Spatial analyses of intertidal assemblages on sheltered rocky shores

Abstract Understanding processes in complex assemblages depends on good understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of structure at various spatial scales. There has been little quantitative information about spatial patterns and natural temporal changes in intertidal assemblages on sheltered rocky shores in temperate Australia. Natural changes and responses to anthropogenic disturbances in these habitats cannot be accurately measured and assessed without quantitative data on patterns of natural variability in space and through time. This paper describes some suitable quantitative methods for examining spatial and temporal patterns of diversity and abundances of highshore, midshore and lowshore intertidal assemblages and the important component species for a number of shores in a bay that has not been severely altered by human disturbance. Despite a diverse flora and fauna on these shores, the midshore and lowshore assemblages on sheltered shores were characterized by a few species which were also the most important in discriminating among assemblages on a shore and, for each assemblage, among different shores. The same set of species was also important for measuring small-scale patchiness within each assemblage (i.e. between replicate sites on a shore). Therefore, these data provide a rationale for selecting species that are useful for measuring differences and changes in abundance among places and times at different scales and, hence, can be used in the more complex sampling designs necessary to detect environmental impacts. There was considerable spatial variability in all assemblages and all species (or taxa) examined at scales of metres, tens of metres and kilometres. There were no clear seasonal trends for most measures, with as much or more variability at intervals of 3 months as from year to year. Most interactions between spatial and temporal measures were at the smallest scale, with different sites on the same shore generally showing different changes from time to time. The cause(s) of this apparently idiosyncratic variability1 were not examined, but some potential causes are discussed. These data are appropriate for testing hypotheses about the applicability of these findings to other relatively undisturbed sheltered shores, about effects of different anthropogenic disturbances on sheltered intertidal assemblages and to test hypotheses about differences in intertidal assemblages on sheltered versus wave-exposed shores.     

刺参养殖池塘水体中浮游病毒的丰度

运用荧光显微技术,于2007年3～11月,对大连市附近4个地区的刺参养殖池塘及相应的海域进行了浮游病毒丰度的监测和分析,对刺参养殖池塘生态系统的浮游病毒丰度在时间、空间分布上的变化进行了探讨。荧光显微观察结果显示,刺参养殖池塘浮游病毒在时间和空间分布上均存在极显著差异（P〈0.01）,8月中旬平均丰度达到峰值,为2.54×10^10个/L,7月下旬浮游病毒的平均丰度最低,为1.43×10^9个/L。复州湾海域的浮游病毒丰度显著高于其他地区,该地区浮游病毒丰度平均达到1.17×10^10个/L,夏家河子地区浮游病毒丰度最低,平均为3.89×10^9个/L。同一刺参养殖池塘中部区域的浮游病毒丰度高于进水和排水口。刺参养殖池塘水体中浮游病毒丰度与养殖池塘所处的海区位置、养殖池塘的密度密切相关。     

中国动物地理亚区繁殖鸟类地理分布格局与时空变化

以中国动物地理亚区统计了1976年郑作新出版的《中国鸟类分布名录》和2005年郑光美主编出版的《中国鸟类分类与分布名录》中繁殖鸟类的分布数据,结果显示:在1976年前,中国鸟类丰富度最高的动物地理亚区为西南山地亚区,其次为滇南山地亚区,而以羌塘高原亚区鸟类物种丰富度最低,黄淮平原亚区次差。2005年,鸟类丰富度最高、次高及最低的亚区与1976年相同,次差的亚区为台湾亚区。自1976年至2005年,鸟类物种丰富度在不同亚区出现明显的增加,平均每个亚区分布物种数由1976年的232种增至2005年的281种,而且具有很大的相关性;其中滇南山地亚区增加种类最多,而羌塘高原亚区和东部草原亚区增加的幅度最大;在海南岛和台湾亚区则变化较小。这些可能是由于物种在不同亚区间存在的可能扩散通道和岛屿型稳定气候及地理隔离限制了物种与其它亚区间的扩散等造成的。这些变化不仅与Leietal.(2007)提出的\"地理隔离\"假设结论比较一致,与雷富民等(2006)提出的西南山地-横断山区为中国鸟类特有种物种多样性中心和西南山地为物种分化中心等观点一致,而且进一步显示西南山地亚区鸟类物种有向滇南山地亚区扩散的现象,并且依然在持续中。用聚类...     

Population dynamics of Turbo militaris (Gastropoda: Turbinidae) on rocky shores in a subtropical marine park: implications for management

Understanding the relative impacts of harvesting across an area such as a marine park is vital if the goals of fisheries management are to be met. Given their accessibility, densities of targeted intertidal turbinids should be relatively simple to quantify; however, natural spatial and temporal variability in these populations has hampered this effort. This study aimed to quantify short-term population dynamics of Turbo militaris in relation to current zoning regulations and accessibility. While our results reflected the variability found by other studies, we also detected significantly lower densities at a headland where harvesting is known to occur, and found a trend towards denser aggregations at more remote locations. Importantly, we found that densities at some locations were so low that current fisheries bag limits may be ineffective for protecting populations at local scales. Comparisons between study sites suggest a combination of no-take zoning and inaccessibility may provide the most effective protection for this species. However, a greater understanding of the wider impacts of harvesting, and processes affecting recovery, are essential to ensure sustainable management of this fishery.     

Cleistogamy as a bet‐hedging strategy in Oxalis acetosella, a perennial herb

1 Phenology and reproduction were studied in three populations of the cleistogamous herb Oxalis acetosella during three growing seasons, in order to see how the balance between chasmogamous (CH) and cleistogamous (CL) reproduction varies with temporal and spatial environmental variation and with plant size. The numbers of CH and CL flower buds, flowers, immature capsules and mature capsules were counted per ramet, ramet sizes were estimated, and mature capsules were collected for seed counts.
2 Both CH and CL flower numbers were positively correlated with ramet size expressed as leaf number, but the correlation was much stronger in the CL phase. CL flower production also varied significantly between years and sites. Thus, CL production in O. acetosella was not independent of resources and climatic variation.
3 When the effects of year and site were taken into account, the probability of an individual flower developing into a mature fruit was not higher in the CL phase than in the CH phase.
4 CL production was affected by fertilization success in the CH phase. Ramets with one or more CH flowers left unfertilized generally produced more CL buds than ramets with all their CH flowers fertilized. The former group also tended to have more seeds per CL capsule.
5 Since reproductive success in the two phases varies in different temporal and spatial patterns, cleistogamy in O. acetosella is considered to be a bet‐hedging strategy optimizing reproductive output in fluctuating environments.
6 The findings of this study are in conflict with the general view on cleistogamy as a fail‐safe mechanism for back‐up seed production, unaffected by variations in resource supply and environmental conditions.     

塿土土壤剖面中N2O浓度的时间和空间变异

用土壤探头法对塿土玉米—小麦轮作体系下不同剖面层次N2O浓度变化进行了2a的田间原位监测。结果表明：塿土土壤剖面中N2O浓度具有较大的时间变异,表现为土壤N2O浓度在一年的不同时期变化较大,以温度高、水分充足的7—8月份为最高,温度较低的冬季最低;全年中土壤剖面中各层N2O浓度在降水或者灌溉后均有一个峰值。从空间上来看,土壤不同剖面层次的N2O浓度的变化以60cm土层最高,表层10cm最低,浓度在剖面中的变化顺序为10cm＜30cm＜150cm＜90cm＜60cm。2a的研究结果相比,降水量较高的1999年土壤剖面各层的N2O浓度较高。2a试验期间对照和施肥处理各土壤层次的变异系数分别为7．1％-29．4％和10．8％-50．9％,其中1999年变异系数分别为20．2％-29．4％和32．11％-50．9％,2000年分别为7．14％-18．4％和10．8％-25．9％。从变异系数上来看,1999年高于2000年;施肥处理高于对照;N2O浓度较高的下层土壤高于10cm表层土壤。两个处理N2O出现的时间和剖面变化趋势相同,但施肥处理各时期、各土层的浓度均高于对照。这些结果充分说明塿土土壤存在明显的反硝化N2O气态损失,施肥显著地增加了其产生量,深层土壤N2O的产生是塿土N2O的一个不容忽视的来源;N2O的产生和排放具有极大的时间和空间变异。     

Spatial and temporal variation in distribution of Gelidium canariensis (Rhodophyta) from natural populations of the Canary Islands

This study was designed to investigate spatial and temporal variation in Gelidium canariensis populations at two shores in northern Gran Canaria during two years. Spatial scales ranged from some hundred meters (distance between shores), 10 to 30 m (distance between plots) to less than 3 m (distance between quadrats). Gelidium individuals were defined as distinct Gelidium clumps. The results show a significant difference in size of clumps between shores, but not on the smaller spatial scales. No significant temporal variation was found. There was no significant temporal or spatial variation in standing crop or density (counts made in quadrats where Gelidium was present, rather than counts for the total shore). Sporophytic and gametophytic clumps were also distinguished by identifying reproductive structures in the field. The total proportion of sporophytes was larger than the proportion of gametophytes, but at a smaller scale there could be a shift in dominance. The survival rate of clumps was similar between shores with a mean survival rate of 85%, but there was a significant difference in recruitment between shores. The results indicate a stable population structure. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

槟榔林冠穿透雨空间格局的时间稳定性

槟榔林是热带地区广泛种植典型经济林,独特的树冠结构改变了穿透雨的空间格局,但针对穿透雨空间格局的时间稳定性研究很少,影响对穿透雨生态效应的认识与调控。以海南岛槟榔林为研究对象,基于33场降雨数据,研究了穿透雨的空间格局及时间特性,结果显示:(1)槟榔树冠内不同位置穿透雨差异极显著(P<0.01),穿透雨率分别为:树干附近(85.6%)、冠幅中央(48.3%)、冠幅边缘(59.8%),穿透雨空间格局表现为向树干附近汇集的特点;不同方位的穿透雨率仅东面显著高于南面(P<0.1),表明风向对穿透雨空间格局具有一定影响。(2)槟榔树冠下各位点穿透雨时间变异程度大(65.7%),但槟榔树冠幅中央穿透雨时间稳定性较好(55.6%),而树干旁边和冠幅边缘穿透雨时间稳定性较差(25%、19.4%),各方位穿透雨的时间稳定性相差不大(约1/3)。(3)距树干距离和降雨量影响穿透雨的时间稳定性,距树干不同距离平均叶片倾斜角度的差异是造成穿透雨在时间上不稳定的关键因素,平均叶片倾斜角度与穿透雨时间不稳定程度呈现显著正相关关系(P<0.05);穿透雨时间稳定性在中等降雨条件下最差,随着降雨量...     

Unpredictability in the facultative association between larvae of Euphilotes enoptes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and ants

Larvae of the lycaenid butterfly, Euphilotes enoptes , are facultatively associated with ants. To determine whether variation in this association is predictable, I documented the proportion of larvae tended by ants and the identity of those ants over a three-year period in two study areas in central Washington state. Each study area contained numerous patches of Eriogonum compositum , the sole host plant of E. enoptes in this region. Using complete censuses and random subsampling, I estimated the dispersion and densities of E. enoptes larvae occupying each patch. The results of these observations indicated significant spatial and temporal variation in the identities of ants tending larvae and the frequency of ant attendance. In addition, early instar larvae were tended less frequently and by smaller ant species, than fourth instar larvae. Although larvae were aggregated at two spatial scales: individual plants within a patch and individual inflorescences on a plant, attendance rates did not vary consistently with aggregation size at either scale. Similarly, attendance rates were independent of the patch-wide density of larvae. I discuss the potential sources of such unpredictable variation and its implications for the evolution of further specialization in this facultative association.     

Spatial and temporal occurrence of invertebrates in a chalk stream,Berkshire, England

The invertebrate assemblages of the River Lambourn and its tributary, the Winterbourne stream, were investigated as part of a broad ecological study prior to water resource development in the catchment. The longitudinal distribution of the invertebrate fauna within the Winterbourne stream was examined in detail and supporting data for the R. Lambourn revealed that the upstream intermittent section of each water course had an invertebrate assemblage which was distinct from the fauna downstream where flow was permanent. Within the perennial zone taxon richness tended to increase downstream.A one-year programme of monthly quantitative sampling on five distinct biotopes (Ranunculus, Berula, Callitriche, gravel and silt) at two contrasted sites (shaded and unshaded) was undertaken in the lower perennial of the R. Lambourn below the confluence with the Winterbourne. On each study site, the taxon richness, numerical abundance and biomass of invertebrates were significantly higher on the three macrophytes than on gravel and silt. There were also statistically significant seasonal changes in the biomass of invertebrates on each site. Estimates of total biomass of invertebrates per site revealed a late spring peak (May/June) and a late autumn (November/December) peak, neither of which coincided with the summer peak biomass of macrophytes. This suggested that, in the lower perennial, the level of food resources (epiphytic algae in late spring and fallen tree leaves plus decaying macrophytes in autumn) rather than available habitat, were a major influence on population levels for most of the year.Quantitative sampling of each biotope on each site continued in June and December only for a period of 8 years (1971–78), during which time the river experienced a minor drought (1973) and a severe drought (1976). The Chironomidae showed a strong positive response to conditions of low flow in June of 1973 and 1976, when exceptionally high densities of larvae were recorded. Although further between-year differences were recorded in several other major components of the invertebrate fauna, which may have been related to conditions of low discharge, they did not have long-term consequences for the fauna in the lower perennial of the R. Lambourn.In contrast, in the upper perennial, the prolonged drought of 1976 resulted in the loss of wetted perimeter and macrophytes, coupled with deposition of silt, all of which had deleterious effects on the invertebrate assemblages. The following year, despite a normal discharge regime and the removal of silt, some submerged macrophytes were slow to return to their pre-drought condition. In the intermittent section, the drought of 1976 resulted in the total loss of flow for a 16 month period instead of a more typical four month period of water loss.Thus, chalk streams encompass within a single system both stable and extreme hydrological regimes which offer unique opportunities for investigating the processes of community formation and maintenance.     

广东省不同区域农田土壤酸化时空变化及其影响因素

基于广东省1980s、2010年以及2015年3期土壤数据,对全省不同区域农田耕作层土壤pH值的时空变异特征进行分析,并初步探讨了可能导致土壤pH变化的因素.结果表明: 不同时期广东全省土壤pH值空间分布格局变化显著. 全省农田土壤在1980s—2010年间,pH整体下降了0.3,呈酸化趋势,2010—2015年,土壤pH上升了0.09,但不均匀势态有所增强,酸碱分化趋势较明显. 从各区域看,1980s—2010年,各区域土壤均呈现酸化趋势;2010—2015年,珠三角地区农田土壤pH均值上升了0.27,而东、西两翼土壤pH均值分别下降了0.05、0.15,山区土壤pH变化不明显. 分析表明:广东省各地区土壤酸化除受土壤自身及降水等自然因素影响外,酸雨、不合理施肥以及高产作物高复种的种植结构等人为因素也是导致土壤酸化的主要原因;工业化、城市化、矿山开发和测土配方施肥的推广导致局部地区土壤pH值有所上升. 研究结果可为不同区域控制缓解土壤酸化、提高耕地质量提供理论指导.