Influence of leaf traits on the spatial distribution of arboreal arthropods within an overstorey rainforest tree

Abstract.

• 1 Several attributes of foliage were measured from the Australian rainforest tree Argyrodendron actinophyllum Edlin (Sterculiaceae). These were related to estimates of abundance per leaf area of the most common arthropod guilds and families sampled with restricted canopy fogging.
• 2 When all these arthropod groups were considered, much of the overall variance in arthropod spatial distribution could be attributed to leaf age characteristics, arthropod aggregation patterns, arthropod activity and distance to tree trunk.
• 3 The fraction of variance which could be specifically explained by foliage attributes such as nitrogen-, water- and fibre-content, specific leaf weight, and epiphyll load was small for most arthropod groups (usually <30%). However, an index of food quality explained a higher proportion of variance (50%) in the abundance of phloem-feeders. Leaf size and foliage compactness did not influence significantly the abundance of any arthropod group.
• 4 Most herbivores were more abundant on young foliage than on mature leaves. With the exception of Corylophidae and Chrysomelidae, which were more abundant in the lower and upper canopy respectively, arthropod stratification was not conspicuous within the inner core of tree crowns.
• 5 The results firstly emphasize the distribution of young foliage as a key factor affecting the abundance of many herbivores and, secondly, the importance of the local illumination regime for host leaf production and its indirect effects on the spatial distribution of arboreal arthropods.

     

Absence of wing polymorphism in the arboreal, phytophagous species of some taxa of temperate Hemiptera: an hypothesis

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Most arboreal Cicadellidae (Homoptera) and the arboreal, phytophagous Heteroptera are macropterous and capable of flight.
• 2 The low incidence of flightless morphs in the above insects is compared with its frequency in the species living on low vegetation.
• 3 It is suggested that in spite of the permanence of arboreal habitats, the almost complete absence of flightless morphs in these groups of the temperate Hemiptera is related to the architectural complexity of trees.

     

Flight morphology corresponds to both surrounding landscape structure and local patch conditions in a highly specialized peatland butterfly (Lycaena epixanthe)

1. Movement mediates the response of populations and communities to landscape and habitat spatial structure, yet movement capability may itself be modified by selection pressures accompanying landscape change. Insect flight morphology can be affected by both the landscape surrounding habitat patches and the distribution of resources within habitat patches. 2. This study investigated the relative influence of local habitat patch conditions and surrounding landscape structure on variation in morphological traits associated with flight in the bog copper (Lycaena epixanthe), a butterfly endemic to temperate Nearctic peatlands. 3. Eight habitat patches were sampled to assess the influence of the surrounding landscape (connectivity of potential habitat and matrix composition) and patch size (an integrated proxy of resource density and spatial distribution) on investment into flight, measured by thorax and abdomen mass, and wing area. 4. The results revealed an effect of both local habitat conditions and landscape structure on flight‐related morphological traits. Increasing forest cover in the surrounding landscape, indicative of increased habitat patch isolation, corresponded with less mobile phenotypes in both sexes. Surrounding landscapes with more water were also generally associated with less mobile phenotypes. Investment into flight was greater in smaller peatlands in which host plant density is higher and more homogeneously distributed. 5. The present study highlights that morphological traits associated with mobility may be responding to both local habitat patch characteristics and surrounding landscape structure. It also supports the hypothesis that local habitat conditions contribute to morphological variation in butterflies.     

安徽琅琊山青檀种群结构与空间分布格局研究

通过设置500m2样方8个,应用“相邻格子法”获取野外资料,采用空间序列代替时间的方法与6种聚集度指标,对安徽琅琊山青檀的种群结构与空间分布格局进行了研究.结果表明:(1)各样地的青檀种群结构大致可分为增长型、稳定型和衰退型3种类型;(2)不同样地青檀种群分布格局主要为集群分布;(3)不同发育阶段种群分布格局有所差异,...     

The importance of well protected forests for the conservation genetics of West African colobine monkeys

In tropical forests, anthropogenic activities are major drivers of the destruction and degradation of natural habitats, causing severe biodiversity loss. African colobine monkeys (Colobinae) are mainly folivore and strictly arboreal primates that require large forests to subsist, being among the most vulnerable of all nonhuman primates. The Western red colobus Piliocolobus badius and the King colobus Colobus polykomos inhabit highly fragmented West African forests, including the Cantanhez Forests National Park (CFNP) in Guinea-Bissau. Both species are also found in the largest and best-preserved West African forest—the Taï National Park (TNP) in Ivory Coast. Colobine monkeys are hunted for bushmeat in both protected areas, but these exhibit contrasting levels of forest fragmentation, thus offering an excellent opportunity to investigate the importance of well-preserved forests for the maintenance of evolutionary potential in these arboreal primates. We estimated genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history by using microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA. We then compared the genetic patterns of the colobines from TNP with the ones previously obtained for CFNP and found contrasting genetic patterns. Contrary to the colobines from CFNP that showed very low genetic diversity and a strong population decline, the populations in TNP still maintain high levels of genetic diversity and we found no clear signal of population decrease in Western red colobus and a limited decrease in King colobus. These results suggest larger and historically more stable populations in TNP compared to CFNP. We cannot exclude the possibility that the demographic effects resulting from the recent increase of bushmeat hunting are not yet detectable in TNP using genetic data. Nevertheless, the fact that the TNP colobus populations are highly genetically diverse and maintain large effective population sizes suggests that well-preserved forests are crucial for the maintenance of populations, species, and probably for the evolutionary potential in colobines.     

Density,biomass, and guild structure of arboreal arthropods as related to their inhabited tree size in aCryptomeria japonica plantation

Arboreal arthropods in a 15-year-old plantation ofCryptomeria japonica were surveyed using the smoking method under open conditions and also in the enclosed condition in which the whole above-ground part of a tree was covered by a cloth bag. Per tree, the number of individuals collected was 8200–14000, with a biomass of 340–1700 mg d.wt. Collembola and Acarina were major components in number, while Diplopoda, Collembola, and Araneae occupied the larger part of the biomass. About 60–70% of total numbers of individuals dropped within two hours after the open fumigation. Clear power-form regressions between total numbers of individuals and biomasses of all animals and their host tree size (stem diameter at clear length,D _B ) showed they were approximately proportional toD _B ². The guilds of scavengers and tourists demonstrated the most significant correlations between their numbers and biomasses and the tree size. Numbers and biomasses of Collembola, Diptera, and Araneae revealed remarkable dependence on the tree size. From these regressions, numbers of individuals and biomasses per unit ground area were estimated for all arthropods to be 3755/m² and 165.87 mg d.wt./m², respectively. Power-form regressions were observed between numbers and biomasses of prey and predators. The number-and biomass ratios of all predators to all prey tended to decrease with increasing tree size. A similar trend was observed in the corresponding ratios of parasitic Hymenoptera to lepidopteran larvae, while those of Araneae to Collembola were almost constant, irrespective of tree size.     

广东鹅凰嶂自然保护区杜鹃红山茶种群结构与空间分布格局

研究了广东鹅凰嶂省级自然保护区杜鹃红山茶天然种群的基径、高度和冠幅结构,应用扩散系数、负二次指数、Cassie指数、丛生指数、平均拥挤度、聚块性指数和格林指数等聚集度指标测定了种群空间分布格局及其动态.结果表明:在天然分布区内,杜鹃红山茶种群以成年树为主体,幼苗严重缺乏,表现为衰退趋势,但不同地段中种群的径级、高度和冠幅结构不完全相同.不同地段中杜鹃红山茶种群空间分布格局表现为聚集分布或随机分布;在种群生长过程中,分布格局从聚集型向随机型转变.     

浙江丽水白云山红豆树人工林的径级结构和空间分布格局

采用固定样地调查的方法,在浙江丽水白云山林场的红豆树人工林中共建立两个20 m×40 m的监测样地(1号样地和2号样地),并进行群落调查。结果表明:(1)共记录到乔木和灌木物种13种,优势种主要为红豆树、深山含笑(Michelia maudiae)和刨花楠(Machilus pauhoi)等。两个样地的径级结构均成倒"J"分布。(2)从空间分布看,两个样地的红豆树均基本呈现随机分布。在较小空间尺度上,1号样地和2号样地的其他树种与红豆树之间均呈负相关,特别是1号样地。(3)通过分析环境因子对红豆树胸径生长的影响,发现样地内除土壤厚度外,其他因子如全氮、全磷含量、p H值及凋落物等对红豆树的生长影响不大。研究认为:(1)白云山的红豆树人工林尚具有较大的生长潜力。(2)红豆树的种内竞争可较小,而红豆树和其他树种之间则可能存在较强的种间竞争。(3)后期管理过程中,该类林分可以适当伐除其他树种,并对大红豆树进行修枝,即有利于干形也可促进小红豆树的生长,同时加强对土壤厚度的管理。通过对40年生红豆树成熟人工林的径级结构和空间分布格局的研究,可以更好地了解林分结构特征和物种更新过程。     

南京老山国家森林公园朴树种群结构与分布格局研究

采用每木调查法、时空互代法和相邻格子样方法对南京老山国家森林公园朴树种群的结构和动态进行研究。(1)大小级结构分析表明:朴树种群以Ⅱ级(幼树)数量最多,Ⅰ级(幼苗)、Ⅲ级(小树)、Ⅳ级(中树)和V级(大树)数量很少或缺失,个别样地内甚至存在2个大小级缺失的情况。朴树种群处于活跃演替阶段的群落中,为不稳定的间歇型种群。(2)对于不同的生境,Ⅰ级数量缺乏甚至缺失基于不同的原因:山坡生境条件下,Ⅰ级缺乏或缺失是由于草本层盖度大,加上朴树幼苗生长缓慢,在激烈的生存竞争中处于不利地位,导致Ⅰ级死亡率高,因而数量较少或缺失;沟谷生境条件下,岩石裸露,土层瘠薄,在雨期受流水冲洗更为严重,影响朴树种子的停留和生根,不合适朴树幼苗生长,导致Ⅰ级缺乏或缺失。(3)生存曲线分析表明:自Ⅱ级向Ⅲ级、Ⅳ级与Ⅴ级的发育过程中,死亡率逐渐降低。(4)朴树的分布格局多为集群分布,在不同生长发育阶段的分布格局不同,朴树种群基本呈现扩散趋势。     

Edge effects on the prevalence and mortality factors of Phytomyza ilicis (Diptera, Agromyzidae) in a suburban woodland

Although the effects of edges on the biotas of habitat patches have been widely discussed, there have been few empirical studies of the mechanistic basis of population and community differences between patch edges and interiors. This is particularly true of differential effects of edges on species' mortalities, and on interactions in insect populations and communities. Here we examine edge-associated differences in the prevalence and mortality factors of the holly leaf-miner Phytomyza ilicis , in a suburban woodland in Sheffield, U.K. Leaf miner prevalence was higher and survivorship to adulthood lower at the woodland edge. Natural enemies and other mortality factors contributed differently to total mortality at the edge and interior. Mechanisms underlying edge effects on P. ilicis arose from the interaction between microclimate, adult movement and host-plant quality. The differential induction of species mortality found, confirms the complexity of species' responses to habitat edges and the importance of understanding the effects of edges on species interactions.     

大盘山自然保护区香果树种群结构与分布格局

在大盘山自然保护区设置了4个有代表性的样地,应用相邻格子法进行调查获得野外资料。对香果树种群进行统计,绘制径级结构图和高度结构图、编制种群的特定时间生命表;应用理论分布模型和聚集强度指数进行种群分布格局分析。结果表明：香果树种群结构呈纺锤型,幼苗严重不足,种群有衰退的趋势;其更新是以无性繁殖为主;种群格局整体上呈集群分布,但在不同发育阶段,分布格局有所差异：幼树阶段一般为集群分布,中树和大树向随机分布发展,这种分布格局变化与其生物学和生态学特性密切相关;其格局规模在介于8S和32S之间。分析认为,香果树的种群结构和分布格局受到了多种因素的影响,如群落区域小生境、香果树生物学特征以及人为干扰外等,在以上各因素的综合作用下,使得该种群形成典型的小种群。     

Fragmentation and comparative genetic structure of four mediterranean woody species: complex interactions between life history traits and the landscape context

Aim The effect of habitat fragmentation on population genetic structure results from the interaction between species’ life history traits and the particular landscape context, and both components are inherently difficult to tease apart. Here, we compare the genetic (allozyme) structure of four co‐occurring woody species with contrasting life histories to explore how well their response to the same fragmentation process can be predicted from their functional traits. Location A highly fragmented forest landscape located in the lower Guadalquivir catchment, south‐western Spain. Methods We sampled four species (Cistus salviifolius, Myrtus communis, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus coccifera) from the same 23 forest fragments known to form a representative array of habitat characteristics in the region. We assessed genetic diversity (A, H_e and N_g) and differentiation (F_IS and F_ST) for each species and explored their potential drivers using a model‐selection approach with four fragment features (size, historical and current connectivity, and stability) as predictor variables. Results Regional‐scale genetic diversity increased from the shortest‐lived to the longest‐lived species, while population differentiation of the self‐compatible species was roughly double that of the three self‐incompatible species. Fragment size was the only feature that did not consistently affect the genetic diversity of local populations across all species. Three species showed signs of being affected by fragmentation, yet each responded differently to the set of fragment features considered. We observed several trends that were at odds with simple life history‐based predictions but could arise from patterns of gene flow and/or local‐scale demographic processes. Main conclusions Our comparative study of various landscape features and species underscores that the same fragmentation process can have very different, and complex, consequences for the population genetic structure of plants. This idiosyncrasy renders generalizations across natural systems very difficult and highlights the need of context‐oriented guidelines for an efficient conservation management of species‐rich landscapes.     

人工固沙植被恢复对地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响

人工绿洲是干旱区主要的自然景观之一,为了维护绿洲稳定而营建的防护林强烈改变地表生态水文过程,进而影响着地上和地下生物多样性。然而,以往的研究对地上植被关注较多,而对土壤动物研究较少。以张掖绿洲外围人工固沙植被群落和天然固沙植被群落为研究对象,探讨人工固沙植被恢复对荒漠地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响及不同动物类群对植被变化的响应模式。研究表明,天然固沙植被群落转变为人工固沙植被群落显著降低了地表节肢动物数量,但提高了地表节肢动物类群丰富度和多样性,这在5月份表现尤为明显。植被类型对地表节肢动物群落的影响不同,8月人工柽柳林群落地表节肢动物活动密度、类群丰富度和多样性均显著高于人工梭梭林群落。人工固沙植被恢复显著降低了适应荒漠环境的拟步甲科甲虫,而蚁科和部分蜘蛛的数量显著增加,它们对人工固沙植被恢复的响应模式不同决定了群落结构及多样性的变化规律。此外,研究还发现一些地表节肢动物类群对不同生境具有强烈的指示作用,如拟步甲科等可指示荒漠生境,潮虫科等可指示梭梭林生境,而蠼螋科和狼蛛科等可指示柽柳林生境。综上所述,人工栽植固沙灌木形成的固沙植被群落导致了一些适应荒漠环境的地表节肢动物类群的数量降低,但也为更多的地表节肢动物类群提供了适应栖居环境和充足的食物资源等,从而提高了地表节肢动物的多样性。     

广西木论自然保护区掌叶木种群结构与分布格局

掌叶木(Handeliodendron bodinieri),是残遗于我国石灰岩地区的单种属特有种之一.因人为影响,生境特殊及自身特性,资源稀少,被列为国家一级重点保护野生植物.为了解掌叶木种群结构与动态以及空间分布格局特征,采用样地并结合无样地取样技术对掌叶木种群进行调查,绘制径级结构和高度级结构图、应用点格局进行分析,并采用Ripley's K(d)函数有效地描述种群空间属性.同时采用点到点距比率法进行格局计算.结果表明,掌叶木种群幼苗严重不足,种群呈衰退趋势;种群空间分布主要呈随机分布;掌叶木种群的分布格局受物种本身的繁殖特性、岩溶石山的生境特点以及种内种间的竞争等的共同影响.     

北京市两栖爬行动物空间分布格局及影响因素

基于遥感和野外调查数据,研究北京市两栖爬行动物空间分布格局及其影响因素。结果显示,北京记录两栖爬行动物2纲3目10科17属22种,其中,保护物种15种,占物种总数的68.19%。物种分布整体呈现由西北向东南递减的空间特征,西北部山区丰富度和相对多度较大,门头沟和延庆物种丰富度最大(14种),占调查物种总数的66.67%,优势种为中国林蛙、黑斑侧褶蛙、中华蟾蜍和山地麻蜥;门头沟、怀柔、房山分布了全市71.54%的种群数量;200-500 m海拔段物种丰富度最高(18种),主要生境为森林灌丛;物种数在6种以上的网格有11个,包括大滩、怀九河、百花山、拒马河、密云水库等。总体来看,物种种类和数量相较之前呈现减少趋势,而土地用途转换具有重要影响。1980-2018年,建设用地表现出以东西城为核心向外围扩张的趋势,侵占的农田占生态系统总转换面积的42.85%;城六区和平原区的主要物种为黑斑侧褶蛙和中华蟾蜍,少有中国林蛙分布。进一步分析两栖动物1500 m的迁徙距离内,森林灌丛和农田为主要的生境类型,城市扩张侵占了部分农田;同时,污染物的排放引起水体水质下降,特别是北运河水系,造成两栖动物的繁殖率降低和栖息地破坏。目前,北京市各类保护地虽覆盖两栖爬行动物种类的90.91%和数量的60.45%,但在怀柔宝山镇白河上段、密云水库来水的潮河上段辛庄桥、平谷洳河大兴庄镇-峪口镇等地,仍然存在较大的保护空缺。对此,建议开展长期定位观测,构建生物多样性观测网络,并探索建立高强度土地利用下的生物多样性保护机制,从而实现生物资源可持续利用。     

Oviposition pattern of phytophagous insects: on the importance of host population heterogeneity

Frequency distributions of insect immatures per host are often fitted to contagious distributions, such as the negative binomial, to deduce oviposition pattern. However, different mechanisms can be involved for each theoretical distribution and additional biological information is needed to correctly interpret the fits. We chose the chestnut weevil Curculio elephas, a pest of the European chestnut Castanea sativa, as a model to illustrate the difficulties of inferring oviposition pattern from fits to theoretical distributions and from the variance/mean ratio. From field studies over 13–16 years, we show that 20 out of the 31 yearly distributions available fit a negative binomial and 25 a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP). No distribution fits a Poisson distribution. The ZIP distribution assumes heterogeneity within the fruit population. There are two categories of host: the first comprises chestnuts unsuitable for weevil oviposition or in excess relative to the number of weevil females, and the second comprises suitable fruits in which oviposition behavior is random. Our results confirm this host heterogeneity. According to the ZIP distribution, the first category of hosts includes on average 74% of the chestnuts. A negative binomial distribution may be generated by either true or false contagion. We show that neither interference between weevil females, nor spatial variation in the infestation rate exist. Consequently, the observed distributions of immatures are not the result of false contagion. Nevertheless, we cannot totally exlude true contagion of immatures. In this paper we discuss the difficulty of testing true contagion in natural conditions. These results show that we cannot systematically conclude in favour of contagion when fitting a distribution such as the negative binomial or when a variance/mean ratio is higher than unity. Received: 22 September 1997 / Accepted: 15 December 1997     

沙障对流动沙丘区地表节肢动物分布及多样性的影响

沙障作为人工固沙植被恢复与保护绿洲和道路安全的一种手段,可以有效阻止沙丘移动,改变流动沙丘地表生态水文过程,进而影响节肢动物多样性及营养结构及功能变化。鉴于此,选取临泽县中部沙带为研究区,利用陷阱法系统调查了生物、物理沙障和流动沙丘区沙丘不同部位地表节肢动物分布及多样性。研究结果表明,沙障营建强烈影响了流动沙丘区地表节肢动物组成,生物和物理沙障区地表节肢动物的活动密度、物种丰富度及多样性均显著高于流动沙丘区,捕食性和其它食性节肢动物较植食性节肢动物对沙障营建的响应更为敏感。沙障还改变了沙丘地表节肢动物的分布规律,生物和物理沙障区地表节肢动物的活动密度从沙丘底部到顶部依次增加,而流动沙丘区地表节肢动物主要分布在沙丘中下部。谢氏宽漠王和尖尾东鳖甲在流动沙丘区主要分布沙丘的中下部,沙障营建导致沙丘顶部谢氏宽漠王和尖尾东鳖甲的活动密度大幅提高。此外,研究还发现生物和物理沙障对地表节肢动物的影响不同,生物沙障区地表节肢动物活动密度显著高于物理沙障区,捕食性和东鳖甲属等其它食性节肢动物的活动密度在生物沙障区均高于物理沙障区。总之,沙障营建及类型差异强烈影响地表节肢动物的分布及多样性,它通过资源上行效应和土壤物理环境的改变提高了地表节肢动物的多样性及营养结构,从而影响了土壤生态系统结构及功能变化过程。     

江西九连山常绿阔叶林优势种群的年龄结构与分布格局

以江西九连山常绿阔叶林为研究对象,用空间序列代替时间变化的方法,应用统计软件对该地区常绿阔叶林群落优势种群的年龄结构特征和分布格局进行线性回归分析。结果表明:润楠的存活曲线表现为极显著的线性关系,罗浮栲与赤楠等种群的存活曲线表现为显著的线性关系;种群的年龄结构既有稳定型或增长型,也有衰退波动型,如木荷、润楠等种群的年龄结构为稳定增长型,拟赤杨、枫香等种群的年龄结构为衰退型,丝线吊芙蓉、罗浮槭、鹿角栲等种群的年龄结构由稳定型趋向衰退型。应用聚集度指标、方差和均值比率、负二项式分布等方法研究各主要优势种群的分布格局,结果为构成群落乔木层的12个主要优势种群的分布格局均属聚集分布,并符合负二项式分布。     

北京东灵山地区辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)种群生活史特征与空间分布

种群生活史特征和空间分布格局对于分析种群演替动态规律、判定种群分布规律和预测种群演化过程及变化趋势均具有重要的理论和现实意义.本文从静态生命表、年龄结构、存活曲线三个方面分析了东灵山地区辽东栎种群的生活史特征.结果表明:物种生物学因素是影响辽东栎种群生存力最主要因素,辽东栎种群静态生命表中生命期望值逐渐降低反映出种群生存力下降的趋势.空间分布格局分析表明辽东栎种群各个径级的个体都属于聚集分布.辽东栎实生苗和萌生苗共存是辽东栎种群适应环境压力和与环境协同进化的结果,表明自然状态下辽东栎种群具有较高的稳定性.由于辽东栎种群的这种较强的稳定性和适应能力,随着辽东栎种群发育整个群落将趋于进展演替,最终形成稳定和充分利用环境资源的顶极群落结构.     

京杭运河邵伯高邮段栖息地破碎化对狗獾种群数量分布的影响

栖息地破碎是生物多样性下降的主要原因之一。栖息地破碎引起的面积效应、隔离效应和边缘效应能影响动物种群的绝灭阈值、分布、多度、种间关系以及生态系统过程, 最终影响动物种群的数量分布。2006年10-11月和2007年10-11月, 利用全球定位系统(GPS)、地理信息系统(GIS)和样方法定量分析京杭运河邵伯至高邮段狗獾栖息地破碎化程度, 确定不同斑块的面积、斑块距离、斑块隔离度以及栖息地质量对斑块中狗獾数量分布的影响。结果表明, 各个斑块内狗獾的洞口数、粪堆数与该斑块的面积显著的正相关(r=0.961, P=0.039; r=0.999, P=0.023), 但与斑块距离、斑块隔离度无显著的相关性(P>0.05)。栖息地的质量也会影响狗獾的数量分布, 多元线性逐步回归分析表明, 人类干扰和与栖息地的郁闭性显著的影响狗獾的数量分布。以上结果说明, 京杭运河邵伯高邮段栖息地的破碎化程度对狗獾的数量分布还没有造成显著的直接影响, 但会间接降低栖息地的质量, 进而影响狗獾的生存。