Comparison of stream benthic invertebrate assemblages among forest types in the temperate region of Japan

We compared benthic invertebrate assemblages among headwater streams in several forest types in Japan. Forests were divided into three clusters based on vegetation composition: old-growth broad-leaved forest, planted coniferous forest, and mixed forest. The numbers of individuals and families and the diversity (Shannon-Wiener) of benthic invertebrate assemblages did not differ significantly among the three forest clusters. However, principal components analysis of family abundance showed differences in the benthic invertebrate assemblages among the three forest clusters. No environmental factors were correlated with these differences. Benthic invertebrate assemblages differed depending on forest composition. The abundances of Taeniopterygidae and Athericidae in old-growth broad-leaved forest were significantly greater than in planted coniferous forest. The abundances of Heptageniidae, Baetiidae, Stenopsychidae, Uenoidae, Chironomidae, and Potamidae in planted coniferous forest were significantly greater than in old-growth broad-leaved forest. If the remaining old-growth broad-leaved forest were to be converted to coniferous plantation, species that inhabit old-growth forest may become extinct.     

新疆准噶尔盆地芳3井晚白垩世孢粉组合的发现及其地质意义

准噶尔盆地腹部芳3井紫泥泉子组所夹灰色泥岩中产丰富的盘星藻、葡萄藻等藻类、疑源类化石及一定数量的孢粉化石。孢粉化石计75属160种,并首次在新疆地区发现了可靠的鹰粉型化石Aquilapollenites以及在我国主要产于松辽盆地和广东三水盆地上白垩统的“大孢子”化石Balmeisporites,建立Schizaeoisporites grandus-Parcisporites parvisaccus-Liliacidites creticus(GPC)组合。通过对部分孢粉属种已知地质分布的分析以及与国内外部分地区晚白垩世孢粉组合的对比,将GPC组合的时代确定为晚白垩世坎潘期至马斯特里赫特期。根据紫泥泉子组的沉积特点及孢粉组合特征,认为晚白垩世准噶尔盆地应归属西北-东南孢粉植物区,局部层段沉积时期气候比较湿润,孢粉组合具有我国东北孢粉植物区与西北-东南孢粉植物区的过渡特点。     

Seasonal dynamics of fish assemblage structures in a surf zone on an exposed sandy beach in Japan

Seasonal dynamics in fish assemblage structure, comprising postlarval to early adult stages, in the surf zone on an exposed sandy beach on the Kashimanada coast were studied over a 2-year period. A total of 32 species and two higher group taxa were found. In terms of abundance, Salangichthys ishikawae, Mugil cephalus cephalus, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis, and Engraulis japonicus were the four most dominant species. The results of cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis using 12 dominant species in terms of abundance revealed that water temperature and wind factor (wind speed × wind direction) had significant independent associations on species occurrence patterns for 11 species; that is, occurrence of 11 species was significantly related to water temperature and occurrence of 7 species was related to wind factor. Two species (S. ishikawae and P. altivelis altivelis) showed clear monthly increases in size, consequently suggesting their use of the surf zone as a nursery area. In contrast, M. cephalus cephalus and E. japonicus showed few increases in standard length, indicating their use of the surf zone only in their postlarval and/or juvenile stage. It is suggested that numerous fish species use the surf zone as shelter and/or a nursery area, even in the harsh conditions of an exposed sandy beach with great wave action.     

Longitudinal data on telomere length in leukocytes from newborn baboons support a marked drop in stem cell turnover around 1 year of age

Stem cells of various tissues are typically defined as multipotent cells with 'self-renewal' properties. Despite the increasing interest in stem cells, surprisingly little is known about the number of times stem cells can or do divide over a lifetime. Based on telomere-length measurements of hematopoietic cells, we previously proposed that the self-renewal capacity of hematopoietic stem cells is limited by progressive telomere attrition and that such cells divide very rapidly during the first year of life. Recent studies of patients with aplastic anemia resulting from inherited mutations in telomerase genes support the notion that the replicative potential of hematopoietic stem cells is directly related to telomere length, which is indirectly related to telomerase levels. To revisit conclusions about stem cell turnover based on cross-sectional studies of telomere length, we performed a longitudinal study of telomere length in leukocytes from newborn baboons. All four individual animals studied showed a rapid decline in telomere length (approximately 2-3 kb) in granulocytes and lymphocytes in the first year after birth. After 50-70 weeks the telomere length appeared to stabilize in all cell types. These observations suggest that hematopoietic stem cells, after an initial phase of rapid expansion, switch at around 1 year of age to a different functional mode characterized by a markedly decreased turnover rate.     

渤海湾盆地南堡凹陷始新世—渐新世孢粉、藻类与地层对比

南堡凹陷是位于渤海湾盆地黄骅坳陷北部的小型构造单元。为深入研究南堡凹陷古近纪孢粉组合,采集了Gp1和Np288等七口钻井样品。经传统酸、碱处理法获得孢粉化石,并在研究区古近系地层中划分出六个孢粉亚组合:沙三段4亚段的Ephedripites-Taxodiaceaepollenites-Ulmoideipites tricostatus-Pterisisporites属于始新世鲁特期、沙三段1—3亚段的Quercoidites microhenrici-Ulmipollenites minor属于始新世中晚期、沙二段的Ephedripites-Rutaceoipollis-Meliaceoidites与沙一段的Quercoidites-Meliaceoidites属于渐新世早期、东二段与东三段的Ulmipollenites undulosus-Piceaepollenites-Tsugaepollenites与东一段的Juglandaceae-Celtispollenites属于渐新世中晚期。研究区古近纪孢粉组合与黄骅坳陷中北区及滩海地区的孢粉组合可以形成良好对比,并且研究区局部出现的沙三段4、5亚段与渤海湾盆地普遍出现的沙河街组四段上部为同一时期的产物。     

山东平邑盆地古新世孢粉组合及其古气候意义

本文对山东平邑盆地卞桥镇国泰庄西ZK101井卞桥组二段的21块井壁岩芯样品进行分析,在其中5块样品中发现了大量保存较好的孢粉和一些淡水藻类化石,总计60属2亚属63种及部分未定种。据此建立了一个孢粉组合,即Pterisisporites-Ephedripites-Ulmaceae组合。该组合以凤尾蕨科和麻黄科花粉占优势,榆科有一定含量为其主要特征,并通过对一些重要分子的地质时代分布及与邻区相关孢粉组合进行对比,确定了其时代为古新世,同时讨论了该孢粉植物群所反映的古气候特点。     

Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of fen rewetting on carabid beetle and vascular plant assemblages within riverine fens along the river Peene in north‐eastern Germany. Drained (silage grassland), rewetted (restored formerly drained silage grassland), and near‐natural (fairly pristine) stands were compared. Eighty‐four beetle species (7,267 individuals) and 135 plant species were recorded. The richness of vascular plant species and the number of endangered species were highest on near‐natural fens. Fourteen years of rewetting did not increase plant species numbers compared with drained fens. For carabid beetles, however, species richness and the number of stenotopic species were highest on rewetted fens. Rewetting caused the replacement of generalist carabids by wetland specialists, but did not provide suitable habitat for specialist fen carabids or for plant species of oligo‐ or mesotrophic fen communities. Therefore, raising the water table on fens with nutrient‐rich, degraded peat was not sufficient for restoring species assemblages of intact fens, although water level was the most important environmental factor separating species assemblages. Our study illustrated that insects and plants may respond differentially to restoration, stressing the need to consider different taxa when assessing the efficiency of fen restoration. Furthermore, species assemblages of intact fens could not be restored within 14 years, highlighting the importance of conserving pristine habitat.     

Species–area relationship within benthic habitat patches of a tropical floodplain river: An experimental test

The curvilinear relationship between species richness and habitat area (species–area relationship (SAR)) is a fundamental ecological pattern. The relationship is often viewed from a long‐term perspective across relatively large spatial scales, reflecting a balance between immigration and extinction dynamics. We explored whether predictions of SAR also manifest over short time periods (days) in benthic habitat patches of a dynamic floodplain river where littoral faunal assemblages are continuously assembled and disassembled with changing water levels. We examined the relationship of patch size with faunal abundance (i.e. fish and aquatic invertebrates), taxonomic richness, trophic group richness and overall assemblage composition. Strong taxa–area relationships emerged despite the relatively short experimental time period (21 days); larger patches had more taxa and trophic groups. For the smallest patches, taxonomic richness was especially sensitive to abundance of individuals; abundance of individuals was a less important predictor of taxonomic and trophic group richness for the largest patches. Despite the relatively short time frame for study within this temporally dynamic ecosystem, our findings indicate a strong SAR for fishes and macroinvertebrates inhabiting patchy habitats in the littoral zone of this tropical river.