Correlates of rate heterogeneity in avian ecomorphological traits

Heterogeneity in rates of trait evolution is widespread, but it remains unclear which processes drive fast and slow character divergence across global radiations. Here, we test multiple hypotheses for explaining rate variation in an ecomorphological trait (beak shape) across a globally distributed group (birds). We find low support that variation in evolutionary rates of species is correlated with life history, environmental mutagenic factors, range size, number of competitors, or living on islands. Indeed, after controlling for the negative effect of species' age, 80% of variation in species‐specific evolutionary rates remains unexplained. At the clade level, high evolutionary rates are associated with unusual phenotypes or high species richness. Taken together, these results imply that macroevolutionary rates of ecomorphological traits are governed by both ecological opportunity in distinct adaptive zones and niche differentiation among closely related species.     

Les forêts sacrées de Guinée : entre écologie et conservation

Guinea has very little ecological data available regarding its sacred forests. This study shows the important conservation role of these forests in a local context of strong human impacts. We present four representative case studies from the Sudano-Guinean zone in Upper Guinea. Our phytoecological inventories recorded a total of 431 species, 312 genera, and 87 families including 242 species, 187 genera, and 64 families in the forests. Twelve plant groups have been identified, including five in forests and seven in the surrounding vegetation. Geomorphology, texture, soil hydromorphism, microclimate, and human impacts are significant in explaining the spatial distribution of plant groups. The study reveals that in these Sudano-Guinean savannas, vegetation is dominated by micro-phanerophytes. The Guinean-Congolese flora is better represented in gallery forests.     

Effect of Brewery Size on the Main Process Parameters and Cradle‐to‐Grave Carbon Footprint of Lager Beer

Several carbon footprint (CF) studies have been so far carried out to assess the environmental impact of the brewing industry. In this study, a series of reliable secondary data for small‐, medium‐, and large‐sized breweries were collected and used to develop a simplified model to estimate the cradle‐to‐grave (C2G) CF of the production of a functional unit consisting of 1 hectoliter (hL) of lager beer packed in 66‐centiliter (glass or polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) bottles. With reference to the typical operating conditions of nine breweries of different size, the C2G CF was found to increase up to 43% or 45% either for glass or PET bottles as the brewery size reduced from 10 × 10⁶ to 500 hL per year. Whatever the brewery size, the use of PET instead of glass bottles lowered the beer CF by 2.7 ± 0.9%. The contribution of the consumer and postconsumer waste disposal phases was found to be significant. Thus, beer makers should pay attention to the recycling ratio of postconsumer packaging in the sales areas. The C2G CF tended to increase linearly with the overall (thermal and electric) energy needed to produce 1 hL of beer, almost independently of the primary packaging material used. Such a simple and easy‐to‐measure quantitative indicator might be more than sufficient not only to estimate qualitatively the environmental burden of beer production, but also to identify which mitigation opportunities might be explored or to prioritize primary data collection efforts to refine CF calculation.     

2000-2010年陕西北部不同类型草地面积及其覆盖度变化

利用生态系统分类及生态参量数据产品,运用植被覆盖度年际变异系数、趋势斜率和退化指数等草地覆盖度变化状况评价指标,对陕西北部重大生态建设工程实施关键年份（2000-2010年）内各类型草地植被覆盖度的演替状况进行研究。结果显示：（1）延安市和榆林市的黄土沟壑区草地生态系统面积明显增加,年均植被覆盖度由2000年的27.94%增长到2010年的40.50%,草地覆盖度整体由低覆盖向中覆盖等级转变,其中温带草原和温性草丛覆盖度呈明显上升趋势。（2）陕西北部大部分草地覆盖度波动变化明显,延河以北温带草原稳定性低,延河以南温性草丛稳定性较高、波动变化较小;93.98%的草地区域覆盖度呈上升趋势,其中极显著上升区域主要分布在黄土沟壑区;3.23%的降低区域集中于榆林市西北部的温带荒漠草原分布区。（3）11年间,陕西北部退化草地得到改善恢复的面积由2000-2005年期间的9594.44 km²增加到2005-2010年期间的26 544.39 km²,远大于退化区域,草地极重度退化程度得到扭转。本研究表明陕西北部不同类型草地覆盖度均不同程度得到了缓解和改善。     

乡村城镇化水污染的生态风险及背景警戒值的研究

对江南地区乡村城镇化引起水污染的生态风险进行定量估测与相关分析表明 ,地表水BOD5、NO 3 N、苯酚、表面活性剂和降水 pH、Pb、NO 2 N、苯酚及地下水NO 3 N等水质参数与小城镇人口总数存在着一元线性显著正相关 ,地下水氯化物、细菌总数、洗涤剂和地表水CODCr等水质参数与小城镇人口总数存在着指数显著正相关 ,地表水BOD5、苯酚、表面活性剂和地下水NO 3 N、氯化物、细菌总数、洗涤剂及降水pH、苯酚、Pb等水质参数与小城镇人口密度存在着一元线性显著正相关 ,降水NO 2 N与小城镇人口密度存在着指数显著正相关 .并对该地区小城镇人口的背景极限值和最大允许背景密度进行了推算 .     

杉木火力楠混交林养分归还与生产力

通过对野外试验和室内测试数据的整理分析．比较研究了杉木火力楠混交林和 杉木纯林养分归还、吸收等生态过程的特征以及生产力结果表明混交促进了养分归还过 程．可提高土壤肥力和系统生产力．１５年生混交林技和叶凋落物分别是纯林的２倍和３ 倍,其中容易分解的火力楠凋落物占 ６４％．混交林通过凋落物分解所归还的养分是纯林 的 ２～ ３倍．相当年凋落量 ６５． ９％的混交林根系年死亡量是纯林的 ２倍,在整个系统养分 归还中占有很大的份额．混交林土壤全 Ｎ、 ＮＨ＋４－Ｎ和有效 Ｋ分别比纯林提高 ６４． ３％。 ８２． ３ ％和 ６３． １％．与此同时土壤孔隙组成和水分过程也大为改善．混交林生产力较纯林 提高５２．７％．混交林５种大量元素的归还／吸收比率是纯林的２倍,表明混交林养分循环 效率较高,较少的人为维持可以保持较高的生产力水平．     

缙云山大头号茶幼苗种群构件结构及与环境因子的多元分析

 基于构件理论,采用灰色关联度分析技术,对四川缙云山1989年风灾迹地林窗内大头茶(Gordonia acumenata)幼苗种群构件结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明,四川缙云山大头茶幼苗种群构件结构主要分为一级枝、二级枝、当年生枝、空间结构、叶片等几大部分。分别可以以一级枝数或茎粗或长度、二级枝数或茎粗或长度、当年生枝数、3年生一级枝数、总叶数等的变化特征来表达其动态特点。前四者间的相关性亦很高,后者(包括主茎上叶面积)和主茎上第一级枝离地面高、主茎上第一叶距地高为比较稳定的特征,受其它生态因子作用影响不十分显著。相对而言,土壤全N、全P、全K、有机质含量及其pH值是比较关键的环境因子;而海拔高度和林窗大小及地形坡度却比较次要。灰色关联度分析不失为一种比较简捷而有效的分析植物种群构件结构特征间及与环境因子间关系的方法。     

缙云山大头茶幼苗种群构件结构及与环境因子的多元分析

基于构件理论,采用灰色关联度分析技术,对四川缙云山１９８９年风灾迹地林窗内大头茶（Ｇｏｒｄｏｎｉａａｃｕｍｅｎａｔａ）幼苗种群构件结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究。结果表明,四川缙云山大头茶幼苗种群构件结构主要分为一级枝、二级枝、当年生枝、空间结构、叶片等几大部分,分别可以以一级枝数或茎粗或长度、二级枝数或基粗或长度、当年生枝数、３年生一级枝数、总叶数等的变化特征来表达其动态特点。前四者间的相关性亦很高,后者（包括主茎上叶面积）和主茎上第一一级枝离地面高、主茎上第一叶距地高为比较稳定的特征,受其它生态因子作用影响不十分显著。相对而言,土壤全Ｎ、全Ｐ、全Ｋ、有机质含量及其ｐＨ值是比较关键的环境因子;而海拔高度和林自大小及地形坡度却比较次要。灰色关联度分析不失为一种比较简捷而有效的分析植物种群构件结构特征间及与环境因子间关系的方法。关键词     

Life at the front: history, ecology and change on southern ocean islands

Terrestrial ecosystems of southern ocean islands have enjoyed renewed attention recently owing to the discovery that their climates are changing dramatically. This has led to an enhanced understanding of the biogeography of this region, and an increased awareness that these ecosystems provide unrivalled opportunities for investigating the impacts of environmental change on interactions between invasive and indigenous species. Recent studies have revealed increases in the abundance of established alien species and in the strength of their negative impacts on local biota, especially through indirect interactions. Also, increases in island temperature and human visitor frequency are likely to result in increasing numbers of successful alien colonization events.     

九华山土壤甲虫的生态分布

１９８８年４月－１９９２年１２月先后８次对九华山４种生境的土壤甲虫进行调查,共获标本４１７头,隶属３３科。其中幼虫１５科,成虫２８科６４种（属）。平均密度７０５头／ｍ＾３。不同生境土壤甲虫群落组成的差异较大,仅分布于一种生境的种属多。共有的少。群落组成的丰富度（Ｓ）,均匀度（Ｅ）和香农指数值（Ｈ）均以灌丛草甸和混交林内高,黄山松林和马尾松林低,优势度指数值（Ｃ）正好相反。组成和数量的季节变化表现为