Is there a general theory of community ecology?

Community ecology entered the 1970s with the belief that niche theory would supply a general theory of community structure. The lack of wide-spread empirical support for niche theory led to a focus on models specific to classes of communities such as lakes, intertidal communities, and forests. Today, the needs of conservation biology for metrics of “ecological health” that can be applied across types of communities prompts a renewed interest in the possibility of general theory for community ecology. Disputes about the existence of general patterns in community structure trace at least to the 1920s and continue today almost unchanged in concept, although now expressed through mathematical modeling. Yet, a new framework emerged in the 1980s from findings that community composition and structure depend as much on the processes that bring species to the boundaries of a community as by processes internal to a community, such as species interactions and co-evolution. This perspective, termed “supply-side ecology”, argued that community ecology was to be viewed as an “organic earth science” more than as a biological science. The absence of a general theory of the earth would then imply a corresponding absence of any general theory for the communities on the earth, and imply that the logical structure of theoretical community ecology would consist of an atlas of models special to place and geologic time. Nonetheless, a general theory of community ecology is possible similar in form to the general theory for evolution if the processes that bring species to the boundary of a community are analogized to mutation, and the processes that act on the species that arrive at a community are analogized to selection. All communities then share some version of this common narrative, permitting general theorems to be developed pertaining to all ecological communities. Still, the desirability of a general theory of community ecology is debatable because the existence of a general theory suppresses diversity of thought even as it allows generalizations to be derived. The pros and cons of a general theory need further discussion.     

Floristic quality as an indicator of human disturbance in forested wetlands of northern New England

Across the country, degradation of freshwater wetlands has prompted a need for science-based methods for assessing and monitoring wetland condition. Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is an assessment that measures the health of an ecosystem. FQA is based on resilience values called Coefficients of Conservatism (C-values), preassigned to each plant species. The method has proven to signal human disturbance in most wetland types, but is understudied in forested wetlands. We compared FQA scores and Ecological Integrity Assessment (EIA) scores (Level 2) of 11 red maple − Sphagnum basin swamps (RMSBS) of New Hampshire and 12 red maple swamps (RMS) of southern Maine to test the hypothesis that FQA signals human disturbance in forested wetlands. EIA did not distinguish RMSMS from RMS, however Mean C, Cover Weighted Mean C (wC), and FQI did. In RMSBS, wC showed the strongest positive correlation with EIA scores. In RMS, Mean C showed the strongest positive correlation with EIA scores. For all sites combined, wC and Mean C were significantly correlated with EIA scores. Meaningful relationships were not observed between FQI or wFQI and EIA scores. The results indicate that Mean C and wC offer a reliable metrics for the evaluation of forested wetlands in northern New England.     

A diatom functional-based approach to assess changing environmental conditions in temporary depressional wetlands

Functional-based assessments to identify the effects of human-induced disturbances on diatom communities are increasingly used. However, information on the response of functional groups to natural disturbances in temporary depressional wetlands is limited although important for the development of temporary wetland biological assessments. We assessed how diatom life-form and ecological guilds responded to a seasonal hydrological and hydrochemical gradient in three least human-disturbed, temporary depressional wetlands. We assigned species to their respective life-form and ecological guild groups and compared metric composition along the gradient. Overall, temporal variability in alkalinity and ionic composition, essentially Na⁺, as well as hydrological factors, wetland depth and total relative evapotranspiration (ETo), were good predictors of diatom species and functional group composition. Low profile guilds dominated by pioneer life-forms showed the strongest relationship with higher disturbance levels (i.e. increasing Na⁺, alkalinity with a decrease in depth). Similarly, the planktonic guild and tube-living, rosette and adnate life-forms dominated at higher disturbance levels whereas the high profile diatoms displayed the reverse trend. Our study shows the effectiveness of functional-based assessments beyond traditional species-based approaches for understanding and predicting community responses to temporal changes in environmental conditions. We also highlight the benefit of using both life-forms and ecological guilds where a broad set of metrics can enhance our understanding of the mechanisms relating diatom composition to environmental stressors and provide signs of underlying ecological processes.     

A method for prioritizing the reestablishment of river continuity in Austrian rivers

River continuity is one of the hydro-morphological elements supporting the classification of the ecological status of rivers. In order to achieve good ecological status in the continuity of rivers, the impacts of anthropogenic activities must be limited to the extent that some fish age classes may be missing and there may only be slight changes in species composition and abundance from the type specific community. The main goal of the project is to list priorities for removing obstruction to migration within 12 years to reestablish river continuity so as to allow undisturbed migration of aquatic organisms. The ecological status of the river, the cost–benefit ratio of the proposed restoration and the distance between obstructions are analysed. More than 200 obstructions in about 170 km of river were evaluated. A 1st ranking of the parameter “extension of undisturbed river length” shows significant alterations in comparison with the 2nd and 3rd ranking, where the river length is weighted over the parameters “ecological status” of the river reach and the “cost–benefit ratio” of the measure. The ecological status is classified by comparing the present versus the potential natural morphological conditions (Leitbild). The cost–benefit ratio takes into account the increase of the fish species composition and the cost of the measures in relation to local circumstances of available property and height of the drop. Examples of obstructions in the Pinka R. move back in the priority list to a maximum of −9 places and forwards to a maximum of +8 places. As a result the list of obstructions by priority for removal to be removed first at the top is analysed. The financial policy and a schedule for removal for the period 2003–2015 are based upon the results of the priority list. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Guest editors: R. L. Welcomme & G. Marmulla Hydropower, Flood Control and Water Abstraction: Implications for Fish and Fisheries     

Utilization patterns of a marsh grassland within the tropical rain forest by the bonobos (Pan paniscus) of Yalosidi,Republic of Zaire

The bonobos of Yalosidi, Ikela zone, near the southeastern limit of the range of this species, make regular visits to a marsh grassland known locally as Iyoko (or Yoku) within the tropical rain forest. They come to the marsh to feed on the fibrous vegetative organs of particular species of aquatic or amphibious herbs and grasses, especially those of the families Alismataceae and Cyperaceae. During fixed point observations at Iyoko between September 1975 and January 1976, seasonal changes were recognized in the party size, attendance rate, and arrival time of the bonobos, while no conspicuous change was observed in the composition and phenology of their food plants. The size of the bonobo parties appeared to be an important factor in determining the duration of stay at the marsh per visit. Throughout the study period with the exception of January, they intensively utilized a particular portion of Iyoko, in which their preferred food was scattered. Iyoko was also utilized frequently as a stable feeding place by other large forest herbivores such as elephants, buffalos, bongos, sitatungas, and duikers. In contrast, various species of cercopithecid monkeys commonly seen in the surrounding forest were never observed to enter Iyoko for foraging. This suggests a comprehensive use of the habitat by the Yalosidi bonobos compared with the more limited ecological niches of other sympatric non-human primates.     

Effects of woodlot isolation on the dispersion of plants with fleshy fruits

By relating species presence, number and density to the perimeter and isolation of small (0.1–2.75 ha) homogeneous woodlots (n = 43), indications were obtained that some fleshy-fruited species are negatively affected by woodlot isolation. The number of fruit-bearing herbaceous perennial species increased with woodlot area, probably because of the increasing heterogeneity of the herb layer. The density of individuals of the investigated species were negatively correlated to woodlot area. There were also some indications thatthe presence/absence of species was related to the length of the forest edge (e.g. Hederá helix). Because woodlot area and shape index were strongly correlated, the effects of increased forest area and forest edge were hard to separate. The probability of occurrence of Lonicera periclymenum and the density oí Ilex aquifolium decreased with an increasing degree of isolation of present forest islands. The chance of occurrence of L. periclymenum decreased also with the degree of isolation in the past, measured from topographical maps of about 60 yr ago. The total area of broad-leaved forest within a radius of 500 m, as well as the distance to the nearest connecting landscape element, seem to be good indicators of woodlot isolation.     

贵州北盘江喀斯特地区6种兰科植物结构及其生态适应性

【目的】分析兰科植物营养器官结构对喀斯特生境的适应特性和不同兰科植物响应生境异质的生存策略,为兰科植物研究、保护与发展提供理论支持和参考依据。【方法】该研究以贵州北盘江喀斯特地区6种不同生活型兰科植物的叶、假鳞茎、根为研究对象。应用石蜡切片法,进行结构观察并测量相关指标,通过描述和方差分析、相关性分析和主成分分析。【结果】结果表明：(1)不同兰科植物结构特征间存在显著差异,丘北冬蕙兰、莎叶兰、兔耳兰和单叶石仙桃均为等面叶,叶片较薄;栗鳞贝母兰与梳帽卷瓣兰叶片为异面叶,有栅栏组织和海绵组织的分化,叶片较厚。(2)假鳞茎主要由表皮、基本组织和维管束组成,地生兰基本组织细胞较小,维管束密度大;附生兰基本组织细胞较大,储水结构较发达。(3)地生兰根被和皮层较厚,根被细胞排列紧密,皮层细胞小层数多;附生兰根被与皮层较薄,皮层细胞较大。(4)叶片下表皮厚度与叶片厚度、叶维管束直径、叶肉厚度、叶脉厚度呈极显著(?<0.01)正相关,叶肉厚度与下角质层厚度、茎维管束直径呈显著(?<0.05)负相关;茎直径和表皮厚度、茎维管束数量、茎横截面积呈极显著正相关,茎维管束直径占比与茎直径、表皮厚度、茎维管束数量、茎横截面积均呈极显著负相关;根的各指标间呈极显著正相关,根直径、根被厚度和皮层厚度与根维管束直径占比呈极显著负相关。【结论】兰科植物根部结构具有相对稳定的趋同适应性,叶片和假鳞茎结构间相互促进协调,是兰科植物响应干旱喀斯特环境的重要结构。 关键词 生态适应性;兰科植物;结构特征;喀斯特地区     

Relationship between growth rates and xylem hydraulic characteristics in young, mature and old-growth ponderosa pine trees

The first objective of the present study was to quantify the effects of tree age and stem position on specific conductivity (k_s), vulnerability to embolism and water storage capacity (capacitance) in trunks of young, mature and old‐growth ponderosa pine. The second objective was to determine relationships between hydraulic characteristics and radial and height growth rates to increase the understanding of possible tradeoffs. Within sapwood at all heights and in all ages of trees, outer sapwood had 25–60% higher k_s than inner sapwood. The water potential at which embolism started (air entry point) was 1.3 MPa lower in inner sapwood than outer sapwood within the mature trees, but there was no difference in the other trees. There was no significant difference in capacitances between the tops of the old growth trees, the mature trees and the young trees. Taking all data together, the capacitances increased sharply with an increase in k_s and an increase in vulnerability to embolism. The hydraulic characteristics of the three age classes were correlated with the height growth rate but not with the diameter growth rate. Within these age classes, high k_s was associated with the slowest yearly increase in sapwood area and with a low percentage of latewood, whereas high vulnerability to embolism and high capacitance were more closely associated with high height growth rates.