Influence of Precipitation on Soil and Foliar Nutrients Across Nine Costa Rican Forests

We explored patterns of soil and foliar nutrients across nine mature forest sites in Costa Rica, where mean annual precipitation (MAP) ranged between 3500 and 5500 mm, altitude ranged between 200 and 1200 m, and species composition varied among sites. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between rainfall and plant or soil nutrient characteristics to better understand the potential long‐term effects that alterations in MAP could have on the nutrient dynamics of wet forest plant communities. Indicators of soil N availability (net mineralization and nitrification) decreased with MAP but were not related to foliar N. Soil and foliar P, by contrast, were not correlated with MAP but were positively correlated with each other. Thus, across our gradient foliar P was a better predictor of soil nutrient availability than foliar N. There were wide differences in foliar nutrient concentrations and N:P ratios among species within sites. At each site, legumes had higher mean percent N than nonlegumes, resulting in higher N:P ratios for legumes. Taken together, these data suggest that, at least in these forests, a climate‐driven decrease in MAP could cause an increase in net N mineralization and nitrification for the wetter sites. However, this may not affect productivity at the community level because of low P availability, complex feedbacks between soil and foliar nutrients, and interactions with other biological and environmental factors such as elevation.     

中国东部海岛森林和灌丛土壤碳氮磷养分库的纬度变化

虽然海岛结构相对简单,但在生物多样性和生态功能维持方面起重要作用.以中国东部暖温带、北亚热带、中亚热带和南亚热带的14个海岛为对象,研究森林土壤碳和氮磷养分库的纬度变化特征,并分析其与气候因子和植物多样性的关系.结果表明:土壤碳和氮磷养分库在温度带间差异显著,土壤碳库与氮库在暖温带最低,分别为49.35和1.08 t·hm^-2,在北亚热带最高,为137.25和4.63 t·hm^-2;磷库在南亚热带海岛最低,为1.3 t·hm^-2,在北亚热带最高,为5.19 t·hm^-2.各植被类型土壤碳氮磷库在不同温度带间存在显著差异,落叶林土壤碳氮磷库在亚热带高于暖温带;常绿阔叶林土壤碳和氮库不受温度带影响,磷库在北亚热带和中亚热带显著高于南亚热带.年均温、年降水量、土壤含水量和植物物种多样性间的交互作用对土壤碳氮磷库有显著正向影响;植物物种多样性对土壤氮库变化有正向影响,但对磷库具有负向影响.海岛森林土壤碳库的纬度变化趋势与大陆相反,土壤氮磷养分库变化格局与大陆相似;其中,水热和植物物种多样性是驱动中国东部海岛森林土壤碳氮磷库变化的主要非生物和生物因素.     

Time of emergence of novel climates for North American migratory bird populations

To better understand the ecological implications of global climate change for species that display geographically and seasonally dynamic life‐history strategies, we need to determine where and when novel climates are projected to first emerge. Here, we use a multivariate approach to estimate time of emergence (ToE) of novel climates based on three climate variables (precipitation, minimum and maximum temperature) at a weekly temporal resolution within the Western Hemisphere over a 280‐yr period (2021–2300) under a high emissions scenario (RCP8.5). We intersect ToE estimates with weekly estimates of relative abundance for 77 passerine bird species that migrate between temperate breeding grounds in North America and southern tropical and subtropical wintering grounds using observations from the eBird citizen‐science database. During the non‐breeding season, migrants that winter within the tropics are projected to encounter novel climates during the second half of this century. Migrants that winter in the subtropics are projected to encounter novel climates during the first half of the next century. During the beginning of the breeding season, migrants on their temperate breeding grounds are projected to encounter novel climates during the first half of the next century. During the end of the breeding season, migrants are projected to encounter novel climates during the second half of this century. Thus, novel climates will first emerge ca 40–50 yr earlier during the second half of the breeding season. These results emphasize the large seasonal and spatial variation in the formation of novel climates, and the pronounced challenges migratory birds are likely to encounter during this century, especially on their tropical wintering grounds and during the transition from breeding to migration. When assessing the ecological implications of climate change, our findings emphasize the value of applying a full annual cycle perspective using standardized metrics that promote comparisons across space and time.     

浙江古田山自然保护区常绿阔叶林种子雨的时空变异

木本植物种子产量的时间和空间变化格局对植物更新以及群落组成和结构有着重要影响, 是种子雨研究的一个重要方面。2006年6月在古田山亚热带常绿阔叶林24 hm²样地布置了130个面积为0.5 m²的种子雨收集器, 每周收集一次。利用4年的种子雨数据, 研究了种子雨的时间和空间变异。主要结果如下: (1)共收集到124227粒成熟种子, 属于29科51属63种, 每月降水量与平均每月种子数、物种数均呈显著负相关; (2)种子产量在每年干季(秋季)有明显的高峰, 有10个物种在湿季扩散种子, 不同物种结实物候起始和终止时间有差异; (3)基于4年的种子雨数据, 几乎所有物种的种子雨均存在很大的年际变异, 收集到的所有物种的种子产量年际变异系数的中位数为1.72; (4)种子雨在不同收集器之间有很大的变异, 变异系数的中位数为8.06; 几乎所有物种的空间变异都远远大于时间变异, 这可能是由于母树的稀有性、种子传播距离的差异, 以及地形等因素造成。通过与巴拿马Barro Colorado Island 50 hm ²样地108个物种种子产量的年际变异系数相比较, 古田山种子雨数据支持了高纬度地区种子产量变异高于低纬度地区的假说。     

广西千层塔资源调查研究

通过对广西千层塔主要分布区10个野外样点和总样方量30.5 km~2的调查,结合6个标本馆45份千层塔馆藏标本及现有文献的研究表明:千层塔在广西主要分布在桂东北、桂东南等地,实际分布生境总面积约1886.3 km~2;野外生物量调查得到了千层塔在不同地理区域的生物量分布格局,并结合科学评估方法对样方调查结果和间接推导数据的权重分析及环境参数进行评估,初步确定广西千层塔天然生物量为413.1 t;进一步考虑人为采集能力的前提下,估测广西千层塔的理论可采量20.6 t。千层塔资源分布分散,且主要分布在自然保护区和风景区范围内,因此,不宜大规模开采,应进一步寻找科学合理的途径解决资源紧缺问题。     

Circadian and seasonal rhythms in the behavior of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris)

The present study investigated both circadian and seasonal fluctuations in the daytime activities of the spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris , from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil. The number of dolphins, and aerial, and reproductive activities were documented. The observations were carried out from January 1997 to December 2001. Temporal series and rhythmic characteristics (mesor, rhythmic percentage, and acrophase) were obtained by COSINOR analysis and later compared. The dolphins entered the bay in the morning, displayed aerial and reproductive activities during daytime, and left the bay in late afternoon to the open ocean. This study indicated that the rainy season affected the three behaviors investigated decreasing the rhythms parameter and advancing the beginning of these activities. The number of individuals was higher during the dry season and the animals stayed longer inside the bay. During the dry season, there was a bimodal expression of aerial activity, expressing a longer use of the temporal niche than in the rainy season. The phases with high frequencies of aerial activity seemed associated with those showing high reproductive activity, both with peak frequencies at about 0800. The results represent an important contribution to the advancement of chronobiological studies, and to the biology of cetaceans, considering that the existence of circadian and seasonal rhythms was proven in the behavior of spinner dolphins in an area of the SW Atlantic. Moreover, it allows restricting periods of the day for the activities of tourism as a form of minimizing the impacts of the boats on the dolphins.     

Seasonal pattern of depth selection in smallmouth bass

The current study used a stationary acoustic telemetry array to monitor the depth selection of adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in a large, oligotrophic lake in Ontario, Canada. At an annual scale, smallmouth bass demonstrated regular, seasonal changes in inhabited depths: fish occupied shallow water during the summer (2–5 m depth) and descended to deeper water (12–15 m depth) during winter under ice. Smallmouth bass remained above the thermocline in the summer, seasonal depth patterns did not vary across fish size and movements to and from seasonal depths were closely linked to the development and degradation of the thermocline. At finer time scales, smallmouth bass exhibited diel vertical migrations in summer, with fish moving to <2 m at night, and then descending to 3–5 m during the day. This pattern remained constant during the summer period examined, and varied with size such that larger fish remained deeper than smaller fish. During winter, depth did not vary across the 3-month monitoring period ( c . 14 m), but small (<2 m) changes in depth were observed periodically, suggesting limited movements were occurring. Results are further discussed in the context of climate change and reproductive success for this species.     

Leafing patterns and leaf traits of four evergreen shrubs in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

We assessed leafing patterns (rate, timing, and duration of leafing) and leaf traits (leaf longevity, leaf mass per area and leaf-chemistry) in four co-occurring evergreen shrubs of the genus Larrea and Chuquiraga (each having two species) in the arid Patagonian Monte of Argentina. We asked whether species with leaves well-defended against water shortage (high LMA, leaf longevity, and lignin concentration, and low N concentration) have lower leaf production, duration of the leafing period, and inter-annual variation of leafing than species with the opposite traits. We observed two distinctive leafing patterns each related to one genus. Chuquiraga species produced new leaves concentrated in a massive short leafing event (5–48 days) while new leaves of Larrea species emerged gradually (128–258 days). Observed leafing patterns were consistent with simultaneous and successive leafing types previously described for woody plants. The peak of leaf production occurred earlier in Chuquiraga species (mid September) than in Larrea species (mid October–late November). Moreover, Chuquiraga species displayed leaves with the longest leaf lifespan, while leaves of Larrea species had the lowest LMA and the highest N and soluble phenolics concentrations. We also observed that only the leaf production of Larrea species increased in humid years. We concluded that co-occurring evergreen species in the Patagonian Monte displayed different leafing patterns, which were associated with some relevant leaf traits acting as plant defenses against water stress and herbivores. Differences in leafing patterns could provide evidence of ecological differentiation among coexisting species of the same life form.     

南京地区太阳辐射资源量子年总量的理论计算

为了从量子角度探讨南京地区的太阳辐射资源,在理想大气条件下对2008年南京地区的光合有效辐射波段的量子辐射进行了计算.在2008年的366天中每隔20分钟计算一次量子照度,然后通过累积计算得到太阳直接辐射年总量.应用相关公式,计算出了散射辐射年总量,总辐射年总量和光合有效辐射年总量.经过与一些相关资料的对比分析,认为计算结果正确合理.     

Grass invasion of a hardwood forest is associated with declines in belowground carbon pools

Invasive plant species affect a range of ecosystem processes but their impact on belowground carbon (C) pools is relatively unexplored. This is particularly true for grass invasions of forested ecosystems. Such invasions may alter both the quantity and quality of forest floor inputs. Dependent on both, two theories, ‘priming’ and ‘preferential substrate utilization’, suggest these changes may decrease, increase, or leave unchanged native plant‐derived soil C. Decreases are expected under ‘priming’ theory due to increased soil microbial activity. Under ‘preferential substrate utilization’, either an increase or no change is expected because the invasive plant's inputs are used by the microbial community instead of soil C. Here, we examine how Microstegium vimineum affects belowground C‐cycling in a southeastern US forest. Following predictions of priming theory, M. vimineum's presence is associated with decreases in native‐derived, C pools. For example, in September 2006 M. vimineum is associated with 24%, 34%, 36%, and 72% declines in total organic, particulate organic matter, mineralizable (a measure of microbially‐available C), and microbial biomass C, respectively. Soil C derived from M. vimineum does not compensate for these decreases, meaning that the sum of native‐ plus invasive‐derived C pools is smaller than native‐derived pools in uninvaded plots. Supporting our inferences that C‐cycling accelerates under invasion, the microbial community is more active per unit biomass: added ¹³C‐glucose is respired more rapidly in invaded plots. Our work suggests that this invader may accelerate C‐cycling in forest soils and deplete C stocks. The paucity of studies investigating impacts of grass invasion on C‐cycling in forests highlights the need to study further M. vimineum and other invasive grasses to assess their impacts on C sink strength and forest fertility.