Stand characteristics and biodiversity indicators along the productivity gradient in boreal forests: Defining a critical set of indicators for the monitoring of habitat nature quality

Abstract

We quantified the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the structure and biodiversity of boreal forests on acidic soils and created a statistically supported rational set of indicators to monitor the stand “naturalness”. For that, we surveyed various traits of tree layer, understory, herb layer, forest floor and several widely accepted biodiversity epiphytic indicators in 252 old‐aged boreal stands in Estonia, mostly dominated by Scots pine or Norway spruce. Multifactorial general linear model analyses showed that many forest characteristics and potential indicators were confounded by the gradient of soil productivity (reflected by the forest site type), local biogeographic gradients and also by stand age. Considering confounding effects, boreal forests in a near‐natural state have more large‐diameter trees (diameter at breast height >40 cm) and larger variety of diameter classes, higher proportion of spruce or deciduous trees, a larger amount of coarse woody debris in various stages, a more closed tree canopy and denser understory than managed mature forests. By increasing light availability above the field layer, forest management indirectly increases the coverage of herbs and lichens on the forest floor but reduces the alpha‐ and beta‐diversity of herbs and the proportion of graminoids. Human disturbances reduce the relative incidence of many commonly accepted biodiversity indicators such as indicator lichens, woodpeckers, wood‐dwelling insects or fungi on trees. The test for the predictive power of characteristics reacting on disturbance revealed that only a fraction of them appeared to be included in a diagnostic easy‐to‐apply set of indicators to assess the nature quality of boreal forest: the amount of dead wood, the proportion of deciduous trees, the presence of specially shaped trees and woodpeckers and, as an indicator of disturbances, the forest herb Melampyrum pratensis. Many of these indicators have already been implemented in practice.     

Demographic variation in cycad populations inhabiting contrasting forest fragments

Reduced habitat quality after fragmentation can significantly affect population viability, but the effects of differing quality of the remaining habitat on population fitness are rarely evaluated. Here, I compared fragmented populations of the cycad Zamia melanorrhachis from habitats with different history and subject to contrasting levels of disturbance to explore potential demographic differences in populations across habitat patches that could differ in habitat quality. Secondary-forest fragments had a lower canopy cover and soil moisture than remnant-forest fragments, which may represent a harsh environment for this cycad. A smaller average plant size and lower population density in the secondary-forest fragments support the hypothesis that these fragments may be of lower quality, e.g., if plants have reduced survival and/or fecundity in these habitats. However, variation in the stage-structure of populations (i.e., the relative proportions of non-reproductive and reproductive plants) was associated with the area of the forest fragments rather than the type of habitat (remnant versus secondary forest). These results suggest that different demographic parameters may respond differently to habitat fragmentation, which may be explained if processes like adult survival and recruitment depend on different characteristics of the habitat, e.g., average light/water availability versus suitable area for plant establishment. This study shows that forest fragments may differ drastically in environmental conditions and can sustain populations that can vary in their demography. Understanding how forest fragments may represent different habitat types is relevant for evaluating population viability in a heterogeneous landscape and for designing conservation programs that account for this heterogeneity.     

Does mother really know best? Oviposition preference reduces reproductive performance in the generalist parasitoid Aphidius ervi

The reproductive success of female parasitoids is dependent on their ability to accurately assess the suitability of a host for larval development. For generalist parasitoids, which utilize a broad range of species and instars as hosts, a set of assessment criteria determines whether a host is accepted or rejected. The suitability of a host, however, can only be imperfectly assessed by the female parasitoid, which can result in the selection of lesser quality hosts for oviposition. In this study we explored the disparity between host quality and host preference using the generalist koinobiotic parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and the host Aulacorthum solani (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), the foxglove aphid. The second instar hosts produced the highest level of reproductive success, while third and fourth instars resulted in a substantially reduced reproductive performance. When given a choice of host instars, parasitoids preferred the older hosts for oviposition disregarding their reduced suitability for larval development. Results are discussed in context of mechanisms involved in A. ervi host selection and biases in the criteria used to assess hosts that may arise when parasitoids transfer host species between generations.     

精雕思维,提升素养——高中教材中“基因工程”复习方法的思考

复习基因工程的内容时,抓住怎样培育抗虫棉这一核心进行多方位多角度的联想,将联想到的内容编写成相应的问题,从而在引出、深入、延伸核心问题等层面上展开复习,以求达到精雕思维,提升素养的目的。     

棉籽蛋白质和油分含量预测的生态模型

为研究棉籽蛋白质和油分含量与环境因子间的定量关系,选择不同熟性棉花品种在长江流域下游棉区和黄河流域黄淮棉区各2个地点进行分期播种和施氮量试验,分析了品种、主要气象条件和施氮量对棉籽蛋白质和油分含量的影响.结果表明:棉籽蛋白质和油分含量的主要影响因子除品种外依次为铃期平均温度、太阳辐射量和施氮量;棉籽蛋白质和油分形成的最适宜铃期日均温分别为26.1℃和25.7℃;充足的光照不利于棉籽蛋白质和油分含量的提高;增加施氮量提高了棉籽蛋白质含量,降低了油分含量.建立了棉籽蛋白质含量与油分含量的生态模型,模型以品种、铃期平均温度、铃期日均太阳辐射量和施氮量为模型输入,简便易行.模型对棉籽蛋白质含量和油分含量预测的根均方差(RMSE)分别为2.03％和2.54％,具有较好的预测性.     

麦麸替代玉米对蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的影响

本试验旨在研究用部分麦麸替代基础日粮中的玉米对蛋鸡生产性能的影响。选取24周龄的海兰褐蛋鸡600只,随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复20只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分别饲喂麦麸替代基础日粮中玉米的5%,10%,15%,20%的试验日粮,预饲期7 d,正式试验期35 d。结果表明:麦麸替代玉米提高了平均日采食量、平均蛋重、产蛋率、料蛋比、蛋比重和哈夫单位(P<0.05)。试验表明,麦麸替代玉米,可以提高蛋鸡生产性能,改善蛋品质,且替代10%的玉米效果最佳。     

闽江流域生境质量时空演变特征与预测研究

流域生境是生物生存和可持续发展的物质基础与环境保障,土地利用变化是影响生境质量的重要因素,分析土地利用与区域生境质量时空演变特征,对区域生物多样性保护与土地可持续利用具有重要意义。以闽江流域为研究区,基于2000-2015年的土地利用空间数据,构建CA-Markov模型模拟2025-2040年现有发展与生态保护情景下土地利用空间数据,利用InVEST模型分析2000-2040年生境质量空间格局。结果表明：（1）闽江流域森林覆盖率较高,现状条件下水田、旱地、针阔混交林、灌木林、草地与湿地面积呈下降趋势,其中草地减幅最大,达44.64%,针叶林、阔叶林、水域、建设用地、交通用地、采矿场与裸地面积呈上升趋势,其中交通用地涨幅最大,达到227.27%;模拟的土地利用Kappa系数达89.09%,模拟结果较好,生态保护情景在未来土地利用格局优化上优势明显。（2）研究期内闽江流域总体呈现较高的生境质量,基本维持在0.82的水平,城乡建设用地区域是生境质量低值的主要分布区,福州与长乐分布有最大的生境质量低值聚集区;生境质量分布与地形条件存在一定相关性,低值区多为海拔较低的区域。（3）2000-2015年闽江流域生境质量总体呈现衰退趋势,且降幅逐期升高,最高达0.24%;现有发展情景下降的趋势未得到有效缓解,生态保护情景下降趋势逐步有效缓解,同时生境质量为优等的栅格数量占比最大,最高达87.42%。（4）闽江流域上中游区域生境水平较下游高,现有发展情景下这种差距出现扩张趋势,生态保护情景下各区域则基本维持住2015年的生境质量水平。研究结果可为闽江流域土地资源可持续利用与生物多样性保护提供科学依据和决策参考,促进区域可持续发展。     

激光照射茶树花药培养及其过氧化物酶同工酶的分析

Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ和ＣＯ２激光对茶树花药培养的药裂率和出愈率的影响,既有促进作用,也有抑制作用。按出愈率和愈伤组织生长状况的序列：Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ：２０Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２〉ＣＫ〉Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ：３０Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２〉ＣＯ２：３５．４Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２。对Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光照射花药及其愈伤组织的过氧化物酶同工酶分析,主要表现在弱酶带的变化上,无规律差异。     

The neonate nutrition hypothesis: early feeding affects the body stoichiometry of Daphnia offspring

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