Dung Beetle Conservation: Effects of Habitat and Resource Selection (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

There is increasing concern about the conservation of dung beetles which are threatened by several peculiar dangers world-wide, both at the population and community level. A noticeable threat in Europe is the dramatic reduction in the number of cattle and sheep grazing in the open, which is associated with both intensive agriculture and the progressive reforestation of previously pastured areas. We studied dung beetle habitat and resource preferences at La Mandria Park (north-west Italy) which is a mosaic of open and wooded patches where domestic (cows and horses) and wild ungulates (deer and wild boar) co-exist. Scarabaeidae were numerically dominant, accounting for 61.5% of the approximately 3000 individuals sampled (Aphodiidae accounted for 32.5% and Geotrupidae for only 6%). However, when species richness was considered, Aphodiidae were dominant, with 17 of the 27 species found (Scarabaeidae with eight and Geotrupidae with two). Assuming a null hypothesis of equal probability of colonizing any habitat or faeces, we found that most species were significantly associated with one of the four dung types or with one of the two habitats considered. On average, Scarabaeidae preferred cattle dung and open habitats whereas most Aphodiidae used deer lumps and wooded habitats. In spite of the precise ecological choices observed at La Mandria, surveys from other European areas suggest that both habitat and food selection are quite flexible. From a conservation viewpoint, the ability of coprophagous beetles to choose herbivore faeces according to their availability and to select habitats that satisfy their own microclimate requirements may certainly be useful in preserving biodiversity. Agroecology, which implies some woodland and hedgerow management practices associated with pastoralism, could be the right approach to the management of the agricultural landscape. Conversely, in reforested areas, while wild ungulate populations should be preserved, some form of human disturbance, particularly clearings used for pastoralism, should also be maintained.     

生态系统受威胁等级的评估标准和方法

生态系统受威胁等级评估是认识生物多样性丧失的重要手段.在2008年的第四次世界自然保护大会上,国际自然保护联盟(IUCN)成立专门工作组,着手建立类似于物种灭绝风险的定量评估方法,对生态系统受威胁等级进行评估.最终的目标是在局地、区域和全球尺度上确定生态系统的受威胁等级,建立生态系统红色名录.在制定生物多样性保护策略时,生态系统红色名录与物种红色名录可作为互补.目前,生态系统受威胁等级评估方案的评估依据包括4类:生态系统分布或生态系统功能短期衰退;生态系统分布或生态系统功能长期衰退;生态系统当前的分布狭窄、同时生态系统分布或生态系统功能衰退;生态系统当前的分布极狭窄.应用Rodríguez等(2011)建立的评估标准,基于文献记载的中国辽河三角洲4个生态系统1988年和2006年的面积,我们详细介绍了生态系统受威胁等级的评估过程.目前的评估方法面临挑战,生态系统分布范围和占有面积的估计应基于合理的空间尺度,同时还需建立合理的方法定量描述生态系统功能的变化.生态系统受威胁等级评估方案将提交2012年召开的世界自然保护大会讨论.     

中国野驴的现状、分布区的历史变迁原因探讨

中国的蒙古野驴（Equus hemionus）和西藏野驴（E. kiang）,其分布区在动物地理区划上同属古北界,但蒙古野驴分布在蒙新区,西藏野驴在青藏区,两区的自然地理特点差异显著。蒙古野驴分布区面积约为 14×10⁴ km²（40°20´～46°40´N、85°40´～107°30´E）,海拔高程介于 700～1500 m,初步估算数量不超过2000头;西藏野驴分布区面积约为97×10⁴ km²（27°48´～39°27´N、78°40´～103°00´E）,海拔高程介于 3000～5500 m,初步估算有近 90 000头。地质时代野驴分布较广泛,历史时期分布区不断变迁和退缩,本文对其原因亦作了初步探讨。     

陕西羽叶报春的人工栽培技术

陕西羽叶报春是百年绝迹、曾被植物界视为已经灭绝或可能灭绝的植物,开展人工栽培研究,对于保护这一极危物种,实现园林开发都具有重要意义。介绍了陕西羽叶报春人工栽培方法,供参考。     

The analysis of plant-herbivore interactions between ungulates and vegetation on alpine grasslands in the Himalayan region of Nepal

During FAO Project NEP/85/011 a methodology was developed for His Majesties Government Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (HMG DNPWC) to determine the impact of lifestock and wild ungulates on condition and physiognomy of alpine grasslands and to derive parametrical relationships between livestock/wildlife distribution and grassland condition.Between Nov. 1986 and March 1988 eight surveys, lasting from 2–9 weeks were undertaken in various regions of central and eastern Nepal. The comparison of three climatically similar areas (Hinku-Hongu, Sagarmatha, Langtang) showed significant differences in the condition (e.g. grass cover, grass height, bare topsoil, biomass) and physiognomy (vegetation composition) of alpine grasslands. These differences seemed to be not so much a function of ungulate density, but were mainly determined by grazing duration, i.e. winter grazing as well as topographical features.Overgrazed areas with a decrease of graminees and an increase of unpalatable shrubs (e.g. Rhododendron anthopogon, Berberis sp.) and herbs (Euphorbia wallichii and E. longifolia, Iris sp.) were particularly abundant in the vicinity of villages. Productivity of grasslands seemed to be highest at altitudes between 3400 and 4000 m ab. S.L. Here grass species showed highest coverage, shrubs and herbs only moderate values. Habitat utilisation of lifestock (cattle, water buffalo, yak, hybrids, goats and sheep) as well as of wild ungulates, such as thar (Hemitragus jemlahicus), bharal (Pseudois nayaur), goral (Nemorhaedus goral goral) and serau (Capricornis sumatraensis tahr) were compared. Productivity (biomass and grass coverage) of grasslands could be correlated with thar density.Differences of utilisation patterns between wild ungulates e.g. bharal and thar, but also between livestock and thar suggested, that some form of competitive exclusion is operating. With the increase of wild ungulates in Sagarmatha N.P., due to protection, conflicts with livestock grazing were evident.In tourist areas, changes in the structure of lifestock populations-mainly as a response to tourism-, have lead to decreasing utilisation of high alpine pastures (>4000 m a S.L.). This pattern also reflects human emigration rates of up to 12% annually. Whereas this does not necessarily benefit the upper regions, it does increase grazing problems in lower regions, in particular the grazing of forests.Two examples of stepwise multiple regression analysis are given to detect parametrical relationships between different numbers and combinations of independent variables. Biomass as well as lifestock numbers could be predicted accurately (r=0.70 (0.84), 0.001相似文献   

Habitat use and movements of plains zebra (Equus burchelli) in response to predation danger from lions

Prey species must adapt their behavior to avoid predation. Asa key prey item for lions (Panthera leo), plains zebras (Equusburchelli) were expected to respond to immediate threats posedby lions in their area. In addition, zebras were predicted toexhibit behavior tuned to reduce the potential for encounterswith lions, by modifying their movement patterns in the timesof day and habitats of greatest lion danger. We studied a populationof approximately 600 plains zebra living in Ol Pejeta Conservancy,Kenya. We found that zebra abundance on or near a grasslandpatch was lower if lions had also been observed on that patchduring the same day. Predation danger was highest in grasslandhabitat during the night, when lions were more active. Zebrasightings and global positioning system radio collar data indicatedthat zebras also reduced their use of grassland at night, insteadusing more woodland habitat. Zebras moved faster and took sharperturns in grassland at night. It is hypothesized that these moreerratic movements assist zebras in avoiding detection or captureby lions.     

Ancient DNA from Nubian and Somali wild ass provides insights into donkey ancestry and domestication

Genetic data from extant donkeys (Equus asinus) have revealed two distinct mitochondrial DNA haplogroups, suggestive of two separate domestication events in northeast Africa about 5000 years ago. Without distinct phylogeographic structure in domestic donkey haplogroups and with little information on the genetic makeup of the ancestral African wild ass, however, it has been difficult to identify wild ancestors and geographical origins for the domestic mitochondrial clades. Our analysis of ancient archaeological and historic museum samples provides the first genetic information on the historic Nubian wild ass (Equus africanus africanus), Somali wild ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) and ancient donkey. The results demonstrate that the Nubian wild ass was an ancestor of the first donkey haplogroup. In contrast, the Somali wild ass has considerable mitochondrial divergence from the Nubian wild ass and domestic donkeys. These findings resolve the long-standing issue of the role of the Nubian wild ass in the domestication of the donkey, but raise new questions regarding the second ancestor for the donkey. Our results illustrate the complexity of animal domestication, and have conservation implications for critically endangered Nubian and Somali wild ass.     

Vegetation, ungulate and grasshopper interactions inside vs. outside an African savanna game park

The human impact on the African savanna is parcelling large native mammals into game reserves, with cattle and other livestock replacing these native mammals in the matrix surrounding these reserves. Concordant with this are other landscape changes such as fire maintenance within the reserve but no longer outside. How does this composite landscape change affect biodiversity, as represented by small animals such as grasshoppers? This question was addressed against the premise that grasshoppers have evolved in the context of native mammal ecology. One of the most significant aspects of this ecology is grazing and trampling by the large number of ungulates congregating at waterholes. The results clearly show that the grasshopper fauna is only marginally impoverished outside the reserve, and that cattle trampling and grazing (along with less fire) is a simulation of these impacts by native ungulates. As greatest grasshopper diversity is encouraged by some trampling and grazing, the presence of cattle in place of native mammals is not entirely adverse to biodiversity, as represented by grasshoppers.