Air pollution as a possible cause for the decline of some phanerogamic species in The Netherlands

In The Netherlands the decline of some phanerogamic species cannot be readily explained from obvious factors such as lowering of the groundwater table, eutrophication or land reclamation. For a number of species the hypothesis was tested that the decline is partly due to air pollution. A two-factor model was made in which decline is accounted for by (a) habitat destruction assessed from topographic maps and (b) air pollution measured as the SO₂ 95-percentile over the winter period 1978/1979. Effects of both factors were assumed to follow a sigmoid dose-effect curve. For a number of species decline proved to be significantly correlated with air pollution. These are notably species from the syntaxon Violion caninae. A comparison was made with results obtained for epiphytic lichens. It appears that for some phanerogamic species sensitivity is about the same as for moderately sensitive lichens.Nomenclature follows Heukels & van der Meijden (1983).Thanks are due to the Rijksherbarium, for providing some of their unpublished data; and to Ada Groeneveld, for technical assistance.     

Possible interpretation problems for the current CITES listing criteria in the context of marine fish species under commercial harvest

The current criteria for listing species on CITES Appendices are summarized briefly. A précis is given of problems with these criteria in a marine species context, as identified by an FAO ad hoc Expert Group meeting in November 1998. Three aspects of the criteria that are of concern to the author are discussed briefly. These are the definition of a "decline," specifications for taking account of uncertainty, and the desirability of using existing stock-recruitment data for marine fish species to estimate the spawning biomass level at which critical depensation might occur. This last would provide guidance in specifying resource levels at which there is a threat of extinction when reformulating the CITES criteria. Received: May 6, 1999 / Accepted: December 11, 1999     

Reed die-back in southern Europe? A case study from Central Italy

Common reed die-back is a widely investigated phenomenon in Central Europe, not frequently recorded in S-European areas and almost unknown in the Mediterranean Basin. Symptoms of reed decline recently observed in the Italian Peninsula provided the starting point for a detailed investigation on a reed population in one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in Central Italy. The analyses were conducted over two vegetative seasons in 19 plots at seven locations. A set of 13 morphologic and phenologic reed traits were screened, monitored and statistically analysed. The data indicated the presence of the reed die-back syndrome in a wet Mediterranean ecosystem and enabled us to highlight a set of usable traits to detect the condition of decline. Among them, the stem height and diameter, the number of nodes, the relative growth rate and the lateral root diameter resulted the most significant factors highlighting the declining condition. Some environmental characteristics of the reed stands were also taken into account. The period of submersion and the presence of standing litter emerged as important features of the stands, strictly related to the degree of decline in the population. The results draw attention to the risk, in southern Europe too, of the loss of an ecosystem which plays an important role in biodiversity conservation.     

Muscle work is biased toward energy generation over dissipation in non-level running

This study tested the hypothesis that skeletal muscles generate more mechanical energy in gait tasks that raise the center of mass compared to the mechanical energy they dissipate in gait tasks that lower the center of mass despite equivalent changes in total mechanical energy. Thirteen adults ran on a 10° decline and incline surface at a constant average velocity. Three-dimensional (3D) joint powers were calculated from ground force and 3D kinematic data using inverse dynamics. Joint work was calculated from the power curves and assumed to be due to skeletal muscle–tendon actuators. External work was calculated from the kinematics of the pelvis through the gait cycle. Incline vs. decline running was characterized with smaller ground forces that operated over longer lever arms causing larger joint torques and work from these torques. Total lower extremity joint work was 28% greater in incline vs. decline running (1.32 vs. −1.03 J/kg m, p<0.001). Total lower extremity joint work comprised 86% and 71% of the total external work in incline (1.53 J/kg m) and decline running (−1.45 J/kg m), which themselves were not significantly different (p<0.180). We conjectured that the larger ground forces in decline vs. incline running caused larger accelerations of all body tissues and initiated a greater energy-dissipating response in these tissues compared to their response in incline running. The runners actively lowered themselves less during decline stance and descended farther as projectiles than they lifted themselves during incline stance and ascended as projectiles. These data indicated that despite larger ground forces in decline running, the reduced displacement during downhill stance phases limited the work done by muscle contraction in decline compared to incline running.     

The cause of mollusk decline on the Ogasawara Islands

Decline of land snails on the Ogasawara Islands was studied. In Hahajima, major alien predators such as Euglandina rosea and Platydemus manokwari are not present, but some small endemic snails, for example, Hirasea spp. and Ogasawarana spp., are already rare and more common endemic snails, for example, Mandarina spp., are also declining in the northern mountains. The decline cannot be directly explained by forest deforestation and by its subsequent regeneration. Three species of flatworms were found to eat small snails under captive conditions. The distribution of these flatworms is restricted to the northern mountains of Hahajima where Mandarina is declining and its survival is low. These predators are plausible candidates as a cause of the decline of the endemic snails.     

樟子松人工固沙林衰退的主要特征

针对辽宁省章古台地区樟子松人工固沙林出现的衰退枯死现象,系统地研究了樟子松人工固沙林衰退的主要特征.结果表明,衰退的樟子松人工固沙林外貌景观呈灰绿色,针叶纤细,开花结实率低,平均单株球果数量为10.4～16.5个,成熟种子千粒重为6.96～7.39g,种子空粒、涩粒较多.生长季内2年生针叶营养元素季节变化规律相似,但N、P含量下降,K含量明显增高,表明养分循环失调;衰退林分2年生针叶叶绿素含量较高,健康林分1年生较高且增幅较大.松枯梢病的侵害是樟子松人工固沙林衰退的最明显标志.林分衰退后,树高和胸径生长量下降明显,林分胸径分布结构“左移”(径级小的株数增多),衰弱(亡)木数量增加了15.9%～27.2%;根量分别减少了22.9%～28.9%,其中吸收根减少量最大.     

杉木解酚菌的研究

从杉木林土壤中筛选到5株高效解酚菌(F2、F3、F4、F7、F15),结果表明,F4、F33d,F2、F155d能将600rng     

国外松衰退病原因的研究

对安徽省国外松大面积衰退和枯死原因的调查研究表明,造成这种衰退和枯死的现象是多方面因素共同作用的结果,是一种林木衰退病.该衰退病的发生原因:1)诱发因素:温度年较差较大、年降雨量分布不均匀、土壤粘重板结或容重过大、地势低洼积水、土壤瘠薄、林分密度过大;2)激化因素:干旱严重重复发生、割脂过早过度、霜冻、食叶害虫等害虫危害;松针褐斑病等病害侵害;3)促进因素:松枯梢病菌、根腐病菌、立木腐朽病菌、天牛、小蠹虫等病虫害危害.     

Sensitivity of the woodland herb Anemone hepatica to changing environmental conditions

Abstract. The decline of deciduous woodland populations of Anemone hepatica L. in southern Sweden is documented and possible causes are discussed. The study was based on (1) re‐investigations of 6.25 km² grid‐squares first studied in 1938–1970, (2) distribution of A. hepatica in woodland sites with well‐known soil chemical properties and (3) a detailed study over 12 consecutive years into the relationships between biological characteristics of the species (number of individuals, vegetative development, flowering frequency) and environmental variables (temperature, precipitation), soil chemistry and time. There was a close relationship between soil acidity (pH, solubility of Al³⁺) and both distribution and biological characteristics. The biological variables declined significantly over time but were not related to climatic variability. Increasing soil acidity and Al³⁺ solubility are concluded to be the main factors responsible for the decline of A. hepatica in S. Swedish deciduous woodlands.