Diel vertical migration arising in a habitat selection game

Predator and prey react to each other, adjusting their behavior to maximize their fitness and optimizing their food intake while keeping their predation risk as low as possible. In a pelagic environment, prey reduce their predation mortality by adopting a diel vertical migration (DVM) strategy, avoiding their predator during their peak performance by finding refuge in deep layers during daylight hours and feeding at the surface during the night. Due to the duality of the interaction between prey and predator, we used a game theory approach to investigate whether DVM can be a suitable strategy for the predator as well as the prey. We formulated three scenarios in plankton ecology in order to address this question. A novel finding is that mixed strategies emerge as optimal over a range of the parameter space, where part of the predator or prey population adopts a DVM while the rest adopt one or other “sit and wait” strategies.     

基于图论的两栖类生物栖息地网络规划——以黑斑侧褶蛙为例

生物多样性保护和生物栖息地网络建设是目前我国国土空间规划的重要内容,提升生物栖息地网络的景观功能连接度对生物多样性保护具有重要作用.目前,已有研究对生物栖息地网络规划进行了探索,但在实际规划层面仍缺乏可操作性强的技术方法支撑.本研究采用图论方法,聚焦国土空间规划中生物多样性保护和生态网络建设涉及的进行生物栖息地斑块重要...     

Evolution in heterogeneous environments: Effects of migration on habitat specialization

Summary Richard Levins introduced fitness sets as a tool for investigating evolution within heterogeneous environments. Evolutionary game theory permits a synthesis and generalization of this approach by considering the evolutionary response of organisms to any scale of habitat heterogeneity. As scales of heterogeneity increase from fine to coarse, the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) switches from a single generalist species to several species that become increasingly specialized on distinct habitats. Depending upon the organisms' ecology, the switch from one to two species may occur at high migration rates (relatively fine-grained environment), or may only occur at very low migration rates (coarse-grained environment). At the ESS, the evolutionary context of a species is the entire landscape, while its ecological context may be a single habitat.Evolution towards the ESS can be represented with adaptive landscapes. In the absence of frequency-dependence, shifting from a single strategy ESS to a two strategy ESS poses the problem of evolving across valleys in the adaptive surface to occupy new peaks (hence, Sewell Wright's shifting balance theory). Frequency-dependent processes facilitate evolution across valleys. If a system with a two strategy ESS is constrained to possess a single strategy, the population may actually evolve a strategy that minimizes fitness. Because the population now rests at the bottom of a valley, evolution by natural selection can drive populations to occupy both peaks.     

土地利用变化对生境网络的影响——以苏锡常地区白鹭为例

生境网络对于物种更具有生态意义。研究土地利用变化对生境网络的影响,对破碎景观中种群的扩散和迁徙至关重要。研究结果有助于区域生境网络的恢复和完善,从物种的角度而非景观结构的角度优化生态网络。以城市化快速发展、土地利用变化明显的苏锡常地区为研究区域,优势湿地鸟类白鹭为代表物种,构建物种生境斑块约束条件概念模型,提出按照物种生活习性特征划分、选择生境斑块的方法,并从斑块和网络结构两个视角分析了土地利用变化对生境网络的影响。结果表明:(1)2000—2010年研究区白鹭生境的适宜地类总面积虽有所增加,但主要由于大量新增线性人为干扰致使白鹭生境网络质量下降;(2)白鹭生境网络在研究区不是全区覆盖的回路,基本由宜兴—溧阳片、无锡滨湖片、苏州吴中片和苏州阳澄湖片4个小片网构成,其完整程度按照宜溧片、滨湖片、吴中片、阳澄湖片降次排列;至2010年,宜溧片破坏最为严重,滨湖片和吴中片次之,阳澄湖片受破坏程度相对最弱。总体上,白鹭生境境况在10年间恶化明显,土地利用变化朝着不利于白鹭持续生存的方向发展。     

Skip of the routine habitat in an amphidromous migration of ayu

Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis is a typical amphidromous fish with ontogenic requirements for habitats among lower reaches of a river, the marine coastal area, and middle reaches of a river at the immature adult stage. Mature fish that had a small body size like ordinary young were found around the spawning ground. In comparison with standard adults, the migratory histories of the dwarf adults were examined using otolith microchemistry analysis. Sr:Ca ratio estimated that the dwarf fish were exposed to saline or brackish water after once moving into the river, whereas the standard-size fish migrated upstream.     

Skin in the game: Epidermal molt as a driver of long-distance migration in whales

Long-distance migration in whales has historically been described as an annual, round-trip movement between high-latitude, summer feeding grounds, and low-latitude, winter breeding areas, but there is no consensus about why whales travel to the tropics to breed. Between January 2009 and February 2016, we satellite-tagged 62 antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca) of four different ecotypes, of which at least three made short-term (6–8 weeks), long-distance (maximum 11,000 km, round trip), essentially nonstop, migrations to warm waters (SST 20°C–24°C), and back. We previously suggested that antarctic killer whales could conserve body heat in subfreezing (to −1.9°C) waters by reducing blood flow to their skin, but that this might preclude normal (i.e., continuous) epidermal molt, and necessitate periodic trips to warm waters for routine skin maintenance (“skin molt migration,” SMM). In contrast to the century-old “feeding/breeding” migration paradigm, but consistent with a “feeding/molting” hypothesis, the current study provides additional evidence that deferred skin molt could be the main driver of long-distance migration for antarctic killer whales. Furthermore, we argue that for all whales that forage in polar latitudes and migrate to tropical waters, SMM might also allow them to exploit rich prey resources in a physiologically challenging environment and maintain healthy skin.     

多类群水鸟共存栖息地网络结构稳定性及其优化方案——以盐城滨海湿地为例

作为新设立的世界自然遗产地,盐城滨海湿地水鸟栖息地保护受到广泛关注。鉴于该区域在全球生物多样性与水鸟栖息地保护中重要性,针对具有空间隔离特征的水鸟栖息地开展网络稳定性研究,对提高遗产地栖息地保护质量具有重要的示范意义。基于此,利用复杂网络理论、生态踏脚石原理和电流模型,分析了盐城滨海湿地多类群水鸟栖息地网络结构现状及不同情景下网络鲁棒性。研究结果显示,三类水鸟重要生境区主要分布在各栖息地内部以及大丰至条子泥栖息地一带,其中,北部生境区数量为18个,南部生境区6个。北部生境区总面积相当于南部生境区的1/2,而平均面积仅相当于1/6。从踏脚石分布来看,其主要分布在重要生境区附近,不同栖息地存在差异。研究区踏脚石网络由35个重要节点和153个一般节点组成,南北部网络结构要素存在差异。最佳保护情景下,网络鲁棒性表现较好,中心度值大的节点对整个网络连通性的支撑作用良好。提出了栖息地网络优化方案。     

Dispersal among habitats varying in fitness: reciprocating migration through ideal habitat selection

Current evolutionary models of dispersal set the ends of a continuum where the number of individuals emigrating from a habitat either equals the number of individuals immigrating (balanced dispersal) or where emigrants flow from a source habitat to a corresponding sink. Theories of habitat selection suggest a more sophisticated conditional strategy where individuals disperse from habitats where they have the greatest impact on fitness to habitats where their per capita impact is lower. Asymmetries between periods of population growth and decline result in a reciprocating dispersal strategy where the direction of migration is reversed as populations wax and wane. Thus, for example, if net migration of individuals flows from high- to low-density habitats during periods of population growth, net migration will flow in the opposite direction during population decline. Stochastic simulations and analytical models of reciprocating dispersal demonstrate that fitness, carrying capacity, stochastic dynamics, and interference from dominants interact to determine whether dispersal is balanced between habitats, or whether one habitat or the other acts as a net donor of dispersing individuals. While the pattern of dispersal may vary, each is consistent with an underlying strategy of density-dependent habitat selection.     

Predicting conditions for migration: effects of density dependence and habitat quality

Migration is widespread among animals, but the factors that influence the decision to migrate are poorly understood. Within a single species, populations may be completely migratory, completely sedentary or partially migratory. We use a population model to derive conditions for migration and demonstrate how migratory survival, habitat quality and density dependence on both the breeding and non-breeding grounds influence conditions for migration and the proportion of migrants within a population. Density dependence during the season in which migratory and sedentary individuals use separate sites is necessary for partial migration. High levels of density dependence at the non-shared sites widen the range of survival values within which we predict partial migration, whereas increasing the strength of density dependence at the shared sites narrows the range of survival values within which we predict partial migration. Our results have important implications for predicting how contemporary populations with variable migration strategies may respond to changes in the quality or quantity of habitat.     

基于网络效能分析的生境网络构建与优化——以苏锡常地区白鹭为例

从网络效能分析出发研究生境网络优化具有重要意义。以快速城市化苏锡常地区为小尺度研究区、苏锡常及周边15个城市为大尺度泛研究区、白鹭为焦点物种,通过采用引入并构建网络效能概念框架、识别和构建不同尺度生境网络、调整网络结构和转换网络结构特性相结合的方法,实现了跨尺度下白鹭生境网络优化。结果表明:1)依据大尺度迁移网络完善小尺度生境网络得到的方案一和改变方案一网络特性得到的方案二均是现状生境网络的优化方案;2)方案二与方案一相比,在平均路径长度值增加、聚类系数值减少、节点度概率分布幂次关系拟合度提高,即小世界特性减弱、无标度特性增强的基础上,测度网络连接度的α、β、γ指数值得到增加,同时新增生境节点和迁移廊道数量更少,具有更好的优化成效;3)从网络效能分析出发,有益于提高生境网络跨尺度下优化方案的可行性,其分析思路既丰富了网络优化的方法论研究,也为提高上位与下位规划空间契合度的实践提供了理论支持。但从网络效能概念框架看,如网络层级分析、其他尺度情景研究、网络质量测度指标等方面还亟待丰富与完善。     

基于栖息地指数的东太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼渔场预报

黄鳍金枪鱼是东太平洋海域重要的金枪鱼种类之一,也是我国金枪鱼延绳钓的主要捕捞对象之一。根据2011年东太平洋海域(20°N—35°S、85°W—155°W)延绳钓生产统计数据,结合表温(SST)和海面高度(SSH)的遥感数据,采用频次分析法获得黄鳍金枪鱼分布的SST和SSH适宜范围;运用一元非线性回归方法,以渔获量为适应性指数,按季度分别建立了基于SST和SSH的长鳍金枪鱼栖息地适应性指数,采用算术平均法获得基于SST和SSH环境因子的栖息地指数综合模型,并用2012年各月实际作业渔场进行验证。结果显示,黄鳍金枪鱼渔场多分布在SST为24—29℃、SSH为0.3—0.7 m的海域。采用一元非线性回归建立的各因子适应性指数模型在统计上均为显著(P0.05)。经与2012年实际生产情况比较,作业渔场预报准确性达66%以上。研究获得栖息地指数模型可为金枪鱼延绳钓渔船寻找中心渔场提供参考。     

The robustness of a network of ecological networks to habitat loss

There have been considerable advances in our understanding of the tolerance of species interaction networks to sequential extinctions of plants and animals. However, communities of species exist in a mosaic of habitats, and the vulnerability of habitats to anthropogenic change varies. Here, we model the cascading effects of habitat loss, driven by plant extinctions, on the robustness of multiple animal groups. Our network is constructed from empirical observations of 11 animal groups in 12 habitats on farmland. We simulated sequential habitat removal scenarios: randomly; according to prior information; and with a genetic algorithm to identify best‐ and worst‐case permutations of habitat loss. We identified two semi‐natural habitats (waste ground and hedgerows together comprising < 5% of the total area of the farm) as disproportionately important to the integrity of the overall network. Our approach provides a new tool for network ecologists and for directing the management and restoration of multiple‐habitat sites.     

Physical structure of habitat network differently affects migration patterns of native and invasive fishes in Lake Biwa and its tributary lagoons: stable isotope approach

A good understanding of how migratory animals use their habitat network is expected to provide important insights for the prediction of population dynamics at both local and regional scales. We focused on how the physical structure of a habitat network could affect fish migration between Lake Biwa and its tributary lagoons. Although the lagoons provide suitable breeding and nursery grounds for native fishes, it is a matter of concern that they can also be a hotbed of invasive exotic fishes. Here, we assessed the migration patterns of native crucian carps (Carassius spp.) and exotic largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) using their carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes as migration tracers. As there were marked differences in the carbon isotope ratios of basal food webs between the main lake and its tributary lagoons, stable isotopic signatures of individual fishes collected from each lagoon enabled us to judge whether they were residents of the lagoon or recent immigrants from the main lake. The analysis revealed that native and invasive fishes showed different migration patterns across a variety of lagoons. Exotic fishes frequently immigrated from the main lake to the lagoon as the distance of the channel connecting these two habitats was short. For native crucian carps, in contrast, their migrations were unaffected by the channel distance but were promoted by narrow channels. Physical barriers of weirs and dense vegetation within the channel obstructed their migrations. Such ecological information on migration behavior will be vital to plan designs for habitat restoration to conserve native fishes.     

Hypotheses and tracking results about the longest migration: The case of the arctic tern

The arctic tern Sterna paradisaea completes the longest known annual return migration on Earth, traveling between breeding sites in the northern arctic and temperate regions and survival/molt areas in the Antarctic pack‐ice zone. Salomonsen (1967, Biologiske Meddelelser, Copenhagen Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 24 , 1) put forward a hypothetical comprehensive interpretation of this global migration pattern, suggesting food distribution, wind patterns, sea ice distribution, and molt habits as key ecological and evolutionary determinants. We used light‐level geolocators to record 12 annual journeys by eight individuals of arctic terns breeding in the Baltic Sea. Migration cycles were evaluated in light of Salomonsen's hypotheses and compared with results from geolocator studies of arctic tern populations from Greenland, Netherlands, and Alaska. The Baltic terns completed a 50,000 km annual migration circuit, exploiting ocean regions of high productivity in the North Atlantic, Benguela Current, and the Indian Ocean between southern Africa and Australia (sometimes including the Tasman Sea). They arrived about 1 November in the Antarctic zone at far easterly longitudes (in one case even at the Ross Sea) subsequently moving westward across 120–220 degrees of longitude toward the Weddell Sea region. They departed from here in mid‐March on a fast spring migration up the Atlantic Ocean. The geolocator data revealed unexpected segregation in time and space between tern populations in the same flyway. Terns from the Baltic and Netherlands traveled earlier and to significantly more easterly longitudes in the Indian Ocean and Antarctic zone than terns from Greenland. We suggest an adaptive explanation for this pattern. The global migration system of the arctic tern offers an extraordinary possibility to understand adaptive values and constraints in complex pelagic life cycles, as determined by environmental conditions (marine productivity, wind patterns, low‐pressure trajectories, pack‐ice distribution), inherent factors (flight performance, molt, flocking), and effects of predation/piracy and competition.     

城镇化背景下河流生境评价——以深圳市为例

城镇化背景下,河流生态系统退化趋势明显,有效评价河流生境状况是修复和保护河流生态系统健康的重要基础。深圳市作为全国经济发展的窗口城市,河流生境的调查研究十分匮乏。因此,为阐明深圳市不同城镇化程度的流域河流生境的差异与主要影响因素,对深圳市两个代表性流域的河流生境展开了研究。针对深圳市河流的生境特点,于2019年丰水期（8月）和枯水期（11月）对城镇化程度较高的深圳河流域的13个样点和城镇化程度较低的坪山河流域12个样点河段的生境状况进行定量调查与评价。采用综合评价法,从河床、河道和河岸带3个方面选取10个生境指标,构建深圳市河流生境评价指标体系和评价方法。结果表明：深圳河流域河流生境质量总体较差,生境评价等级为"良"、"中"、"差"的样点河段分别占7.7%、38.5%、53.8%;坪山河流域河流生境质量总体较好,生境评价等级为"优"、"良"、"中"、"差"的样点河段分别占8.3%、41.7%、41.7%、8.3%。方差分析结果表明两次调查河流生境状况无显著性差异,短时间跨度内河流生境状况变化较小;两个流域河流生境状况差异显著,城镇化程度较低的坪山河流域河流生境质量显著好于城镇化程度较高的深圳河流域。河流生境评估指标主成分分析结果表明人类活动强度、河岸稳定性、河道变化、底质、河岸土地利用及植被多样性是影响深圳市河流生境变化的主要因子。本文对河床、河道、河岸带3个方面分别提出针对性的修复建议,对深圳市河流的生境修复和保护具有重要的指导作用。     

Estimation of overall fishing intensity of tuna longline fishery-yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) fishery in the indian ocean as a case study

According to the FAO catch statistics, the total catch of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from the Indian Ocean is characterised by decline in the longline fishery and rapid increase in the surface fishery. In the present communication, an attempt has been made to estimate the overall effective fishing intensity of longline fishery for yellowfin tuna by the Japanese longliners during the years 1973–1975. The results on areas and seasons of effective effort expended are presented, along with estimates of tuna availability, effective fishing intensity and the relative gear efficiency.