Strontium isotopes in Melanopsis sp. as indicators of variation in hydrology and climate in the Upper Jordan Valley during the Early-Middle Pleistocene, and wider implications

Aquifers dominated by Pleistocene basalts and Jurassic to Cretaceous calcareous rocks feed the Hula basin which is drained by the Jordan River into Lake Kinneret. The sedimentary sequence of Lower-Middle Pleistocene Benot Ya‘akov Formation (BYF) exposed by excavations of the 0.78 Ma lake-side site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (GBY) consists of six cycles representing ca. 100 ka history of the Hula basin. This study characterizes the types of water sources in the catchment, tests the use of the Strontium (Sr) isotopes in the common extant snail Melanopsis sp. as a tracer for water in its habitat, and uses this tracer in the fossil specimens from GBY to investigate the palaeohydrology of the Hula paleolake during the corresponding period.The Sr isotope composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) of extant Melanopsis shells in the Hula catchment range widely (0.7046-0.7079). These analyses define distinct groups of water sources and aquifers, while the Jordan River at the GBY site has values around 0.70685. The values for fossil Melanopsis from GBY vary along stratigraphy; they are highest around 0.70710 in Cycles 1 and 2, decrease to around 0.70685 in Cycle 3, and exhibit upward trending fluctuations in the subsequent cycles to 0.70703 in Cycle 6. This trend reveals the dominance of the Hermon Jurassic aquifer during the earlier, colder periods before the Matuyama-Brunhes Boundary (MBB) and enhanced influence of the Golan basaltic aquifers, in subsequent warmer periods, indicating that the MBB coincides with climate warming as supported by other indicators. Hence, this global geochronological indicator of 0.78 Ma is also potentially a global palaeoclimatic marker. The similarity between the Sr isotope composition of the Jordan River waters and Melanopsis and those from Cycle 3 suggests that the current climate corresponds to that of the warmest period within the record of GBY, clarifying the comparative interpretation of this 100 k.yr. climate record.     

Humidity and seasonality drives body size patterns in males of the bush cricket Isophya rizeensis Sevgili, 2003 （Orthoptera： Tettigoniidae： Phaneropterinae）

Two primary patterns of body size variation have been recorded in ectotherms in relation to latitudinal/altitudinal shifts. In some, body size increases with increasing latitude/altitude whereas, in others, body size decreases with increasing latitude/altitude. This clinal variation is generally assumed to be caused by local adaptation to environmental conditions however the selective variable（s） （temperature, humidity, diet quality, etc.） is still heavily debated. Here we investigate geographic variation in body size of dark and pale color morphs of males of the bush-cricket lsophya rizeensis collected from 15 locations along an elevation gradient ranging from 350 to 2 500 m. Using an information theoretical approach we evaluate the relative support of four different hypotheses （the temperature size rule, the moisture gradient hypothesis, the seasonal constraint hypothesis, and the primary productivity hypothesis） explaining body size variation along the altitudinal gradient. Body size variation in pale color morphs showed a curvilinear relationship with altitude while dark color morphs showed no variation in body size. Body size variation in pale color morphs was highly correlated with precipitation and temperature seasonality values thus giving strong support for the moisture gradient and seasonal constraint hypothesis. Our results reinforce the importance of gradients in humidity and seasonality over temperature in the creation of altitudinal body size clines and the role of selection for resistance to stress factors in the establishment of these clines. Whether a body size cline is observed or not might also depend on the phenotypic properties of the individuals, like coloration.     

Large sauropod and theropod tracks from the Middle Jurassic Chuanjie Formation of Lufeng County,Yunnan Province and palaeobiogeography of the Middle Jurassic sauropod tracks from southwestern China

Tracks of large theropods and a single sauropod footprint are reported from red beds at Beikeshan locality in the Middle Jurassic Chuanjie Formation, of Lufeng County, near the large World Dinosaur Valley Park complex. The Chuanjie theropod tracks are assigned to the ichnogenus Eubrontes and the large sauropod track is given the provisional label Brontopodus. All occur as isolated tracks, i.e., trackways are not preserved. Saurischian dominated ichnofaunas are relatively common in the Jurassic of China. The producers of the Chuanjie tracks may have been similar to the basal tetanuran theropod Shidaisaurus and to mamenchisaurid sauropods, which were widely distributed throughout China, during the Jurassic, and are known from skeletal remains found in the same unit. Other potential sauropod trackmakers include titanosauriforms or as-yet-unknown basal eusauropods. The ichno- and skeletal records from the Jurassic of the Lufeng Basin are largely consistent, and both document the presence of middle-large sized theropods and sauropods.     

四川黄龙沟森林植被中兰科植物群落优势种种间联结和相关分析

四川黄龙沟内分布着十分丰富的兰科植物(19属30余种),并且部分种类在沟内形成优势群落。目前尚不清楚在群落中这些兰科植物种之间作用关系。运用种间关联分析和相关分析对黄龙沟森林植被兰科植物群落中的24个优势种的种间关系进行了研究。两种分析方法得到的结果相近,表明黄龙沟优势兰科植物可以分为两组。一组包括无苞杓兰(Cypripedium bardolphianum)、黄花杓兰(C. flavum)、二叶红门兰(Orchis diantha)、广布红门兰(Orchis chusua)、少花虾脊兰(Calanthe delavayi)和西藏杓兰(C. tibeticum),主要分布在光线充足但又具有一定遮荫条件的环境中;另一组包括筒距兰(Tipularia szechuanica)、沼兰(Malaxis monophyllos)、珊瑚兰(Corallorhiza trifida)、小斑叶兰(Goodyera repens)、布袋兰(Calypso bulbosa)、小花舌唇兰(Platanthera minutiflora)和小叶对叶兰(Listera smithii),它们主要分布于荫蔽的环境中。这些兰科植物在组内大多呈现显著的正相关关系,组间大多呈现显著的负相关关系,说明黄龙沟兰科植物在资源利用方式上可能产生了分化。     

葛藤覆被下干热河谷冲沟沟岸土壤水热变化特征

干热河谷冲沟沟岸裸露、陡立、土壤水热变化剧烈,导致植被恢复极端困难。通过野外调查和定位监测,在葛藤覆被沟岸,根据藤本生物量设置4个处理(T1:309.70g/m~2鲜藤覆被地块,T2、T3、T4:594.34、1103.43、1693.27g/m~2枯藤覆被地块),并选取裸露地块作为对照CK,研究了葛藤不同覆被状况对沟岸土壤水分和温度在单次降雨过程变化的影响。结果表明:相比裸露沟岸而言,1)鲜藤覆被沟岸土壤含水率仅为8.68%,较裸露沟岸还降低了4.47%;枯藤覆被沟岸土壤含水率则相对增加,T2—T4土壤含水率分别为14.91%、16.75%、19.44%,较裸露沟岸增加了1.76%、3.6%、6.29%。2)鲜藤覆被可明显增加土壤水分活跃层深度、变化幅度和变异程度,枯藤覆被下土壤水分活跃层深度、变化幅度和变异程度则相对减小。3)随鲜、枯藤覆被量增加,水分补给过程中土壤含水率的增加量增大,同时水分衰减过程中土壤含水率的散失量减小;增加枯藤覆被量后,沟岸表层土壤含水率变化率的波形逐渐平缓、波动依次减小、波长稳步增大。4)随鲜、枯藤覆被量的增加,沟岸表层土壤温度波动逐渐减小。研究成果对干热河谷冲沟沟岸生境改良与植被恢复具有重要的指导意义。     

辽河流域栽培稻对二化螟(Chilo suppressalis)的抗性

采用活体成株鉴定法测定了辽河流域主栽水稻品种对二化螟发育和为害的影响,同时测定了不同品种的主要形态特性、硅细胞数量和主要生化特性,评价这些品种对二化螟的抗性、分析其发生的可能机制。盐丰47对二化螟幼虫表现出较好的抗性,在沈农265上二化螟幼虫体重最小。在所测定的特性中,螟害株率与不同品种倒二叶叶角的自然对数之间具有显著的正相关关系,与稻茎Si含量之间具有显著的负线性相关关系;二化螟幼虫体重只与不同品种稻茎直径之间具有显著的正线性相关关系．研究结果对水稻品种杭件利用和未来水稻抗件育种的意义。     

宁夏黄河流域景观破碎化时空变化特征

基于RS和GIS技术,以土地利用数据为基础,采用有效粒度尺寸对宁夏黄河流域1985年和2010年的景观破碎化进行时空变化分析。结果显示:流域整体的有效粒度尺寸(meff)从1985年的6326.62 km2下降到2010年的2974.32 km2,破碎化程度呈显著加剧变化;从流域内部来看,景观破碎化程度最大的是黄左区间,破碎化程度最小的是苦水河和红柳沟;除引黄区间外,其余分区景观破碎化程度在25年间均有所加剧。特征尺度分析结果显示研究区景观破碎化空间变异分析的合适尺度为4500 m;景观破碎化指数的空间变异结果表明破碎化程度较大的区域面积明显多于破碎化程度弱的区域,景观破碎化空间异质性在25年间表现出明显的上升趋势。在海拔背景条件下,2400 m以下区域的景观破碎化程度较高,2400m以上区域破碎化程度较低,且随海拔的升高有降低的趋势;流域景观破碎化受人为干扰影响强烈,在人为干扰较强的1000—1500 m区段的景观破碎化程度最大;景观破碎化在时间上的变化受人为干扰影响产生的变化最为显著,由自然条件改变产生的影响有限。研究结果可为西北地区景观格局及景观破碎化的研究提供参考,并为区域景观格局优化和土地的有效管理提供依据。     

基于网络特征的道路生态干扰——以澜沧江流域为例

道路网络对区域景观的生态格局和过程产生较大的影响,作为干扰因子,区域道路网络的特征和所产生的生态干扰水平存在一定的相关性.利用GIS和网络分析法,以澜沧江流域县域为基本单元,分析了研究区各县的道路网络特征指数,在揭示了区域道路网络不同特征之间的规律性的基础上,进一步对区域网络特点和生态干扰之间相关性进行了内在关系的探讨.结果表明,澜沧江流域道路网络结构的空间差异很大,流域内各县的道路网络节点数、连接线数目、α环度、β线点率、γ连接度指数等网络特征因子也存在较大差异;道路密度和道路总长度与区域海拔高度呈现较明显的负相关关系;道路密度和区域道路的廊道密度呈现正相关关系,和区域道路的α指数、β指数和γ指数关系可以用倒数模型来拟合.缓冲区分析表明,耕地比例和道路密度线性相关关系显著,而其他类型相关性较差,但区域综合的人工干扰指数(Hd)(1980,2000)和道路网络的特征指数相关显著,而且不同时期的区域景观的斑块密度、平均斑块面积和区域道路网络特征之间也存在较强的相关性,即网络扩展使得区域生态系统受干扰强度增加,破碎化严重,但较短时期内的生态系统变化和道路网络特征之间相关性不显著.     

长江三峡淹没区与移民安置区植物多样性及其保护策略

随着三峡大坝的修建,三峡地区淹没区和移民安置区的植物多样性调查与保护工作相继展开。从多年考察采集到的标本及历史资料补充确定,两区高等植物为170科,762属,1784种。分别占到三峡地区高等植物科、属、种数的85.85%,75.30%和59.19%。其中特有植物27种。而三峡地区的灌木和草丛群落基本分布在沿江两岸的低海拔地区,受水库蓄水影响较大。对两区内21个马尾松(Pinus massoniana)群落物种多样性进行的Shannon-Wiener指数及Pielou均匀度指数的测定结果表明,马尾松群落的多样性变化总体趋势为:灌木层>草本层>乔木层;对该地区具有代表性的11种灌丛类型进行的物种多样性指数的测定结果表明:盐肤木(Rhus chinensis)、毛黄栌(Cotinus coggygriavar.pubescens)、荆条(Vitex negundo)、马桑(Coriaria sinic)等4种群落的灌木层丰富度较高,分别为16,26,20和15。多样性指数分别为1.791,3.427,2.949和1.718;对沿江分布的9种主要草丛群落进行的物种多样性指数的测定结果表明:芒萁(Dicranopteris dichotoma)、五节芒(Miscanthus floridutus)、白茅(Imperatacylindricavar.major)、荩草(Arthraxon hispidus)等4种海拔分布较高的群落物种多样性指数较高,分别达到1.697,1.354,1.144和1.018。另外,对淹没区及移民安置区的物种调查结果显示:受淹的自然植被类型共有22种。其中木本群落4种,灌丛9种,草丛9种。小鞍叶羊蹄甲(Bauhinia brachycarpavar.microphylla)、中华蚊母树(Distylium chinensis)、水杨梅(Geum aleppicum)、小叶黄杨(Buxus sinica var.parvifolia)、铁仔(Myrsine africana)、疏花水柏枝(Myricaria laxiflora)等灌丛被全部淹没;巫溪叶底珠(Securinega wuxiensis)、宜昌黄杨(Buxus ichangensis)和荷叶铁线蕨(Adiantum reniformevar.sinense)大部分被淹没。目前,已建立了库区植物物种保护站及监测站,200多种植物已得到迁地保护,包括已列入中国植物红皮书的37种珍濒物种和11种三峡库区建群种。     

金沙江河谷苏铁天然植物群落的研究

近年在金沙江干热河谷及其邻近地区陆续发现的苏铁天然植物群落,为本属植物在欧亚大陆内陆分布的最北边缘。其中,面积最大和保存较好的是渡口市攀枝花苏铁(Cycas panzhihuaensis)植物群落。本文研究了这个群落的分布与生境、生长状况、外貌、种类组成以及群落的综合特征等。认为具有稀树草原的特点,而这里的稀树草原是次生性质的,苏铁群落是其中幸存的残遗植被类型。这对研究我国植物地理有着重要意义。