黄河下游平原不同非农生境中植物多样性

自然、半自然等非农生境是区域农业景观的重要组成部分,对区域生物多样性保护具有重要意义。黄河下游平原区是典型的农业景观,农田是最主要的景观类型,林地、树篱等景观要素散布其中,为研究区内非农生境中生物多样性及其生态效应,采用典型样地法对区内典型农业景观中林地、树篱、田间道路和沟渠等主要非农生境中的植物群落进行调查研究。结果显示:区内植物组成以菊科、禾本科等为主;区内植物科的地理成分以世界分布和泛热带分布为主,各生境间有一定的差异,属的地理成分复杂,具有中国15个种子植物属分布型中的13个,以温带分布、世界分布和泛热带分布为主,总体上区内的植物组成以广布种为主,优势科属明显,特有种缺乏;各非农生境中的植物多样性存在一定的差异,林地和树篱生境具有较高的物种丰富度和多样性,显著高于田间道路,沟渠、林地和树篱生境中的物种均匀度和群落盖度均显著高于田间道路;β多样性分析表明田间道路生境中的群落组成分化程度在各样点间最大(β多样性指数最高);树篱、林地和田间道路等生境间群落相似性均较高,但其群落结构和优势种组成方面却存在显著的差异,沟渠作为一种特殊生境与其它生境间的群落相似性相对较低。研究表明,在黄河下游平原典型农业景观中,作为非农生境存在的林地和树篱在物种多样性维持中具有重要地位,沟渠为水生和湿生植物提供了庇护所,意义重大;各生境间高的群落相似性仅是物种组成名录相似性的反映,其空间格局和优势种群间差异明显,各生境植物群落的生态功能差异巨大。未来区内生物多样性的保护应重在生态系统过程、功能的加强以及生态系统服务的维持和提高,且需进一步在景观水平上探讨各非农景观要素的空间构型对其生态效益的影响机制及其调控和管理策略。     

青藏高原火绒草斑块群落空间格局分析

以青藏高原两种生境(阴坡和阶地)和4个斑块大小等级水平(等级1:0.2—0.6m2,G1;等级2:0.6—2 m2,G2;等级3:2—3.6 m2,G3和等级4:3.6—8.6 m2,G4)的火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)群落为对象,利用幂乘方法则,分析了其种群和群落空间异质性和群落物种多样性特征,明晰了优势种、亚优势种、伴生种和偶见种对其植被分布格局的影响。结果表明:各火绒草斑块的群落空间分布格局均呈集群分布,植物种的随机出现频率和实际出现频率的方差对数值与其幂乘方法吻合性较高(R2﹥0.8),幂乘方法能对火绒草斑块植被空间分布格局进行客观分析。优势种火绒草和线叶嵩草(Kobresia capillifolia),亚优势种球花蒿(Artemisia smithii)和珠芽蓼(Polygonum viviparum)等的相对空间异质性(ε)高于群落的空间异质性(δC),位于直线y=0上方,使群落趋于集群分布;伴生种西北针茅(Stipa krylovii)、瑞香狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme)和苔草(Carex sp)等的ε与群落的δC类似,位于直线y=0附近,它们维持群落自身空间分布状态;偶见种的ε低于群落的δC,位于直线y=0下方,降低群落的集群分布。随火绒草斑块等级水平的增加,群落物种数呈增加,丰富度指数DGI呈降低变化。一般火绒草斑块的δc和βw为阶地﹥阴坡,DGI为阶地﹤阴坡;两种生境下,植物种组成的相似性G1斑块较低,G2—G4斑块较高。火绒草斑块的群落分布格局主要由优势种和亚优势种及偶见种的ε决定。     

沙地生境和平茬年限对沙柳叶功能特征的影响

研究了毛乌素沙地南缘水滨边丘间地和干旱丘顶两种生境下沙柳平茬后不同年限(1、2、3～4和5～6年)对沙柳叶片光合气体交换、水分利用效率、结构特性及氮、磷养分含量等叶功能特征的影响.结果表明:水滨边丘间地沙柳叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、瞬时和长期水分利用效率均高于丘顶,但N、P养分含量低于丘顶;两种生境下沙柳的叶结构性状无显著差异.干旱生境下沙柳主要通过增加养分含量、降低光合和水分利用来生存.随平茬年限增加,叶片净光合速率和气孔导度显著下降,氮含量和瞬时水分利用效率亦呈下降趋势,且二者之间呈显著正相关;平茬后1年的叶面积最高,比叶质量和叶干物质含量最低,此后比叶质量增加,叶面积和干物质含量不变;叶结构性状与光合及养分特性之间无显著相关性.叶光合活性和氮含量的下降是沙柳随平茬年限增加而衰败的重要原因.     

Migratory divides and their consequences for dispersal, population size and parasite-host interactions

Populations of migratory birds differ in their direction of migration with neighbouring populations often migrating in divergent directions separated by migratory divides. A total of 26% of 103 passerine bird species in Europe had migratory divides that were located disproportionately often along a longitudinal gradient in Central Europe, consistent with the assumption of a Quaternary glacial origin of such divides in the Iberian and Balkan peninsulas followed by recolonization. Given that studies have shown significant genetic differentiation and reduced gene flow across migratory divides, we hypothesized that an absence of migratory divides would result in elevated rates of gene flow and hence a reduced level of local adaptation. In a comparative study, species with migratory divides had larger population sizes and population densities and longer dispersal distances than species without migratory divides. Species with migratory divides tended to be habitat generalists. Bird species with migratory divides had higher richness of blood parasites and higher growth rates of Staphylococcus on their eggs during the incubation period. There was weaker cell-mediated immunity in adults and stronger cell lysis in species with migratory divides. These findings may suggest that migratory divides constitute barriers to dispersal with consequences for ecology and evolution of distributions, population sizes, habitats and parasite-host interactions. They also suggest that migratory divides may play a role in local adaptation in host-parasite interactions.     

The importance of an invasive tree fruit as a resource for mosquito larvae

Invasive plants are common and may provide resources through litter for container mosquito larvae. Invasive plant reproductive parts can make up a substantial part of litter but have mostly been ignored as a resource for mosquito larvae. We hypothesized that the reproductive fruits of the invasive eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, provide high quality resources for the invasive, container mosquito Aedes albopictus at the western margin of its invasive range in North America. To test this hypothesis, we performed two laboratory experiments. The first examined the response of individual larvae of Ae. albopictus to different amounts of J. virginiana leaf (fresh and senesced) and J. virginiana fruit (ripe and unripe), as well as to a control leaf (Quercus virginiana, live oak). The second experiment examined the response of different densities of Ae. albopictus larvae to each litter type. We found significant differences in response by individual larvae to different amounts of litter and litter types. We also found J. virginiana litter components could support positive population growth rates as a function of initial larval density where the control leaf could not. We conclude that invasive plants may provide high quality resources, and that the reproductive parts (fruits, flowers, cones) may be an important and overlooked component in provisioning larval habitats. Therefore, the expansion of J. virginiana into grassland areas may contribute to the expansion of Ae. albopictus westward in North America.     

Using demographic data to better interpret pitfall trap catches

The results of pitfall trapping are often interpreted as abundance in a particular habitat. At the same time, there are numerous cases of almost unrealistically high catches of ground beetles in seemingly unsuitable sites. The correlation of catches by pitfall trapping with the true distribution and abundance of Carabidae needs corroboration. During a full year survey in 2006/07 in the Lake Elton region (Volgograd Area, Russia), 175 species of ground beetles were trapped. Considering the differences in demographic structure of the local populations, and not their abundances, three groups of species were recognized: residents, migrants and sporadic. In residents, the demographic structure of local populations is complete, and their habitats can be considered "residential". In migrants and sporadic species, the demographic structure of the local populations is incomplete, and their habitats can be considered "transit". Residents interact both with their prey and with each other in a particular habitat. Sporadic species are hardly important to a carabid community because of their low abundances. The contribution of migrants to the structure of carabid communities is not apparent and requires additional research. Migrants and sporadic species represent a "labile" component in ground beetles communities, as opposed to a "stable" component, represented by residents. The variability of the labile component substantially limits our interpretation of species diversity in carabid communities. Thus, the criteria for determining the most abundant, or dominant species inevitably vary because the abundance of migrants in some cases can be one order of magnitude higher than that of residents. The results of pitfall trapping adequately reflect the state of carabid communities only in zonal habitats, while azonal and disturbed habitats are merely transit ones for many species of ground beetles. A study of the demographic structure of local populations and assessment of the migratory/residential status of particular carabid species are potential ways of increasing the reliability of pitfall trap information.     

草地贪夜蛾幼虫耐饥力及饥饿对其生长发育和繁殖的影响

本文旨在明确草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)幼虫耐饥力及饥饿处理对其生长发育、繁殖力的影响.选取初孵幼虫(幼虫孵化1 h内)、2、4、6、8和10日龄的幼虫进行饥饿处理,测定存活率和存活时间分析其耐饥力;进一步选取8日龄幼虫分别饥饿1、2、3和4d后再复食,分别统计和分析饥饿胁...     

Population density of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), local diet composition and availability of foraging habitats

We studied the regional variation in population density of Myotis myotis (Borkhausen 1797) in south-eastern Bavaria, Germany, and its relations to diet composition and the availability of potential foraging habitats. We monitored colony size and juvenile mortality from 1991 to 2003, conducted faecal analyses in 1993 and determined land-use patterns around colonies. The numbers of individuals counted in the nursery colonies showed only small fluctuations over the years. However, data on colony size demonstrated a pronounced regional variation. Epigeic arthropods, mainly Carabidae, were the most important prey. The diet included prey taxa of forest as well as grassland habitats. The percentage of those prey taxa in the diet that originated in grassland managed with different intensity varied according to the availability of these potential foraging habitats around the nursery roosts. The calculated population density of the bats was positively correlated to forest area and especially to the area of mixed forest around the nursery roosts. Our results indicate that the availability of foraging habitats is a limiting factor for local population densities in the greater mouse-eared bat.     

Influence of physical environmental characteristics and anthropogenic factors on the position and structure of a contact zone between two chromosomal races of the house mouse on the island of Madeira (North Atlantic, Portugal)

Aim This study aimed to investigate if and how environmental characteristics (physical factors of the natural environment and the human impact on the landscape) influence the position and structure of a contact zone between two chromosomal races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus Rutty 1712) from the island of Madeira. Location The western part of Madeira, a volcanic island in the North Atlantic. Methods Mice were sampled along a south/north‐western transect following the main road, in human‐modified outdoor habitats. Karyotypes of mice were determined using the yeast‐stimulated bone marrow cell method. Trapping sites were characterized in terms of their physical (altitude, temperature, precipitation and soil type) and habitat (human landscape use and occupancy) features. Demographic parameters of mouse populations, based on trapping‐with‐removal techniques, were also analysed (relative abundance, sex‐ratio, juvenile ratio and female fertility ratio), as well as body size (weight and length). Results Four chromosomal zones were identified on the basis of the frequency of two diagnostic rearrangements (Rb(6.7) in race E. Calheta and Rb(7.15) in race A. Cruz). E. Calheta was present in the two southern‐most zones, followed by the contact zone characterized by the presence of two inter‐racial hybrids and the co‐occurrence of mice belonging to the two races. The northern‐most part of the transect was occupied by A. Cruz. Environmental features differed leading us to split the transect into two parts. The southern part is characterized by lower altitude and precipitation, milder temperature, better soil quality supporting vegetable crops and vineyards, and more abundant and evenly distributed human habitats. This southern part is occupied by E. Calheta mice. The north‐western part presents characteristics opposite to those described above with cereals as the main cultivated crop, and it includes the contact zone as well as the zone inhabited by A. Cruz mice. The demographic parameters evaluated in this study did not differ significantly between chromosomal zones. Main conclusions This ecological survey highlights differences in climatic and edaphic features that have moulded the agricultural activities of humans, contributing to a differentiation of their spatial development, and hence the structure of potential habitats for mice. Results are interpreted within the source–sink framework of population dynamics, following which E. Calheta may function as a source and the areas where A. Cruz and the contact zone are located may function as a sink. Our study suggests that the position and chromosomal composition of the contact zone is influenced by the human component underlying broader environmental features. Similar characteristics were most likely present during the historical settlement of Madeira. They may have favoured the independent divergence of the two races and influenced the dynamics of the contact zone.     

Micro- and macromethod assays for the ecological study of Legionella pneumophila

The survival of a strain of Legionella pneumophila (Lp-1) inoculated in artificial water microcosms was investigated with and without an amoebal host and varying environmental conditions, such as biofilm formation, amount of nutrients and incubation temperature. The results obtained using short (micromethod) and long (macromethod) term methods showed that L. pneumophila Lp-1 dies rapidly at 4 degrees C in the "macromethod" assay. When the same temperature (4 degrees C) was applied to the "micromethod" assay, L. pneumophila Lp-1 survived for three weeks, although it progressively decreased. At an incubation temperature of 30 degrees C, the aquatic environment was more favourable and better survival emerged in the "macromethod"; in contrast, this favourable temperature condition did not improve the survival of L. pneumophila Lp-1 cultured with the "micromethod". The role of the protozoa Acanthamoeba polyphaga proved to be indispensable for legionella survival only when environmental conditions become unfavourable.