Little shrimp left on the shelf: the roles that sea‐level change,ocean currents and continental shelf width play in the genetic connectivity of a seagrass‐associated species

Aim Caridean shrimp are diverse and abundant inhabitants of seagrass beds. Anthropogenic disturbances have already reduced and fragmented seagrass habitat, and the rate of change is likely to increase in the future. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to build a basis of understanding of connectivity among populations of seagrass‐associated fauna. Phycomenes zostericola is closely associated with seagrass and makes an ideal study species with which to explore patterns of connectivity and the influence of biogeographic boundaries and historical sea‐level changes on seagrass‐associated species. We hypothesized that strong currents and the high potential of P. zostericola for dispersal and adult movement would result, for the most part, in panmixia. We also hypothesized that if structure was evident, it would occur close to known biogeographic boundaries in Queensland. Location Phycomenes zostericola is an abundant shrimp species distributed throughout Queensland’s seagrass habitats. Nineteen seagrass sites from the Torres Strait Islands and Queensland coastlines were sampled. Methods Molecular sequence data for a 590 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was analysed for 279 specimens of P. zostericola. Phylogeographic patterns were analysed using nested clade phylogeographic analysis (NCPA); an isolation‐by‐distance effect was tested using a Mantel test; the effect of biogeographic boundaries was tested using an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), and also a spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA); demographic expansions were tested for using Tajima’s D, Fu’s F_S and timing estimated using mismatch analysis; the timing of vicariant events was estimated using coalescent analysis (im program). Results Contrary to our original hypothesis, the strong marine currents are not a connective influence among populations of P. zostericola. Regional genetic structure and an isolation‐by‐distance effect are enhanced by existing coastal biogeographic boundaries. Population genetic structure and demographic history are intricately linked to the effects of a tumultuous Pleistocene sea‐level history on the Queensland continental shelf. Main conclusions Connectivity diminishes among populations of P. zostericola over scales larger than a few hundred kilometres. As seagrass habitats world‐wide become increasingly fragmented, low levels of connectivity will result in an isolated future for P. zostericola and other species reliant on seagrass as habitat.     

乡镇耕地整理对耕地景观破碎度的影响研究

耕地整理是社会经济发展到一定阶段,对耕地利用由粗放型向集约型转变的客观要求,是当前和今后相当长时期我国土地整理的主要内容.全国各地尤其是经济发达地区的耕地整理工作开展迅速,但由于目前我国耕地整理尚处于初级阶段,大多数地区耕地整理的主要目标和基本动力仍是增加耕地数量,实践中往往偏重耕地整理的经济效益,而耕地景观保护则未引起足够重视.本文以桐乡市3个乡镇为研究对象,以土地生产率、土地利用率和投资能力作为评价因素,采用综合评分法对耕地整理强度进行分级;在ARCINFO 和ERDAS地理信息系统软件支持下,运用景观破碎度指数、斑块数量、斑块密度等分析了耕地整理对耕地景观破碎度的影响及景观破碎度和整理强度的相互关系.结果表明,耕地整理使得耕地景观破碎度升高,耕地被分割、破碎的程度加剧;随着整理强度的增加,耕地景观破碎化程度相应增加.因此,在开展耕地整理时,必须遵循可持续发展的基本原理,注重耕地景观保护,朝着生态环境保育型土地整理方向发展.     

千岛湖岛屿化对植物多样性的影响初探

选取千岛湖典型破碎化区域,研究了水库形成后引起的岛屿化对植物物种多样性的影响.在18个大中小型岛屿和一处陆地对照中设立了26个样方,调查乔木和灌木的种类和数量.乔木物种丰富度的单因素方差分析显示:F=13.0,P=0.000,说明各类岛屿间乔木物种差异极显著.多重比较发现大岛上乔木物种丰富度显著高于小岛和中岛,与对照陆地差别不大;灌木的分析显示:F=1.31,P=0.29,说明小、中、大岛和对照陆地灌木物种丰富度差异不显著.Spearman相关性分析显示乔木物种与岛屿面积显著相关,随岛屿面积增大而增加,而灌木物种相关性不显著.Shannon多样性指数分析表明,无论乔木还是灌木其多样性都是大岛最大,陆地次之,而小岛上灌木多样性指数大于中岛.Simpson优势度和Pielou均匀度分析显示,乔木样地中大岛的物种分布均匀性最好,优势种的优势度最低,而灌木样地中小岛的均匀度最高,优势种的优势度最不明显.     

陕北黄土高原景观破碎化的时空动态研究

景观破碎化受到自然环境背景及社会经济活动的影响,并限制区域发展.为揭示景观破碎化的时空变化特征,整合了MODIS(中分辨率成像光谱仪)影像逐旬数据与多时段景观类型数据,并对其进行了分析.比较1987～2002年景观破碎化的年际差异表明,陕北黄土高原的景观破碎化过程较缓慢,但具有区域差异,且与景观类型组成息息相关.结果表明,林地的破碎化水平变化显著,而农、草地的破碎化水平变化相对缓慢.年际变化分析有助于说明区域景观破碎化的趋势,而年内季节变化则能帮助认识景观破碎化过程的周期规律.     

Geographic patterns of genetic diversity in Poulsenia armata (Moraceae): implications for the theory of Pleistocene refugia and the importance of riparian forest

Abstract. Tropical forests are species-diverse communities, but we know very little about the geographical distribution of genetic diversity within a species. During the late Pleistocene, lower temperatures and rainfall reduced the distribution of tropical wet forests, and in Central America lowland species may have been limited to riparian habitats. Approximately 12,000 years bp , temperature and rainfall increased in Central America, the distribution of wet forest species expanded, and today the distribution of some species extends into southern Mexico. The distribution of genetic diversity, based on RAPD markers, among ten populations of Poulsenia armata (Miq.) Standl. (Moraceae) suggests that these populations did not originate from a single refugium or region in the late Pleistocene. The Central American populations had high genetic diversity and unique bands giving support to the hypothesis that populations of P. armata occurred in Central American during the late Pleistocene. The majority of genetic diversity was partitioned among populations and there was no geographical relationship among populations, suggesting that these populations were isolated for a long period and there has been little gene flow. Populations of P. armata may have persisted in riparian zones along the Caribbean coast during the late Pleistocene. Given that riparian forest can support high levels of biodiversity in ecological time, and they have played an important role during periods of climate change over geological time, their conservation is of utmost importance particularly with the threat of a rapid shift in climatic patterns.