Estimating Detection Probabilities of Waterfowl Broods From Ground-Based Surveys

ABSTRACT Brood:pair ratios could provide an economical method for assessing spatial or temporal variation in waterfowl productivity, but such estimators are severely biased by incomplete detection of broods. We conducted 3 sequential counts of 1,357 waterfowl broods in northeastern North Dakota, USA, and used closed-population mark-recapture models to estimate total brood abundance while controlling for variation in detection probabilities (p). Blue-winged teal (Anas discors) broods had the lowest average detection probability (p = 0.305), whereas diving-duck broods had the highest average detectability (p = 0.571). Detection was generally highest in morning or evening, but temporal patterns varied among species and there was no survey window that maximized detection probabilities for all species. Detection probabilities averaged 0.108 (SD = 0.056) higher for an experienced observer versus an inexperienced observer. Detection probabilities were 0.044 higher for roadside versus walk-up surveys and increased with increasing brood size, total brood abundance, survey date, wind speed, temperature, cloud cover, and amount of time spent surveying each wetland. Detection probabilities declined with increasing wetland size and amount of tall peripheral vegetation. Our mark-recapture results indicated that a traditional unreplicated brood survey would have missed 67.5% of estimated broods, summed over all species. Use of closed-population mark-recapture techniques provided an effective method for reducing this bias and identifying and quantifying factors that reduce detection probabilities of waterfowl broods. We recommend that future brood surveys incorporate 2 or 3 temporally segregated replicate counts to allow for formal estimation of detection probabilities.     

Fishborne Trematode Metacercariae in Freshwater Fish from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of fishborne trematode (FBT) metacercariae in freshwater fish from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. A total of 307 freshwater fish of 31 species were collected from 5 administrative regions of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. They were examined by artificial digestion method from July 2003 to August 2004. No metacercariae were detected in fish from Fusui-xian. In fish from Mashan-xian and a market in Nanning, 3 species of metacercariae, Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis pumilio, and Centrocestus formosanus, were mainly detected. Metacercariae (8 in number) of Clonorchis sinensis were found in 1 Chanodichthys dabryi purchased from a market in Nanning. In fish from Yangshuo, Metagonimus yokogawai metacercariae were detected from all 18 fish species examined. Total 13 C. sinensis metacercariae were found in 3 out of 10 Hemibarbus maculatus from Yangshuo. All 7 Zacco platypus from Yangshuo were infected with 8-112 Echinochasmus perfoliatus metacercariae. In fish from Binyang-xian, H. pumilo metacercariae were mainly detected in all 5 fish species examined, and only 1 metacercaria of C. sinensis was found in a Hemiculter leucisculus. From the above results, it was confirmed that some species of freshwater fish play a role of second intermediate hosts for FBT in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. In particular, 4 species of intestinal flukes, M. yokogawai, H. taichui, H. pumilio, and C. formosanus, were prevalent in fish hosts, whereas C. sinensis metacercariae were detected only in 3 fish species.     

Species versus genotypic diversity of a nitrogen-fixing plant functional group in a metacommunity

Exploring species and genetic diversity interactions provides new opportunities for furthering our understanding of the ecology and evolution of population and community dynamics, and for predicting responses of ecosystems to environmental change. Theory predicts that species diversity within communities and genetic diversity within populations will covary positively, because either species and genetic diversity interact synergistically or they respond in parallel fashion to common habitat conditions. We tested the hypothesis of positive covariation between species and genotypic diversity in a metacommunity of the species-rich southwest Australian flora. We hypothesised that the connection between genotypic diversity and species diversity is strong within functional groups, but weak or non-existent if the species considered extend beyond the functional group. We show that allelic richness of Daviesia triflora, an ant-dispersed pea, covaries positively with the species richness of six co-occurring nitrogen-fixing legume species. No pattern can be detected between allelic richness of D. triflora and species richness of ant-dispersed species when four non-legumes are added. We also show that genetic diversity of D. triflora is not governed by the same environmental factors that determine the presence of a group of large-shrub/small-tree species in the same metacommunity. This study shows that species and genetic diversity covariation are more likely to be confined to within, rather than between, plant functional groups.     

晋陕宁黄土丘陵区生态修复与农林牧业持续发展仿真研究

晋陕宁黄土丘陵区土壤侵蚀严重,生态环境脆弱,不合理利用土地是其主要原因,生态修复与环境重建是该区生态与经济持续发展的重要战略措施。应用系统动力学（System Dynamic,简称SD）和“反馈控制（Feedback control）理论建立了该区生态修复和环境重建的SD模型,它分为人口、农业、林业、牧业、农村经济、土壤侵蚀和生态环境6个模块,仿真时间1990～2080年,步长1a。经检验该SD模型的有效性为93．5％,可用于未来仿真预测。根据该区的生态环境特点和农牧业发展现状,选择生态环境恢复重建的3种典型模式——同步发展模式（A模式）、逐步调整模式（B模式）和现状发展模式（C模式）进行仿真研究,预测3种模式2000～2080年的土壤侵蚀、土地利用的发展动态以及农林牧业和生态环境演化趋势。仿真结果表明：土地利用与农、林、牧业持续发展密切相关,坡耕地和草场退化是制约农林牧业发展的主要因素。合理调整土地利用结构和加速治理侵蚀,可促进生态环境逐步恢复和农林牧业持续发展。同步发展模式（A模式）是该区生态修复和环境重建的3个仿真模式中的最优策略,它可促进农林牧协调发展和生态一经济趋向良性循环,并提出该区生态修复与环境重建的对策措施。该SD模型结构合理,运行功能良好,能较真实的模拟具有多变量、非线性变量的复杂生态系统的动态行为,为生态修复研究提供一种有效工具。     

北京地区油松胚珠发育时期的确定

采用显微观察法对北京地区不同发育时期的油松胚珠进行解剖结构观察,以确定北京地区油松胚珠的发育时期。结果表明,北京地区油松胚珠的发育历时13个月(从2003年4月~2004年5月),具体时期为:2003年4月12日为胚珠分化期,4月21日左右为大孢子母细胞时期,5月至8月为游离核时期,2003年8月至2004年2月为胚珠休眠期,2004年4月15日左右进入雌配子体细胞化时期,4月21日左右为颈卵器原始细胞活动期,5月8日左右为中央细胞分裂期,5月14日左右为成熟颈卵器时期。本研究结果中油松胚珠经历的发育阶段与前人的研究基本一致,但在时间上存在差异,而且北京地区比辽宁兴城地区油松胚珠发育时期平均提前了大约20~30 d。     

黄土高原子午岭天然柴松林种群结构与动态研究

对黄土高原地区子午岭天然柴松(Pinus tabulaeformisf.shekannesis)林种群的结构和动态进行了研究。结果显示:柴松种群结构呈反J分布型,种群处于增长阶段;种群的密度随径级的增加而降低,种群密度与径级呈现出明显的负相关;4个函数(生存率函数、积累死亡率函数、死亡密度函数、危险率函数)估计值说明种群具有前期增长、后期稳定的特点,其存活曲线介于DeeveyⅡ型和DeeveyⅢ型之间;随时间推移,种群中树和大树数量逐渐增多,种群在20 a后开始大量进入成熟阶段。表明柴松在本研究区内生长更新良好,在无人为干扰条件下,柴松可通过自我调节能力而保持种群的稳定性。     

黄土高原马栏林区优势种幼苗与其种群径级结构的演替研究

对黄土高原马栏林区几种典型群落类型中优势种辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)、油松(Pinus tabulaefor-mis)、白桦(Betula platyphylla)和山杨(Populus davidiana)的幼苗和种群径级结构进行了研究。结果表明:(1)辽东栎幼苗在马栏林区7种典型群落类型中均有分布,且数量充足,实生苗更新良好,辽东栎在不同的群落类型中表现出不同的种群径级结构。在油松 辽东栎混交林和辽东栎林中趋于稳定型;在油松林、油松 白桦混交林、白桦林、山杨林和白桦 山杨混交林中则为增长型;(2)油松幼苗在油松 白桦混交林、油松林和油松 辽东栎混交林中分布较多,但均少于辽东栎幼苗。在这些群落类型中油松种群的径级结构属于稳定型;(3)白桦和山杨幼苗数量较少,无正常更新能力,种群径级结构趋于衰退,以白桦和山杨为主的群落类型将逐渐被以油松和辽东栎为主的群落类型所取代;(4)马栏林区优势种幼苗分布的广度和丰度受到光照、水和灌草层等非生物和生物因素及其相互作用的影响。表明在黄土高原马栏林区以天然恢复为主的辽东栎种群,将在该地植被的自然恢复过程中产生重要作用;油松种群不仅过去而且将来也同样会在该地区的植被恢复中发挥重要作用。     

Primate response to natural gas pipeline construction in the Peruvian Amazon

While natural resource exploration and extraction activity is expanding in the Neotropics, our understanding of wildlife response to such activity is almost non‐existent. Primates, which fulfill important ecological roles and face numerous anthropogenic threats, are of particular concern. We studied primate group distribution before, during, and after natural gas pipeline construction in the Peruvian Amazon to investigate whether primates spatially avoid areas of disturbance. We monitored primates on eight transects 20 times per annual sampling period in three consecutive years and analyzed changes in group observations relative to the pipeline right‐of‐way in a multi‐season occupancy modeling framework. Overall primate group encounter rates were low (<half) compared to a nearby protected area. Contrary to expectations, we did not see clear evidence of spatial avoidance of the pipeline area. Although higher overall encounter rates before construction suggested lower primate use of the area during and following construction, this pattern could not be confirmed statistically, and probability of colonization and extinction of transect sections in the occupancy analysis could not be differentiated from zero. These results are probably attributable to a combination of low numbers of primate encounters and high spatial variability in primate use of different transects. This study provides valuable preliminary data and a methodological framework for understanding the response of an ecologically important group of mammals to anthropogenic activity. We encourage other researchers to continue exploring the impacts of natural resource exploration‐ and extraction‐related activities in the tropics, as such activities are likely to have a growing effect on ecosystems.     

北京山区植被动态及生态恢复的遥感监测

基于北京地区1979、1988、1999、2005和2009年5期Landsat数据,利用基于植被指数的像元线性分解模型对植被覆盖度进行反演,分析了北京山区植被覆盖的时空动态,并通过提取植被退化和修复的区域,研究了海拔、坡度和土壤类型对生态修复的影响.结果表明：1979-1988年,北京山区植被覆盖基本稳定,其后由于社会经济的快速发展,1988-2000年北京山区植被严重退化,2000年以后由于采取多种保护措施,大部分区域生态恢复效果明显,2009年平均覆盖度达到72%,比1999年增加了13%.北京山区植被覆盖变化与地理特征密切相关,土壤贫瘠和坡度较大区域在自然状态下的退化比例相对较高,且退化后不易自然恢复,而低海拔区域受人为因素的影响更大.