Demography and feeding behavior of the kelp crab Taliepus marginatus in subtidal habitats dominated by the kelps Macrocystis pyrifera or Lessonia trabeculata

We studied the population and feeding ecology of the kelp crab Taliepus marginatus in subtidal kelp forests dominated by either of two morphologically different kelp species (Macrocystis pyrifera or Lessonia trabeculata) in northern Chile. The sizes and abundances of T. marginatus differed between the two kelp habitats. Kelp crabs were more abundant in the M. pyrifera forest than in the L. trabeculata forest. Size‐frequency distributions showed that juvenile and immature crabs were more common in the M. pyrifera forest than in the L. trabeculata forest, where reproductive adults predominated. The smaller crabs in the M. pyrifera habitat also consumed a higher proportion of kelp tissues than the larger crabs in the L. trabeculata habitat, which had a higher proportion of animal food in their diet. In both kelp forests, individuals of T. marginatus showed a similar pattern of nocturnal feeding over a 24‐h period, consuming more food at night than during the day. The more complex and dense forests of M. pyrifera appear to present better nursery habitats for juvenile kelp crabs than the more open and less dense forests dominated by L. trabeculata. These results suggest that the role of the two kelp habitats for T. marginatus varies during the life cycle of the kelp crabs, with M. pyrifera tending to have nursery function and L. trabeculata being more suitable as a reproductive habitat.     

若尔盖不同生境植物多样性与植物竞争强度和生态位重叠度的关系

植物多样性与植物竞争强度和生态位重叠度的关系会随环境发生变化。为探究上述关系在若尔盖地区的表现形式,于2021年8月对若尔盖地区典型的水生、湿生、湿生-中生和中生植物群落进行调查,构建了新的植物竞争强度（Competition intensity,CI）公式并进行测算,计算了植物群落的植物多样性指数（包括物种丰富度、Shannon-Weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数）和生态位重叠度（Niche overlap of species,NOS）,分析了植物群落物种多样性指数与CI和NOS的关系。结果表明：1）从水生到中生生境,植物多样性指数均呈增加趋势（P<0.05）;2）湿生-中生生境的CI显著高于湿生生境（P<0.05）,湿生生境的NOS高于水生生境（P<0.05）;CI与NOS无显著相关性,但在湿生生境中两者呈倒抛物线关系（P<0.05）。3）整体来看,植物群落的物种丰富度与CI呈抛物线关系（P<0.05）,与NOS无显著关系（P>0.05）;Shannon-Weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数均与NOS呈线性正相关（P<0.05）,与CI无显著关系（P>0.05）;从单个生境看,湿生-中生生境的Simpson指数、Shannon-Weiner指数和Pielou均匀度指数与CI呈线性负相关（P<0.05）,其余生境的上述多样性指数与CI无显著关系（P>0.05）;各生境的植物多样性指数均与NOS无显著相关性（P>0.05）。本研究表明,从水生到中生生境,若尔盖地区的植物多样性呈增加趋势,但植物多样性与物种竞争强度和生态位重叠度的关系较复杂。本研究结果有助于理解若尔盖高原植物多样性的形成机制。     

Recycling potential and selective retrieval of Bacillus sphaericus from soil in a mosquito habitat

A selective medium containing a combination of starch, milk proteins, and streptomycin was used as a reliable indicator for the presence of Bacillus sphaericus in soil samples collected from a mosquito habitat where this pathogen was previously applied. The medium can also be used as an indicator substrate to retrieve B. sphaericus from infected mosquito larvae. Results show that B. sphaericus remains viable and infective 9 months after application as a larvacidal agent of mosquitoes in a roadside ditch.     

濒危乔木红豆杉不同更新阶段的生境特征比较

以福建梅花山自然保护区濒危乔木红豆杉(Taxus chinensis(Pilger)Rehd.)为对象,对红豆杉的种子排放、幼苗更新、幼树更新3个更新阶段的生境特征进行研究,并比较生态位的变化,以此评价红豆杉不同更新阶段的生境需求。结果显示:随着个体发育生长,红豆杉更新生境发生了明显转变,种子排放地与幼苗生境空间一致性较高,而它们与幼树生境存在明显的空间不一致性。从生态位角度来看,种子排放地和幼苗生境重叠指数≤0.5的仅有海拔和坡度2个因子,这说明幼苗的空间格局受到鸟类传播的强烈影响,鸟类传播所排放的种子能萌发并生长成幼苗。幼苗和幼树生境重叠指数≤0.5的因子有海拔、坡向、植被类型,说明在大尺度景观因子和庇护植被层面上,植物的更新需求出现了明显的不一致。研究结果表明红豆杉的更新生境存在明显的阶段变化,可能造成植物更新出现建成限制,使幼树阶段成为更新的瓶颈阶段。     

动物的生境选择

动物的生境选择颜忠诚陈永林（中国科学院动物研究所,北京１０００８０）ＨａｂｉｔａｔＳｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎｉｎＡｎｉｍａｌｓ．ＹａｎＺｈｏｎｇｃｈｅｎｇ,ＣｈｅｎＹｏｎｇｌｉｎ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＺｏｏｌｏｇｙ,ＡｃａｄｅｍｉａＳｉｎｉｃａ,Ｂｅｉｊｉ...     

Slow, fast and in between: habitat distribution and behaviour of larvae in nine species of libellulid dragonfly

1. Activity and microhabitat use are important factors determining species performance in habitats that differ in permanence and species composition of top predators. This study examined the relationship between the distribution across a gradient of habitat permanence and an associated transition in the composition of top predators and the behaviour of species of larval dragonflies. It also assessed the relationship between larval behaviour, body size and the duration of the larval stage. In laboratory mesocosms the mobility of the different species was measured, as was the extent to which they associated with artificial vegetation. 2. Species mobility was positively related to their natural occurrence in habitats in which invertebrates or small‐bodied fish were the top predators, and negatively related with the frequency with which species co‐existed with large‐bodied fish, the permanence of the habitat and the length of the larval stage. 3. Rather than falling into strict low and high mobility categories, habitat generalists that occurred across the habitat gradient, co‐existing with different top predators, had variable mobility levels. In these generalists, mobility was positively related to how frequently they were found in natural habitats in which invertebrates were the top predators. 4. The extent to which species utilized the artificial vegetation in mesocosms was associated with the length of the larval period but was not associated with mobility or species habitat distribution in the field.     

官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地适宜性评价

2009年4月-2009年5月和2009年12月-2010年1月,在江西官山国家级自然保护区对白颈长尾雉(Syrmaticus ellioti) 繁殖期和越冬期的栖息地进行调查。通过实地调查,结合已有研究结果,确定了官山自然保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地适宜性评价因子,即植被类型、海拔、坡度和坡向等4个栖息地因子。基于"被利用生境-可获得生境比较法",以对各评价因子不同梯度的资源选择指数为依据,确定了白颈长尾雉适宜性评价准则。应用ArcGIS 9.3空间分析功能和栖息地片断化指数,对官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地进行了适宜性评价。结果表明:在官山自然保护区适宜白颈长尾雉繁殖的栖息地斑块有502个,总面积为3307 hm²,占保护区总面积的28.6%,分离度指数和片断化程度指数分别为0.365和0.912;适宜白颈长尾雉越冬的栖息地斑块有514个,总面积2755 hm²,占保护区总面积的23.8%,分离度指数和片断化程度指数分别为0.443和0.939。官山保护区白颈长尾雉栖息地片断化较严重,片断化现象在白颈长尾雉越冬期加剧。因此,迫切需要采取措施白颈长尾雉现存栖息地进行保护,特别是要高度重视其越冬栖息地的保护。     

Global patterns of fragmentation and connectivity of mammalian carnivore habitat

Although mammalian carnivores are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and require landscape connectivity, their global patterns of fragmentation and connectivity have not been examined. We use recently developed high-resolution habitat suitability models to conduct comparative analyses and to identify global hotspots of fragmentation and connectivity for the world's terrestrial carnivores. Species with less fragmentation (i.e. more interior high-quality habitat) had larger geographical ranges, a greater proportion of habitat within their range, greater habitat connectivity and a lower risk of extinction. Species with higher connectivity (i.e. less habitat isolation) also had a greater proportion of high-quality habitat, but had smaller, not larger, ranges, probably reflecting shorter distances between habitat patches for species with restricted distributions; such species were also more threatened, as would be expected given the negative relationship between range size and extinction risk. Fragmentation and connectivity did not differ among Carnivora families, and body mass was associated with connectivity but not fragmentation. On average, only 54.3 per cent of a species' geographical range comprised high-quality habitat, and more troubling, only 5.2 per cent of the range comprised such habitat within protected areas. Identification of global hotspots of fragmentation and connectivity will help guide strategic priorities for carnivore conservation.     

Interhabitat migration of juvenile Atlantic salmon in a Newfoundland river system, Canada

Migrations of juvenile Atlantic salmon between habitats (both fluvial and lacustrine) were studied in a Newfoundland river system from May through September. Salmon parr showed poor site fidelity in fluvial habitats, and high rates of migration, especially in spring-early summer. Most habitat shifts were upstream from fluvial habitats to a lake at the head of a small tributary. In September, 10% of the salmon parr caught in the lake ( n =275) had been marked in the main stem of the river or in the tributary stream (total n =641). The abundance of parr in the lake increased in May-June, then declined gradually to September. Most of the lacustrine immigrants were 1+ parr. Mature males were found amongst the autumnal emigrants. Salmon parr in the lake grew larger than those in the river, and lacustrine smolts captured in the lake were larger than those caught at the mouth of the river.     

Simple predictions of instream habitat model outputs for fish habitat guilds in large streams

1. In the context of a generalised modification of hydraulic conditions in medium to large streams, modelling the impacts of stream regulation on fish communities in multiple streams is an important challenge for basic and applied freshwater ecology. Conventional instream habitat models such as PHABSIM link a hydraulic model with preference curves for various species to estimate habitat value changes with discharge in stream reaches. Despite world‐wide applications, they have been scarcely used in multiple sites with multiple species. 2. We assigned 21 size classes of European fish species to four habitat guilds (cluster analysis grouping size classes with comparable microhabitat preference curves). Then, we ran a conventional instream habitat model on 28 French stream reaches belonging to the `barbel zone', to estimate habitat values versus discharge curves for the 21 size classes. We summarised the outputs as mean habitat values for guilds, and tested if they were predictable from average characteristics of reaches (discharge, depth, width, particle size). 3. As was obtained elsewhere for populations, habitat values for guilds were strongly related to average, dimensionless characteristics of reaches. The Reynolds number of reaches, equivalent to a discharge per width unit, reflected most of the discharge‐dependent changes in habitat values (within reaches). In particular, habitat values of species preferring bank (respectively midstream) microhabitats decreased (respectively increased) with increasing Reynolds number. The Froude number at median discharge was the major predictor of reach‐dependent but discharge‐independent variations in habitat values. Habitat values of species preferring riffle versus pool or bank microhabitats were higher in reaches with high Froude numbers. These relationships were consistent with existing knowledge on the different species. 4. Such results suggest that the input variables required to estimate habitat values for fish communities can be greatly simplified, as illustrated by a general estimation of the sensitivity of species preferring midstream habitats to discharge changes in any reach. Cost‐efficient alternatives to conventional instream habitat models should facilitate their validation in multiple sites, a point that remains critical in instream habitat modelling of fish communities.     

冬虫夏草与产地植物及土壤的重金属含量测定

本文测定了野生采集和人工培育冬虫夏草、人工培育冬虫夏草子实体、冬虫夏草发酵菌液、冬虫夏草寄主蝙蝠蛾昆虫食物(蕨麻Potentilla anserine和珠芽蓼Polygonum viviparum),以及野生冬虫夏草产地土壤中5种重金属元素(铜Cu、铅Pb、砷As、镉Cd、汞Hg)的含量。结果表明,人工培育冬虫夏草、人工培育冬虫夏草子实体、冬虫夏草发酵菌液、蕨麻块根、珠芽蓼种子的5种重金属元素含量符合《中医药-中药材重金属限量》ISO国际标准;而野生冬虫夏草,除砷含量(6.170 mg/kg)超标外,铜、铅、镉、汞元素含量均符合要求。按国家标准《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准(试行)》(GB 1516-2018),四川产地土壤(KDX)与青海产地土壤(GD、HN)的5种重金属含量均低于农用土壤污染风险筛选值;而四川产地土壤(KDT),除镉含量(0.923 mg/kg)高于风险筛选值而低于风险管制值外,其余4种元素含量均低于风险筛选值。结果为人工培育冬虫夏草的质量控制提供了参考。     

Comment on Van Belleghem et al. 2016: Habitat choice mechanisms in speciation and other forms of diversification

Several mechanisms of habitat choice can contribute to speciation. Empirical studies of habitat choice mechanisms provide important insights into the relative roles of these mechanisms in speciation. A recent paper by Van Belleghem and colleagues characterizes the mechanistic basis of a component of habitat choice—departure behavior—in two salt marsh beetle ecotypes that inhabit different environments. The authors compare the departure behavior between the two ecotypes in response to an environmental cue and find that ecotypes differ in their tendency to depart in response to this cue and that the environment experienced by immature beetles affects the departure behavior of adult beetles. The authors conclude that such plastic behavioral differences between ecotypes should reduce gene flow and thereby facilitate reproductive isolation between ecotypes. We question whether such a mechanism of departure behavior would effectively reduce gene flow between ecotypes. Furthermore, their study highlights the need for some clarification of habitat choice mechanisms and related concepts, as conceptual inconsistencies are common in the literature. Here, we clarify major mechanisms of habitat choice and discuss how each mechanism might facilitate speciation. We emphasize that future empirical work should be guided by careful consideration of the natural history of species under study.     

半自然农田边界与相邻农田步甲和蜘蛛的时空分布

分别于小麦、玉米收获前后,采用陷阱法调查了华北地区典型农业景观中具有不同植被结构的农田边界及其相邻农田中两类重要天敌类群步甲和蜘蛛的多样性.通过比较农田生境及相邻农田边界间两类天敌群落的时空分布格局及其与相邻半自然生境植被群落的相关关系,探讨半自然农田边界对两类天敌类群的保护作用.结果表明: 整个取样季节农田边界处蜘蛛的多度显著高于农田内部;而步甲多样性在农田与边界间无显著性差异,仅呈现不同的群落结构;作物收获后蜘蛛分科数在边界处的增加以及在农田的减少,显示了蜘蛛在农田和边界之间的迁移活动.边界植被结构对蜘蛛和步甲多样性有不同影响:边界较高的草本层盖度和较低的乔木层盖度有利于增加农田中某些步甲优势种的多样性;而较高的草本层盖度有利于增加皿蛛科蜘蛛的多样性.因此,半自然生境的存在可以通过天敌在农田和边界之间的迁移运动促进农田天敌多样性的维持;但不同类型半自然生境植被群落结构可能影响其对不同天敌群落多样性的维持和保护作用.为促进农业景观对天敌的保护作用,提高其害虫控制功能,需要深入了解不同天敌的生境需求及食物需求,精心设计有利于天敌多样性维持的半自然生境.     

Habitat stability and the larval mosquito community in treeholes and other containers on a temperate Island

The temporal fluctuation of water levels and the presence of mosquito larvae were investigated for four types of small container habitats (treeholes, bamboo stumps, cemetery stone vases, and cemetery stone vessels) on Kabeshima Island in Kyushu, southwestern Japan. The probability that containers held water was positively correlated with the quantity of the preceding rainfall and with the depth and volume of the containers. It was estimated that dehydration occurred more regularly in autumn and winter than in summer. The probability that mosquito larvae were present in each type of container was positively correlated with habitat stability in terms of the probability of the existence of standing water and the coefficient of variation of the water level. Twelve species of mosquito larvae, including two rare predators, were found. Species composition differed between the different types of container. Although 4 to 10 species used each type of container, the median number of species per container was two for treeholes and bamboo stumps, and one for the others. The dominant species wasTripteroides bambusa in treeholes and bamboo stumps,Aedes albopictus in stone vases, andA. japonicus in stone vessels. The larval mosquito community, which lacked major predators, possessed the following features that may facilitate the coexistence of many species: (1) niche segregation amongst species in terms of their selection of container types; (2) an aggregated distribution of the individual species among containers of the same type; (3) high intraspecific mean crowding (and hence probably intense intraspecific competition) in the dominant species in each type of container; (4) independent species associations within the same type of container; and (5) low interspecific mean crowding (and hence probablynot intense interspecific competition) between species in the same type of container.     

Habitat characteristics of wintering Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix in the Centre Region of Cameroon: conservation implications

Populations of many Afro-Palearctic birds have declined, with those wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix, particularly affected. In this study we investigated the relationship between habitat characteristics and Wood Warbler presence/absence in the Centre Region of Cameroon. A total of six transects were established in three habitat types (forest, forest–savanna transitional zone and savanna). Call playback surveys were conducted monthly from November 2015 to April 2016 to determine Wood Warbler presence/absence. Detailed habitat measurements were also recorded in each transect. A total of 86 responses were recorded: 33 (mean 6.6 ± 2.3) in forest habitat, 47 (mean 9.4 ± 3.36) in the forest–savanna transitional zone, and 6 (mean 2 ± 1.1) in savanna habitat. Wood Warbler presence increased significantly with the number of trees between 3 and 7 m in height, and decreased significantly with the number of shrubs between 0.5 and 3 m in height. Anthropogenic disturbance such as the agricultural cycle and burning were not found to have an effect on Wood Warblers presence/absence. We conclude that Wood Warblers overwinter in all three habitat types with probability of detection greatest in the forest–savanna transitional habitat with a relatively low canopy and an open understorey. Forest clearance in sub-Saharan Africa potentially threatens wintering habitat for Wood Warblers.     

基于熵值法与变异系数的大熊猫分布区生态系统评价

近年来大熊猫栖息地、竹林的面积与野生种群数量均有较大增长,同时栖息地破碎化与局域种群隔离也有加剧趋势.正确认知当前大熊猫分布区生态系统的状态,对于大熊猫保护至关重要.以大熊猫分布区为研究区域,3次全国大熊猫调查为时间节点,依据等级系统理论对分布区及六大山系生态系统进行分解,联合应用熵值法、变异系数、相关性分析,基于全国大熊猫调查数据与相关文献数据,对分布区及六大山系生态系统演化规律进行了研究.发现在生态系统持续改善的背景下,不同山系生态系统的演化与现状存在差异性,六大山系可以分为3个组别,组内山系的生态系统具有较大共性,组间区别较大;同时,栖息地破碎化与局域种群隔离,造成生态系统质量的普遍下降.应因地制宜地制定差异化的生态保护措施,才能更好地实现各山系大熊猫生态系统的持续改善.     

Experimental design and taxonomic scope of fragmentation studies on European mammals: current status and future priorities

• 1 Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and habitat degradation are the greatest threats to mammals in Europe and the rest of the world. Despite the fact that extensive literature exists, no comprehensive review or synthesis is available to date and this may slow down scientific progress and hamper conservation efforts.
• 2 The goal of this study is to understand if and in what direction progress has been made in the study of the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the spatial distribution of European terrestrial mammals. Firstly, we carry out a general synthesis which is structured around 11 key points. The aim of this point‐by‐point analysis is to identify trends, knowledge gaps and any significant bias in the available literature, and to highlight strengths and shortfalls of the different approaches which have to date been applied. Secondly, we follow a species‐specific systematic approach: for each species, we synthesise key results.
• 3 Our results show how substantial progress has been hampered for several reasons including: a large predominance of small‐scale field studies of short duration, and a generalised lack of control of: (i) confounding variables; (ii) spatial autocorrelation; and (iii) false absences. Also, despite the relatively high number of studies, few were theoretical studies and even fewer were meta‐analyses. The lack of meta‐analyses is likely to be due to the small amount of crucial details included in the publications, such as model parameters or information on the landscape context (such as the amount of residual forest cover).
• 4 We synthesise the main results for 14 species. The level of progress is highly variable: for some species, such as the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, a series of long‐term, large‐scale process‐oriented studies has allowed an in‐depth understanding of its ecology in fragmented landscapes. On the other hand, with other species such as the bank vole Myodes glareolus, despite a relatively large number of field studies, little progress has been made.

     

Habitat patchiness and plant species richness

The pattern of woody species richness decline with a decrease in woody vegetation cover was studied within a tallgrass prairie. The decline in species richness is highly non-linear, with a well-defined threshold below which species richness collapses. This relationship can be understood after considering information on how landscape structure changes with woody vegetation cover, and how species richness is related to landscape structure.