An assessment of some improved techniques for estimating the abundance (frequency) of sedentary organisms

The traditional sampling method for estimating frequency (the number of sub-quadrats containing a basal part of the organisms) is compared, using both computer simulations and direct comparison in the field, to two new methods that use a compound series of variable-sized concentric sub-quadrats. Both the new frequency-score and the new importance-score methods are closer approximations of density than is the standard frequency method, and the estimates produced by both of the new methods are less affected by the choice of sub-quadrat size and the spatial distribution (dispersion) of the organisms (i.e. clumping and regularity). Thus, the two nested-quadrat methods appear to ameliorate the usual frequency limitations associated with sub-quadrat size and organism dispersion, by the use of a range of different sub-quadrat sizes. This is important in community studies, where the component species may show a wide range of densities and dispersions. Both of the new methods are easily employed in the field. The importance-score method involves no more sampling effort than does standard qualitative (presence-absence) sampling, and it can therefore be used to sample a larger quadrat area than would normally be used for frequency sampling. This makes the method much more cost-effective as a means of estimating abundance, and it allows a greater number of the rarer species to be included in the sampling. The frequency-score method is more time-consuming, but it is capable of detecting more subtle community patterns. This means that it is particularly useful for the study of species-poor communities or where small variations in composition need to be detected.     

Efficiency of variable-intensity and sequential sampling for insect control decisions in cole crops in the Netherlands

A total of 24 commercial fields of cabbages and Brussels sprouts were sampled in a grid fashion with 20–25 equally spaced cells with four plants per cell. Using this data base of 80–100 plants, we conducted computer stimulations to compare the treatment decisions that would be made for the major insect pests using published sequential sampling programs and a newly developed variable-intensity sampling program. Additionally, we compared the number of samples required to make the decision. At low thresholds (10–20%) for both Lepidoptera and cabbage aphids, variable intensity-sampling required a smaller sample size and provided more reliable decisions, while at high thresholds (40–50%) sequential sampling provided more reliable decisions. In both procedures, the occurrence of incorrect decisions was minimal. The number of cases in which a decision would not be reached after a 40-plant sample was lower for variable-intensity sampling. Considering the number of samples required to make a correct decision and the greater need for reliable decisions at lower thresholds, variable-intensity sampling was superior to sequential sampling. Additionally, variable-intensity sampling has the advantage of requiring samples to be taken in a greater area of the field and thus increases the probability of detecting localized infestations. Although variable-intensity sampling was not designed to classify pest populations for treatment decisions but rather to achieve sampling precision around the population mean, our present studies indicate that it can also be an effective method to aid in treatment decisions.     

The posterior probability distribution of alignments and its application to parameter estimation of evolutionary trees and to optimization of multiple alignments

How to sample alignments from their posterior probability distribution given two strings is shown. This is extended to sampling alignments of more than two strings. The result is first applied to the estimation of the edges of a given evolutionary tree over several strings. Second, when used in conjunction with simulated annealing, it gives a stochastic search method for an optimal multiple alignment.Correspondence to: L. Allison     

Phylogenetic relationships of the garter snakes based on DNA sequence and allozyme variation

We estimated phylogenetic relationships among 26 species of garter snakes (genus Thamnophis ) using allozyme and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequence variation. Parsimony analyses of the two data sets give substantially different estimates of phylogeny. Several lines of evidence indicate that much of this conflict is due to error associated with the restricted number of characters in each data set. Such sampling error may be reduced by combining all the characters; we therefore present an estimate of phylogeny based on parsimony analysis of all the data combined. All our analyses support several conclusions in conflict with previous views: a very distant relationship between T.errans and T. elegans , non-monophyly of the elegans group (even excluding T: errans ), and nesting of the form validus (previously considered a member of the genus Nerodia ) within Thamnophis.
The combined analysis gives an almost fully resolved tree. However, bootstrapping indicates only weak support for many clades in this tree. Furthermore, paraphyly of the assemblages of cytochrome b gene lineages within T. elegans and T. radix indicate the potential for discordance between the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and species phylogenies through the sorting of ancestral mtDNA polymorphisms. These problems suggest the need for assaying additional characters, especially ones likely to be independent of those used in the present study.     

斑须蝽三代卵块的空间分布和田间抽样技术研究

通过田间调查和计算,明确了斑须蝽三代卵块呈聚集分布,且以负二项分布为主。理论抽样数当t＝1．00,D＝0．3时,n＝13．091/＋63．878,如果防治指标定为百株虫卵块12块时,则最大抽样数为173株,序贯抽样的累积虫卵块数量界限为：T0（N）＝0.12N±0．4735。田间随机取样以平行线和Z字形为最佳。     

甘薯象空间格局及抽样技术研究

通过空间分布型指数分析,甘薯象对薯块、著株危害空间分布型为随机分布或均匀分布;同时确定了理论抽样数     

杨树苗期合理密度与合理密度线研究

 本文以加杨(Populus Canadensis),I—214(Populus euramericana(Dode)Guinier CV—214),中保14等杨树密度试验(1988—1991)为依据,分析了初植密度、竞争对生长的抑制作用,阐述了合理密度、合理密度范围、缓冲作用、上限合理密度线的形成过程。指出在双对数图上,上限合理密度线遵从Logistic分布(1nw=K/1+e(0.732·lnN-2.429),呈左侧伸展的S型曲线。该曲线可划分为近似于lnw一lnN直线的上中下三部分,其中间部分直线式的斜率为-1.5左右,称作合理密度直线式。对密度与生长的动态作了分析、概述与讨论。     

The influence of sampling method on the classification of wetland macroinvertebrate communities

Macroinvertebrate communities sampled by a corer, plankton net and sweep net from five wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain were compared. The composition of the fauna collected in sweeps and tows was generally similar and differed from that collected in the cores. Cores caught fewer species than tows and sweeps at all wetlands and did not capture fast swimming hemipterans or less abundant taxa. The highest species richness was recorded in sweep samples in four out of the five wetlands. Classification (TWIN-SPAN) and ordination (SSH) of the samples collected in sweeps and tows gave good separation of the wetlands, whereas classification of core samples did not. Coring appeared to be the least suitable sampling method for describing the major components of the macroinvertebrate communities of these wetlands. Plankton tows were useful if the time available for sorting was limited as these samples were free of sediments and generally gave similar results to those obtained with sweeps. Sweeps appeared to be the most useful method for a large classification study as they collected more species and resulted in the best discrimination amongst wetlands.