Effects of an anthropogenic diet on indicators of physiological challenge and immunity of white ibis nestlings raised in captivity

When wildlife forage and/or live in urban habitats, they often experience a shift in resource availability and dietary quality. Some species even use human handouts, such as bread, as well as human refuse, as a large part of their new diets; yet the influences of this nutritional shift on health and survival remain unclear. American white ibises are increasingly being seen in urban areas in Florida; they collect handouts, such as bread and other food items, from humans in parks, and are also found foraging on anthropogenic sources in trash heaps. We hypothesized that the consumption of these new anthropogenic food sources may trigger increases in indicators of physiological challenge and dampen immune responses. We tested this experimentally by raising 20 white ibis nestlings in captivity, and exposing 10 to a simulated anthropogenic diet (including the addition of white bread and a reduction in seafood content) while maintaining 10 on a diet similar to what ibises consume in more natural environments. We then tested two indicators of physiological challenge (corticosterone and heat shock protein 70), assessed innate immunity in these birds via bactericidal assays and an in vitro carbon clearance assay, and adaptive immunity using a phytohemagglutinin skin test. The anthropogenic diet depressed the development of the ability to kill Salmonella paratyphi in culture. Our results suggest that consuming an anthropogenic diet may be detrimental in terms of the ability to battle a pathogenic bacterial species, but there was little effect on indicators of physiological challenge and other immunological measures.     

京津冀地区新型城镇化对土地生态效率影响的实证分析

近年来, 城市化进程的不断推进对城市土地利用及生态环境产生了极大影响。选取城镇化发展最为迅速与典型的京津冀地区作为研究区域, 采用超效率DEA模型及Malmquist效率指数, 从经济学角度分析2006-2015年土地生态效率的时空演变, 随后, 基于人口、富裕和技术(STRIPAT)模型, 构建新型城镇化发展水平的综合指标评价体系, 分析新型城镇化对土地生态效率的影响。研究结果表明: 京津冀地区城镇化发展水平与土地生态效率之间存在显著的正相关关系, 即城镇化水平的不断提升对土地生态效率的提高具有积极作用, 各城市土地生态效率在新型城镇化发展背景下存在明显的空间差异, 此外, 土地利用与管理技术水平的提高、环境政策的改变等均会对土地生态效率的提升产生积极影响。这项研究旨在为提高城市土地管理水平, 推动城市可持续发展提供决策支持。     

西安市城市化对景观格局及生态系统服务价值的影响

我国处于城市化高度发展阶段,截止2018年全国城市化率达到59.58%。城市的快速扩张,显著改变了区域景观格局,深刻影响城市生态系统的供给、调节、文化、支持等服务功能。近30年来,西安市城市用地扩张554.23 km²,基于西安市景观格局变化分析,利用同心缓冲区探讨城乡梯度内景观指数与生态系统服务价值的特征及其相互关系,揭示城市发展对城市生态系统的影响。结果表明,1980-2015年西安市各景观类型面积发生明显变化,耕地、草地面积逐渐减少,建设用地面积波动增加,主要来源于优势景观耕地的转化。景观破碎度最高的区域主要分布在距市中心10 km左右的城乡结合部,斑块密度、边缘密度、景观分割度最高,且随城市扩张,拐点距离逐渐增加。林地和耕地是提供生态系统服务的主要土地类型,西安地区总生态服务价值减少了9.56亿元,耕地减少最多（6.83亿元）,沿城乡梯度,总生态系统服务价值均值呈现从市中心到农村递增的趋势,土壤保持的生态服务价值增长最快;沿时间梯度上,生态服务价值均值呈现逐年减少现象;从景观格局对生态服务价值影响分析得知,多样性指数与各类型生态系统服务价值之间存在显著的相关关系,最大斑块指数与不同类型的服务价值呈高度负相关。城市建设使得区域的生态系统服务价值降低,在城市发展中需要科学规划用地、合理布设景观格局,提高生态环境质量,达到城市生态宜居的目的。     

Survivorship and Spatial Patterns of an Urban Population of Texas Horned Lizards

Habitat fragmentation has negative consequences on threatened and endangered species by creating isolated populations. The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is experiencing population declines and localized extirpations throughout its range and has been classified as a species of greatest conservation need in Oklahoma, USA. Younger age classes have been poorly studied but may be vital to the stability of remaining populations. To address gaps in knowledge concerning subadult (hatchling and juvenile) morphometrics, survivorship, and home range sizes, we studied 2 cohorts of subadults, for 2 years each, covering their hatching and juvenile years (2016–2019). We used a combination of radio-telemetry and novel harmonic radar methodology to study a closed population of Texas horned lizards in 15 ha of native grassland at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Population abundance for adults and juveniles was estimated as 56.5 ± 5.5 lizards and density as 7.96 lizards/ha. Our lowest estimates of survival indicated an average survival probability for the hatchling life stage of 0.285 (95% CI = 0.15–0.44), which is lower than for adults on the site. Average home range size increased from hatchling to adult life stages. Our results will have an immediate effect on the planning and assessment of ongoing headstart and management programs for Texas horned lizards. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.     

城市绿地微生物及其对城市化的响应

城市绿地微生物的稳定性是城市绿地发挥其重要生态系统功能的重要因素。人类世时代的快速城市化会改变城市绿地土壤理化性质、输入新兴污染物、加剧微生物生态系统潜在风险、改变微生物群落多样性及生态系统功能多样性,深远地影响了城市绿地的生态系统服务功能。本文综述了城市绿地微生物的特征,以及城市化进程对城市绿地微生物组（包括土壤、植物叶际和空气）、抗生素抗性基因、病原微生物和稀有物种群落的影响。与自然微生物相比,城市绿地微生物普遍具有较高的异质性,受人类活动影响大。同时,抗生素抗性基因水平以及人类致病菌数量则显著增加,体现了城市化对城市绿地生态系统健康和功能的扰动。今后研究中应更加关注城市化对于城市绿地微生物的影响,为其对人群健康影响风险评价提供可靠理论支持。     

Relationship between aquifer biofilms and unattached microbial indicators of urban groundwater contamination

Aquifers, springs and other groundwater‐dependent ecosystems are threatened by urban land use, which causes water quality deterioration through nutrient loading, sewage infiltration, groundwater extraction and, along coasts, seawater intrusion. The presence of certain microbes in groundwater can indicate that an aquifer is anthropogenically contaminated. Interpretations made from observations of indicator microbes in groundwater are limited because the relationship between the presumably allochthonous indicator microbes and relevant autochthonous microbial communities has not been characterized. This study addressed whether autochthonous aquifer biofilms can influence the presence of presumed microbial indicators in groundwater, and simultaneously used microbial indicators to trace sources of urban contamination at a karst spring of conservation concern. These questions were approached using a 17‐month time series analysis of attached biofilm and adjacent unattached bacteria in the submerged karst aquifer conduit associated with this spring. Environmental 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to characterize these communities, and community structure data were contextualized with groundwater geochemical and hydrogeological measurements. Linear regression models were developed to explain the relative abundance patterns of indicator microbes and other unattached microbes at this site. The results of this study suggest that dominant aquifer biofilms do not influence the presence of unattached microbial taxa that are presumed to be indicators of groundwater contamination, and generated new information about the origin of coliform bacteria at the study site. These results build confidence in the use of microbial indicators in groundwater‐dependent ecosystem conservation strategies and inform future management plans for urban aquifers and springs worldwide.     

贵州花溪大学城破碎化林地鸟类多样性与嵌套分布格局

为揭示城镇化进程中生境破碎化对鸟类多样性及分布格局的影响, 本研究于2017-2019年每年的4-8月使用样线法对贵州花溪大学城26块破碎化林地(面积介于0.3-290.4 ha)中的鸟类群落进行了10次调查。共记录到鸟类78种, 隶属于11目37科。其中, 东洋界物种数占56.4%, 古北界物种数占32.1%, 广布种占11.5%; 有中国特有种1种。剔除高空飞行、非森林鸟类及偶然出现物种后, 不同斑块中的鸟类物种数介于12-55之间, 平均每个斑块有23.2 ± 10.5种。线性回归分析显示, 鸟类物种丰富度与林地斑块的面积有显著相关性, 斑块面积越小, 鸟类物种丰富度越低; 斑块隔离度对物种丰富度没有显著影响。基于物种多度分布矩阵的WNODF (weighted nestedness metric based on overlap and decreasing fill)嵌套分析显示, 不同斑块中鸟类群落呈现出反嵌套结构。小斑块中鸟类物种丰富度较低可能与植物丰富度较低、食物资源稀缺和繁育条件不足有关, 但短距离的隔离对鸟类迁入或扩散影响有限。环境过滤效应、种间竞争或优先效应可能导致不同斑块间存在较大的物种组成差异, 从而导致反嵌套格局。因此, 本研究建议在城市规划建设中应注重维持栖息地的完整性, 对不同面积大小的破碎化斑块都应加以保护。     

北京市主城区不透水面时空演变及其热环境效应研究

城市不透水面是表征城市化进程的重要指标,开展城市不透水面研究对生态环境监测及城市建设规划具有重要意义。以北京市主城区为研究区,基于Landsat影像采用支持向量机(SVM)和线性光谱混合分解模型(LSMM)相结合的方法提取研究区2002年、2009年和2017年三期不透水面;同时采用辐射传输方程法反演研究区地表温度,分析北京市主城区不透水面时空格局演变及其与城市热环境的相关性。研究结果表明:2002—2017年,北京市主城区近15年不透水面聚集度较高且呈持续增长趋势,东、西城区不透水面面积占比最高,朝阳区和海淀区不透水面增长速率和增长强度相对较大。北京市主城区不透水面呈放射状扩张趋势且增长集中在四环以外的区域,不透水面盖度高值区面积不断增加。研究区近15年地表温度持续升高,热岛效应加剧,地表温度高值区与城市建筑区空间分布存在一致性。不透水面空间格局与热环境高度相关,不透水面的斑块密度和破碎度与地表温度呈负相关,斑块所占景观比例及最大斑块指数与地表温度呈正相关,可通过合理控制相关景观指标、优化不透水面空间格局控制地表温度。在此基础上提出了缓解城市热岛效应的建议:增加树木、草地等用地类型;将不透水面分割成许多小斑块,减少大面积不透水面区域分布;使用透水性材料等。     

城镇化对我国食物消费系统氮素水体排放的影响

城镇化的快速发展,将带来巨大的生态环境压力和严重的污染问题.以1982年、1992年和2002年我国城镇与农村居民食用氮的流动去向为对象,探讨了城镇化对氮素水体排放的影响.结果表明:城镇居民食用氮与排泄的粪尿氮高于农村居民;人均排入水体氮量,1982年城镇与农村居民大体相当,1992年、2002年城镇居民是农村居民2.8倍;粪尿氮排入水体比率,1982年城镇与农村基本相当,在7.5%左右,但到2002年城镇粪尿氮排入水体比率高达56.7%,城镇比农村要高34个百分点.情景分析结果表明,如果在人口增加的同时还要改善食物结构增加蛋白质摄入量, 2020年粪尿氮总产生量将增加121～155万t,排入水体氮量也将增加41～64万t.提高粪尿还田率、污水处理率及氮的去除率可以降低粪尿氮排入水体比率.     

Habitat influences on urban avian assemblages

Urbanization is increasing across the globe and there is growing interest in urban ecology and a recognition that developed areas may be important for conservation. We review the factors influencing urban avian assemblages, focusing on habitat type and anthropogenic resource provision, and analyse data from a common bird monitoring scheme to assess some of these issues. The review suggests that (1) local factors are more important than regional ones in determining the species richness of urban avian assemblages, raising the potential for the management of urban sites to deliver conservation; (2) habitat fragmentation frequently influences urban avian assemblages, with the effects of patch size being greater than those of isolation, and (3) urban bird assemblages appear to respond positively to increasing the structural complexity, species richness of woody vegetation and supplementary feeding, and negatively to human disturbance. Data from Britain's Breeding Bird Survey, combined with habitat data obtained from aerial photographs, were used to assess a number of these issues at the resolution of 1‐km squares. Green‐space constituted 45% of these squares, and domestic gardens contributed 50% of this green‐space, though their contribution to large continuous patches of green‐space was negligible. There was no significant positive correlation between the densities of individual species in urban areas and surrounding rural areas. Rural species richness declined with increasing latitude, but urban species richness was not correlated with latitude. This contrast contributes to slightly higher avian species richness in rural squares in Southern England than urban ones. Occupancy and abundance were strongly positively correlated in urban avian assemblages, and some indicator species of conservation concern occurred in few urban areas and at low densities. Such species will require conservation action to be precisely targeted within urban areas. Of the urban indicators of conservation concern, only the House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris were more abundant in urban than rural areas. Moreover, the densities of these two species were strongly and positively correlated, indicating that they may be limited by shared resources, such as nest‐sites or supplementary food. There was little evidence that high densities of nest‐predating corvids were associated with reduced densities of their prey species. Species richness and the densities of individual species frequently declined with an increasing number of buildings. Current trends for the densification of many British urban areas are thus likely to be detrimental for many bird species.