Large herbivores as mobile links between isolated nature reserves through adhesive seed dispersal

Question: Do large herbivores contribute to the dispersal of plant seeds between isolated habitats by epizoochory? Location: Nature reserves in Flanders, Belgium. Methods: Epizoochory was studied by brushing plant seeds from the fur of 201 domesticated large herbivores (Galloway cattle, donkeys and horses), grazing in 27 Flemish nature reserves. Several herbivores were examined after transport between different nature reserves as part of the seasonal grazing system in Flanders, allowing detection of seed dispersal both within and between reserves. The seedling emergence method was used to identify the dispersed plant species. Results: In total, 6385 epizoochorous seeds from 75 species germinated, yet the real seed quantity was underestimated by the seedling emergence method. A wide variety of seed morphology, seed weights and plant heights was represented among the dispersed species, many of which had a transient seed bank. There was a gradual turnover in epizoochorous species composition in the course of the vegetation season, and seed dispersal occurred both within and between different nature reserves. Conclusions: Domesticated large herbivores, as models for wild mammals in the present and the past, are important dispersers of many plant species. Through seasonal grazing, the herbivores function as ‘mobile link organisms’, connecting isolated nature reserves through seed dispersal, possibly influencing vegetation development and long‐term survival of plant populations. As such, large herbivores are important instruments in ecological restoration, especially in fragmented ecosystems.     

Evaluation and mapping of the conservation significance of habitats using GIS: an example from Crete, Greece

To ensure the long-term future of NATURA 2000 sites across Europe, effective techniques are required for evaluating and monitoring their conservation significance. This paper describes a GIS-based method that uses multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) to determine the conservation significance of vegetation communities and habitats for a case study of a proposed NATURA 2000 site on the northwest coast of Crete, Greece. The method uses the most frequently used criteria for the selection of priority areas for nature conservation—species and habitat diversity, rarity of species and habitats, naturalness, threat of human disturbance and replaceability. For each community and corresponding habitat type, each criterion was scored according to field data and expert knowledge using a numerical scale. The final conservation score for each community was derived using MCE within a GIS and mapped. The results demonstrated that the method is an effective tool for evaluating and comparing conservation significance and could be applied to other sites across Europe and to monitor change.     

Functional group classification and target species selection for Yancheng Nature Reserve, China

Yancheng Nature Reserve in east China is of great importance to the protection of biodiversity. It is a principal refuge for Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) and many other rare species, an important station for migrant waterfowls in the Asian Pacific, and a captive breeding base for Milu (Elaphurus davidianus). However, since the late 1980s, serious losses of biodiversity have been emerging in the protected area. In this study, to value objectively and improve management of the Yancheng Nature Reserve, a new approach for conservation management is proposed by virtue of the theories of self-organizing systems, functional group classification and target species selection. According to this approach, biological components in Yancheng Nature Reserve are classified into 10 supporting functional groups, eight target functional groups and 11 subordinate functional groups. Eight target species were selected from those target functional groups, i.e., G. japonensis, E. davidianus, Hydropotes inermis, Larus saundersi, Centropus toulou, Felis bengalensis, Paradoxornis heudei, and Platalea minor. Past observations in Yancheng Nature Reserve illustrate that the new approach is feasible, and this new approach will also benefit the management of the nature reserve.     

佛坪自然保护区野生大熊猫交配行为的观察

On March 26 and 27, 2003, we observed six and five giant pandas assembled together respectively in Huodiba and Lijiagou districts of Sanguanmiao, Foping Nature Reserve, Shaanxi Province, China. The mating sites were located in the coniferous forest and mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, with steep slope and sparse shrubs and bamboos. Wind power was estimated over 3rd category in those two days. The competition and lighting among male pandas were observed, and the mating right with the female panda was mainly based on the hierarchical ordering. However, not all the winners during competition can be access to mating with the female panda. For wild giant panda, its mating system is maybe plastic, which perhaps is affected by environment, time and panda population itself. Cubs or sub-adults are observed oceurring at the mating site, which is considered to be linked with the learning of the reproductive behavior. Our results maybe provide a useful guideline to the management and breeding of giant pandas in the captivity.     

四川美姑县大风顶国家级自然保护区小型兽类生物多样性分析

为评价美姑大风顶国家级自然保护区小型兽类多样性,利用香农一威纳多样性指数和一种基于信息测度的GF指数。经计算,香农一威纳多样性指数表明：农田一耕地为主的生境类型的小型兽类,以四川短尾鼩、高山姬鼠、黄胸鼠和社鼠为主要的群落组成,其物种多样性指数(H)和均匀性指数(J)分别是1．1374和0．8599;原始森林为主的生境类型的小型兽类,以川西白腹鼠和食虫类为主,其各多样性指数H=0．3307和J=0．3465;高山草甸为主的生境类型的小型兽类,以鼠兔类和姬鼠类为主,其H=0．3704和J=0．3881。为了得到补充和对照,参考了该区小型兽类已有的资料运用G-F指数评价其生物物种多样性,首先计算科间多样性(F)和属间多样性(G),然后,再利用F指数和G指数的比值进行标准化处理,得出GF指数值,说明保护区小型兽类种属间的多样性。该区小型兽类D-F指数为0．6977,即小型兽类种属间多样性较高,但和香农一威纳指数评定多样性有一定差异。保护区的建设还需进一步加强,包括人为干扰在内的一切干扰尚需排除。     

海南黎母山自然保护区两栖动物多样性及区系特征

2003年7月和2004年1月对海南省黎母山自然保护区两栖动物资源进行了调查,结果表明,该区内有两栖动物1目5科13属25种,全部为东洋界种类,其中华南区成分有15种,华中华南区有10种,分别占黎母山两栖动物总数的60%和40%,海南特有种有7种,具有典型的华南区系成分和热带山地林灌动物群特征。国家Ⅱ级保护动物有虎纹蛙1种;数量优势种有黑眶蟾蜍、小湍蛙、泽蛙、细刺蛙、海南溪树蛙和背条跳树蛙;保护区内两栖动物物种多样性指数为37109,均匀性指数为08321。     

海南大田国家级自然保护区鸟类考察初报

2001年10月至2002年9月,采用晨昏沿样带观察及用鸟网捕捉的方法对海南大田国家级自然保护区进行了鸟类资源考察。本次考察共记录鸟类75种,分属于12目30科,加上以往文献记载,该地区总计有鸟类13目36科92种,约占全国鸟类总数的6．97％。其中东洋界鸟类71种,古北界鸟类4种,广布种17种;繁殖鸟类65种(包括留鸟和夏候鸟),冬候鸟和旅鸟23种,居留期不清或迷鸟4种。该区域有许多被保护的鸟类,其中Birds to Watch收录2种,CITES收录5种,中国濒危物种红皮书收录10种,中国重点保护动物名录收录15种。     

江西省马头山自然保护区蜘蛛初步名录

马头山自然保护区位于江西省东部的资溪县境内,面积113.58平方公里,地处武夷山脉延伸分支,呈马蹄形,境内群山环抱,平均海拔800 m以上,属中亚热带季风气候区,森林覆盖率为90.1%.经调查共获得蜘蛛标本1 750个,经鉴定计27科72属167种,其中江西新记录种94种,另有未确定种16种.     

小寨子沟自然保护区珍稀濒危植物资源现状

本文利用现代全球定位(GPS)技术和地理信息系统(GIS)手段,对四川省小寨子沟自然保护区内的珍稀濒危植物资源进行了精确定位和详尽地调查,基本掌握其种类、数量、地理分布、濒危状况等信息,并针对目前珍稀濒危植物的受威状况提出保护对策.     

湖南省乌云界自然保护区鱼类资源研究

利用样点全采集法在湖南乌云界自然保护区共采集到鱼类标本238条,它们隶属于4目11科32种．该地鱼类多样性系数(H′)为1．068．鱼类均匀度指数(J′)为0．835．优势种为马口鱼和波氏栉虾虎鱼。