Inventory of echinoderms in the Iles Eparses (Europa,Glorieuses, Juan de Nova), Mozambique Channel,France

The multidisciplinary programme BioReCIE (Biodiversity, Resources and Conservation of coral reefs at Eparses Is.) inventoried multiple marine animal groups in order to provide information on the coral reef health of the Iles Eparses. All five classes of echinoderms were observed by visual census, photographed and later identified. About 100 species are reported, including a few unidentified ones which require further studies. The Holothuroidea and Ophiuroidea are the most diverse. One new species, the asterinid Aquilonastra chantalae O'Loughlin and McKenzie (2013), was discovered in addition to several new records of echinoderms. The illegal fishery targeting holothurians, which are presently highly valuable resources in this zone, is discussed.     

山东四种草本植物的核型研究

本文对山东４种草本植物进行了染色体研究。结果表明：阿尔泰狗哇花（Ｈｅｔｅｒｏｐａｐｐｕｓａｌ ｔａｉｃｕｓ（Ｗｉｌｄ）Ｎａｖｏｐｏｋｒ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝３６,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝３６＝３６ｍ,核型“１Ａ”型;求米草（Ｏｐｌｉｓｍｅｎｕｓｕｎｄｕｌａｔｉｆｏｌｉｕｓ（Ａｒｄｕｉｎｏ）ＲｏｅｍｅｔＳｃｈｕｌｔ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝１２,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝１２＝８ｍ＋４ｓｍ,核型“２Ａ”型;红秋葵（Ｈｉｂｉｓｃｕｓｃｏｃｉｎｅｕｓ（Ｍｅｄｉｃ）Ｗａｌｔ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝３８,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝３８＝１４ｍ＋２２ｓｍ＋２ｓｔ,核型“２Ｂ”型;蟋蟀草（Ｅｌｅｕｓｉｎｅｉｎｄｉｃａ（Ｌ）Ｇａｅｒｔｎ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝１８,核型公式为ｋ（２ｎ）＝１８＝１６ｍ＋２ｓｍ,核型“２Ａ”型。     

湖南棒蝠蛾成虫形态研究

湖南棒蝠蛾（ＮａｐｉａｌｕｓＨｕｎａｎｅｎｓｉｓＣｈｕｅｔＷａｎｇ）是亚香棒虫草的寄主昆虫,亚香棒虫草是冬虫夏草的一种,是一种具有重要开发价值的中药材。为更好地人工栽培亚香棒虫草,我们对湖南棒蝠蛾进行了长期的细致的研究,本文详细地报道了它的成虫形态特征,特别是翅斑的变化。     

福建省突颚反颚茧蜂属一新种(膜翅目:茧蜂科)(英)

笔者在整理福建省的茧蜂标本时,发现一新种:赭胸反颚茧蜂Heratemis ustulatus Wu et Chen。该新种与Heratemis vegeta(Papp)近缘,但新种的头部黑褐色,中胸背板红褐色,产卵器与腹部等长。 该新种的主要鉴别特征:雌蜂体长3.7mm。体黑褐色,中胸背板红褐色。无后头瘤,后单眼间距POL及单复眼距(OOL)分别为后单眼直径(D)的1.3和3.0倍。上颚4齿(第4齿在第1、2齿间)。第1、2鞭节长为第3鞭节的1.1和1.2倍。盾纵沟完整,伸及椭圆形的中陷;小盾片隆起,但未形成尖刺。回脉明显前叉式,小脉强烈后叉式。腹柄节长为其后端宽度的1.9倍。产卵器与腹部等长。 正模:♀,福建清流大丰山,1990-07-16,洪盛祥采集。 词源;本新种的种名“ustulatus”意指该新种的中胸背板红褐色。新种模式标本保存于福建农业大学益虫室。     

Establishment of Picea abies seedlings in a central European mountain grassland: an experimental study

Abstract. Secondary meadows in the Kru?né hory mountains, central Europe, are not colonized by woody species, although they have been abandoned for half a century and are surrounded by Picea abies (Norway spruce) forests. The causes of inhibition of establishment of Norway spruce seedlings in the meadows were tested experimentally. The experiment was started in a masting year to ensure sufficient seed input. Four treatments (vegetation cut; vegetation cut and litter removed; all above-ground biomass and topsoil removed; control) were combined in a factorial design. The effect of browsing, mainly by deer, was assessed by fencing half of the experimental plots. Seedling establishment differed among treatments (all pair-wise differences were significant) but was independent of fencing. In contrast, seedling survival was influenced both by the treatment and fencing. At the end of the second year, only the plots with all biomass and organic topsoil removed supported viable populations of spruce seedlings. Dense herb cover and a thick layer of slowly decaying litter are considered the main factors inhibiting the establishment of woody species.     

Estimation of tree replacement patterns in an Appalachian Picea-Abies forest

Abstract. Patterns of tree species replacement in a Picea-Abies forest, determined by several different methods, are compared and the methods are assessed. Methods are grouped as either understory-based or gap-based estimates of replacement. The understory-based methods characterize canopy-understory interactions with spatial statistics, sapling density measurement, sapling frequency measurement, and successor sapling identification beneath live canopy trees. The gap-based methods include sapling density measurement, sapling frequency measurement, and successor sapling identification in tree-fall gaps. Methods except those based on frequency indicate a strong trend of replacement of all canopy species by Abies. Understory-based methods may underestimate canopy recruitment of intolerant trees, while gap-based methods relying on sapling density or frequency may overestimate recruitment of intolerant trees. Estimates based on the selection of successor saplings in the understory or in gaps are reliable. Gap successor estimates consider the process of gap capture and are useful in analyses of forest dynamics.     

On randomization testing in vegetation science: multifactor comparisons of relevé groups

Abstract. Hypothesis testing in phytocoenological applications is likely to be hindered when based on conventional statistical methods. The problem created by unrealistic assumptions can, however, be overcome by randomization. This paper discusses the general idea of randomization testing, describes a method and interprets its application in group comparisons. Two sets of variables are involved, the vegetation set on the basis of which the groups are compared and the environmental factors which delimit the groups under different analytical designs. Although simple partitioning of sum of squares is at the core of the test, the method has versatility of testing uni- or multifactor designs, which is novel in phytocoenological applications. The algorithm has been implemented in programs SYNCSA and MULTIV by V.P. Data from the Campos of southern Brazil are used for illustration.     

Do rivers function as corridors for plant dispersal?

Abstract. We evaluated the importance of dispersal for species frequencies and distribution by comparing dispersal properties of vascular plant species with their frequencies along river banks. We assumed that species with long-floating seeds would be more frequent than species with short-floating seeds. We compiled data on frequencies of vascular plants and their dispersal properties from ten rivers in northern Sweden and compared these with boreal forests and grasslands in the same region. In all rivers, but in none of the reference areas, there was a positive relationship between floating capacity and frequency of species. A comparison of floating capacity between species with and without certain dispersal devices showed that seeds of vegetatively dispersed species had higher floating capacities than other seeds. For other dispersal categories (animal and wind dispersal), floating time did not differ from contrast groups. The results indicate that water dispersal has a certain role in structuring the riparian flora, and provide a basis for explaining species distribution patterns from dispersal characteristics. They also suggest that continuous river corridors are important for maintaining regional biodiversity.     

Long-term after effects of fertilization on above-ground phytomass and species diversity in calcareous grassland

Abstract. Long-term after effects on species number and productivity in calcareous grassland were analyzed after cessation of fertilization. Three series of permanent plots were monitored yearly from 1971 to 1993. These series differed in duration of fertilization and in fertilizer composition, notably the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus. Yearly above-ground production decreased in all series after fertilization had been stopped, however at different speeds. The grass/forb ratio also decreased, while species number and Shannon index of diversity (H') increased. In the series where fertilizer treatment was stopped in 1967 (1968-series), productivity and grass/forb ratio decreased equally as in the plots where fertilization with a high nitrogen content was stopped in 1979 (80/Npk-series). However, species number in the plots of the 80/Npk-series increased faster than in the 1968-series. This was probably the result of a higher number of species present in the seed rain from the surrounding vegetation in the period after 1980 than from after 1968. In the plots receiving a high amount of phosphorus (80/nPk series), the productivity decreased more slowly than in the high nitrogen plots (80/Npk-series). At approximately the same total production level, the grass/forb ratio remained higher for another five-year period in the 80/nPk-series. Species number and the Shannon index of diversity increased more slowly in the 80/nPk-series than in the 80/Npk-series. Over a given range of productivity, changes in species number and Shannon index correlated better with the grass/forb ratio than with total above-ground phytomass. Therefore, restoration of species-rich grassland should not only be focused on lowering the yearly production, but also on reducing the grass component of the vegetation.     

Classification of peatland vegetation in Atlantic Canada

Abstract. The peatlands of Atlantic Canada are classified in four plant alliances, consisting of 10 plant associations. The four plant alliances comprise the dry bog communities (Kalmio-Cladonion Wells 1981), wet bog communities (Scirpo-Sphagnion Wells 1981), hummock and ridge communities of slope and string fens (Betulo-Sphagnion Wells all. nov.), and poor, intermediate and rich fen plant communities (Scirpo-Myricion Wells 1981). Distribution maps are presented for relevés in each of the 10 associations. Based on species distributions, floristic regions are defined for peatlands in Atlantic Canada. Nutritional characteristics are also described for each plant association. pH and total soil concentrations of calcium, nitrogen and iron proved reliable in separating bog from fen. A boundary between ombrotrophic peatlands and minerotrophic peatlands is suggested, based on a soil pH of 4.0, total soil concentrations of 3.0 mg g^?1 Ca, 4.0 mg g^?1 Fe, 13.0 mg g^?1 N and a Ca/Mg ratio of 2.5. Comparisons between the syntaxa for peatlands in Atlantic Canada and those in Europe are discussed for higher taxa. The possibility of establishing a new order (Chamaedaphno-Scirpetalia Wells ord. nov.) for peatlands in Atlantic Canada is also discussed.