Invertebrate community and stream substrate responses to woody debris removal from an ice storm-impacted stream system, NY USA

We assessed the influence of ice-storm-derived debris dams on aquatic macroinvertebrates and stream substrates in a high-gradient watershed in the eastern Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Using a modification of electrofishing techniques, invertebrates were collected once before (June 2000) and once after (June 2001) wood removal from the downstream reach in each of six pairs of reaches (second and third-order streams). Stream substrates were also mapped in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate shifts in dominant substrates within a reach following wood removal. The following metrics were used to compare the invertebrate communities before and after wood removal: genera similarity, Shannon–Weiner equitability, taxa richness, dominant taxon, percent dominance and functional feeding group relative abundance. The changes in removal reaches were evaluated relative to changes in upstream reference reaches using a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) design and analysis. Stream substrates did not change significantly in response to wood removal, although a trend toward coarser substrates was observed following removal. Following wood removal, the relative proportion of grazers increased upstream and downstream from removed dams in all streams; however, comparisons of other metrics indicated no significant response to removal. Invertebrate responses to wood removal were lower than expected, perhaps due to the presence of abundant boulder-formed pools in this high gradient system. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

No long-term effect of black bear removal on elk calf recruitment in the southern Appalachians

In 2001 and 2002, 52 elk (Cervus canadensis; 21 males, 31 females), originally obtained from Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada, were transported and released into Cataloochee Valley in the northeastern portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM, Park), North Carolina, USA. The annual population growth rate (λ) was negative (0.996, 95% CI = 0.945–1.047) and predation by black bears (Ursus americanus) on elk calves was identified as an important determinant of population growth. From 2006 to 2008, 49 bears from the primary elk calving area (i.e., Cataloochee Valley) were trapped and translocated about 70 km to the southwestern portion of the Park just prior to elk calving. Per capita recruitment (i.e., the number of calves produced per adult female that survive to 1 year of age) increased from 0.306 prior to bear translocation (2001–2005) to 0.544 during years when bears were translocated (2006–2008) and λ increased to 1.118 (95% CI = 1.096–1.140). Our objective was to determine whether per capita calf recruitment rates after bear removal (2009–2019) at Cataloochee were similar to the higher rates estimated during bear removal (i.e., long-term response) or if they returned to rates before bear removal (i.e., short-term response), and how those rates compared with recruitment from portions of our study area where bears were not relocated. We documented 419 potential elk calving events and monitored 129 yearling and adult elk from 2001 to 2019. Known-fate models based on radio-telemetry and observational data supported calf recruitment returning to pre-2006 levels at Cataloochee (short-term response); recruitment of Cataloochee elk before and after bear relocation was lower (0.184) than during bear relocation (0.492). Recruitment rates of elk outside the removal area during the bear relocation period (0.478) were similar to before and after rates (0.420). In the Cataloochee Valley, cause-specific annual calf mortality rates due to predation by bears were 0.319 before, 0.120 during, and 0.306 after bear relocation. In contrast, the cause-specific annual mortality rate of calves in areas where bears were not relocated was 0.033 after the bear relocation period, with no bear predation on calves before or during bear relocation. The mean annual population growth rate for all monitored elk was 1.062 (95% CI = 0.979–1.140) after bear relocation based on the recruitment and survival data. Even though the effects of bear removal were temporary, the relocations were effective in achieving a short-term increase in elk recruitment, which was important for the reintroduction program given that the elk population was small and vulnerable to extirpation.     

Effect of acclimation temperature on the upper thermal tolerance of Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus: thermal limits of a North American salmonid

In an effort to explore the thermal limitations of Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus, the critical thermal maxima (T_cmax) of 1+ year Lake Nanita strain O. c. pleuriticus were evaluated when acclimated to 10, 15 and 20° C. The mean ±s.d. T_cmax for O. c. pleuriticus acclimated to 10° C was 24·6 ± 2·0°C (n = 30), for 15° C‐acclimated fish was 26·9 ± 1·5° C (n = 23) and for 20° C‐acclimated fish was 29·4 ± 1·1° C (n = 28); these results showed a marked thermal acclimation effect (Q₁₀ = 1·20). Interestingly, there was a size effect within treatments, wherein the T_cmax of larger fish was significantly lower than that of smaller fish acclimated to the same temperature. The critical thermal tolerances of age 0 year O. c. pleuriticus were also evaluated from three separate populations: Lake Nanita, Trapper Creek and Carr Creek reared under ‘common‐garden’ conditions prior to thermal acclimation. The Trapper Creek population had significantly warmer T_cmax than the Lake Nanita population, but that of the Carr Creek fish had T_cmax similar to both Trapper Creek and Lake Nanita fish. A comparison of these O. c. pleuriticus T_cmax results with those of other stream‐dwelling salmonids suggested that O. c. pleuriticus are less resistant to rapid thermal fluctuations when acclimated to cold temperatures, but can tolerate similar temperatures when acclimated to warmer temperatures.     

Effects of habitat loss and limitation on effective population size and inbreeding rates of Walia ibex (Capra walie) in Ethiopia

The effects of habitat loss and limitation on effective population size and inbreeding rates of Walia ibex (Capra walie) were assessed at Simien Mountains National Park. Total direct census was conducted in 2009. Historical data were obtained from park offices and literatures. Effective population sizes (N_e), inbreeding rates (ΔF) and heterozygosity losses to the whole and subdivided population per habitat were estimated. Correlations (r) between the two repeated direct censuses were positive (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). The mean N_e and ΔF (%/year) per study sites were 65.34 ± 59.45 and 0.0286 ± 0.032, respectively. The ΔF of the whole population of C. walie was 0.228 ± 0.011. The ΔF was negatively correlated with N_e (r = ?0.799, P < 0.05). The mean ΔF per fragmented habitat ranged from 0.3 (Cheneck) to 7.7% (Buait ras). The highest ΔFs per year were observed in Buait ras (7.7%), Adarmaz (7.4%) and Sankaber (4.5%). The mean heterozygosity loss per total population was 0.235 ± 0.42, which was about 23.5%. The differences in N_e and ΔF among the population per habitat were the results of habitat limitation, which in turn reduce the genetic variability and foster losses of heterozygosity.     

Elevated summer temperatures delay spawning and reduce redd construction for resident brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Redd (nest) surveys for resident brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were conducted annually in a mountain lake in northern New York for 11 years with multiple surveys conducted during the spawning season in eight of those years. Repeated surveys throughout the spawning season allowed us to fit an individually based parametric model and estimate the day of year on which spawning was initiated, reached its midpoint, and ended during each year. Spawning phenology was then assessed relative to (1) mean of maximum daily air temperature and (2) mean of maximum daily water temperature at the lake bottom during summer in each year using a linear model. Elevated temperatures in summer were correlated with a delay in spawning and a reduction in the total number of redds constructed. Increasing the summer mean of maximum daily air temperatures by 1 °C delayed spawning by approximately 1 week and decreased the total number of redds constructed by nearly 65. Lake spawning brook trout select redd sites based on the presence of discharging groundwater that is relatively constant in temperature within and across years, leading to relatively consistent egg incubation times. Therefore, delayed spawning is likely to delay fry emergence, which could influence emergence synchrony with prey items. This work highlights non‐lethal and sub‐lethal effects of elevated summer temperatures on native resident salmonids in aquatic environments with limited thermal refugia.     

Natural‐Channel‐Design Restorations That Changed Geomorphology Have Little Effect on Macroinvertebrate Communities in Headwater Streams

Stream restorations that increase geomorphic stability can improve habitat quality, which should benefit selected species and local aquatic ecosystems. This assumption is often used to define primary restoration goals; yet, biological responses to restoration are rarely monitored or evaluated methodically. Macroinvertebrate communities were inventoried at 6 study reaches within 5 Catskill Mountain streams between 2002 and 2006 to characterize their responses to natural‐channel‐design (NCD) restoration. Although bank stability increased significantly at most restored reaches, analyses of variation showed that NCD restorations had no significant effect on 15 of 16 macroinvertebrate community metrics. Multidimensional scaling ordination indicated that communities from all reach types within a stream were much more similar to each other within any given year than they were in the same reaches across years or within any type of reach across streams. These findings indicate that source populations and watershed‐scale factors were more important to macroinvertebrate community characteristics than were changes in channel geomorphology associated with NCD restoration. Furthermore, the response of macroinvertebrates to restoration cannot always be used to infer the response of other stream biota to restoration. Thus, a broad perspective is needed to characterize and evaluate the full range of effects that restoration can have on stream ecosystems.     

秦岭火地塘种子植物区系及其与毗邻地区的关系分析

采用植物区系地理学研究方法,结合野外调查数据和文献资料对秦岭火地塘林区种子植物区系的组成、地理成分特征进行分析,并与其它7个毗邻地区植物区系间的关系进行比较研究。结果表明:(1)火地塘林区有种子植物136科,547属,1 283种;(2)该区的种子植物主要以温带区系成分为主(335属,占总属数61.2%),热带性质的植物次之(135属,占总属数24.7%)。该区植物种类丰富,地理成分复杂,具有明显的热带亚热带到温带的过渡性质;(3)火地塘林区种子植物区系成分与青木川、天华山、牛背梁、周至老县城植物区系亲缘关系较近,与东段的伏牛山次之,与西段的小陇山以及北部的子午岭有一定差异,表明秦岭植物区系成分的经向地带性,即经度越低,温带-北温带成分越高,经度越高,热带-亚热带成分越高。     

秦岭中段松栎混交林群落数量分类与排序

依据陕西省境内秦岭山脉中段设置的34个样地调查资料,从植物物种组成、植物群落与地形因子之间的关系等对该区域松栎混交林群落进行TWINSPAN分类和DCCA排序。结果表明:(1)研究区34个样地共记录维管束植物297种,隶属于77科178属,其中被子植物72科,裸子植物2科,蕨类植物3科;分布较广的植物有:松科、壳斗科、蔷薇科、菊科、禾本科和百合科。(2)TWINSPAN聚类结果将样地群落划分为13个群丛,其中以油松+锐齿槲栎为建群种的群丛最多,占总群丛数量40%,是该区主要的松栎混交林群落类型。(3)样地的DCCA排序结果表明,第一轴明显地反映出群落分布沿海拔、坡位的变化,第二轴主要表现出群落分布沿坡向、坡度的变化趋势;其中海拔、坡度与DCCA一、二轴相关系数分别达到最大值(-0.946 2、-0.795 7),是对该群落分布起决定性作用的因子。(4)研究区主要优势物种的DCCA排序与样地的DCCA排序综合反映出该区松栎混交林群落分布的地形梯度。     

基于景观格局的胶州湾大沽河口湿地生态安全

以胶州湾大沽河口湿地为研究区,利用TM遥感影像为数据源,运用ENVI 4.4软件在GIS技术支持下,提取1986、2002和2010年研究区自然湿地、人工湿地、非湿地3大景观类型的空间信息;运用景观格局指数原理和方法构建生态安全指数,定量分析研究区景观动态变化,阐明景观格局变化下,生态安全状况及驱动机制.结果表明:1986-2010年,研究区在自然与人为双重干扰下陆地面积萎缩,斑块数增多,优势景观消失,景观趋于复杂化、破碎化、分离化;1986-2010年,人类活动对景观干扰愈加明显,景观干扰指数与生态安全指数存在负相关性,研究区各景观损失度上升,生态安全指数下降,其中以自然湿地中河流与河口湿地和芦苇湿地景观的恶化程度最大.基于面积因素构建的各景观生态安全度依次为:非湿地＞人工湿地＞自然湿地;新建并发育的人工林景观和新整合的少海东湖人工湿地公园,在一定程度上弥补了研究区的生态损失,缓和了生态保护与经济发展之间的矛盾,探索出一条湿地保护新型道路.     

利用树木年轮宽度资料重建长白山地区过去240年秋季气温的变化

分析了长白山地区水曲柳年轮宽度变化与气候要素的关系,重建了该地区过去240年来的秋季平均气温。结果表明,当年秋季平均气温与树轮宽度显著正相关(P<0.01);重建方程为Tavg=6.001+6.316XRES,方差解释量为38.6%,调整后方差解释量为35.8%。该地区近240年来秋季气温波动明显,有8个较寒冷时期和6个较温暖时期,其中,1816、1817、1818年的温度低于总体平均值的差值超过1℃,6个较温暖时期中,1794、1795、1796、1797年的温度高出平均温度的差值超过1℃,其他时段的温度变化均在总体平均值上下1℃范围以内。周期分析结果表明,近240多年以来长白山地区秋季平均气温具有显著(P<0.05)的3～5年及较显著(P<0.1)的8～16年的周期。