Investigation into the edge effect by use of capture-recapture data in a vole population

A substantial explication of the edge effect has been attempted by use of capture-recapture data for a vole population (Microtus montebelli), gathered intwo plots of 100×100 m or less during 12 days, cheked twice daily, in August 1970; the sample was quite sufficient for the aim. The edge effect as guessed by increased catch per trap is usually suspected to ensue from range-settlers in the outside boundary strip of a plot and immigrants. But by a theoretical analysis I could attain a tentative conclusion that no increased catch per trap will occur unless any invasion takes place. Then it follows that, apart from the effect of invasion, the role of the adjoining outside settlers in the edge effect is essentially required to be studied in the light of knowledge on the truth of size and shift in home range. The variation in range behavior for 183 adult voles, captured 6 times or more, could be grouped into eight types, of which the range-conservative type possessed 52% of the sample and the group of the type was justly utilized for giving averages of range size. Besides, it was seen from the observed frequency of types that a considerable number of immigrants onto the census plot were induced perhaps being allured by trap baits, but the majority of them proved to be assigned to the voles that have their ranges inside the assessment line ofDice ; the rest referable to effective immigrants was only a few (7%). I could perceive no reason such as disproves the idea ofDice 's additional boundary strip. Viewed from maps of ingress shift of ranges, the effect of ingress must have been greater in the outer trap rows than in the inner within the plot, so that it might well be called edge effect in general; such effect, however, is seen gradually diminishing toward the center, and hence it is almost unlikely that one should find any clear-cut intra-plot assessment lines demarcating such an inner square as quite free from edge effects. Averages of observed range length and width (ORL and ORW), as reliable measures for the true range size, were determined from the above group of specimens; as a result, the remarkable concept of elliptic range shape was established by regarding ORL as long axis and ORW as short one, and, directly from these averages, the mean range sizes worked out at 0.04 for females and 0.09 for males in acreage which proved to be surprisingly well agreeable with those of isotope-revealed ranges for voles given byGodfrey (1954) andAmbrose (1969). The catchability for marked voles () was estimated by the maximum likelihood method by use ofJolly 's formulae (1965), but that for unmarked ones () was made by the regression census formula; as a result it was shown that the population was clearly of π>p type and that the trap-experience that voles underwent one month or more ago can make them retain as high catchability as π.     

Adrenal analysis for critique of the social stress theory in natural populations of a montane vole

Summary The vole,Eothenomys smithi, in highlands of Shikoku was studied to disclose ups and downs of adrenal activities under the influence of the breeding level in natural populations. It has proved that the vole's adrenal in both sexes may be much more strongly by rise and fall of the fertility as well as by shift of the age structure in populations than the rat's. Therefore, as for perhaps all kinds of small mammals, we consider necessary to follow a pertinent procedure to avoid thoroughly these sources of error in studies to draw any conclusion for or against theChristian's theory. The present data analysed by such a method failed to afford any confirmative proofs; the fact that the pregnancy rate was increased in parallell to the density is against his view. However, never the whole content of the theory has been invalidated by these results.     

Interspecific competition between two species of Trichogrammatidae III The analytical study on the competition

The experiment was carried out in order to analyze the results of interspecific competition which were mentioned in the previous reports (Sasaba 1964, 1965). The following definite tendencies were obtained and an account was given with regard to the process of competition. (1)T. minutum had a higher reproductive rate than T. japonicum at a lower density of the parent wasps. (2) The parasitic efficiency of T. minutum was high as compared with T. japonicum. (3)T. japonicum was consistently superior to T. minutum in the interspecific competition at larval stage.     

Preliminary studies for the population estimation of the cryptomeria red mite,Oligonychus hondoensis

This is the second paper dealing with techniques necessary to the population estimation of the Cryptomeria red mite feeding on a coniferous Cryptomeria tree, with the final object of determining the absolute population. Results are as follows:

1. The population can be defined as the whole of mites existing on branches with foliage younger than two years old, because more than 95% of individuals are always there.
2. Optimal sampling unit varies according to mite population. Unless a fixed unit is necessary, seasonal placement of units is recommended.
3. Since significant variance is associated with crown levels, representative sampling from each level is designed. These calculation should be based on the data transformed to logarithms, as the relation between mean and variance suggests that the population data are of contagious distribution.
4. A trial to calculate the total length of branches for each age, which is needed for the conversion to absolute population, is described.

     

Analytical studies of light trap records in the Hokuriku district,II the green rice leafhopper,Nephotettix cincticeps

Light-trap records on the green rice leafhopper, Nephotettix cincticeps, were dealt with to study its population fluctuations in the Hokuriku district. Crude data were modified for distinguishing years of the low intensity of infestation by the insect from the rest of years. It is then clearly demonstrated that the low intensity of infestation were ordinarily preceded by heavy snowfall, although heavy snowfall could not be regarded as the only factor checking the vigorous multiplication of the populations.     

A numerical solution of theVolterra equation for the growth of an animal population accompanying an autotoxic effect

---

Contribution from the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University.     

Relationship of Ditylenchus dipsaci and Harvest Practices to the Persistence of Alfalfa

Persistence of dormant Ranger and nondormant Moapa alfalfas, both susceptible to Ditylenchus dipsaci, varied with stand age and cutting frequency. Stand reduction increased with cutting frequency. In D. dipsaci-infested soil, stand reductions in Ranger 1, 4, and 5 years old exceeded reductions in stands 2 and 3 years old; persistence was greatest in 2-year-old stands. In Moapa alfalfa, D. dipsaci reduced stands the most in years 2 and 3; whereas persistence was greatest in 1-year-old stands. Harvesting Ranger alfalfa one, two, three, and four times during the growing season reduced 2-year-old stands by 10, 14, 19, and 29% in D. dipsaci-infested soil and by 2, 4, 4, and 7% in uninfested soil, respectively. Comparable reductions in Moapa alfalfa were 13, 16, 18, and 38% in infested soil and 0, 2, 4, and 6% in uninfested soil. Cutting frequency had less effect on persistence of resistant semidormant Lahontan grown in D. dipsaci-infested soil relative to susceptible cultivars. Increasing the number of cuttings per year decreased storage of total nonstructural carbohydrate and adversely affected persistence of alfalfa stands and yields; the greatest negative effects occurred on both resistant and susceptible alfalfa in D. dipsaci-infested soil.     

安徽淮北农区大仓鼠和黑线仓鼠种群动态的研究

1982一1988年在安徽淮北农区的调查结果表明:大仓鼠种群数量的季节消长特点是,数量高的年份出现3个波峰(即前峰、中峰和后峰),平常年份有2个波峰(中峰和后峰),数量低的年份仅1个波峰(后峰)。波峰峰度大都是后峰最高。黑线仓鼠的波峰数除个别数量高的年份有2个(前峰和中峰)外,多数年份只有1个前峰。两种仓鼠的年间数量变幅皆较明显,推测两鼠各自从一个高峰期到另一个高峰期之间需经历7—8年左右时间。繁殖期,大仓鼠为7个月(4—10月),黑线仓鼠为10个月(2—11月);两者均有两个繁殖盛期,即春峰和秋峰经相关分析,大仓鼠的年数量与年怀孕率存在密切的正相关关系,而黑线仓鼠则为年怀孕率对次年数量有明显的影响。