Effects of spates on the vertical distribution of the interstitial community

The effect of hydrological variations on the vertical distribution of interstitial organisms was studied in a by-passed channel of the Rhône River(France) in terms of the distortion and recovery of community structure over a 480-day period that included 9 spates. The hypogean and epigean components of the interstitial assemblages were studied, the latter at four depths (50, 100, 150 and 200 cm) within the substratum, during a succession of artificially regulated spates and periods of low flow. Interstitial fauna were obtained with a Bou-Rouch sampler through permanent standpipes at intervals of one, seven and seventeen days after each spate. A strong relationship was demonstrated between disturbance intensity (amplitude and duration of spates) and the magnitude of changes in the vertical distribution of the fauna. Both hypogean and epigean organisms were displaced vertically after each spate, resulting in an increase in the numbers of epigean organisms in interstitial layers. Recovery of vertical distribution of the interstitial fauna to pre-spate conditions, consisted of a decrease of epigean and an increase of hypogean fauna with the substratum, mainly at intermediate sampling depths (100, 150 cm). The effect of spates on community structure and rate of recovery varied in relation to 1) the combination of spate amplitude and duration (i.e. the shape of the discharge pattern), 2) the disturbance regime (i.e. the recent hydrological past) and 3) season (temperature and biological cycle).     

Flora and fauna of the sublittoral hard substrata in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) — interactions with the North Sea and the influence of a storm surge barrier

Since 1979 the flora and fauna of the artificial rocky shores of the Oosterschelde estuary have been investigated by diving biologists.Spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and biomass were studied and several groups of species (communities) were distinguished. A west-east gradient in species composition was found. Species distribution proved to be mainly determined by current velocities, silt and plankton concentrations in the water, underwater irradiance, and the nature of the substratum. Some indications of migration between the basin and the North Sea are shown. Biomass of the hard substratum fauna was compared with that of the soft bottom fauna; the ratio appeared to be about 1 : 2, which is surprisingly high considering the small area available for hard substratum fauna.The key to the interactions with the North Sea is found in the water movements and the volume of water passing through the mouth of the basin during each tide. The abiotic and subsequent biotic changes in the basin caused by the building of the storm surge barrier are discussed, and used to illustrate the measure of dependence of the Oosterschelde on the North Sea.     

横断山区昆虫区系初探

1981—1984年,中国科学院青藏高原科学考察队在我国西南部的横断山区进行了大规模的多学科综合考察,收集昆虫标本17万多号.横断山区特殊的自然地理条件孕育着独特的昆虫区系.种类繁庶、成分复杂,特有种,尤其高山特有种相当丰富,物种分化显著,并具有地域上的狭布性,构成本区昆虫区系特征.作者根据古北、东洋、高山特有三种主要成分的分布,试提出古北、东洋两大区系在本区的分异界线.典型东洋区系成分一般限于海拔2,800—3,000m以下地区,约与亚热带常绿阔叶林分布上线一致.     

锡林郭勒草原自然保护区土壤动物初步调查

土壤动物的生存、活动与栖息地环境密切相关。一方面栖息地生态因子决定着土壤动物的生存与活动;另一方面,土壤动物对土壤有机质的改变、土壤微生物的生存、植物的生长等诸生态因子的变化起着一定的促进作用。因此随着草原生态系统研究的日趋深入,土壤动     

内蒙古蝗总科Acridoidea区系组成及其区域分布的研究

作者1983～1989连续七年,对内蒙古高原本部、边缘山地、外沿平原和高原的不同类型草原植被进行考察并广泛采集昆虫标本;其中,获蝗总科标本计34613号,经鉴定有5科13亚科40属95种(包括亚种)。文中分析了各蝗种的区系地理成分、种属分配,讨论了三大不同地形区域及其所属13个不同自然地区的蝗虫区系组成及其区域分布特性。提出了“阿拉善蒙古种”应被视为是一个独立的区系地理成分,以及内蒙古东部大兴安岭森林及森林草原地区和西部的阿拉善荒漠地区应被视为是两个各具湿冷或干热——截然不同生态地理特征的蝗虫区系起源地。最后作者对内蒙古蝗总科区系的地史演化过程进行了初步探讨。     

新疆托克逊晚三叠世昆虫

记述了新疆托克逊晚三叠世昆虫化石14属17种。这一昆虫群代表了我国北方三叠纪昆虫的面貌,也是我国最丰富的三叠纪昆虫群之一。从其生态习性分析,这个昆虫群以生活于水中和岸边环境的种类为主,说明当时托克逊地区为一水域环境,气候也很适宜昆虫的生存。     

Thermal properties and fauna on the bark of trees in two different African ecosystems

Summary The thermal properties of 26 African tree species in two different ecosystems were studied using thermocouples. In a subtropical moist forest were three bark types of trees: species with thin and smooth bark types with low values of insulation across the bark; species with a more structured bark type and medium insulation values; and species with deep-fissured or scaly bark types and high insulation values. Only these latter trees are able to survive openings in the subtropical forest and stand alone on edges of forest gaps. In the savanna all tree species showed adaptations in the structure of their bark in different forms: many tree species shade their trunks. Some have low bark insulation and these are known to be sensitive to fires. Some tree species show high bark insulation and do not shade their trunks. Tree species with white bark avoid overheating of their surface by reflection of the radiation. The arthropod community living exclusively on the bark was investigated for the first time on South African trees, on ten tree species. In the two different ecosystems this habitat is occupied by different arthropod groups. In the subtropical forest Acari, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriopoda, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Nematocera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. In the savanna Pseudoscorpiones, Araneae, Collembola, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Termites, Formicidae, Hymenoptera and Brachycera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. Within one ecosystem on one bark type the dominant species are similar; richly structured bark types have a richer fauna. In the forest, bark arthropod diversity is related to the bark structure of the constituent trees, and the arthropod communities on the bark would reflect changes in the structure of the forest. Forests comprising tree species with different bark types would have a richer total bark arthropod fauna. Specialists on richly structured bark types would die out if tree species composition were altered by man to give stands consisting only of tree species with smooth bark types. Bark arthropods in a subtropical moist forest have different proportions of herbivorous and fungivorous compared to carnivorous species than those on the bark of trees in a savanna.     

Habitat patchiness affects decomposition and faunal diversity: a microcosm experiment on forest floor

Environmental heterogeneity has been intensively studied, but little is known about relationships between habitat patchiness and soil processes. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) the impact of patchiness of the litter layer on the decomposer community and litter decomposition rate, and (2) whether the impact of soil fauna on the rates of processes differs in relation to patchiness. An experiment was carried out in microcosms with coniferous forest humus and four kinds of litter with different C:N ratios or stages of decomposition, either separately (i.e. in patches) or mixed with each other. Microarthropod species diversity was better maintained in the patchy systems. In the absence of soil fauna, community respiration was higher in the patchy microcosms, but in the presence of fauna the opposite pattern was observed. The contribution of soil fauna to the rate of decomposition was clearly greater in the mixed litter systems. Based on the results, a hypothesis is presented that in the patchy litter layer the soil fungi can create connections between different materials located some centimeters apart, thus enhancing decomposition, while in the mixed litter the scale of millimeters is more appropriate for the soil fauna, known to accelerate the process rates. Received: 10 November 1997 / Accepted: 20 April 1998     

哈拉哈河上游的鱼类区系和资源现状

哈拉哈河上游的鱼类采集到１４种和亚种,分水于４目６科,其中鲤科８种,占５７．１％。区系组成分归５个区系类群,其中属于全北区的北方山地,北方平原和北极淡水类群鱼类有１０种,占７１．４％,这与该河系具有适于冷水性鱼类栖存的生态条件密切相关。