The effects of agricultural management on the reproductive activity of female rodents in Argentina

The aim of this study was to test if female rodents in border habitats of organic farms have higher reproductive activity than those of conventional farms in south-east Córdoba province, Argentina. The study was conducted in field borders of organic and conventional farms in 2012 and 2013 during the summer months, the time of the year when reproductive activity is more likely. We sampled field borders through a CMR trapping session and recorded vegetation cover, plant litter, vegetation volume, bare ground cover and land use of the field on both sides of the border (crop/crop or crop/pasture). We recorded the number of reproductive females and the rate of postpartum estrus. Green vegetation cover was higher in organic borders whereas plant litter was higher in borders of conventional farms. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to determine the factors that influence the number of reproductive females in borders of organic and conventional farms. The number of reproductive females was mainly determined by agriculture management and field type. There were more reproductive females in organic than in conventional borders, and borders associated with crop fields at both sides supported the highest number of reproductive females. The rate of postpartum estrus was higher in organic than in conventional borders. Our results showed that in border habitats of farms under organic management reproductive activity of female rodents was higher than in borders of conventional farms. Organic farm borders may provide high quality habitats that provide resources for reproduction and persistence of rodent populations.     

Comparative analysis of the diversity of aerobic spore-forming bacteria in raw milk from organic and conventional dairy farms

Bacterial contamination of raw milk can originate from different sources: air, milking equipment, feed, soil, faeces and grass. It is hypothesized that differences in feeding and housing strategies of cows may influence the microbial quality of milk. This assumption was investigated through comparison of the aerobic spore-forming flora in milk from organic and conventional dairy farms. Laboratory pasteurized milk samples from five conventional and five organic dairy farms, sampled in late summer/autumn and in winter, were plated on a standard medium and two differential media, one screening for phospholipolytic and the other for proteolytic activity of bacteria. Almost 930 isolates were obtained of which 898 could be screened via fatty acid methyl ester analysis. Representative isolates were further analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and (GTG)(5)-PCR. The majority of aerobic spore-formers in milk belonged to the genus Bacillus and showed at least 97% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with type strains of Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus subtilis and with type strains of species belonging to the Bacillus cereus group. About 7% of all isolates may belong to possibly new spore-forming taxa. Although the overall diversity of aerobic spore-forming bacteria in milk from organic vs. conventional dairy farms was highly similar, some differences between both were observed: (i) a relatively higher number of thermotolerant organisms in milk from conventional dairy farms compared to organic farms (41.2% vs. 25.9%), and (ii) a relatively higher number of B. cereus group organisms in milk from organic (81.3%) and Ureibacillus thermosphaericus in milk from conventional (85.7%) dairy farms. One of these differences, the higher occurrence of B. cereus group organisms in milk from organic dairy farms, may be linked to differences in housing strategy between the two types of dairy farming. However, no plausible clarification was found for the relatively higher number of thermotolerant organisms and the higher occurrence of U. thermosphaericus in milk from conventional dairy farms. Possibly this is due to differences in feeding strategy but no decisive indications were found to support this assumption.     

Tracking the effects of one century of habitat loss and fragmentation on calcareous grassland butterfly communities

Habitat loss and fragmentation are known to reduce patch sizes and increase their isolation, consequently leading to modifications in species richness and community structure. Calcareous grasslands are among the richest ecosystems in Europe for insect species. About 10% (1,150 ha) of the total area of a calcareous ridge region (Calestienne, Belgium) and its butterfly community was analysed over a timeframe of about 100 years. Since 1905 to present day (2005), the Calestienne region has undergone both calcareous grassland loss and fragmentation: not only did calcareous grassland size decrease and isolation increase, but also, the number of calcareous grassland patches within the landscape increased until 1965, and subsequently decreased, clearly reflecting the effects of fragmentation. These processes have had a profound effect on the butterfly community: extinction and rarefaction affected significantly more often specialist species, which means that generalist species are more and more overrepresented. This ecological drift, i.e. the replacement of specialists by generalists in species assemblages is likely to be a general effect of habitat loss and fragmentation on natural communities.     

甘肃河西小型哺乳动物物种多样性与水热分布的关系

野外调查、文献和标本资料收集相结合,采用因子分析法,分析了甘肃河西地区小型哺乳动物物种多样性分布格局与水热条件空间分布的关系.结果表明:物种丰富度与年降水量呈正相关关系,而与最热月(7月)平均温度、年平均温度、年蒸发量呈负相关关系,与最冷月(1月)平均温度相关性不明显;影响小型哺乳动物物种丰富度空间分布的决定因素以年降水量、最热月(7月)平均温度、年平均温度、年蒸发量为主的要素所构成的基本景观因子,其次是最冷月(1月)平均温度.     

High plant species richness indicates management-related disturbances rather than the conservation status of forests

There is a wealth of smaller-scale studies on the effects of forest management on plant diversity. However, studies comparing plant species diversity in forests with different management types and intensity, extending over different regions and forest stages, and including detailed information on site conditions are missing. We studied vascular plants on 1500 20 m × 20 m forest plots in three regions of Germany (Schwäbische Alb, Hainich-Dün, Schorfheide-Chorin). In all regions, our study plots comprised different management types (unmanaged, selection cutting, deciduous and coniferous age-class forests, which resulted from clear cutting or shelterwood logging), various stand ages, site conditions, and levels of management-related disturbances. We analyzed how overall richness and richness of different plant functional groups (trees, shrubs, herbs, herbaceous species typically growing in forests and herbaceous light-demanding species) responded to the different management types. On average, plant species richness was 13% higher in age-class than in unmanaged forests, and did not differ between deciduous age-class and selection forests. In age-class forests of the Schwäbische Alb and Hainich-Dün, coniferous stands had higher species richness than deciduous stands. Among age-class forests, older stands with large quantities of standing biomass were slightly poorer in shrub and light-demanding herb species than younger stands. Among deciduous forests, the richness of herbaceous forest species was generally lower in unmanaged than in managed forests, and it was even 20% lower in unmanaged than in selection forests in Hainich-Dün. Overall, these findings show that disturbances by management generally increase plant species richness. This suggests that total plant species richness is not suited as an indicator for the conservation status of forests, but rather indicates disturbances.     

东喜马拉雅勒布沟非飞行小型兽类物种多样性垂直分布格局

物种多样性沿海拔梯度的垂直分布格局在生物多样性研究与保护中受到广泛关注,中峰格局是物种多样性垂直分布四类格局中最为普遍的格局。中喜马拉雅沟谷的研究表明,小型兽类的垂直分布格局符合中峰模型。中喜马拉雅和东喜马拉雅具有相似的自然地理和气候条件,由此,推断东喜马拉雅沟谷的小型兽类垂直分布格局可能也符合中峰格局。为此,在东喜马拉雅勒布沟对非飞行小型兽类开展实地调查,研究海拔范围为2 300～5 000 m,沿海拔梯度连续设置9个300 m海拔段45个样方采集点,累计布铗16 200次,共采集标本372号,分属3目5科10种。研究结果显示:该沟谷非飞行小型兽类物种丰富度在2 600～2 900 m海拔段出现峰值,随后随着海拔的升高递减,即从最低海拔到中海拔段上升至峰值后开始递减至趋于平缓,显示出中峰格局特点。喜马拉雅山脉东西走向导致其南翼各沟谷拥有相似的地理和气候特征,如各沟谷都南北走向,受印度洋暖流影响,拥有相似的植被垂直带分布等,这使得非飞行小型兽类物种多样性垂直分布呈现出相似的特点。推论:在大尺度背景下,地理和气候条件可能是影响物种多样性垂直分布格局的关键因素。     

The comparative reproductive styles of two closely related African minnows (Pseadobarbus afer andP. asper) inhabiting two different sections of the Gamtoos River system

Synopsis Two species of a monophyletic lineage of flexible-rayed redfin minnows,Pseudobarbus afer andP. asper, were studied to establish if there were any significant differences in their reproductive styles. They are sister species with few morphological or meristic differences.P. afer andP. asper are open substrate benthic spawners on coarse bottoms (rocks) and non-guarders of non-adhesive eggs. Their young are photophobic as free embryos. Riverine spawning sites indicated a conservative tendency and represented a phylogenetic constraint as compared to the more variable attributes, such as egg size, which were under environmental control within the limits expressed by the genotype. The combination of life-history attributes, gonadosomatic index, fecundity, egg size, investment per clutch, number of clutches per season and reproductive lifespan was found to be different forP. afer andP. asper. P. asper is derived and atypical of otherPseudobarbus species studied to date. Differences betweenP. afer andP. asper are directly related to the two distinct environments inhabited by these species-coastal Cape Fold Belt mountain streams and the inland Karoo streams of the Gamtoos River system.P. asper may have reverted, by juvenilization, to a more altricial form to survive the turbid, intermittent Karoo stream.     

An RFLP assay to determine if Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk. (Mytilidae; Bivalvia) is of Northern or Southern hemisphere origin

Mytilus galloprovincialis is one of three smooth shelled blue mussel species belonging to the Mytilus edulis species complex. Naturally occurring and introduced populations of M. galloprovincialis are widely distributed throughout many regions of the globe. Mytilus galloprovincialis includes morphologically indistinguishable Northern and Southern hemisphere mtDNA lineages that have been separated for ～1 my. To distinguish recently introduced Northern M. galloprovincialis from resident Southern M. galloprovincialis in New Zealand, we developed a 16s rRNA RFLP assay. We compared RFLP assignments of 178 mussels with those generated from a 16s rRNA sequence-estimated phylogeny. All mussels were correctly assigned by the RFLP to their sequence-based phylogenetic placement. This assay allows the rapid identification of Northern and Southern hemisphere M. galloprovincialis and will provide an important tool for monitoring human mediated introductions of otherwise cryptic lineages.     

Rare British marine fishes-identification and conservation

Methods of recording and categorizing rare British marine fishes and their habitats are described. Information is stored on a database designed for maximum flexibility, cross-referencing, multiple word search and key word search facilities. Examples are given and discussed in relation to species and habitat protection.     

Co-occurrence of prairie and barrens butterflies: applications to ecosystem conservation

Abundance indices from transect surveys for species restricted to prairies and barrens were correlated to test the degree to which these species of conservation concern co-occur. In 56 pair-wise tests among 15 species by subregion, 29 (52%) correlated significantly, all but one positively, and only 17 (37%) of 46 tests involving samples of >60 individuals for each species were non-significant. The species producing the most significant interspecific correlations in prairie were Speyeria idalia (five of ten tests) and Atrytone arogos (four of six tests); in barrens, Euchloe olympia (seven of eight tests) and Hesperia l. leonardus (six of eight tests). Lycaeides melissa samuelis, the butterfly receiving the most conservation attention in these habitats, produced few significant correlations. To explicate these patterns of co-occurrence, case histories were compiled for these species at sites of comparable vegetation by subregion. No management type was clearly favourable for all specialists of a given habitat, although some managements were favourable for more species than others (e.g. haying vs. burning in prairie). Analysis of variance of management at these sites produced more results with significant effects than did correlations of the species' abundance indices with habitat patch size. These results were inconsistent with prevailing ecological theory about the natural maintenance of these habitats; conversely, a single unified (alternative) theory of ecosystem management could not be inferred from these results. These patterns of butterfly co-occurrence suggest an alternative approach to ecosystem conservation that focuses on subsets of species native to a particular ecosystem. These smaller species assemblages significantly co-occur in range, habitat, and management tolerance, and may be amenable to monitoring with indicator species.     

Projected Effects of Climate Change on Patterns of Vertebrate and Tree Species Richness in the Conterminous United States

General circulation models (GCM) predict that increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases will lead to dramatic changes in climate. It is known that the spatial variability of species richness over continental spatial scales is strongly correlated with contemporary climate. Assuming that this relationship between species richness and climate persists under conditions of increased CO₂, what changes could we expect to occur in terms of species richness? To address this question, I used observed relationships between contemporary richness and climate, coupled with climate projections from five GCM, to project these future changes. These models predict that the richness of vertebrate ectotherms will increase over most of the conterminous United States. Mammal and bird richness are predicted to decrease in much of the southern US and to increase in cool, mountainous areas. Woody plant richness is likely to increase throughout the North and West and to decrease in the southwestern deserts. These projections represent changes that are likely to occur over long time scales (millennia); short-term changes are expected to be mainly negative.     

小麦中小GTP结合蛋白基因TaRop2克隆及其表达分析

小GTP结合蛋白属于Rho家族,是植物特有的一类蛋白,在调控植物生长发育、抗逆和抗病过程中发挥着重要的作用。本研究通过筛选非亲和条锈菌小种CYR32侵染诱导的抗条锈病基因Yr5近等基因系(Taichung29*6/Yr5)c DNA文库,分离获得1个Rop家族基因的全长c DNA序列,命名为TaRop2(Triticum aestivum Rop2)。TaRop2包含1个591 bp的开放阅读框,预测编码含197个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,分子量为21.52 k D,理论等电点为9.49。通过在烟草表皮细胞瞬时表达,发现TaRop2分布于细胞核内和细胞膜上。RT-PCR分析结果表明,在高盐处理、非亲和条锈菌小种CYR32和亲和混合白粉菌菌株侵染时,TaRop2基因的表达水平升高,但被干旱、高温、低温和ABA处理抑制。说明TaRop2可能参与小麦防卫和抗逆反应过程。     

紫胶虫蜜露对地表蚂蚁多样性的影响

2009年12月至2010年5月,采用陷阱法在云南省墨江县雅邑乡调查了紫胶林地表蚂蚁群落多样性,分析了紫胶虫蜜露对地表蚂蚁多样性的影响.结果表明:紫胶虫蜜露资源的有无及变动对地表蚂蚁群落物种组成、多度及多样性均产生影响.在紫胶林样地共采集蚂蚁标本4953头,隶属5亚科23属34种,在对照样地共采集蚂蚁标本2416头,隶属5亚科20属30种;紫胶林地表蚂蚁相对多度、物种丰富度(S)及ACE估计值均高于对照样地,地表蚂蚁常见种和指示种均与对照样地不同,表明放养紫胶虫改变了地表蚂蚁群落结构;紫胶虫成虫期蜜露分泌量高于幼虫期,其地表蚂蚁相对多度、S及ACE估计值也高于幼虫期,且两阶段的蚂蚁常见种和指示种显著不同.     

Intercontinental biotic invasions: what can we learn from native populations and habitats?

The effectiveness of management strategies for invasive species is often hampered by a lack of clear understanding of the factors that limit species distributions. The distribution of exotic species, especially those that are invasive, are often so dynamic that limiting factors are difficult to identify. Comparisons of exotic species between their native ranges, where they are presumably close to equilibrium with controlling factors, and their ranges in areas of introduction can circumvent this difficulty. Such studies would help identify (1) limiting factors for distributions in native ranges, (2) factors associated with a high degree of invasiveness, (3) changes in genetics and morphology since introduction, which also might contribute to invasiveness, and (4) future directions and rates of invasion as a basis for developing detection/warning systems. Findings from such comparative studies would be highly valuable for understanding the dynamics of biological invasions and for improving the effectiveness of management to prevent or control invasives.