Vegetation fluctuation in mediterranean dune ponds in relation to rainfall variation and water extraction

Abstract. The structure of dune ponds hygrophytic vegetation has a spatial organisation in belts around the pond basin, closely related to water level and flooding regime. Doñana National Park has an important representation of temporal dune ponds, which are subjected to rainfall fluctuations and may be suffering the impact of water extraction from the neighbouring tourist resort. Permanent transects in a vegetation complex of five dune ponds have been monitored during a eight year period (1990-1997). This period was characterised by a number of dry years (annual rainfall around 300 mm), located between two wet cycles (800-900 mm). Transects were analysed in 1990 (wet period), 1994 (dry) and 1997 (wet) by hierarchical agglomera-tive clustering. During the dry period hygrophytic species showed regression, with a high mortality of some species like Ulex minor, while the xerophytic species advanced to lower areas. Seedlings of some xerophytic species colonised the dry surface of the pond basin. The lowering of the water table varied in the different ponds, ranging from 312 to 190 cm depending on topography and the distance to the pumping area. The new period of flooding during 1995-96 and 1996-97 cycles provided the opportunity for hygrophytic spe cies to re-establish themselves in their original places. This study suggest that changes in vegetation are caused by the interaction between weather conditions and human disturbance (water extractions). In our example man-made disturbance is more marked during the dry periods while wet periods tend to obscure the effects of water extractions. From a management perspective, long-term monitoring of water table and vegetation structure is revealed as a key procedure to the management of land-water ecotones on pressured areas and threatened habitats.     

Characterization of the binary mixed monolayers of α-tocopherol with phospholipids at the air-water interface

The mixed Langmuir monolayers composed of model constituents of biological membranes, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), were investigated to provide information on the intermolecular interactions between these membrane components and the physiologically active vitamin E–α-tocopherol (TF), as well as on the phase behavior of these mixed systems. Additionally, topography of these monolayers transferred onto the mica support was investigated by the inverted metallurgical microscope. Morphological characteristics were directly observed by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). From the surface pressure–area isotherms and the analysis of physicochemical parameters (compressibility and mean molecular area at the maximum compressibility) it was found that depending on the acyl chains saturation degree, TF has different effect on the phospholipids. In the case of DPPC, the addition of TF to the phospholipid film causes destabilization of the ordered hydrocarbon chains, while in the POPC/DOPC–TF systems, the attractive interactions are responsible for the monolayer increased stability. Thus, the results of these studies confirm the hypothesis that α-tocopherol may play a role in the stabilization of biological membranes.     

Pedestal hairs of the ant Echinopla melanarctos (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): morphology and functional aspects

The South East Asian arboreal Formicine Echinopla melanarctos, as well as some other members of this genus possess a cuticular structure unique in ants, the pedestal hairs. In E. melanarctos, about 700 pedestal hairs are situated on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, the alitrunk, the petiole and the gaster. They are arranged in a polygon-like figuration. On the summit of each of the up to 200-μm high pedestals, a single central hair inserts. This hair (up to 500-μm long) is innervated by a single bipolar mechanosensitive sensory cell. The lumen of each tube-like pedestal contains (1) epithelial cells (2) the sensory cell and the auxiliary cells of the central hair and (3) the long efferent ductules of up to ten isolated bicellular glandular units. Each glandular unit is composed of a secretory glandular cell and a duct cell, all of which are located at the base of a pedestal. The cytoplasm of a glandular cell contains a well-developed end apparatus and is characterised by stacks of smooth and granular endoplasmic reticulum, numerous polyribosomes, a lot of mitochondria and some up to 5-μm large secretory vesicles. The secretion of the gland cells is released on the apex of the pedestal wall via small pores. Approximately 30 μm below their summit, some pedestals possess additionally (up to six) mechanosensitive hairs that are arranged ray-like. We suppose that the pedestal hairs are important in nest-space protection and find that only in ants with high pedestals on the head (Echinopla melanarctos and Echinopla pallipes), the compound eyes are stalked thus overtopping the pedestals.     

Habitat associations with topography and canopy structure of tree species in a tropical montane forest on Mount Kinabalu,Borneo

Habitat associations with topography and canopy structure of 42 abundant tree species were studied in a 2.74-ha plot of tropical montane forest on Mount Kinabalu, Borneo. Many of these species belong to the same higher taxa including eight families and four genera. Analysis of intraspecific spatial distributions for stems ≥ 10 cm diameter revealed that 28 species (including all six species of Fagaceae) showed aggregated distributions at the 100-m² and/or 400-m² scales, and that 20 species showed habitat associations with topography by torus-translation tests; 17 species showed both characteristics. Species' associations with the local canopy structure were characterized by crown position index (CPI), which was defined relative to neighbour trees. The CPI differed greatly among individual stems at 10–40 cm diameter, and 19 species showed significantly different frequencies of crowns exposed vertically versus those shaded beneath the canopy. Mean growth rates at 10–40 cm diameter and size distributions of species were not related to topographic associations, but were explained by the associations with canopy structure; species with more exposed crowns grew faster and had less positively skewed distributions. Diversity in habitat associations was manifest between two genera (Syzygium and Tristaniopsis) in the family Myrtaceae and among species in these genera, but was less evident in other families and two genera (Garcinia and Lithocarpus). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spatial distribution of the basidiocarps of aphyllophoraceous fungi in a tropical rainforest on Borneo Island, Malaysia

The spatial distribution of basidiocarps provides much information on the dispersal abilities, habitat preferences, and inter- and intraspecific interactions of aphyllophoraceous fungi. To reveal the spatial distribution and resource utilization patterns of aphyllophoraceous fungi in Malaysia, we conducted field observations in a primary forest in 2006 and analyzed the relationships between the abundance of eight dominant fungal species and various environmental factors. The topographical characteristics were significantly patchily distributed at the 100-m scale, whereas woody debris and most fungal species were distributed randomly. Although the dominant fungal species differed among the decay classes and diameters of the woody debris, the abundance of a few dominant species was significantly correlated with environmental factors. Although the latter factors might affect the spatial distribution of these fungi, the effects appear to be so small that they would not create an aggregated distribution at a few 100-m scales.     

Habitat degradation,topography and rainfall variability interact to determine seed distribution and recruitment in a sand dune grassland

Question: Understanding the mechanisms underlying how habitat degradation, topography and rainfall variability interactively affect seed distribution and seedling recruitment is crucial for explaining plant community patterns and dynamics. Interactions between these major factors were studied together in a semiarid sand dune grassland. Location: Eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Methods: The study system used four sites of fixed, semifixed, semishifting and shifting sand dune grasslands, representing a gradient of habitat degradation. We investigated the density of germinable seeds deposited in the top 5 cm of soil and in situ seedling emergence (number of seedlings emerging early in the growing season) and establishment (number of plants recruited at the end of the growing season) at three topographic positions (dune top, windward and leeward sides) within each site over 2 years that differed in rainfall. Habitat characteristics (i.e. vegetation cover, plant species composition and diversity, soil moisture and nutrient availability and soil erodibility) of the four sites were also measured. Results: Habitat degradation (i.e. decreased vegetation cover and enhanced wind erosion rate) significantly reduced the size of the germinable soil seed bank. On average, germinable seed number from the high‐vegetation cover fixed dune was 36‐fold larger than the low‐vegetation cover shifting dune, and eight‐ and two‐fold larger, respectively, than the semishifting and semifixed dunes with intermediate vegetation cover. We observed within‐habitat variability in seed distribution, but among‐topographic position variation differed among habitats. Seedling recruitment showed large between‐year, and among‐ and within‐habitat variability, but these variations varied significantly depending on the response variables evaluated (i.e. initial seedling density, final plant density, emergence rate and recruitment rate). Path analysis revealed complex density‐dependent positive and negative, direct and indirect effects of germinable seed density and initial seedling density on recruitment, but the relative importance of these density‐dependent effects varied depending on habitat type and rainfall availability. Conclusion: Our results suggest that habitat degradation, microtopography and rainfall availability interact in shaping sand dune seed bank and plant community recruitment patterns and dynamics. Their effects were mainly mediated through changes in both the biotic and abiotic environment during the process of habitat deterioration.     

Post‐fire tree establishment patterns at the alpine treeline ecotone: Mount Rainier National Park,Washington, USA

Questions: Does tree establishment: (1) occur at a treeline depressed by fire, (2) cause the forest line to ascend upslope, and/or (3) alter landscape heterogeneity? (4) What abiotic and biotic local site conditions are most important in structuring establishment patterns? (5) Does the abiotic setting become more important with increasing upslope distance from the forest line? Location: Western slopes of Mount Rainier, USA. Methods: We performed classification analysis of 1970 satellite imagery and 2003 aerial photography to delineate establishment. Local site conditions were calculated from a LIDAR‐based DEM, ancillary climate data, and 1970 tree locations in a GIS. We used logistic regression on a spatially weighted landscape matrix to rank variables. Results: Considerable establishment after 1970 caused forest line elevation to increase over 150 m in specific locations. Landscape heterogeneity increased with distance from the 1970 forest line. At a broad spatial context, we found establishment was most common near existing trees (0‐50 m) and at low elevations (1250‐1350 m). Slope aspect (W, NW, N, NE, and E), slope angle (40‐60°), and other abiotic factors emerged as important predictors of establishment with increasing upslope distance from the forest line to restricted spatial extents. Conclusions: Favorable climatic conditions likely triggered widespread tree establishment. Readily available seed probably enhanced establishment rates near sexually mature trees, particularly in the less stressful environment at low elevations. The mass effect of nearly ubiquitous establishment in these areas may have obscured the importance of the abiotic setting to restricted spatial extents. Topographic variability apparently produced favorable sites that facilitated opportunistic establishment with increasing upslope distance from the forest line, thereby enabling additional trees to invade the alpine tundra.     

Plant species diversity and environmental heterogeneity: spatial scale and competing hypotheses

Questions: What is the observed relationship between plant species diversity and spatial environmental heterogeneity? Does the relationship scale predictably with sample plot size? What are the relative contributions to diversity patterns of variables linked to productivity or available energy compared to those corresponding to spatial heterogeneity? Methods: Observational and experimental studies that quantified relationships between plant species richness and within‐sample spatial environmental heterogeneity were reviewed. Effect size in experimental studies was quantified as the standardized mean difference between control (homogeneous) and heterogeneous treatments. For observational studies, effect sizes in individual studies were examined graphically across a gradient of plot size (focal scale). Relative contributions of variables representing spatial heterogeneity were compared to those representing available energy using a response ratio. Results: Forty‐one observational and 11 experimental studies quantified plant species diversity and spatial environmental heterogeneity. Observational studies reported positive species diversity‐spatial heterogeneity correlations at all points across a plot size gradient from ～1.0 × 10^?1 to ～1.0 × 10¹¹ m², although many studies reported spatial heterogeneity variables with no significant relationships to species diversity. The cross‐study effect size in experimental studies was not significantly different from zero. Available energy variables explained consistently more of the variance in species richness than spatial heterogeneity variables, especially at the smallest and largest plot sizes. Main conclusions: Species diversity was not related to spatial heterogeneity in a way predictable by plot size. Positive heterogeneity‐diversity relationships were common, confirming the importance of niche differentiation in species diversity patterns, but future studies examining a range of spatial scales in the same system are required to determine the role of dispersal and available energy in these patterns.     

Single cell responses from the optic tectum of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis Gould)

Responses of neurons of the optic tectum, the prominent, highly laminated mesencephalic station of the tectofugal visual pathway in birds, to computer-generated and other visual stimuli were examined in zebra finches. Our study shows that the contralateral retina projects to the tectum in topographic order. The representation of the visual field is tilted against the horizon by 22°. The representation of the contralateral hemifield extends to the ipsilateral side by 15°. Most neurons have receptive fields with excitatory centres of different shapes and inhibitory surround. A new type of neuronal receptive field is described which has an excitatory centre and a surround which is movement sensitive and preferably excited by very small spots. The first type of neurons is mostly located in upper tectal layers, the latter only in deeper layers. Excitatory centre sizes increase with depth, and there is a tendency of smaller receptive fields in the foveal region. The representation of the frontal visual field does not show specializations which could be expected if it were used for fixation of grain during pecking. Our results are in accordance with previous behavioural experiments. Accepted: 30 April 1999     

我国水青冈属植物的地理分布格局及其与地形的关系

利用我国水青冈属（ＦａｇｕｓＬ．）植物的地理分布资料和１∶１００万地形图资料,利用Ｋｒｉｇｅ空间统计方法对我国分布较广的４种水青冈,即长柄水青冈（Ｆ．ｌｏｎｇｉｐｅｔｉｏｌａｔａＳｅｅｍ．ｅｔＤｉｅｌｓ）、亮叶水青冈（Ｆ．ｌｕｃｉｄａＲｅｈｄ．ｅｔＷｉｌｓ．）、米心水青冈（Ｆ．ｅｎｇｌｅｒｉａｎａＳｅｅｍ．）和巴山水青冈（Ｆ．ｂａｓｈａｎｉｃａＹａｎｇ）的空间分布格局及其与地形的关系进行了研究。结果表明,我国水青冈属植物显示出南北变化较小、东西变化显著,一些区域出现较周围地区较高或较低分布的“岛屿化”现象的空间分布格局。这与我国的地形特征以及水青冈的生态特性等有关。沿不同经向剖面,分析水青冈的分布高度与地形平均高度之间的关系显示,随地形高度的增加,水青冈分布上限的高度也逐渐增加,其趋势可用对数或直线拟合,但不同种对地形高度变化的反应存在差异。这些结果不仅从较大尺度上定量说明了我国水青冈分布高度的山体效应现象,也揭示了物种间山体效应的差异。这种差异可能与物种的生态适应性和生态幅度有关。