动物与植物种子更新的关系Ⅰ.对象、方法与意义

大多数植物靠种子库来更新。种子从离开母体到建成幼苗的过程中始终受动物活动的影响。动物对种子既有取食消耗的不利一面,又有将其扩散到适于发芽的安全地点的有利一面,二者处于一种利弊权衡状态。研究动物与植物种子更新的关系,有助于揭示种群动态的机制,理解动物和植物之间协同进化的规律,了解生态系统演替及其组分之间的关系,认识取食种子的动物在生态系统中的作用,进而为生态系统维持和生物多样性保护提供科学依据及有效措施。目前对动物与森林更新关系的研究主要以栎、松等代表树种为研究对象。已知鼠类和鸟类是大型种子主要的捕食者和扩散者。     

啮齿动物对种子的传播

简要介绍了扩散、传播植物种子的啮齿动物种类、它们传播的植物种子种类,以及啮齿动物对植物种子扩散、传播的主动、被动方式及双方在这一体系中的互惠关系和可能存在的协同进化关系。     

生境破碎化对食果动物及种子传播的影响

食果动物与依赖其传播种子的植物间在进化过程中形成互惠关系,生境破碎化往往干扰种子传播过程,继而破坏这种关系.生境破碎化通常降低食果动物的多样性,但亦有相反的情况出现.食果动物对生境破碎化的适应能力不同,泛性森林动物和广食性动物具有较强的适应性.生境破碎化对依赖动物传播的植物影响有差异,多数植物受到负面影响,但也有一些植物不受影响,甚至受益.动物在破碎生境中对种子传播的有效性是种子搬运量、传播距离、种子萌发及种群建立等环节的综合效果.破碎化生境中种子的搬运量与动物的觅食行为和食物选择有关;种子传播距离受食物资源可获得性的改变和生境斑块异质性的影响;种子萌发和更新种群建立成功与否决定于是否存在有效的种子传播者.生境破碎化如何影响种子传播以及动植物相互关系,尤其是异质斑块的空间分布如何影响食果动物的传播有效性、破碎化生境下动植物互惠共生关系如何建立,生境破碎化导致的植物入侵对本地植物种子传播的影响是未来需要深入研究的问题.     

动物对松属植物种子的传播作用研究进展

松属植物约110种,根据种子传播方式可分为风传播松和动物传播松。风传播松占绝大多数,种子多具有适应风力的翅。动物传播松大约23种,都具有大、可食用、无翅或短翅的种子,无法借助风力传播。动物传播松的分布生境多为贫瘠的山地,而且多位于高海拔地区。目前已知9种松树的动物传播种类,其余14种可推测为动物传播。动物传播者包括鸦科鸟类和啮齿类动物,动物将获得的种子分散贮藏,未被重取的种子可能萌发,完成传播。动物传播是定向传播,微生境多适合种子萌发。啮齿类的传播距离可达数10 m,而鸦科鸟类的传播距离可达数公里。动物传播的松树会出现树丛和多树干现象,一般由同一贮点内贮藏的多粒种子萌发造成的。动物贮藏的种子大部分被重取,称传播后取食。一些具有大种子的风传播松在种子落地后,啮齿类和鸟类会再次埋藏而形成二次传播,可看做是一个单独的传播类型,即风-动物传播松。动物传播者与依赖传播松树之间可看作是互利共生关系。     

动物分散贮食行为对植物种群更新的影响

分散贮食是许多动物取食行为策略的重要组成部分。对以植物种子为主要贮食对象的动物来说,种子内营养物质含量、种子大小以及种子内次生化合物的含量等因素都直接影响动物的贮食行为。动物偏爱贮藏个体较大的种子,大种子多被搬运并分散贮藏在远离种源的地方,而小种子则多被就地取食,以补充动物贮食过程中的能量消耗。贮食动物主要通过空间记忆、特殊路线以及贮藏点周围的直接线索等途径重新获取贮藏点内食物。在重取过程中,一些贮藏点被遗忘,其中的种子成为植物种群更新的潜在种子库。因此,分散贮食动物不仅是种子捕食者,还是种子传播者,它们对植物种子的捕食、搬运和贮藏,影响了植物种子的存活和幼苗的建成,从而在一定程度上影响植物种群的更新、分布。植物种群为了促进种子的传播,在进化过程中逐渐形成了形式多样的适应性策略,降低种子的直接被捕食率,提高种子的被贮藏率。研究动物分散贮食行为对植物种群更新的影响,将有助于理解贮食动物与植物之间的互惠关系,从而认识贮食动物种群在生态系统中的作用,为生物多样性的保护提供科学依据。     

择伐对动物多样性的影响

择伐是生态林业持续利用的一种途径 ,即以达到在经济上是可持续的 ,保持稳定的木材产量 ,同时保护生物多样性。择伐对动物多样性的影响成为生物多样性保护和生态林业持续性研究的一个焦点。择伐因不同地区和不同森林类型以及择伐木的树种、大小、生长状况、分布格局、择伐的强度等不同 ,对不同动物类群的影响可能不同。大多数研究认为 ,在采伐迹地中 ,分布范围广或广适应种的物种多样性或丰富度将增加 ,而适应于原始林的专化种或狭生种的物种多样性或丰富度将下降。在自然干扰频繁的地区 ,择伐对动物多样性影响相对较小。在热带原始林 ,动物多样性受择伐影响大 ,而在温带森林 ,动物多样性受影响小。轻度的择伐对动物多样性影响小 ,因而与生物多样性保护相协调。采伐时 ,动物的食物树种、枯死木和为动物提供洞穴的树应得到保护。大多数研究仅比较了择伐对动物多样性的影响 ,而对择伐对动物多样性影响的生态学机制探讨较少。我国这方面开展的研究较少。未来的研究重点包括了解择伐对动物多样性影响的生态学机理、择伐对动物遗传多样性、生态系统过程、非指示类群的影响以及枯死木的生态功能。     

干扰对动物传播森林植物种子有效性影响的研究进展

干扰在森林生态系统中普遍存在,并影响森林的更新和演替.动物传播种子是种子更新的必经阶段,其对森林干扰的响应在一定程度上能够预测未来的森林群落组成和结构变化,对于明确森林演替方向具有重要意义.本文论述了森林干扰对动物传播种子有效性(包括动物传播种子的数量和质量)影响研究的生态学意义,全面揭示了自然干扰(火干扰、林窗干扰等)和人为干扰(生境破碎化、狩猎、采伐等)对动物传播种子数量、传播距离以及传播后幼苗更新影响的研究进展,指出干扰通过影响动物种群动态,进而造成动物传播种子数量发生了改变,动物传播种子的距离对干扰的响应基本表现出轻微负相关;干扰对传播后幼苗更新的影响结果因干扰类型的不同而复杂多变,干扰迹地环境因子的变化也影响着传播后的种子萌发和幼苗更新.干扰对动物传播种子有效性影响研究中存在的问题,主要表现为火干扰迹地恢复过程、增益性的干扰(如抚育、间伐、林窗)等对种子传播有效性影响研究的匮乏,以及忽略了温带森林内的干扰对动物传播种子的影响等.今后,应开展干扰对种子传播有效性的长期研究;对于干扰多发地带的森林,应高度重视增益性干扰影响动物传播植物种子的研究.     

动物与植物种子更新的关系Ⅱ．动物对种子的捕食、扩散、贮藏及与幼苗建成的关系

植物的繁殖体总是面临来自各类生物（如昆虫、脊椎动物、真菌）的捕食风险。因动物捕食引起的种子死亡率影响植物的适合度、种群动态、群落结构和物种多样性的保持。种子被捕食的时间和强度成为植物生活史中发芽速度、地下种子库等特征的主要选择压力,而种子大小、生境类型等因素也影响动物对植物种子的捕食。捕食者饱和现象被认为是植物和种子捕食者之间的高度协同进化作用的结果,是限制动物破坏种子、提高被扩散种子存活率的一种选择压力。大部分群落中的大多数植物种子被动物扩散。种子扩散影响种子密度、种子被捕食率、病原体攻击率、种子与母树的距离、种子到达的生境类型以及建成的植株将与何种植物竞争,从而影响种子和幼苗的存活,最终影响母树及后代植物的适合度。种子被动物扩散后的分布一般遵循负指数分布曲线,大多数种子并没有扩散到离母树很远的地方。捕食风险、生境类型、植被盖度均影响动物对种子的扩散。植物结实的季节和果实损耗的过程也体现了其对扩散机会的适应。许多动物有贮藏植物种子的行为。动物贮藏植物繁殖体的行为,一方面调节食物的时空分布,提高了贮食动物在食物缺乏期的生存概率;另一方面也为种子萌发提供了适宜条件,促进了植物的扩散。于是,植物与贮食动物形成了一种协同进化关系,这种关系可能是自然界互惠关系（mutualism)的一种。影响幼苗存活和建成的因子包括种子贮蒇点的微生境、湿度、坡向、坡度、林冠盖度等。许多果食性动物吃掉果肉后,再将完好的种子反刍或排泄出来。种子经动物消化道处理后,发芽率常有所提高。     

中国农田土壤动物长期监测样地科学调查监测的实施方法

我国农田土壤动物面临严峻的多样性丧失问题, 建设监测样地并开展长期监测是解决该问题的重要途径, 但至今国内外仍缺乏农田土壤动物长期监测样地科学调查监测的实施方法。依据BCI 50 ha大型固定样地建设规范, 参照我国已建成的森林和农田土壤动物大型固定样地监测经验, 本文提出了农田土壤动物长期监测样地科学调查监测的实施方法。首先, 需要明确科学问题, 确定科学调查监测应遵守的基本原则。其次, 需要规范长期调查监测涉及的专业术语, 依据研究目的和实际情况选择地点和样地, 参照建设规范和农田特征建立农田土壤动物大型固定样地。第三, 以研究农田土壤动物多样性为核心, 揭示土壤动物在农田生态系统健康和功能中的作用, 有选择性地开展4类27项科学指标的长期监测工作, 要求按照统一的、规范化的工作流程开展野外调查和室内实验。最后, 要科学规范地完成标本的鉴定描述和保存保管, 研发体现农田土壤动物特征的数据库和管理信息系统。希望本文的研究结果能推动我国乃至世界范围的规范化样地建设和标准化网络监测, 为我国农田土壤动物评估与保护提供长期可靠的数据支撑。     

Population structure and the impact of regional and local habitat isolation upon levels of genetic diversity of the endangered damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale (Odonata: Zygoptera)

1. Coenagrion mercuriale is one of Europe's most threatened damselflies. There is concern for the long‐term persistence of many of its U.K. colonies because adult lifetime movement is limited, making isolated populations susceptible to extinction. 2. Using 14 microsatellite loci we characterised levels of genetic diversity, evidence for a recent decline and the spatial genetic structure for C. mercuriale population in Wales, U.K. 3. Spatial isolation is not an absolute predictor of low genetic diversity at either local or regional scales. 4. One population inhabiting a remote, edge of range site is genetically impoverished with levels of variability (at microsatellite loci) among the lowest reported for any insect species. 5. Agricultural land and high ground are physical barriers to dispersal by adults. 6. Consistent with work from elsewhere, movement by mature C. mercuriale in Pembrokeshire is sufficient to prevent significant genetic differentiation throughout a habitat matrix of some 3–4 km if the suitable habitat sites are <2 km apart and lack barriers to movement. Even within a good habitat matrix, however, genetic isolation by distance develops within 10 km.     

Whence useful plants? A direct relationship between biodiversity and useful plants among the Dusun of Mt. Kinabalu

Traditionally the Dusun indigenous people of Borneo consider Mt. Kinabalu the home of spirits and ancestors, and they are loath to climb the summit without good cause and plentiful propitiation. In apparent accordance with these beliefs, Projek Etnobotani Kinabalu has recorded few useful plants at high elevations on Mt. Kinabalu. We ask the question: is this an ecological relationship with fewer useful plants being collected at high elevations, or is it an ethnological product of belief with fewer plants collected where people fear to tread? With an indigenous Dusun plant expert (second author) well versed with all areas of Mt. Kinabalu, data on the number and kinds of useful plants were collected for dominant and indicator plant species (168 spp.) among all ecologically identified vegetation types. Results indicate that there are more useful plant species at lower elevations – but there are also more unused species. Once the data are corrected for change in the number of plant species with elevation (useful spp./total spp.), the proportion of useful species are not significantly different over elevation. Thus, useful species are a function of overall biodiversity (i.e., number of useful spp. are correlated with number of plant species, a secondary ecological factor) and not a direct ecological correlate with elevation. The number or kinds of uses also correlates with total number of plant species. In support of direct ecological causation, there is evidence that edaphic conditions (i.e., ultramafic and other poor soils) are associated with reduced proportions of useful species. Ultimately, both ethnological and ecological factors contribute to patterns of people's use of plants with many implications for conservation and biodiversity.     

The numbers of viable myxomycete cells in the alimentary tracts of earthworms and in earthworm casts

The numbers of 'plasmodium-forming units' (PFUs) of myxomycetes (mycetozoa or myxogastrids) in worm casts and soil were estimated by a most-probable-number method. Casts contained about five times more PFUs g dry wt˜' than did adjacent non-cast soil. Gut contents contained similar numbers to non-cast soil, but the proportion which was freezing resistant (and presumably in a resting stage) was greater. Numbers of PFUs in incubated worm casts increased rapidly, then fell. This transient increase probably accounts for the generally higher number observed in natural casts. Earthworms may serve as vectors of myxomycetes in soil.     

Invading plants at high altitudes on Tenerife especially in the Teide National Park

Invading plants at high altitudes on Tenerife, especially in the Teide National Park. Eighty-three flowering plants are discussed as successful, failed or potential invaders of the Teide National Park, Tenerife, a caldera at 2000 m altitude and above with a largely endemic native flora. Two important methods of invasion are considered. Firstly, there was dispersal by pastoralism, goat-herding, an ancient practice which stopped over 30 years ago. Secondly, the development of mass tourism in the last 25 years has brought a fresh influx of alien plantS. Many of the 83 invaders discussed have had only transient occurrences, but 30 are well-established, 15 being grasses among which Bromus tectorum and Vulpia myuros are the most abundant. Chenopodium vulvaria and Poa pratensis are new to Tenerife and Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica is new to the Canary IslandS. Control measures are outlined. Attempts have already been made to contain Avena barbata, hactuca serriola and Chenopodium species.     

Invasive plant integration into native plant–pollinator networks across Europe

The structure of plant–pollinator networks has been claimed to be resilient to changes in species composition due to the weak degree of dependence among mutualistic partners. However, detailed empirical investigations of the consequences of introducing an alien plant species into mutualistic networks are lacking. We present the first cross-European analysis by using a standardized protocol to assess the degree to which a particular alien plant species (i.e. Carpobrotus affine acinaciformis, Impatiens glandulifera, Opuntia stricta, Rhododendron ponticum and Solanum elaeagnifolium) becomes integrated into existing native plant–pollinator networks, and how this translates to changes in network structure.Alien species were visited by almost half of the pollinator species present, accounting on average for 42 per cent of the visits and 24 per cent of the network interactions. Furthermore, in general, pollinators depended upon alien plants more than on native plants. However, despite the fact that invaded communities received more visits than uninvaded communities, the dominant role of alien species over natives did not translate into overall changes in network connectance, plant linkage level and nestedness. Our results imply that although supergeneralist alien plants can play a central role in the networks, the structure of the networks appears to be very permeable and robust to the introduction of invasive alien species into the network.     

Priority areas for the conservation of South African vegetation: a coarse-filter approach

Abstract.  South Africa has an important responsibility to global biodiversity conservation, but a largely inadequate conservation area network for addressing this responsibility. This study employs a coarse-filter approach based on 68 potential vegetation units to identify areas that are largely transformed, degraded or impacted upon by road-effects. The assessment highlights broad vegetation types that face high biodiversity losses currently or in the near future due to human impacts. Most vegetation types contain large tracts of natural vegetation, with little degradation, transformation or impacts from road networks. Regions in the grasslands, fynbos and forest biomes are worst affected. Very few of the vegetation types are adequately protected according to the IUCN's 10% protected area conservation target, with the fynbos and savanna biomes containing a few vegetation types that do achieve this arbitrary goal. This investigation identifies areas where limited conservation resources should be concentrated by identifying vegetation types with high levels of anthropogenic land use threats and associated current and potential biodiversity loss.     

中国香港新记录的十个分类单元(英文)

中国香港位于热带北缘,其植被在历史上曾遭到大规模破坏,近几十年来逐渐恢复。香港植物标本采集有很长的历史,迄今为止已记录的维管植物超过2 170种,然而新种和新分布仍在不断增加。在最近的野外工作中,作者发现10种在香港新记录到的维管植物,分别是唇边书带蕨[Haplopteris elongata (Swartz) E. H.Crane]、雷公连[Amydrium sinense (Engl.) H. Li]、百足藤[Pothos repens (Lour.) Druce]、四川轮环藤(Cycleasutchuenensis Gagnep.)、山黑豆(Dumasia truncata SieboldZucc.)、倒心叶珊瑚[Aucuba obcordata (Rehder) Fu ex W. K. Hu et Soong]、竹叶榕(Ficus stenophylla Hemsl.)、长叶冠毛榕[F. gasparriniana var. esquirolii (H. Lév.Vaniot) Corner]、硬叶冬青(Ilex ficifolia C. J. Tseng ex S. K. Chen et Y. X. Feng)、假福王草[Paraprenanthes sororia(Miq.) C. Shih.]。雷公连属(Amydrium Schott)、山黑豆属(Dumasia DC.)和假福王草属(Paraprenanthes C. C.Chang ex C. Shih)为香港的新记录属。以上的发现不仅丰富了香港的植物区系,而且表明保护残存植被非常重要,且极小种群的保护也值得特别关注。