Weather effects on birds of different size are mediated by long‐term climate and vegetation type in endangered temperate woodlands

Species occurrence is influenced by a range of factors including habitat attributes, climate, weather, and human landscape modification. These drivers are likely to interact, but their effects are frequently quantified independently. Here, we report the results of a 13‐year study of temperate woodland birds in south‐eastern Australia to quantify how different‐sized birds respond to the interacting effects of: (a) short‐term weather (rainfall and temperature in the 12 months preceding our surveys), (b) long‐term climate (average rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures over the period 1970–2014), and (c) broad structural forms of vegetation (old‐growth woodland, regrowth woodland, and restoration plantings). We uncovered significant interactions between bird body size, vegetation type, climate, and weather. High short‐term rainfall was associated with decreased occurrence of large birds in old‐growth and regrowth woodland, but not in restoration plantings. Conversely, small bird occurrence peaked in wet years, but this effect was most pronounced in locations with a history of high rainfall, and was actually reversed (peak occurrence in dry years) in restoration plantings in dry climates. The occurrence of small birds was depressed—and large birds elevated—in hot years, except in restoration plantings which supported few large birds under these circumstances. Our investigation suggests that different mechanisms may underpin contrasting responses of small and large birds to the interacting effects of climate, weather, and vegetation type. A diversity of vegetation cover is needed across a landscape to promote the occurrence of different‐sized bird species in agriculture‐dominated landscapes, particularly under variable weather conditions. Climate change is predicted to lead to widespread drying of our study region, and restoration plantings—especially currently climatically wet areas—may become critically important for conserving bird species, particularly small‐bodied taxa.     

Extreme heterogeneity of population response to climatic variation and the limits of prediction

Certain general facets of biotic response to climate change, such as shifts in phenology and geographic distribution, are well characterized; however, it is not clear whether the observed similarity of responses across taxa will extend to variation in other population‐level processes. We examined population response to climatic variation using long‐term incidence data (collected over 42 years) encompassing 149 butterfly species and considerable habitat diversity (10 sites along an elevational gradient from sea level to over 2,700 m in California). Population responses were characterized by extreme heterogeneity that was not attributable to differences in species composition among sites. These results indicate that habitat heterogeneity might be a buffer against climate change and highlight important questions about mechanisms maintaining interpopulation differences in responses to weather. Despite overall heterogeneity of response, population dynamics were accurately predicted by our model for many species at each site. However, the overall correlation between observed and predicted incidence in a cross validation analysis was moderate (Pearson's r = 0.23, SE 0.01), and 97% of observed data fell within the predicted 95% credible intervals. Prediction was most successful for more abundant species as well as for sites with lower annual turnover. Population‐level heterogeneity in response to climate variation and the limits of our predictive power highlight the challenges for a future of increasing climatic variability.     

Identifying grasslands suitable for cellulosic feedstock crops in the Greater Platte River Basin: dynamic modeling of ecosystem performance with 250 m eMODIS

This study dynamically monitors ecosystem performance (EP) to identify grasslands potentially suitable for cellulosic feedstock crops (e.g., switchgrass) within the Greater Platte River Basin (GPRB). We computed grassland site potential and EP anomalies using 9‐year (2000–2008) time series of 250 m expedited moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data, geophysical and biophysical data, weather and climate data, and EP models. We hypothesize that areas with fairly consistent high grassland productivity (i.e., high grassland site potential) in fair to good range condition (i.e., persistent ecosystem overperformance or normal performance, indicating a lack of severe ecological disturbance) are potentially suitable for cellulosic feedstock crop development. Unproductive (i.e., low grassland site potential) or degraded grasslands (i.e., persistent ecosystem underperformance with poor range condition) are not appropriate for cellulosic feedstock development. Grassland pixels with high or moderate ecosystem site potential and with more than 7 years ecosystem normal performance or overperformance during 2000–2008 are identified as possible regions for future cellulosic feedstock crop development (ca. 68 000 km² within the GPRB, mostly in the eastern areas). Long‐term climate conditions, elevation, soil organic carbon, and yearly seasonal precipitation and temperature are important performance variables to determine the suitable areas in this study. The final map delineating the suitable areas within the GPRB provides a new monitoring and modeling approach that can contribute to decision support tools to help land managers and decision makers make optimal land use decisions regarding cellulosic feedstock crop development and sustainability.     

Adult diet affects lifespan and reproduction of the fruit‐feeding butterfly Charaxes fulvescens

Fruit‐feeding butterflies are among the longest lived Lepidoptera. While the use of pollen‐derived amino acids by Heliconius butterflies has been interpreted as important for the evolution of extended lifespans, very little is known about the life‐history consequences of frugivory. This issue is addressed by investigating effects of four adult diets (sugar, sugar with amino acids, banana, and moistened banana) on lifespan and reproduction in the fruit‐feeding butterfly Charaxes fulvescens Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Female butterflies were collected from Kibale National Park, Uganda, and kept individually in cages near their natural habitat and data were collected on lifespan, oviposition, and hatching of eggs. Lifespan in captivity was longer for the sugar and the amino acid cohort, than for the banana cohorts. The longitudinal pattern of oviposition was erratic, with many days without oviposition and few periods with high numbers of eggs laid. Butterflies typically did not lay eggs during their 1st week in captivity and the length of the period between capture and first reproduction was significantly shorter for butterflies fed moistened banana. The length of the reproduction period (first reproduction–last reproduction in captivity) and the reproduction rate (total number of eggs/length of the reproduction period) did not differ significantly between the diet treatments. Those fed with amino acid and moistened banana had significantly higher egg hatchability than those fed with sugar and banana. We found no evidence for a lifespan cost of reproduction. Our results show that (1) female C. fulvescens can use amino acids in their diet for laying fertile eggs, (2) more wing‐wear does correlate with lower survival in captivity (indicating aging in the wild), but not with intensity of reproduction (providing no evidence for reproductive aging), and (3) fruit‐feeding butterflies may be dietary restricted in the field.     

Non-native <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia</Emphasis> pollen in the atmosphere of Rzeszów (SE Poland); evaluation of the effect of weather conditions on daily concentrations and starting dates of the pollen season

The investigated problem was whether and to what an extent the elements of weather conditions were associated with changes in the concentration of Ambrosia pollen in air. The study was carried out in the years 1997–2004 using the volumetric method. Ragweed did not occur in the flora of the town of Rzeszów and its vicinity, but every year its pollen occurred at concentrations considerably exceeding the threshold values for the allergic response. The pollen seasons usually began from near the end of August to the first part of September. The values of daily concentrations varied greatly: days without pollen grains being frequently noted while single grains occurred long before and after the season. The effect of the elements of weather on changes in the concentration of pollen in the air was slight. Taking into account all meteorological parameters, it can be stated that an increase in the number of pollen grains is connected with increased temperature and higher wind speeds, but negatively correlated with humidity and rainfall. These relationships can usually be explained by the effects of the type of weather taking place over the wider region. The analysis of the results showed that pollen was probably transported from distant regions. The mean angle at which the greatest pollen concentrations were recorded corresponded to the SE wind direction. The analysis of synoptic phenomena during the pollen season confirms the thesis about the long-distance transport from the south, southeast and southwest. A close dependence was also found between the starting date of the season and the sum of maximum temperatures and the sum of differences between the maximum and minimum temperatures.     

广东鹤山人工林群落主要优势植物的热值和灰分含量

从广东鹤山南亚热带丘陵5种人工林群落中采集20种主要植物器官及3种群落凋落叶样品,利用PARR-1281氧弹热量计和马福炉分别测定样品的干质量热值和灰分含量,再计算去灰分热值;按器官、个体和生长型等比较分析植物的热值和灰分特征.结果表明：植物各器官的干质量热值、去灰分热值分别在10.7～22.17和13.89～23.04 kJ·g^-1之间,叶片的干质量热值和去灰分热值明显高于其他器官(P＜0.05).个体加权平均干质量热值和去灰分热值分别在14.24～19.43和16.63～20.99 kJ·g^-1群落各层次植物去灰分热值平均值的高低依次为：乔木(19.55 kJ·g^-1)＞灌木(19.46 kJ·g^-1)＞草本(18.77 kJ·g^-1),其中,乔木层树木的去灰分热值平均值大小为：本地针叶树(19.86 kJ·g^-1)＞本地阔叶树(19.55 kJ·g^-1)＞外来桉树(19.18 kJ·g^-1),灰分含量的排序则相反.马占相思林、针叶林和木荷林群落的凋落叶热值均高于所在林分各层次的热值(P＜0.01),马占相思林和针叶林的凋落叶热值大于所在乔木层叶片的热值,而木荷林凋落叶热值小于乔木层叶片的热值.     

Population synchrony within and among Lepidoptera species in relation to weather, phylogeny, and larval phenology

Abstract.  1. The population dynamics of native herbivore species in central Appalachian deciduous forests were studied by analysing patterns of synchrony among intra- and interspecific populations and weather.
2. Spatial synchrony of 10 Lepidoptera species and three weather variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation) from 12 sites was measured using cross-correlation functions relating levels of synchrony to the distance separating each set of populations. Based on both the pattern of synchrony and the region-wide cross-correlation coefficients, Lepidoptera species appear to be synchronised, at least in part, by local weather conditions.
3. Interspecific cross-correlations were calculated for all sympatric species pairs and trends in interspecific synchrony were related to phylogenetic relatedness, life-history timing, and weather. Interspecific synchrony was highest among species whose larvae were present during the same time of the season, but there was no relationship between interspecific synchrony and phylogenetic affinity.
4. Spatial synchrony of weather variables was significantly related to both species of some interspecific pairs, indicating weather as a potential mechanism involved in synchronising populations of different species.     

Forecast of Pollination Dates and Relation to Onset of Allergic Pathology

Forecasting pollination would help allergists to establish an appropriate prevention for allergic patients. Previous studies have related meteorological variables to airborne pollen counts; patients suffer allergy episodes before the peak of pollen is reached. A 10-year study was done in Saint-Etienne (France) by a multi-disciplinary team (medical doctors, meteorologists, plant biologists). The frequency distribution of patients with pollinosis was obtained from mid-January to August every year. The meteorological station recorded the temperatures daily; pollen counts were obtained with a pollen trap. The maturation stages of trees (ash, birch) and graminaceae (dactyl and meadow grass) were followed by weekly sampling and provided the exact date of pollination. Mathematical models were built to predict the developmental stages of plant growth and the values were compared with the exact dates obtained every year. The frequency distribution of allergic patients was either mono or biphasic according to the evolution of daily temperatures. The maximum peak of patients always preceded the peak of graminaceae over the 10-year period. Different models were found to adequately predict the pollination dates: a Q ₁₀-based algorithm best described the pollination date of trees; a weighted Q ₁₀ algorithm best reflected the pollination of graminaceae.     

安庆褐飞虱近三个大发生年虫源和气候条件的比较分析

比较并分析安庆市1997,2005年和2006年褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugehs(Stal)大发生的虫源、气候条件。1997年,迁入期偏早,初迁虫量大,到7月26日止,单灯累计诱量为1228~8698头;7、8月份气温比历史均值低0.2~1.3℃,导致单季稻上基数适温协同暴发型;再迁补充虫源峰次较多,但9月份气温比历史均值低1.0℃,抑制了双季晚稻褐飞虱发生。2005年,迁入期较早,但初迁虫量低,到7月26日止,单灯累计诱量为200~3334头;7月中旬至8月份气温比历史均值低0.4~0.8℃,9月至10月中旬气温比历史均值高1.8~2.2℃,有利褐飞虱发生的气候条件长达3个月;同时,夏、秋季台风暴雨频繁,再迁补充虫源丰富,8月16日~9月25日每侯灯下≥1000头的回迁峰次多达5个,分别比1997年和2006年多1个和2个,导致多代连续重发。2006年,迁入期早,6月底以前的早迁虫量分别是1997年和2005年同期的6.4倍和2.1倍,初迁虫量大,到7月26日止,单灯累计诱量为1595~7181头;虽然7、8月份气温比历史均值高1.0~2.0℃,但单季稻田间小气候适宜,构成单季稻基数暴发型;再迁补充虫源峰次较少,但8月底~9月初短期内大量集中迁入,9月下旬至10月份气温异常偏高,高于历史均值1.5~3.0℃,引起晚稻持续重发。     

The impact of the 2003 summer heat wave and the 2005 late cold wave on the phytoplankton in the north-eastern English Channel

The phytoplankton composition was investigated at two fixed stations in the north-eastern English Channel from November 1997 to December 2005. The warmest temperatures in European historical records were recorded in August 2003. This event was associated with an exceptional abundance peak of the dinoflagellates Akashiwo sanguinea (9600 cells L(-1)) and Ceratium fusus. The lowest February temperatures for the 1998-2005 period were recorded in 2005, coinciding with the absence, for the first time in recent decades, of the spring bloom of Phaeocystis globosa. The 'de-eutrophication', mainly the reduction of river nutrient loads, is progressively reducing the magnitude of the Phaeocystis blooms. Exceptionally in 2005, the colder temperatures increased water column mixing, favouring the dominance of tychoplanktonic diatoms until early March (pre-bloom period). The delay in spring stratification, lower light availability due to turbidity (resuspended sediment) and organic matter, and competition with tychoplanktonic diatoms contributed to retard the timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom and disadvantage the development of Phaeocystis. The summer 2003 European heat wave is expected to have had little influence on total annual primary production, because it occurred at mid-summer, the period of lowest annual phytoplankton abundance. However, the anomalous weather in the second half of winter 2005 did affect the annual primary production.