Emergence and Composition of Trichoptera from Karst Habitats,Plitvice Lakes Region,Croatia

Adult Trichoptera were observed at the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia during two years (2000 and 2001) using pyramid‐type emergence traps. A total of 1350 individuals and 37 species were collected. Throughout the study, the emergence patterns showed only minor variations regarding differences in particular habitats. During 2000 most species emerged in June, and in 2001 in May. The complete emergence period is shown for all collected species and studied in detail for abundant species. Excluding Allogamus uncatus, all abundant species emerged in summer, with most exhibiting a long emergence period. Rhyacophila fasciata had the longest emergence period in both years of the study and also showed winter activity. Trichopteran diversity and equitability were calculated and trophic relationships of the collected species were identified for each sampling site in order to obtain better insight into trichopteran community structure. Results indicated that the trichopteran community could be grouped according to travertine barriers and stream habitat types. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

食微线虫对植物生长及土壤养分循环的影响

近二十多年来, 土壤动物的生态功能受到广泛重视。越来越多的证据表明, 土壤动物和微生物间的相互作用对土壤生态系统过程和植物生长起着重要的调节作用。本文综述了食细菌线虫和食真菌线虫对土壤微生物、土壤氮矿化和植物生长的影响。大量研究发现, 食细菌线虫和食真菌线虫都有助于土壤氮素等养分矿化, 从而促进植物生长。这种作用主要是线虫通过取食活动加速微生物周转, 并通过代谢分泌和释放微生物所固持的养分而实现的。但这种作用会因不同的线虫、微生物和植物的种类以及土壤基质的C/N营养状况而异, 此外还受线虫的营养类群及其与其他土壤动物之间复杂关系的影响。今后应该加强以下几方面的研究: (1)深入研究线虫、微生物和植物之间相互作用的机制; (2) 增加控制实验系统的复杂性, 研究线虫不同功能群之间及其与其他土壤动物之间的关系; (3)加强长期实验和观察, 在较长的时间尺度上了解线虫的生态功能; (4)加强对不同生态系统的研究, 在更大的空间尺度上综合了解土壤线虫的生态功能; (5)在全球气候变化的背景下了解土壤线虫的响应, 并预测土壤线虫对全球变化的反馈。     

Trophic niche changes associated with the eradication of invasive mammals in an insular lizard: an assessment using isotopes

Invasive species are a major threat to island biodiversity, and their eradications have substantially contributed to the conservation of island endemics. However, the consequences of eradications on the trophic ecology of native taxa are largely unexplored. Here, we used the eradication of invasive black rats Rattus rattus and European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus from the Berlenga Island, in the western coast of Portugal, as a whole-ecosystem experiment to investigate the effects of the eradication of invasive mammals on the trophic niche and body dimensions of the island-restricted Berlenga wall lizard Podarcis carbonelli berlengensis over a 2-year period. Our results suggest an expansion of the isotopic niche and an intensification of the sexual dimorphism of the lizard following mammal eradication. Additionally, we found considerable variability in isotopic niche across the island and detected evidence of sex-specific and season-modulated nutritional requirements of this threatened reptile. Our findings support that the eradication of 2 of the planet’s most problematic invasive vertebrates led to changes in the lizard trophic niche and sexual dimorphism in just 2 years. This suggests that the ecological pressures—for example, prey availability and habitat structure—to which lizards are exposed have substantially changed post-eradication. Our study emphasizes the scientific value of island eradications as experiments to address a wide range of ecological questions and adds to the increasing body of evidence supporting substantial conservation gains associated with these restoration interventions.     

The functional role and diversity of soil nematodes are stronger at high elevation in the lesser Himalayan Mountain ranges

Soil nematodes are a foremost component of terrestrial biodiversity; they display a whole gamut of trophic guilds and life strategies, and by their activity, affect major ecosystem process, such as organic matter degradation and carbon cycling. Based on nematodes'' functional types, nematode community indices have been developed, and can be used to link variation in nematodes community composition and ecosystem processes. Yet, the use of these indices has been mainly restricted to anthropogenic stresses. In this study, we propose to expand the use of nematodes'' derived ecological indices to link soil and climate properties with soil food webs, and ecosystem processes that all vary along steep elevation gradients. For this purpose, we explored how elevation affects the trophic and functional diversity of nematode communities sampled every 300 m, from about 1,000 m to 3,700 m above sea level, across four transects in the lesser Himalayan range of Jammu and Kashmir. We found that (a) the trophic and functional diversity of nematodes increases with elevation; (b) differences in nematodes communities generate habitat‐specific functional diversity; (c) the maturity index (ΣMI) increases with elevation, while the enrichment index decreases, indicating less mature and less productive ecosystems, enhanced fungal‐based energy flow, and a predominant role of nematodes in generating carbon influxes at high‐elevation sites. We thus confirm that the functional contribution of soil nematodes to belowground ecosystem processes, including carbon and energy flow, is stronger at high elevation. Overall, this study highlights the central importance of nematodes in sustaining soil ecosystems and brings insights into their functional role, particularly in alpine and arctic soils.     

Chemical and Microbial Composition of Sediments in Reservoirs with Different Trophic State

For the assessment of the metabolic potential of a sediment, the upper 5 cm layer should preferentially be regarded, since this is the horizon with the highest biochemical activity in the entire reservoir. Sediment cores from four different reservoirs were examined. These represent a broad range of trophic conditions (Neunzehnhain – oligotrophic; Muldenberg – oligotrophic, acidic, dystrophic; Saidenbach – mesotrophic; Quitzdorf – highly eutrophic). The vertical concentration gradients in the interstitial water of the examined sediments showed the tendencies characteristic of the trophic state of the reservoirs. The gradients increased with the trophic state, which affected the release of dissolved substances. The internal P load was substantial in all cases, in Quitzdorf it even exceeded the external P load. The total cell numbers of the bacteria in the sediment were only slightly influenced by the trophic state, all being in the same order of magnitude. The reservoir Quitzdorf displayed very high P release rates from the sediment and mass growths of Microcystis with a high content of intracellular polyphosphate granules in the summer months.     

Distribution and Species Composition of Zooplankton in Himalayan Ecosystems

The zooplankton communities of lakes, Sars, wetlands and ponds in Jammu-Kashmir Himalayas were examined. The waters are situated between 600–3800 m a. s. l. and, in the ordinates 30°–36° N. Significant variations in Rotifers and Crustacean distribution patterns were encountered. Some species having wide tolerance limits are more frequent while a few species due to their rigid environmental demands are restricted to few water bodies. Such species serve as good indicators of trophic evolution. The general distribution of these groups and their ecological implication have been discussed in the paper.     

Seasonal Changes in Chlorophyll-containing Picoplankton Populations of Ten Lakes in Northern England

Key features of photosynthetic picoplankton populations were compared during 1988 in ten lakes in northern England ranging from oligotrophic to slightly eutrophic; two of the three eutrophic lakes were shallow and lacked a thermocline. Measurements were made at 0.5 m depth of temperature, total chlorophyll a, chlorophyll-containing picoplankton cell density, mean picoplankton cell volume and percentage of phycoerythrin-rich cells in the total picoplankton population. All lakes showed maxima for total chlorophyll concentration and picoplankton cell density in mid- to late summer. The maximum value for picoplankton density ranged from 3.4 × 10³ (Esthwaite Water) to 1.3 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ (Ennerdale Water). There was a significant negative relationship (p < 0.05) between log₁₀ of maximum picoplankton cell density and maximum total chlorophyll, the latter being taken as an indicator of lake trophic status. The ratio of maximum to minimum picoplankton density during the year in a particular lake ranged from 39 to 2360 and showed no obvious relationship to lake type. Overall, the seasonal range in picoplankton density was about one order of magnitude greater than the range in total chlorophyll a, but there were considerable differences between lakes. Phycoerythrin-rich picoplankton as a percentage of total picoplankton reached a maximum in summer in all lakes. Values were always very low (<5%) in the two shallow eutrophic lakes, but reached 97% and over in the four most oligotrophic lakes. In two of the oligotrophic lakes, Wast-water and Ennerdale Water, phycoerythrin-rich picoplankton was a major component of the summer phytoplankton biomass.     

Growth of Tubifex tubifex Müller (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae) under Various Trophic Conditions

Growth of Tubifex tubifex on highly caloric activated sludge and poor in organic matter natural silt was experimentally studied. The relationship between oxygen consumption rate, weight, and caloric value of T. tubifex body in culture on activated sludge was determined to calculate the growth efficiency (K₂ = P/P + R). The growth rate has been determined, and models of T. tubifex growth are given under various trophic conditions conforming to results of the experiment. Somatic growth, generative growth and life span of this species were compared on the basis of the experiments and literature. Acceleration of growth and prolongation of life under conditions of caloric food and delay of these processes in silt poor in organic matter have been established and measured. T. tubifex was found to have advantages as compared to other tubificid species in response to increasing amounts of nutrient food in waters polluted by organic matter and, therefore, to produce abundant populations under these conditions.     

贵州兴义中三叠世拉丁期兴义动物群粪化石

粪化石是重要的遗迹化石,其内含物信息可为讨论生物行为、生理、相互关系、古环境等提供重要证据,进而对恢复和重建地质历史时期的生态系统等有重要意义。本文首次报道了贵州省兴义市泥麦古剖面中三叠世拉丁期兴义动物群化石层第35自然层的7种不同形态的粪化石。通过观察粪化石的内含物情况,发现其主要由贵州龙骨骼和鱼鳞组成,极少含有无脊椎动物碎片,表明粪化石来源于非壳食性的肉食性动物。依据粪化石的尺寸、缺少螺旋结构及相对较小的内含物碎片等信息,排除动物源是无脊椎动物、大型肉食性鱼类及大型鱼龙类的可能。结合兴义动物群下部化石组合海生爬行类实体化石的信息,进一步推断所研究粪化石的动物源应为非鱼龙的海生爬行动物,很可能是幻龙类、鸥龙类或海龙类。本文报道的7种形态的粪化石显示该下部化石层中的海生爬行动物之间至少存在1级营养等级的差异,这为恢复和重建中三叠世拉丁期海洋生态系统提供了重要依据。另外微生物的参与及泥质含量较高的厌氧环境使得该层的粪化石保存完好。