scale (1 × 1 km), Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) identified a mixture of climatic (precipitation and number of days with fog), topographical (altitude and relief) and habitat factors (number of watercourses and water surfaces, the type of the largest water surface and tree diversity cover), as accurate predictors of species occurrence. Three factors were common for both taxonomic groups, and consistently presented a positive relation with species occurrence: precipitation, number of water surfaces, and tree diversity cover; suggesting a strong coincidence in the environmental correlates that influence amphibian and reptile species richness. Distribution patterns of observed and predicted species richness were compared using a Geographical Information System. Overall, three high species richness areas were predicted in common for both taxonomic groups and two additional areas for amphibians only. These areas matched with the observed species richness but suggested larger areas of high species richness. The location of the PNPG in a biogeographic crossroad, between Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean provinces, emphasised species richness of amphibians and reptiles and suggests a high priority conservation status for this protected area. Most of Central-Northern Portugal is located in a climatic transition area; therefore, increased species richness should be expected for other areas. Local scale studies for other protected areas should be planned as a framework for the development of multi-scale conservation planning by Portuguese authorities.     

Nutrient status and retention in pristine and disturbed wetlands in Uganda: management implications

Wetlands in Uganda experience different forms of human pressure ranging from drainage for agriculture and industrial development to over harvesting of wetland products. In order to develop sustainable management tools for wetland ecosystems in Uganda and the Lake Victoria Region, water quality analyses were carried out in a rural undisturbed (pristine) wetland (Nabugabo wetland in Masaka) and two urban wetlands that are experiencing human and urban development pressure (the Nakivubo wetland in Kampala and Kirinya wetland in Jinja). The former wetland forms the main inflow into Lake Nabugabo while the other two border the northern shore of Lake Victoria, Uganda. Nabugabo wetland buffers Lake Nabugabo against surface runoff from the catchment, while Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands provides a water treatment function for wastewater from Kampala City and Jinja town respectively, in addition to buffering Lake Victoria against surface runoff. Water quality was assessed in all the wetland sites, and in addition nutrient content and storage was investigated in the main plant species (papyrus, Phragmites, Miscanthidium and cocoyam) in Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands. A pilot experiment was also carried out to assess the wastewater treatment potential of both the papyrus vegetation and an important agricultural crop Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam). Low electrical conductivity, ammonium–nitrogen and ortho-phosphate concentrations were recorded at the inflow into Nabugabo wetland (41.5 μS/cm; 0.91 mg/l and 0.42 mg/l respectively) compared to the Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands (335 μS/cm; 31.68 mg/l and 2.83 mg/l and 502 μS/cm; 10 mg/l and 1.87 mg/l respectively). The papyrus vegetation had higher biomass in Nakivubo and Kirinya wetlands (6.7 kg DW m⁻²; 7.2 kg DW m⁻² respectively), followed by Phragmites (6.5, 6.7), cocoyams (6.4, 6.6) and Miscanthidium (4.0, 4.2). The papyrus vegetation also exhibited a higher wastewater treatment potential than the agricultural crop (cocoyam) during the pilot experiment (maximum removal degree of ammonium–nitrogen being 95% and 67% for papyrus and yams). It was concluded that urbanisation pressure reduces natural wetland functioning either through the discharge of wastewater effluent or the degradation of natural wetland vegetation. It is recommended that wetland vegetation be restored to enhance wetland ecosystem functioning and for wetlands that are not yet under agricultural pressure, efforts should be made to halt any future encroachment.     

Impact of ploughing on soil seed bank dynamics in temporary pools

We examined the impact of ploughing on soil seed banks of plant communities living in temporary marshes located in agricultural fields. The quantity, quality and vertical distribution of seeds were quantified under ploughed or unploughed treatment at community level. We also focussed on a typical semi-aquatic species, Damasonium alisma, to investigate the impact of ploughing at population level. We used two complementary techniques to study seed banks: hand sorting and seedling emergence. We found that species richness of seeds, seed abundance and germination ability were strongly affected by ploughing at community level. Concerning D. alisma, most of the seeds (56%) were stored in the two deepest soil layers among the four considered in ploughed pools. Moreover, the germination rate was higher for buried seeds (84%) than for seeds collected at the surface (33.6%). These patterns were almost inverted in unploughed pools. Our results agree with the temporal storage effect generally suggested to describe the seed bank property of plant communities. But in addition, we showed that ploughing induces a spatial storage effect in accumulating species and individuals in the seed banks that favourably influence community dynamics. We conclude that, in contrast to what is usually thought, ploughing disturbance can be of benefit for such ephemeral wetland vegetation.