Habitat Characteristics of the Cyprinidae in Small Rivers in Central Thailand

Cyprinids were sampled, by electrofishing, from 159 sites on small rivers in four major watersheds across central Thailand. Total abundance, estimated by the depletion method, varied directly with water velocity and, inversely with discharge while species richness varied inversely with habitat width and, directly with ambient oxygen and alkalinity. Numerical abundance of cyprinids was well above that for any of the other 27 families of fishes represented in the catches. Incidence of occurrence was high only for a few cyprinid species in each watershed with most species present in ≤10% of the sites. Across all sites, cyprinids represented approximately 35% of all species captured and were absent from only two sites. Species richness was highest in the Maeklong watershed. Canonical correspondence analysis identified five significant habitat variables, temperature, habitat width, discharge, ambient oxygen and alkalinity, and the extent to which each influenced the distribution of the 41 cyprinid species. The results are discussed in relation to environmental factors and ecological adaptations.     

Zooplankton in the Schelde estuary, Belgium and the Netherlands: long-term trends in spring populations

A compilation of available data in between 1967 and 2002 on spring zooplankton abundance was made for the brackish and the freshwater zone of the Schelde estuary. The general picture is a significant increase of 1–2 orders of magnitude in abundance for Rotifera, Copepoda and Branchiopoda (mainly Cladocera) in the freshwater zone, while zooplankton abundance in the brackishwater zone remained more constant. Possible natural and management related causes for this increase in zooplankton abundance are briefly discussed.     

Species turnover: the case of stream amphibians of rainforests in the Western Ghats, southern India

We examined species turnover in stream amphibians in rainforest in two hill ranges (Ashambu and Anamalai Hills) in the Western Ghats in south India. In each hill range, six stream segments (100 m in length) belonging to three drainage or rivers were surveyed three to four times in three seasons over 1 year. Species turnover (using 1-Sorenson's index) was estimated between all possible pairs of sites at three spatial scales – within drainage, between drainage and between hill ranges. Similar matrices were also developed for altitudinal difference and geographic distance between sites. A total of 30 species in four families were recorded from 3681 individuals. The hill ranges differed significantly in the composition of the stream community at both the species and family levels. Within the hill range, species turnover was correlated with altitudinal difference and not with geographic distance. Anamalai Hills had a greater species turnover than Ashambu Hills, both within and between drainage. There was also a high turnover between these two hill ranges, with only two shared species. This turnover explains the fact that only 30–40 species have been reported from different hill ranges, although regional diversity is high with about 130 species. The turnover also predicts that several undetected species should occur in hill ranges and drainage that have not been surveyed. The conservation model for mammals and birds, consisting of a few large protected areas, may not adequately address the conservation requirements of amphibians. Protection of rainforest frogs may require many protected areas in different drainages.     

珠江口浮游桡足类的生态研究

根据2002～2003年珠江口12个航次的调查资料,分析了浮游桡足类种类组成、优势种演替和丰度的时空变化,探讨其影响因素。以表层盐度(S)变化将调查海域划分三个区域:I区(S<25)、Ⅱ区(2530)。结果表明:调查海域共出现桡足类65种,Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区的种类多于I区;桡足类的平均丰度为118ind·m^-3,三个区域之间的比较为Ⅱ区(165ind·m^-3)>I区(129ind·m^-3)>Ⅲ区(62ind·m^-3),春、夏季的丰度高于冬季;优势种有明显的时间和区域上的变化。I区9个航次的研究结果表明:I区桡足类种类较少;各月份之间的平均丰度差别大,由河口内往外呈增加趋势。盐度是影响珠江口桡足类种类组成和数量变化的主要因素。     

Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead,and cadmium in Manko Tidal Flat,Okinawa

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Pb, and Cd in sediment samples from the Manko Tidal Flat, an important area for migratory birds in Okinawa, were analyzed. High concentrations of PCBs were detected in the sediment samples from sites under a bridge at the end of the Manko Flat, whereas Pb and Cd concentrations did not indicate specific pollution. The spatial distribution and homologue proportion of PCBs indicated that these PCBs are probably attributed to the residue of paints used on the bridge in the 1970s. PCBs were detected in tilapias from sites in the Manko Flat and in a river connecting to the flat without head constructions. PCBs were also detected in small invertebrates, tanaids, in the flat. The distribution of PCB concentrations in the fauna was parallel to that in the sediments. The average PCB homologue proportions in tilapias and tanaids were similar to those in sediments.     

云南大理人工松林中小兽群落与生态因子的关系

本文比较了云南大理不同年龄的人工松林(5-8年、10-15年、16-20年)中小兽群落的物种多度、多样性和主要小兽的丰富度,研究了小兽与森林栖境因子(乔木的密度、覆盖度和森林底层灌木和草本植物的覆盖度、密度、物种多度)的关系,探讨了小兽群落在中国西南人工森林的演替,以及地表植物和森林覆盖度对小兽群落的影响。研究结果显示,地表植物的物种多度和丰富度随着森林的年龄增长而增大,但是小兽群落的物种多度和多样性随着森林年龄的增长而变小。小兽与森林栖境因子的回归关系显示小兽群落的物种多度和多样性与地表植物(PC1)成负相关关系。小兽群落的优势物种随着森林的年龄有明显的演替。在年龄最小的森林(5-8年)中,大绒鼠(E.miletu)和齐氏姬鼠(A.chevrieri)是优势物种;在10-15年森林齐氏姬鼠(A.chevrieri)和锡金小鼠(M.pahari)是优势物种;在年龄最大的森林(16-20年)中,贝氏树(T.belangeri)和珀氏长吻松鼠(D.pernyi)成为优势物种     

Application of Diversity Indices to Appraise Plant Availability in the Traditional Medicinal Markets of Johannesburg,South Africa

The lack of scientific rigour in analysing ethnobotanical surveys has prompted researchers to investigate ways of quantitatively describing their data, including the use of ecological diversity indices. There are numerous indices and measures available to describe sample diversity. Twenty-two measures of species richness, diversity and evenness were reviewed using six sets of ethnomedicinal data derived from 50 formal muti shop traders (of different ethnicities) and 100 informal street traders of traditional medicine in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a seventh data set from traders on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. The diversity measures were coupled with species accumulation curves to construct cumulative diversity curves used to determine the minimum viable sample size on which a diversity index should be based, and to better understand the differences in the relative diversities of the samples. Distinct differences in the relative abundance and diversity of plants sold by street traders and shop traders were evident. Species diversity and evenness was found to be higher in shops, thus resulting in a lower dominance in the sale of certain plant species compared to the street traders. A survey of an informal market should include no less than 35 research participants compared to no less than 20 for the muti shops. The use of selected indices of species richness (Margalef's), diversity (Shannon, Simpson's, Fisher's alpha, Hill's numbers) and evenness are recommended as a means of describing patterns exhibited within ethnobotanical data.     

Modelling microbial processes (phyto- and bacterioplankton) in the Schelde estuary

Since about 10 years, studies have been conducted at the University of Brussels in modelling the microbiological processes affecting biogenic substances in the Schelde estuary and its watershed.The first model, a one dimensional redox model, simulated the longitudinal distribution of oxygen, nitrate, iron and manganese in relation to the observed bacterial heterotrophic activity. A model allowing calculation of bacterial activity from data on organic discharge was coupled to this model. It was completed by a model of phytoplanktonic development within the estuary. Finally, an idealized model of the hydrographical network, based on Horton analysis, is being established in order to calculate the quality of the water at the downward boundary of the estuary.Together, all these sub-models form a general model of the ecological working of the Schelde estuary, able to predict at least the general trends of the redox state, the organic carbon, mineral nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a concentrations as a function of distance to the sea, from the knowledge of geomorphological and meteorological data, along with informations concerning the distribution of anthropogenic discharges. This model therefore provides a powerfull tool for the rational management of the Schelde estuary.Research Associate of the Belgian National Scientific Research Funds.     

西沙赵述岛潮滩星虫形态特征及其环境适应性

基于2018年夏季赵述岛潮滩现场调查数据,研究西沙赵述岛潮滩内星虫物种组成,并结合沉积物和组织切片分析星虫对环境的适应性特征。在潮滩上设置3个取样站进行定性和定量研究,并对星虫肠道内沙粒组成和摄食消化结构进行测定与观察。结果显示,西沙赵述岛潮滩现存罗岛管体星虫(Siphonosoma rotumanum)、库岛管体星虫(S. cumanense)和富岛管体星虫(S. funafuti),组成比例为4︰2︰1,三种管体星虫生长环境相同,栖息层次均为10～15 cm。管体星虫肠道内均充满沙粒,去除沙粒后可观察到小型颗粒碎屑(10μm,占90%)、硅藻类、桡足类(300μm)和植物纤维碎片等。下行肠(前肠)内大颗粒(粒径0.25mm)沙粒比例(77.65%)高于上行肠(后肠)(62.67%),下行肠内小颗粒(粒径≤0.25mm)沙粒(22.34%)低于上行肠(37.33%),表明管体星虫对珊瑚礁砂砾具有细化作用。管体星虫(体重为8.5 g)吻部和躯干部角质层厚度分别为59.08μm和231.92μm,收吻肌由9 000～9 500个肌纤维组成,表明发达的角质层是对珊瑚礁粗糙底质的适应,收吻肌可以保证完成摄食过程。下行肠内的褶皱、肌纤维明显少于上行肠和直肠,表明管体星虫的消化过程主要发生在后段,这可能与珊瑚礁底质中的有机质含量低有一定关系。     

Water bird communities in the Lower Zeeschelde: long-term changes near an expanding harbour

The Schelde estuary is an important wintering area and stop-over place for waders and waterfowl using the East Atlantic fly-way. The port of Antwerp is situated in the Lower Zeeschelde, the transition area between the brackish- and freshwater tidal part. Three intertidal areas in this zone (Groot Buitenschoor, Galgenschoor and Schor Ouden Doel) are protected under several international and national legislations. In this study long-term datasets (1982–1998) on water birds in these intertidal areas were analysed and attempts were made to assess the impact of two container terminals, constructed during the covered period. Overall abundance of water birds in the study area did not show any significant trends. Looking at individual areas, maxima and winter means on the Galgenschoor and Groot Buitenschoor were very variable but the peak seasons levelled out with time. On the Schor Ouden Doel, where hunting was banned, maximal numbers increased by a factor of four between 1985 and 1990, mainly due to an increase in Greylag Goose numbers. The trophic composition of the bird populations showed major shifts. Initially, species compositions in winter differed considerably between the three areas, but they became more similar during the study period. The results suggest that the area became more important as wintering and resting place for herbivores such as Greylag Goose and Wigeon while its function as feeding ground and stop-over site for migrating benthivorous birds became relatively less important, especially on the right bank. The water bird populations in the study area varied greatly with the geographic and regional trends for the different species and were influenced by winter severity but no direct proof of impacts from the container terminals could be established. Nearly every season the international 1 level was exceeded by one or more species, but the species of international importance changed with time. National and international protection measures are valuable but insufficient tools for the conservation of these estuarine habitats. A more comprehensive conservation strategy is proposed.     

长江口潮沟大型底栖动物群落的初步研究

通过对长江口崇明东滩潮沟系统与大型底栖无脊椎动物进行取样调查 ,研究了潮沟不同生境的底栖动物群落及其多样性 ,分析了潮沟生境异质性与底栖动物群落的关系。研究发现 :①潮沟剖面中出现明显的动物群落分带现象 ,从潮沟底、潮沟边滩到草滩 ,底栖动物种类、生活型组成和生活类群比例反映了河口潮滩潮沟底栖动物生态系列 ;②密度和生物量的分布皆为潮沟边滩 >草滩 >潮沟底 ,但密度与生物量的面上群 /面下群值格局却有不同 ,说明了密度和生物量的优势生活型和生活类群随潮沟生境的差异而变化 ;③潮沟系统 3种生境的多样性指数D ,H′和J值均为草滩 >潮沟边滩 >潮沟底 ,是潮沟系统生境结构分化的结果。潮沟底和潮沟边滩等特殊生境的存在 ,提高了淤泥质河口潮滩的生境异质性 ,说明了潮沟系统在维持河口生态系统底栖动物物种多样性中的重要作用。     

A fish-based assessment tool for the ecological quality of the brackish Schelde estuary in Flanders (Belgium)

This paper presents a new approach which was developed to find an optimal combination of candidate metrics for creating a fish-based estuarine biotic index (EBI) for defining the quality status of an estuarine area. The key idea was that a powerful index should minimise two prediction errors simultaneously: falsely declaring the status of a site as disturbed while it is not (Type I error) and the reverse, falsely declaring a disturbed site as undisturbed (Type II error). The balance between both errors is an inherent characteristic of an index and can be displayed as a curve. The area under this curve (AUC) is a measure of the misclassification rate (smaller = better). This criterion was the basis for a stepwise approach whereby in each step a metric resulting in the highest reduction of AUC was added. Five metrics were selected and the distribution of their average was the basis to derive the thresholds for the classes of the EBI. This paper presents the fish-based index (EBI) for the brackish Schelde estuary in Flanders (Belgium). The index was calibrated against fyke net data from five sites during the period from 1995 to 2004. The sites ranged in quality from moderately impacted to very disturbed, classes 3 to 5 respectively. Despite there being neither of the highest classes 1 (high) and 2 (good), the EBI presented can serve as an evaluation tool in the highly impacted situation in Flanders as it discriminates well between moderate and highly impacted sites. In addition, its definition complies with the biological status classes of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Handling Editor: K. Martens