MtDNA reveals strong genetic differentiation among geographically isolated populations of the golden brown mouse lemur, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcebus ravelobensis</Emphasis>

Microcebus ravelobensis is an endangered nocturnal primate endemic to northwestern Madagascar. This part of the island is subject to extensive human intervention leading to massive habitat destruction and fragmentation. We investigated the degree of genetic differentiation among remaining populations using mitochondrial control region sequences (479–482 bases). Nine populations were sampled from the hypothesized geographic range. The region is composed of three inter-river systems (IRSs). Samples were collected in three areas of continuous forests (CFs) and six isolated forest fragments (IFFs) of different sizes. We identified 27 haplotypes in 114 animals, with CFs and IFFs harbouring 5–6 and 1–3 haplotypes, respectively. All IFFs were significantly differentiated from each other with high Φ_ST values and sets of unique haplotypes. The rivers constitute significant dispersal barriers with over 82% of the molecular variation being attributed to the divergence among the IRSs. The data suggest a deep and so far unknown split within the rufous mouse lemurs of northwestern Madagascar. The limited data base and the lack of ecological and morphological data do not allow definite taxonomic classification at this stage. However, the results clearly indicate that M. ravelobensis consists of three evolutionary significant units, possibly cryptic species, which warrant urgent and separate conservation efforts.     

Le site Paléolithique supérieur de Yudinovo : résultats des recherches archéologiques des années 2004–2016

The Upper Palaeolithic site of Yudinovo is one of the reference sites, located in the Desna River Basin. Multidisciplinary field studies, organized by the Desna mission (MAE RAS) and conducted between 2004 and 2016, have changed the vision existed so far on the structure and character of the Yudinovo site as well as on the duration of its occupations. The researchers found an ancient ford used by mammoths and other big mammals to cross the river, and a water source was one of the main factors in explaining the location of the Yudinovo site. The site has been occupied in a cyclical way for stays of varied duration. It was frequented by Prehistoric Men during the different seasons, and periods of occupation were apparently of different duration. The stratigraphy of the Yudinovo site reveals two major episodes in the evolution of the site. The dating of the lower archaeological layer dates back to 15,000–13,500 BC. J.C., while the upper layer is attributed to the period of 12,500–12,000 BC. The lower layer, which was formed during the major episode of occupation of the site, is rather thin and shows the complex stratigraphic structure. Various areas of activities, evacuation structures, storage areas with mammoth bones are discovered. Some elements of the lower archaeological layer are perfectly correlated with different episodes of sporadic occupation.     

同域分布的黑麂和小麂的时空生态位分化

生态位分化是解释物种共存的重要理论。Schonenr认为空间维度对生态位差异形成的影响程度最高,营养维度次之,时间维度则最后被启动。为验证这一假说,我们于2018年12月至2019年11月,在浙江清凉峰国家级自然保护区龙塘山区域采用公里网格法布设52台红外相机,对同域分布且食性相似的黑麂和小麂种群进行监测,计算平均拍摄率,分析不同季节黑麂和小麂对不同植被类型、海拔、坡位、水源距离的选择差异,并运用核密度估计法分析二者日活动节律及重叠程度。结果显示,(1)黑麂和小麂对空间生态位的选择出现分化：黑麂偏好针阔混交林,主要栖息于1 301～1 500 m的高海拔地区,回避下坡位和谷地,在距离水源较近的区域内活动频繁;小麂则偏好落叶阔叶林,主要栖息于901～1 100 m的中海拔地区,偏好中坡位,回避谷地,对水源距离没有明显的选择倾向。(2)黑麂和小麂均为晨昏性活动的昼行性动物,二者全年日活动节律重叠程度较高(Δ4=0.86),仅冬季较低(Δ1=0.65)。上述结果支持Schonenr的假说：首先,空间维度对物种生态位分化的影响大于时间维度,龙塘山区域黑麂和小麂主要通过选择不同的栖息地来增加空间...     

大兴安岭原麝冬季的生境选择

2005年3～4月和2006年3月,在黑龙江省大兴安岭呼中自然保护区,采用机械布点法随机设置样线,对原麝(Moschus moschiferus)冬季生境选择进行了研究。对海拔、乔木密度、雪深、隐蔽度、食物丰富度、坡度和倒木数量进行2个独立样本的Mann-Whitey U检验,找出生境利用样方与任意样方的生态因子的差异。U检验的结果表明,原麝冬季喜欢活动在相对海拔高、乔木密度小、雪层浅、隐蔽度高、坡度陡且喜食食物丰富的区域;对植被类型、坡位、坡向、距水源距离、距人为干扰距离、动物干扰和碎石坡7个名词性变量采用卡方(Chi-square)统计进行显著性检验,卡方检验的结果表明:原麝冬季偏好远离人为干扰、接近碎石坡、阳坡和其他动物干扰较少的针阔混交林中;对以上14个生态因子进行主成分分析,结果表明,前6个特征值的累计贡献率达到72·318%,可以较好地反映原麝生境特征,根据主成分分析结果,将原麝冬季生境选择影响因子分别命名为空间因子(海拔、坡度、距碎石坡距离)、干扰因子(距人为干扰距离、距水源距离)、坡向因子(坡向、乔木密度)、坡位因子(坡位、动物干扰)、食物因子(食物丰富度、隐蔽度)和倒木因子(倒木数量)。     

Glucose-based optimization of CHO-cell perfusion cultures

Perfusion cultures of CHO cells producing t-PA were performed using acoustic filter cell retention. A robust off-line glucose analysis and predictive control protocol was developed to maintain the process within approximately 0.5 mM of the glucose set point, without the need for a more fallible on-line sensor. Glucose usage (the difference between the inlet and reactor glucose concentrations) provided an easily measured indicator of overall medium utilization for mapping acceptable ranges of operation, including the edge of failure. Earlier onset of perfusion with a ramping glucose set point (1.5 mM/d) resulted in improved growth and consistency during the perfusion culture start-up. At steady state, the t-PA concentration variability increased gradually with increasing glucose usage up to approximately 22 mM, then up to 24 mM the variability increased threefold. Peak t-PA concentrations of over 90 mg/L were obtained by controlling at a glucose usage of approximately 24 mM, but these t-PA levels were not sustainable for more than 3 days. A consistent t-PA concentration of 40 mg/L was obtained at a glucose usage of 21.5 mM.     

Landsat TM inventory and assessment of waterbird habitat in the southern <Emphasis Type="Italic">altiplano</Emphasis> of South America

The diverse set of wetlands in southern altiplano of South America supports a number of endemic and migratory waterbirds. These species include endangered endemic flamingos and shorebirds that nest in North America and winter in the altiplano. This research developed maps from nine Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images (254,300 km²) to provide an inventory of aquatic waterbird habitats. Image processing software was used to produce a map with a classification of wetlands according to the habitat requirements of different types of waterbirds. A hierarchical procedure was used to, first, isolate the bodies of water within the TM image; second, execute an unsupervised classification on the subsetted image to produce 300 signatures of cover types, which were further subdivided as necessary. Third, each of the classifications was examined in the light of field data and personal experience for relevance to the determination of the various habitat types. Finally, the signatures were applied to the entire image and other adjacent images to yield a map depicting the location of the various waterbird habitats in the southern altiplano. The data sets referenced with a global positioning system receiver were used to test the classification system. Multivariate analysis of the bird communities censused at each lake by individual habitats indicated a salinity gradient, and then the depth of the water separated the birds. Multivariate analysis of the chemical and physical data from the lakes showed that the variation in lakes were significantly associated with difference in depth, transparency, latitude, elevation, and pH. The presence of gravel bottoms was also one of the qualities distinguishing a group of lakes. This information will be directly useful to the Flamingo Census Project and serve as an element for risk assessment for future development.This revised version was published online in March 2005 with corrections to the issue cover date.     

Species Survival in Fragmented Landscapes: Where to From Here?

We summarise the contributions of empiricists, modellers, and practitioners in this issue of Biodiversity and Conservation, and highlight the most important areas for future research on species survival in fragmented landscapes. Under the theme uncertainty in research and management, we highlight five areas for future research. First, we know little about the effects of density dependence on the viability of metapopulations, a requirement for fragmented landscapes. Second, successful early attempts suggest that it is worth developing more rigorous calibration methods for population viability analysis with spatially explicit, individual-based models. In particular, the balance between model complexity, ease of calibration, and precision, needs to be addressed. Third, we need to improve methods to discriminate between models, including alternatives to time-series approaches. Fourth, when our ability to reduce model uncertainty is weak, we need to incorporate this uncertainty in population viability analysis. Fifth, population viability analysis and decision analysis can be integrated to make uncertainty an explicit part of the decision process. An important future direction is extending the decision framework to adaptive management. Under the theme tools for quantifying risk and predicting species sensitivity to fragmentation, we highlight three areas for future research. First, we need to develop tools to support comparative approaches to population viability analysis. Second, population modelling can be used to find rules of thumb to support conservation decisions when very little is known about a species. Rules of thumb need to be extended to the problem of managing for multiple species. Third, species traits might be useful for predicting sensitivity but predictions could be further refined by considering the relative importance of population processes at different scales. Under the theme tools for reassembling fragmented landscapes, we consider the focal species approach, and highlight aspects of the approach that require more rigorous testing. Finally, we highlight two important areas for future research not presented in the previous themes or papers in this volume. First, we need to incorporate the deterministic effects of habitat modification into the modelling framework of population viability analysis. Second, an avenue of research that remains largely unexplored is the combination of landscape-scale experiments and population modelling, especially using data from existing fragmentation experiments and from experiments designed to test the effects of defragmenting landscapes.     

Competition between near and far dispersers in spatially structured habitats

Competitive interactions and invasibility between short- and long-distance dispersal was investigated in a population on a heterogeneous landscape with spatial correlations in habitat types, and where the driving interaction between individuals is competition for space. Stochastic spatially explicit simulations were used, along with differential equation models based on pair approximations. Conditions under which either dispersal strategy can successfully invade the other were determined, as a function of the amount and clustering of suitable habitat and the relative costs involved in the two dispersal strategies. Long-distance dispersal, which reduces intraspecific competition, is sometimes advantageous even where aggregation of suitable habitat would otherwise favor short-distance dispersal, although certain habitat distributions can lead to either strategy being dominant. Coexistence is also possible on some landscapes, where the spatial structure of the populations partitions suitable sites according to the number of suitable neighboring sites. Mutual competitive exclusion, where whichever strategy is established first cannot be invaded, is also possible. All of these results are observed even when there is no intrinsic difference in the two strategies' costs, such as mortality or competitive abilities.     

Seasonal locomotion and home-range characteristics of European hares (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepus europaeus</Emphasis>) in an arable region in central Germany

We studied seasonal use of space by 38 radio-tracked European hares in an arable region in central Germany over 5 years. Mean distance between successive daytime and nighttime fixes of a hare amounted to 226 m, and an average distance of 172 m was recorded for successive daytime fixes. The hares shifted the centres of their home ranges from one 2-month period to the next by an average distance of 131 m and over a time span of 11.2 months by 216 m. The size of their 2-month home ranges (MCP 95) averaged 21 ha; the variation between individuals was high. Night ranges were larger than day ranges. Mean size of seasonal home ranges—based on daytime and nighttime fixes—remained largely constant throughout the year. Home-range size increased as the day-to-night distance increased, as the number of used habitat elements increased and as frequency of use of inner field parts during the daytime increased. Home-range size was inversely related to population density. On average, 32% of the area of the home range of a hare overlapped with the home range of a neighbouring conspecific. When related to the population density of adult hares in spring, the home range of a single hare was estimated to overlap with 13–21 home ranges of adults as well as an indefinite number of juveniles. The large intraseasonal variation in locomotion and home-range characteristics is interpreted in relationship to the social structure of European hares.     

Biodiversity on urban roundabouts—Hemiptera, management and the species–area relationship

The biodiversity of insects within urban areas has been relatively little studied. Given the large and ever increasing extent of urban areas, and that the insect species richness there can be high, it is important to know the factors determining that aspect of biodiversity. In this study two of these factors, namely habitat management and area, were considered. Arboreal and grassland Hemiptera, and grassland plants, were sampled on 18 roundabouts and other road enclosed sites in the town of Bracknell. Hemiptera were sampled using suction sampling and tree beating. A significant species–area relationship was found for arboreal Hemiptera, which was strongly related to habitat diversity. For both grassland plants and Hemiptera, grassland management, by mowing, had a significant effect on species richness. Despite the management grassland plants showed a significant species–area relationship. However the effect of management on Hemiptera was great enough to outweigh any area effect. As the size of open spaces is often constrained in urban areas, altering habitat management has a greater potential for enhancing biodiversity. For arboreal Hemiptera choice of trees for planting is of particular importance, while for grassland Hemiptera diversity would be increased with a reduction in the intensity of management, such a reduction in the frequency of mowing.

Zusammenfassung

Die Biodiversität der Insekten auf urbanen Flächen ist relativ wenig untersucht. Angesichts der großen und der immer größer werdenden Ausdehnung urbaner Gebiete und angesichts dessen, dass der Artenreichtum der Insekten dort groß sein kann, ist es wichtig die Faktoren zu kennen, die diesen Aspekt der Biodiversität bestimmen. In dieser Untersuchung wurden zwei dieser Faktoren, nämlich Habitatmanagement und Fläche, betrachtet. Baum- und wiesenbewohnende Hemiptera sowie Wiesenpflanzen wurden in 18 Kreisverkehren und anderen straßenumschlossenen Orten innerhalb der Stadt Bracknell gesammelt. Die Hemiptera wurden mit Saugproben und Klopfproben an den Bäumen gesammelt. Für die baumbewohnenden Hemiptera wurde eine signifikante Art-Areal-Beziehung gefunden, die in enger Beziehung zur Habitatdiversität stand. Sowohl für die Wiesenpflanzen als auch für die Hemiptera hatte das Wiesenmanagement in Form von Mahd einen signifikanten Einfluss auf den Artenreichtum. Trotz des Managements zeigten die Wiesenpflanzen eine signifikante Art-Areal-Beziehung. Die Auswirkungen des Managements auf die Hemiptera waren jedoch groß genug, um den Arealeffekt zu überwiegen. Da die Größe offener Flächen in städtischen Gebieten oft beschränkt ist, hat die Änderung des Habitatmanagements ein größeres Potenzial die Biodiversität zu erhöhen. Für baumbewohnende Hemiptera ist die Auswahl der Bäume für die Bepflanzung von besonderer Wichtigkeit, während für die wiesenbewohnenden Hemiptera die Diversität durch eine Verringerung der Managementintensität erhöht würde, wie z. B. durch die Verringerung der Mahdfrequenz.