Edaphic factors and plant species distribution in a protected area in the desert of Bahrain Island

Effects of edaphic factors (salinity, pH, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, CaCO₃, water holding capacity, and grain size) on the spatial distribution of plants were investigated. Soil was sampled at 22 stands. Sixteen plant species were recorded from these stands. Relation between edaphic factors and plant distribution was investigated using correlation statistical analysis. Distribution of some plants was found to be highly correlated with edaphic factor(s).     

Short-term progressive early diagenesis in density bands of recent corals:Porites Colonies,Mauritius Island,Indian Ocean

Summary The growth history of some recentPorites colonies of Mauritius Island (Indian Ocean) was dated by sclerochronological methods. Couples of high-density and low-density bands represent the annual growth rate of the corals and allow the growth pattern of every year in the corallum to be counted. The growth and structure of the skeletons ofPorites solida andPorites lutea were investigated. Older parts of the aragonitic skeleton in these 10 to 20 year old corals show various secondary microstructures resulting from alterations and thickenings of the elements of the skeleton. The primary needle-like aragonite crystals are absent in older parts of the corallum and blocky aragonitic cements can occur. Pores and primary skeletal elements are overgrown by new microstructures. These microstructures are caused by secondary cementation and exhibit frontal zones (Stirnzonen), zigzag-like and pseudolamellar-structures. The lamellar structures can be compared with similar structures in the exoskeleton of some Rugosa. A very short early diagenesis within the recent corals is responsible for the thickening and alteration of skeletal elements. It occurs only 4 to 5 years after the formation of the skeleton and tends to increase in importance in older parts of the corallum. Nevertheless, there is no proof for any alteration of aragonite to calcite.     

海岛碳排放核算与时空特征——以东山岛为例

把握地区碳信息发展动态是开展区域碳平衡规划的科学基础。以统计年鉴数据为基础,对东山岛2012—2021年整体及各产业的直接碳排放量进行核算,同时,将产业与土地利用结合,分析其空间表现形态,运用核密度分析和克里金法分析碳排放源的空间影响,采用高斯烟羽模型对工业点源的碳排放扩散进行空间模拟,通过渔网和人口修正的方法分析海岛碳排放的空间分异,以此探讨海岛碳排放的空间分布和空间影响特征。结果显示,工业是东山岛的首要碳排放源,2021年工业碳排放量的大幅下降表明能源种类的转换对于工业碳减排具有重要作用;渔业碳排放量总体占比25%左右,是海岛地区不容忽视的碳排放源之一。在空间分布方面,东山岛综合碳排放的空间分布呈“点状聚集,面状扩散”的基本特征,工业碳排放对周围地区的影响最大,往往形成以工业碳排放源点为中心的碳排放热点核心区,其次碳排放量较高的地区为人口聚集区,丘陵区的碳排放量最低,不同土地利用类型之间形成碳排放的交叉过渡区。最后,本文从碳排放空间影响的视角出发,根据不同形态的碳排放源提出“包围”、“伴随”和“介入”的碳汇空间规划策略,这对区域的低碳规划具有一定参考意义。     

海洋保护地社区多元化生计与生态系统服务的依赖关系

海洋保护地在主要承担典型海洋生态系统、珍稀濒危物种、重要自然资源自然遗迹和人文资源有效保护的同时,兼具生态功能维持、资源可持续利用与社区经济持续发展等多重任务,普遍面临着生态保护与社区生计发展间的依赖-冲突关系,探究社区生计与生态系统服务间的依赖关系,对实现海洋保护地与社区协调发展具有重要意义。基于山东长岛海洋保护地的415户社区居民的调研数据,运用可持续生计分析框架和生态系统服务依赖度模型,分析社区居民的生计资本和生态系统服务依赖度(IDES) 的特征,进一步结合多元回归模型探究生计资本对 IDES 的影响。结果表明:(1)社区居民生计资本得分呈现出由渔业主导型向务工主导型、旅游主导型、渔业兼业型递增的总趋势,且不同类型社区居民的生计资本结构具有较大差异;(2)渔业兼业型和旅游主导型社区居民从生态系统获取的收益显著高于其它居民,IDES总指数由大到小排序依次为渔业主导型、旅游主导型、渔业兼业型、务工主导型,且渔业主导型生计的供给服务依赖度显著高于其他类型,文化服务依赖度最低;(3)生计资本对不同类型居民的供给、文化服务依赖度的影响存在差异,海上养殖规模、渔业作业范围、接受政府技能培训次数、生态补偿政策、社会组织参与程度、旅游扶持政策惠及程度等指标是平衡居民生态系统服务依赖结构的关键。基于此,从不同类型居民以及当地政府多个角度提出提高长岛海洋保护地社区居民生计资本水平,优化生态系统服务依赖结构的建议,以期为实现海洋保护地与社区的协调发展提供参考借鉴。     

The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico

Cozumel Island in the Mexican Caribbean is inhabited by four carnivores, of which two, the Cozumel coati Nasua nelsoni and pygmy raccoon Procyon pygmaeus, are endemic species. The taxonomic status of a third carnivore, a dwarf gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus, is undetermined, but may deserve subspecific or species-level recognition. The fourth species, the kinkajou (Potos flavus), may be a recent introduction. We review the status of these carnivores, report our field observations and results of line transect and trapping efforts, discuss current threats to these taxa, and make recommendations for their conservation. A population density of 0.43 ± 0.27 coatis/km², and a total island population size of 150 ± 95 individuals, was estimated from 386 km of line transects in 1994–1995. Intensive trapping efforts (1479 trap-nights) in 2001 at multiple localities were unsuccessful. Pygmy raccoons were observed in the mangrove and coastal wetland areas of the island and in 2001 we captured 11 individuals with the same sampling efforts as for coatis (8.8 raccoons/1000 trap-nights). The gray fox is also apparently very rare on the island. While a few observations of the animals have been made (1984, 1994 and 2001), no animals were seen along transects and none were trapped. The primary threats to the persistence of these taxa include introduced congeners, introduced predators, parasite and disease spill-over from exotic animals, habitat fragmentation, hunting and collection as pets, and hurricanes. We suggest that the Cozumel coati, pygmy raccoon, and the Cozumel population of the gray fox be considered as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN classification system. Current conservation actions focusing on Cozumel carnivores are extremely limited. We recommend eradication of introduced species, maintenance of habitat connectivity, ex situ conservation programs, explicit public policies on land-use and sustainable development, public awareness campaigns, and continuous scientific research and monitoring.     

Biogeography of dinoflagellate cysts in northwest Atlantic estuaries

Few biogeographic studies of dinoflagellate cysts include the near‐shore estuarine environment. We determine the effect of estuary type, biogeography, and water quality on the spatial distribution of organic‐walled dinoflagellate cysts from the Northeast USA (Maine to Delaware) and Canada (Prince Edward Island). A total of 69 surface sediment samples were collected from 27 estuaries, from sites with surface salinities >20. Dinoflagellate cysts were examined microscopically and compared to environmental parameters using multivariate ordination techniques. The spatial distribution of cyst taxa reflects biogeographic provinces established by other marine organisms, with Cape Cod separating the northern Acadian Province from the southern Virginian Province. Species such as Lingulodinium machaerophorum and Polysphaeridinium zoharyi were found almost exclusively in the Virginian Province, while others such as Dubridinium spp. and Islandinium? cezare were more abundant in the Acadian Province. Tidal range, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea surface salinity (SSS) are statistically significant parameters influencing cyst assemblages. Samples from the same type of estuary cluster together in canonical correspondence analysis when the estuaries are within the same biogeographic province. The large geographic extent of this study, encompassing four main estuary types (riverine, lagoon, coastal embayment, and fjord), allowed us to determine that the type of estuary has an important influence on cyst assemblages. Due to greater seasonal variations in SSTs and SSSs in estuaries compared to the open ocean, cyst assemblages show distinct latitudinal trends. The estuarine context is important for understanding present‐day species distribution, the factors controlling them, and to better predict how they may change in the future.     

The food and feeding habits of blackspot snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in shallow waters of Mafia Island, Tanzania

Natural diet and feeding habits of blackspot snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål 1775) were investigated in Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) and intensively fished areas (IFA) between May 1999 and April 2001. An index of relative importance (IRI) was used to assess the food preference for L. fulviflamma. Feeding habits were studied with respect to sex and size of the predator, seasons and feeding periodicity. Of 4642 L. fulviflamma specimens sampled, 46% had empty stomachs. Brachyurans were the main prey of L. fulviflamma accounting for 48% IRI. Benthic invertebrates dominated by other crustaceans, gastropods, bivalves, cephalopods and polychaetes and demersal teleosts made up the remainder of the diet. Female and male L. fulviflamma were not effectively segregated by trophic dimension in the study areas. Specimens in the 90–120 mm total length (TL) fed exclusively on crustaceans, with shrimps accounting for 40% IRI. Lutjanus fulviflamma in the 270–300 mm TL preferred fish prey accounting for 50% IRI. The diet of fish species showed clear spatial differences, which were dependent on size distributions. Lutjanus fulviflamma fed mostly but not exclusively at night peaking at dusk and dawn. The results clearly demonstrate that L. fulviflamma is an opportunistic forager, which exhibits both diel and ontogenetic feeding habits.     

试论福建海岛植物资源的保护、改造及合理开发利用

本文阐述了福建沿海海岛植被及植物资源的现状;指出其存在的资源严重衰退、树种组成简单、森林生态效益差、果林生产落后、农业植被单一等问题;针对这些问题提出了切实有效的保护现有各类植被,发展针闲叶混交防护林,加快沙荒及荒山绿化,积极发展经济果林及旅游林业等建议,为各地开发海岛资源、振兴海岛经济提供参考。     

土地利用变化对海南土壤水源涵养功能的影响

热带地区已有大量原始林转变为其他土地利用类型,影响了陆地生态系统的水源涵养功能.为了明确热带原始林转变为其他土地类型对土壤水源涵养功能的影响,在海南中部山区选择4种典型土地利用类型,包括林龄大于100年的原始林(VF)、10年生次生林(SF)、12年生槟榔林(AF)和35年生橡胶林(RF),评估土地利用变化对土壤持水性能和水源涵养功能指数(SWI)的影响.结果表明: 与原始林相比,表层土壤(0～10 cm)中,其他土地类型土壤持水性能指标均降低,12年槟榔林各土层指标均最低.土壤含水量和最大持水量与植被郁闭度、土壤有机质和土壤容重显著相关,表明郁闭度、土壤有机质和紧实度的改变是土壤持水性能变化的重要原因.与原始林相比,次生林、槟榔林和橡胶林土壤水源涵养功能分别减少27.7%、54.3%和11.5%,不同土层的差异各异,橡胶林仅表层土壤水源涵养功能显著降低.植被郁闭度、土壤有机质和土壤容重可解释土壤水源涵养功能变量的83.3%.土地利用转变显著改变了土壤持水性能和土壤水源涵养功能,相比12年槟榔林,35年橡胶林能更好地保持土壤水分,土地管理中增加土壤有机质和减少土壤紧实度可改善土壤持水性能及水源涵养功能.     

Subjecting the theory of the small‐island effect to Ockham’s razor

Species–area curves from islands and other isolates often differ in shape from sample‐area curves generated from mainlands or sections of isolates (or islands), especially at finer scales. We examine two explanations for this difference: (1) the small‐island effect (SIE), which assumes the species–area curve is composed of two distinctly different curve patterns; and (2) a sigmoid or depressed isolate species–area curve with no break‐points (in arithmetic space). We argue that the application of Ockham’s razor – the principle that the simplest, most economical explanation for a hypothesis should be accepted over less parsimonious alternatives – leads to the conclusion that the latter explanation is preferable. We hold that there is no reason to assume the ecological factors or patterns that affect the shapes of isolate (or island) curves cause two distinctly different patterns. This assumption is not required for the alternative, namely that these factors cause a single (though depressed) isolate species–area curve with no break‐points. We conclude that the theory of the small‐island effect, despite its present standing as an accepted general pattern in nature, should be abandoned.