Large-scale,millennial-length temperature reconstructions from tree-rings

Over the past two decades, the dendroclimate community has produced various annually resolved, warm season temperature reconstructions for the extratropical Northern Hemisphere. Here we compare these tree-ring based reconstructions back to 831 CE and present a set of basic metrics to provide guidance for non-specialists on their interpretation and use. We specifically draw attention to (i) the imbalance between (numerous) short and (few) long site chronologies incorporated into the hemispheric means, (ii) the beneficial effects of including maximum latewood density chronologies in the recently published reconstructions, (iii) a decrease in reconstruction covariance prior to 1400 CE, and (iv) the varying amplitudes and trends of reconstructed temperatures over the past 1100 years. Whereas the reconstructions agree on several important features, such as warmth during medieval times and cooler temperatures in the 17th and 19th centuries, they still exhibit substantial differences during 13th and 14th centuries. We caution users who might consider combining the reconstructions through simple averaging that all reconstructions share some of the same underlying tree-ring data, and provide four recommendations to guide future efforts to better understand past millennium temperature variability.     

横斑腹小鸮一新亚种—杂斑腹小鸮(鸮形目:鸱鸮科)

在横断山区鸟类考察过程中,发现采自四川宝兴县硗碛和雅江县八角楼的两号小鴞属标本与原记录的种类有显著差异,经研究认为是横斑腹小鴞(Athene brama)的一新亚种,命名为: 横斑腹小鴞 新亚种—杂斑腹小鴞Athene brama poikila Subsp.nov. 正模标本 雄性成鸟(采集号6079),1964年12月6日,采自四川省宝兴县的硗碛,海拔高度2,200米。标本保存在四川农业大学。     

中国兰科独蒜兰属植物增补

报道了中国兰科独蒜兰属2个未详知种:藏南独蒜兰(Pleione arunachalensis Hareesh, P.Kumar M.Sabu)和矮小独蒜兰[P.humilis (Sm.) D.Don],并提供了详细的形态描述和照片。凭证标本保存于云南省林业和草原科学院植物标本馆(YAF)。     

Spatial patterns in at-sea behaviour during spring migration by little gulls ( Larus minutus ) in the southeastern North Sea

At-sea distribution of seabirds has been studied on different scales and with different focus in many parts of the world. However, factors and/or processes causing certain patterns are often not easily explained. This also holds true for fast migrating species of international conservation concern, such as the little gull (Larus minutus) in the German Bight (southeastern North Sea). In this study, we used multiyear distributional data in combination with behavioural observations and food sampling to investigate spatial and temporal patterns and their possible causes during spring migration. The results show a highly focussed migration pattern during the last week of April and the first week of May. The river Eider seemed to play an important role as main migration route. Highest numbers were found either close to the mainland or close to the offshore islands. Little gulls used certain subareas for intense feeding (i.e. the region near Helgoland and the outlet of river Elbe) and others for migration. Hydrographic phenomena such as fronts and foam lines play an important role within the feeding sites and strongly influence behaviour and distribution. Feeding behaviour as well as samples of probable prey revealed different quality of feeding sites according to the energy density of the most abundant probable food items (drowned insects versus zooplankton and fish). In conclusion, the area utilisation of L. minutus during spring migration in the German Bight showed a clear pattern, and sites with main feeding action should be regarded as sensitive for little gulls, at least during spring migration.     

Using miniaturized radiotelemetry to discover the breeding grounds of the endangered New Zealand Storm Petrel Fregetta maoriana

Identification of breeding sites remains a critical step in species conservation, particularly in procellariiform seabirds whose threat status is of global concern. We designed and conducted an integrative radiotelemetry approach to uncover the breeding grounds of the critically endangered New Zealand Storm Petrel Fregetta maoriana (NZSP), a species considered extinct before its rediscovery in 2003. Solar‐powered automated radio receivers and hand‐held telemetry were used to detect the presence of birds on three island groups in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. At least 11 NZSP captured and radiotagged at sea were detected at night near Te Hauturu‐o‐Toi/Little Barrier Island with the detection of an incubating bird leading to the discovery of the first known breeding site for this species. In total, four NZSP breeding burrows were detected under mature forest canopy and three adult NZSP and two NZSP chicks were ringed. Telemetry data indicated NZSP showed strong moonlight avoidance behaviour over the breeding site, had incubation shifts of approximately 5 days and had a breeding season extending from February to June/July, a different season from other Procellariiformes in the region. Radiotelemetry, in combination with rigorously collected field data on species distribution, offers a valuable technique for locating breeding grounds of procellariiform seabirds and gaining insights into breeding biology while minimizing disturbance to sensitive species or damage to fragile habitat. Our study suggests an avenue for other breeding ground searches in one of the most threatened avian Orders, and highlights the general need for information on the location of breeding sites and understanding the breeding biology in data‐deficient birds.     

Reproducibility of vegetation cover estimates in south‐central Alaska forests

Abstract. Reproducibility of vegetation measurements is critical for large‐scale or long‐term studies, where numerous observers collect data, but past studies have questioned repro‐ducibility of some techniques. Five methods of evaluating understory composition were appraised for reproducibility among six observers in two forest types in south‐central Alaska: ocular estimates in quadrats, overall community species rank and cover estimates, nested rooted frequency, horizontal‐vertical profiles, and pin drop (systematic points). One forest type was selected to represent structure of coastal communities, another to represent structure of interior Alaska communities. Three general methods of evaluating reproducibility were considered: standard deviations (precision among observers), components of variance (percentage of total variance attributable to observers), and analysis of variance (significance of observer variance). Observer variances were generally similar among techniques and significant in most cases. No technique stood out as being more reproducible than others. Features of techniques other than reproducibility may be more important when selecting a technique. Management decisions based on vegetation cover data should consider the observer errors involved as well as biological significance.     

The distribution of the serin ( Serinus serinus L., 1766) in the 16th century

All the sources of records of the serin (Serinus serinus) in 16th century Europe are (re-)examined, both those already known and some that have been newly discovered. Interpretation of this more detailed information confirms the results which were published by Ernst Mayr in 1926 in his doctoral thesis: north of 48°N there were no free-living populations of Serinus serinus in the 16th century. All 11 localities identified refer to captive birds or to specimens in the bird trade, the origins of which can be convincingly traced. However, free-living populations are recorded from Carinthia (Austria), Trentino (Italy), Ticino (Switzerland), Provence and Gascony (France). An occurrence in the Swiss Jura (Bötzberg), and indications that it was present throughout the whole Tyrol and the Rhône Valley, suggest that the serin had already begun to expand its range, but was halted by colder periods of the Little Ice Age after 1585, only resuming a rapid expansion at the beginning of the 19th century. The zoogeographic situation suggests that the western and eastern parts of the Central European population have a separate history of immigration. Their possible heterogeneity and subsequent fusion urgently require a genetic investigation.Communicated by F. Bairlein     

Summer monsoon precipitation variations in central China over the past 750 years derived from a high-resolution absolute-dated stalagmite

A 2–3-year resolution record of stalagmite oxygen isotope variations from the south flank of the Qinling Mountains, central China, has revealed the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) precipitation variations in the investigated area over the past 750 years. The summer monsoon precipitation gradually increased since 1249 AD, reaching its highest values in the period 1535–1685 AD, and then decreased with substantial decadal- to centennial-scale fluctuations. The monsoon precipitation increased again between 1920 and 1970 AD. Three intervals of high monsoon precipitation were identified: 1535–1685 AD, 1755–1835 AD, and 1920–1970 AD. Three intervals of low precipitation were inferred in 1249–1325 AD, 1390–1420 AD, and 1890–1915 AD. The δ¹⁸O composition and lithological features of the stalagmite coincidently indicate a wetter climate during the Little Ice Age (LIA), which is also confirmed by climate records from Chinese historical documents within this area. A comparison with other high-resolution speleothem records indicates regional differences in monsoon precipitation variability from the south to the north of central China in the last 750 years on decadal- to centennial-scale. Power spectrum analysis of the δ¹⁸O record shows significant 117.8-, 34.6-, 14-, 10.3-, and ~ 6-year periodicities. These periodicities are widely observed in the climate records from ASM-controlled areas of China and are consistent with the Gleissburg periodicity, Brϋckner periodicity, sunspot periodicity of solar activity, and El Nińo–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periodicity. These correlations suggest that both solar activity and ENSO periodicity may have had important influences on ASM precipitation in China over the past 750 years.     

纵纹腹小鸮DNA指纹谱探针的筛选和初步应用

以人工合成的微卫星序列 (GTG) 5,(GT) 8,(CAC) 5和人源小卫星 33 1 5作引物 ,扩增纵纹腹小的基因组DNA ,产生多态性DNA片段 ,回收了 8个表现个体特异性的片段。当用小的基因组总DNA探针与它们杂交时 ,其中 2个表现阳性 ,说明PCR方法扩增出的高变异产物含有重复序列。用含重复序列的个体特异性PCR产物作探针 ,与无关个体小基因组DNA的HaeⅢ酶切产物进行DNA印迹 ,获得了变异性较高的DNA指纹图谱。且通过对京白鸡家系分析表明 ,用小基因组DNA的PCR产物分离制备的探针所获得的DNA指纹图带能够稳定的遗传。因此 ,高变异的PCR产物可以有效地用作DNA指纹探针。