Species Traits as Practical Tools for Ecological Restoration of Marly Eroded Lands

Plant functional traits are increasingly used in restoration ecology because they have the potential to guide restoration practices at a broad scale. This article presents a trait‐based multi‐criteria framework to evaluate and predict the performance of 17 plant seedlings to improve ecological restoration of marly eroded areas in the French Southern Alps. The suitability of these species to limit soil erosion was assessed by studying both their response to erosive forces and their effect on erosion dynamics. We assumed that species efficiency could be explained and predicted from plant traits and we looked for trait‐performance relationships. Our results showed that root slenderness ratio, the percentage of fine roots and root system topology, were the three root morphology traits best describing anchorage strength. Root system characterized by a long and thin tap root and many fine lateral ramifications would be the best to resist concentrated runoff. Species response to burial mainly depended on growth form and morphological flexibility. The abilities of species in reinforcing the soil and reducing erosion rates were negatively correlated to root diameter and positively to the percentage of fine roots. Moreover, root system density and root tensile strength also influenced root reinforcement. Finally, the ability to trap sediment was positively correlated to leaf area and canopy density. Species were then scored and classified in four clusters according to their global performance. This method allows identifying species that possess both response and effect traits related to the goal of preventing erosion during ecological restoration.     

Barred owl occupancy surveys within the range of the northern spotted owl

The range expansion by barred owls (Strix varia) into western North America has raised considerable concern regarding their potential effects on declining northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) populations, yet most information on the occurrence of barred owls in the region is limited to incidental detections during surveys for spotted owls. To address this shortcoming we investigated response behavior, detection probabilities, and landscape occupancy patterns of barred owls in western Oregon, USA, during conspecific versus spotted owl call-broadcast surveys. Subtle differences in barred owl response behavior to conspecific versus spotted owl vocalizations combined with minor procedural differences between species-specific survey protocols led to a sizeable difference in estimated detection probabilities during conspecific (0.66, 95% CI = 0.61–0.71) versus spotted owl (0.48, 95% CI = 0.39–0.56) surveys. We identified 61 territorial pairs of barred owls during repeated surveys of a multi-ownership study area with the probability of occupancy being highest in the structurally diverse mixture of mature and old forests that occurred almost entirely on public lands. Our findings suggest that research and management strategies to address potential competitive interactions between spotted owls and barred owls will require carefully designed, species-specific survey methods that account for erratic response behaviors and imperfect detection of both species. Our sampling methods can be used by forest managers to determine the occurrence and distribution of barred owls with high confidence. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Chimaerism detection in bovine twins,triplets and quadruplets using sex chromosome‐linked markers

The phenomenon of chimaerism occurs in the majority of cattle twin pregnancies. The objectives of this study were to develop a powerful diagnostic test for chimaerism in bovine male and female co‐twins using X and Y chromosome‐linked markers and to determine the extent of chimaerism in twins, triplets and quadruplets. We developed a multiplex PCR set of three polymorphic markers on chromosome X (DIK2865, DIK2283, AGLA257), where the presence of >1 and >2 alleles per marker is sufficient to prove chimaerism in males and females, respectively. In addition, a specific segment on chromosome Y (BOV97M) is included in the set to indicate chimaerism in females. Visualization of chimaeric alleles was best for DNA extracted from blood, fair for DNA from vaginal smears and failed for DNA extracted from hair. The power of chimaerism identification using this set of markers for DNA extracted from blood was calculated as 99% in males and virtually 100% in females. All females and males in heterosexual twins, triplets and quadruplets displayed evidence of a chimaeric allele in at least one and maximum of three of three X chromosome markers analysed. In addition, all females showed the presence of the BOV97M segment and were validated as chimaeric by the standard clinical diagnosis of impaired vaginal length. Quantitative PCR analysis of BOV97M copies in all twins vs. their sires showed a mean ratio of 45–68% in females and 39–49% in males, indicating a substantial symmetrical exchange of cells among all co‐twins. The proposed analysis of X and Y chromosome‐linked markers is advantageous to previous methods based on Y chromosome sequences only, because it detects chimaerism in both male and female co‐twins.     

Understorey plant community assemblage of Australian Eucalyptus woodlands under elevated CO2 is modulated by water and phosphorus availability

水分和磷调控的澳大利亚桉树林林下植物群落组合对二氧化碳浓度升高的响应 鉴于林下植物群落具有的关键性功能作用和全球范围内巨大的森林覆盖面积,研究林下群落对 CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)的响应以及土壤资源在这些响应中的作用,对于了解CO₂浓度升高对森林生态系统造成的影响非常重要。本研究评估了在澳大利亚东部磷有限的桉树林林下群落中,两种限制性的资源(即水分和磷)在发芽、物候、覆盖率、群落组成和叶片性状等方面对eCO₂响应的作用。我们收集了含有当地土壤种子库的土壤,在温室条件下种植实验性的林下植物群落。研究结果表明,添加磷提高了植物的总体覆盖率,特别是在生长期的最初4 周以及水分含量高的条件下,而且该响应是由植物群落中的类禾本科植物所驱动。然而,随着实验的进行,不同处理方法之间的差异逐渐减小,所有处理在大约11周后均达到了80%左右的植物覆盖率。相反,植物覆盖率并未受到eCO₂ 的影响。多元分析结果反映出植物群落组成随时间的变化,盆栽从以裸土为主变为以高覆盖率的多样化群落为主。但是在实验过程中,磷的添加以及水分可利用性和CO₂之间的相互作用都对植物群落随时间的变化轨迹有所影响。CO₂浓度的升高也增加了群落水平的比叶面积,这表明植物群落对eCO₂的功能适应可能发生在成分响应开始之前。鉴于我们用种子库培育的林下群落对eCO₂ 的响应随着时间的推移而有 所变化,并且受到与磷和水分可利用性的相互作用的调节。我们的结果表明,在水分含量有限的系统中, 特别是在土壤养分可利用性低所导致的生产力响应受限的情况下,CO₂浓度的升高在塑造植物群落方面作用有限。     

食块茎水鸟及水位对沙湖沉水植物冬芽分布的影响

分别于2012—2013、2013—2014年度越冬期候鸟越冬前(10月份)与越冬后(4月份)采用样方法调查沙湖沉水植物冬芽的种类、密度及生物量,分析不同水位条件的2个年度鄱阳湖碟形子湖沉水植物冬芽的分布及其对食块茎水鸟食物贡献的差异性,探讨越冬水鸟取食与水位变化对沉水植物冬芽分布的影响。结果表明:刺苦草(Vallisneria spinulosa)和罗氏轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata var.rosburghii)2种沉水植物的冬芽同域分布。2013年10月2种植物冬芽的密度与生物量均显著低于2012年同期,主要原因是鄱阳湖水位年际间变化剧烈,并对水质有显著影响:与2012年相比,2013年丰水期(4—9月)沙湖与主湖区连通的时间和日平均水深显著减小,但水体浊度显著增加,不利于沉水植物生长发育。2012—2013年度越冬水鸟迁出后2种冬芽的密度和生物量均明显下降,而2013—2014年度越冬期水鸟迁出后与迁入前相比两种植物冬芽的密度和生物量均无显著变化,很可能与食块茎水鸟的取食活动和高水位对食物可利用性的负面影响有密切关系。湖泊剧烈的水位变化导致越冬水鸟的食源具有年际波动的特征,而食块茎水鸟对鄱阳湖子湖的食物利用率受越冬季冬芽丰富度和食物可及性(accessibility)的共同影响。研究结果对鄱阳湖乃至长江中下游流域沉水植被恢复、越冬水鸟保护以及生态系统功能评估具有指导意义。     

Risk Assessment of the Abandoned Jukjeon Metal Mine in South Korea Following the Korean Guidelines

Toxic metal contamination in the vicinity of Korean abandoned metal mines has been reported. A risk assessment for these metals was performed for the inhabitants in the area of the abandoned Jukjeon metal mine. Soil, groundwater, and crop samples were collected around the mine. After pretreatment of these samples, metal concentrations were measured and then a risk assessment was performed using the Korean soil-contamination risk assessment guidelines. Phytoaccumulation of metals in crops was observed in soybeans (As and Zn), red peppers (Zn), sweet potatoes (As and Zn), and cabbage (Cu), which had higher metal concentrations than soils in the area. The metal intake rate was highest for inhalation of soil. Cancer risk was highest from ingestion of As-contaminated crops. The sum of carcinogenic risks was 6.29 × 10^–3. The non-carcinogenic risk was highest for ingestion of As-contaminated crops (8.17). Most of the risks were attributable to As, Pb, and Hg contamination, therefore these three metals must be considered as the principal metals toxic to human health in the sampled area. In particular, the inhalation of metal-contaminated soil should be considered for risk assessment along with ingestion of water and crops in abandoned mine areas.     

土壤因子对府谷清水川流域砒砂岩区刺槐和沙棘AMF的影响

应用相关性分析和通径分析研究了府谷清水川流域砒砂岩区土壤因子对刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)和沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides)根际丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的影响.结果表明:AMF可以与刺槐和沙棘形成良好的共生关系;从两种植物根际土中共分离鉴定出AMF 13种,其中摩西囊霉(Glomus mosseae)、地球囊霉(Glomus geospo-rum)和缩球囊霉(Glomus constrictum)为优势种;AMF平均侵染率为90.6%,平均孢子密度为559.1个?100 g-1干土;AMF的孢子密度、侵染率和种类之间没有显著的相关性;刺槐和沙棘根际AMF侵染率均与pH呈显著正相关,在刺槐根际,pH和有效氮通过直接作用影响侵染率,有机质和有效磷通过间接作用影响侵染率;在沙棘根际,pH和有效磷通过直接作用影响侵染率,有机质和有效氮通过间接作用影响侵染率;在沙棘根际,有机质和pH主要是通过直接作用影响AMF种类,有效氮主要通过有效磷的间接作用影响AMF种类.