中国植物受威胁等级评估系统概述

濒危物种保护是生物多样性保护工作的重要组成部分, 而物种受威胁等级评估则是濒危物种保护的方向指引。经过多年的发展, 物种受威胁等级的评估由定性评估逐渐向定量评估为主、定性评估为辅的方向发展。本文综述了国内植物受威胁等级定量评估系统的研究进展, 同时介绍了国外较为成熟的IUCN红色名录评估系统、CITES评估系统、美国自然保育协会评估系统, 提出未来制定受威胁物种定量评估标准时要兼顾以下方面: (1)等级设置定义要明确、统一且合理; (2)评估标准应该定量化、客观且不冗余; (3)评估系统应该适应不同地理范围, 最好能同时表达出各范围的受威胁等级; (4)评估指标要包含物种动态信息, 能定量分析物种在过去或者未来的变化。此外, 本文认为国内的物种受威胁等级定量评估系统应该形成规范化的大纲, 加大宣传力度, 尽量将理论研究与具体的保护行动结合起来; 同时, 我国还应该采用全球广泛应用的受威胁等级评估系统获取物种受威胁等级, 将国内生物多样性保护工作纳入到全球范围中去。     

基于层次分析法的江苏宁镇山脉乡土树种评价

为了筛选适宜南京地区的优良城市绿化树种,在野外调查和问卷调查的基础上,利用层次分析法(AHP)建立江苏宁镇山脉乡土树种评价体系,对该区域的乡土树种进行客观的定量分析。结果表明:(1)乡土树种作为城市绿化树种应首先考虑抗逆性,其次是生态价值、美学价值和生物学特性;(2)参与评价的41种宁镇山脉乡土树种可分为4类,其中I类乡土树种应大力推广应用,Ⅱ类乡土树种可作为森林城市树种多样性的有益补充,Ⅲ类和Ⅳ类乡土树种作为城市绿化树种仍有一定的差距。13种Ⅰ类乡土树种作为城市绿化树种具有良好的应用前景。     

基于层次分析法的旗舰物种遴选方法

旗舰物种是保护生物学中一个广泛应用的概念, 用于获得公众对保护行为的支持, 在生物多样性保护领域发挥着重要作用。但目前尚未见量化分析遴选和确定旗舰物种的公开报道, 致使学术界对旗舰物种的定义和使用相对主观, 缺乏科学依据。本文对旗舰物种的定义进行了梳理, 探讨了旗舰物种的内涵, 确定了旗舰物种的属性, 制定了遴选标准和量化遴选方法, 以便读者更好地理解和运用这一概念。目前旗舰物种的定义仍然局限在其社会学属性, 作者建议今后应加强其生物生态学属性。作者认为除了公众的关注度和认可度之外, 旗舰物种还应具备以下3个生态生物学和社会文化特征: (1)物种在当地的濒危程度及生存现状; (2)物种在当地生态系统中的重要性; (3)物种在当地民众中的影响力和认可度。基于此, 本文确定了表征旗舰物种社会文化属性和生态生物学属性的8个要素, 基于层次分析法提出了一种量化的旗舰物种遴选方法。该方法综合上述8个要素进行评判和计算分值, 以塔吉克斯坦境内分布的14种大型濒危哺乳动物的生态生物学属性和社会文化影响力为基础, 描述基于层次分析法遴选塔吉克斯坦哺乳类旗舰物种的方法和过程, 最终依据每个备选物种所得分值高低排序, 得到塔吉克斯坦旗舰物种的优先备选物种。本文首次提出了一种量化遴选旗舰物种的方法, 期望今后可基于该方法开发更加合理的旗舰物种遴选模型和算法。     

基于层次分析法对白垩纪短脉螽科昆虫后足胫节端距的游泳能力检测

短脉螽科是直翅目昆虫的一个中生代灭绝类群,其最重要特征之一是后足胫节末端具有3—4根较长的距,可以分为长刺状、棒状和叶状等3种类型。在假设短脉螽科具有游泳能力条件下,利用层次分析法(Analytic Hierarchy Process,AHP)探讨短脉螽不同后足胫节端距类型对游泳能力的贡献。分析表明短脉螽科昆虫中,具有叶状端距的类型更有利于提高该类昆虫的游泳能力。短脉螽科昆虫后足端距的高分异度,表明该科昆虫在白垩纪的近水环境不同生态位中均具有较好的适应性。     

Behavioural and chemical mechanisms behind a Mediterranean ant–ant association

1. Interspecific competition among ants is common, and so is competitive exclusion among dominant ant species. In contrast, specific associations between non‐parasitic ant species are rare, especially in the temperate zones. As an exception, the subordinate ant Camponotus lateralis frequently co‐occurs with the dominant Crematogaster scutellaris but rarely with other dominant ants. 2. This association is one of various associations between Camponotus and Crematogaster species across the world. However, the mechanisms behind these co‐occurences are largely unknown. 3. In the present study, we therefore investigated the association of Ca. lateralis and Cr. scutellaris. We studied the spatial association of the nests, interspecific aggression, both species' cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, and their propensity to follow the other species' pheromone trails. 4. Crematogaster scutellaris usually attacked and displaced the generally submissive Ca. lateralis, but was significantly less aggressive at jointly used trails. Camponotus nests were always in close proximity to Crematogaster nests. 5. The cuticular hydrocarbons of both species consisted of alkanes with chain lengths between C21 and C35. The two species had 25 hydrocarbons in common, including mono‐, di‐, and tetramethyl alkanes. Despite this qualitative similarity, however, the quantitative hydrocarbon composition differed between the two species. 6. Camponotus lateralis followed artificial trails containing trail pheromones of Cr. scutellaris, but the latter did not follow Ca. lateralis trail pheromones. Interspecific trail‐following by Camponotus, but not vice versa, has been observed in another Camponotus–Crematogaster association and may be a more general mechanism that facilitates associations between the two ant genera.     

Changes in ranging and agonistic behavior of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) after predator‐induced group fusion

Socio‐ecological theory predicts that group fusion in female‐philopatric primate species will be rare because females experience increased costs by associating with non‐relatives. Indeed, fusion has been reported only 14 times in only 4 female‐philopatric cercopithecines despite many years of observation. Here, we describe changes in ranging and agonistic behavior of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) after the fusion of two groups, the sole group fusion during 11 years of observation, induced by a brief but intense period of apparent leopard predation. Before fusion, both groups made few incursions into the other group's territory and spent most of the time in their own territories. After the fusion, the amalgamated group shifted its activities and used both territories in similar proportion. Rates of female agonism increased after fusion, particularly in the 2 weeks following fusion, and the small group females assumed the lowest ranks in the female dominance hierarchy. Rates of agonism returned to prefusion rates a month later. Although rates of high‐intensity interactions (i.e., chases) did not increase after fusion, small group females were more likely to be the recipients of, and lose, agonistic interactions than large group females; a small group female and her infant were attacked and wounded by a coalition of large group females shortly after the fusion. The observations presented here reveal that the circumstances surrounding group fusions are more variable than previously realized, but are still in accordance with expectations from socio‐ecological theory that predation can favor the formation of larger groups. In this case, under threat of severe predation, individuals may have surrendered group autonomy for the greater security of larger numbers. Am. J. Primatol. 72:634–644, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The individuality of mice

Mutant mice simulating human CNS disorders are used as models for therapeutic drug development. Drug evaluation requires a coherent correlation between behavioral phenotype and drug status. Variations in behavioral responses could mask such correlations, a problem highlighted by the three-site studies of Crabbe et al. (1999) and Wahlsten et al. (2003a). Factors contributing to variation are considered, focusing on differences between individual animals. Genetic differences due to minisatellite variation suggest that each mouse is genetically distinct. Effects during gestation, including maternal stress, influence later life behavior; while endocrine exchanges between fetus and parent, and between male and female fetuses dependent on intrauterine position, also contribute. Pre and perinatal nutrition and maternal attention also play a role. In adults, endocrine cyclicity in females is a recognized source of behavioral diversity. Notably, there is increasing recognition that groups of wild and laboratory mice have complex social structures, illustrated through consideration of Crowcroft (1966). Dominance status can markedly modify behavior in test paradigms addressing anxiety, locomotion and aggressiveness, to an extent comparable to mutation or drug status. Understanding how such effects amplify the behavioral spectrum displayed by otherwise identical animals will improve testing.     

A review of criticisms of phylogenetic nomenclature: is taxonomic freedom the fundamental issue?

The proposal to implement a phylogenetic nomenclatural system governed by the PhyloCode), in which taxon names are defined by explicit reference to common descent, has met with strong criticism from some proponents of phylogenetic taxonomy (taxonomy based on the principle of common descent in which only clades and species are recognized). We examine these criticisms and find that some of the perceived problems with phylogenetic nomenclature are based on misconceptions, some are equally true of the current rank-based nomenclatural system, and some will be eliminated by implementation of the PhyloCode. Most of the criticisms are related to an overriding concern that, because the meanings of names are associated with phylogenetic pattern which is subject to change, the adoption of phylogenetic nomenclature will lead to increased instability in the content of taxa. This concern is associated with the fact that, despite the widespread adoption of the view that taxa are historical entities that are conceptualized based on ancestry, many taxonomists also conceptualize taxa based on their content. As a result, critics of phylogenetic nomenclature have argued that taxonomists should be free to emend the content of taxa without constraints imposed by nomenclatural decisions. However, in phylogenetic nomenclature the contents of taxa are determined, not by the taxonomist, but by the combination of the phylogenetic definition of the name and a phylogenetic hypothesis. Because the contents of taxa, once their names are defined, can no longer be freely modified by taxonomists, phylogenetic nomenclature is perceived as limiting taxonomic freedom. We argue that the form of taxonomic freedom inherent to phylogenetic nomenclature is appropriate to phylogenetic taxonomy in which taxa are considered historical entities that are discovered through phylogenetic analysis and are not human constructs.