Does energy availability influence classical patterns of spatial variation in exotic species richness?

Aim At macroecological scales, exotic species richness is frequently positively correlated with human population density. Such patterns are typically thought to arise because high human densities are associated with increased introduction effort and/or habitat modification and disturbance. Exotic and native species richness are also frequently positively correlated, although the causal mechanisms remain unclear. Energy availability frequently explains much of the variation in species richness and we test whether such species–energy relationships may influence the relationships of exotic species richness with human population density and native species richness. Location Great Britain. Methods We first investigate how spatial variation in the distributions of the 10 exotic bird species is related to energy availability. We then model exotic species richness using native avian species richness, human population density and energy availability as predictors. Species richness is modelled using two sets of models: one assumes independent errors and the other takes spatial correlation into account. Results The probability of each exotic species occurring, in a 10‐km quadrat, increases with energy availability. Exotic species richness is positively correlated with energy availability, human population density and native species richness in univariate tests. When taking energy availability into account, exotic species richness is negligibly influenced by human population density, but remains positively associated with native species richness. Main conclusions We provide one of the few demonstrations that energy availability exerts a strong positive influence on exotic species richness. Within our data, the positive relationship between exotic species richness and human population density probably arises because both variables increase with energy availability, and may be independent of the influence of human density on the probability of establishment. Positive correlations between exotic and native species richness remain when controlling for the influence of energy on species richness. The relevance of such a finding to the debate on the relationship between diversity and invasibility is discussed.     

Estimating abundance and spatial distribution patterns of the bubble crab Dotilla fenestrata (Crustacea: Brachyura)

Abstract The bubble crab Dotilla fenestrata forms very dense populations on the sand flats of the eastern coast of Inhaca Island, Mozambique, making it an interesting biological model to examine spatial distribution patterns and test the relative efficiency of common sampling methods. Due to its apparent ecological importance within the sandy intertidal community, understanding the factors ruling the dynamics of Dotilla populations is also a key issue. In this study, different techniques of estimating crab density are described, and the trends of spatial distribution of the different population categories are shown. The studied populations are arranged in discrete patches located at the well‐drained crests of nearly parallel mega sand ripples. For a given sample size, there was an obvious gain in precision by using a stratified random sampling technique, considering discrete patches as strata, compared to the simple random design. Density average and variance differed considerably among patches since juveniles and ovigerous females were found clumped, with higher densities at the lower and upper shore levels, respectively. Burrow counting was found to be an adequate method for large‐scale sampling, although consistently underestimating actual crab density by nearly half. Regression analyses suggested that crabs smaller than 2.9 mm carapace width tend to be undetected in visual burrow counts. A visual survey of sampling plots over several patches of a large Dotilla population showed that crab density varied in an interesting oscillating pattern, apparently following the topography of the sand flat. Patches extending to the lower shore contained higher densities than those mostly covering the higher shore. Within‐patch density variability also pointed to the same trend, but the density increment towards the lowest shore level varied greatly among the patches compared.     

Patch dynamics in grazed subtropical native pastures in south‐east Queensland

Abstract Patch formation is common in grazed grasslands but the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of patches are not clear. To increase our knowledge on this subject we examined possible reasons for patch formation and the influence of management on changes between patch states in three experiments in native pasture communities in the Crows Nest district, south‐east Queensland. In these communities, small‐scale patches (tall grassland (dominated by large and medium tussock grasses), short swards (dominated by short tussock grasses and sedges), and lawns (dominated by stoloniferous and/or rhizomatous grasses)) are readily apparent. We hypothesized that the formation of short sward and lawn patches in areas of tall grassland was due to combinations of grazing and soil fertility effects. This was tested in Experiment 1 by applying a factorial combination of defoliation, nutrient application and transplants of short tussock and stoloniferous species to a uniform area of tall grassland. Total species density declined during the experiment, was lower with high nutrient applications, but was not affected by defoliation. There were significant changes in abundance of species that provided support for our hypotheses. With light defoliation and low nutrients, the tall grassland remained dominated by large tussock grasses and contained considerable amounts of forbs. With heavy defoliation, the pastures were dominated by medium tussock grasses and there were significant decreases in forbs and increases in sedges (mainly with low nutrients) and stoloniferous grasses (mainly with high nutrients). Total germinable seed densities and those of most species groups were significantly lower in the heavy defoliation than the light defoliation plots. Total soil seed numbers were not affected by nutrient application but there were fewer seeds of the erect forbs and more sedge seeds in plots with high nutrients. The use of resting from grazing and fire to manage transitions between patches was tested. In Experiment 2 , changes in species density and abundance were measured for 5 years in the three patch types with and without grazing. Experiment 3 examined the effects of fire, grazing and resting on short sward patches over 4 years. In Experiment 2 , total species density was lower in lawn than short sward or tall grassland patches, and there were more species of erect forbs than other plant groups in all patch types. The lawn patches were originally dominated by Cynodon spp. This dominance continued with grazing but in ungrazed patches the abundance of Cynodon spp. declined and that of forbs increased. In the short sward patches, dominance of short tussock grasses continued with grazing but in ungrazed plots their abundance declined while that of large tussock grasses increased. The tall grassland patches remained dominated by large and medium tussock species. In Experiment 3 , fire had no effect on species abundance. On the grazed plots the short tussock grasses remained dominant but where the plots were rested from grazing the small tussock grasses declined and the large tussock grasses increased in abundance. The slow and relatively small changes in these experiments over 4 or 5 years showed how stable the composition of these pastures is, and that rapid changes between patch types are unlikely.     

Functional response of a parasitoid Ganaspidium utilis （Hymenoptera： Eucoilidae） on the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii （Diptera： Agromyzidae）

Functional response of a solitary, larval-pupal endoparasitoid of Liriomyza leafminers, Ganaspidium utilis Beardsley, was estimated on Liriomyza trifolii Burgess at three temperatures （17℃, 25℃, 29℃ ） and host densities. A type Ⅱ random parasitoid equation （RPE） was used to estimate instantaneous search rate and handling time. The instantaneous search rate increased as temperature increased. All of the RPE regressions obtained for functional response of G. utilis at different temperatures were significant （P〈0.01）. The slope of RPE regression lines was lower across the temperatures. At 29±2℃, the maximum number of larvae parasitized was 7.8 per day. It decreased to 7.2 larvae parasitized at 25±2℃. At 17±2℃, no significant increment of parasitization was observed due to the host density increments. The estimated handling time was lowest at 17±2℃ and highest at 25 ± 2℃, respectively. The ability of G. utilis to find and parasitize L. trifolii over a wide range of temperatures makes them a good candidate for biological control of Liriomyza leafminers.     

家兔低密度脂蛋白胆固醇增高及同步饮磁处理水时动脉内膜病理学变化的比较研究

目的:观察家兔实验性低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL -c)增高及同步饮磁处理水时动脉内膜病理变化的区别,探讨磁处理水对动脉粥样硬化的预防作用。方法:新西兰雄性大白兔随机分为3组即对照组(NG)、模型组(ASG)和预防组(MWG) ,以高脂饲料复制家兔动脉粥样硬化(AS)模型。MWG家兔喂高脂饲料同步饮磁处理水,分阶段检测各组家兔血浆LDL -c含量并观察其主动脉内膜病理学改变。结果:MWG血浆LDL -c含量明显较ASG降低(P <0 .0 1,MWG主动脉内膜脂质沉积及粥样斑块形成面积较ASG减小(P <0 .0 1,内膜增生程度较ASG减轻(P <0 .0 1)。结论:提示磁处理水在家兔实验性高LDL -c血症及AS的预防中起一定作用。     

Effect of elevated [CO2] on stem wood properties of mature Norway spruce grown at different soil nutrient availability

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of elevated [CO₂] and soil nutrient availability on secondary xylem structure and chemical composition of 41‐year‐old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees. The nonfertilized and irrigated‐fertilized trees were, for 3 years, continuously exposed to elevated [CO₂] in whole‐tree chambers. Elevated [CO₂] decreased concentrations of soluble sugars, acid‐soluble lignin and nitrogen in stem wood, but the effects were not consistent between sampling height and/or fertilization. The effect of 2*ambient [CO₂] on wood structure depended on the exposure year and/or fertilization. Radial lumen diameter decreased and annual ring width increased in the second year of exposure (1999) in elevated [CO₂]. In the latter, the CO₂ effect was significant only in the nonfertilized trees. Stem wood chemistry and structure were significantly affected by fertilization. Fertilization increased the concentrations of nitrogen and gravimetric lignin, annual ring width, and radial lumen diameter. Fertilization decreased C/N ratio, mean ring density, earlywood density, latewood density, cell wall thickness, cell wall index, and latewood percentage. We conclude that elevated [CO₂] had only minor effects on wood properties while fertilization had more marked effects and thus may affect ecosystem processes and suitability of wood for different end‐use purposes.     

Utilization of an unpredictable food source by Melanterius ventralis, a seed-feeding biological control agent of Acacia longifolia in South Africa

A seed-feeding weevil, Melanterius ventralis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has been introduced into South Africa to supplement a gall wasp,Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in the biological control programme against an alien invasive tree, Acacia longifolia (Mimosaceae), from Australia. The gall wasp debilitates most of the flower buds on A. longifolia andreduces seed-set by >95%. The intended rolefor M. ventralis is to destroy theresidual seeds. To achieve this, the gravidfemales need to be able to locate a food sourcethat is both heterogeneously dispersed andfrequently scarce due to damage caused by T.acaciaelongifoliae. Observations showedthat M. ventralis females are meticulousin choosing sites to oviposit so that larvae donot become overcrowded and food limited. Cagetests and field observations revealed thatfemales located pods regardless of density andposition, and that the duration of time spenton branches was proportional to the number ofpods on the branches and to the condition ofpods. The females spent little time onbranches of acacia species other than A.longifolia, but some time was spent onbranches with pods of A. melanoxylon thathad been coated with juice extracted from A.longifolia. All indications are that M.ventralis has the attributes needed to bean excellent supplementary biological controlagent to T. acaciaelongifoliae and theprogress of the weevil continues to be monitored.