Spatial synchrony of planthopper species with contrasting outbreak behaviour

1 We studied the synchrony of two sympatric delphacids species with different outbreak behaviours over a range of 250 km in Argentina. 2 The spatial synchrony in the dynamics of Delphacodes kuscheli and Toya propinqua was quantified by collecting individuals of both species simultaneously at three sampling heights: ground, 1.5 m and 6 m above the ground. Synchrony between paired sampling sites separated by increasing distances was estimated using a nonparametric covariance function. 3 A significant difference was found between the spatial synchrony of the species studied. Delphacodes kuscheli individuals collected at 6 m above the ground showed consistent spatial synchrony over long distances with correlation values declining by 40%. Population dynamics showed declining synchrony as site separation increased. Toya propinqua populations did not show this pattern. This species had a lower mean regional synchrony at at 6 m above the ground, but their ground height synchrony was greater than that observed for D. kuscheli. 4 One possible synchronizing mechanism is seasonality and the dispersal strategies of each species. The main host plants of D. kuscheli are winter cereals sown as pasture for cattle grazing and the synchrony of the crop may affect the general pattern of dispersing individuals of this species. The lack of synchrony observed in T. propinqua populations was probably due to the wider host range of this species.     

Rebound effects of price differences

Goal, Scope and Background  Traditionally, comparative life cycle assessments (LCA) have not considered rebound effects, for instance in case of significant price differences among the compared products. No justifications have been made for this delimitation in scope. This article shows that price differences and the consequent effects of marginal consumer expenditure may influence the conclusions of comparative LCA significantly. We also show that considerations about rebound effects of price differences can be included in LCAs. Methods  The direct rebound effect of a price difference is marginal consumption. Based on statistical data on private consumption in different income groups (Statistics Denmark 2005a, 2005b), the present article provides an estimate of how an average Danish household will spend an additional 1 DKK for further consumer goods, when the household has gained money from choosing a cheaper product alternative. The approach is to use marginal income changes and the following changes in consumption patterns as an expression for marginal consumption. Secondly, the environmental impact potentials related to this marginal consumption are estimated by the use of environmental impact intensity data from an IO-LCA database (Weidema et al. 2005). Finally, it is discussed whether, and in which ways the conclusions of comparative LCAs can be affected by including the price difference between product alternatives. This is elucidated in a case study of a comparative LCA screening of two different kinds of Danish cheese products (Fricke et al. 2004). Results  Car purchase and driving, use and maintenance of dwelling, clothing purchase and insurance constitutes the largest percentages of the marginal consumption. In a case study of two cheeses, the including the impact potentials related to the price difference results in significant changes in the total impact potentials. Considering the relatively small price difference of the two products, it is likely also to have a significant influence on the results of comparative LCAs more generally. Discussion  The influence of marginal consumption in comparative LCAs is relevant to consider in situations with large differences in the price of the product alternatives being compared, and in situations with minor differences in the impact potentials related to the alternatives. However, different uncertainties are linked to determining the pattern for marginal consumption and the environmental impact potential related to this. These are first of all related to the method used, but also include inaccurate data of consumption in households, aggregation and weighting of income groups, aggregation of product groups, estimation and size of the price difference, and the general applicability of the results. Conclusion  Incorporating marginal consumption in consequential LCAs is possible in practice. In the case study used, including the rebound effects of the price difference has a significant influence on the result of the comparative LCA, as the result for the impact categories acidification and nutrient enrichment changes in favour of the expensive product. Recommendations and Perspectives  It is recommended that the rebound effects of price differences should be included more frequently in LCAs. In order to ensure this, further research in marginal consumption and investment patterns and IO data for different countries or regions is required. Furthermore, this study does not consider the economic distributional consequences of buying an expensive product instead of a cheaper product (e.g. related to how the profit is spent by those who provided the product). It should also be noted, that more expensive products not necessarily result in less consumption, as those who provided the product also will spend the money they have earned from the sale. Ideally, these consequences should also be further investigated. Likewise, the development of databases to include marginal consumption in PC-tools is needed. In general, considerations of marginal consumption would favour expensive product alternatives, depending, however, on the type of consumer. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. David Hunkeler (david.hunkeler@aquaplustech.ch)     

鼎湖山主要森林生态系统地表CH4通量

利用静态箱-气相色谱法对鼎湖山3种处于演替不同阶段的森林类型-季风常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林和马尾松林-的地表CH₄通量进行了为期一年的原位观测和研究,结果表明:3种林型地表吸收CH₄通量按从大到小的顺序为:季风林>混交林>松林,不同林型间的CH₄通量差异与森林土壤的性质有密切关系,即土壤容重越小、有机质含量与土壤温度和湿度都没有明显的相关性,但在旱季土壤温度成为控制地表CH₄通量的主要因子.     

滇中菜区小菜蛾种群消长动态及其影响因子

【目的】掌握区域小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)田间种群发生消长规律及温度、降雨和种植制度模式对种群的影响。【方法】2009—2014年,采用性诱剂监测和田间系统调查方法连续6年对滇中菜区——通海县小菜蛾田间种群数量开展成虫和幼虫田间种群数量的研究,分析当地月平均气温、月降雨量和种植模式因素对小菜蛾种群数量的相关性。【结果】(1)通海小菜蛾成虫种群消长年度间波动差异明显,全年呈现1个大的虫峰期为2—11月份,年度间出现小的2~3个虫峰。2012年种群数量较高,高峰期提前到4月份,与2013年高峰期的7—8月份差异明显,2010年和2011年田间种群数量是历年较少年份,种群高峰期的虫量少于百头/盆(卡)/月;(2)小菜蛾幼虫种群全年有2~3个危害峰期,3—6月是发生主峰期,9—11月是弱峰期;与成虫高峰期比较,幼虫田间种群,高峰期推迟20~30 d左右,全年的波动消长情况基本一致;(3)小菜蛾成虫与温度显著相关r=0.442,与降雨量成正相关r=0.283,但相关程度弱;幼虫种群与温度显著相关r=0.530,相关程度显著,与降雨没有相关性r=0.125,相关程度微弱;幼虫种群与成虫有相关性r=0.253,但相关程度微弱。【结论】滇中菜区常年成片种植十字花科蔬菜,一年4造、周年复种的种植制度对小菜蛾的种群发生有促进作用,区域模式相对稳定是造成小菜蛾种群周年活动频繁危害严重的主要原因之一。     

The determinants of stability in the human prion protein: insights into folding and misfolding from the analysis of the change in the stabilization energy distribution in different conditions

The dynamic evolution of the PrP(C) from its NMR-derived conformation to a beta-sheet-rich, aggregation-prone conformation is studied through all-atom, explicit solvent molecular dynamics in different temperature and pH conditions. The trajectories are analyzed by means of a recently introduced energy decomposition approach aimed at identifying the key residues for the stabilization and folding of the protein. It is shown that under native conditions the stabilization energy is concentrated in regions of the helices H1 and H3, whereas under misfolding conditions (low pH, high temperature, or mutations in selected sites) it is spread out over helix H2. Misfolding appears to be a rearrangement of the chain that disrupts most of the native secondary structure of the protein, producing some beta-rich conformations with an energy distribution similar to that of the native state.     

Shoot population dynamics of persisting clones of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Miscanthus sinensis</Emphasis> in the warm-temperate region of Japan

The population dynamics of annual shoots in four clonal patches of Miscanthus sinensis was surveyed in terms of clone persistence. Over a study period of 3 years, a stable net shoot number was attained through a balanced replacement of old shoots by tillering 2–3 times a year. The birth rate was significantly correlated with the average monthly temperature. This suggests that a warm climate advances the date of tillerings, and shoots become taller as they emerge earlier. Five cohorts were identified, corresponding to shoots that were born in spring, early summer, summer, autumn and early winter. The autumn cohorts were more numerous and had a greater longevity than the other cohorts; they were thus were best suited for overwintering and, consequently, maintaining the population from one generation to the next. The shoots of earlier cohorts grew too tall to survive the cold of winter, which might cause freezing injury, while later cohorts shoots excelled in overwintering because of their shortness. However, if the delayed shoots are very short, they will also have difficulty in surviving the early season of growth. Therefore, M. sinensis shoots have an optimum size for survival.     

入侵杂草化感作用的细胞自动机模拟研究

细胞自动机模型(Cellular Automata Model,简称CA模型)是一种能够表现系统复杂行为的模拟方法,适于研究植物群落时空动态过程.本文利用CA模型,模拟具有化感作用的外来种入侵原有物种所构成植被的过程.模型由产生化感物质的外来种和两个对化感物质敏感性不同的本地种组合成不同类型的群落,利用化感物质作用下受体物种生物活性响应模型及种子扩散负指数分布模型,模拟外来杂草和本地种分布格局的时空动态变化.结果表明,外来种可成功地完全入侵由两个对化感物质敏感的本地种构成的群落空间,但对于由对化感物质敏感的一个本地种及对化感物质具有抗性的另一个本地种构成的群落,外来种只能够与本地种共存.     

Can we measure ecological sustainability? Landscape pattern as an indicator for naturalness and land use intensity at regional,national and European level

European landscapes have been shaped over the centuries by processes related to human land use, which are reflected in regionally distinct landscape patterns. Since landscape pattern has been linked to biodiversity and other ecological values of the landscapes, this paper explores landscape pattern as a tool for ecological sustainability assessments at the regional (Austrian Cultural Landscapes), national (Austria) and European (European Union + Norway, Switzerland) level with focus on agricultural landscapes. A set of landscape metrics served as a basis to assess naturalness and geometrisation of Austrian and European landscapes as a proxy for their sustainability. To achieve an accurate spatially explicit assessment, we applied a spatial reference framework consisting in units that are homogeneous in biophysical and socio-economic contexts, adapted the regional approach for its application at European level, and developed relative sustainability thresholds for the landscape metrics. The analyses revealed that several landscape metrics, particularly the “Number of Shape Characterising Points” showed a high correlation with the degree of naturalness. The sustainability map of Austria based on an ordinal regression model revealed well-known problem regions of ecological sustainability. At the European level, the relative deviation from the average pattern showed clearly the simplification processes in the landscapes. However, a better spatial resolution of land cover data would add to the refinement of pattern analysis in regions and therefore the assessment of sustainability. We recommend the combination of information of different scales for the formulation and implementation of sustainability policies.     

Seedling establishment in relation to microhabitat variation in a windthrow gap in a boreal Pinus sylvestris forest

Abstract. The characteristics of microhabitats of established Pinus sylvestris and Betula seedlings were studied in a small windthrow gap in a mature P. sylvestris-dominated forest in the Petkeljärvi National Park in eastern Finland. Seedlings were strongly clustered in disturbed microhabitats, particularly uprooting pits and mounds, formed by tree falls. They covered 3% of the 0.3.ha study area consisting of the gap and some of the forest edge. Although Betula occurred only as scattered individuals in the dominant canopy layer of the forest, it accounted for 30% of the seedlings found in the study area. Betula regeneration was almost completely restricted to pits and mounds, where 91% of the seedlings were found. Uprooting spots were also the most important regeneration microhabitats for Pinus, where 60% of the seedlings grew, even though the seedlings were found in other substrates as well, particularly on sufficiently decomposed coarse wood. Undisturbed field- and bottom-layer vegetation had effectively hindered tree seedling establishment, which emphasises the role of soil disturbance for regeneration. While the establishment of seedlings was found to be clearly determined by the availability of favourable regeneration microhabitats, the early growth of seedlings was affected by a complex interaction of environmental variables, including the type of microhabitat, radiation environment and interferences caused by competing seedlings and adjacent trees. In the most important regeneration microhabitats, i.e. in uprooting pits and on mounds, the distributions of the local elevations of Pinus and Betula seedlings were different. Pinus seedlings occurred closer to ground level, i.e. on the fringes of pits and lower on mounds, while Betula seedlings grew deeper in pits and higher on mounds. The position of the Betula seedlings indicate that they may have a competitive advantage over Pinus seedlings in the dense seedling groups occurring in uprooting spots. We suggest that this initial difference in Pinus and Betula establishment may affect the subsequent within-gap tree species succession and can, in part, explain the general occurrence of Betula in conifer-dominated boreal forests.     

盐池荒漠草地拟步甲昆虫群落时间结构和动态

从2009年3月到10月采用巴氏罐诱导法调查了宁夏盐池四墩子6个不同生境中的拟步甲的群落组成以及时间动态,结果表明,本次调查共采集拟步甲昆虫5431只,计10属20种,个体数最多的是弯齿琵甲Blapsfemoralis femoralis Fischer-Waldheim和克小鳖甲Microdera kraatzi kraatzi Reitter,分别占总数的47.30%和40.66%,不同季节的优势种类不同。从时间动态上看,拟步甲物种数和个体数成显著正相关(r=0.887,P=0.003),表现为5月和7—8月2个发生高峰期,且5月最高。从整个景观来看,优势种克小鳖甲的盛发期在5月和7月,弯齿琵甲的盛发期在5月和8月,不同景观样地略有差异。物种-时间对应分析表明,拟步甲成虫发生可以分为春季发生型、春夏发生型、夏季发生型、夏秋发生型和全年发生型5类。5月拟步甲群落多样性和丰富度最高,不同月的拟步甲群落相似性可以聚为3类,由于植被类型和干扰程度的差异,月间拟步甲群落相似性会有所差异。