Persistence of Water within Perched Basins of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, Northern Canada

The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) is one of the world’s largest freshwater deltas. Many of its shallow (<1.5 m) lakes and wetlands are perched above surrounding waterways. The delta has experienced a number of wetting and drying intervals. The latest drying trend ended in 1996 when high waters, generated under ice-jam and open-water conditions, recharged a number of the perched basins. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of hydroclimatic components on the persistence of water. A water-balance model was developed to simulate water-level responses following a flood event. Basin response was tested against a range of historical hydroclimatic conditions that have occurred in the delta during the 20th century. Ponded water duration in a 0.8 m deep perched basin was 5 years for the cool-dry period of the 1920s, slightly longer for the post-1974 flood era, and up to 9 years for the wet conditions of the 1940s and 1950s. Water drawdown occurred in almost every year and was almost exclusively due to evaporation exceeding precipitation. Net groundwater flux was minimal. Given the overlying importance of the floodwater component in the water balance of perched basins, the next step is to investigate the causes, spatial sources and frequency of flooding. This water balance model presented in this paper offers a useful tool for the management of the duration of water in perched wetlands of the PAD, which can help preserve essential habitat for wildlife.     

有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬体内的富集程度

为探讨东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线上的鸻鹬类体内有机氯农药的含量及来源,本研究以该迁徙路线上的大滨鹬(Calidris tenuirostris)和红腹滨鹬(C.canutus)为研究对象,用索氏提取法对这两种鸟的胸肌和皮下脂肪中的有机污染物进行萃取,并用气相色谱法对19种有机氯农药进行检测。结果表明,HCHs、DDTs、硫丹Ⅱ等14种有机氯农药在大滨鹬和红腹滨鹬的组织中均有不同程度的检出,所有样品中的含量最高值达1 573.5 ng/g脂重;在检出的14种有机氯农药中,α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、p,p′-DDE、硫丹Ⅱ、硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的检出率达100%;在大滨鹬的肌肉组织、红腹滨鹬的肌肉和脂肪组织中,p,p′-DDE的残留量最高;而在大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量最高;目标物中的艾氏剂、异狄氏剂、七氯、反式氯丹等未达检出限或含量较低。我们对比了不同物种及不同组织样本中有机氯农药的富集程度,红腹滨鹬的肌肉组织中HCHs的沉积量显著高于大滨鹬,而大滨鹬的脂肪组织中硫丹硫酸酯和/或p,p′-DDT的含量显著高于红腹滨鹬。此外,分别对比两个物种的肌肉组织和脂肪组织中有机氯农药沉积量,部分有机氯农药在脂肪组织中的沉积量显著高于肌肉组织,说明相比于肌肉组织,有机氯农药可能更易于在脂肪组织中累积。     

Direct fitness benefits explain mate preference,but not choice,for similarity in heterozygosity levels

Under sexual selection, mate preferences can evolve for traits advertising fitness benefits. Observed mating patterns (mate choice) are often assumed to represent preference, even though they result from the interaction between preference, sampling strategy and environmental factors. Correlating fitness with mate choice instead of preference will therefore lead to confounded conclusions about the role of preference in sexual selection. Here we show that direct fitness benefits underlie mate preferences for genetic characteristics in a unique experiment on wild great tits. In repeated mate preference tests, both sexes preferred mates that had similar heterozygosity levels to themselves, and not those with which they would optimise offspring heterozygosity. In a subsequent field experiment where we cross fostered offspring, foster parents with more similar heterozygosity levels had higher reproductive success, despite the absence of assortative mating patterns. These results support the idea that selection for preference persists despite constraints on mate choice.     

Mapping marginal croplands suitable for cellulosic feedstock crops in the Great Plains,United States

Growing cellulosic feedstock crops (e.g., switchgrass) for biofuel is more environmentally sustainable than corn‐based ethanol. Specifically, this practice can reduce soil erosion and water quality impairment from pesticides and fertilizer, improve ecosystem services and sustainability (e.g., serve as carbon sinks), and minimize impacts on global food supplies. The main goal of this study was to identify high‐risk marginal croplands that are potentially suitable for growing cellulosic feedstock crops (e.g., switchgrass) in the US Great Plains (GP). Satellite‐derived growing season Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a switchgrass biomass productivity map obtained from a previous study, US Geological Survey (USGS) irrigation and crop masks, and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop indemnity maps for the GP were used in this study. Our hypothesis was that croplands with relatively low crop yield but high productivity potential for switchgrass may be suitable for converting to switchgrass. Areas with relatively low crop indemnity (crop indemnity <$2 157 068) were excluded from the suitable areas based on low probability of crop failures. Results show that approximately 650 000 ha of marginal croplands in the GP are potentially suitable for switchgrass development. The total estimated switchgrass biomass productivity gain from these suitable areas is about 5.9 million metric tons. Switchgrass can be cultivated in either lowland or upland regions in the GP depending on the local soil and environmental conditions. This study improves our understanding of ecosystem services and the sustainability of cropland systems in the GP. Results from this study provide useful information to land managers for making informed decisions regarding switchgrass development in the GP.     

Declining coral calcification in massive Porites in two nearshore regions of the northern Great Barrier Reef

Temporal and spatial variation in the growth parameters skeletal density, linear extension and calcification rate in massive Porites from two nearshore regions of the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) were examined over a 16‐year study period. Calcification rates in massive Porites have declined by approximately 21% in two regions on the GBR ～450 km apart. This is a function primarily of a decrease in linear extension (～16%) with a smaller decline in skeletal density (～6%) and contrasts with previous studies on the environmental controls on growth of massive Porites on the GBR. Changes in the growth parameters were linear over time. Averaged across colonies, skeletal density declined over time from 1.32 g cm^?3 (SE = 0.017) in 1988 to 1.25 g cm^?3 (0.013) in 2003, equivalent to 0.36% yr^?1 (0.13). Annual extension declined from 1.52 cm yr^?1 (0.035) to 1.28 cm yr^?1 (0.026), equivalent to 1.02% yr^?1 (0.39). Calcification rates (the product of skeletal density and annual extension) declined from 1.96 g cm^?2 yr^?1 (0.049) to 1.59 g cm^?2 yr^?1 (0.041), equivalent to 1.29% yr^?1 (0.30). Mean annual seawater temperatures had no effect on skeletal density, but a modal effect on annual extension and calcification with maxima at ～26.7 °C. There were minor differences in the growth parameters between regions. A decline in coral calcification of this magnitude with increasing seawater temperatures is unprecedented in recent centuries based on analysis of growth records from long cores of massive Porites. We discuss the decline in calcification within the context of known environmental controls on coral growth. Although our findings are consistent with studies of the synergistic effect of elevated seawater temperatures and pCO₂ on coral calcification, we conclude that further data on seawater chemistry of the GBR are required to better understand the links between environmental change and effects on coral growth.     

Piping Plover Chick Foraging,Growth, and Survival in the Great Plains

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that piping plover (Charadrius melodus) habitat quality and chick survival on the Missouri River, USA, were lower on a cold-water reservoir and downstream from a hypolimnetic (cold-water) release dam with diel water fluctuations (Garrison Dam) than downstream from an epilimnetic dam (Gavins Point Dam). Plovers in adjacent alkali wetlands provided an index to the maximum reproductive potential in the region. Chicks gained weight more rapidly in the alkali wetlands than on epilimnetic and hypolimnetic river reaches. Invertebrate numbers and biomass were higher in the wetlands and epilimnetic reach, but chick survival was lower on the epilimnetic reach. Thus, piping plovers adapted to a variety of prey densities, and other factors, likely predation, reduced survival rates in the epilimnetic reach. Temporal and spatial variability in site quality indices suggests the need for a regional management strategy with different strategies at each site. Managers can minimize effects of local fluctuations in resource abundance and predators by ensuring protection of or creating geographically dispersed habitat. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):682–687; 2008)     

Ecosystem Services from Keystone Species: Diversionary Seeding and Seed‐Caching Desert Rodents Can Enhance Indian Ricegrass Seedling Establishment

Seeds of Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), a native bunchgrass common to sandy soils on arid western rangelands, are naturally dispersed by seed‐caching rodent species, particularly Dipodomys spp. (kangaroo rats). These animals cache large quantities of seeds when mature seeds are available on or beneath plants and recover most of their caches for consumption during the remainder of the year. Unrecovered seeds in caches account for the vast majority of Indian ricegrass seedling recruitment. We applied three different densities of white millet (Panicum miliaceum) seeds as “diversionary foods” to plots at three Great Basin study sites in an attempt to reduce rodents' over‐winter cache recovery so that more Indian ricegrass seeds would remain in soil seedbanks and potentially establish new seedlings. One year after diversionary seed application, a moderate level of Indian ricegrass seedling recruitment occurred at two of our study sites in western Nevada, although there was no recruitment at the third site in eastern California. At both Nevada sites, the number of Indian ricegrass seedlings sampled along transects was significantly greater on all plots treated with diversionary seeds than on non‐seeded control plots. However, the density of diversionary seeds applied to plots had a marginally non‐significant effect on seedling recruitment, and it was not correlated with recruitment patterns among plots. Results suggest that application of a diversionary seed type that is preferred by seed‐caching rodents provides a promising passive restoration strategy for target plant species that are dispersed by these rodents.     

不同经度地区北草蜥的喜好体温和热耐受性

在外温动物热生理特征的进化理论中,“静态”和“易变”是两个持续争论的对立观点。热生理学特征的种内变异是检验此类假设的最有力证据。本研究比较了不同经度地区北草蜥的热环境和热生理特征,以检验“静态”和“易变”假设。东部沿海地区(宁德)的环境温度高于内陆地区(贵阳),与之相适应,沿海地区北草蜥的喜好体温也高于内陆地区。然而,两地区蜥蜴的上临界温度和下临界温度无显著差异。尽管这些热生理学特征的种群间变异趋势并不一致,但是喜好温度随环境温度变化而改变的结果符合“易变”假设的预测。此外,本研究表明蜥蜴的喜好体温存在沿经度方向的地理变异。