AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ALIEN INVASIVE VEGETATION ON THE GEOMORPHOLOGY OF RIVER CHANNELS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Summary

Invasion of the riparian zone by alien vegetation is recognised as a serious problem in many areas of South Africa. Vegetation is a dynamic component of river channels. It is an important control variable affecting channel form whereas the flow and sediment regime influences vegetation growth. Wherever alien vegetation invades the riparian zone it can be expected that there will be some impact on the physical structure of the riparian habitat. This paper reviews the effect of riparian vegetation on channel processes and channel form and discusses the implications of the invasion of riparian zones by alien vegetation. Woody species in particular are seen as having a significant potential for inducing channel modification, whilst their removal could lead to significant channel instability and mobilisation of sediment. The need for further research into the impact of alien vegetation on the geomorphology of South African river channels is stressed.     

遗传多样性与外来物种的成功入侵: 现状和展望

遗传多样性被认为是影响外来种入侵成功的重要因素之一。研究表明, 尽管外来种在入侵过程中可能受到奠基者效应的影响, 但是多次引种、种内或种间杂交等过程使得许多外来种在引入地的遗传多样性水平未必会显著低于原产地, 从而使得外来种可能通过快速进化来适应引入地的新生境。然而, 高水平的遗传多样性并非成功入侵的必要条件, 遗传变异的匮乏对一些外来种的入侵能力没有明显的影响, 甚至在一些生物入侵案例中, 遗传多样性的降低反而促进了入侵成功。针对遗传多样性与入侵成功之间的复杂关系, 本文在评述外来种遗传多样性的研究现状的基础上, 分析了遗传多样性对外来种的短期入侵成功和长期进化的影响机制, 从方法角度探讨了目前研究中存在的若干问题, 并对如何推进入侵生态学研究提出了一些看法。正如一些学者提出的, 入侵生态学需要与生态学其他分支整合起来, 才能加深对生物入侵及其相关的生态和进化过程的理解。     

不同带长微喷带灌溉对土壤水分布与冬小麦耗水特性及产量的影响

于2010-2012年度冬小麦生长季,选用高产冬小麦品种济麦22,采用测墒补灌方式,设置40 m(T₄₀)、60 m(T₆₀)和80 m(T₈₀)3种带长的微喷带灌溉处理,研究不同带长微喷带灌溉对土壤水分分布及冬小麦耗水特性和产量的影响.结果表明： 拔节期和开花期采用微喷带补灌,随微喷带带长缩短,灌溉水在土壤中的水平分布均匀系数显著增加.拔节期补灌,T₄₀和T₆₀处理在距畦首0～40 m范围内各小麦行间的0～200 cm土层土壤含水量均无显著差异;T₈₀处理在距畦首38～40 m、58～60 m和78～80 m处各小麦行间的0～200 cm各土层土壤含水量变化规律一致,均表现为随距微喷带的距离增加而减小.T₄₀处理的小麦在拔节至开花期间和开花至成熟期间分别对40～60 cm和20～80 cm土层土壤贮水的消耗量显著高于T₆₀和T₈₀处理,而对深层土壤贮水消耗量和总土壤贮水消耗量、开花期补灌水量、总灌水量和总耗水量显著低于T₆₀和T₈₀处理.随微喷带带长缩短,小麦籽粒产量、产量水分利用效率显著升高,而流量降低,在灌水量一定的情况下,单位时间内的有效灌溉面积减小.综合考虑小麦籽粒产量、水分利用效率和流量,40和60 m是本试验条件下的适宜微喷带带长.     

Influences on the transport and establishment of exotic bird species: an analysis of the parrots (Psittaciformes) of the world

Most studies of exotic species invasions only consider the factors that affect the establishment of populations following release, yet this is only one step on the invasion pathway. Different factors are likely to influence which species are transported and released. Here, we examine the influence of species traits on the successful transition of species through several stages in the introduction pathway (transport, release, and establishment), using parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) as a model system. We use a species‐level supertree of parrots to test for phylogenetic auto‐correlation in the introduction process. Our analyses find that different sets of variables are related to the probability that a species enters each stage on the invasion pathway. The availability of individuals for transport and release seems to be most important for passage through these stages, but has no obvious effect on establishment following release. Rather, establishment success is higher for sedentary species, and species with broad diets.     

Introduction of the African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL, 1822) into Southern Brazil

We record here the introduction of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus into the Guaraguaçu River basin in Paraná State, Brazil, an area with an extremely rich endemic fish fauna, including many catfishes. C. gariepinus was introduced as escapees from ponds built for recreational angling. These catfishes are very large and hard predators, thus posing serious potential for impact on the native fish fauna. The impact of C. gariepinus needs study with emphasis on finding means for controlling its spread.     

Genetic diversity,population structure and gene flow in native populations of a proposed biocontrol agent (Cornops aquaticum)

The semiaquatic grasshopper Cornops aquaticum is native to South America, with a distribution as far south as the Argentinean pampas and as far north as the Gulf of Mexico. This grasshopper is being proposed as a form of biological control agent for the invasive aquatic macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) in South Africa. The results of a molecular study (six microsatellite loci) conducted on 11 C. aquaticum populations is presented. Unlike in contiguous mainland South American populations, we found genetic diversity to be lowest in a South African quarantine population, with reduced values in two other isolated populations from South America. In addition, F_st/R_st/analysis of molecular variance and Bayesian cluster analysis suggested high levels of connectivity between mainland populations. The implications of these findings and their relationship to those of a recent morphological study suggest that the suitability of C. aquaticum as a form of biocontrol might be unpredictable at best. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 666–676.     

生物入侵机制研究进展

本文从外来种本身的生物学特性,外来种与新栖息地土著种之间的相互作用,群落生物多样性对入侵种的抵抗能力,新栖息地生态环境变化对入侵种的影响等方面综述了近年来有关生物入侵机制的研究进展,并探讨了研究方法的发展和亟待解决的问题,大量的研究表明生物入侵机制是极为多样的,可能没有一般的,通用的机制,阐明生物入侵的机制,对推动生态学理论的发展和控制有害外来种有重要意义。     

龟类外来种的生物入侵隐患及其防治措施

本文在国家林业局“中国龟鳖市场调查”项目的基础上,查阅了相关文献及报道,考察了国内主要的大型龟鳖养殖场及10多个省份的观赏龟类和水产品龟类市场,针对龟类外来种的养殖现状和发展趋势及对生态系统潜在的危害进行了分析,探讨了龟类外来种成为入侵种的成因,并对龟类生物入侵的防治进行了讨论,旨在引起龟鳖行业对生物入侵的重视及防范.     

植物入侵机制的主要假说

植物入侵是最严重的全球问题之一,严重破坏生态系统的结构和功能。随着植物入侵现象日益严峻,要控制和解决外来植物入侵问题,了解和掌握植物入侵机制尤为重要。本文概述了植物入侵的多种机制及不同机制间的协同作用,阐述了植物入侵过程中的化感作用、植物-土壤反馈机制、互惠共生关系,以及植物功能性状和表型可塑性对入侵过程的影响,并对多种机制协同与植物入侵轨迹的关系进行综合分析。根据分析结果将外来植物在侵入地的入侵时间轨迹分为引入、定植、建立和侵入4个阶段,把遇到的各种阻碍和促进因素融入其中,提出外来植物入侵曲线图,有助于未来对入侵植物及其影响的研究和管理。对现有的植物入侵研究方法进行分析,提出现阶段研究的不足以及未来的研究方向和目标。     

江西省外来植物现状

[目的] 完善江西省外来植物本底调查数据,为江西省外来入侵植物的预防和预警机制构建提供依据。[方法] 通过文献、标本研究以及野外实地调查,对江西外来植物种类、原产地、生活型、引入途径、引入时间、在各地级市的分布情况以及外来入侵植物的种类进行分析、探讨。[结果] 江西省外来植物有106科407属599种：菊科最多（85种,14.19%）,其次是豆科（52种,8.68%）,10种以下的科有91个,占总科的85.85%;主要源于美洲（49.25%）,其次是亚洲（20.80%）,欧洲第三（13.81%）,地中海和大洋洲较少;外来植物中草本植物种类最多,乔木次之;大部分被用于观赏、饲料、药物等有意引入。江西省的外来入侵植物有53科168属267种;九江、赣州和南昌由于地理位置优越及经济地位突出被入侵较严重。[结论] 江西省外来植物种类丰富,引入途径多样,入侵物种较多。建议构建风险评价系统,加强外来植物监管监测,科学引种;制订和更新外来植物防控的具体政策法规;同时,加大入侵危害宣传,及时防控和阻止外来植物逃逸入侵对本省生态环境造成侵害。     

广东省主要水系外来水生动物初步调查

【背景】广东省是我国遭受外来生物入侵最严重的地区之一,许多外来水生动物在广东省的河流均有分布,但有关其具体分布和数量缺乏系统研究。【方法】通过野外调查的方式对广东省鉴江、韩江、潭江、西江、北江、东江等水系的外来水生动物的分布和数量进行了初步调查,并对调查到的外来水生动物的生态学特征和入侵机制进行了初步研究。【结果】共调查到13种外来水生动物,包括巴西龟、尼罗罗非鱼、莫桑比克罗非鱼、奥利亚罗非鱼、下口鲶、革胡子鲶、食蚊鱼、麦瑞加拉鲮、露斯塔野鲮、斑点叉尾鮰、大口黑鲈等11种脊椎动物和福寿螺、克氏原螯虾2种无脊椎动物;其中以福寿螺、巴西龟和3种罗非鱼的分布最为广泛。【结论与意义】几种外来水生生物主要通过水产养殖、观赏渔业和生物防治引种入侵;典型的\"R\"策略者、对环境具有较强耐受力的生物、杂食性鱼类更容易成功入侵。     

Weed invasion in East Africa: insights from herbarium records

The invasion process was documented from data on the labels of specimens stored in the East African Herbarium at the National Museums of Kenya. We analysed data from seven abundant alien plant species: Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae), Capsella bursa‐pastoris (L.) Med . (Brassicaceae ) , Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae), Galinsoga parviflora Cav. (Asteraceae), Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae), Spergula arvensis L. (Caryophyllaceae) and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (Caryophyllaceae) and compared these data with the spread of two native weeds: Cynoglossum coeruleum A.DC. (Boraginaceae) and Senecio discifolius Oliv. (Asteraceae). Although all investigated species had been already recorded before the Second World War, most specimens were collected between 1960 and 1980. This regional spread is correlated with a change in the agricultural systems of Kenya. The early records of alien weeds were restricted to higher altitudes. With the increasing human population and the associated increase of agricultural activities (e.g. irrigation in arid areas) the weed species from South America were able to spread to lower altitudes.     

广西的外来入侵植物

通过野外调查,结合相关文献资料,发现广西目前有外来入侵植物约74种,隶属于57属26科,其中,菊科的种类最多,有19种,其次是禾本科,有10种。草本植物最多,占总数的78.4 %。从来源看,大多来源于美洲。在广西,危害较为严重的外来入侵植物主要是紫茎泽兰、飞机草、银胶菊、凤眼莲等11种。此外,还进一步论述了外来植物在广西的基本特征和入侵成因,分析其在广西的发展状况,预测其可能入侵的区域,并提出了有关的防治对策。     

金沙江下游外来入侵植物入侵风险评估——以乌东德和白鹤滩电站库区为例

【目的】基于金沙江下游外来物种入侵防控需要,以其干流上乌东德和白鹤滩电站库区为例,调查库区内的外来入侵植物并评估入侵风险,为该区域外来植物入侵防控和生态安全建设提供数据支撑。【方法】运用样线、样方调查法结合文献资料掌握库区内外来入侵植物种类组成和入侵现状,采用层次分析法建立外来入侵植物风险评估体系,对其入侵过程、入侵现状以及危害与防治等方面进行综合评估,并根据等级划分标准确定入侵风险等级。【结果】乌东德和白鹤滩电站库区共记录到外来入侵植物103种,隶属28科70属。其中,Ⅰ级风险的外来入侵植物5种,Ⅱ级风险12种,Ⅲ级风险24种,Ⅳ级风险28种,Ⅴ级风险34种。【结论】乌东德和白鹤滩电站库区的外来入侵植物种类较多,但多数处于低风险等级(Ⅳ、Ⅴ级),危害较小,高风险等级(I、Ⅱ级)外来入侵植物共17种。建议重点防控高风险等级的外来入侵植物,尽可能降低其对金沙江下游生态安全的威胁。     

A model for species-area relationships in plant communities

Abstract. A model is proposed for the fitting of species-area curves to data from the Stellenbosch region, South Africa. Basic assumptions of the model are finiteness of the number of species in a finite area, and random distribution of plant species over the region. The model involves a distribution of densities of different species, and the parameters of this distribution are useful for describing and classifying communities. The data of the Stellenbosch region suggest that the assumptions of the model break down in areas greater than 500 m².