The contribution of cacao agroforests to the conservation of lower canopy ant and beetle diversity in Indonesia

The ongoing destruction of tropical rainforests has increased the interest in the potential value of tropical agroforests for the conservation of biodiversity. Traditional, shaded agroforests may support high levels of biodiversity, for some groups even approaching that of undisturbed tropical forests. However, it is unclear to what extent forest fauna is represented in this diversity and how management affects forest fauna in agroforests. We studied lower canopy ant and beetle fauna in cacao agroforests and forests in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, a region dominated by cacao agroforestry. We compared ant and beetle species richness and composition in forests and cacao agroforests and studied the impact of two aspects of management intensification (the decrease in shade tree diversity and in shade canopy cover) on ant and beetle diversity. The agroforests had three types of shade that represented a decrease in tree diversity (high, intermediate and low diversity). Species richness of ants and beetles in the canopies of the cacao trees was similar to that found in lower canopy forest trees. However, the composition of ant and beetle communities differed greatly between the agroforest and forest sites. Forest beetles suffered profoundly from the conversion to agroforests: only 12.5% of the beetle species recorded in the forest sites were also found in the agroforests and those species made up only 5% of all beetles collected from cacao. In contrast, forest ants were well represented in agroforests, with 75% of all species encountered in the forest sites also occurring on cacao. The reduction of shade tree diversity had no negative effect on ants and beetles on cacao trees. Beetle abundances and non-forest ant species richness even increased with decreasing shade tree diversity. Thinning of the shade canopy was related to a decrease in richness of forest ant species on cacao trees but not of beetles. The contrasting responses of ants and beetles to shade tree management emphasize that conservation plans that focus on one taxonomic group may not work for others. Overall ant and beetle diversity can remain high in shaded agroforests but the conservation of forest ants and beetles in particular depends primarily on the protection of natural forests, which for forest ants can be complemented by the conservation of adjacent shaded cacao agroforests.     

Impact of urban fragmentation on the genetic structure of the eastern red-backed salamander

Urban development is a major cause of habitat loss and fragmentation. Few studies, however, have dealt with fragmentation in an urban landscape. In this paper, we examine the genetic structure of isolated populations of the eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) in a metropolitan area. We sampled four populations located on a mountain in the heart of Montréal (Québec, Canada), which presents a mosaic of forested patches isolated by roads, graveyards and buildings. We assessed the genetic structure of these populations using microsatellite loci and compared it to the genetic structure of four populations located in a continuous habitat in southern Québec. Our results indicate that allelic richness and heterozygosity are lower in the urban populations. Exact differentiation tests and pairwise F _ST also show that the populations found in the fragmented habitat are genetically differentiated, whereas populations located in the continuous habitat are genetically homogeneous. These results raise conservation concerns for these populations as well as for rare or threatened species inhabiting urban landscapes.     

安徽省蜜蜂种群消长及其分布与自然环境的关系

2002～2004年,对淮北平原、江淮丘陵、沿江平原及皖西和皖南山区四大类型生态区域的蜜蜂种群数量动态与环境因子进行了调查.结果表明,复杂的自然环境与蜜蜂种群特性密切相关.皖南山区和皖西大别山区蜜粉源植物分别为46和37种,中华蜜蜂群体数量多,分布密度分别为2.01和1.95群·km^-2;江淮地区和淮北平原蜜粉源植物分别为17和12种,花期短而集中,且面积大,适宜于意大利蜜蜂采集与生产,中华蜜蜂群体数量少,分布密度分别为0.06和0.02群·km^-2.胡蜂捕食影响蜜蜂种群消长与分布.皖南山区、皖西大别山区、江淮地区和淮北平原,中华蜜蜂分别占本地区蜂群的41.5%、36.8%、3.1%和1.1%,意大利蜜蜂分别占本地区蜂群的58.5%、63.2%、96.9%和98.9%.     

完达山东部林区野猪种群数量和栖息地特征的初步分析

2008 年11 月18 日至2009 年3 月20 日,为了调查黑龙江省完达山东部林区野猪种群数量和栖息地特征,我们采用随机布设样线的方法在东方红林业局境内13 个林场共布设大样方40 个,样线200 条。调查结果表明,东方红林业局境内野猪分布平均密度为0.175 头/ km² , 种群数量为546 ～ 680 头;野猪主要分布在河口、奇源、青山、五林洞、独木河、海音山和东林7 个林场,位于海拔300 ～ 800 m 的范围内。1989 年调查的野猪平均密度为0.372 头/ km² ,种群数量为1302 ; 2002 年调查的野猪平均密度为0. 342 头/ km² , 种群数量为1 198 头。近年来野猪种群密度降低,种群数量呈加速下降趋势。对野猪栖息地特征分析表明,野猪喜欢选择中坡位、阳坡、坡度小于5°、地表植被盖度大于30% 、隐蔽度和郁闭度在25% ～ 50% 之间的生境。阔叶林、灌丛是野猪的主要栖息地。非法捕猎、森林采伐、坚果采摘和东北虎的捕食是造成野猪种群数量减少、栖息地质量下降的主要因素。     

莲花山斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地选择

20 0 3年 3～ 4月 ,在甘肃省莲花山自然保护区 ,利用无线电遥测和直接观察 ,分析了斑尾榛鸡(Bonasasewerzowi)的栖息地选择特征。结果表明 ,斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地一般在东北坡向 ,并具有高大乔木、下层植被盖度较高、灌丛较丰富的特点 ,这与食物丰富度较高及环境隐蔽性较强有关。栖息地质量对于配对活动的成功与否有一定影响。分析表明 ,栖息地内 0 5～ 2 5m植被水平遮挡度、柳树数量、箭竹数量是影响斑尾榛鸡春季栖息地选择的关键因子。建议在对斑尾榛鸡栖息地采取保护措施时 ,不仅要保护原生乔木 ,还要加强对灌丛生境的保护。     

Reproductive challenges of a rare grass,Calamagrostis porteri subsp. insperata (Swallen) C. Greene: implications for habitat restoration

Background: Habitat management for reproductively challenged rare species is a problem when there is insufficient knowledge of their autecology. This study investigated reproductive failure in the rare grass Calamagrostis porteri ssp. insperata (Swallen) C. Greene (Reed bentgrass). Does the management recommendation of high light stimulate clonal growth, flowering, and seed production? Location: Shawnee National Forest, IL, USA, and in a greenhouse and an experimental garden at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA. Methods: Clones obtained from the three known Illinois populations were grown in a glasshouse under experimental light and soil moisture treatments. After 3 years, plants from the high light treatment were planted outside in an experimental garden where the light treatments were maintained for two more years. In the field, vegetative and flowering tiller density, canopy cover, and associated biotic and abiotic variables including abundance of co‐occurring plant species were monitored for 5 years. The overhead tree canopy was cleared over a portion of one population. Results: In the glasshouse, plants increased in size under high light and moist soil, and there were size differences among populations. Sixty‐six per cent (20 of 30) of the genets flowered when planted outdoors under full sunlight but did not produce seed. In the field, flowering only occurred in Calamagrostis growing in the cleared area, but no seed were produced. The plants in the flowering population were smaller than plants in the other two populations. The herbaceous community associated with Calamagrostis in the open diverged from the communities remaining under the shade. Conclusions: This study highlights the difficulty of managing reproductively challenged rare species. Calamagrostis populations can be managed to enhance clonal growth, but establishment of new populations would require translocation of vegetative material as it is highly unlikely that seed can be obtained.     

生境类型对啮齿动物扩散和贮藏栓皮栎坚果的影响

在河南省济源市王屋山地区,研究了次生林、灌丛、退耕地三个生境中啮齿动物对栓皮栎坚果的取食、
扩散与贮藏情况。结果表明:1)在研究地区,取食栓皮栎坚果的啮齿动物主要有大林姬鼠、社鼠和黑线姬鼠;
2)在次生林中,啮齿动物对坚果的搬运速率慢于在灌丛和退耕地生境中的搬运速率;3)次生林生境中,贮藏
坚果占被扩散坚果的比例高于灌丛和退耕地,而灌丛生境中被取食坚果占被扩散种子的比例高于退耕地和次生
林;4)栓皮栎坚果的中位存留时间在三个生境间有显著性差异。研究结果提示,在人工造林时,可通过对栓皮
栎坚果进行埋藏处理,以提高种子萌发率。     

白颈长尾雉栖息地的季节变化

１９９２年１０月至１９９３年５月,在浙江省乌岩岭自然保护区,利用无线电追踪技术和野外直接观察等采样方法对白颈长尾雉各季节栖息地及其食性进行了研究。     

Impending disaster or sliver of hope for Southeast Asian forests? The devil may lie in the details

Here, I report on how forest area in Southeast Asia has changed for different types of forest and across different countries between the periods of 1990–2000 and 2000–2005. The loss of old growth forests has accelerated in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam but have ceased in Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and the Philippines. Secondary forests continue to be lost in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Plantation forests have increased in area by 25.0% from 1990 to 2005 but still comprise only 6.2% of the total forest area in Southeast Asia. Overall, the loss of native forests (old growth and secondary forests) has slowed down in Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei but has worsened in Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia.     

Broad-scale habitat use by red-legged partridge <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Alectoris rufa</Emphasis>) in a low-density area in northwestern Spain

We developed broad-scale habitat selection models for the distribution of red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa in a low-density area in northwestern Spain, the Baixa-Limia site of community importance (SCI). The fieldwork consisted of ground surveys in 1 × 1 km squares. For habitat selection analysis, we used a 2 × 2 km grid integrating the information obtained in the 1 × 1 km squares. As predictors we used environmental variables measured on digital 1:50,000 scale cartography using a geographical information system (GIS). The red-legged partridge was scarce in the study area. The logistic regression analysis carried out on data from the squares with probable and confirmed breeding included the area of scrubland and pastureland with a positive sign. Using the breeding index category (BIC) three variables produced a slightly positive response: area of scrubland and pastureland, length of border between scrublands and forests, and length of border between forests and dams. The difficulty for modelling the habitat selection of this species could be due to human activities (hunting, habitat loss, restocking of hunt species), and may have modified their habitat preferences. Furthermore, the occupation of suboptimal habitats would distort the real habitat preferences.