Establishment of the biological control agent Hypocosmia pyrochroma for Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) is limited by microclimate

Cat's claw creeper, Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae), a perennial woody vine native to tropical America, is a target for biological control in Australia and South Africa. The cat's claw creeper leaf-tying moth Hypocosmia pyrochroma (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from tropical South America was released as a biological control agent for cat's claw creeper in Australia from 2007 to 2010. A total of 2,277 adults, 837 pupae and 77,250 larvae were released at 40 sites in Queensland and New South Wales. Releases were made mostly in open fields (85%), and at limited sites (15%) in insect-proof cages erected over naturally occurring cat's claw creeper infestations in the field. Sampling was conducted annually in spring and autumn to monitor the establishment and dispersal of H. pyrochroma. Establishment of H. pyrochroma was first noticed in 2012 at three release sites and since then the number of established sites has increased to 80 in 2020. Establishment was evident on both ‘short-pod’ and ‘long-pod’ forms of cat's claw creeper and was more widespread in sites where releases were made within insect-proof field cages (50%) than in sites with open field releases (9%). The moth was active from late spring to late autumn with peak larval activity in late summer. To date, all field establishments have been in areas predicted by a CLIMEX model as climatically suitable but restricted mostly to riparian environment (93% of establishment), where the moth has continued to spread from 1.5 to 23 km from release sites. In contrast, there is the only limited establishment and spread in non-riparian corridors, highlighting the role of microclimate (riparian) as a limiting factor for establishment and spread. Future efforts will focus on redistribution of the agent to river/creek systems where the moth is currently not present.     

青海东部人工生态公益林近自然经营的林分结构调整

依据研究区5种典型人工林近自然状况,以人工生态公益林的近自然经营管理为目标,提出林分结构调整策略与方法。主要从林分结构、物种组成、年龄及枯死木几个方面考虑选取了垂直结构、水平结构、草本盖度及其多样性、天然更新、物种多样性、组成系数、直径分布、枯木比例、健康木比例10个指标,应用基于单位圆的π值法则,采取定性与定量相结合的方法,对5种林分的近自然状态做出评价并依据评价结果提出相应改造措施。青海云杉-白桦混交林（ω_PB=0.4786）属于远近自然林分,此类林分在密度合理的情况下无需过多人为抚育;青杨-白桦混交林（ω_BP=0.2664）属于近人工林,此类林分以伐除病虫害严重的青杨、调整密度和补植青海云杉为主;青海云杉-青杨混交林（ω_PP=0.2283）属于近人工林,此类林分以伐除病虫害严重的青杨、调整密度和补植白桦为主;青海云杉-落叶松混交林（ω_PL=0.1872）属于人工林,此类林分以调整密度和补植白桦为主;青海云杉纯林（ω_P=0.0190）属于人工林,此类林分以调整密度和营造杉桦混交林为主。通过近自然度评价与分析,为当地近自然经营提供了直观可靠的依据。在进行林分结构调整时,首先通过伐除干扰木来调整林分密度,其次要营造针阔混交林分,其中以青海云杉和白桦混交林为主要目标林分。     

Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Nest-Site Selection and Success in Restored and Natural Riparian Forests

The western distinct population segment of yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; western cuckoo) has been extirpated from most of its former breeding range in the United States because of widespread loss and degradation of riparian cottonwood (Populus spp.)-willow (Salix spp.) forests. Restoration and management of breeding habitat is important to the recovery of this federally threatened species, and identification of high-quality breeding habitat can help improve the success of recovery. In 2005, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, a long-term, multi-agency effort, was initiated to maintain and create wildlife habitat within the historical floodplain of the lower Colorado River (LCR) for federally endangered and threatened species, including western cuckoos. We conducted an empirical, multi-scale field investigation from 2008–2012 to identify habitat characteristics selected by nesting western cuckoos along the LCR. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that western cuckoos selected nest sites characterized by increased densities of small, native, early successional trees measuring 8–23 cm diameter at breast height, and lower diurnal temperature compared to available habitat in restoration and natural forests. Nesting cuckoos selected sites with increased percent canopy closure, which was also important for nest success in restoration sites along the LCR. Our results show habitat components selected by nesting western cuckoos in restoration and natural riparian forests and can help guide the creation, enhancement, and management of riparian forests with habitat conditions necessary to promote nesting of western cuckoos. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

中条山油松人工林下物种对群落物种丰富度分布格局的贡献

该研究以中条山油松人工林群落为研究对象,研究林下不同大小的子群落对群落物种丰富度分布格局的贡献,并确定影响该区域群落物种丰富度分布格局的关键种,为区域物种多样性保护提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)该地区林下物种频度分布格局呈明显右偏,且不同样方物种丰富度存在明显差异。(2)常见种对群落丰富度分布格局的贡献大于稀有种。(3)最常见的物种解释了整个群落物种丰富度格局的88.4%(P0.01),而最稀有物种仅解释了24.5%(P0.05),去除最稀有物种后,最常见物种可以解释剩余物种的90.8%(P0.01),而去除最常见物种后,最稀有物种仅能解释剩余物种的48.6%(P0.01)。(4)当子群落中常见种越多时,子群落与整个群落的丰富度分布格局相关性越高。(5)连翘(Forsythia suspensa)、太平花(Philadelphus pekinensis)、鞘柄菝葜(Smilax stans)、多歧沙参(Adenophora wawreana)、金花忍冬(Lonicera chrysantha)等对群落物种丰富度分布格局的贡献最大,但并非越常见的物种对群落丰富度格局贡献越大。(6)与频度较高物种的种间关联度低的物种对于群落物种的分布格局贡献较大,但此解释并不适用于稀有种。研究发现,稀有种对中条山油松人工林群落物种丰富度分布格局存在较大的贡献,所以在油松人工林物种多样性保护过程中并不能只关注常见种而忽视稀有种。     

氮沉降和施生物质炭对毛竹林土壤N2O通量的影响

本研究于2019年7月—2020年7月在浙江省杭州市典型毛竹林布置野外控制实验,采用静态箱-气相色谱法测定毛竹林土壤N₂O通量,分析生物质炭(10 t·hm^-2)、氮沉降(60 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)、生物质炭+氮沉降混合处理对土壤N₂O通量的影响,并探讨了土壤N₂O通量与环境因子的关系。结果表明: 与对照相比,氮沉降处理使毛竹林土壤N₂O年累积排放量增加了14.6%,而施用生物质炭及其与氮沉降混合处理则分别降低了20.8%和10.6%。相关分析表明,在所有处理下,毛竹林土壤N₂O排放速率与土壤温度、硝态氮含量、脲酶和蛋白酶活性之间均呈极显著相关,与土壤铵态氮含量均呈显著相关。在氮沉降背景下,施用生物质炭对毛竹林土壤N₂O通量仍具有显著的减排效应。     

南亚热带马尾松-红椎混交林及其纯林土壤细菌群落结构与功能

营建乡土阔叶树种人工纯林和针阔混交林是我国亚热带地区森林经营的发展趋势,但对人工纯林和针阔混交林土壤细菌群落结构及功能知之甚少。本研究以南亚热带乡土针叶树种马尾松、阔叶树种红椎人工纯林及二者的混交林为对象,运用细菌16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术和PICRUSt基因功能预测,分析了3种人工林不同土层(0～20、20～40和40～60 cm)土壤细菌群落的结构与功能。结果表明: 混交林和马尾松林土壤细菌群落结构相似,但与红椎林差异显著,红椎林土壤细菌群落多样性、生物通路代谢功能和氮循环功能低于马尾松林和混交林;土壤全氮、硝态氮和C/N是导致红椎林与马尾松林和混交林土壤细菌群落结构及功能差异的主要土壤理化因子。就土壤细菌群落结构与功能而言,在该地区营造红椎和马尾松针阔混交林要优于红椎纯林。     

不同林龄桉树人工林林下物种多样性和生物量的动态变化

采用空间代替时间法和典型抽样法,以四川省威远县桉树(Eucalyptus robusta)人工林为研究对象,综合分析其林下植被物种组成及重要值、灌木层和草本层地上、地下和全株生物量以及物种多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H、Simpson优势度指数H′、丰富度指数D和Pielou均匀度指数JSW),探究林下植被的物种多样性和生物量在5个不同林龄(4,5,6,7,8年生)下的动态变化及二者之间的相关性。结果表明:调查到植物共有210种,隶属79科151属,草本层物种数多于灌木层。草本层的五节芒(Miscanthus floridulus)、芒萁(Dicranop?teris pedata)和灌木层的野牡丹(Melastoma malabathricum)、戟叶悬钩子(Rubus hastifolius)在不同林龄下都占据主要优势地位。随着林龄的增大,郁闭度加大,灌木层的D、H和H′值均表现为先增后减的规律;草本层D、H和H′值均呈先增后减再增再减的双峰趋势。草本层各生物量呈先增后减再增的变化趋势;灌木层各生物量呈先增后减的变化趋势。物种多样性与生物量呈显著正相关,草本层的D、H指数是影响生物量的直接因子。桉树人工林林下植被物种分布、组成、物种多样性和生物量对林龄变化的响应不同,表现为不同的动态特征规律,相关结果为我国西南地区桉树林管理提供了数据支撑。     

不同管理模式对茶树碳氮磷含量及其生态化学计量比的影响

植物不同器官的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其生态化学计量特征能够反映植物内部的养分分配与平衡关系。该研究以福建安溪3种不同管理模式的铁观音茶园为研究对象, 设置了常规管理模式下的茶园(M1)、间作套种模式下的茶园(M2)和现代技术管理模式下的茶园(M3) 3种样地, 分析茶树根、茎、叶器官的C、N、P含量及其化学计量学特征, 养分的变异特征与异速生长关系。结果表明: M2和M3管理模式下茶树根、茎、叶N、P含量均显著高于M1管理模式, C含量差异不明显; 茶树根、茎、叶C:N、C:P、N:P均表现为M1 > M2 > M3。茶树不同器官C、N、P含量差异较大, 根据变异来源分析, 管理模式因素对C、N、P含量变异的影响均达到显著水平。根茎叶N-P的异速生长关系表明茶树不同器官的养分需求存在相似性; 土壤pH和容重是影响C:N、C:P、N:P的重要因素, 而土壤含水量和盐度对茶树根和叶C含量的影响较大。总体来讲, 间作套种以及现代化滴灌、水肥等管理模式可以改善茶树对养分的吸收效率, 对解决土壤养分不均衡问题具有正面效应。     

Artificial Spawning Habitats Improve Egg Production of a Declining Diadromous Fish,Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842)

Anthropogenic impacts from urbanization, deforestation, and agriculture have degraded the riparian margins of waterways worldwide. In New Zealand, such impacts have caused changes in native vegetation, enhanced invasion by exotic grasses, and altered river bank morphology. One consequence has been a great reduction in obligate spawning habitat of a diadromous fish, Galaxias maculatus. Juvenile G. maculatus comprise a culturally important fishery that has been considerably reduced over recent decades. Rehabilitation of riparian vegetation needed for spawning is relatively straightforward, but slow. We hypothesized that artificial spawning habitats could accelerate restoration of fish egg production by creating an environment that would support at least the same density and survival of eggs as non‐impacted vegetation. We tested three artificial devices (straw bales, straw tubes, and moss tubes) in degraded and intact sites. Eggs were laid in all of these with numbers and survival usually exceeding that in riparian grasses. Where habitat was degraded, artificial spawning habitats yielded up to 10,000 eggs compared to none in nearby natural spawning habitat. The ground‐level environment of artificial habitat was similar to that of intact vegetation in buffering ambient temperature and humidity fluctuations. Crucial properties of the artificial habitats were (1) shelter to provide shade and hold moisture; (2) accessibility to allow adult fish to deposit and fertilize eggs; and (3) robustness to provide reliable surfaces and protection for the eggs during their development. We show that artificial spawning habitats are a viable short‐term alternative to rehabilitating spawning habitat while legacy effects abate and riparian vegetation recovers.     

Growth Response of Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) Cuttings in Relation to Alluvial Soil Texture and Water Availability

A common approach to re‐establishing cottonwood–willow habitat along regulated rivers is through installing dormant, rootless cuttings, yet there is little published information exploring floodplain characteristics that optimize growth of southwestern riparian willows planted in this manner. The goal of this project was to evaluate relationships between growth attributes of Salix exigua and soil texture and soil water availability. Monitoring plots were established in five willow swales planted with dormant S. exigua cuttings along the banks of the Middle Rio Grande in central New Mexico. Data analysis revealed significantly higher aerial cover, height, and stem density for S. exigua plants installed in plots with intermediate levels (15–25%) of fine textured soils distributed through the soil profile. Similar relationships were found in relation to soil water availability. Regression analysis of percent fines and available water at different depth increments provided limited explanation of variability in willow growth attributes at different plots. Findings indicate that S. exigua plants established from cuttings can achieve heights and aerial cover values similar to naturally established willow bars if the floodplain soil profile contains intermediate levels of fine textured soils and the maximum depth to groundwater is within 1.5 m of the ground surface. Where sites are dominated by coarse sand, S. exigua growth may be improved if maximum depth to groundwater is within 1 m of the ground surface.