松材线虫侵袭引发的植被演替对鸟类群落的影响

松材线虫(Bursaphelenchusxylophilus)是引起严重森林病害的外来物种,可能导致森林生态系统急剧退化。为了探讨在松材线虫侵袭所引起的森林演替过程中植被结构变化对鸟类群落的影响,我们研究了这些常绿阔叶演替林中的鸟类群落结构。2004年5–6月,我们在浙江省宁波市选择了分别处于3个不同演替阶段的7个样地:包括象山县被松材线虫侵袭5年后的常绿阔叶灌丛和侵袭12年后的常绿阔叶林样地各3个,同时在天童国家级森林公园选择了约40龄的常绿阔叶林样地1个。结果显示,在常绿阔叶灌丛和松材线虫侵袭12年后的常绿阔叶林中,鸟类物种多样性和丰富度均显著高于约40龄常绿阔叶林;3类栖息地的鸟类多度、均匀度均无显著差异;在侵袭12年后的常绿阔叶林中鸟类群落最丰富。多元回归分析结果显示,立地年龄是影响鸟类群落组成的主要因素。     

Short-term Effects of Harvest Technique and Mechanical Site Preparation on Arthropod Communities in Jack Pine Plantations

Arthropods play a key role in the functioning of forest ecosystems and contribute to biological diversity. However, the influence of current silvicultural practices on arthropod communities is little known in jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests, a forest type comprising a major portion of the Canadian boreal forest. In this study, the effects of silvicultural treatments on arthropod communities were compared to identify those treatments that minimize ecological impacts on arthropods. The influence of harvesting techniques and mechanical site preparations on insect family richness and abundance of arthropods (total, by orders and by trophic groups) was examined in young (three-year-old) jack pine plantations of northern Ontario. Each of the following treatments were conducted in three plots: (1) tree length harvest and trenching; (2) full tree harvest and trenching; (3) full tree harvest and blading; and (4) full tree harvest and no site preparation. Arthropods were collected using sweepnets and pitfall traps over two years. Blading significantly reduced insect family richness, the total abundance of arthropods, abundance of Orthoptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, insect larvae, and plant feeders when compared to the other treatments. The use of either full tree or tree length harvesting had similar short-term effects on family richness and the abundance of arthropods. Arthropod diversity declined with increasing post-harvest site disturbance. These results suggest that arthropod communities in the understory and on the ground are reduced most on sites mechanically prepared by blading, but are similar under conditions immediately following either full tree or tree length harvesting. The implications for regenerating jack pine in the boreal forest are discussed.     

BREEDING OF THE INDIAN WHITEBACKED VULTURE AT JODHPUR

Vulture populations have declined globally as well as regionally within Africa. Little is known about the status of the African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus in Kenya, but ongoing studies indicate that its population has declined over the last two decades. A total of 32 African White-backed Vulture nests were monitored in the Masai Mara National Reserve over a five-year period between 2003 and 2007. Mean nesting success was 59%, which is comparable to that of populations from southern Africa. Nearest neighbour distances were significantly closer in wooded habitats (‘trees and shrubs savanna’) than in more open grassland habitats (‘open low shrubs’). Based on nearest neighbour distances, the estimated total breeding population within the Masai Mara National Reserve is 1 106 pairs, a figure that may be an overestimate and requires ground-truthing. Collecting baseline data on numbers of breeding pairs and regular nest monitoring are essential in order to assess the impact of various threats to vultures in Kenya, which include growing threats (elephant-mediated habitat disturbance and fire) as well as emerging threats (such as poisoning with the carbamate-based pesticide Furadan?).     

湿地公园鸟类栖息地营建研究——以北京琉璃河湿地公园为例

北京地区处于全球候鸟东亚-澳大利西亚的迁徙路线上,是候鸟重要的迁徙路线,近些年,随着人为活动的影响,该区生境破碎化问题愈发突出,直接威胁着本地鸟种和过境迁徙鸟类的生存。为达到保护鸟类多样性的目的,需开展相应的栖息地恢复工作。不同生态类群的鸟类对栖息地有着不同的要求,相同鸟种在不同空间、季节和生活期对栖息地的选择也有着不同的特点。因而,鸟类栖息地恢复应针对目标鸟种根据其繁殖特点、巢位空间分布、食性特点、活动空间特点等进行规划营造。以北京房山琉璃河湿地公园为例,针对项目所在区域的鸟类分布特征,确定目标恢复鸟种,结合项目区现场条件,围绕目标鸟种对于栖息地水系、植被等方面的需求,从岸线重塑、水深设计、植物配置、生态鸟岛等方面规划设计鸟类栖息地修复措施。     

Revegetation to combat tree decline in the Midlands and Derwent Valley Lowlands of Tasmania: Practices for improved plant establishment

Summary The results of site assessment and information survey of 13 plantings established between 1995 and 2000 from the Tasmanian Midlands and Derwent Valley Lowlands are presented. Establishment success of tubestock plantings ranged from 2 to 100% and that of direct seeding from 860 to 20 000 seedlings/ha. Successful establishment of tubestock and direct seeding was associated with first year watering and good rains, respectively. Browsing damage was evident in direct seeded plots with eucalypts most affected and acacias and She-oak ( Allocasuarina verticillata ) least affected. Treeguards appeared to prevent browsing of tubestock, but those poorly constructed by inexperienced planters tended to collapse and smother seedlings. Larger seedlings appeared to exhibit better survival and growth than smaller seedlings under conditions of drought. While only two sites were mounded, mounding appeared superior over ripping as a site preparation technique, particularly where ripping on heavy, black cracking clays induces cracking, drying of the soil profile and seedling mortality when planted too close to rip lines. Recommendations are listed for best practice establishment techniques based on the site assessment and survey results. Of the recommendations, the requirement for postplanting weed control and the benefits of detailed records of plantings are emphasized. Most plantings surveyed would have benefited from postplanting weed control and it is suggested that this has been a major deficiency in previous revegetation programs. Furthermore, there has been little accountability of the success of projects undertaken. Improved record keeping would benefit landholders and particularly extension officers and researchers in the industry.     

Is the keystone role of figs maintained across a gradient of increasing human disturbance?

Fig trees provide important resources to tropical animals, but is their keystone role affected by human disturbance? In Sri Lanka, we found that more bird species were found in close association with fruiting figs in urban areas, suggesting their role is accentuated there, and justifying their planting.     

四川嘛咪泽自然保护区不同生境类型鸟类多样性调查

2006年4~5月采用样点法对四川嘛咪泽自然保护区的鸟类组成和种群数量进行了调查,共记录到鸟类7目23科105种,数量1948只,其中国家重点保护鸟类6种,我国特有鸟类7种。鸟类区系以东洋界成分为主。对不同生境鸟类多样性的分析结果表明:1)人工林和灌丛草地生境间的鸟类群落相似性指数最高,灌丛草地和原始林之间鸟类群落相似性最低;2)次生林鸟类多样性指数最高,灌丛草地最低;3)原始林内国家级保护鸟类最多,特有种仅次于次生林;4)林中鸟类垂直分布中间层密度最大。