First record of the host plant and larvae of Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Lanyu Island,Taiwan

Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno, 1930, a legally protected species in Taiwan, is endemic to Lanyu Island (Orchid Island) and Ludao Island (Green Island). Because of its unclear life history, the host and immature stages of this species in the wild have not so far been recorded. On Lanyu Island, we recently identified Barringtonia asiatica as a host plant of P. sonani, with several larvae feeding on its xylem. Herein, we describe its biology and the habitat surrounding the host plant.     

Notes on some plant-inhabiting fungi collected from the Nansei Islands (2)

In this paper, four fungi collected in Nansei Islands are reported. One is Strasseria garciniae, which must be transferred to the genus Phyllosticta. This fungus was collected in Okinawa Main Island and Iriomote Island. The other three fungi are newly added to the Japanese fungal flora. Phyllosticta ghaesembillae on Codiaeum variegatum and Cercospora asplenii on Asplenium antiquum were collected in Yoron Island. The last one, Coniella australiensis on Eucalyptus robusta was collected in Okinawa Main Island. Their morphology and symptoms on the host plant are described, with some mycological notes.     

Index to new names, combinations and emendation appearing in Mycoscience 51 (2)

In this paper, four fungi collected in Nansei Islands are reported. One is Strasseria garciniae, which must be transferred to the genus Phyllosticta. This fungus was collected in Okinawa Main Island and Iriomote Island. The other three fungi are newly added to the Japanese fungal flora. Phyllosticta ghaesembillae on Codiaeum variegatum and Cercospora asplenii on Asplenium antiquum were collected in Yoron Island. The last one, Coniella australiensis on Eucalyptus robusta was collected in Okinawa Main Island. Their morphology and symptoms on the host plant are described, with some mycological notes.     

枸杞岛海域表层水真菌群落多样性研究

通过扩增子测序,分析了枸杞岛附近海域表层水中真菌群落组成及其多样性特征。结果表明,枸杞岛周围海域真菌群落组成稳定,优势真菌菌门为子囊菌门(Ascomycota),优势菌纲为座囊菌纲(Dothideomycetes),优势真菌属包括Hortaea、青霉菌属(Penicillium)、曲霉菌属(Aspergillus)。其中丰度最高的OTU1765属于威尼克外瓶霉（Hortaea werneckii）,经FUNGuild功能预测发现这是一种潜在的人类和植物病原真菌。枸杞岛附近海域表层水中真菌群落的生态功能组成比较丰富,主要为植物病原菌和未明确的腐生真菌。研究结果揭示了枸杞岛附近海域表层水中的真菌群落组成特点,为枸杞岛附近海域表层水中微生物资源的开发利用及环境保护提供参考。     

森林采伐对尖峰岭海南特有种子植物多样性的影响

特有种子植物是热带森林植物区系的一个重要组成部分,且很容易受到人为干扰的影响,但是森林采伐对特有种子植物的影响少有报道。本文基于164个25m×25m植被公里网格样地数据,分析了海南岛尖峰岭地区海南特有种子植物(以下简称特有种子植物)的组成结构、样地内特有种子植物物种数与总物种数之间的关系;并从种-面积曲线、累积种-个体关系和物种多度分布3个方面比较了原始林、径级择伐林和皆伐林样地中特有种子植物的物种多样性变化规律。结果显示:尖峰岭地区特有种子植物种类丰富,共有158种,占全岛(397种)的40%;其中木本特有种子植物达98种(藤本除外),在164个样地内共记录到胸径≥1.0cm的52种,占整个尖峰岭地区的53%,以樟科、壳斗科、茜草科种类为主。样地内特有种子植物的物种数与总物种数成正相关关系。采伐后特别是径级择伐后特有种子植物物种数略微增加,但增加的种类大多仅在1-2个样地中出现;而且种群也比较小,表现为较稀有且不稳定的种群结构特征,在后续的更新中消失的可能性较大。但是,采伐后一些特有种子植物仍具有中等大小的种群,例如毛荔枝(Nephelium topengii)、海南紫荆木(Madhucaha inanensis)和尖峰岭锥(Castanopsis jianfenglingen-sis)等。     

Effects of fire on the structure and composition of open eucalypt forests

Abstract Fires are integral to the healthy functioning of most ecosystems and are often poorly understood in policy and management, however, the relationship between floristic composition and habitat structure is intrinsically linked, particularly after fire. The aim of this study was to test whether the variability of habitat structure or floristic composition and abundance in forests at a regional scale can be explained in terms of fire frequency using historical data and experimental prescribed burns. We tested this hypothesis in open eucalypt forests of Fraser Island off the east coast of Australia. Fraser Island dunes show progressive stages in plant succession as access to nutrients decreases across the Island. We found that fire frequency was not a good predictor of floristic composition or abundance across dune systems; rather, its affects were dune specific. In contrast, habitat structure was strongly influenced by fire frequency, independent of dune system. A dense understorey occurred in frequently burnt areas, whereas infrequently burnt areas had a more even distribution of plant heights. Plant communities returned to pre‐burn levels of composition and abundances within 6 months of a fire and frequently burnt areas were dominated by early successional species of plant. These ecosystems were characterized by low diversity and frequently burnt areas on the east coast were dominated by Pteridium. Greater midstorey canopy cover in low frequency areas reduces light penetration and allows other species to compete more effectively with Pteridium. Our results strongly indicate that frequent fires on the Island have resulted in a decrease in relative diversity through dominance of several species. Prescribed fire represents a powerful management tool to shape habitat structure and complexity of Fraser Island forests.     

Establishment and host records of Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae) in the Sakishima Islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago,Japan, with notes on its worldwide distribution

The monophlebid scale insect Icerya aegyptiaca is reported for the first time in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, where it was found in four islands: Kurima Island, Kuro Island, Miyako Island and Yonaguni Island. Icerya aegyptiaca was collected from 36 plant species belonging to 23 families. Information on the distribution and natural enemies of I. aegyptiaca and a key to separate known species of Icerya occurring in Japan are provided.     

Survivorship after flowering and flowering synchronicity of three cultivated Strobilanthes flexicaulis individuals from Iriomote Island,Japan

Strobilanthes flexicaulis in Iriomote Island, Japan, is a monocarpic perennial plant, which is thought to be an intermediate evolutionary state from a polycarpic perennial plant to a periodical mass-flowering plant. It remains unclear whether the intermediate reproductive traits are altered by cutting propagation or disbudding treatment (flower bud removal). To evaluate whether these traits are affected by such treatments, three individuals of S. flexicaulis from Iriomote Island were cultivated, and their flowering patterns and survivorship were observed. The monocarpic trait seemed to have been altered into a polycarpic trait by cultivation. The disbudding treatment was not related to the survivorship. The initiation of flowering was synchronized, but the termination of the second flowering period was variable among the three individuals and between the treatments. S. flexicaulis on Iriomote Island seemed to have individual variation in reproductive traits. This variation may result in their intermediate evolutionary state.     

Determining host plant preferences for the critically endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dryococelus australis</Emphasis>) to assist reintroduction

The Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus australis) is one of the world’s rarest insects. However, the opportunity to reintroduce the species to Lord Howe Island, and commence the path to recovery, may occur within the next 5 years. Understanding the insect’s host plant and habitat preferences on Lord Howe Island is critical to maximising the likelihood of reintroduction success. However, very little ecological information was documented before the species became extinct on the island in the 1930s. Here we examine the Lord Howe Island stick insect’s preference for potential host plants, a key aspect of habitat suitability. We conducted preference trials using 15 common plant species found on Lord Howe Island. Both nymphs and adults consumed some but not all of these plant species. Nymphs were able to survive on 7 of these 15 plants for the duration of the 26-day trials although failed to survive on some of the plants most preferred by adults. Overall, these data reveal that there are numerous plants on Lord Howe Island that the stick insect can consume, though their suitability varies with different developmental stages of the insect. These data are encouraging for any future reintroduction attempts and would greatly aid the selection and monitoring of release sites.     

外马廊山岛植被特性与植物多样性

该研究对无居民海岛舟山外马廊山岛进行初步踏勘,了解该岛植被特征与植物多样性,探讨海岛植被与大陆植被的差异性,并对海岛植物的主要植物组成、生活型结构、地理成分、群落类型以及多样性和相似性进行了分析。结果表明:外马廊山岛面积小,共有33科51属55种植物,植物种类偏少,留存有普陀狗哇花,滨柃,厚叶石斑木等具有滨海特色植物,具有开发潜力。外马廊山岛热带成分较为明显,与附近地区较为相似。岛上群落优势种或建群种的科为山茶科,大戟科,松科等,与大陆的常绿阔叶林的优势种或建群种的优势科如樟科,金缕梅科,壳斗科,山茶科等不大相同。岛上植物主要以高位芽植物为主(58.18%),但较大陆常绿阔叶林的高位芽植物比例要低。外马廊山岛植物群落结构简单,植物多样性相对较低,物种丰富较低,主要原因在于生态适应性和演替过程的差异,岛上植物群落演替至稳定群落还需要相当一段时间。外来种比例占9.09%,外来种如黑松和红鸡竹能形成群落或在群落中具有较为明显的优势,并可能会造成一定的生态干扰。     

Probable long distance dispersal of Leptinella plumosa Hook.f. to Heard Island: habitat, status and discussion of its arrival

During the 2003–2004 austral summer the number of vascular plant species recorded from Heard Island rose from 11 to 12 with the discovery of one small plant of Leptinella plumosa Hook.f. (Asteraceae), an indigenous subantarctic species. It is described and its habitat, likely status and possible means of arrival on the island are discussed. We conclude that the species probably arrived by natural means with a seabird as its most likely dispersal vector. The life history and biology of L. plumosa indicates its likely persistence on Heard Island.     

广州长洲岛植物多样性研究

通过实地调查,对广州长洲岛的植物多样性进行研究。据统计,该岛野生维管束植物共有487种,隶属于127科358属,植被主要为次生性常绿阔叶林及人工植被(果园)。对岛上野生植物的多样性和区系地理进行分析,结果表明:该岛物种集中于少数科内,科属的优势现象明显。在植物区系上,该区具有较强的热带性,但温带成分也有一定程度的入侵。最后对岛上植物多样性的保护提出建议。     

Restricted plant species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie and Heard Islands

The recent distributional history of two Macquarie Island vascular plant species, Carex trifida, Poa litorosa, and the Heard Island vascular plant, Ranunculus crassipes is examined. C. trifida is known from only one small population on the north west coast of Macquarie Island. Four populations of P. litorosa were first recorded in the 1980s; we believe however, that it was first observed, but misidentified in the 1950s. R. crassipes was first discovered on Heard Island in the late 1980s. We argue that all three species are indigenous and arrived on their respective islands within the last 200 years by natural processes, most likely from warmer neighbouring islands, where these species have more extensive distributions. There have been small-scale changes in distribution of all species, mainly expansion. Further expansion of all three species is expected as a response to warming climate. Feral rabbit grazing is having a confounding negative influence on populations of P. litorosa.     

Chloroplast DNA assessment of anagenetic speciation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus takesimensis</Emphasis> (Rosaceae) on Ulleung Island,Korea

Two major modes of speciation, i.e., cladogenesis and anagenesis, have often been used to explain the generation of distinct plant diversity on oceanic islands. Anagenetic speciation is of particular interest to plant endemics on Ulleung Island, Korea because, of nearly 40 endemics, approximately 88% or even all endemic species are thought to be anagenetically derived. Despite its important role in Ulleung Island, the full scope of the anagenetic speciation and the genetic consequences of this speciation mode have been limited to a very few families (i.e., Apiaceae, Sapindaceae, and Ranunculaceae). Based on extensive sampling (a total of 322 individuals) and trnL-F cpDNA noncoding sequences, we conducted phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses for the species pair of Rubus crataegifolius (continental progenitor)-R. takesimensis (insular derivative). Rubus takesimensis on Ulleung Island is not a monophyletic group, suggesting at least two independent introductions from geographically and genetically divergent source populations. No significant reduction in cpDNA haplotype diversity and genetic differentiation in R. takesimensis are consistent with expectations from the anagenetically derived species. A further study based on comprehensive sampling and more variable molecular markers will shed light into the genetic consequences of anagenetic speciation in Rubus on Ulleung Island.     

Enemy release does not increase performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirsium</Emphasis> <Emphasis Type="Italic">arvense</Emphasis> in New Zealand

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Californian, Canada, or creeping thistle) is an exotic perennial herb indigenous to Eurasia that successfully established in New Zealand (NZ) approximately 130 years ago. Presently, C. arvense is considered one of the worst invasive weeds in NZ arable and pastoral productions systems. A mechanism commonly invoked to explain the apparent increased vigour of introduced weeds is release from natural enemies. The enemy-release hypothesis (ERH) predicts that plants in an introduced range should experience reduced herbivory, particularly from specialists, and that release from this natural enemy pressure facilitates increased plant performance in the introduced range. In 2007, surveys were carried out in 13 populations in NZ (7 in the North Island and 6 in the South Island) and in 12 populations in central Europe to quantify and compare growth characteristics of C. arvense in its native versus introduced range. Altitude and mean annual precipitation for each population were used as covariates in an attempt to explain differences or similarities in plant traits among ranges. All plant traits varied significantly among populations within a range. Shoot dry weight was greater in the South Island compared to Europe, which is in line with the prediction of increased plant performance in the introduced range; however, this was explained by environmental conditions. Contrary to expectations, the North Island was not different from Europe for all plant traits measured, and after adjustment for covariates showed decreased shoot density and dry weight compared to the native range. Therefore, environmental factors appear to be more favourable for growth of C. arvense in both the North and South Islands. In accordance with the ERH, there was significantly greater endophagous herbivory in the capitula and stems of shoots in Europe compared to both NZ ranges. In NZ, capitulum attack from Rhinocyllus conicus was found only in the North Island, and no stem-mining attack was found anywhere in NZ. Thus, although C. arvense experiences significantly reduced natural enemy pressure in both the North and South Islands of NZ there is no evidence that it benefits from this enemy release.     

广东内伶仃岛猕猴食性及食源植物分析

论文对内伶仃岛猕猴(Macaca mulatta)的植物食性进行了全面调查,并测定了食源植物适食部分的比重。研究结果表明:(1)猕猴食源植物约200种,以叶食性、果食性最为丰富;(2)猕猴的活动区域以阔叶林、灌木林等植被类型为主;(3)食源植物以热带亚热带成分为主,与栖息地植被组成特征相适应;(4)内伶仃岛猕猴种群发展的容纳量最适为820～1640只(平均1230只),而以743～1485只(平均1114只)最为合适,其总食量约相当于适食性优质植物资源总蕴藏量的10%～20%。     

Fire‐related cues and germination from the soil seed bank of senescent remnants of mallee vegetation on Eastern Kangaroo Island

Plant communities dominated by narrow‐leaved mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) are almost entirely confined to north‐eastern Kangaroo Island, South Australia, an area which has been extensively cleared for agriculture. Consequently, surviving examples consist mostly of small remnants which are thought to be senescent due to the exclusion of fire. This senescence is associated with the loss of many native understory species. Prescribed burns have been suggested as a management tool to stimulate the restoration of native plants from the soil seed bank; however, no seed bank studies have previously been conducted on Kangaroo Island and the seed bank literature usually focuses on particular species rather than on plant communities. We conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of the fire‐related cues heat and smoke on the germination of plants from the seed bank in soil sampled from 10 long‐ungrazed narrow‐leaved mallee sites on Kangaroo Island. Eighty trays of soil were monitored in a controlled glasshouse for five months after being subjected to heat and/or smoke treatments. The overall number of native, but not exotic, plant species germinating from the soil seed bank was significantly increased by all three fire‐related treatments (heat, smoke and heat plus smoke) compared with the control (no fire‐related treatment). Different plant life forms exhibited varying responses to heat and smoke treatments. The results of this study illustrate that the application of fire‐related treatments to soil seed banks in controlled glasshouse conditions can stimulate the recruitment of native species, including several species of conservation concern. These findings also indicate the potential of using these treatments for the ex situ germination of fire dependent species for revegetation purposes and indicate aspects of prescribed burns that may be important for restoring different components of native vegetation.     

Phytophagous insect-woody sprout interactions in tropical eucalypt forest. I. Insect herbivory

Abstract Foliar insect damage levels on woody sprouts in the ground layer of two tropical eucalypt forest communities on Melville Island were between 7.8 and 43.2%. Of eight common tree species, Eucalyptus confertiflora was damaged most by insects and Buchanania obovata and Terminalia ferdinandiana the least. Seasonal trends in insect damage were not consistent between plant species and were not always consistent between vegetation types for a particular plant species. The results of this study are not consistent with hypotheses suggesting that insect grazing is a critical determinant of tree species dominance or woody sprout dormancy.     

中国南海北部不同岛屿植被与土壤的耦合协调发展度

植被和土壤是陆地生态系统两个重要的组成部分,二者相互影响相互促进,探明两者的耦合协调关系是生态恢复与重建的顺利实施的关键。基于中国南海北部大庙墩岛、涠洲岛、大汉三墩岛、甘蔗岛和蜈支洲岛等个海岛的典型植被群落植被土壤的全面调查和取样分析,建立10个植被因子和14个土壤因子的2级层次指标体系,采用层析分析法确定各因子的权重,构建5个海岛植被土壤耦合度和耦合协调度模型。结果表明,不同岛屿的植被土壤耦合度和耦合协调度模型并不完全对应,植被与土壤的综合指数在不同岛屿中也不完全一致,甘蔗岛的植被效应和大汉三墩岛的土壤效应最佳。中国南海北部5个岛屿的植被土壤耦合协调状况较好,均处于初、中级协调发展状态,且除甘蔗岛外处于植被土壤同步型。总的来说,由于岛屿远离内陆,人类干扰相对较小,在植被土壤长期的演替过程中,中国南海北部岛屿植被土壤耦合协调较好,在其恢复与生态重建时要注重提高植物多样性、抚育水平和土壤管理水平。     

海南岛维管植物物种多样性的现状

热带岛屿的植物多样性一直是全球生物多样性保护的重点和热点。海南岛地处热带北缘, 是中国的第二大岛屿, 具有丰富的植物多样性。经过近几十年的考察研究, 关于海南岛的植物物种数量出现了多个版本。本文通过文献梳理和野外考证的方法进行了全面的植物多样性调查, 以确定其维管植物种数。结果表明: 截止到2015年12月, 海南岛记录并能考证实物或标本的维管植物共有6,036种, 包括野生种4,579种(含特有植物483种和珍稀濒危植物512种)、外来逸生及归化植物163种(含外来入侵种57种)、外来引种的纯栽培植物1,294种。自1964-1977年《海南植物志》出版至今, 新增野生及引种的栽培植物所占的比例均较大, 分别占海南岛野生和栽培植物总种数的35.9%和75.9%。本文还对其中1,220种的拉丁学名进行了异名处理等的订正。