Benthic development on large-scale engineered reefs: A comparison of communities among breakwaters of different age and natural reefs

Breakwaters represent large-scale engineered artificial reefs that can develop diverse and abundant communities and are likely to play an increasing role in marine ecosystems as human populations grow in coastal urban areas. Information on how these communities develop and if and when these communities begin to resemble those on natural hard-bottom habitat is essential for marine management, but is not well understood. In this study, benthic communities on six breakwaters ranging from 1 to 31 years of age were compared to provide an understanding of patterns of community development on engineered coastal defenses, and these were compared to communities on natural reefs to gain an understanding of how communities develop on artificial structures relative to those in natural habitats. Multivariate analyses indicated that benthic communities on breakwaters became more similar to natural reefs with increasing age, but that communities on even the most mature (31 years) breakwater were distinct from those on natural reefs (ANOSIM p < 0.001). Generally, breakwaters ≤5.5 years had higher abundance of turf algae, sponges, bivalves, and bare pavement, while more mature (≥25 years) breakwaters were dominated by corals. Coral cover on 25 and 31 years old breakwaters (46% and 56%, respectively) was significantly higher than on natural reefs (37%; HSD test p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). These results indicate that breakwaters develop benthic communities that continue to change over periods exceeding 31 years, and that although they become more similar to communities on natural reefs with increasing age, these communities remain distinct.     

Are artificial reefs surrogates of natural habitats for corals and fish in Dubai,United Arab Emirates?

Artificial reefs are often promoted as mitigating human impacts in coastal ecosystems and enhancing fisheries; however, evidence supporting their benefits is equivocal. Such structures must be compared with natural reefs in order to assess their performance, but past comparisons typically examined artificial structures that were too small, or were immature, relative to the natural reefs. We compared coral and fish communities on two large (>400,000 m³) and mature (>25 year) artificial reefs with six natural coral patches. Coral cover was higher on artificial reefs (50%) than in natural habitats (31%), but natural coral patches contained higher species richness (29 vs. 20) and coral diversity (H′ = 2.3 vs. 1.8). Multivariate analyses indicated strong differences between coral communities in natural and artificial habitats. Fish communities were sampled seasonally for 1 year. Multivariate fish communities differed significantly among habitat types in the summer and fall, but converged in the winter and spring. Univariate analysis indicated that species richness and abundance were stable throughout the year on natural coral patches but increased significantly in the summer on artificial reefs compared with the winter and spring, explaining the multivariate changes in community structure. The increased summer abundance on artificial reefs was mainly due to adult immigration. Piscivores were much more abundant in the fall than in the winter or spring on artificial reefs, but had low and stable abundance throughout the year in natural habitats. It is likely that the decreased winter and spring abundance of fish on the artificial reefs resulted from both predation and emigration. These results indicate that large artificial reefs can support diverse and abundant coral and fish communities. However, these communities differ structurally and functionally from those in natural habitats, and they should not be considered as replacements for natural coral and fish communities.     

黄土丘陵区不同侵蚀环境下土壤有机碳对植被恢复的响应

植被恢复是提高土壤有机碳累积和储存的重要措施。以黄土丘陵区两个典型侵蚀环境下的小流域即黄土区坊塌流域和砒砂岩区满红沟流域退耕坡面为研究对象,分析了土壤有机碳含量(SOCC)、有机碳密度(SOCD)在同一侵蚀环境不同群落下的变化以及在同一群落不同侵蚀环境间的差异,旨在探明不同侵蚀环境下土壤有机碳对植被恢复的响应。结果表明:1)同一侵蚀环境下,与坡耕地相比,自然恢复方式下退耕地植被恢复初期SOCC、SOCD均显著降低,之后随植被恢复均显著升高(P0.05);人工恢复方式下退耕地20—25年柠条锦鸡儿群落和13—14年刺槐群落SOCC、SOCD均显著升高(P0.05),说明同一侵蚀环境内,退耕地在两种恢复方式下均能显著提高土壤有机碳累积和储存。2)同一侵蚀环境下,与相近恢复年限的自然恢复群落相比,刺槐群落SOCC、SOCD均显著高于长芒草+铁杆蒿群落(P0.05),砒砂岩区柠条锦鸡儿群落SOCC、SOCD均显著低于铁杆蒿群落(P0.05),黄土区柠条锦鸡儿群落SOCC显著低于而SOCD显著高于铁杆蒿群落(P0.05),说明相同恢复时间内,相对于自然恢复方式,人工刺槐造林在两种侵蚀环境下均能累积与储存较多的土壤有机碳,而柠条锦鸡儿造林在两种侵蚀环境下累积土壤有机碳的效果均不佳,在黄土区储存土壤有机碳效果好于砒砂岩区。3)同一群落下,黄土区人工和自然恢复群落SOCC均高于砒砂岩区;黄土区人工恢复群落SOCD均显著高于而自然恢复群落SOCD均低于砒砂岩区(P0.05),说明黄土区人工恢复累积和储存土壤有机碳及自然恢复累积土壤有机碳的效果较好,而砒砂岩区自然恢复储存土壤有机碳的效果较好。     

Temporal dynamics of bird community composition: an analysis of baseline conditions from long-term data

Numerous anthropogenic activities threaten the biodiversity found on earth. Because all ecological communities constantly experience temporal turnover due to natural processes, it is important to distinguish between change due to anthropogenic impact and the underlying natural rate of change. In this study, we used data sets on breeding bird communities that covered at least 20 consecutive years, from a variety of terrestrial ecosystems, to address two main questions. (1) How fast does the composition of bird communities change over time, and can we identify a baseline of natural change that distinguishes primeval systems from systems experiencing varying degrees of human impact? (2) How do patterns of temporal variation in composition vary among bird communities in ecosystems with different anthropogenic impacts? Time lag analysis (TLA) showed a pattern of increasing rate of temporal compositional change from large-scale primeval systems to disturbed and protected systems to distinctly successional systems. TLA slopes of <0.04 were typical for breeding bird communities with natural turnover, while communities subjected to anthropogenic impact were characterised by TLA slopes of >0.04. Most of the temporal variability of breeding bird communities was explained by slow changes occurring over decades, regardless of the intensity of human impact. In most of the time series, medium- and short-wave periodicity was not detected, with the exception of breeding bird communities subjected to periodic pulses (e.g. caterpillar outbreaks causing food resource peaks).     

Photoreactivation compensates for UV damage and restores infectivity to natural marine virus communities.

We investigated the potential for photoreactivation to restore infectivity to sunlight-damaged natural viral communities in offshore (chlorophyll a, < 0.1 microgram liter-1), coastal (chlorophyll a, ca. 0.2 microgram liter-1), and estuarine (chlorophyll a, ca. 1 to 5 micrograms liter-1) waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In 67% of samples, the light-dependent repair mechanisms of the bacterium Vibrio natriegens restored infectivity to natural viral communities which could not be repaired by light-independent mechanisms. Similarly, exposure of sunlight-damaged natural viral communities to > 312-nm-wavelength sunlight in the presence of the natural bacterial communities restored infectivity to 21 to 26% of sunlight-damaged viruses in oceanic waters and 41 to 52% of the damaged viruses in coastal and estuarine waters. Wavelengths between 370 and 550 nm were responsible for restoring infectivity to the damaged viruses. These results indicate that light-dependent repair, probably photoreactivation, compensated for a large fraction of sunlight-induced DNA damage in natural viral communities and is potentially essential for the maintenance of high concentrations of viruses in surface waters.     

Regional and longitudinal patterns of fish community structure in the Seine River basin, France

The fish communities of 371 sites from 4 natural regions of the Seine River basin were studied. The sites were located from small to medium size rivers (catchment area : 5 to 3895 km²). We examined the differences between local communities according to river size (estimated by catchment area) and region. In the Seine River basin, fish communities follow a general organisation rule: total species richness increases with river size and importance of limnophilic species versus rheophilic ones increases from upstream to downstream. However, fish communities show differences of total species richness, species richness of reproductive groups and species composition between the four natural regions of the basin. Particularly, river size and regional organisation of environmental factors interact on species composition of communities and several regional patterns of longitudinal changes of fish communities are identified. The origin and range of regional differences of fish communities are discussed according to historical and environmental factors.     

Contributions to the sociology and chorology of contrasting plant communities in the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria)

Five plant communities contrasting in successional status and human impact from the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria) are analyzed using vegetation relevés, spectra of area types and a newly proposed disjunction quotient. A climax community (Asperulo-Fagetum), a subclimax community (Querco-Carpinetum s.l.), an anthropogenous substitute community (Mesobromion) and two natural, non-climax permanent communities (Euphorbio saxatilis-Pinetum nigrae and Fumano-Stipetum eriocaulis) are recognized. The disjunction quotient is defined as the number of partial (discontinous) areas divided by the size of the total area of distribution of a species. In particular, the average disjunction quotients of the species in the first two communities reflect relatively table environments only slightly influenced by man, with many ancient, stable taxa. These communities are characterized by species with well-delimited, stable distribution areas. The species in the Mesobromion community have very low average disjunction quotients as its component species are widely and continuously distributed and are often promoted by man. In contrast to these communities, the species linked to the natural permanent, non-climax communities of extreme habitats, have high distribution quotients i.e. small, disconinuous areas; this illustrates the relic character of these plant communities and of the eastern edge of the Alps is a whole. Using the highly variable disjunction quotient of all species and communities examined, the concepts of climax and permanent communities (of different origin) are discussed with regard to European conditions.     

青藏高原筑路取土迹地恢复植物群落与土壤的碳氮磷化学计量特征

恢复筑路取土迹地植物群落是青藏高原退化高寒草地恢复的重要组分,而生态化学计量是揭示退化草地自然恢复过程中土壤和植物间养分互作的重要方法。通过调查青藏公路筑路取土迹地自然恢复群落和天然群落内植物和土壤C、N、P的含量及其比值,研究了恢复群落和天然群落的C、N、P生态化学计量特征。结果表明:经历18a自然恢复后,不同地点筑路取土迹地均已逐步实现植物群落的定居,但其恢复程度存在明显差异。恢复群落植物叶片N含量高于天然群落,导致其叶片C∶N较低,表明恢复群落植物的N利用效率较低,N含量较高的模式主要原因可能是豆科植物比例较高和土壤有效N的供应较充足所致。恢复样地在0—10 cm和10—20 cm的土层内的有机碳(SOC)都显著低于天然样地,恢复样地土壤全氮(STN)仍一定程度上低于天然样地但含量较接近,恢复样地在10—20 cm土层中土壤全磷(STP)含量较高,这说明恢复群落尽管在土壤恢复方面并未达到天然群落的水平,但已得到了明显改善,土壤肥力正发生着正向的演替。叶片N含量与土壤STN相关性不显著,叶片P含量与土壤STP含量显著地正相关,表明植物叶片P含量在一定程度上受到土壤环境中全磷的影响。综合N∶P判定阈值和叶片土壤养分相关分析结果表明研究地区草地植被主要受到P元素的限制,且工程迹地草地恢复群落比天然群落容易受到P元素的限制。     

Effects of PCB on interspecific competition in natural and gnotobiotic phytoplankton communities in continuous and batch cultures

The toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) to the diatomThalassiosira pseudonana (formerlyCyclotella nana), grown in pure and mixed cultures, was greatest when in competition with other species. Continuous cultures were superior to batch cultures for studying competitive interactions, and PCB caused greater alteration of species composition in continuous cultures than it did in batch cultures. Natural phytoplankton communities from Vineyard Sound, maintained in continuous culture, responded to PCB stress the same as did gnotobiotic communities, withT. pseudonana showing similar responses in both communities. A PCB concentration of 0.1 μg/liter (0.1 part per billion), a level not uncommon in natural waters, did not affect algal growth in pure cultures but caused substantial disruption of continuous culture communities. The possible impact of PCB pollution on natural phytoplankton communities is discussed. Contribution No. 3181 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.     

Vegetation communities in continental boreal wetlands along a salinity gradient: Implications for oil sands mining reclamation

Oil sands mining is a major disturbance to boreal landscapes in north-eastern Alberta, Canada. Freshwater peatlands dominate the landscape prior to mining, but the post-mining reclamation landscape will have wetlands that span a salinity gradient. Little is known about the native vegetation communities in subsaline and saline marshes in the boreal region, yet these communities offer the best potential for reclamation of wetlands after oil sands mining. The overall intent of this study is to provide information on natural wetland communities along a gradient of salinities that can be used to enhance oil sands wetland reclamation. Our specific study objectives were to: (1) characterize environmental conditions of industrial and natural wetlands, (2) characterize vegetation communities (composition and diversity) in these wetlands, (3) and explore how vegetation communities (composition and diversity) may be influenced by environmental conditions. We surveyed vegetation communities and environmental variables in 25 natural boreal wetlands along a salinity gradient and in 10 industrial marshes in the oil sands mining region. We observed an electrical conductivity (EC) range of 0.5-28 mS cm⁻¹ in the wetlands, indicating that salinity similar to or higher than anticipated for oil sands reclamation is naturally present in some boreal wetlands. We observed low species richness in both industrial and natural wetlands. There were 101 plant species observed in all the wetlands, with 82 species recorded in the natural wetlands and 44 species in industrial wetlands. At the plot level, richness decreased with increasing EC and pH, but increased with soil organic matter. Using Cluster Analysis and indicator species analysis we defined 16 distinct vegetation community types, each dominated by one or two species of graminoid vegetation. In general these communities resembled those of boreal or prairie marshes. Electrical conductivity, pH, and water depth were important factors correlating with community composition of the wetlands, however peat depth and soil organic content did not differ among community types. Not all community types were present in industrial wetlands, indicating that these communities may need to be planted to enhance overall diversity in future reclaimed oil sands wetlands.     

Fluorescently Labeled Virus Probes Show that Natural Virus Populations Can Control the Structure of Marine Microbial Communities

Fluorescently stained viruses were used as probes to label, identify, and enumerate specific strains of bacteria and cyanobacteria in mixed microbial assemblages. Several marine virus isolates were fluorescently stained with YOYO-1 or POPO-1 (Molecular Probes, Inc.) and added to seawater samples that contained natural microbial communities. Cells to which the stained viruses adsorbed were easily distinguished from nonhost cells; typically, there was undetectable binding of stained viruses to natural microbial assemblages containing >10(sup6) bacteria ml(sup-1) but to which host cells were not added. Host cells that were added to natural seawater were quantified with 99% (plusmn) 2% (mean (plusmn) range) efficiency with fluorescently labeled virus probes (FLVPs). A marine bacterial isolate (strain PWH3a), tentatively identified as Vibrio natriegens, was introduced into natural microbial communities that were either supplemented with nutrients or untreated, and changes in the abundance of the isolate were monitored with FLVPs. Simultaneously, the concentrations of viruses that infected strain PWH3a were monitored by plaque assay. Following the addition of PWH3a, the concentration of viruses infecting this strain increased from undetectable levels (<1 ml(sup-1)) to 2.9 x 10(sup7) and 8.3 x 10(sup8) ml(sup-1) for the untreated and nutrient-enriched samples, respectively. The increase in viruses was associated with a collapse in populations of strain PWH3a from ca. 30 to 2% and 43 to 0.01% of the microbial communities in untreated and nutrient-enriched samples, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that FLVPs can be used to identify and quantify specific groups of bacteria in mixed microbial communities. The data show as well that viruses which are present at low abundances in natural aquatic viral communities can control microbial community structure.     

Diversity and similarity of butterfly communities in five different habitat types at Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam

Diversity and similarity of butterfly communities were assessed in five different habitat types (from natural closed forest to agricultural lands) in the mountains of Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam for 3 years from 2002 to 2004. The line transect count was used to record species richness and abundance of butterfly communities in the different habitat types. For each habitat, the number of species and individuals, and indices of species richness, evenness and diversity of butterfly communities were calculated. The results indicated that species richness and abundance of butterfly communities were low in the natural closed forest, higher in the disturbed forest, highest in the forest edge, lower in the shrub habitat and lowest in the agricultural lands. The indices of species richness, evenness and diversity of butterfly communities were low in agricultural lands and natural closed forest but highest in the forest edge and shrub habitats. The families Satyridae and Amathusiidae have the greatest species richness and abundance in the natural closed forest, with a reduction in their species richness and abundance from the natural closed forest to the agricultural lands. Species composition of butterfly communities was different among five different habitat types (40%), was similar in habitats outside the forest (68%) and was similar in habitats inside the forest (63%). Diversity and abundance of butterfly communities are not different between the natural closed forest and the agriculture lands, but species composition changed greatly between these habitat types. A positive correlation between the size of species geographical distribution range and increasing habitat disturbance was found. The most characteristic natural closed forest species have the smallest geographical distribution range.     

The vegetation of the forest-steppe region of Hustain Nuruu, Mongolia

The vegetation of a forest-steppe region in Hustain Nuruu, Mongolia, was studied by a phytocoenological approach. Eleven plant communities were recognized, comprising four steppe communities, two meadow communities, a tussock grassland, two shrub communities, a scrub community and a woodland community. The botanical and ecological characteristics of the different communities are discussed, with reference to the existing classification of Mongolian plant communities. Analysis of the present data indicates that a refinement or extension of the classification system is desirable, especially concerning the steppe(-related) communities. Discussion of the relative distribution of steppe and forest reveals that in the relatively dry location of Hustain Nuruu grassland and shrubland dominate the natural vegetation (88% of the area). Forest covers ca. 5% of the area, it is limited to sites where ground water is within rooting depth: north slopes above 1400 m (Betula platyphylla woodland) and along erosion gullies (fragmentary Ulmus pumila gallery woodland). Under natural conditions forest cover might reach 12%, but it is speculated that wild ungulates could maintain its extension at a lower level. The importance of forest is greater in forest-steppe regions with higher rainfall, but the factors determining the distribution of grassland and forest are expected to be similar.     

Sequence Analysis of Marine Virus Communities Reveals that Groups of Related Algal Viruses Are Widely Distributed in Nature

Algal-virus-specific PCR primers were used to amplify DNA polymerase (pol) gene fragments from geographically isolated natural virus communities. Natural algal virus communities were obtained from coastal sites in the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Canada, and the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic peninsula. Genetic fingerprints of algal virus communities were generated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Sequencing efforts recovered 33 sequences from the gradient gel. Of the 33 sequences examined, 25 encoded a conserved amino acid motif indicating that the sequences were pol gene fragments. Furthermore, the 25 pol sequences were related to pol gene fragments from known algal viruses. In addition, similar virus sequences (>98% sequence identity) were recovered from British Columbia and Antarctica. Results from this study demonstrate that DGGE with degenerate primers can be used to qualitatively fingerprint and assess genetic diversity in specific subsets of natural virus communities and that closely related viruses occur in distant geographic locations. DGGE is a powerful tool for genetically fingerprinting natural virus communities and may be used to examine how specific components of virus communities respond to experimental manipulations.     

Wetland restoration by natural succession in abandoned pastures with a degraded soil seed bank

Natural restoration of historical wetland plant communities in fallow fields with a degraded seed bank has been assumed to be possible only if source populations of the target species are present adjacent to the abandoned fields and a high density of suitable microsites is available. However, few studies have monitored both factors simultaneously and verified this assumption. We hypothesized that plant communities that are similar to historical wetlands, including back marshes, back swamps, and bogs, will reestablish in abandoned pasturelands in cases when (1) gaps for new recruitment emerge, followed by the decline of pastures; and (2) seeds with longevity are supplied from the surrounding remnant plant communities of wetlands. We conducted a survey of vegetation and microsites in pastures, abandoned pastures, and reference wetlands followed by structural equation modeling to verify our hypothesis for the natural restoration of Phragmites australis–Phalaris arundinacea and Alnus japonica–Spiraea salicifolia communities. These communities represent historical back marshes and back swamps along a river. However, our hypothesis was not verified for the natural restoration of Vaccinium oxycoccos–Sphagnum spp. communities, which represent plant communities in historical bogs grown on acidic peat that are maintained by rainfall and fog. Our findings partly support our hypothesis that decline in pastures creates gaps and that cumulative seed dispersal from nearby remnant wetlands allows the original wetland plant communities to regenerate. Further case studies are needed to determine how the natural restoration of bog plant communities occurs.     

三峡重庆库区不同鸟类群落的物种组成及多样性研究

1996～1997年,对三峡工程重庆库区的鸟类群落物种组成和种群数量进行了调查,共调查记录库区鸟类15目48科226种,数量18929只。用鸟类数量级划分、Sorensen相似性指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou指数分析库区各种生境鸟类群落物组成和物种多样性结果表明：1）库区天然林、人工林、灌草丛和水域生境中鸟类群落的组成与农田生境具有较高的相似性,尤以人工林和农田的相似性最高;2）库区人工林生境鸟类群落物种多样性最高;3）库区由于长期以来人类活动的影响,生境日趋单一,已逐渐形成一种以农田灌丛鸟类为主的鸟类生态系统。     

Bacterial Communities Associated with Production Facilities of Two Newly Drilled Thermogenic Natural Gas Wells in the Barnett Shale (Texas, USA)

We monitored the bacterial communities in the gas–water separator and water storage tank of two newly drilled natural gas wells in the Barnett Shale in north central Texas, using a 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing approach over a period of 6?months. Overall, the communities were composed mainly of moderately halophilic and halotolerant members of the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria (classes Βeta-, Gamma-, and Epsilonproteobacteria) in both wells at all sampling times and locations. Many of the observed lineages were encountered in prior investigations of microbial communities from various fossil fluid formations and production facilities. In all of the samples, multiple H₂S-producing lineages were encountered; belonging to the sulfate- and sulfur-reducing class Deltaproteobacteria, order Clostridiales, and phylum Synergistetes, as well as the thiosulfate-reducing order Halanaerobiales. The bacterial communities from the separator and tank samples bore little resemblance to the bacterial communities in the drilling mud and hydraulic-fracture waters that were used to drill these wells, suggesting the in situ development of the unique bacterial communities in such well components was in response to the prevalent geochemical conditions present. Conversely, comparison of the bacterial communities on temporal and spatial scales suggested the establishment of a core microbial community in each sampled location. The results provide the first overview of bacterial dynamics and colonization patterns in newly drilled, thermogenic natural gas wells and highlights patterns of spatial and temporal variability observed in bacterial communities in natural gas production facilities.     

空间和环境因子对黄河口自然和淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落的差异影响

生物多样性的形成和维持机制是生态学研究的核心问题,其中环境和空间因子在群落构建中的相对重要性是生态学家面临的重要挑战。为探究黄河口湿地底栖动物群落的关键影响因子,及环境和空间因子对底栖动物群落结构的相对调控作用。于2017年10月与2018年5月对黄河口湿地32个样点（淡水恢复湿地19个和自然湿地13个）的底栖动物和水体理化指标进行采集分析。非度量多维标度排序（NMDS）结果显示,黄河口淡水恢复湿地和自然湿地的底栖动物群落结构显著不同。典范对应分析（CCA）表明,影响淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落结构的环境因子主要为电导率、盐度和氧化还原电位;而自然湿地底栖动物群落结构主要受pH和无机碳的影响;盐度是两类湿地底栖动物群落组成差异的关键因子。变差分解（VPA）结果显示,环境过滤对淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落起主导作用;在自然湿地中,空间因子对底栖动物群落具有主要的调控作用,同时环境和空间因子的相互作用也至关重要。本研究明确了黄河口的自然和恢复湿地中环境和空间因素对底栖动物群落特征的相对作用,对黄河三角洲河口湿地中生物多样性的保护和生态系统管理提供参考。     

Interaction effects between local flower richness and distance to natural woodland on pest and beneficial insects in apple orchards

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