“氯敌鼠”防治对农上哺乳动物群落结构的影响及群落演替分析

对不同防治对策下施用氯敌鼠作为杀鼠剂对农田小哺乳动物群落结构的影响进行了研究。结果表明,杀鼠剂对群落组成有影响,灭鼠时机、灭鼠次数不同,群落的反应也不同。秋季灭鼠,小哺乳动物数量逐年下降,３年后楞达到较低密度群落多样性也逐处下跌,且回升极弱。春季灭鼠,数量可持续在低水平,群落多样性较其它处理高,对化学灭鼠破坏的生物多样性有较强的恢复力。灭鼠频次的增加对小哺乳动物总体数量降低有强化作用。可以认为,化     

用氯鼠酮大面积防治农田小型害兽试验

地处亚热带的广西,生态环境复杂,危害农业生产的害鼠种类繁多,鼠患历年严重。作者于1990年3—5月在广西百色市那毕地区对害鼠的种群组成进行了调查,并在1000公顷农业区开展了害鼠防治试验,以观察氯鼠酮(CHLOROPHACINONE)对农田多种害鼠的防治效果,结果简报如下。 1.防治区概况 百色市那毕乡防治区位于右江上游河谷的大迴环处,海拔约500米,地势平坦,年降水量约1 000毫米,年平均温度22℃,无霜期超过270天。是百色市重要的农业生产基地。防治区的环境可以划分成以水稻为主的农耕区;以种植甘蔗和菜蔬旱作物为主的河堤区和居民住宅区3类不同的生物小区。     

滇西4市县居民区小哺乳动物的群落结构

1983～1996 年对云南瑞丽、陇川、盈江和保山4 市县居民区小哺乳动物的长期调查,经聚类分析,该地区的小哺乳动物可划分为3 种群落: (1) 以黄胸鼠+ 大臭鼠句为主的瑞丽、陇川室内外小哺乳动物群落; (2) 以黄胸鼠+ 大臭鼠句+ 小家鼠为主的盈江、保山室内和盈江室外小哺乳动物群落; (3) 以黄胸鼠+ 大臭鼠句+ 灰麝鼠句为主的保山室外小哺乳动物群落。其群落多样性指数以群落(3) 为最高(1.5897) ,群落(1) 、(2) 较低,分别为1.099 0 ,1.042 5。4 市县在同一坝区小哺乳动物室内、外唯一不能聚为同一群落的保山室外黄胸鼠数量骤减是第3 群落多样性增加的主要原因,亦是鼠疫在该坝区不能长期保存的原因。因此小哺乳动物群落结构与鼠疫的保存和传播机制之间的关系非常密切。     

高寒草甸地区小哺乳动物群落多样性的初步研究

高寒苹甸地区的人工草场、半人工草场、次生杂类草草场和撩荒地中共有4个小哺乳类群落;根田鼠+高原鼢鼠群落;根田鼠+甘肃鼠兔群落;高原鼠兔+高原鼢鼠群落;长尾仓鼠+高原鼠兔群落。小哺乳类群落种的多样性与植物群落种的多样性无显著相关关系,而与植被的高度、盖度呈显著负相关关系。高原鼢鼠是各生境中的广布种。根田鼠与甘肃鼠兔在植被郁闭度高的环境中为群落的主要组成者;植被郁闭度低的环境中,高原鼠兔和长尾仓鼠是群落的主要成员。它们的空间格局主要反映空间环境条件的差异。     

放牧管理模式对高寒草甸鼢鼠鼠丘群落演替的影响

高寒草甸放牧利用下高原鼢鼠(Eospalax baileyi)等危害的发生是草地管理的关键难题,分析放牧管理模式对鼢鼠鼠丘植被群落演替的影响能为草地管理提供重要依据。研究选择划区轮牧(RG)、生长季休牧(GSG)、连续放牧(CG)和禁牧(PG)4种放牧管理模式,以及各模式下不同年限鼠丘(一年(ZM1)、两年(ZM2)、三年(ZM3)和多年鼠丘(ZMM))与对照(CM)草地。分析不同放牧管理模式对鼠丘植被群落特征和生物量等的影响,结果发现:PG和GSG下所有年限鼠丘的植被高度、地上生物量均高于RG和CG;RG和GSG下ZM1和ZM2物种Shannon-wiener指数均高于对照样地物种Shannon-wiener指数。主成分分析表明:RG下地上生物量和物种丰富度指数是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,PG下地上生物量、盖度、Shannon-wiener指数和均匀度指数是鼠丘植被群落演替的重要因子,CG下物种丰富度和重要值是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标,GSG下Shannon-wiener指数、盖度和高度是影响鼠丘植被群落演替的重要指标。可见,不同放牧制度对鼠丘植被群落演替的影响不同,禁牧...     

甘肃兴隆山自然保护区森林演替对鸟类群落结构的影响

运用固定面积法调查了青林三个主要演替阶段森林(阔叶林、混交林和针叶林)的鸟类群落结构。结果表明,混交林中鸟类物种数、鸟类物种多样性和种团多样性最高,阔叶林最低。方差分析和聚类分析均表明,三种演替阶段森林的鸟类群落组成差异显著。所记录到的35种鸟类中有11种差异显著。其中,山雀科和科在阔叶林中占优势,而柳莺亚科在混交林和针叶林中占优势。食性种团中,阔叶林以食虫鸟和食果食虫鸟为主;混交林和针叶林均以食虫鸟、食果食虫鸟、食谷鸟和食果鸟为主。鉴于阔叶林和混交林有向顶级群落(针叶林)演替的趋势,建议采取人为干扰来维持三种演替阶段森林的面积,以便从景观水平上保护鸟类物种多样性。     

天山一号冰川前沿生态系统真菌群落结构演替及分布格局

【目的】分析真菌群落结构和多样性随着一号冰川退缩前沿年代序列的变化,揭示真菌群落的演替轨迹及环境因子对群落组成的影响。【方法】采用宏基因组学研究方法,结合生物信息学和统计学分析技术,对取自一号冰川末端表面冰尘,底部和前沿14个样品进行总DNA的提取,ITS基因的扩增并使用Illumina Miseq平台测序,通过相关生物地理化学特性综合分析在不同年代序列下真菌群落结构及其演替规律。【结果】经测序,筛选和质控分析获得185103条rawreads,占78.3%的非单序列在97%的相似度聚类分析共得到300个操作分类单元(OTU),共划分为6个门:子囊菌门(Ascomycota,52.7%)、担子菌门(Basidiomycota,16.9%)、壶菌门(Chytridiomycota,15.1%)、接合菌门(Zygomycota,2.4%)和球囊菌门(Glomeromycota,1.2%)。从演替初期到后期阶段虽然子囊菌的序列数逐渐下降而担子菌出现缓慢上升趋势,但子囊菌随着土壤年代序列的增加始终为优势类群,壶菌在冰川底部和前沿基层普遍存在且丰度仅次于子囊菌和担子菌。我们在缺乏植被的最新退缩基层发现依靠自养型宿主存活的活体营养菌,如Taphrinomycetes、Urediniomycetes和Ustilaginomycetes。从冰川底部和前沿基层检测到丰度较高的酵母菌,而粪生真菌(coprophilous fungi)仅仅出现在冰川前沿基层,共23个操作分类单元。球囊菌仅在前沿部分样品中存在,有着十分狭小的生态位分布。【结论】一号冰川前沿随着年代序列的增加真菌群落存在明显的演替轨迹和多样性的显著变化,不同生态位真菌类群组成的相似性较低且都存在明显的指示性真菌类群。     

青海不同区域农田作物土壤细菌多样性及群落结构分析

【目的】探讨青海省农田土壤细菌多样性及群落结构组成。【方法】采用高通量测序技术分析都兰县、互助县、共和县和大通县种植小麦、油菜、青稞土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性差异,并解析其与土壤理化特性的关系。【结果】4个地区的土壤pH、水分、有机质、Chao1指数、Shannon指数、线性判别分析效应大小(linear discriminant analysis effect size, LEfSe)组间差异这些指标中部分指标存在极显著差异性(P<0.01),而3种作物的这些指标无显著差异(P>0.05)。主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA)显示,不同区域细菌群落组成差异性较大,3种作物农田土壤细菌群落、物种组成相似度较高。4个地区共有3 127个可操作性分类单元(operational taxonomic units, OTUs),3种作物农田土壤细菌共有OTUs为3 694个;细菌物种隶属于36门93纲192目276科450属423种;4个地区或3种作物土壤具有相似的优势门、属、种,但相对丰度不同。水分、pH、有机质与Chao1、Shannon存在显著相关性,pH、有机质与未分类种、unclassified RB41、unclassified Sphingomonas具有显著正相关或负相关。Chao1、Shannon与unclassified Sphingomonas显著负相关,与unclassified RB41、unclassified Vicinamibacteraceae显著正相关。【结论】区域差异对土壤的理化性质、细菌群落结构和多样性具有显著影响,相较于作物而言其影响更加明显。     

高原鼠兔对退化草地植物群落结构及恢复演替的影响

2009 年4 月至2011 年9 月采用围栏封育和去除法,对去除高原鼠兔的处理组和鼠兔扰动(对照组)区域植物群落结构、物种组成和地上生物量进行了比较分析,旨在阐明高原鼠兔对草地植物群落结构和群落演替的影响。结果表明:去除高原鼠兔处理组和对照区域植物群落平均高度和种盖度逐年上升,均在2011 年达到最大值,平均高度分别为6. 5 cm 和4. 2 cm,二者差异极显著(F =127. 80,df = 1,10,P < 0.01),种盖度分别为126. 5%和117. 9% ,差异不显著;植物群落组成中,处理区域禾草和莎草地上生物量比对照区域分别增加了1 965.1% 和33. 2% ,二者差异极显著(F = 41. 29,df = 1,10,P < 0.001),豆科植物和杂类草分别下降了89. 9% 和30.7% ;处理区域植物群落生态优势度发生了显著变化,由以杂类草为主改变为以禾草为主,而对照组均以杂类草为主,变化不明显。相似性指数2009 - 2011 年在对照区域年间变化范围为0.7168 - 0. 7550,在去除高原鼠兔处理区域年间变化范围为0.6464 - 0. 6732;对照区域和处理区间变化范围为0. 5354 - 0. 8956。根据试验结果我们认为,高原鼠兔的扰动可以有效降低植物群落的平均高度和植物种盖度,但植物种类组成主要以杂类草为主,年间变化不明显,表明鼠兔的扰动延缓了植物群落的恢复演替。     

水热条件变化对黑土细菌群落结构的影响及其演替特征

全球气候变化导致的水热条件变化,对土壤微生物群落结构及功能产生重要影响。深入理解这些变化如何影响微生物群落的结构及其随时间的演替,对于有效预测和适应未来的气候变化至关重要。【目的】在气候变化背景下,本研究旨在探索黑土细菌群落的多样性、组成和结构,以及群落演替特征的变化情况。【方法】利用中国科学院海伦、封丘、鹰潭农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站长期土壤置换实验平台,选择寒温带地区(中国海伦)的黑土作为研究对象,并将其移置于暖温带地区(封丘)和中亚热带地区(鹰潭)以模拟水热条件增加。通过采集2005年至2011年的63个黑土样本(包括原位、移置封丘县和移置鹰潭市),利用16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术,研究了水热条件变化对黑土细菌群落多样性、组成和结构的影响;同时结合土壤理化性质,分析环境因素与微生物群落特征间的关系,并计算物种周转率(w)。【结果】经过6年的移置,将寒温带黑土移至暖温带和中亚热带后,土壤的理化性质发生了显著改变。土壤有机质和全氮含量显著降低,地上部生物量显著减少。土壤细菌群落的多样性下降,群落组成和结构发生了显著变化。主要细菌类群包括疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)等,其中疣微菌门在移置鹰潭地区后的相对丰度显著增加。此外,气候因子与微生物群落特征高度相关。非度量多维尺度分析显示,群落结构随水热条件和时间的变化而演替,这与微生物时间周转率的增加相关。在不同水热条件下,细菌群落的时间周转率差异显著,依次为0.030 (海伦)<0.033 (封丘)<0.045 (鹰潭)。【结论】6年的水热条件增加显著降低了细菌群落的多样性,显著改变了其组成和结构,并加快了细菌群落时间周转率的响应。     

The structure and stability of small mammal faunas

Summary I examined questions about the local and global stability and resilience characteristics of six small mammal faunas and their relationship to connectance, average interaction strength, community covariance, and indirect competitive pathways. Community matrices estimated elsewhere were used in the analyses. The faunas had from three to nine species and represented several habitat types. The following properties were observed: (1) all community matrices were globally stable, (2) return rates to equilibrium were generally maximized, and (3) competitive interactions were strictly hierarchical. Global stability resulted from a reduction in connectance with increasing species and not from structural characteristics (i.e., community covariance). Average interaction strength did not change with the number of species in these faunas. Increased resilience was due largely to reduced community covariance. Two of the six faunas showed some evidence for indirect pathways, but this appeared to be artifactual. Randomizations of the original community matrices showed that indirect pathways have a high probability of occurrence. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that the probability of indirect pathways increases with increasing number of species or magnitude of competition. These results bring into question previous observational studies invoking indirect competitive pathways. Communities without indirect pathways have a special linear hierarchical structure. This structure has greater resilience than when indirect pathways are present. The observed patterns in community structure are discussed with regard to current theories of habitat selection.     

Influences of herbaceous vines on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages

In the continental tropics, herbaceous vines and lianas are roughly equal in abundance, and the former are even more abundant in the temperate region. However, only little attention has been paid to the study of biological and ecological characteristics of herbaceous vines. In particular, research about effects of herbaceous vines acting as a biological control on plant communities has not been carried out in depth. Herbaceous vines are widely distributed and abundant also in humid subtropical areas, especially in the early stages of forest community succession, but their ecology is little known. The aim of our study is to understand the effect of local herbaceous vines on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages. The hypothesis was tested that herbaceous vines would have predominantly negative effects on co-occurring species, thereby reducing their diversity. Based on a quadrate method, a detailed survey of shrub and herb communities covered by herbaceous vines was conducted in the Jinyun Mountain Nature Reserve of Chongqing, SW China. The sample plots were selected based on the numbers and coverage of vines, distinguishing among high vine coverage plots, middle vine coverage plots and low vine coverage plots. All species in the plots with different herbaceous vine coverage were identified and measured. The measurements for each species included number, average height and coverage. Because of abundant tree seedlings in the habitat of forest edge plots, we only recorded the number of tree seedlings in those plots to evaluate the overall effects of vines on tree seedling regeneration. After the field investigation, herbaceous vines and other species in the plots were harvested respectively, then oven dried and weighed. The results showed that herbaceous vines had high productivity and produced a lot of branches, which caused above-ground competition and mechanical stress to other species. Herbaceous vines seriously affected species composition and species importance values of self-supporting species. In all three habitats, the number of species and families in low coverage samples was larger than that in high coverage samples, and furthermore the identities of species were different between them. Species richness significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, illustrating that some species disappeared. Herbaceous vines reduced species diversity of communities, and as a result, community complexity was decreased, which might also decrease community stability. Biomass of communities of self-supporting species significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, which suggested that herbaceous vines significantly decreased community productivity. The number of seedlings also significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, and seedlings were mainly distributed in lower coverage samples. Herbaceous vines reduced the light exposure in the understory, which may be the mechanistic explanation for the negative influence of vines on the performance of tree seedlings. It was concluded that herbaceous vines affected seedling quantitative dynamics and distribution, and inhibited the natural succession from shrub and herb communities to tree communities. Thus herbaceous vines not only had significant influences on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages, but also on subsequent succession stages.     

聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二酯塑料地膜高效降解菌群筛选及其群落结构演替特征

【背景】以聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二酯(PBAT)为主要成分的塑料地膜虽然是生物可降解的地膜,但是关于该塑料地膜降解的微生物菌群研究却较少。【目的】拟从不同环境样品中筛选可降解PBAT塑料地膜的微生物菌群。通过对其多次富集的菌群群落结构演替进行分析,明晰可降解PBAT塑料地膜的核心微生物。【方法】利用改良的SM无机盐培养基从不同环境样品中筛选可降解PBAT塑料地膜的微生物菌群;利用失重法测定菌群对PBAT塑料地膜降解的效率;利用16SrRNA基因高通量测序技术对其第5批次(G5)至第9批次(G9)富集的降解菌群的群落结构进行深入探讨;通过Pearson相关性分析方法对菌群不同菌属相对丰度变化和PBAT塑料地膜降解时间进行解析。【结果】从广州金发堆肥厂的堆肥样品中筛选到可完全降解PBAT塑料地膜的菌群,编号为SX。通过连续不断的转接富集,菌群SX对PBAT塑料地膜的降解速率显著提升。16SrRNA基因高通量测序结果显示第5批次(G5)至第9批次(G9)富集的PBAT塑料地膜降解菌群,厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的相对丰度逐渐下降,而放线菌门(Actinobacteria)的相对丰度逐渐上升。硫磺色节杆菌(Arthrobactersulfureus)、红螺菌科(Rhodospirillaceae)和噬几丁质菌科(Chitinophagaceae)在随着转接富集过程中相对丰度逐渐升高而芽孢杆菌(Bacillussp.)的相对丰度显著降低。通过统计分析发现硫磺色节杆菌(Arthrobacter sulfureus)相对丰度升高与PBAT塑料地膜降解时间缩短显著相关(r=–0.927,P0.05)。【结论】筛选到PBAT塑料地膜高效降解菌群SX。通过连续不断的转接富集,菌群SX对PBAT塑料地膜的降解时间由28 d (第5批次,G5)降低到13 d (第9批次,G9)。通过对菌群群落结构的研究,发现随着菌群降解效率的提高,硫磺色节杆菌的所占相对丰度显著增加,说明其可能在PBAT塑料降解中发挥着关键作用。本研究为PBAT塑料地膜的降解提供了绿色高效环保的新途径和菌株资源,并为PBAT塑料地膜降解的机制研究奠定了基础。     

Influences of herbaceous vines on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages

In the continental tropics, herbaceous vines and lianas are roughly equal in abundance, and the former are even more abundant in the temperate region. However, only little attention has been paid to the study of biological and ecological characteristics of herbaceous vines. In particular, research about effects of herbaceous vines acting as a biological control on plant communities has not been carried out in depth. Herbaceous vines are widely distributed and abundant also in humid subtropical areas, especially in the early stages of forest community succession, but their ecology is little known. The aim of our study is to understand the effect of local herbaceous vines on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages. The hypothesis was tested that herbaceous vines would have predominantly negative effects on co-occurring species, thereby reducing their diversity. Based on a quadrate method, a detailed survey of shrub and herb communities covered by herbaceous vines was conducted in the Jinyun Mountain Nature Reserve of Chongqing, SW China. The sample plots were selected based on the numbers and coverage of vines, distinguishing among high vine coverage plots, middle vine coverage plots and low vine coverage plots. All species in the plots with different herbaceous vine coverage were identified and measured. The measurements for each species included number, average height and coverage. Because of abundant tree seedlings in the habitat of forest edge plots, we only recorded the number of tree seedlings in those plots to evaluate the overall effects of vines on tree seedling regeneration. After the field investigation, herbaceous vines and other species in the plots were harvested respectively, then oven dried and weighed. The results showed that herbaceous vines had high productivity and produced a lot of branches, which caused above-ground competition and mechanical stress to other species. Herbaceous vines seriously affected species composition and species importance values of self-supporting species. In all three habitats, the number of species and families in low coverage samples was larger than that in high coverage samples, and furthermore the identities of species were different between them. Species richness significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, illustrating that some species disappeared. Herbaceous vines reduced species diversity of communities, and as a result, community complexity was decreased, which might also decrease community stability. Biomass of communities of self-supporting species significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, which suggested that herbaceous vines significantly decreased community productivity. The number of seedlings also significantly decreased with increasing herbaceous vine coverage, and seedlings were mainly distributed in lower coverage samples. Herbaceous vines reduced the light exposure in the understory, which may be the mechanistic explanation for the negative influence of vines on the performance of tree seedlings. It was concluded that herbaceous vines affected seedling quantitative dynamics and distribution, and inhibited the natural succession from shrub and herb communities to tree communities. Thus herbaceous vines not only had significant influences on community characteristics in pioneer succession stages, but also on subsequent succession stages.     

云南大理人工松林中小兽群落与生态因子的关系

本文比较了云南大理不同年龄的人工松林(5-8年、10-15年、16-20年)中小兽群落的物种多度、多样性和主要小兽的丰富度,研究了小兽与森林栖境因子(乔木的密度、覆盖度和森林底层灌木和草本植物的覆盖度、密度、物种多度)的关系,探讨了小兽群落在中国西南人工森林的演替,以及地表植物和森林覆盖度对小兽群落的影响。研究结果显示,地表植物的物种多度和丰富度随着森林的年龄增长而增大,但是小兽群落的物种多度和多样性随着森林年龄的增长而变小。小兽与森林栖境因子的回归关系显示小兽群落的物种多度和多样性与地表植物(PC1)成负相关关系。小兽群落的优势物种随着森林的年龄有明显的演替。在年龄最小的森林(5-8年)中,大绒鼠(E.miletu)和齐氏姬鼠(A.chevrieri)是优势物种;在10-15年森林齐氏姬鼠(A.chevrieri)和锡金小鼠(M.pahari)是优势物种;在年龄最大的森林(16-20年)中,贝氏树(T.belangeri)和珀氏长吻松鼠(D.pernyi)成为优势物种     

Cd对土壤动物群落结构的影响

Cd污染对土壤动物影响的模拟实验结果表明,土壤动物群落结构的变化与Cd处理浓度的大小密切相关．在高浓度(99．48mg     

云南白草岭鼠形小兽群落结构及垂直分布

对云南白草岭鼠形小兽群落结构,垂直分布及动物区系进行了调查,结果共捕获小兽21种1028只,隶属于啮齿目(Rodenria)鼠科（Muridae）10种,仓鼠科（Cricetidae)2种,松鼠科（Sciuridae)2种;食虫目（Insectivora）Juqin科（Soricdae)6种,鼹科（Talpidae)1种。其中东洋界15种,占71．43％,古北界4种,占19．04％,广布种2种,占9．53％,各个垂直带鼠形小兽群落物种多样性指数分别为,Ⅰ,云南松林及山坡耕作地带（2000－2650m)1.3814;Ⅱ。温凉性针阔叶混交林带（2650－3150m)1．6126;Ⅲ．苍山冷杉林带（3150－3500m)1．3488;Ⅳ。亚高山灌丛草甸带（3500－3657m）1．5085。云南白草岭优势种主要由齐氏姬鼠（Aopdemus chevieri)、中华姬鼠（A.draco)、大耳姬鼠（A.latronum)、大绒鼠（Eothenomys miletus)和昭通绒鼠（E.olitor)5种组成。     

阿拉善地区不同生境小型兽类群落多样性研究

本文对内蒙古阿拉善地区不同生境中小型兽类群落的物种组成和多样性进行了初步研究。1998 年8～9 月和1999 年8～9 月, 2002 年10 月, 在8 种不同生境类型中共布放54 个样地, 22 606 个有效铗日, 捕获小型兽类标本866 只, 分属2 目6 科, 共20 种。多样性分析结果表明: 8 种不同生境的小型兽类群落Shannon-Wiener 多样性指数在1.186～1.589 之间; Pielou 均匀性指数在0.630 9～0.861 8 之间; Simpson 生态优势度指数在0.234 9～0.415 7 之间; Margalef 丰富度指数在0.931 8～2.020 之间。根据不同生境的小型兽类群落相似性指数聚类结果,可以将8 种生境的小型兽类群落大致划分为4 种类型: 耐旱型(群落Ⅴ和群落Ⅶ)、干旱型(群落Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ)、农林交错型(群落Ⅵ和群落Ⅷ) 和森林型(群落Ⅳ) 。生境条件的差异对小型兽类群落物种组成和多样性有一定的限制作用, 而人为干扰有明显影响。     

Cattle grazing, raptor abundance and small mammal communities in Mediterranean grasslands

Abundance and diversity of small mammals are usually affected strongly by grazing either due to decreased food availability or quality, decreased suitability of soil for building burrow systems due to trampling and/or due to increased predation risk in the structurally simpler grazed areas. We estimated the effects of grazing-induced changes in vegetation and soil and of increased predation on small mammals in a Mediterranean grassland landscape. We measured vegetation structure, soil compaction and small mammal abundance and species composition in 22 plots of 8 Sherman live traps each, arranged according to an unbalanced two-way ANOVA design with two grazing levels (grazed areas and cattle exclosures) and two predator abundance levels (increased densities of Eurasian kestrels Falco tinnunculus by means of nest boxes and control). Plots were sampled during 2 consecutive years in early summer and early fall. Exclosure from cattle increased significantly vegetation height and volume and decreased soil compaction. Grazing-induced changes in vegetation height and volume and in soil compaction produced strong effects on small mammal abundance and species richness. Increased kestrel densities did not have significant additive or interactive effects, with the effects of grazing-induced vegetation and soil gradients on abundance or richness of small mammals. Our results suggest that the effects of grazing on small mammal communities in Mediterranean montane grasslands were mainly due to reduced food availability and by negative effects of trampling on the suitability of soils for building burrow systems. Decreased food quality and increased predation in grazed areas seemed to play a minor role, if any. Reductions in stock densities would then favor generalist predator populations in Mediterranean grasslands through the expected positive effects of such reductions on the availability of food and burrows for small mammals.     

Natural succession of macroalgal-dominated epibenthic assemblages at different water depths and after transplantation from deep to shallow water on Spitsbergen

In the current study, we investigated the primary succession of seaweeds over different time periods at different water depths. Furthermore, we followed the succession of field-grown benthic communities of different successional age, developing on ceramic tiles, prior to and after transplantation from 8 to 0.5 m water depth. The transplantation simulated changes associated with the break up of sea-ice cover, e.g. light regime or wave exposure. For this purpose, we transplanted 12 and 21-month old communities, grown at 8 m water depth, together with a set of sterile tiles, onto rafts, floating in 0.5 m water depth. Our results describe for the first time the succession of macroalgal communities in the Arctic and give important insights into the effect of disturbance of differently aged communities. The primary succession at 0.5 m water depth was mainly driven by Bacillariophyta and filamentous green algae like Urospora sp. and Ulothrix implexa. Twelve-month old communities at 8 m water depth are dominated by members of the Ectocarpales (Phaeophyceae), like Pylaiella littoralis, P. varia, and Ectocarpus siliculosus and the green alga U. implexa, whereas the 21-month old community showed a higher cover of the green algal class Ulvophyceae and sessile invertebrates. After transplantation to near surface conditions, species composition of the communities changed, but this effect was differently strong between communities of different age.