The small-scale pattern of Cynodon dactylon in Mediterranean pastures

The abundance of Cynodon dactylon was recorded in 50 plots presenting different geomorphological conditions and along a transect of 16 500 2×2 cm contiguous quadrats within a small basin 330 m in length, in the granite pediment of the Sierra de Guadarrama (Central Spain). Soil analyses were undertaken on samples from the 50 plots and the soil information matrix obtained was analysed using Principal Components Analysis and Discriminant Analysis. Results showed that in the Mediterranean pastures Cynodon dactylon was restricted to deep, well developed soils with relatively high values of cations, conductivity and organic matter, and could be used as an indicator of such soil conditions in these grasslands. The spatial pattern of the species was analysed using New Local Variances which revealed the existence of a small-scale pattern, ranging from 8 to 18 cm, present at all levels of the analysis. The size of small-scale patterns was positively correlated with species abundance and was interpreted as a relation between plant vigour and favourable soil conditions.I would like to thank Professor González Bernáldez for his interest and encouragement.     

Exclosure fences around nests of imperiled Florida Grasshopper Sparrows reduce rates of predation by mammals

Increasing nest survival by excluding predators is a goal of many bird conservation programs. However, new exclosure projects should be carefully evaluated to assess the potential risks of disturbance. We tested the effectiveness of predator exclosure fences (hereafter, fences) for nests of critically endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) at a dry prairie site (Three Lakes; 2015–2018) and a pasture site (the Ranch; 2015–2016) in Osceola County, Florida, USA. We installed fences at nests an average of 8 days after the start of incubation, and nest abandonment after fence installation was rare (2 of 149 installations). Predation was the leading cause of failure for unfenced nests at both sites (48–73%). At Three Lakes, nest cameras revealed that mammals and snakes were responsible for 61.5% and 38.5% of predation events, respectively, at unfenced nests. Fences reduced the daily probability of predation (0.016 for fenced nests vs. 0.074 for unfenced nests). The probability that a fenced nest would survive from discovery to fledging was more than double that of unfenced nests (60.4% vs. 27.7%). However, we found no difference in daily nest survival at the Ranch between the year before nests were fenced (2015; 0.874) and the year when all but one nest were fenced (2016; 0.867) because red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) were responsible for 86% of predation events at fenced nests at the Ranch. The use of cameras at fenced nests revealed that site‐specific differences in nest predators explained variation in fence efficiency between sites. Our fence design may be useful for other species of grassland birds, but site‐specific predator communities and species‐specific response of target bird species to fences should be assessed before installing fences at other sites.     

Grassland birds and rotational-grazing in the northeast: Breeding ecology,survival and management opportunities

We studied long-term (2002–2009) demographics of bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) breeding in rotationally grazed systems in the northeastern United States. Both nest success (6–44% bobolink; 7–48% savannah sparrow) and annual productivity (0.43–2.83 bobolink; 0.70–2.35 savannah sparrow) varied annually. Predation (48%) and trampling by cows (32%) accounted for most failed nests. Annual adult apparent survival ranged from 23% to 85% and showed substantial variation by species and sex. Although grazing resulted in substantial loss of vegetative cover, savannah sparrows responded similarly to predation and grazing-induced nest failure (time to renest, distance moved between nests) and generally remained in the same paddock to renest. Minimum paddock size to accommodate one female within this rotation was 70 m × 70 m (0.49 ha), allowing a female to stay within a paddock and move (approx. 50 m) between nesting attempts. To balance pasturing objectives and birds' needs in paddocks first grazed before 25 June, managers in the Northeast should rest that paddock 42–50 days before the second grazing. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

New method for rapid assessment of the functional composition of herbaceous plant communities

Abstract We propose a rapid sampling method to assess the functional composition of herbaceous plant communities without prior knowledge of the floristic composition. To determine the community‐level value of traits (‘aggregated trait values’) for a plant community, a standardized population‐centred method exists, but requires substantial manpower and reliable botanical knowledge. We tested an alternative method, the trait transect, using four subalpine pastures in the Beaufortain region (Northern French Alps) selected along a fertility gradient. We applied both methods to measure five commonly used ‘soft traits’ known to be responsive to soil nutrient availability: plant vegetative and reproductive height, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter and nitrogen contents. We tested whether the variation of these traits along the gradient detected with the population‐centred method was also detected with the trait transect. Both methods detected expected trends in the traits in response to the fertility gradient. The trait transect method was as efficient as the population‐centred method and is recommended as an appropriate tool for monitoring ecosystem changes in response to environmental conditions and management, especially in species‐rich communities.     

Alternative temperate forages containing secondary compounds for improving sustainable productivity in grazing ruminants

The use of alternative temperate forages to improve the sustainable productivity of grazing ruminants, relative to grass-based pastures, is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed upon forages containing secondary compounds for sustainable control of internal parasites, for increasing reproductive rate in sheep, reducing bloat risk in cattle and for reducing methane production as a means of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Of the forages reviewed, the herb chicory (Chicorium intybus) and the condensed tannin-containing legumes Lotus corniculatus L. and sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) offered the most advantages. Chicory and sulla promoted faster growth rates in young sheep and deer in the presence of internal parasites, and showed reduced methane production in other studies. L. corniculatus was not as effective as chicory and sulla in promoting growth of lambs in the presence of internal parasites. Grazing on L. corniculatus was associated with increases in reproductive rate in sheep, increases in milk production in both ewes and dairy cows and reduced methane production, effects that were mainly due to its content of condensed tannins (CT). Grazing ewes on L. corniculatus during mating and very early pregnancy may also reduce lamb mortality. However, there are no data on the effect of mating ewes, which are grazing chicory on their reproductive performance, an important omission. Risk of rumen frothy bloat in cattle grazing legumes is reduced when the forage contains 5 g CT/kg dry matter (DM) or greater. Gene transfer techniques aimed at achieving this for lucerne (Medicago sativa) have made progress, but CT concentration needs to be further increased from calculated values of 0.75–1.25 g CT/kg DM in the transformed plants. Bloat control may be achievable in genetically transformed legumes before increased amino acid absorption, as the concentration of CT required for bloat control is lower (5 versus 30–40 g/kg DM) than that required to cause increased amino acid absorption and is not affected by differences in CT structure.

Key plant characteristics for improved sustainable productivity are a high ratio of readily fermentable: structural carbohydrate and the presence of CT and certain other secondary compounds.

Taking into account both nutritional and agronomic considerations, chicory is considered one of the best emerging plants for grazing livestock, with L. corniculatus being more suitable for areas with dry summers and warm winters. Some of the agronomic limitations of L. corniculatus and sulla could be reduced by mechanical harvesting and their inclusion as a component in total mixed rations (TMR), instead of grazing.     

在黄土丘陵区土质路面种草

土质道路水土流失是所有人工生态系统中最严重的土地利用类型,土壤侵蚀模数是相同条件下林地的250倍,农村道路修筑破坏了区域生态景观的完整性,为景观生态修复理论与技术研究提供了重要的实验场地。广大山区农村田间地块道路在种植和收获季节以外长期处于闲置状态,这为植物的种植和生长提供了可能。1997～2001年,以中国黄土丘陵区陕西省延安市小砭沟小流域农田道路为背景,以防止和减轻路面汇流引发的水土流失对道路的破坏和修复农村道路景观生态系统为目的,采用小区径流监测、施工统计和定点观测的方法,在路面进行了为期5a的种草实验。研究结果显示,农田作业道路路面不仅可以种草,而且具有一定生态经济价值,在条播下,胡枝子、小冠花、无芒雀麦每km年产值可达1068.88～3150.27元;同时,路面牧草可承受适度的通行压力,禾本科牧草一般可承受300t·次/a以下车辆碾压;道路种植禾本科牧草后,除有机质外,土壤中其它营养成份均有不同程度的亏损,因此有必要补充各种肥料延长路面牧草使用年限和提高牧草防蚀能力;路面种草后径流量减少46.15%～69.30%,土壤侵蚀量减少54.53%～77.80%,建设成本仅为石子路的27.69%～35.99%,维护费用仅为土质道路的30.52%,是一种经济可行的技术途径。道路种草后,路面雨季泥泞、旱季尘土飞扬的劣质景观被蜿蜒的绿色道路景观所取代,形似镶嵌在绵延山谷中的绿飘带,这无论在理论还是技术方面都是生态修复学和景观生态学研究的重要方向之一。     

Impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on Bemisia argentifolii populations

The silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) is a widely distributed pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and the population levels may be affected by rates of nitrogen fertilization and planting date. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on silverleaf whitefly population dynamics. Cotton was planted on 26 April and 8 June, for the early and late plantings, respectively. Nitrogen treatments consisted of soil applications of 0, 112, 168 and 224 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The population levels of adult whiteflies were much higher on early-planted cotton than on late planting. Also, increased numbers of adult whiteflies on both early and late plantings occurred with increasing amounts of applied nitrogen.Applied nitrogen increased seed cotton yields of early plantings but had no effect on the yields of late plantings.     

栽培方式对杜仲皮次生代谢物含量的影响

采用叶林和乔林两种栽培模式对杜仲定向培育,并分别对杜仲皮次生代谢物含量进行了测定.结果表明:在不同的栽培模式下,杜仲皮中次生代谢物的含量存在差异,杜仲醇和杜仲胶的含量,乔林皮高于叶林皮;京尼平甙酸、绿原酸、桃叶珊瑚甙的含量则是叶林皮高于乔林皮;总黄酮的含量随提取溶剂的不同而有高有低.对杜仲皮进行不同的预处理和选用不同的提取溶剂,能改变提取得率,但是,叶林皮与乔林皮次生代谢物含量变化趋势基本不变,说明栽培方式对杜仲皮次生代谢物有一定影响.     

Competitive effects of herbaceous vegetation on tree seedling emergence,growth and survival: Does gap size matter?

Question: What is the effect of gap size on the seedling emergence, growth and survival of four common tree species in wooded pastures? Location: A pasture in the Jura mountains, Switzerland. Methods: Seeds were sown in a complete three‐way factorial design with eight blocks in May 2003. Each block consisted of a competition treatment (four gap sizes including zero) and a mowing treatment (mown and unmown). Emergence, survival and total biomass of tree seedlings of three species (Picea abies, Acer pseudoplatanus and Fagus sylvatica) were measured. A fourth species (Abies alba) failed to germinate. Results: Gaps had a positive influence on the early stages of tree development for all species. Larger gaps favoured growth and survival more than small gaps. Seedling growth was higher when vegetation around the openings was mown. Mowing the vegetation at gap size zero enhanced both growth and survival compared to unmown vegetation. Mown gaps larger than zero had increased seedling desiccation but decreased seedling predation. Species showed similar trends in their emergence and growth responses to gap size and mowing treatments but for Picea emergence rate was higher and survivorship was lower than for Acer and Fagus. Conclusions: Gap size does matter for tree seedling success but even in more favourable large gaps only a small percentage of seedlings emerged and survived. The effects of gaps on tree seedling establishment are complex as a result of interactions between biotic and abiotic changes caused by gaps.