Spatial patch occupancy patterns of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit

Reliable estimates of presence or absence of a species can provide substantial information on management questions related to distribution and habitat use but should incorporate the probability of detection to reduce bias. We surveyed for the endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) in habitat patches on 5 Florida Key islands, USA, to estimate occupancy and detection probabilities. We derived detection probabilities using spatial replication of plots and evaluated hypotheses that patch location (coastal or interior) and patch size influence occupancy and detection. Results demonstrate that detection probability, given rabbits were present, was <0.5 and suggest that naïve estimates (i.e., estimates without consideration of imperfect detection) of patch occupancy are negatively biased. We found that patch size and location influenced probability of occupancy but not detection. Our findings will be used by Refuge managers to evaluate population trends of Lower Keys marsh rabbits from historical data and to guide management decisions for species recovery. The sampling and analytical methods we used may be useful for researchers and managers of other endangered lagomorphs and cryptic or fossorial animals occupying diverse habitats. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Restoration of Northwest Florida Sandhills Through Harvest of Invasive Pinus clausa

Across much of the southeastern U.S.A., sandhills have become dominated by hardwoods or invasive pine species following logging of Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) and fire suppression. At Eglin Air Force Base where this study was conducted, Pinus clausa (sand pine) has densely colonized most southeastern sandhill sites, suppressing groundcover vegetation. The objectives of this study were: to determine if suppressed groundcover vegetation recovers following the removal of P. clausa; to compare species composition and abundance in removal plots with that in reference, high quality sandhills; to test the assumption that recolonization by P. clausa seedlings decreases with proximity to the centers of removal plots; and to measure the survival of containerized P. palustris seedlings that were planted on P. clausa removal plots. One year post‐removal (1995), the number of plant species decreased by 50%, but then increased by 100% from 1995 to 1997, followed by a small reduction in 1998. The number of plant species was greater in reference plots than in removal plots prior to 1997. Eighty‐five percent of the original species were recorded 4 years post‐harvest in removal plots. Shrubs and large trees remained at low density after harvest. Densities of graminoids, legumes, other forbs, woody vines, and small trees increased after harvest. Plant densities of all life forms, except woody vines, were greater in reference plots than in removal plots. The density of recolonizing P. clausa seedlings 2–4 years post‐harvest significantly decreased with increasing proximity to the centers of removal plots. On average, 80% of planted P. palustris seedlings survived their first 2 years. Harvest of P. clausa followed by fire and the planting of P. palustris is a reasonably effective restoration approach in invaded sandhills. However, supplementary plantings of some herbaceous species may be necessary for full restoration.     

Regulatory role of auxin in adventitious root formation in two species of Rumex,differing in their sensitivity to waterlogging

Adventitious rooting in Rumex plants, in which the root systems were in hypoxic conditions, differed considerably between two species. R. palustris, a species from frequently flooded river forelands, developed a large number of adventitious roots during hypoxia, whereas adventitious root formation was poor in R. thyrsiflorus, a species from seldom flooded dykes and river dunes. Adventitious rooting could also be evoked in aerated plants of both species by application of auxin (1-naphthaleneacetic acid or indoleacetic acid) to the leaves. The response to auxin was dose-dependent, but even high auxin doses could not stimulate R. thyrsiflorus to produce as many adventitious roots as R. palustris. Consequently, the difference between the species in the amount of adventitious root formation was probably genetically determined, and not a result of a different response to auxin. A prerequisite for hypoxia-induced adventitious root formation is the basipetal transport of auxin within the shoot, as specific inhibition of this transport by N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid severely decreased the number of roots in hypoxia-treated plants. It is suggested that hypoxia of the root system causes stagnation of auxin transport in the root system. This can lead to an accumulation of auxin at the base of the shoot rosette, resulting in adventitious root formation.     

Atmospheric CO2 concentration, N availability, and water status affect patterns of ergastic substance deposition in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) foliage

 Leaf chemistry alterations due to increasing atmospheric CO₂ will reflect plant physiological changes and impact ecosystem function. Longleaf pine was grown for 20 months at two levels of atmospheric CO₂ (720 and 365 μmol mol^–1), two levels of soil N (4 g m^–2 year^–1 and 40 g m^–2 year^–1), and two soil moisture levels (– 0.5 and – 1.5 MPa) in open top chambers. After 20 months of exposure, needles were collected and ergastic substances including starch grains and polyphenols were assessed using light microscopy, and calcium oxalate crystals were assessed using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Polyphenol content was also determined using the Folin-Denis assay and condensed tannins were estimated by precipitation with protein. Evaluation of phenolic content histochemically was compared to results obtained using the Folin-Denis assay. Total leaf polyphenol and condensed tannin content were increased by main effects of elevated CO₂, low soil N and well-watered conditions. Elevated CO₂ and low soil N decreased crystal deposition within needle phloem. Elevated CO₂ had no effect on the percentage of cells within the mesophyll, endodermis, or transfusion tissue which contained visible starch inclusions. With respect to starch accumulation in response to N stress, mesophyll > endodermis > transfusion tissue. The opposite was true in the case of starch accumulation in response to main effects of water stress: mesophyll < endodermis < transfusion tissue. These results indicate that N and water conditions significantly affect deposition of leaf ergastic substances in longleaf pine, and that normal variability in leaf tissue quality resulting from gradients in soil resources will be magnified under conditions of elevated CO₂. Received: 5 November 1996 / Accepted: 7 March 1997     

塔里木河流域胡杨和灰叶胡杨克隆分株空间分布格局

以叶尔羌河下游阿瓦提县天然胡杨和灰叶胡杨混交林、塔里木河上游农一师16团天然灰叶胡杨林和塔里木河中游轮台县天然胡杨林为对象,研究胡杨和灰叶胡杨克隆分株种群的空间分布格局.结果表明: 8种不同取样尺度(5 m×5 m、5 m×10 m、5 m×15 m、10 m×10 m、10 m×15 m、15 m×15 m、15 m×20 m、20 m×20 m)下,3个研究区2物种克隆分株种群的空间分布格局均表现为集群分布,表明集群分布是研究区胡杨和灰叶胡杨克隆分株种群空间分布格局的基本属性;在5 m×5 m尺度上,3个研究区2物种克隆分株种群均表现出负二项参数最小、Cassie指标和聚块性指标最大、聚集强度最大的分布特征.     

莎车巴旦姆物候期对气象条件的响应及花期预测模型

利用莎车县农业气象试验站2008—2013年巴旦姆物候期和同期气象观测资料,分析了巴旦姆物候期的变化特征以及气温、日照时数对物候期的影响.结果表明：巴旦姆花期之前的物候期始日之间均呈正相关,与花期之后的物候期始日的相关性大多较小,花芽膨大早迟与休眠期、生长期天数分别呈极显著的正相关和负相关.以果实成熟期为界,气温对之前、之后物候期间隔日数的影响分别为负相关和正相关,日照时数与物候期间隔日数大多为正相关.果实成熟 叶变色始期间隔日数对平均最高气温以及花序出现 开花末期、叶变色始期 落叶末期间隔日数对日照时数存在明显的响应.当巴旦姆休眠期符合日平均气温-3.0～-7.5 ℃的天数满30 d后,经过17～28 d将进入花芽萌动期.花芽萌动期、开花始期、叶变色始期和落叶末期的始日分别与首个候平均气温≥4 ℃且候平均最高气温≥12 ℃、春季侯平均气温≥14 ℃且侯平均最高气温≥22 ℃、秋季首个侯平均气温≤10 ℃且侯平均最高气温≤18 ℃和冬季首个侯平均气温≤1.9 ℃的候序一一对应.利用偏最小二乘法回归分析,建立巴旦姆盛花期始日预测模型,经过检验模型效果较好.     

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This paper describes some techniques for the study of bumblebee-flower interactions. Information gathered by students on bee movements and on the nectar supply of flowers was used to test a hypothesis originally proposed by Pyke (1978). The study showed that brown bumblebees (Bombus pascuorum) foraged predominantly upwards on Stachys palustris, but did so in the absence of the predicted gradient of nectar. Alternative explanations are discussed.     

甘肃景电灌区不同栽植年限枸杞生物量分配特征

枸杞(Lycium barbarum L.)常作为我国干旱区盐渍化土地开发利用中的首选灌木型经济林,研究枸杞各构件及根系生物量的分配特征可以为提高枸杞生产力及资源的持续利用提供理论依据.在甘肃景电灌区选择栽植4年、7年和11年的构杞,研究构杞枝条、果实、叶片生物量在垂直空间上的分布特征,并按地下根系径级的大小,研究了根系生物量在各径级的分配规律.结果表明:构杞栽植初期植株间高度、冠幅差异较小,栽植7年进入生长旺盛期后差异较大,而栽植11年个体间形态指标差异又减小.栽植4年、7年、11年的构杞总生物量及枝条生物量在50 ～ 100 cm空间最大,而栽植4年的果实及叶片生物量最大值在50～100 cm空间,栽植7年时果实及叶片生物量最大值在100 ～ 150 cm空间.4年生与7年生构杞粗根和细根生物量所占的比例均比较大,11年生时细根的生物量比例明显减小,而粗根的比例则超过了50％.果实与叶片以及中根与粗根的生物量均随栽植年限的增加而增加,但枝条以及细根和极细根的生物量为7年生＞11年生＞4年生.用二次函数可以较好地预测该区域枸杞叶片及地下根系各径级生物量与生长年限之间的关系.     

快速城市化区域不同生境类型的蝴蝶多样性

2011年5—10月,在重庆两江新区选取人工次生林、人工草地、苗圃地、荒草地、农田、天然次生林6种不同生境类型,进行蝴蝶调查。共采集蝴蝶1547只,隶属6科27属37种。结果表明:菜粉蝶(Pieris rapae)、东方菜粉蝶(P.canidia)、酢浆灰蝶(Pseudozizeeria maha)和点玄灰蝶(Tongeia filicaudis)是研究区域的优势种;沿城市化梯度,不同采样断面蝴蝶多样性指数变化趋势明显,即城市化水平越高,多样性指数越低;同时生境类型和人为干扰对蝴蝶多样性影响明显;蝴蝶群落多样性特征可以作为生境质量和环境变化的指标。最后提出:在快速城市化区域中,应根据不同城市化水平、不同生境类型采取有差异的管理措施,保护和提高城市生物多样性。