Vegetative and reproductive phenological traits of Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. and Sonneratia alba Sm.

Mangrove phenology is important in understanding the past, present and future response of mangrove species to impacts of climate change. Our study is the first long term direct observation of the phenology of Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia alba in Kenya. Objective of the study was to determine, interpret and document the timing of the various phenoevents and phenophases, and to establish relationships between phenology and the climatic variables. Phenological traits were investigated in six monospecific mangrove stands in Gazi Bay, south of Mombasa, for 2 years. Leaf emergence, leaf fall, flower bud, flower and fruit initiation data were recorded every fortnight in 54 shoots of 9 trees at each site. Continuous leaf emergence and loss characterized by multimodal peaks was observed for the two species. Leaf emergence and leaf fall peaked in the wet months and was reduced in the dry months. There was a relationship between the leaf emergence and drop with the reproductive phenology in the two species. Mean leaf longevity for R. mucronata and S. alba was 12.8 ± 1.2 and 4.9 ± 0.5 months respectively. The reproductive cycle took approximately 16–20 months in R. mucronata and 4–5 months in S. alba. Bud initiation in R. mucronata was seasonal and occurred in October and September. Buds were observed for 8–11 months developing slowly on the shoots. Shifts were observed in the timing of flower initiation, and the flowering period lasted in total for 4–5 months. The time period from flower appearance to the developmental start of immature propagules lasted about 1 month at reforested sites and up to 5 months in stands of natural vegetation. In R. mucronata initiation of immature propagules was not seasonal and varied among the sites. Fruiting in S. alba was short and seasonal without overlap, and shifts were observed in the timing of flowering, flowering and fruiting peaks. Abscission of reproductive parts started in July and in June, respectively, in the years 2005 and 2006. Fruiting was observed starting in August in both years, and fruiting peak was reached in October in 2005 and one month earlier in 2006. In R. mucronata vegetative and reproductive phenophases significantly correlated with climatic variables, whereas in S. alba only leaf emergence and leaf fall correlated with temperature. The flowering plasticity in the reproductive phenology of the two species indicates possible sensitivity to certain climatic and environmental triggers. Our results also indicate that R. mucronata trees have a distinctly higher investment in the reproductive cycle than S. alba.     

Regeneration of Rhizophora mucronata (Lamk.) in degraded mangrove forest: Lessons from point pattern analyses of local tree interactions

Spatial structural patterns emerging from local tree interactions influence growth, mortality and regeneration processes in forest ecosystems, and decoding them enhance the understanding of ecological mechanisms affecting forest regeneration. Point-Patterns analysis was applied for the very first time to mangrove ecology to explore the spatial structure of Rhizophora mucronata regeneration in a disturbed mangrove forest; and the pattern of associations of juvenile–adult trees. R. mucronata trees were mapped in plots of 50 m × 10 m located at the seaward, central and landward edge along 50 m wide transect in the forest, and the mapped patterns were analysed with pair correlation and mark-connection functions. The population density of R. mucronata differed along the tidal gradient with the highest density in the central region, and the least near the shoreline. The study revealed that short distance propagule dispersal, resulting in the establishment of juveniles in closed distance to the mother trees, might not be the driving force for distribution of this species. The spatial structural pattern of R. mucronata population along tidal gradient showed a characteristic spatial aggregation at small scale, but randomly distributed as the distances become larger. There was a distinct spatial segregation between recruits and adult trees, and hence spatially independent. Though, adult–adult trees associations did not show a clear spatial segregation pattern; the recruit–recruit species associations exhibited significant clustering in space. Although habitat heterogeneity might be responsible for the local scale aggregation in this population, the effect of plant–plant conspecific interactions is more probable to inform the long-term structure and dynamics of the population of R. mucronata, and ditto for the entire forest.     

我国中东部不同气候带成熟林凋落物生产和分解及其与环境因子的关系

在大尺度气候梯度上研究森林凋落物生产分解与气候因子的关系,对于了解森林生态系统碳循环有着重要的作用.在寒温带的黑龙江呼中、温带的吉林长白山、暖温带的北京东灵山、北亚热带的湖北神农架、中亚热带的四川都江堰和浙江古田山,选择典型地带性成熟林,设置72个样地.观测和研究各地点森林凋落物的产量、凋落动态和分解速率,分析三者与环境因子之间的关系,结果表明:不同气候带森林生态系统凋落物年产量为亚热带森林＞暖温带森林＞温带森林＞寒温带森林.随纬度的增加,凋落物产量逐渐减少,凋落物产量与森林类型极显著相关,与年均温显著相关,而与年均降水关系不显著.凋落物生产动态表现为亚热带地区3个类型森林生态系统为双峰型,暖温带、温带、寒温带3个类型森林生态系统为单峰型.凋落物分解速率k表现出了与凋落物产量相似的变化趋势,即随着纬度的增加,分解速率k值逐渐降低,分解速率与年均温极显著相关,与年均降水显著相关.     

Observations on the Ecology of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius) in a Thai Mangrove Ecosystem and Their Effect on Herbivory of Rhizophora mucronata Lam.

Ants of the genus Oecophylla are predators of other insects and are able to protect a variety of terrestrial plants against pest insects; however, observations on the ecology of these ants in mangrove forests are lacking. General observations on the ecology of Oecophylla smaragdina were carried out in a Thai mangrove forest to determine if these ants can protect their host plants in less favorable mangrove habitats. Leaf herbivory and the density of O. smaragdina ants were measured on Rhizophora mucronata trees at two sites. The results showed a negative correlation between ant density and herbivory. At both sites, the mean percent damaged leaf area was more than four times higher on trees without ants compared to “ant‐trees.” A significant negative correlation was found between tree mean percent leaf damage and the density of ants on the tree. Furthermore, on trees with ants, there was less herbivory on leaves close to ant nests compared to other leaves on the tree. Most damage was caused by chrysomelid beetles (62%) and sesarmid crabs (25%) and both types of herbivory were significantly reduced on ant‐trees.     

Development and polymorphism of simple sequence repeat DNA markers for Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk

Microsatellite markers of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza were developed. Fifty‐four of 161 clones were found to contain microsatellite repeats. Primer pairs were designed for 20 of these clones according to their sequence data. Of these, seven primers showed polymorphism for 32 individuals from Iriomote Island, Japan. Two to five alleles per locus were detected, and the observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.031 to 0.500. Cross‐species amplification using five of the seven primers also worked well for B. cylindrica and B. parviflora. Because our previous study reported very low levels of genetic diversity for allozymes in the same Iriomote population, these microsatellite markers should be a powerful tool for various kinds of genetic analysis.     

Fate of leaf litter in restored Kandelia obovata (S. L.) mangrove forests with different ages in Jiulong River Estuary,China

Ecological processing of leaf litter plays important roles in carbon dynamics of mangrove forests. Fate of leaf litter, that is, removal by crabs, microbial decomposition, and tidal export was quantified in two restored Kandelia obovata forests with ages of 24 years and 48 years, respectively, from December 2009 to November 2010. Crab abundance was also investigated to test the role of crabs in leaf litter processing. Daily leaf litter production was 1.064 ± 0.108 g C m^?2 day^?1 at the 24‐year forest and was 0.689 ± 0.040 g C m^?2 day^?1 at the 48‐year forest. Annual mean removal of leaf litter by crabs was lower at the 24‐year forest than at the 48‐year forest (0.177 ± 0.046 g C m^?2 day^?1 vs. 0.220 ± 0.050 g C m^?2 day^?1), due to a higher crab abundance at the older forest. Microbial decomposition and change in standing stock of leaf litter on the forest floor made a negligible contribution to the annual leaf litter production. Tidal exports of leaf litter were estimated as 0.875 ± 0.090 g C m^?2 day^?1 and 0.458 ± 0.086 g C m^?2 day^?1 at the 24‐year and 48‐year forests, respectively, accounting for 82.2% and 66.5% of their daily leaf litter production. Turnover rate of leaf litter was higher at the younger forest (1.7 ± 0.4 day^?1) than the older forest (1.2 ± 0.3 day^?1). Removal of leaf litter by crabs was higher in warm months while tidal export of leaf litter showed a much less apparent seasonal pattern. Spatial variations of crab removal and tidal export of leaf litter with forest zones were observed within each forest, while microbial decomposition of leaf litter was comparable among the different zones. These indicated that the ecosystem functions of restored mangrove forest could not reach a level equivalent to those of a mature forest even 24 years after restoration.     

Cloning and Functional Expression of Cycloartenol Synthases from Mangrove Species Rhizophora stylosa Griff. and Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

To obtain cDNAs encoding oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), we cloned two cDNAs, KcCAS and RsCAS, from roots of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce and leaves of Rhizophora stylosa Griff. by homology based PCR method respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of both OSCs showed 82% homology to cycloartenol synthases from Lotus japonicus (OSC5) and Ricinus cummunis (RcCAS), suggesting that these are cycloartenol synthases of K. candel and R. stylosa. The genes obtained were expressed in a lanosterol synthase deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ERG7) strain, GIL77. GC–MS analysis identified the accumulated reaction product in the yeast transformant to be cycloartenol, indicating that both KcCAS and RsCAS encode cycloartenol synthase.     

Ultraviolet reflectance and absorption patterns in flowers of Nymphaea alba L., Nymphaea candida presl and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. (Nymphaeaceae)

Ultraviolet (u.v.) patterns of flowers of Nymphaeaceae as an important colour component for flower-visiting insects have been totally neglected in studies of their floral biology. The three day-flowering species studied show distinct u.v. patterns. Both Nymphaea species show hogh absorption in the centre of the flowers and u.v.-reflective thecae. In Nymphaea alba L. a radial u.v. stripe reflection pattern is visible on the stigmatic disc in u.v. photographs, which is weakly developed in Nymphaea candida Presl flowers. The flowers of Nuphar show the most distinct u.v. reflection pattern in the form of a circle formed by the u.v.-reflective tips and filaments of the stamens, in contrast to the shiny petals and u.v.-absorptive stigmatic disc, thecae and sepals.     

Relative Importance of Environmental Stress and Herbivory in Reducing Litter Fall in a Semiarid Woodland

We examined the impact of soil stress (low water and nutrient availabilities) and two keystone insect herbivores on pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) needle litterfall. We compared trees growing on two distinct soil types: volcanic cinders, which exhibit pronounced water and nutrient limitation, and sandy-loam soils, which have higher water-storage capacity and nutrient availability. Using two long-term herbivore removal experiments (15 and 18 years, respectively), we also examined the effects of the pinyon needle scale (Matsucoccus acalyptus, which attacks juvenile trees) and the stem-boring moth (Dioryctria albovittella, which attacks mature trees) on pinyon litterfall. These herbivores reach high densities on cinder soils but are absent or occur at much lower levels on sandy-loam soils. Four years of litterfall measurements showed four major patterns. First, independent of herbivory, needle litterfall was 20% lower under trees on high-stress cinder soils than on sandy-loam soils. Second, in agreement with the negative impact of scales on tree growth (that is, a 30% decline in stem growth), trees with scale infestations had 25% lower litterfall rates than trees resistant to scale; however, 15 years of scale-insect removal did not significantly increase needle litterfall. This implies possible intrinsic differences in litter production between scale-resistant and scale-susceptible trees. Third, in contrast with significant negative effects of moth herbivory on tree growth (that is, a 27% decline in stem growth), moth herbivory had no effect on needle litterfall. This, along with increased stem density in moth-susceptible trees, may be evidence of compensatory production. Fourth, there were strong year by soil type and year by scale herbivory interactions, such that in some years the effect on litterfall can be obscured or reversed by some other factor. In summary, soil stress has a strong and predictable effect on needle litterfall, whereas the relationship between insect herbivory and needle litterfall is weaker and depends on the individual herbivore. These effects, however, are mediated by other environmental factors that have considerable annual variation.     

Evaluation of a briquet formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (H‐14) against aedes spp. and culex spp. larvae in dambos in Kenya

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. israelensis serotype H‐14 (Bti) in briquet formulation (Bactimos) was tested in a field trial against ground‐pool breeding mosquitoes in a dambo located in a Rift Valley fever virus‐enzootic/epizootic area in central Kenya. Bactimos (10% Bti; 7000 AA International Toxic Units/mg) was tested for 30 days in 3 separate treatment areas at the rate of 1 briquet/9 m2, later increased to 1 briquet/1.5 m2 on day 13 postflood; 1 briquet/9 m2; and 1 briquet(4.6 m2). An estimate of the daily survival rate of larvae at different periods during the study revealed that mosquitoes in the area treated with 1 briquet/9 m2 had a significantly lower (64%) survival rate than those in the control site (92%) against Aedes spp. and was not significantly different from the site treated with 1 briquet/4.6 m². Mosquitoes in the site treated with I briquet/1.5 m² on day 13 postflood had a much‐reduced survival rate (25%;) when compared to those in the control site (67%) during the 3rd Culex spp. generation (22‐ 26 days postflood). This five‐fold increase above standard label dosage still failed to prevent Culex spp. emergence. There was no significant difference in survival rates between the control and any of the three treatment sites during the first or second Culex generation (9–20 days postflood). Emerged adults collected as pupae from control and treatment sites indicated that Aedes mcintoshi Huang and Culex antennatus (Becker) were the most predominant Aedes and Culex species.     

Production,nutrient dynamics and initial decomposition of floating leaves of Nymphaea alba L. and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. (Nymphaeaceae) in alkaline and acid waters

Production, turnover and nutrient dynamics of floating leaves of Nymphaea alba L. and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. were studied in four aquatic systems in The Netherlands, differing strongly in water quality. Production was 108–447 g AFDW.m⁻² for N. lutea and 319–348 g AFDW.m⁻² for N. alba. Turnover ranged from 3.6 to 4.4 without much difference between the sites and the species. During senescence 60–70% of the N and P from the leaves was resorbed by both of the plant species. The nutrient flow from the floating leaves into the detritus food chain differed considerably between the species and sites studied, mainly because of the differences in production. The data suggest that production is strongly influenced by the environment, whereas turnover and nutrient resorption during senescence seem to be plant characteristics. There was little difference in dynamics of the chlorophyll-α concentration in the leaves of the two species, irrespective of the growing site. Floating leaves of both species lost about 70% of their area due to fragmentation in the alkaline waters, whereas in the acid water very little fragmentation was observed.     

Ciliated intestinal protozoa of black (Diceros bicornis michaeli) and white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) in Kenya

The aim of this study was to survey ciliated intestinal protozoa of the black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli ) and white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum ) in Kenyan National Parks. Faecal samples from 28 rhinoceroses that were chemically immobilized for translocation were opportunistically collected. Presence of ciliates was assessed using faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. The ciliates were identified using cellular morphological features. Ophryoscoleciidae, Cycloposthiidae and Blepharocrythiidae were the three ciliate families represented. Ophryoscoleciidae had nine genera, Cycloposthiidae six genera and Blepharocorythiidae 1 genus. The dominant ciliate genus in all the rhinoceroses that were sampled was entodinium . It was found that the nutrient composition of the diet influences the diversity and numbers of intestinal ciliates, which in turn regulates the nutrient available to the animal. This interplay of nutrient composition of diet, ciliate diversity and nutritional benefits to the host has been used as an index to assess the nutritional state of ruminants. Because of the occurrence of rumenal ciliates in the hindgut fermentative chamber of the rhinoceros, such an index can be used to guide the formulation of feed mixtures for rhinoceros in captivity and remote nutritional assessments of rhinoceros both in free-range and in captivity.     

SelectingRhizobium phaseoli strains for use with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Kenya: Infectiveness and tolerance of acidity and aluminium

Forty strains ofRhizobium phaseoli, isolated from Kenyan soils, were tested for infectiveness on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). 28 strains were infective and a cultivar × Rhizobium interaction was observed. 48 strains were screened for tolerance of acidity and Al in liquid culture. Assessment of visible turbidity after 14 days indicated 34 strains tolerant of pH 4.5 but none tolerant of pH 3.5. No strain was tolerant of 50 M Al at pH 5.5. Three strains were tolerant of 20 M Al at pH 5.5 and 10 M Al at pH 4.5. Screening on a solid medium identified strains tolerant of 20 and 50 M Al at pH 5.5 and 4.5 which were sensitive to these treatments in liquid culture. Those strains tolerant to 20 M Al at pH 4.5 and 5.5 in liquid culture were correctly identified on the solid medium.     

Litter accumulation and biomass dynamics in riparian zones in tropical South America of the Asian invasive plant Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae)

ABSTRACT

Background: Promoting changes in abiotic conditions and ecosystem processes, such as decomposition, is a mechanism by which some exotic plant species displace native plants and become invasive.

Aims: We monitored ramets of Hedychium coronarium over 30 months to estimate the litter decay rate, biomass dynamics and litter accumulation over time in riparian sites invaded by the species in southeastern Brazil.

Methods: We measured the number, height, emergence and mortality of ramets in three environments invaded by H. coronarium (natural, rural and urban). We also measured litter decay in situ and in in vitro experiments. We used sinusoidal models to describe height fluctuation and exponential models to simulate litter decay and litter accumulation.

Results: Ramets of H. coronarium showed high seasonal variation in terms of height and emergence, as well as low litter decay. Accordingly, our models predicted high litter production and a seasonal pattern of litter accumulation in invaded sites.

Conclusions: H. coronarium produces a great amount of litter, which shows slow decay and hence seems to affect decomposition processes. Investigating seasonal variation on the effects of invasive species on ecosystem functioning shed light on the factors driving the success and impact of invasive plants.     

SelectingRhizobium phaseoli strains for use with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Kenya: Tolerance of high temperature and antibiotic resistance

Forty one strains ofRhizobium phaseoli were screened for the ability to multiply at high temperatures on yeast extract-mannitol agar. Most strains were tolerant of 30°C, eight strains were tolerant of 45°C and two of 47°C although the rate of multiplication was reduced at 45–47°C. The high temperature-tolerant strains were isolated from Kenyan soils and were fast-growing. Seven of the eight strains tolerant of 45–47°C lost their infectiveness after incubation at high temperature but four strains tolerant of 40°C remained infective after incubation at that temperature.Thirty six strains were resistant to 200 g ml^–1 streptomycin sulphate and 29 strains to 200 g ml^–1 spectinomycin dihydrochloride. Eight strains were resistant to both antibiotics each at 200 g ml^–1. Two of the double-labelled antibiotic-resistant mutants lost their infectiveness onPhaseolus vulgaris. The response to acidity was unaltered and two of the mutants showed a decrease in temperature tolerance. The doublelabelled mutants were recoverable from two Kenyan soils.     

Seasonal changes in hair roots and mycorrhizal colonization in Woollsia pungens (Cav.) F. Muell. (Epacridaceae)

The proportion of the root system comprising hair roots and their ericoid mycorrhizal colonization have been estimated in Woollsia pungens (Cav.) F. Muell. (Epacridaceae) at a site in New South Wales, Australia over a 12 month period. The technique used was a modification of the grid-line intercept method. Hair roots persisted and comprised at least about 50% of the root system all year round. The percentage of root length that was hair root varied with the season, being lowest in April/May (50%) and highest in October (70%). Hair root colonization differed significantly over the 12 month period, being highest over the winter to spring period (June–Oct) but there were infected hair roots present at all times of the year. There was a significant negative relationship between the percentage hair root length infected and log₁₀ transformations of both mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures, but no correlation with rainfall or soil moisture content. These findings contrast with those for south-west Australia where hair roots (and mycorrhizal colonization) are reported to disappear in summer.     

The incidence of red-green colourblindness in the populations of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan in Libya, and of the Kikuyu, Kamba, Taita, Taveta and Luo tribes of Kenya.

The results of surveys of colourblindness carried out using the Ishihara test cards in Libya and Kenya, involving 384 and 504 individuals respectively, are reported. The Libyan samples, drawn from three geographically distinct regions of the country, are relatively homogeneous. The Kenyan samples, on the other hand, are heterogeneous, but in toto they display a markedly lower colourblindness percentage than do the Libyans. The Kenyan data are in broad accord with the other data available for sub-Saharan African populations. There are very few sets of comparative data available for North African populations, but the Libyan material displays a lower incidence of colourblindness than the values reported in European populations.     

Effect of Drought Frequency and Other Reach Characteristics on Invertebrate Communities and Litter Breakdown in the Intermittent Mediterranean River Pula (Sardinia,Italy)

Benthic invertebrate communities were sampled in spring and fall, and breakdown of reed litter was measured in winter, spring, summer and fall, at 23 sites in an intermittent Mediterranean river basin (Pula, Sardinia, Italy), and their variations were related to drought frequency and other reach characteristics (altitude, order, stream channel width and depth, vegetation cover, sediment type, organic content, and water quality). 78% of the sites were affected by drought events, mainly in summer and fall. Benthic taxonomic richness was higher and most taxa were more widely distributed in spring than in fall. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that measured environmental variables accounted for 72% of the variance in invertebrate community structure. Reed decay rates varied among seasons, and during the dry season among stream orders as well. Drought events slowed down breakdown and explained 44% of spatial variability in decay rates (Stepwise multiple regression analysis), an additional 8% being explained by water chemistry. Results suggest that drought events affect ecosystem functioning (litter breakdown) more than structure (invertebrate communities). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Durations of development and production estimates by two crustacean zooplankton species Thermocyclops oblongatus Sars (Copepoda) and Diaphanosoma excisum Sars (Cladocera), in Lake Naivasha,Kenya

Durations of embryonic and post-embryonic development of the two dominant zooplankton crustaceans Thermocyclops oblongatus (Copepoda) and Diaphanosoma excisum in Lake Naivasha were determined at various lake water temperatures to provide the time element for the calculation of their production. Developmental times were temperature dependent in as much as food resource was not limiting. Production estimates were calculated. The turnover times of their biomass was 11.4 and 13.7 days, with production rates of 11.0 and 6.0 µg dw m^-3 d^-1 for T. oblongatus and D. excisum, respectively. Annual production was estimated as 3302 mg m^-3 yr^-1 for T. oblongatus and 2176 mg m^-3 yr^-1 for D. excisum. Production was continuous but with several irregular peaks particularly during the wet seasons when plankton biomass was high.