Effects of tsetse targets on mammals and birds in Kasungu National Park, Malawi

Possible effects on wildlife of targets baited with an attractive odour (acetone), impregnated with deltamethrin and used to control tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans morsitans), were investigated in the Kasungu National Park, Malawi. Mammals and birds were censused simultaneously along transects in 'Miombo' woodland or 'Dambo' grassland/mixed woodland, with and without targets. Mammals were also monitored by surveys of their spoor on experimentally cleared plots (5 m in diameter) and a target relocation experiment was conducted when the targets were removed from the test transects and transferred to the controls. Significantly fewer small antelopes (e.g. common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia) were detected in plots along transects with targets (tests) than along control transects. The presence of targets affected the frequency of occurrence of antelopes, suids and large herbivores in the experimental plots, but small carnivores, monkeys, rodents and hares were unaffected. A conclusion of the relocation experiment was that the deltamethrin-impregnated cloth was responsible for the observed effects and not the acetone. A total number of 23 species of birds meeting a criterion for their abundance in the areas surveyed were selected for detailed analyses. Lower indices in the test areas than in the controls were recorded for 15 of these 23 species in the Dambos and for 10 of 21 species in the Miombo woodland. Matched paired comparisons revealed significantly lower numbers in the test areas than in the controls in both habitats only for black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus, but for Grey Lourie Corythaixoides concolor, little bee-eater Merops pusillus, fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis and combined data on three species of sunbirds in the Dambos. The black-eyed bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus had significantly lower numbers in the tests than in the controls in Miombo woodland. The numbers of three species of dove were higher in the tests than in the controls in both habitats, significantly so for the Cape turtle dove Streptopelia capicola, and numbers of the Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea were significantly higher in the tests than in the controls in Dambos. The results are discussed in the light of previous studies on environmental effects of tsetse control, including effects of tsetse targets on pollinators especially non-target horseflies.     

Utilization by elephants of the Brachystegia woodlands of the Kasungu National Park, Malawi

Utilization by elephants of the trees of the Brachystegia woodlands of Kasungu National Park, Malawi, was investigated. Of forty-one common species thirtyfive species were eaten, of which thirteen species were selected by elephants. The chemical composition of the leaf material was analysed and a significant correlation was found between the utilization of certain species and the protein and sodium content, whereas the crude fibre content showed no significant correlation but in general appeared to be relatively low in highly favoured species. The pushing over and uprooting of trees by elephants appear to be part of a feeding strategy which improves the availability of food for elephants during the dry season. The number of trees browsed increased with an increasing tree density up to 300 trees ha^-1, where browsing intensity remained constant for both selected and non-selected species. The reasons why the species composition of Brachystegia woodlands is hardly affected by elephant use are briefly discussed.     

Crop raiding around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

In areas around Lake Mburo National Park, large wild animals wander in close proximity to human settlements. This poses serious conflict in terms of crop damage. The integration of conservation with other land uses is difficult where densely settled agricultural land surrounds a protected area potentially containing problem animals, as is the case for several parks in Africa and Asia. The intensity of crop raiding was quantified through the use of random crop quadrants/plots and area estimation techniques in a portion of raided fields. The animal species concerned were documented from observations, footprints and any other marks left behind. Three variables were tested as predictors of damage: human population density, distance from the park boundary and season. In this study, data is presented regarding crop loss in the different seasons of the year, analysis of crop damage variation and animal species involved in crop loss. A diverse assemblage of animals foraged on subsistence crops and analysis of crop damage revealed significant crop depreciation by wildlife.     

祁连山国家公园青海片区蚂蚁物种多样性研究

本研究采用样地调查法研究了祁连山国家公园青海片区的蚂蚁物种多样性.在祁连山国家公园青海片区记录蚂蚁2亚科、6属、13种,发现1个中国新记录种:沃尔切胸蚁Temnthorax volgensis(Ruzsky),发现7个青海新记录种.光亮黑蚁 Formica candida Smith、满凹头蚁 Formica manc...     

安徽韭山国家森林公园蝶类群落多样性

采用定点法和随机调查法对安徽韭山国家森林公园蝶类群落多样性进行调查,共捕获蝶类3783只,隶属于8科59属92种,其中灰蝶科的属数最多,蛱蝶科的物种数最多。而粉蝶科的个体数最多。区系分析结果表明,该地区蝶类呈现由东洋界向古北界过渡的特征。对5种不同生境类型的蝶类多样性进行分析,物种多样性指数最高的为落叶阔叶林和灌丛,均匀度指数最高的为针叶林和落叶阔叶林,优势度最高的为裸岩和农田。裸岩生境与其它各生境之间的相似性系数都较低。     

中国三江源国家公园与韩国智异山国家公园的对比研究

自1967年智异山被认定为韩国首个国家公园以来,韩国以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系建设已历经50余年。这期间韩国在国家公园的建设中积累了大量经验,十分值得我国借鉴。选取我国首个国家公园体制试点——三江源国家公园和韩国首个国家公园——智异山国家公园为研究对象,对二者的管理现状进行了定性分析,并运用基于最优实践的国家公园管理能力评价方法对二者的管理能力进行了定量评价。研究表明:三江源国家公园的管理能力综合得分低于智异山国家公园,在体制建设、保障机制、资源环境管理、社区管理和科普教育五个方面均与智异山国家公园存在一定差距;智异山国家公园在资源本底调查、法制建设、多方参与、环境教育和游憩管理方面的管理能力十分突出,为三江源国家公园管理能力的提升提供了有益借鉴;三江源国家公园在生态补偿和制度约束方面具有比较优势,但在自然资源权属、资源本底调查、社区组织建设和游憩管理方面则亟待提升。在此基础上,针对三江源国家公园建设提出了强化科研支撑、健全多方参与制度、推进全民福利共享三项建议,针对我国国家公园体制建设提出了制定《国家公园法》、设置自然保护地顶层规划两项建议,以期促进三江源国家公园管理能力提升、推动我国国家公园体制建设。     

广西荔浦荔江国家湿地公园植物多样性研究

据调查,广西荔浦荔江国家湿地公园有野生维管植物493种,隶属于132科357属;湿地植物有165种,隶属于54科118属。在科、属水平上对种子植物区系特性进行统计分析,结果表明,热带性质均强于温带性质,属的成分以泛热带分布、旧世界热带分布为主。对湿地植物进行生态型划分和统计,并根据现状提出植物保护建议。     

Local responses to conservation in the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa

Local notions of conservation deserve closer scrutiny. We cannot assume that they naturally coincide with those of the tourist core; nor that they are automatically given higher priority when local populations are induced to participate in practices which conserve flora and fauna. A case study of the establishment of the Richtersveld National Park in Namaqualand, a remote arid region of South Africa, is used to argue that local attitudes to conservation and development (associated with tourism) can become increasingly cynical and ambivalent in the context of ecotourism. Furthermore, such attitudes are shaped less by economic inducements than by the often contradictory messages about conservation that are being communicated daily.     

稀有植物十齿花群落物种多样性研究

运用样方法对贵州省玉舍国家级森林公园稀有保护植物十齿花(Dipentodon sinicus)群落的物种多样性进行了研究,结果表明：玉舍国家级森林公园十齿花群落以蔷薇科、杜鹃花科、壳斗科、桦木科、山茶科、樟科、忍冬科、山茱萸科等为优势科;10个样地中有8个样地以十齿花种群占绝对优势,其平均重要值高达135.69,远远高于其它种群;十齿花群落乔木层物种丰富度为2.847、Simpson指数为0.601、Shannon-Wiener指数为1.523、种间相遇机率为0.601、均匀度指数为0.569,总体上均小于灌木层(分别为:5.580、0.830、2.377、0.829、0.672),表现为较明显的亚热带常绿落叶阔叶混交林的物种多样性特征。10个样地中,Q₁的物种多样性程度最高,Q₃次之,Q₅和Q₆最小,多样性程度最低,10个样地的物种多样性排序为Q₁＞Q₃＞Q₉＞Q₇＞Q₂＞Q₄＞Q₁₀＞Q₈＞Q₅＞Q₆。     

社区为主体的保护: 对三江源国家公园生态管护公益岗位的思考

社区参与是实现生物多样性保护目标的重要途径, 也是我国国家公园建设的重要组成部分。青海省三江源国家公园在前期试点中设置了16621个生态管理公益岗位, 当地牧民因此成为三江源保护的主要力量。本文通过对三江源地区已进行的生态管理公益岗位的调研发现, 由于传统文化和环保宣传的影响, 三江源当地藏族牧民具有较高的保护环境意识和参与保护行动的强烈愿望, 生态公益岗位是对这种愿望的良好回应。但在实践中, 因为需要兼顾提升生态保护成效、提升牧民收入、扶贫等多重目标, 生态管护员的选拔、管理、考核等并未按照最大化保护成效的方式进行。国家公园试点村中, 生态管护员全部由贫困户担任的方式, 实质上是将完成扶贫目标摆在了完成自然保护目标之前。这样的选择方式有着深刻的制度根源。为了进一步提升国家公园内生态公益岗位的保护成效, 我们认为应当明确生态管理公益岗位的定位, 明确提升保护成效是第一位的任务; 应当改进现有体制, 使基层政府有更多资源和空间组织管护工作, 并增加社区的参与程度。在这一过程中, 有民间机构参与的广阔空间。     

Amphibian abundance and diversity in Meru National Park, Kenya

The diversity and abundance of amphibians were investigated in Meru National Park, Kenya, using transect sampling, drift‐fence and pitfall trapping and opportunistic collecting. A total of 430 individuals under seven genera (Amietophrynus, Hemisus, Hyperolius, Phrynobatrachus, Phrynomantis, Ptychadena, Xenopus) comprising eleven species were sampled in three different habitats (apart from this, two additional species are known from Meru National Park): Acacia‐wooded grassland; Combretum‐wooded grassland; Acacia–Commiphora bushland. The sex ratio for almost all species was balanced (chi‐square, χ²; P > 0.5) and was not affected by habitat type (ANOVA: F = 8.3026, P = 0.6914). Shannon–Weaver Index (2.227) and Simpson's Index (8.244) were relatively high, and most of the eleven species sampled appeared to have a relatively even distribution (Shannon's Evenness Index, E = 0.927). However, Hemisus marmoratus and Phrynomantis bifasciatus were exclusively recorded in Acacia‐wooded grassland and in low abundances. There was a positive linear relationship of body weight against snout–vent length for two randomly selected anurans (Hyperolius glandicolor, Phrynobatrachus natalensis) among all three vegetation communities.     

越南蒲马特国家自然保护区植物区系特征

蒲马特国家公园位于越南中部的义安省,国际著名的生物多样性极为丰富的Annamite山系的核心地区。基于植物标本鉴定,在蒲马特国家公园保护区内记录有维管束植物184科,771属,2018种(包括变种和亚种)。该植物区系占整个越南植物区系的21 %,其中的木兰亚纲植物占该植物区系总种数的90 .98 %,总属数的90 .4 %及总科数的83 .7 %。含种数最多的科包括茜草科(37属/129种) ,大戟科(36/99) ,兰科(34/73) ,樟科(11/66) ,桑科(10/54) ,蝶形花科(24/51) ,壳斗科(4/50) ,紫金牛科(5/48)及芸香科(14/45)等。在种子植物地理成分组成上,有11个科的分布区类型及14属分布区类型,其中,热带分布型分别占总科数的85 .6 %和总属数的90 .1 %,并且在其热带分布属中,热带亚洲成分占总属数的31 .4 %。这些特征显示,蒲马特国家公园植物区系是典型热带性质的植物区系,属于热带亚洲植物区系的一部分。     

The ecology of the hippopotamus in Liwonde National Park,Malawi: implications for management

The hippopotamus population in Liwonde National Park, Malawi was studied from December 2002 to June 2003. Motorboat censuses along the River Shire counted 640 animals, but because of the large number of hippos in temporary water sources at the time, the true number is probably closer to 950. Marked shifts in hippo distribution from the Shire into temporary water sources occurred as the wet season advanced. Because of the Shire’s year‐round water supply, the hippo population is not regulated by the availability of aquatic refuges, but by food availability. By following feeding tracks, dry season grazing range was estimated to extend 5 km east and 1 km west of the river. Grazing intensity transects and visual estimates indicated only a small portion of this area is suitable for hippo grazing, leading to over‐grazing in suitable areas. Coupled with low primary productivity levels in Liwonde, this means that dry season food competition between hippos and other herbivores is probably high. Recent proposals to raise the Shire’s dry season water level should be considered very carefully, as this will flood late dry season grazing grounds, thereby intensifying grazing competition and increasing grazing pressure in remaining grazing areas, having potentially serious impacts on the animal community.