埋藏点深度、间距及大小对花鼠发现向日葵种子的影响

2005 年5 ～6 月,在北京东灵山地区,通过在实验围栏内设置不同深度、间距和大小的埋藏点,研究了花鼠对向日葵种子的发现率。结果表明,花鼠发现埋藏种子的比例随埋藏深度的增加而减少,埋藏深度> 5 cm后,发现比例较低,且不再有明显变化;花鼠发现埋藏种子的比例随埋藏点间距的减小而增加,埋藏点间距<0.5 m后,发现比例较高,且不再有明显变化;花鼠发现埋藏种子的比例随着埋藏点增大而增加,埋藏点种子> 5 g后,发现比例较高,且不再有明显变化。     

同种或异种干扰对花鼠分散贮藏点选择的影响

同种和异种干扰竞争可以增强花鼠(Tamias sibiricus)分散贮食强度,但对其贮藏点选择的影响还不清楚.在半自然围栏内,研究了同种(干扰源为不同性别花鼠)或异种(干扰源为大林姬鼠,Apodemus peninsulae)干扰竞争对花鼠贮藏点选择的影响.结果发现:(1)同种和异种干扰竞争均显著降低了花鼠在高竞争区内的贮藏比例;(2)同种个体存在时,雌性花鼠显著降低了在高竞争区内的贮藏比例,雄性花鼠则显著增加了在中竞争区的埋藏比例.结果表明,花鼠贮藏食物时会避开高竞争区域以降低同种或异种的盗食损失,同时雌雄个体对同种竞争干扰的响应有所差异.     

贮藏温度和种子含水量对洋葱种子发芽率的影响

贮藏温度低于15℃时,温度对洋葱种子发芽率影响变小,种子含水量低于8.8%时,其衰老过程变慢,高含水量种子在高温下贮存,衰老过程加快,含水量为100%和13%的种子在25℃下贮存分别不到5个月和2个月就失去商品性。     

围栏条件下花鼠找寻种子的途径和方式

2009年8月和2010年8月,在黑龙江省带岭区东方红林场半天然围栏内研究了花鼠(Eutamias sibiricus)对地表放置和埋藏种子的发现过程,摸清围栏条件下花鼠找寻种子信号的途径和方式.实验步骤如下:第1天在花鼠巢区对角每释放点地表放置1粒标记种子,共30粒;第2天在巢区对角每释放点埋藏1粒标记种子,共30粒...     

种子大小对小泡巨鼠贮藏行为的影响

以小泡巨鼠为研究对象,在围栏条件下,测定小泡巨鼠对大小两种栓皮栎种子的贮藏行为差异,以检验最优贮藏空间模型的两个预测:(1)大种子(高价值食物)的贮藏率大于小种子(低价值食物);(2)大种子的贮藏距离远于小种子.结果表明:大种子的搬运比例(39%)多于小种子(21.5%),多数的小种子(53%)被取食,大种子的贮藏比率(16%)远大于小种子(7%),上述结果支持模型的预测(1).但是,不同大小种子在贮藏距离上没有显著差异,因而预测(2)没有被支持.实验结果表明种子价值对鼠类的取食和贮藏行为有十分重要的影响,但围栏空间可能影响对模型预测(2)的检验.     

洋葱种子含水量与贮藏温度对其寿命的影响

不同含水量（MC 7．1％－1．2）的洋葱种子贮藏在35℃、室温、15℃和5℃条件下1－3年,适度超于处理能延长种子的贮藏寿命;种子的贮藏寿命与种子含水量和贮藏温度密切相关。种子贮藏的最适含水量随温度的改变而发生相应的变化,35℃时MC为3．4％;室温时为3．4％－3．5％;15℃时为4．5％－5．1％。MC≤2．2％不利于延长种子寿命。在室温自然条件下贮藏1－3年,适度超干种子（MC3．4％）内MDA和H2O2含量、O2^-产生速率和LOX活性明显地低于未超干种子（MC7．1％）和高度超干种子（MC1．2％）,而抗氧化酶AsA-POD 、CAT和SOD的活性显著地高于未超干种子（MC7．1％）和高度超干种子（MC1．2％）。据此认为对脂质过氧化的抑制作用是适度超干种子耐贮藏的生理原因之一。     

四种昼行性动物取食和贮藏红松种子的行为比较

于2005年10月1~7日,采用全时焦点观察法研究了黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区19林班原始红松林内松鼠(Sciurus vulgaris)、星鸦(Nucifraga caryocatactes)、花鼠(Eutamias sibiricus)和普通(Sitta europaea)4种昼行性动物取食和贮藏红松种子的行为。结果表明①4种动物的取食和贮藏过程包括找寻、松塔的处理与种子剥食、松塔和种子的搬运、确定贮藏点、掩藏和警戒等6个环节,但它们在6个环节所耗费的时间均存在较大差异;②4种动物的种子消耗量亦存在较大差异(χ2=144.67,df=3,P<0.05),松鼠、星鸦、花鼠和普通每次平均取食红松种子的数量分别为40.0粒、20.9粒、16.7粒和1.3粒。松鼠与星鸦能够在地面和树冠层取食或收获红松松塔及种子,而花鼠与普通则主要在地面取食;③4种动物贮藏种子的能力亦有较大差异(χ2=68.76,df=3,P<0.05Kruskal-Wallis),松鼠、星鸦和普通主要分散贮藏红松种子,松鼠和星鸦的贮藏量最多,而花鼠很少分散贮藏种子,但能将许多红松种子集中贮藏在少数的贮藏点;④取食松籽的种间竞争强烈,在红松林的垂直高度上,松鼠和星鸦具有高度重叠的取食生态位,花鼠和普通因为种群数量大,对地面种子库的消耗量较大。分析结果显示,松鼠与星鸦是红松种子扩散的传播者,普通是种子消耗者兼传播者,而花鼠则近乎是完全的捕食者。     

洋葱种子含水量与贮藏温度对其寿命的影响

不同含水量（MC7.1％～1.2％）的洋葱种子贮藏在35℃、室温、15℃和5℃条件下1～3年,适度超干处理能延长种子的贮藏寿命;种子的贮藏寿命与种子含水量和贮藏温度密切相关。种子贮藏的最适含水量随温度的改变而发生相应的变化,35℃时MC为3.4％;室温时为3.4％～4.5％;15℃时为4.5%～5.1％。MC≤2.2％不利于延长种子寿命。在室温自然条件下贮藏1～3年,适度超干种子（MC3.4％）内MDA和H2O2含量、O－*2产生速率和LOX活性明显地低于未超干种子（MC7.1％）和高度超干种子（MC1.2％）,而抗氧化酶AsA-POD、CAT和SOD的活性显著地高于未超干种子（MC7.1％）和高度超干种子（MC1.2％）。据此认为对脂质过氧化的抑制作用是适度超干种子耐贮藏的生理原因之一。     

锐齿槲栎橡子埋藏深度对发芽、幼苗出土和发育的影响

锐齿槲栎（Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata Maxim.)林内活动的许多型哺乳动物和鸟类不仅采食橡子,而且还常窖贮或在土壤大量的橡 子以便季后利用。这些埋藏的橡子构成了发育有效更新苗的主要种子来源。橡子被埋藏的深度和橡子的大小对幼苗的发育有潜在的影响。把橡子埋藏在6、12和18cm3个土层深度的实验结果显示：随着埋藏深度的增加,橡子的发芽率和发芽橡子的幼苗出土率都有明显下降,由深埋橡胶子发育的幼苗出土比较困难,所需时间较长,也更易腐烂,橡子的大小对发芽和幼苗出土没有明显的影响,早出土幼苗在第一个生长季内由于有较长的生长发育期,季末发育得较好,所以,由浅埋橡子发育的幼苗在更新成功方面有优势。     

贮藏种子的啮齿动物对油茶种子沉积形式的影响

种子沉积的质量常常涉及种子扩散作用者(如鸟类和小型啮齿动物)对生境和微生境的选择以及种子沉积的形式(如种子埋藏)。然而,很少的研究涉及到种子在离开母树后被这些动物沉积在何处。在四川省都江堰一个实验林场的2个林分(次生林和原生林)内,通过追踪用带编号的金属薄片标记的油茶(CamelliaoleiferaAbel.)种子的命运,研究了贮藏种子的啮齿动物对种子沉积的影响。研究发现在2个林分内,80%以上的种子被很好地埋藏在0~60mm深的土壤中,而小部分种子则被放置在地表(但有少量落叶遮盖)。小型啮齿动物喜好在灌丛下或灌丛边缘贮藏和取食种子,可能是在这样的微生境下它们在觅食时将遭遇较小的捕食风险。研究还发现,贮藏点的微生境分布随贮藏点等级而逐渐变化在两个林分内较高等级的贮藏点(如次贮藏点和三级贮藏点)比初级贮藏点有更多的种子被贮藏在灌丛下或灌丛边缘。这表明,啮齿动物对油茶种子的埋藏可能更有益于种子的存活、萌发以及幼苗的建成。啮齿动物将散落在母树下或其附近的油茶种子扩散到不同的微生境,这可能有利于他们遭遇到更多的适宜环境而萌发,实现幼苗补充。     

Arctic mosses govern below-ground environment and ecosystem processes

Mosses dominate many northern ecosystems and their presence is integral to soil thermal and hydrological regimes which, in turn, dictate important ecological processes. Drivers, such as climate change and increasing herbivore pressure, affect the moss layer thus, assessment of the functional role of mosses in determining soil characteristics is essential. Field manipulations conducted in high arctic Spitsbergen (78° N), creating shallow (3 cm), intermediate (6 cm) and deep (12 cm) moss layers over the soil surface, had an immediate impact on soil temperature in terms of both average temperatures and amplitude of fluctuations. In soil under deep moss, temperature was substantially lower and organic layer thaw occurred 4 weeks later than in other treatment plots; the growing season for vascular plants was thereby reduced by 40%. Soil moisture was also reduced under deep moss, reflecting the influence of local heterogeneity in moss depth, over and above the landscape-scale topographic control of soil moisture. Data from field and laboratory experiments show that moss-mediated effects on the soil environment influenced microbial biomass and activity, resulting in warmer and wetter soil under thinner moss layers containing more plant-available nitrogen. In arctic ecosystems, which are limited by soil temperature, growing season length and nutrient availability, spatial and temporal variation in the depth of the moss layer has significant repercussions for ecosystem function. Evidence from our mesic tundra site shows that any disturbance causing reduction in the depth of the moss layer will alleviate temperature and moisture constraints and therefore profoundly influence a wide range of ecosystem processes, including nutrient cycling and energy transfer.     

A controlled water-table depth system to study the influence of fine-scale differences in water regime for plant growth

A method was developed to maintain water-table depths at a constant level in outdoor mesocosms. The system included a water treatment reservoir, where tap water was microbially deoxygenated and denitrified; an adjustable-level control chamber that set desired water-table depths and plant growing mesocosms.The soil water status was evaluated by constant monitoring using tensiometers, pressure transducers and dipwells. The robustness of the system was tested by inducing sudden incidents of flooding and drainage. The system was able to revert to the original set water-table depths within 5 and 10 min, respectively. It also reliably sustained consistent water-table depths throughout the growing season without the need for maintenance.As an example, the method was used to grow plants at five set water-table depths: 50, 150, 250, 350, and 450 mm below ground surface. Two wet grassland species Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue), and Carex nigra (common sedge) were grown and dry biomass production recorded. Results showed differences in growth response between the two species to subjected water-table depths. In monoculture, F. pratensis production followed the order 50 = 150 = 350 > 250 = 450 mm (p < 0.001), while for C. nigra it was 150 = 250 > 50 = 350 = 450 mm (p < 0.001). In mixture, F. pratensis did not show a significant trend (p < 0.06), whereas C. nigra showed 50 = 150 > 250 > 350 = 450 mm (p < 0.001).The ease of the system to establish constant and/or dynamic water-table depths and its reliability outdoors renders it useful for a wide variety of studies involving plant growth.     

啮齿动物的分散贮食行为

食物贮藏是许多动物重要的适应性行为,分散贮藏的食物以植物种子为主。每个贮藏点贮藏数量不等的食物项目。啮齿动物分散贮藏食物之后,可降低食物被其他个体获取的机率,提高对食物资源的控制能力,最终有利于自身的生存和繁殖成功。植物种子被贮藏之后,可减少非贮食鼠类对种子的取食。同时,合适的微生境和埋藏有利于种子萌发、幼苗建成和植物的更新;使植物的分布区得以扩展。探讨啮齿动物的分散贮食行为,能够更好地理解食物贮藏在啮齿动物生活史中的作用,进一步认识鼠类和植物的相互关系以及不同啮齿动物在群落形成中的潜在作用。本综述了啮齿动物分散贮食的研究进展,并提出今后工作中的几点建议。     

塔里木河冲积平原胡杨林的土壤水分状况研究

通过英巴扎断面实测资料,对塔里木河冲积平原胡杨(Populus euphratica)林的土壤水分状况进行了研究。结果表明：在胡杨幼林区域,地下水埋深1～2m,水质为1～3g·L-1的微咸水,且此区域可被洪水漫溢,整个土壤剖面土壤含水率都很高,利于胡杨种子萌发与植株扎根。在胡杨青壮林区域,地下水埋深2.5～4m,但地下水水质仍为1～3g·L-1。由于多数年份不能被洪水漫溢,土壤表层水分含量低,此区域难以满足胡杨幼林对水分的需求。但是,对于胡杨青壮林来说,它能够吸收2.5～4m深的土壤水分,因而此区域可以满足它的生长要求。在胡杨衰败林区域,地下水埋深已达5～10m,不能满足胡杨生长的要求,使得胡杨在逐步枯萎和衰败。     

Mechanisms of cache retrieval in long-term hoarding birds

Food hoarding and memory have primarily been studied in two bird families, the Corvidae (crows, jays, nutcrackers, etc.) and the Paridae (tits, titmice and chickadees). In both families there are species that hoard large quantities of seeds and nuts in the autumn and depend on these stores during the winter. Caches are concealed or highly inconspicuous and the most efficient way to retrieve them is to remember the exact locations. However, a long-term memory for a large number of caches may be physiologically expensive, and especially after long retention intervals, an alternative strategy could be to retrieve caches by cheaper but less efficient methods. Very few studies have been designed to investigate the decay of the memory in birds, but both field observations and experiments point in the same direction: although long-term hoarding corvids seem to possess an accurate long-term memory, long-term hoarding parids do not appear to. I discuss possible reasons for this and suggest that differences between the families in their degree of dependence on stored food or/and size-related limitations of brain capacity may be important.