四川卧龙自然保护区珙桐种群的空间分布格局

采用扩散系数的t检验、Poisson分布的x^2拟合检验及Morisita指数的F检验来研究珙桐种群的空间分布格局类型,用负二项参数（K）、Green指数（GI）和Lloyd的平均拥挤度（m^＊）与聚块性指标（PAI）来研究珙桐的聚集强度。同时利用上述指数研究取样尺度、海拔及克隆繁殖对珙桐种群分布格局和聚集强度的影响。结果表明,总体上珙桐种群的分布格局类型为集群分布,具一定的聚集强度。取样尺度、海拔对其分布格局和聚集强度均有不同程度的影响。基株种群和分株种群的分布格局和聚集强度在不同取样尺度和海拔下出现不同的变化。最后对珙桐种群格局在各种因素影响下的变化原因进行了讨论,认为珙桐种群格局呈集群分布的最主要原因是由其本身的繁殖特性决定的。     

The evolutionary ecology of masting: does the environmental prediction hypothesis also have a role in mesic temperate forests?

The evolutionary advantages of mast seeding in mesic temperate forests are reviewed with reference to the whole plants lifecycle. The aim of this article is to give attention to the environmental prediction hypothesis as an evolutionary aspect of closed-forest dynamics that need to be tested in field studies and modelling. It is suggested that the year after a period of water stress (or other suboptimal conditions for growth) trees respond with high seed production. Due to an understory environment favorable for prolific establishment of seedlings (i.e., more light at the forest floor) this may give rise to a pulse of regeneration. Thus, understanding masting may require a multi-faceted approach including the study of the ecology of the trees themselves beyond pollination and seed predation, and including gap ecology and patch dynamics with special attention to patterns of forest regeneration.     

Conservation assessment of an extremely restricted bromeliad highlights the need for population-based conservation on granitic inselbergs of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Inselbergs support highly specialized vegetation with many endemic species. Here we studied by an integrated approach a rare and threatened species from Brazilian inselbergs. Pitcairnia encholirioides (Bromeliaceae) is included in the Red Book of Brazilian Flora, in the ‘Endangered’ category. Only one single population on unprotected private property was known at the beginning of our study. We studied several life-history traits including clonal growth, reproductive biology, seed germination and cryopreservation, and genetic diversity. Pitcairnia encholirioides has the phalanx type of clonal growth strategy. Its self-incompatible flowers are successfully pollinated by hummingbirds. However, less than 5% of clonal fragments produced flowers. Seeds can be wind-dispersed, but most of them are dispersed by gravity and fall close to the mother plant. The percentage and speed of germination were significantly affected by different temperatures, water potential, and red:far-red light ratios, although more than 80% of seeds germinated under optimal physiological conditions. The genetic diversity was very low (H_sp = 0.09) and the population was highly structured (Φ_ST = 0.51). The combination of dispersal mode and environmental conditions seems to be the main factor leading to the rarity of P. encholiroides. Low genetic diversity combined with small population size and low reproductive capacity suggest that the species is highly susceptible to environmental disturbance. Similarly to P. encholiroides, many species from Brazilian inselbergs are restricted to only a few localities. For more widely distributed species, a higher genetic diversity among populations has been consistently detected. The pattern of low gene flow of many species with small distributions highlight the importance of population-based conservation strategies for such taxa the areas of occurrence of which being naturally fragmented at inselberg sites. We discuss some strategies that may help in conservation of such species.     

The importance and potential of artificial insemination in CANDES (companion animals, non-domestic, endangered species)

Artificial insemination (AI) is the least invasive assisted reproductive technology, and is therefore of great interest to breeders of companion animals, non-domestic, and endangered species (CANDES). This most fundamental artificial breeding technique circumvents physical or behavioral impediments to natural mating and provides the means for genetic exchange between populations without transfer of live animals. In addition, because oocytes grow, mature and are fertilized in vivo and embryos are not subjected to in vitro culture conditions, AI eliminates the epigenetic effects on the female gamete that are inherent in more invasive assisted reproductive technologies. Although the management of CANDES differs significantly from current livestock husbandry practices, the cattle industry is a powerful example of the potential for AI to enhance the genetic health and sustainability of animal populations. Ultimately, successful AI requires sperm of adequate quality and quantity, oocytes that have attained nuclear maturation and cytoplasmic competence, operational gamete transport systems, accurate timing, and proper placement of sperm in the female reproductive tract. Increased understanding of semen collection, evaluation and preservation techniques, estrus synchronization and superovulation, estrus and ovulation detection, and insemination instrumentation is needed for each CANDES before AI success rates will approach those of the livestock industry. Concentrated, collaborative research in these areas must be encouraged among private breeders, universities and zoological institutions to realize the full potential of AI in the management of CANDES.     

Daily egg production ofTemora longicornis (Copepoda,Calanoida) during winter and early spring in the Marsdiep (Southern North Sea)

Mature females of the copepodTemora longicornis from the Marsdiep tidal inlet were incubated at ambient water temperature during the winter of 1989/1990 to estimate their egg production during 24 hours. Throughout winter this production remained at a level of 0 to 10 eggs per female. In March a steep rise to 60 to 80 eggs coincided with an equally steep rise in chlorophyll-a from 4 to 20 g.l^–1. Excess food given during incubation tended to increase the observed production rate only in October at relatively high temperature. Additive effects of rising food level and temperature on daily egg production were found in spring. In March and April 1988 and 1990 the observed maximum daily egg production per female increased from about 20 at 5°C and 5 g.l^–1 chlorophyll to 70 at almost 10°C and 20 g.l^–1. The egg production in winter gives a prebloom potential to maintain a stock of premature stages ready to utilize the algal spring bloom. Early spawning before April can also contribute to the development of the abundance peak of adults in May–June. Due to growth rates increasing with temperature in the months March and April, most of the adults at their peak density may have hatched from eggs before the period of maximum egg production rate at the end of April. The exceptionally high production rate observed at the end of March may be related to a developingPhaeocystis bloom.     

Disentangling invasion processes in a dynamic shipping-boating network

The relative importance of multiple vectors to the initial establishment, spread and population dynamics of invasive species remains poorly understood. This study used molecular methods to clarify the roles of commercial shipping and recreational boating in the invasion by the cosmopolitan tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri. We evaluated (i) single vs. multiple introduction scenarios, (ii) the relative importance of shipping and boating to primary introductions, (iii) the interaction between these vectors for spread (i.e. the presence of a shipping-boating network) and (iv) the role of boating in determining population similarity. Tunicates were sampled from 26 populations along the Nova Scotia, Canada, coast that were exposed to either shipping (i.e. ports) or boating (i.e. marinas) activities. A total of 874 individuals (c. 30 per population) from five ports and 21 marinas was collected and analysed using both mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) and 10 nuclear microsatellite markers. The geographical location of multiple hotspot populations indicates that multiple invasions have occurred in Nova Scotia. A loss of genetic diversity from port to marina populations suggests a stronger influence of ships than recreational boats on primary coastal introductions. Population genetic similarity analysis reveals a dependence of marina populations on those that had been previously established in ports. Empirical data on marina connectivity because of boating better explains patterns in population similarities than does natural spread. We conclude that frequent primary introductions arise by ships and that secondary spread occurs gradually thereafter around individual ports, facilitated by recreational boating.     

Evolutionary jumping and breakthrough in tree masting evolution

Many long-lived plants such as trees show masting or intermittent and synchronized reproduction. In a coupled chaos system describing the dynamics of individual-plant resource budgets, masting occurs when the resource depletion coefficient k (ratio of the reproductive expenditure to the excess resource reserve) is large. Here, we mathematically studied the condition for masting evolution. In an infinitely large population, we obtained a deterministic dynamical system, to which we applied the pairwise invasibility plot and convergence stability of evolutionary singularity analyses. We prove that plants reproducing at the same rate every year are not evolutionarily stable. The resource depletion coefficient k increases, and the system oscillates with a period of 2 years (high and low reproduction) if k<1. Alternatively, k may evolve further and jump to a value >1, resulting in the sudden start of intermittent reproduction. We confirm that a high survivorship of young plants (seedlings) in the light-limited understory favors masting evolution, as previously suggested by computer simulations and field observations. The stochasticity caused by the finiteness of population size also promotes masting evolution.     

Waldfragmentierung, Konkurrenz und klimatische Abh?ngigkeit beim Wespenbussard (Pernis apivorus)

Zusammenfassung Zwischen 1992 und 1997 betrug der Wespenbussard-Bestand eines 110 km² großen, waldarmen Gebietes am nördlichen Alpenrand 7 bis 10 territoriale Paare. Von 10 Waldfragmenten wurden die kleineren signifikant häufiger besetzt. Die Besetzung durch Mäusebussard-Brutpaare beeinflußte die Besetzungsrate von 10 Waldfragmenten nicht signifikant, auch nicht im Zusammenhang mit der Größe der Fragmente. Eine höhere Anzahl von Regentagen im Mai hatte keine Auswirkungen auf die Dichte, und im Juni/Juli bewirkten sie während des Untersuchungszeitraumes keine Einbrüche der Reproduktion. Es wird vorgeschlagen, daß den Faktoren Waldfragmentierung, Konkurrenz und Klima das Nahrungsangebot übergeordnet ist.

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Forest fragmentation, competition and climatic dependence in the Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

Summary Between 1992 and 1997 a population of Honey Buzzards varied between 7 and 10 territorial pairs on the northern fringe of the Alps. The amount of forest cover in the study plot of 110 km² was only 10 %. For 10 forest fragments the frequency of occupation increased significantly with the decreasing size of the fragments. The presence of breeding pairs of Common Buzzards did not significantly affect the frequency of occupation of 10 fragments of <27 ha. Additionally, for fragments occupied by both species, there was no significant increase in the occupation by Honey Buzzards with inreasing patch size. Both species used to breed successfully alongside each other in small patches. The number of rain days in May had no significant impact on the density during the study period. Similarly, I confirmed at least 4–6 successful broods each year. I conclude that forest fragmentation does not carry any threat to the Honey Buzzard population. Mechanisms like competition, habitat fragmentation and climate seem to act through food supply.

     

不同生境内濒危植物长喙毛茛泽泻种群数量动态比较

湖南茶陵自然种群动态在一年内表现为春季数量下降，以后振荡变化。在以莼菜为主的样方中，种群在夏季以后一直呈增加趋势，至冬季末数量下降；在杂草拥挤的样方内，种群基本呈下降趋势。湖北武汉，网室中迁地保护的种群生长在理想条件下，单一种群呈逻辑斯缔（Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ）增长，方程为Ｎ（株／ｍ２）＝８４０１＋ｅ４．４７７－０．２６４ｔ。江西东乡回归原产地的种群在回归当年经过精心照顾，种群呈增加趋势，次年随着杂草茂盛生长，种群数量迅速下降，种群具消失的危险。长喙毛茛泽泻种群数量的变动很大程度上受水位变化和杂草干扰的影响。实验结果表明，长喙毛茛泽泻种群能成功地实施迁地保护。     

Reproductive cycle of Crepidula convexa (Say) within a New England eelgrass community

The population of Crepidula convexa inhabiting the eelgrass beds of the lower Mystic Estuary, Connecticut, exhibits large seasonal fluctuations in size. The population is largest in the middle of the summer following the emergence of juveniles and then rapidly declines. Oviposition occurs from May into September with maximal egg production taking place in June. Within this habitat the life span of Crepidula is short (ca. 1 yr), female size is small and individual fecundity is low.