How do dams affect freshwater fish distributions in Japan? Statistical analysis of native and nonnative species with various life histories

We examined the effects of dams on freshwater fish species based on data collected during 1990–2004 from 200 drainage systems in Japan. Of the 76 fish species examined, the occurrence of 20 species within Petromyzontidae, Cyprinidae, Cobitididae, Salmonidae, Cottidae, and Gobiidae was negatively affected by the presence of dams located in the downstream reaches of fish survey sites, whereas the occurrence of 12 species within Cyprinidae, Adrianichthyidae, Centrarchidae, and Gobiidae was positively associated with the presence of dams. A significantly higher proportion of the fishes with a negative damming effect were diadromous species as compared to the fishes with a positive damming effect. Conversely, the latter group had a significantly higher proportion of nonnative species than the former. A significant interaction existed between the effects of damming and the effects of elevation on family-specific species richness. Families dominated by native migratory species showed a greater reduction in the number of species above dams at lower elevations, whereas families represented primarily by nonnative species had higher species richness above dams at higher elevations, except for Centrarchidae, which was always higher in species richness above dams regardless of elevation. Based on our findings, dams in Japan have adversely affected native freshwater fishes by blocking their migration routes, favoring nonnative fishes, or altering existing habitats.     

Fractal dimension of birds population sizes time series

Information about fractal dimension is collected so that it can be applied to time series interpreting Hurst coefficient. The population size of a species is modelled as a dynamic system. The Hurst coefficient is calculated for these times series. A computer programme has been elaborated to compute the Hurst exponent of time series using the algorithms of range increment, second order moment increment and local second order moment increment. It has been applied to time series of birds' populations.     

Fire-mediated effects of shrubs, lichens and herbs on the demography of Hypericum cumulicola in patchy Florida scrub

Understanding the effect of disturbance and interspecific interactions on population dynamics and availability of suitable habitats for colonization and growth is critical for conservation and management of endangered species. Hypericum cumulicola is a narrowly endemic, small perennial herb virtually restricted to open areas of well-drained white sand in Florida rosemary scrub, a naturally patchy community that burns about every 20–80 years. Over 1 year (September 1994 to September 1995) we evaluated variation in survival, growth and fecundity among 1214 individuals in 14 rosemary scrub patches of different sizes (0.09–1.85 ha) and fire histories (2, 8–10, and >20 years since the last fire). Fire kills aboveground individuals of H. cumulicola, but new individuals were present a year after fire. Recruitment decreased in patches more than a decade post-fire. Survival, annual height growth rate, and fecundity (number of flowers and fruits) were higher in recently burned patches. Scrub patch size did not affect these demographic variables. Survival was positively associated with the presence of conspecifics and negatively related to proximity to the dominant shrub Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides), prior reproductive output, and ground lichen cover. Since H. cumulicola and other herbaceous species in the rosemary scrub depend on sporadic fires to decrease interference of shrubs and ground lichens, its persistence may be threatened by fire suppression. Received: 4 December 1996 / Accepted: 5 June 1997     

Hierarchical bivariate time series models: a combined analysis of the effects of particulate matter on morbidity and mortality

In this paper we develop a hierarchical bivariate time series model to characterize the relationship between particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and both mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases. The model is applied to time series data on mortality and morbidity for 10 metropolitan areas in the United States from 1986 to 1993. We postulate that these time series should be related through a shared relationship with PM10. At the first stage of the hierarchy, we fit two seemingly unrelated Poisson regression models to produce city-specific estimates of the log relative rates of mortality and morbidity associated with exposure to PM10 within each location. The sample covariance matrix of the estimated log relative rates is obtained using a novel generalized estimating equation approach that takes into account the correlation between the mortality and morbidity time series. At the second stage, we combine information across locations to estimate overall log relative rates of mortality and morbidity and variation of the rates across cities. Using the combined information across the 10 locations we find that a 10 microg/m3 increase in average PM10 at the current day and previous day is associated with a 0.26% increase in mortality (95% posterior interval -0.37, 0.65), and a 0.71% increase in hospital admissions (95% posterior interval 0.35, 0.99). The log relative rates of mortality and morbidity have a similar degree of heterogeneity across cities: the posterior means of the between-city standard deviations of the mortality and morbidity air pollution effects are 0.42 (95% interval 0.05, 1.18), and 0.31 (95% interval 0.10, 0.89), respectively. The city-specific log relative rates of mortality and morbidity are estimated to have very low correlation, but the uncertainty in the correlation is very substantial (posterior mean = 0.20, 95% interval -0.89, 0.98). With the parameter estimates from the model, we can predict the hospitalization log relative rate for a new city for which hospitalization data are unavailable, using that city's estimated mortality relative rate. We illustrate this prediction using New York as an example.     

湿地植物普通野生稻和慈姑之间的化感作用

普通野生稻（Oryzarufipogon）是现代水稻遗传育种的基础,已被列为濒危植物。本研究在实验室检测了普通野生稻与其常见伴生种慈姑（Sagittariatrifolia）之间的化感效应。研究发现普通野生稻和慈姑的根、茎、叶水浸出液对两物种的种子萌发和幼苗生长具有促进作用。普通野生稻种子经慈姑叶和普通野生稻根、茎和叶的水浸出液处理后,萌发率由对照的25%显著提高至39%~54%;慈姑种子经普通野生稻和慈姑各部分水浸出液处理后,萌发率由对照的不萌发提高至9%~81%。慈姑和普通野生稻各部分的水浸出液显著促进两者的幼苗伸长,但对根的生长表现出两种不同的效应：慈姑叶、叶柄和根的水浸出液以及普通野生稻叶的水浸出液对普通野生稻和慈姑根的生长具有抑制作用,而普通野生稻茎和根的浸出液促进慈姑根的生长。总体上,慈姑比普通野生稻对水浸出液更敏感。     

在荧光漂白恢复测量中荧光恢复起始时间的研究

在荧光漂白恢复测量中,漂白过程结束的准确时间相对于漂白控制信号后沿会有一定的延迟时间,不易确定.光电倍增管快门开启又要推迟一段时间.因此,荧光恢复起始时间,即漂白结束的瞬间不能准确给出,开始阶段数据收集不全.本文分析了荧光恢复起始时间不准确所造成的误差,测量了起始时间.并尽量减少此误差,使恢复初期收集到的数据更完全,荧光恢复过程的时间座标更准确.     

Generalized monotonic regression based on B-splines with an application to air pollution data

In many studies, it is known that one or more of the covariates have a monotonic effect on the response variable. In these circumstances, standard fitting methods for generalized additive models (GAMs) generate implausible results. A fitting procedure is proposed that incorporates monotonicity assumptions on one or more smooth components within a GAM framework. The algorithm uses the monotonicity restriction for B-spline coefficients and provides componentwise selection of smooth components. Stopping criteria and approximate pointwise confidence bands are derived. The method is applied to the data from a study conducted in the metropolitan area of S?o Paulo, Brazil, where the influence of several air pollutants like SO(2) on respiratory mortality is investigated.