The role of microhabitat preference and social organization in determining the spatial distribution of a coral reef fish

Both habitat preferences and social organization can influence the spatial distributions of individuals. We explored effects of individual behavior and social organization on distributions of arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) in lagoons of French Polynesia. Analysis of habitat selectivity data obtained during surveys revealed that the most highly preferred microhabitat of arc-eye hawkfish was large Pocillopora coral with an open branching morphology. However, such corals were rare and most hawkfish occupied smaller, less preferred Pocillopora. Indeed, total abundance of Pocillopora explained nearly two thirds of the lagoon-wide variation in abundance of hawkfish and the derived relationship between the numbers of hawkfish and Pocillopora predicted 86% of the spatial variation in hawkfish abundance during subsequent surveys. In contrast, large, open-branched Pocillopora explained little of the spatial variation in abundance of hawkfish. Individual behavior and social organization significantly impacted use of the most highly preferred Pocillopora. During a colonization experiment set up outside hawkfish home ranges, all colonizers resided on the most highly preferred corals. Following addition of the most highly preferred Pocillopora corals to areas occupied by hawkfish, only the largest, socially dominant individuals obtained access to added corals, spending significantly more time and increasing both aggressive acts and prey attacks from these substrates. These results illustrate the importance of understanding the modulating effects of social behavior on habitat use and explain why most hawkfish individuals do not occupy their most preferred microhabitat type.     

Development of an index of abundance for pygmy rabbit populations

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a cryptic, burrowing lagomorph of conservation concern for which an efficient method to monitor populations is needed for conservation planning. We developed an index of abundance based on density of active burrow systems at 7 sites (57.2–118.5 ha) in east central Idaho. We conducted censuses of burrow systems and used mark-resight surveys of 80 radio-collared individuals to estimate density of rabbits. At 5 sites, we also used a second method to estimate rabbit numbers based on presence of tracks in snow around burrow systems. We evaluated patterns of burrow use by individuals and examined the relationship between vegetation structure and density of rabbits. Density of active burrow systems varied from 0.19 to 3.46 per ha, and density of rabbits ranged from 0.02 to 0.46 per ha. Number of burrow systems used by individuals increased with density of available burrows, which supported a nonlinear relationship between abundance of burrows and rabbits. Population density increased curvilinearly with density of active burrows accounting for >75% of the variation (r² = 0.79) in population estimates across sites. We documented a positive relationship between visual obstruction of vegetation and density of rabbits across 6 of the study sites. Our results suggest that density of burrows can serve as an index for monitoring changes in abundance of pygmy rabbits in east central Idaho and that this index also might be useful for monitoring changes in relative abundance over time at other locations. To assess abundance at larger spatial scales or across different regions, the index should be calibrated under regional conditions and site-level covariates should be evaluated. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

香港鹅耳枥(桦木科)的群落特征

为保护香港特有植物香港鹅耳枥,基于典型样地调查,对香港鹅耳枥所在群落进行了研究。结果表明,在225 m2的样地内,有维管植物37科66属68种。建群种为香港鹅耳枥,个体高度最高3 m,所在群落植株平均高度0.92 m,分层不明显。位于中国香港岛的香港鹅耳枥处于衰退状态,小个体极少。因此,建议采取就地保护和迁地保护措施,以重建种群。     

High prevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pestis</Emphasis> in black-tailed prairie dog colonies during an apparent enzootic phase of sylvatic plague

Sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis) was introduced into North America over 100 years ago. The disease causes high mortality and extirpations in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), which is of conservation concern because prairie dogs provide habitat for the critically endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Our goal was to help elucidate the mechanism Y. pestis uses to persist in prairie ecosystems during enzootic and epizootic phases. We used a nested PCR protocol to assay for plague genomes in fleas collected from prairie dog burrows potentially exposed to plague in 1999 and 2000. No active plague epizootic was apparent in the 55 prairie dog colonies sampled in 2002 and 2003. However, 63% of the colonies contained plague-positive burrows in 2002, and 57% contained plague-positive burrows in 2003. Within plague-positive colonies, 23% of sampled burrows contained plague-positive fleas in 2002, and 26% contained plague-positive fleas in 2003. Of 15 intensively sampled colonies, there was no relationship between change in colony area and percentage of plague-positive burrows over the two years of the study. Some seasonality in plague prevalence was apparent because the highest percentages of plague-positive colonies were recorded in May and June. The surprisingly high prevalence of plague on study area colonies without any obvious epizootic suggested that the pathogen existed in an enzootic state in black-tailed prairie dogs. These findings have important implications for the management of prairie dogs and other species that are purported to be enzootic reservoir species.     

珍稀濒危树种陆均松天然种群结构与空间分布格局

为研究陆均松(Dacrydium pectinatum)种群生存现状及分布格局,对BWL、DLS、JFL三种不同分布区域的陆均松天然种群进行了调查,分析了其天然群落乔木层物种多样性及优势种组成、龄级结构及分布格局三个方面的空间异质性,结果表明:(1)三种陆均松天然群落乔木层物种丰富度及多样性指数均较高,基本表现为BWLJFLDLS,且远高于中高纬度温带及亚热带森林群落;群落内多为小密度种群,少有占绝对优势地位的树种,符合热带山地雨林物种组成的一般规律。(2)龄级结构有所差异,BWL和JFL种群呈衰退趋势,共同特点是幼年树数量较少,成年和老年树比例较高;DLS种群幼年树数量在所有个体中比例最高,属于增长型种群。(3)BWL和DLS种群整体呈聚集分布,幼年至老年阶段由聚集分布转变为均匀分布,JFL种群整体及不同发育阶段均呈均匀分布状态;聚集强度表现为DLSBWLJFL,幼年树成年树老年树。陆均松是热带山地雨林的关键种和建群种,对研究海南热带雨林的起源及其区系特征具有重要意义,针对其生存现状,可根据实际情况,利用人工辅助措施如开辟林窗、合理疏伐等方式进行保护及更新复壮。     

Identification of the sibling species of the Drosophila willistoni subgroup through the electrophoretical mobility of acid phosphatase-1

The Drosophila willistoni group consists of 23 species of which six are sibling species and belong to the D. willistoni subgroup: D. willistoni, Drosophila equinoxialis, Drosophila tropicalis, Drosophila insularis, Drosophila pavlovskiana and Drosophila paulistorum. These sibling species are abundant in the Neotropical region and can hardly be differentiated by the usual taxonomic traits. Four of them (D. willistoni, D. equinoxialis, D. tropicalis and D. paulistorum) cover extensive geographic distribution areas overlapping in places while two of them are endemic (D. insularis and D. pavlovskiana). In this study, we presented a method for the identification of five sibling species of the D. willistoni subgroup based on the allozyme variation of acid phosphatase‐1 (Acph‐1) in acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Our work showed that Acph‐1 allozyme differences can be used for species‐diagnostic characterization. This method was shown to be a more efficient tool for species identification than others because it is both quicker and produces reliable results.     

The effects of spatial habitat structure on population variability of freshwater snails

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of a habitat's spatial structure on population variability in two species of freshwater snails (Physa acuta and Austropeplea ollula). To alter the spatial structure of the habitat, vinyl chloride plates were hung in experimental tanks, providing three types of spatial structure: Complex structure, Simple structure and Control (no structure). In Experiment 1, the average number of individuals in a tank did not differ among the three types of structure 2 months after the introduction of the snails, but the variability of the number of individuals in the Complex structure tanks was lowest, whereas the variability in the Control tanks was highest. In Experiment 2, in addition to the spatial structure of the habitat, three types of species interaction were designed as experimental treatments: only P. acuta was introduced into the tanks (P. acuta tanks), only A. ollula was introduced into the tanks (A. ollulatanks) and both P. acuta and A. ollula were introduced into the tanks (two-species tanks). For the P. acuta tanks, the variability of the number of P. acuta individuals in the Complex structure tanks was lowest, and the variability in the Control tanks was highest when the effect of the number of individuals in a tank was subtracted. For the A. ollula tanks and the two-species tanks, there were no significant differences in the variability of the population size among the different treatments of spatial structure. The spatial distribution of P. acuta was more uniform than the distribution of A. ollula on the plates of complex structure. Our results indicate that the spatial structure of the habitat influences the variability of population size (the variance of the number of individuals in different populations during the earlier period after the introduction of the snails), but the effects depend on the spatial behavior of individuals and the interaction with other species.     

Structure in a desert rodent community: use of space around Dipodomys spectabilis mounds

Summary In an earlier paper (Bowers et al. 1987) we reported patterns of microhabitat use by desert rodents among 0.25-ha plots where seeds were added or certain rodent species removed. We used the results to make inferences about the spatial organization of the whole rodent community. Here we change our focus to test for spatial usage patterns at a smaller (within-plot) scale. Specifically, we examine to what extent spatial use varies with proximity to mounded burrows of the large kangaroo rat, Dipodomys spectabilis. Capture frequency of five of nine rodent species was correlated with distance from D. spectabilis mounds, while six species showed correlations with vegetative cover that also increased with distance from mounds. In general, sites nearer mounds were underutilized, and sites further away overutilized by the rodent community as a whole. Logistic regression analyses showed for six species that vegetative cover and particularly, distance to nearest mound accounted for more of the variation in whether a station captured a species than did plot-to-plot (i.e., treatment) effects. Similar analyses using two plots where D. spectabilis was removed (where vacant mounds persited for years) suggested that the selection of microhabitats with contrasting vegetation structure was more pronounced in the absence than in the presence of D. spectabilis, and that in most cases distance from mounds was important only if mounds were occupied. Spatial structure in this community appears to revolve around the occupation of space by dominant individuals that partially modify/obscure large scale patterns involving the selection of particular structural microhabitats.     

贵南沙蜥洞穴空间分布与昆虫资源分布特征的关系

贵南沙蜥分布在青海省贵南县的一片长×宽约为30 km×20 km的连续沙丘,该沙丘被周缘草地隔离,贵南沙蜥主要在沙地与草地接触带的沙地一侧活动。采用3条样线共150个陷阱研究贵南沙蜥在草地与沙地交界线两侧的活动洞穴空间分布特征与潜在的可利用性昆虫食物资源多样性,并分析洞穴空间分布特征与昆虫种类以及数量分布的关系。研究共捕获1236个昆虫个体,隶属于2纲10目26科42种,其中昆虫纲有7目21科37种978个,蛛形纲有3目5科5种258个;草地采集的昆虫有2纲9目22科37种570个,沙地有2纲9目21科33种666个。草地昆虫的Shannon-Wiener,Simpson多样性指数与均匀度指数均大于沙地,表明草地的昆虫食物资源较丰富且分布均匀。研究表明贵南沙蜥在沙地环境活动洞穴数量较多,且离交界线越近洞穴分布数量越多;草地生境活动洞穴空间分布与离交界线距离无相关性,相对沙地数量较少且空间上分布较均匀。草地样方捕获的昆虫种类和数量以及沙地样方捕获的昆虫数量都与离分界线的距离无关,但沙地上昆虫种类与离分界线的距离呈高度负相关。研究表明贵南沙蜥沙地活动洞穴空间分布与昆虫种类分布特征显著相关。     

红脂大小蠹种群空间格局地统计学分析及抽样技术

红脂大小蠹是我国一重要林业外来入侵害虫,主要危害油松、白皮松和华山松,目前已扩散到山西、陕西、河北、河南、北京等地。为了研究其种群空间格局,用地统计学方法分析了受害程度不同的油松纯林和混交林林分内红脂大小蠹种群空间分布特性。结果表明:两种受害程度不同的油松纯林内红脂大小蠹的危害具有显著差异,轻度受害林分内有虫株率为4.9%,而重度受害林分则达到23.6%。全方向的变异函数曲线图分析得知:轻度受害纯林、重度受害纯林、混交林林分内红脂大小蠹种群的空间依赖范围分别为49.400、47.400\,73.820m,而局部空间连续性强度分别为0.824、0.582\,0.762。轻度受害纯林与重度受害纯林林分内红脂大小蠹种群均表现为较强的空间聚集性,而混交林受害林分内其种群则表现为随机分布。受害程度不同的纯林林分内红脂大小蠹种群空间格局具有一定的差异,而且纯林与混交林林分内其种群空间格局也有较大的差别。本文根据红脂大小蠹种群空间分布特性,对其种群空间抽样技术与传统抽样技术做了相应的比较与探讨。     

Electrophoretic variation of the apogamousDryopteris varia group (Dryopteridaceae)

A total of 35 electrophoretic variants were detected in four apogamous species of theDryopteris varia group: 14 variants inD. bissetiana triploids, 7 inD. sacrosancta triploids, 6 inD. varia triploids, 3 inD. pacifica triploids, and 5 in apogamous diploids. The variants differed from each other in various combinations of a few alleles which were common in some of the variants, suggesting recurrent origin.Dryopteris insularis var.insularis (2x) and var.chichisimensis (3x), other members of the group, were electrophoretically monomorphic, suggesting single origin. Banding patterns infer that triploids ofD. bissetiana andD. sacrosancta may have originated from hybrids whose parent is the sexualD. saxifraga, whereas this species was not involved in the origin of the other apogamous triploids and the apogamous diploids. The other parent was also discussed and we proposed a hypothesis that diploid offsprings fromD. pacifica triploids hybridized withD. saxifraga giving rise to triploids ofD. bissetiana andD. sacrosancta.     

Natural regeneration of forest related to the spatial structure of trees: A study of two forest communities in Western Carpathians,southern Poland

The existence of a relationship between the spatial pattern of trees and the distribution of young individuals beneath the canopy has been tested in the beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) — fir (Abies alba) forests in the mountainous region, using two different methods. The first method was the analysis of spatial pattern of individuals, the second one was based on calculating sums of influences of all trees occurring within analysed plot on a given point on the forest floor. Results of spatial pattern analyses were surprisingly consistent: almost all mature trees and seedlings didplayed a random pattern of spatial arrangement. However, there is a clear, although statistically insignificant tendency towards uniformity of spatial pattern with increasing sizes of analysed trees. Results of comparing sums of influences on regularly distributed points with sums of influences on seedlings or saplings revealed no tendency in forest regeneration to concentrate in places, where the sums were smaller than the average for a plot. This, coupled with the dominance of random spatial pattern of trees, suggests, that viewed on a small spatial scale, influence of competition among forest trees on their spatial arrangement is obscured by other factors, which are not closely related to the distribution of individuals.     

Model of burrow selection predicts pattern of burrow switching by Leach's Storm‐Petrels

Patterns of nest site selection exhibited at the scale of a population should result from initial preferences of individuals occupying nest sites as well as preferences exhibited by individuals moving between nest sites. We tested whether nest‐site preferences measured at the population scale were predictive of patterns of burrow switching by Leach's Storm‐Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), a long‐lived seabird that nests in underground burrows. Breeding pairs generally choose from the pool of available existing burrows rather than constructing new burrows, and a portion of the burrows in a colony remains unused in any breeding season. We quantified burrow preference at a colony on Kent Island, New Brunswick, over four breeding seasons. We used a classification and regression tree analysis to build a predictive model of nest‐site selection. Preferentially occupied burrows were drier, longer, had larger nest chambers, and were in areas of higher burrow density. To measure preferences during burrow switching, we tracked individuals that switched burrows, comparing characteristics of the burrows in which these birds were originally found to those they inhabited at the end of the study period. Characteristics preferred by switching individuals were a subset of those observed at the scale of the population; individuals moved to burrows that were drier, longer, and had larger nest chambers. Our results show how preferences of individuals that move between nest sites contribute to nest site preferences exhibited at the population scales commonly tested.     

南京老山秤锤树空间分布格局及种间关联性

以南京老山1 hm 2样地秤锤树(Sinojackia xylocarpa)天然种群为研究对象,运用成对g(r)函数,选择完全随机模型、异质泊松模型与先决条件零模型,分析秤锤树种群结构和空间分布格局及其空间关联性,从空间格局角度来深入认识其种群结构和分布格局及形成该格局可能存在的机制并提出保护建议。结果表明:(1)秤锤树天然种群中小径个体数量占优,属于增长型种群。(2)种内空间分布研究中,基于完全随机模型分析,秤锤树种群在尺度0~26 m时为聚集分布,尺度29~30 m时为均匀分布;基于异质泊松模型分析,秤锤树种群在0~23 m时为聚集分布,尺度27~30 m时为均匀分布。秤锤树空间分布表现为由聚集分布向均匀分布变化。(3)主要种间关联性研究中,秤锤树与朴树(Celtis sinensis)的种间关联性表现为小尺度下负关联,随着空间尺度的增加变为正关联。秤锤树与黄连木(Pistacia chinensis)和秤锤树与三角槭(Acer buergerianum)的种间关联性大致相同,基本为大尺度下正关联,偶尔出现负关联和无关联。上述结果表明,秤锤树种群更新状况良好,种群空间分布以聚集分布为主,其主要受种间竞争、扩散限制与密度制约的影响。基于种群现状开展就地保护与适当干扰其生存群落,是濒危物种秤锤树的科学有效的保护措施。     

Spatial distribution and habitat preference of the endangered tarantula, Brachypelma klaasi (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in Mexico

Brachypelma, a genus of nine endangered tarantula species in Mexico, is the only group of spiders included in Appendix II of CITES, owing to habitat degradation and illegal trafficking. However, while the majority of the nine species of Brachypelma are thought to be threatened, little is known of their ecology and distribution. Brachypelma klaasi is the rarest species, occurring in a few isolated populations on the Pacific coast of Mexico. We present an analysis of population distribution and micro-habitat requirements of B. klaasi over different spatial scales within the biological reserve at Chamela, Jalisco as part of a wider ecological study of the endangered Brachypelma group. Burrows and dispersing spiders were confined to a southern area of the reserve covering approximately 0.5 km². Within this area, burrows were not aggregated at lower spatial scales (2⁴–2¹⁶ m²), unlike other related species. Also, there was no evidence that intra-specific interactions (either positive or negative interactions) influenced the distribution of burrows. Distribution of burrows at low spatial scales was related to low afternoon temperatures and high humidity in mid-summer. These abiotic factors may influence the survival and development of eggs and spiderlings, and appear to be more important in governing the distribution of B. klaasi than are food resources or intra-specific interactions. We discuss how these findings may facilitate the re-introduction of captive-bred individuals of B. klaasi and other Brachypelma species.     

Spatial structure of a leaf-removing crab population in a mangrove of North-Brazil

The leaf-removing decapod crab, Ucides cordatus plays a key role as ecological engineer in Brazilian mangrove ecosystems. We analyzed the spatial distribution of a specific population at two different scales to observe how individual behavior could alter spatial population structure. First, we conducted a spatial point pattern analysis of the burrow entrances and the Rhizophora mangle prop roots on the mangrove floor at a scale of few meters. Secondly, we analyzed at a large scale (10–100 m) the potential effects of surface elevation, light intensity, prop root coverage, species of neighboring tree (R. mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia germinans) and pneumatophore density on the size and number of burrow entrances. At the same large scale, we conducted an analysis of clustering of the crabs around the R. mangle trees. At small scale, the burrow entrances, although aggregated around the prop roots, showed a regularly spaced distribution (∼25 cm) signaling an intraspecific competition among the crabs. At large scale, crabs preferred to install their burrows at an intermediate level of surface elevation and prop root coverage, and in R. mangle-dominated areas. At the same kind of habitats, the largest burrows, and thus potentially the largest crabs, were found in higher number than on other habitats. The R. mangle-dominated areas preference was confirmed by an aggregating around R. mangle trees in R. mangle-dominated forest, but only of large individuals in L. racemosa-dominated forest. These observations lead us to the definition of a preferred habitat for U. cordatus. Competition leading to the small-scale regular patterns was proposed as an explanation for exclusion of smaller crabs from preferred habitats seen at large scale. We hypothesize that this preferred habitat might explain at regional scale the variation of U. cordatus importance in Neotropical mangroves.     

Isolation and characterization of parvalbumins from skeletal muscles of a tropical amphibian,Leptodactylus insularis

Summary Parvalbumins were isolated from skeletal muscles of a tropical amphibian, Leptodactylus insularis, and three new isotypes were identified. The total concentration of parvalbumins in L. insularis was the same as the total amounts found in an amphibian from the temperate or variable zone (Rana temporaria). Muscles of the thigh and foreleg had the maximum parvalbumin concentration (0.35 mmol · kg wet weight^-1). Samples from pectoralis and rectus abdominis muscles had significantly less (0.29 mmol · kg^-1). Three previously unknown parvalbumin isotypes (IV, IIIa, and IIIb) were isolated from the tropical amphibian. They were different from the isotypes (IVa and IVb) predominant in R. temporaria skeletal muscle. Parvalbumins are thought to have a role in the short-term removal of myoplasmic Ca²⁺ during muscle relaxation. Hence, the unique isotypes in L. insularis may reflect optimal molecular adaptations retained during the animal's evolution in a constantly warm environment.Abbreviations DEAE diethylaminoethyl - ELISA enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay - SPDP N-succininydyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate - SR sarcoplasmic reticulum     

北京山区栓皮栎林优势种群点格局分析

采用点格局分析方法对北京山区栓皮栎林主要种群和不同发育阶段种群的空间分布格局及相互关系进行分析。结果表明:(1)群落物种组成简单,栓皮栎和油松是群落的优势种群,优势种群以中径木为主,缺乏可供更新的幼苗,种群呈现出衰退趋势;(2)在研究尺度内,栓皮栎、油松单种的空间分布格局以聚集型分布为主,随着尺度的增大呈现出随机分布和均匀分布的趋势;栓皮栎和油松呈现显著负相关;(3)优势种群不同发育阶段的空间分布格局与研究尺度紧密相关,栓皮栎小树和中树以聚集型分布为主、大树呈随机分布,而油松不同发育阶段均以随机分布为主;(4)栓皮栎、油松种群不同发育阶段之间的空间关联主要发生在小尺度范围内,小树和中树以正关联为主,而中树和大树、小树和大树以负关联为主;随着研究尺度的增大趋于无关联。     

越南金花茶叶绿体基因组分析

本研究通过高通量测序技术对越南金花茶(Camellia insularis Orel & Curry)的叶绿体(chloroplast, cp)基因组进行了测序。结果显示,越南金花茶叶绿体基因组长度为156 882 bp,包含132个基因,其中,88个编码蛋白质,36个编码tRNA,8个编码rRNA。密码子偏好性分析显示,编码亮氨酸的密码子数量最多,且第三位密码子显示出了较高的A/U偏好。此外,共鉴定出了67个简单重复序列(simple sequence repeats, SSR),发现越南金花茶SSR偏好使用A和T碱基。除了少数可变区域之外,越南金花茶与其近缘物种的叶绿体基因组反向重复(inverted repeat, IR)边界区域相当保守。系统发育分析表明,越南金花茶与云南金花茶(Camellia fascicularis)亲缘关系最近。金花茶是基因工程培育黄色山茶花的重要材料,本研究为叶绿体工程提供了基本的遗传信息,为深入研究金花茶组植物的进化、物种鉴定和基因组育种研究提供了宝贵的资源。     

Influence of age and environmental factors on burrow-making behavior of the short-tailed cricket,Anurogryllus muticus (De Geer) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

For the short-tailed cricket, Anurogryllus muticus, burrow-making behavior is essential. All nymphal instars construct burrows, but in the adult stage the rate of burrowing behavior is age dependent. Increases in photophase and light intensity stimulate burrowing, and the explicit negative phototaxis is correlated with the cricket's inability to exist under dry conditions. Ingestion of substrate during burrow construction may serve to acquire additional moisture. There is no evidence of burrow recognition, and crickets can construct a burrow when needed. The natural distribution of burrows at the plot investigated on Moorea supports the notion thatA. muticus builds burrows where the preferred food plantAlysicarpus vaginalis is most abundant. By minimizing the traveling distance to food sources when foraging they can retreat to their burrow again.