Abundance and stratification of foliage arthropods in a lowland rain forest of Cameroon

Abstract.

• 1 Arthropod densities and apparent leaf damage were compared within the canopy ecotone and the shrub layer of a lowland rain forest in Cameroon, using a branch clipping method.
• 2 Most of the individuals collected consisted of ants (average 44%) and various herbivores (31%). Overall arthropod densities amounted to 17 individuals per sample, which, on average, consisted of 0.85 m² of foliage area. Arthropod densities were lower than on temperate foliage.
• 3 Arthropod densities were about 3 times higher in the canopy than within the shrub layer. In particular, ants and herbivores were significantly more abundant in the canopy than within the shrub layer. Usually, layer effects rather than site effects appeared to cause greater variance in arthropod abundance.
• 4 Arthropod species-richness, as estimated by the number of operational taxonomic units sorted, was higher in canopy samples than in samples obtained from the shrub layer. However, apparent leaf damage was higher within the shrub layer (10.9%) than on the canopy (5.2%).
• 5 Possible factors responsible for the high densities of ants and herbivores on the canopy and for the high leaf damage within the shrub layer are discussed.

     

泾河流域上游土石山区和黄土区森林覆盖率变化的水文影响模拟

泾河流域上游是黄土高原的重要水源地和退耕还林工程区,在较大空间尺度上定量评价区内森林覆盖增加的水文影响对科学指导林业生态环境建设、保障区域水安全和可持续发展均有重要意义。为了在尽量排除地形、土壤、气候等作用的基础上定量评价森林的影响,将泾河上游划分为土石山区和黄土区,分别制定了多种森林恢复情景,利用分布式流域生态水文模型(SWIM)模拟评价了森林覆盖率及其空间分布变化对流域年蒸散量、年产流量、年地下水补给量、年土壤深层渗漏量及日径流洪峰的影响。土石山区模拟结果表明,增加森林覆盖将增加流域蒸散和减少流域产流,如现有森林覆盖(占全流域面积比例为13.8%)情景与现有森林变为草地(占全流域面积比例为0)情景相比时,流域年蒸散量从445.4 mm变为427.7 mm(减少了17.4 mm和4%);年产流量从42.4 mm变为53.5 mm(增加了11.1 mm和26.3%),年地下水补给量从61.6 mm变为76.9 mm(增加了15.3 mm和24.8%),年深层渗漏量从72.9 mm变为88.3 mm(增加了17.7 mm和24.3%);平均森林覆盖率每增加10%,导致流域年蒸散量增加12.8 mm,年产流量减少8.0 mm,年地下水补给量减少11.1 mm。在比较干旱和土层深厚的黄土区,增加森林覆盖将同样增大流域蒸散和减少流域产流,但变化幅度明显小于降水相对丰富和土层浅薄的土石山区,平均森林面积增加10%导致流域年蒸散量增加9.0 mm,年产流量减少4.5 mm,年地下水补给量减少8.8 mm;此外,在较缓坡面造林的水文影响大于较陡坡面造林。从森林水文影响的年内变化来看时,森林覆盖率升高的水文影响在土石山区和黄土区也有差别,如土石山区5—7月份的蒸散显著增加,5—10月份的深层渗漏均有减少;而黄土区是蒸散量在5—10月均有增加,深层渗漏在7—10月份显著减少。另外,土石山区森林覆盖率增加对日径流峰值的影响不显著,而黄土区则能明显削弱,这可能主要是因土石山区的高石砾含量土壤的渗透性能明显高于黄土区的黄土,而黄土区的森林能够明显改善土壤入渗性能和减少地面径流形成。     

A comparison of absolute performance of different correlative and mechanistic species distribution models in an independent area

To investigate the comparative abilities of six different bioclimatic models in an independent area, utilizing the distribution of eight different species available at a global scale and in Australia. Global scale and Australia. We tested a variety of bioclimatic models for eight different plant species employing five discriminatory correlative species distribution models (SDMs) including Generalized Linear Model (GLM), MaxEnt, Random Forest (RF), Boosted Regression Tree (BRT), Bioclim, together with CLIMEX (CL) as a mechanistic niche model. These models were fitted using a training dataset of available global data, but with the exclusion of Australian locations. The capabilities of these techniques in projecting suitable climate, based on independent records for these species in Australia, were compared. Thus, Australia is not used to calibrate the models and therefore it is as an independent area regarding geographic locations. To assess and compare performance, we utilized the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC), true skill statistic (TSS), and fractional predicted areas for all SDMs. In addition, we assessed satisfactory agreements between the outputs of the six different bioclimatic models, for all eight species in Australia. The modeling method impacted on potential distribution predictions under current climate. However, the utilization of sensitivity and the fractional predicted areas showed that GLM, MaxEnt, Bioclim, and CL had the highest sensitivity for Australian climate conditions. Bioclim calculated the highest fractional predicted area of an independent area, while RF and BRT were poor. For many applications, it is difficult to decide which bioclimatic model to use. This research shows that variable results are obtained using different SDMs in an independent area. This research also shows that the SDMs produce different results for different species; for example, Bioclim may not be good for one species but works better for other species. Also, when projecting a “large” number of species into novel environments or in an independent area, the selection of the “best” model/technique is often less reliable than an ensemble modeling approach. In addition, it is vital to understand the accuracy of SDMs' predictions. Further, while TSS, together with fractional predicted areas, are appropriate tools for the measurement of accuracy between model results, particularly when undertaking projections on an independent area, AUC has been proved not to be. Our study highlights that each one of these models (CL, Bioclim, GLM, MaxEnt, BRT, and RF) provides slightly different results on projections and that it may be safer to use an ensemble of models.     

不同厚度雪被对高山森林6种凋落物分解过程中酸溶性和酸不溶性组分的影响

高山森林冬季不同厚度雪被格局可能通过影响凋落物的分解过程中酸溶性和酸不溶性组分特征,改变凋落物分解过程,但缺乏必要关注。采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了高山森林林窗中央至林下形成的天然雪被厚度梯度(厚型雪被、中型雪被、薄型雪被和无雪被)覆盖下,6种典型物种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)、红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)、四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、康定柳(Salix paraplesia)和高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落物在不同关键时期(雪被形成期、雪被覆盖期和雪被融化期)的酸溶性组分和酸不溶性组分变化特征。经历一个冬季的分解后,6种凋落物酸溶性组分绝对含量呈降低趋势,除红桦外5种凋落物酸不溶性组分绝对含量呈增加趋势。不同厚度雪被显著影响雪被覆盖期和融化期凋落物酸不溶性和酸溶性组分绝对变化量;其中方枝柏、红桦和康定柳凋落物酸不溶性组分增加量在厚型雪被下显著高于其它雪被覆盖;而相对于阔叶凋落物酸溶性组分变化量在薄型雪被和无雪被梯度达到最大值,针叶凋落物酸溶性组分在厚型雪被下具有最大的变化量。一个冬季分解结束后,表征6种凋落物酸溶性和酸不溶性组分含量相对比例的LCI指数(Lignocellulose index)总体升高,雪被对LCI指数的影响主要表现在雪被覆盖期和融化期,且方枝柏、岷江冷杉和康定柳凋落物LCI在冬季分解后均在厚型雪被达到最高值。同时统计分析结果表明,物种极显著影响冬季不同阶段凋落物酸溶性和酸不溶性组分的变化。这些结果意味着气候变暖情景下,高山森林冬季雪被和冻融格局的改变将显著影响凋落物分解过程中酸溶性、酸不溶性组分以及LCI指数代表的抵抗性组分结构的变化,且影响趋势受到凋落物质量的调控。     

A mechanistic model for understanding invasions: using the environment as a predictor of population success

Aim We set out to develop a temperature‐ and salinity‐dependent mechanistic population model for copepods that can be used to understand the role of environmental parameters in population growth or decline. Models are an important tool for understanding the dynamics of invasive species; our model can be used to determine an organism’s niche and explore the potential for invasion of a new habitat. Location Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Methods We developed a birth rate model to determine the environmental niche for an estuarine copepod. We conducted laboratory experiments to estimate demographic parameters over a range of temperatures and salinities for Eurytemora affinis collected from the Nanaimo Estuary, British Columbia (BC). The parameterized model was then used to explore what environmental conditions resulted in population growth vs. decline. We then re‐parameterized our model using previously published data for E. affinis collected in the Seine Estuary, France (SE), and compared the dynamics of the two populations. Results We established regions in temperature–salinity space where E. affinis populations from BC would likely grow vs. decline. In general, the population from BC exhibited positive and higher intrinsic growth rates at higher temperatures and salinities. The population from SE exhibited positive and higher growth rates with increasing temperature and decreasing salinity. These different relationships with environmental parameters resulted in predictions of complex interactions among temperature, salinity and growth rates if the two subspecies inhabited the same estuary. Main conclusions We developed a new mechanistic model that describes population dynamics in terms of temperature and salinity. This model may prove especially useful in predicting the potential for invasion by copepods transported to Pacific north‐west estuaries via ballast water, or in any system where an ecosystem is subject to invasion by a species that shares demographic characteristics with an established (sub)species.     

A comparison of foliar nutrient concentration in trees from monsoon rainforest and savanna in northern Australia

Abstract Analysis of foliar nutrient concentrations revealed that two mesophyllic monsoon rainforest trees had higher concentrations of most nutrients in leaves than eight savanna species. One of the tested monsoon rainforest species with sclerophyllous leaves had similar nutrient concentrations to the savanna tree species. There were positive or no significant correlations between live foliar nutrient concentration and the percentage of nutrients withdrawn prior to litterfall. The nutrient concentration of litter was similar for most nutrients among tree species of monsoon rainforest or savanna. The results of this study suggest that the relative fertility of surface soils of monsoon rainforest compared with savanna is not determined by contrasting nutrient cycling strategies whereby monsoon rainforest tree species enrich their soils with relatively nutrient rich leaf litter relative to savanna tree species.     

基于随机森林回归的草场植被盖度反演模型研究——以新疆阿勒泰地区布尔津县为例

作为草地资源大国,我国正面临严峻的草场退化形势。掌握草场植被盖度的历史演变趋势,是草场退化驱动力识别及风险评估的基础。目前已有研究多以参数回归方法估算植被盖度,但并未充分考虑其苛刻的使用条件。利用Landsat系列卫星遥感影像及地面植被盖度监测资料建立非参数回归——随机森林回归模型,并与传统线性回归方法进行比较,在此基础上应用随机森林回归模型估算近10年来布尔津县草场植被盖度的变化趋势,并对结果的不确定性进行分析。结果显示:传统的线性回归方法很难满足其基本的统计学假设条件,而随机森林模型不但无需进行假设条件检验,而且预测的准确性也优于以往普遍应用的线性模型。基于Landsat ETM+标准数据得到的反演结果较之TM和OLI数据普遍偏小,地表反射率数据虽然可以大幅降低传感器不同对反演结果所造成的影响,但结果仍存在约±10%的不确定性。涉及的草场类型众多,为了提高反演精度,后续研究需要分别计算其植被指数,并尽量减低传感器差异带来的不确定性。     

雪被覆盖对高山森林凋落物分解过程中水溶性和有机溶性组分含量的影响

季节性雪被可能通过冻结、淋溶以及冻融循环等对高山森林凋落物水溶性和有机溶性组分含量产生影响.本文采用凋落物分解袋法,以川西高山森林典型乔木（四川红杉、岷江冷杉、红桦、方枝柏）和灌木（高山杜鹃、康定柳）凋落物为研究对象,研究了雪被覆盖不同时期（雪被形成期、雪被覆盖期和雪被融化期）和雪被厚度（厚型雪被、中型雪被、薄型雪被和无雪被）下凋落物水溶性和有机溶性组分含量的动态变化特征.结果表明： 在一个冬季的分解过程中,6种凋落物水溶性组分含量在雪被形成期和融化期降低而雪被覆盖期增加,但除高山杜鹃凋落物有机溶性组分含量在雪被覆盖期增加外,其他5种凋落物有机溶性组分含量在整个冬季呈降低趋势.相对于凋落物有机溶性组分含量,不同厚度雪被斑块对凋落物水溶性组分含量变化的影响更大,且主要表现在雪被形成期和雪被覆盖期.相对于其他雪被斑块,薄型雪被斑块更加显著地促进了高山柳和高山杜鹃凋落物水溶性组分含量降低,但显著抑制了方枝柏凋落物水溶性组分含量降低,而其他凋落物水溶性组分含量变化在不同斑块间无显著差异.冬季高山森林雪被对凋落物水溶性和有机溶性组分含量的影响主要受控于凋落物质量.     

Assessing researcher impacts from a long-term sampling program of wetland communities in the Everglades National Park, Florida, U.S.A.

1. Long‐term monitoring requires repeated visits to a study site, greatly increasing the potential for cumulative visitation effects. For ecological studies in general, and for monitoring in particular, data must be evaluated for confounding artefacts from researcher presence. We compared aquatic communities at long‐term sampling plots (nine sites, each with three plots, studied continuously from 6 to 22 years) in the Everglades National Park to previously unsampled reference plots adjacent to them to assess the effects of researcher visitation on the flora and fauna. 2. We identified two criteria that are sensitive to local habitat heterogeneity for assessment of visitation impacts. First, the long‐term plots must differ from adjacent reference plots by a magnitude that exceeded variation among plots separated by equal or greater distance (i.e. the difference is greater than expected by scaling of community change proportional with distance); and second, multiple reference plots must consistently differ in direction (e.g. greater abundance or less abundance) from adjacent long‐term plots. We also tested for increased heterogeneity among samples from long‐term plots compared with those not previously visited. 3. We found no evidence of researcher effects on fish or macroinvertebrates, and only weak evidence for alteration of emergent plants and periphyton floating mats. Our failure to document visitor impacts may result from either low visitation rate or the dynamic nature of the wetlands studied.     

Continental estimates of forest cover and forest cover changes in the dry ecosystems of Africa between 1990 and 2000

Aim

This study provides regional estimates of forest cover in dry African ecoregions and the changes in forest cover that occurred there between 1990 and 2000, using a systematic sample of medium‐resolution satellite imagery which was processed consistently across the continent.

Location

The study area corresponds to the dry forests and woodlands of Africa between the humid forests and the semi‐arid regions. This area covers the Sudanian and Zambezian ecoregions.

Methods

A systematic sample of 1600 Landsat satellite imagery subsets, each 20 km × 20 km in size, were analysed for two reference years: 1990 and 2000. At each sample site and for both years, dense tree cover, open tree cover, other wooded land and other vegetation cover were identified from the analysis of satellite imagery, which comprised multidate segmentation and automatic classification steps followed by visual control by national forestry experts.

Results

Land cover and land‐cover changes were estimated at continental and ecoregion scales and compared with existing pan‐continental, regional and local studies. The overall accuracy of our land‐cover maps was estimated at 87%. Between 1990 and 2000, 3.3 million hectares (Mha) of dense tree cover, 5.8 Mha of open tree cover and 8.9 Mha of other wooded land were lost, with a further 3.9 Mha degraded from dense to open tree cover. These results are substantially lower than the 34 Mha of forest loss reported in the FAO's 2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment for the same period and area.

Main conclusions

Our method generates the first consistent and robust estimates of forest cover and change in dry Africa with known statistical precision at continental and ecoregion scales. These results reduce the uncertainty regarding vegetation cover and its dynamics in these previously poorly studied ecosystems and provide crucial information for both science and environmental policies.     

Altitudinal variation in leaf mass per unit area,leaf tissue density and foliar nitrogen and phosphorus content along an Amazon-Andes gradient in Peru

Background: Leaf traits are important in determining the capacity for a plant to acquire carbon, but few data are available for montane cloud forests in the Andes.

Aims: To investigate the changes in leaf traits along a large altitudinal transect (220–3600 m) from lowland to montane cloud forest in Peru.

Methods: We determined leaf mass per area (LMA, g m^?2), leaf tissue density (L _d, g cm^?3), and foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content, both on a mass (N _m and P _m, %) and area (N _a and P _a, g m^?2) basis for the most abundant species locally.

Results: LMA increased with altitude (62.8–169.4 g m^?2), though overall, LMA was lower than in comparable tropical elevation gradients. N _m declined significantly with altitude (2.39–1.25 %, P < 0.05), but N _m contents were higher than in comparable studies. The relatively high N _m and low LMA values are consistent with published global leaf trait datasets. No altitudinal trend for P _m was found; rather, our data highlighted the spatial variability in P _m (and P _a) within and among sites at different elevations. Foliar N:P ratios did not show a trend with altitude and did not indicate N limitation except at 3000 m altitude.

Conclusions: Though leaf traits showed altitudinal trends similar to other studies, contrary to the general hypothesis, our data suggest that the tropical montane forests presented here are not N limited.     

基于RS与GIS的黄土丘陵沟壑区土地覆盖动态研究

应用遥感与GIS相结合的方法,对陕北黄土高原地区的数字影像进行人-机交互的屏幕解译,得到1990年、2000年的土地利用／覆盖数字地图,以及面积统计结果,分析表明,近10年来该地区建筑和工交用地逐年扩大,耕地面积保持稳定,果园面积显著增加,人工林地和森林覆盖率有较大幅度提高,荒野地占地比重下降,区域生态环境质量得到明显改善。     

Modelling ozone effects on adult beech trees through simulation of defence, damage, and repair costs: Implementation of the CASIROZ ozone model in the ANAFORE forest model

Ozone affects adult trees significantly, but effects on stem growth are hard to prove and difficult to correlate with the primary sites of ozone damage at the leaf level. To simulate ozone effects in a mechanistic way, at a level relevant to forest stand growth, we developed a simple ozone damage and repair model (CASIROZ model) that can be implemented into mechanistic photosynthesis and growth models. The model needs to be parameterized with cuvette measurements on net photosynthesis and dark respiration. As the CASIROZ ozone sub-model calculates effects of the ozone flux, a reliable representation of stomatal conductance and therefore ozone uptake is necessary to allow implementation of the ozone sub-model. In this case study the ozone sub-model was used in the ANAFORE forest model to simulate gas exchange, growth, and allocation. A preliminary run for adult beech (FAGUS SYLVATICA) under different ozone regimes at the Kranzberg forest site (Germany) was performed. The results indicate that the model is able to represent the measured effects of ozone adequately, and to distinguish between immediate and cumulative ozone effects. The results further help to understand ozone effects by distinguishing defence from damage and repair. Finally, the model can be used to extrapolate from the short-term results of the field study to long-term effects on tree growth. The preliminary simulations for the Kranzberg beech site show that, although ozone effects on yearly growth are variable and therefore insignificant when measured in the field, they could become significant at longer timescales (above 5 years, 5 % reduction in growth). The model offers a possible explanation for the discrepancy between the significant effects on photosynthesis (10 to 30 % reductions simulated), and the minor effects on growth. This appears to be the result of the strong competition and slow growth of the Kranzberg forest, and the importance of stored carbon for the adult beech (by buffering effects on carbon gain). We finally conclude that inclusion of ozone effects into current forest growth and yield models can be an important improvement into their overall performance, especially when simulating younger and less dense forests.