Effects of water depth and livelihood activities on plant species composition and diversity in Nyando floodplain wetland,Kenya

The influence of water levels and livelihood activities on plant species composition, diversity and structuring of wetland ecosystem is a concern as wetlands undergo human exploitation and the increasing threat from climate change. To evaluate the effect of seasonal changes in water depth and human activities, plant density and species composition were assessed in wet and dry seasons and in natural and converted wetland zones of the Nyando papyrus wetland, Kenya. Three transects with different water regimes and livelihood activities were identified. Overall, 30 plant species were identified. In the less disturbed zone, differences between transects were small and 79 % (dry season) to 99 % (wet season) of the plant density consisted of obligate and facultative wetland plants. These groups were dominated by Cyperus papyrus and Vossia cuspidata. In the converted zone, facultative, facultative upland and upland plants became more important with 36 % of the plant density. The seasonally inundated zone had species diversity and species richness increased under dry conditions with more facultative upland species. In the converted zone, disturbance caused by vegetation removal, cropping and other livelihood activities lead to lower soil moisture and more colonization opportunity for facultative and upland species that are more adapted to dry conditions.     

Linking hydroperiod and vegetation response in Carolina bay wetlands

Hydrology filters propagule bank expression in herbaceous Carolina bays, but the strength of this filter’s effects on community composition at different points along the hydrologic gradient of these southeastern U.S. depressional wetlands is unknown. We used an experimental approach to determine the pattern of vegetation expression from propagule banks of Carolina bays exposed to different hydrologic conditions and gradients. Propagule banks of sediment cores collected from six Carolina bays were placed in bins, each of which was allocated to one of three hydrologic treatments: moist soil (MS), mid-summer drawdown (DD), or flooded (FL). After one season of vegetation development (1995) in the hydrologic treatments, half of the bins were left flat and the remaining were sloped to produce a finer moisture gradient within each bin. We compared taxa richness, community composition based on cover, and cover patterns of eight abundant species that developed in bins over the season (1996) after sloping. Species richness was significantly higher in the moist soil treatment and in sloped bins. Community composition, however, was affected by the hydrologic treatment only and not the finer-scale flooding gradient produced by sloping. Under flooded conditions, floating-leaved and submerged aquatics had higher cover; vegetation converged on simpler, less variable communities dominated by obligate wetland species, with species exhibiting different patterns of abundance over small changes in water depth. Emergent species typically had higher cover in moist soil and drawdown treatments. These results confirm a tight mechanistic link between hydrology and vegetation patterns within Carolina bays, but suggest that the strength of this link is not uniform across the gradient. The linkage weakens with drier conditions as both facultative wetland and upland species recruit into the standing vegetation.     

Upland–wetland linkages: relationship of upland and wetland characteristics with watersnake abundance

Land-use practices surrounding a wetland may be as important for maintaining wildlife populations as the wetland itself. Although imperiled species may appear to be more impacted than ubiquitous species from changes in the landscape surrounding wetlands, studies of common wetland species are useful for conservation because they provide insight into why some species persist despite landscape changes. We therefore investigated the relationship between connectivity, measured as the wetland distance to other wetlands; connectivity quality, implied by wetland distance to roads and forest area within 30, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 m buffer zones around the wetland; and patch size as indicated by wetland size with northern watersnake Nerodia sipedon sipedon abundance. Our results suggest that both upland and wetland characteristics influence the abundance of N. s. sipedon , as wetland size and wetland connectivity to other wetlands were significantly associated with abundance. Abundance was positively correlated with increasing wetland size and wetland connectivity. We were not able to find a significant relationship between abundance and connectivity quality, and wetland distance to road or forest area within 30, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 m buffer zones. We conclude that wetland conservation should focus on wetland complexes as well as individual wetlands. In addition, common wetland species such as the northern watersnake do not appear to be negatively impacted by modifications to nearby terrestrial habitats, such as deforestation and roads, and may benefit from the creation of larger, permanent wetlands.     

A comparison of created and natural wetlands in Pennsylvania,USA

Recent research suggests that created wetlands do not look, or function, like the natural systems they are intended to replace. Proper planning, construction, and the introduction of appropriate biotic material should initiate natural processes which continue indefinitely in a successful wetland creation project, with minimal human input. To determine if differences existed between created and natural wetlands, we compared soil matrix chroma, organic matter content, rock fragment content, bulk density, particle size distribution, vegetation species richness, total plant cover, and average wetland indicator status in created (n = 12) and natural (n = 14)wetlands in Pennsylvania (USA). Created wetlands ranged in age from two to 18 years. Soils in created wetlands had less organic matter content, greater bulk densities, higher matrix chroma, and more rock fragments than reference wetlands. Soils in reference wetlands had clay loam textures with high silt content, while sandy clay loam textures predominated in the created sites. Vegetation species richness and total cover were both greater in natural reference wetlands. Vegetation in created wetlands included a greater proportion of upland species than found in the reference wetlands. There were significant differences in soils and vegetation characteristics between younger and older created wetlands, though we could not say older created sites were trending towards the reference wetland condition. Updated site selection practices, more careful consideration of monitoring period lengths, and, especially, a stronger effort to recreate wetland types native to the region should result in increased similarity between created and natural wetlands.     

异质生境水位差异对小叶章有性繁殖分配的影响

以三江平原湿地代表植物小叶章为对象,通过对杂类草草甸、典型草甸、沼泽化草甸、沼泽生境中小叶章个体大小与生物量差异及繁殖构件与植株生物量之间相关关系的分析,研究不同生境中水位对小叶章个体生物量与繁殖分配的影响。结果表明: 小叶章个体大小、高度及有性繁殖特征随水位升高而显著降低;杂类草草甸、典型草甸、沼泽化草甸和沼泽中小叶章的繁殖阈值分别为0.245、0.149、0.148和0.157 g;除沼泽化草甸外,其他3种生境中小叶章植株个体大小与繁殖分配均呈显著负相关;相较于个体大小,土壤含水量对于小叶章有性繁殖分配影响更大,不同生境中小叶章对个体大小和繁殖分配的差异投资是其具有良好生态适应性的基础条件。     

A comparison of wetland characteristics between Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and public lands wetlands in West Virginia,USA

In West Virginia, USA, there are 24 conservation easement program wetlands enrolled in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These wetlands are located on private agricultural land and are passively managed. Due to their location within fragmented agricultural areas, wetlands enrolled in ACEP in West Virginia have the potential to add wetland ecosystem services in areas that are lacking these features. We evaluated ACEP wetlands compared to reference wetlands on public land in West Virginia by using surrounding land cover, vegetative cover, and wetland features and stressors such as the presence or absence of erosion, upland inclusion, algal mats, and evidence of impacts from the surrounding landscape as surrogate measurements of wetland function on 13 ACEP wetlands and 10 reference wetlands. ACEP wetlands had higher percentages of tree coverage and a higher proportion of agricultural land in the areas immediately surrounding the wetland. Reference wetlands had higher percent coverage of emergent vegetation and had a higher proportion of forest in the immediate landscape. Our findings suggest that ACEP wetlands provide valuable early successional and forested wetland cover in a state that is largely forested. Because of this, it is important to maintain and even expand ACEP in West Virginia to continue providing a valuable source of early successional wetland habitat.     

青藏高原高寒沼泽湿地在退化梯度上植物群落组成的改变对湿地水分状况的影响

对青藏高原东缘玛曲高寒沼泽湿地分属于15科的47种主要植物进行光合测定, 结合对不同退化类型植物群落的样方调查, 分析了各种植物之间以及不同功能群之间的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率等光合参数的差异。结果表明: 1)玛曲高寒湿地的主要物种在净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率4个光合特性参数上的差异显著, 表明各植物种以各自独特的方式适应高寒湿地环境; 在功能群水平上, 各功能群之间的差异亦显著。光合速率从大到小依次为禾草>莎草>豆科和其他双子叶类杂草, 水分利用效率则是莎草>禾草>豆科和其他双子叶类杂草; 2)湿地退化导致其群落组成发生明显改变, 其中最明显的特点是双子叶类杂草的比例大大增加; 而双子叶类杂草普遍较低的水分利用效率将会增大土壤水分通过光合作用的蒸腾散失, 在大气降水对水分补充变化不大的条件下, 这将会进一步加剧群落生境的干旱化, 不利于退化湿地的恢复和附近湿地的保护。研究结果表明, 在湿地保护和退化湿地恢复过程中, 典型湿地土著物种的保存和补充具有重要意义。     

Macroinvertebrate abundance, water chemistry, and wetland characteristics affect use of wetlands by avian species in Maine

Our objective was to determine use by avian species (e.g., piscivores, marsh birds, waterfowl, selected passerines) of 29 wetlands in areas with low (<200 μeq l⁻¹) acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) in southeastern Maine. We documented bird, pair, and brood use during 1982–1984 and in 1982 we sampled 10 wetlands with a sweep net to collect invertebrates. We related mean numbers of invertebrates per wetland to water chemistry, basin characteristics, and avian use of different wetland types. Shallow, beaver (Castor canadensis)-created wetlands with the highest phosphorus levels and abundant and varied macrophyte assemblages supported greater densities of macroinvertebrates and numbers of duck broods (88.3% of all broods) in contrast to deep, glacial type wetlands with sparse vegetation and lower invertebrate densities that supported fewer broods (11.7%). Low pH may have affected some acid-intolerant invertebrate taxa (i.e., Ephemeroptera), but high mean numbers of Insecta per wetland were recorded from wetlands with a pH of 5.51. Other Classes and Orders of invertebrates were more abundant on wetlands with pH > 5.51. All years combined use of wetlands by broods was greater on wetlands with pH ≤ 5.51 (77.4%) in contract to wetlands with pH > 5.51 that supported 21.8% of the broods. High mean brood density was associated with mean number of Insecta per wetland. For lentic wetlands created by beaver, those habitats contained vegetative structure and nutrients necessary to provide cover to support invertebrate populations that are prey of omnivore and insectivore species. The fishless status of a few wetlands may have affected use by some waterfowl species and obligate piscivores.     

小型表栖节肢动物群落对高寒湿地退化的响应

为查明小型表栖节肢动物群落对高寒湿地退化的响应,2014年7月和9月利用吸虫器法对若尔盖高寒湿地的沼泽草甸、草原草甸、中度退化草甸3种生境的小型表栖节肢动物群落进行调查。结果为:共采集到小型表栖节肢动物18661只,隶属于3纲15目85类(科或属),优势类群为球圆跳属(Sphaeridia)、长跳属(Entomobrya)和莓螨科(Rhagidiidae),其中长跳属仅出现在草原草甸。小型表栖节肢动物群落结构在不同生境间差异明显,主成分分析(PCA)结果表明影响群落结构的主要类群是长跳属(Entomobrya)、球圆跳属(Sphaeridia)、齿步甲螨属(Odontocepheus)、瘤蚜科(Pemphigidae)和叶蝉科(Jassidae),但不同月份间存在差异。小型表栖节肢动物的群落密度及类群数均以草原草甸最高,中度退化草甸最低,3种生境间有显著差异(P0.01)。3种生境的小型表栖节肢动物群落密度均是7月显著低于9月(P0.01),Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson优势度指数则是7月显著高于9月(P0.01);类群数在沼泽草甸中7月显著低于9月(P0.05),在草原草甸和中度退化草甸则是7月显著高于9月(P0.05)。典范对应分析(CCA)及多元回归分析结果表明植物种类、生物量、土壤有机质含量是影响小型表栖节肢动物群落组成结构、密度及多样性的主要因子。研究结果表明高寒湿地退化能够显著影响小型表栖节肢动物群落的组成结构、密度和多样性及其季节动态。     

流域湿地景观空间梯度格局及其影响因素分析

景观空间格局研究是景观生态学的核心研究内容之一。吸取一般景观生态学的空间思想和实际工作积累,从流域尺度,研究湿地景观基本空间梯度格局及其影响因素。研究表明,流域中湿地景观具有特殊的纵向梯度、横向梯度和景观内部结构特征,它们构成了流域湿地景观空间结构的主体,在维护流域整体景观结构和生态功能方面发挥重要作用。自然和人为因素都会影响流域湿地景观的空间梯度格局,但自然因素主要影响湿地景观内部结构的复杂性。而人为因素对流域湿地景观纵向梯度、横向梯度的连续性和内部结构的多样性均产生重要影响。     

Early development of plant community in a created mitigation wetland as affected by introduced hydrologic design elements

The goal of this study was to investigate early plant community development in two sites (i.e., higher and lower elevation sites—LC1 and LC2, respectively) of the Loudoun County (LC) mitigation wetland created in the Virginia Piedmont. The effects of hydrologic design elements incorporated during the construction (i.e., disking-induced microtopography—MT and site level elevation difference) on vegetative and hydrologic attributes (e.g., species richness, biodiversity, plant cover, floristic quality assessment index, wetland indicator status, soil moisture content, and water table depths) were investigated. The study was conducted at the end of two growing seasons in 2008 and 2009 (i.e., second and third growing seasons). Drought conditions that persisted into the second growing season resulted in the abundance of a seeded cover grass, Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass), intentionally planted during initial seeding for erosion control. L. multiflorum was subsequently phased out and replaced by facultative wet and obligate wetland species by the third growing season when above-average precipitation occurred, leading to a decrease in total percent cover. Prevalence index changed in both LC1 and LC2, dropping from overall facultative status in 2008 to obligate status in 2009 when obligate species such as Bidens cernua, Carex frankii, and Juncus effusus thrived and expanded with the change of hydrologic regime in 2009. Microtopographic treatment (i.e., disked or undisked) positively influenced vegetation development for LC1 site in 2008, but the positive influence was not consistent for LC2, which experienced an additional month of standing water conditions in the same year, nor for either site in 2009 when above-average precipitation occurred. The site differences in elevation, and thus hydrologic regime, seemed to overwhelm the effects on vegetation of disking-induced microtopography in each site when precipitation was at or above average range. Although shown on short spatial and temporal scales in this study, incorporation of micro- and macrotopographic design elements in creating a mitigation wetland can be beneficial to the early development of diverse vegetation communities wetland under varying climate conditions.     

滇西北高原湿地景观变化与人为、自然因子的相关性

人为活动的干扰与自然因子的变化共同作用于湿地生态系统,但两者对湿地生态系统作用的贡献率存在差异,目前尚缺乏进一步的研究。本研究基于面向对象分割和目视解译相结合的技术方法,研究了滇西北高原典型湿地纳帕海汇水区内28年来(1987—2015年)的湿地类型、分布及其空间格局的变化特征,并探讨其与当地人为活动的干扰(主要社会经济发展指标)、自然因子(主要气候因子)之间的相互关系。结果表明:(1)湿地总面积共计减少2456.46 hm~2,其中,原生沼泽、沼泽化草甸和草甸面积分别减少了1152.07,1257.72,202.74 hm~2,湖泊面积增加了156.07 hm~2;(2)湿地景观多样性发生显著变化,其中,斑块数量(NP)由1987年的221增加到2005年的299,随后减少到2015年的260;香农多样性指数(SHDI)由1987年的1.81增加到1999年的1.84,随后减少到2015年的1.75;聚集度指数(contagion index)由1987年的52.82减少到1999年的52.02,随后增加到2015年的53.49;(3)湿地分布面积和香农多样性指数与第一、二、三产业值,以及年均温度呈负相关,与降水量呈正相关;斑块数量、聚集度指数均与第一、二、三产业值,以及年均温度呈正相关,与降水量呈负相关;(4)社会经济发展主要指标对湿地面积和景观多样性指数变化的解释度为63.50%,气候因子对其的解释度为36.50%。整体上,人为活动的干扰是导致该区域湿地不断萎缩、景观多样性改变的关键驱动力。减缓人为活动对湿地生态系统的过度影响,是当地保护湿地资源、维护湿地生态功能的关键。     

Spatial variation in anuran richness,diversity, and abundance across montane wetland habitat in Volcanoes National Park,Rwanda

The spatial distribution of species has long sparked interest among ecologists and biogeographers, increasingly so in studies of species responses to climate change. However, field studies on spatial patterns of distribution, useful to inform conservation actions at local scales, are still lacking for many regions, especially the tropics. We studied elevational trends and species‐area relationships among anurans in wetland habitats within Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Rwanda, part of the biodiverse Albertine Rift region. In VNP, wetlands are key sites for anuran reproduction, and anurans are likely threatened by wetland desiccation which has occurred for the last few decades. Between 2012 and 2017, we sampled anuran communities in ten VNP wetlands located along an elevational gradient of c. 600 m (from 2,546 to 3,188 m a.s.l.) and found at least eight species, including at least two Albertine Rift Endemics. We show that species richness, diversity, and abundance likely decline with a decrease in wetland size and with an increase in elevation, though additional sampling (e.g., at night) might be needed to derive definite conclusions. Larger wetlands at lower elevations contained most species and individuals, which indicates the potential threat of wetland size reduction (through desiccation) for anuran conservation. However, we also found that wetlands differed in species composition and that some species (e.g., Sclerophrys kisoloensis) were likely restricted in distribution to only a few of the smaller wetlands—suggesting that the conservation of each individual wetland should be prioritized, regardless of size. We propose that all wetlands in VNP require additional conservation measures, which should be based on knowledge gathered through long‐term monitoring of anuran communities and research on drivers of wetland decline. Only such extended research will allow us to understand the response of anurans in VNP to threats such as climate change and wetland desiccation.     

美国湿地植物指示指标由来及应用

该文略述美国湿地植物指示指标由来并以俄亥俄州立大学湿地研究园人工实验湿地为例,详细地列出了该人工湿地建成15年后的植物及美国湿地植物指示。这个实例有助于中国的湿地恢复及保育。     

Intestinal parasites of small mammals from Grand Teton National Park

A study of the prevalence and identity of Giardia spp. in small mammals of Grand Teton National Park was undertaken. All 90 montane voles examined were positive for Giardia, as were 4 pocket gophers, 1 water shrew, 4 water voles, and 2 meadow voles. How and why these findings contrast with the findings of others are discussed.     

Response of wetland plant communities to inundation within floodplain landscapes

Summary Many floodplain wetlands in south‐eastern Australia have become isolated from the main river channel as a consequence of reduced high flows and associated flood events following river regulation. In the Central Murray region of south‐eastern Australia, many temporary wetlands would have received water once every five years or so, with large floods maintaining floodplain connectivity every decade, under natural conditions. Now, the River Murray is highly regulated and many of these wetland areas have not been flooded for periods of up to 30 years. Consequently, these wetlands are becoming degraded and the biodiversity of the area is in decline. From 2001–2003, 21 Black Box depression wetlands in the Central Murray region were each watered once. Plant communities in each wetland were monitored for changes in abundance (assessed as percentage cover) before and during the wetting and drying phases. Wetlands were watered during spring or early summer with the length of inundation ranging from 6 to 19 weeks. After watering, the percentage cover of native plant taxa and native plant functional groups in most wetlands increased. In general, there was a decrease in the percentage number of terrestrial plants present and an increase in the percentage cover of aquatic plants. Introduced species were a minor component. Although these wetlands are all located in the Central Murray region, individual wetlands developed plant communities that contained taxa specific to individual wetlands despite initial similarities. These results indicate that wetland plant biodiversity within the landscape can be promoted and maintained by ensuring there is a diversity of wetlands with varying flood regimes within the landscape.     

Constraints of Seed Bank Species Composition and Water Depth for Restoring Vegetation in the Florida Everglades, U.S.A.

The Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area (RWMA) is a northern Everglades marsh, in Florida, U.S.A., that will undergo hydrologic restoration to remedy an artificially shortened hydroperiod. In an effort to predict vegetation responses to the impending changes in hydrology, plant community development from the resident seed bank was observed in response to three different moisture regimes in March and September 1998. Percent cover, species densities, total seedling densities, and percentages of facultative, facultative‐upland, and upland indicator species were significantly higher in moist than in saturated soils. Flooding inhibited the germination of all species except Typha domingensis (cattail), which emerged in the highest numbers from saturated soils in both assays. Lythrum alatum (purple loosestrife) was abundant in both saturated and moist conditions. The season of assay affected species densities and the communities. Percent facultative‐wetland species increased in saturated soils in the March assay but not in September. In contrast, percent obligate hydrophytes were higher in saturated conditions only in the September assay. In general the assay communities bore little resemblance to vegetation in currently undisturbed or historic wetlands of the northern Everglades. Consequently the RWMA seed bank will contribute little to the development of a restored community. Moreover, rehydration may encourage the spread of undesirable hydrophytes such as T. domingensis. This study supports the contention that hydrologic restoration must be accompanied by some level of active vegetation management and that the reference condition cannot be attained passively.     

内蒙古高原典型草原区河漫滩湿地植物群落退化表征

草原区河流河漫滩草甸是生物多样性表现最充分和生物生产力最高的地段, 但由于过度放牧利用, 绝大部分草甸处于退化状态。该文以锡林河流域中游的河漫滩草甸为研究对象, 比较分析了围封保育湿地与放牧退化湿地的群落组成、地上生物量, 以及共有植物种的植株高度、节间长、叶长、叶宽, 土壤含水量、容重, 群落地下根量及根的分布, 土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的变化。结果表明: 1)放牧使得湿地植物群落优势种发生变化, 原有湿生植物逐渐向旱生化转变, 同时地上及地下生物量明显降低。2)退化湿地的植物呈现显著小型化现象。3)放牧退化湿地的土壤含水量较围封保育湿地低, 其垂直分布及地下根的垂直分布也发生变化。在低河漫滩, 土壤水分随土层的增加而增加, 根量也趋于深层化。但在高河漫滩湿地, 土壤含水量接近典型草原, 根未出现深层化分布趋势。4)放牧践踏引起土壤容重和土壤紧实度增加。5)放牧使得低河漫滩湿地土壤微生物生物量增加, 而在过渡区及高河漫滩湿地, 放牧使得土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量显著降低。     

Relative Importance of Wetland type Versus Anthropogenic Activities in Determining Site Invasibility

We assessed wetland invasibility by conducting surveys of three wetlands in each of five categories (riverine, depression, lacustrine fringe, mineral flat, and seepage slope). Invasibility was measured as the number of invasive species present, percent of plant species classified as invasive, percent cover of invasive plants, and percent of total cover represented by invasive species. The working hypothesis for this study was that certain types of wetlands (e.g., lacustrine fringe and riverine) would be more prone to invasion than others (spring-seep/slope wetlands or mineral flat wetlands). No significant differences were found among wetland types in any of the invasion metrics evaluated, despite high average invasibility in the riverine and lacustrine fringe categories. However, invasion was correlated very strongly with a qualitative index of anthropogenic modification to the surrounding landscape. A probable result of the substantial influence of human activities on wetland invasion in this study was that effects potentially attributable to greater opportunity for dispersal in certain types of wetlands were obscured. Another factor that likely contributed to the lack of differences among wetland types was the high variability in human activities observed among wetlands within types. These results further highlight the overwhelming contributions of anthropogenic habitat modification and human-assisted dispersal of invasive species to the currently observed homogenization of natural ecosystems.     

农田开垦对三江平原湿地土壤种子库影响及湿地恢复潜力

种子库是湿地植被恢复的重要途径之一,不同时期的耕作土壤中残留的种子对开垦湿地恢复具有重要的作用.本文采用温室萌发法在两种水分条件下对三江平原天然湿地、不同开垦年限湿地种子库结构和规模进行了研究,以了解不同开垦年限湿地种子库特征及其在湿地植被恢复中的潜力.本次实验共萌发物种50种,随着开垦年限增加,萌发物种逐渐减少,天然湿地、开垦1年、3年、10年、20年的湿地分别为34种、31种、21种、21种和8种,萌发物种数与种子库规模均表现出极显著差异(F1=8.32,F2=5.946,P＜0.001).种子库密度以天然湿地和开垦1年湿地最大,分别为7624粒/m2,9836粒/m2.随着开垦年限增加,种子库规模逐渐减小,开垦3年、10年种子库密度为4336粒/m2,4872粒/m2.开垦20 a后,显著减少为432粒/m2.湿润条件下萌发物种数及种子密度显著高于淹水处理,种子库具有明显的分层现象,0-5 cm土层种子库规模显著高于5-10 cm.小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)作为该地区优势物种,由最初的1192粒/m2,经过20 a开垦后在种子库中消失.研究表明,在一定的开垦年限范围内,开垦湿地土壤中仍然保留大量的湿地物种种子,在湿地恢复中具有重要的作用.