Plasticity and variability in the patterns of phytolith formation in Asteraceae species along a large rainfall gradient in Israel

Silicification and phytolith formation in Poaceae species growing in arid and semi-arid regions are commonly thought to be positively correlated with silica and water availabilities and with transpiration. To expand our understanding of this phenomenon, we chose to study species of the Asteraceae, the largest dicotyledonous family. We measured phytolith concentrations in eight Asteraceae species (three non-spiny and five spiny) and one Poaceae species (Avena sterilis), as reference, along a large climatic gradient of 80–900 mm mean annual rainfall in Israel.     

哀牢山常绿阔叶林树种多样性及空间分布格局

为了探究哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林树种多样性特点及优势种群空间分布特征,2008年,中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园在哀牢山生态站附近的常绿阔叶林建立了一块6 ha的森林动态监测样地,逐一测量并记录了样地中所有胸径(DBH)≥1 cm的树木的胸径,并对其挂牌标记、鉴定和确定坐标位置.应用Ripley's L-Function分析了样地内4个上层优势种的空间分布格局.结果表明,样地内共有DBH≥>1 cm的乔木12,131株,隶属于25科49属68种.样地内硬壳柯(Lithocarpus hancei)的重要值最大,其胸高断面积也最大;其次为变色锥(Castanopsis wattii);排在第三位的为云南连蕊茶(Camellia forrestii),有1,712个个体,是样地内个体数量最多的树种.和同类型森林相比,哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林是多优种类型,物种总数较少,稀有种所占比例也较小.样地内4个上层优势种的小径级个体数量较多,而大径级个体数量较少,而且在空间上呈现互补特征.对样地中符合条件的26个树种(生活史期间的树木株数≥40株)的空间格局进行分析,53个生长时期中有37个表现为集群分布,表明在树种多样性维持方面,密度制约机制町能不是主要因为,生境异质性可能起着重要作用.     

Diversity of xylophagous beetles and vulnerability of debarked-medicinal plants in southern of Benin

We studied the impact of debarking of medicinal tree species on the diversity of xylophagous beetles in Lama Forest Reserve, in Lokoli swampy forest and in crop fields surrounded Lokoli forest. A total of 108 interception traps were set up on debarked and nondebarked trees covering nine medicinal plants that are Anogeissus leiocarpa, Dialium guineense, Khaya senegalensis in Lama Forest; Nauclea diderrichii, Ficus trichopoda, Syzygium owariense in swampy forest; and Parkia biglobosa, Bridelia ferruginea, Pterocarpus erinaceus in crop fields. A total of 116 beetle species were collected belonging to 19 coleoptera families with higher xylophagous beetles than predators. Specific richness and individual abundance of xylophagous beetles were significantly higher in crop fields than in forests. Furthermore, in all habitats, debarked-tree species were more attractive to xylophagous beetles than control trees and were significantly more attacked in crop fields than forests. The most vulnerable medicinal trees to debarking were P. biglobosa, D. guineense, F. trichopoda and P. erinaceus. Three groups of indicator insects according to habitat type, debarking and tree species have been distinguished. Our results clearly imply that by exploiting natural resources humans can impact on the abundance and specific richness of xylophagous beetles by modulating their resources.     

Genetic Diversity of Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in the Eastern and Western Highlands of Uganda

Eight isolates of Phytophthora infestans were recovered from late blight infected samples collected from the districts of Mbale and Mbarara in the Eastern and Western highlands of Uganda in 2001 and analysed using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) haplotype and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Polymerase chain reaction amplification with the P2 primer followed by digestion with MspI yielded a three‐fragment pattern characteristic of isolates belonging to the US‐1 clonal lineage; the polymorphism was confirmed by DNA sequencing. AFLP analysis yielded 60 markers, analysis of which clustered the Ugandan isolates with reference to US‐1 isolates (US930258 and US940501). These results suggest that the examined Ugandan isolates belong to the US‐1 clonage lineage.     

贡嘎山东坡非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局

为了解贡嘎山地区物种多样性的垂直分布格局,2010年4—9月利用夹日法对贡嘎山东坡非飞行小型兽类的物种多样性进行了详细调查。调查在海拔1200—4000m之间按400m间隔设置了8个采集样地,累计布夹28800夹次,捕获非飞行小型兽类个体701个,观察记录到松鼠个体25个,共调查记录小兽个体726个,分属于3目6科16属25种。非参数估计的物种丰富度Chao2和Jackknife2指数以及物种累积曲线评估表明本次调查取样充分,能很好地反映该地区非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局。结果表明:非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局为单峰模型;物种丰富度和物种多度在中海拔地区最高,在低海拔和高海拔地区较低;相反,物种均匀度在中海拔地区较低,在低海拔和高海拔地区较高;而物种优势度则随着海拔的升高而逐渐增加;Shannon-Wiener、Fisher-α、Margalef三个综合性物种多样性指数均显示物种多样性在中海拔地区最高;与其它多样性指数相比,Simpson指数未能很好地反映出不同海拔段群落物种多样性的垂直分布差异;而与Shannon-Wiener和Simpson指数相比,Fisher-α和Margalef指数对不同物种组成的群落多样性区分较好。同时,基于不同海拔段物种组成的聚类分析结果也表明物种多样性在中海拔地区最高。物种多样性在中海拔地区最高的垂直分布模式提示我们在贡嘎山地区的生物多样性保护和生态管理中应特别重视中海拔地段,因为该地段中居于生态食物链中间位置的小兽物种最丰富,是山地生物多样性保护的关键。此外,规范统一的调查方法将有利于研究数据的整合和减少人为因素带来的误差。     

Diversity and distribution pattern of epiphyllous liverworts and its ecological determinants

Epiphyllous liverworts form a special group of bryophytes that primarily grow on leaves of understory vascular plants, occurring in constantly moist and warm evergreen forest in tropical and subtropical regions. Epiphyllous liverworts may influence ecosystem processes including carbon, nitrogen and water cycles. Furthermore, they are very sensitive to climate change and forest fragmentation, and can be used as bioindicators for changes in ecological conditions and escalating loss of biodiversity. In this paper, we reviewed studies on morphological traits, species diversity, geographical distribution and environmental conditions (including characteristics of hosts and habitats) of epiphyllous liverworts, discussed the possible reasons for the mechanisms underlying the diversity pattern of epiphyllous liverworts. According to these studies, we proposed that further ecological studies on epiphyllous liverworts should be more focused on their formation, mechanisms of matter exchange and energy flux, ecological functions in forest ecosystem, the response to climate changes and their broader-scale ecology.     

城市化对蝴蝶多样性的影响:以重庆市为例

2005年5–10月,自重庆市沙坪坝区到北碚区沿城市生境梯度选取了5个断面(沙坪公园、南溪口、回头坡、鸡公山和缙云山),进行蝴蝶取样调查。共采获蝴蝶4,802只,隶属11科41属65种。统计分析表明,东方菜粉蝶(Pieriscanidia)、菜粉蝶(P.rapae)和酢浆灰蝶(Pseudozizeeriamaha)等3种为优势种,青凤蝶(Graphiumsarpedon)、宽边黄粉蝶(Euremahecabe)、连纹黛眼蝶(Lethesyrcis)、黄钩蛱蝶(Polygoniac-aureum)、点玄灰蝶(Tongeiafilicaudis)和直纹稻弄蝶(Parnaraguttata)等9种为常见种。多样性指数变化趋势为缙云山>回头坡>鸡公山>南溪口>沙坪公园。沿城市生境梯度,从人为干扰较大的沙坪公园(城市化水平较高的代表)到人为干扰较小的缙云山(城市化水平较低的代表),蝴蝶多样性指数基本呈递增趋势,且植被种类丰富度越高、覆盖率越高、日照量越高的生境,蝴蝶种类和数量越多,蝴蝶多样性指数也越高。蝴蝶的多样性特征可以作为城市生境质量和环境变化的指标。     

Diversity of insect‐induced galls along a temperature– rainfall gradient in the tropical savannah region of the Northern Territory,Australia

Evidence regarding the effect of temperature and rainfall on gall‐inducing insects is contradictory: some studies indicate that species richness of gall‐inducing insects increases as environments become hotter and drier, while others suggest that these factors have no effect. The role of plant species richness in determining species richness of gall‐inducing insects is also controversial. These apparent inconsistencies may prove to be due to the influence of soil fertility and the uneven distribution of gall‐inducing insect species among plant taxa. The current study tested hypotheses about determinants of gall‐inducing insect species richness in a way different to previous studies. The number of gall‐inducing insect species, and the proportion of species with completely enclosed galls (more likely to give protection against heat stress and desiccation), were measured in replicate plots at five locations along a 500‐km N‐S transect in the seasonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. There is a strong temperature–rainfall gradient along this transect during the wet season. Plant species lists had already been compiled for each collection plot. All plots were at low elevation in eucalypt savannah growing on infertile soils. There was no evidence to suggest that hot, dry environments in Australia have more gall‐inducing insect species than cooler, wetter environments, or that degree of enclosure of galls is related to protecting insects from heat stress and desiccation. The variable number of gall‐inducing insect species on galled plant species meant that plant species richness did not influence gall species richness. Confirmation is still required that low soil fertility does not mask temperature–rainfall effects and that galls in the study region are occupied predominantly in the wet season, when the temperature–rainfall gradient is most marked.     

叶附生苔植物物种多样性分布格局及生态成因

叶附生苔植物(以下简称叶附生苔)是一类附生在维管植物叶片表面的、一般只出现在热带雨林和常绿阔叶林中的苔类植物。它们具有重要的生态功能, 如影响碳、氮、水循环, 对气候变化和森林破碎化反应敏感, 可用作环境变化的指示植物。该文对叶附生苔的形态特性、物种多样性的研究历史和进展、地理分布格局, 以及对环境的要求(附主和生境的特性)等进行了综述, 探讨了叶附生苔多样性分布格局形成的可能原因, 即环境(空气湿度高、林冠层发育好、干扰少)和适应特征(无性繁殖、形体微小)的选择。根据全球叶附生苔研究进展状况及所存在的问题提出未来可开展的研究方向, 如叶附生苔的形成原因、与附主间的物质交换和能量流动机制、在森林生态系统中的生态功能、气候变化指示作用研究等, 大尺度上的研究也值得关注。     

Vertical distribution of the soil microbiota along a successional gradient in a glacier forefield

Spatial patterns of microbial communities have been extensively surveyed in well‐developed soils, but few studies investigated the vertical distribution of micro‐organisms in newly developed soils after glacier retreat. We used 454‐pyrosequencing to assess whether bacterial and fungal community structures differed between stages of soil development (SSD) characterized by an increasing vegetation cover from barren (vegetation cover: 0%/age: 10 years), sparsely vegetated (13%/60 years), transient (60%/80 years) to vegetated (95%/110 years) and depths (surface, 5 and 20 cm) along the Damma glacier forefield (Switzerland). The SSD significantly influenced the bacterial and fungal communities. Based on indicator species analyses, metabolically versatile bacteria (e.g. Geobacter) and psychrophilic yeasts (e.g. Mrakia) characterized the barren soils. Vegetated soils with higher C, N and root biomass consisted of bacteria able to degrade complex organic compounds (e.g. Candidatus Solibacter), lignocellulolytic Ascomycota (e.g. Geoglossum) and ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota (e.g. Laccaria). Soil depth only influenced bacterial and fungal communities in barren and sparsely vegetated soils. These changes were partly due to more silt and higher soil moisture in the surface. In both soil ages, the surface was characterized by OTUs affiliated to Phormidium and Sphingobacteriales. In lower depths, however, bacterial and fungal communities differed between SSD. Lower depths of sparsely vegetated soils consisted of OTUs affiliated to Acidobacteria and Geoglossum, whereas depths of barren soils were characterized by OTUs related to Gemmatimonadetes. Overall, plant establishment drives the soil microbiota along the successional gradient but does not influence the vertical distribution of microbiota in recently deglaciated soils.     

龙脑香热带雨林附生苔藓沿宿主垂直梯度的微生境偏好及其指示作用

该研究首次借助林冠塔吊调查了西双版纳国家级自然保护区龙脑香热带雨林样地内69棵树13个垂直高度上的附生苔藓植物,结果表明:目标样树上共记录到隶属于25科60属的90种附生苔藓,其中细鳞苔科物种数最多,占比达25.6%。13个垂直高度上共划分出三种生态类型:喜阳苔藓(散生巨树上45 m的区域),喜阴苔藓(乔木树干上15 m的区域),广布苔藓(广泛分布于宿主各个垂直高度上,生态位宽),并筛选出对微生境有特殊偏好的17种苔藓指示种(IndVal≥0.7,P0.05)。随宿主垂直高度的升高,扇型和交织型的苔藓占比降低,悬垂型苔藓占比先升高后降低,细平铺型和粗平铺型的苔藓占比升高。大气湿度、水汽压、胸径以及树皮粗糙度对附生苔藓生活型的分布偏好具有显著影响。总之,沿宿主垂直高度上的附生苔藓对微环境变化在生活型和形态结构上有着不同的响应方式,而同一种生态型的苔藓群落有相似的适应机制。因此,在森林林冠生境变化的监测和管理中,对微生境具有明显偏好的附生苔藓物种可作为有效的指示材料。     

Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along a secondary successional gradient in a tropical forest

The taxonomic diversity (TD) of tropical flora and fauna tends to increase during secondary succession. This increase may be accompanied by changes in functional diversity (FD), although the relationship between TD and FD is not well understood. To explore this relationship, we examined the correlations between the TD and FD of ants and forest age in secondary forests at the α‐ and β‐diversity levels using single‐ and multi‐trait‐based approaches. Our objectives were to understand ant diversity patterns and to evaluate the role of secondary forests in the conservation of biodiversity and in the resilience of tropical forests. Ant assemblages were sampled across a chronosequence in the Lacandon region, Mexico. All species were characterized according to 12 functional ecomorphological traits relevant to their feeding behavior. We found that TD and FD were related to forest age at the alpha level, but not at the beta level. α‐functional richness and divergence increased linearly with species richness and diversity, respectively. Also, the relationship between taxonomic and functional turnover was linear and positive. Our results indicated that functional traits were complementary across the chronosequence. The increase in FD was mainly driven by the addition of rare species with relevant traits. The older secondary forests did not recover all of the functions of old growth forest but did show a tendency to recovery. Because older successional stages support more TD and FD, we suggest developing agriculture and forestry management practices that facilitate rapid post‐agricultural succession and thereby better preserve the functionality of tropical forests.     

Influence of shaded systems on Xylosandrus compactus infestation in Robusta coffee along a rainfall gradient in Uganda

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Microtopography and distribution of canopy trees in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island,Japan

The spatial distribution of trees in relation to topography was investigated using two topographic indices, slope steepness and slope configuration, in a 4-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen forest in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. Most species showed an aggregated distribution and patch size was related to various microtopographical features, including small ridges and valleys. In a cluster analysis based on the dissimilarity of each species distribution, the species were divided into three major clusters. A significant correlation between the dissimilarity and the distance between each species on the axis of the two topographic indices indicated that species association was, in part, explained by the topographic indices. I suggest that species distributed on steep and concave slopes regenerate depending on disturbances such as landslides on unstable topography, whereas species distributed on ridges and upper slopes regenerate depending on the canopy gap. A number of species that were less abundant in the 4-ha plot occurred in the riparian area near a stream, where the density of more abundant species was low. The results of this study support the existence of habitat niche divergence related to topography in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest.     

Diversity,habitats and size-frequency distribution of the gastropod genus Conus at Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba,Northern Red Sea

Topographically complex subtidal reefs of the Indo-West Pacific region are characterised by a high species richness of cone snails of the genus Conus (up to 36 on some reefs) but low population densities (≤1 individual/m²), whereas Conus assemblages on reef flats usually support fewer species (5–9) and high population densities (up to 5.2 individuals/m²). Subtidal sand areas are known to be least species-rich (1–6 species). Although the diversity of this predatory gastropod genus has been described previously from different areas of the Indo-Pacific, little ecological information is available on Conus in the Northern Red Sea. Therefore, data from five habitat types were obtained along 73 line-transects (245?m²⁾, which yielded ecological data for a total of 175 individuals of 9 species. In accordance with former findings, our results demonstrate that the reef flat was the habitat with the highest observed population densities (6.15 individuals/m²) but low species diversity (H’ = 0.9; 5 species); subtidal reefs, in contrast, were characterised by low densities (0.13 individuals/m²) and a relatively high species diversity (H ‘= 1.5; 6 species). This suggests that Conus diversity and species richness in the Northern Red Sea around Dahab is lower than in other parts of the Indo-West Pacific region. Furthermore, hardand soft substrata were dominated by different Conus species in accordance to the distribution of favourable microhabitat patches, the degree of physical stress and the availability of refuges and prey organisms. The fact that these Conus were predominantly small-bodied vermivores (size range: 6–85?mm; mean shell size: 15?mm; SD = 9?mm) suggests that this size class possesses an advantage over molluscivores and piscivores. Except for subtidal reefs, which showed a highly variable species composition, the studied habitat types around Dahab were characterised by distinct assemblages of Conus.     

腾格里沙漠东南缘公路对路域植被物种组成的影响

沿腾格里沙漠东南缘省道201线沙坡头-景泰段2侧设置48条垂直于公路的样线,调查距路缘不同距离处植被的物种分布特征,研究干旱荒漠区公路建设和运营对植被物种组成的影响.结果表明:随着距路缘距离的增加,草本植物的种数、盖度、生物量和α多样性均逐渐减小,5 m后与对照差异不显著,高度在0～6 m处较大,密度变化不显著.0～2 m处草本植物的物种周转速率较低,2～5 m处最高,10 m后物种组成与对照相似.路缘处的草本植物群落以禾本科植物占优势,抗干扰能力较强的白草、虎尾草和冰草占草本植物总个体数的68.6%.其中,虎尾草在距路缘1 m后,白草和冰草在距路缘2 m后数量和频度迅速减小,而菊科植物茵陈蒿和冷蒿急剧增加,距路缘2 m后占草本植物总个体数的70%.路缘处灌木植物的盖度和密度显著小于对照,物种组成与对照没有显著差异.     

Genetic structure of Helianthus occidentalis (Asteraceae) in a preserve withfragmented habitat

We examined the spatial genetic structure of Helianthus occidentalis Riddell ssp. occidentalis Riddell (western sunflower) to determine whether this species is highly clonal and whether the distance between prairie patches influences genetic differentiation. In the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System, Ohio, this species is restricted to prairie patches that have a clumped distribution in the forest matrix. Data from this insect-pollinated forb with gravity-dispersed seed were compared to data from the same patches for Asclepias verticillata, an insect-pollinated species with wind-dispersed seed. Allozyme electrophoresis was used to collect genetic data from H. occidentalis samples from eight patches in four regions. Genetic data from three polymorphic loci indicted that this species is not highly clonal. Genetic differentiation was greater among patches within a region than among regions, suggesting that gene flow among patches is more limited in H. occidentalis than in A. verticillata. Founder effect may also have contributed to observed genetic differences among patches as some of these populations may have re-established after release from human use. As habitat fragmentation is increasing in the preserve, it is also likely that genetic differentiation may be increasing. Therefore, monitoring of genetic structure is necessary to further assess the effect of fragmentation.