A new species of Galearis (Orchidinae: Orchidaceae) from Sichuan,China

A new species, Galearis huanglongensis Q.W.Meng & Y.B.Luo, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Galearis cyclochila (Franch. & Sav.) Soó and Galearis diantha (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, but differs in having a short spur, two elliptical lateral stigma lobes and distinctly separated bursicles. This new species is known only from the type locality, the Huanglong Valley, Songpan County, western Sichuan, China, growing amongst mosses under alpine shrubs at an elevation of about 3000 m. Based on two years of observations of its population size, the species was categorized as critically endangered CR (B1a, B2a) according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1. The micromorphology of pollinia and seeds was observed by scanning electron microscopy and compared with that of G. cyclochila and G. diantha. The results supported G. huanglongensis Q.W.Meng & Y.B.Luo as a new species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 689–695.     

Climatic forcing and larval dispersal capabilities shape the replenishment of fishes and their habitat‐forming biota on a tropical coral reef

Fluctuations in marine populations often relate to the supply of recruits by oceanic currents. Variation in these currents is typically driven by large‐scale changes in climate, in particular ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation). The dependence on large‐scale climatic changes may, however, be modified by early life history traits of marine taxa. Based on eight years of annual surveys, along 150 km of coastline, we examined how ENSO influenced abundance of juvenile fish, coral spat, and canopy‐forming macroalgae. We then investigated what traits make populations of some fish families more reliant on the ENSO relationship than others. Abundance of juvenile fish and coral recruits was generally positively correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), higher densities recorded during La Niña years, when the ENSO‐influenced Leeuwin Current is stronger and sea surface temperature higher. The relationship is typically positive and stronger among fish families with shorter pelagic larval durations and stronger swimming abilities. The relationship is also stronger at sites on the coral back reef, although the strongest of all relationships were among the lethrinids (r = .9), siganids (r = .9), and mullids (r = .8), which recruit to macroalgal meadows in the lagoon. ENSO effects on habitat seem to moderate SOI–juvenile abundance relationship. Macroalgal canopies are higher during La Niña years, providing more favorable habitat for juvenile fish and strengthening the SOI effect on juvenile abundance. Conversely, loss of coral following a La Niña‐related heat wave may have compromised postsettlement survival of coral dependent species, weakening the influence of SOI on their abundance. This assessment of ENSO effects on tropical fish and habitat‐forming biota and how it is mediated by functional ecology improves our ability to predict and manage changes in the replenishment of marine populations.     

Field studies on the population dynamics of Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni on the West Indian Island of St. Lucia

Growth curves, calculated for field populations of B. glabrata, were not materially affected by habitat, altitude or season. A mean growth curve was therefore used to estimate the age-frequency distribution of snails in successive field samples. These data permitted the construction of ecological life tables and the estimation of r, the intrinsic rate of natural increase (or decrease) of the different populations. The calculated values of r were inserted in a simple model of unlimited population growth but the resultant curves poorly represented the observed data. A model for unlimited growth was more satisfactory for pond and marsh populations but, apparently, immigration made it less satisfactory for stream and banana drain populations. Nevertheless, r may still be of value in predicting repopulation rates in certain habitats after a mollusciciding which does not kill the entire snail population.     

Atmospheric input of inorganic nitrogen to the Western Mediterranean

Bulk inorganic nitrogen deposition was monitored over a period of 3 years at the Bavella Pass (Corsica, France). Annual fluxes range between 126 and 150mol.m^–2.d-^–1, increasing slightly with annual rainfall. Natural background average concentrations of rain water and associated fluxes were estimated from a classification of rain events into natural (Oceanic and Saharan), polluted and composite. Long range transport of incoming polluted air masses increases the atmospheric wet nitrogen input by at least a factor of 1.6 in this Mediterranean area. Extrapolation of atmospheric dissolved inorganic nitrogen input to the Western Mediterranean leads to fluxes of 80 to l00mol.m^–2.d-^–1. This atmospheric input is in the same order of magnitude as the inorganic nitrogen riverine input. As a consequence, the nitrogen budget for the Mediterranean has had to be reassessed. Atmospheric wet inorganic nitrogen input is of noticeable importance to marine Mediterranean ecosystems, representing on average 10 to 25% of new production in the Western Basin, with values of up to 60% in oligotrophic zones.     

Species richness and endemism of birds in Bioko

The status of 50 taxonomically unique bird taxa found in Bioko is described. A complete updated species list for birds in Bioko is also given. Notes on habitat occupied and altitudinal distribution of each species as well as information on their general abundance is also included. Species distributions may have been affected by habitat modifications brought about by humans but most taxonomically unique forms are found in the montane areas. Comparisons are made with the neighbouring Mount Cameroon area.     

不同生境下蓝桉的木材解剖研究

用光镜及扫描电镜对不同生境下的蓝桉（Ｅｕｃａｌｙｐｔｕｓｇｌｏｂｕｌｕｓ Ｌａｂｉｌｌ．）木材结构进行了解剖学观察,描述了木材结构特征。以蓝桉木材的１１ 个主要特征——导管频率、单孔率、导管直径、导管分子长度、管胞长度和直径、纤维管胞长度和直径、纤维长度、射线频率和高度为指标,对生长在不同生境下的蓝桉进行比较发现：随着纬度的增加,生长轮变化不明显;木材中大部分组成分子的数量特征,除导管频率有降低趋势外均与纬度成正相关。评述了年降雨量对蓝桉木材结构的影响     

Non‐target habitat exploitation by Trichogramma brassicae (Hym. Trichogrammatidae): what are the risks for endemic butterflies?

Abstract 1 Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko is inundatively released against the European corn borer in Switzerland. Because parasitoids dispersing from the release fields might pose a threat to native butterflies, the searching efficiency of T. brassicae was investigated in nontarget habitats. 2 In field studies, T. brassicae was released at rates of 120 000 females/ha. Parasitism of sentinel Ephestia kuehniella egg clusters was 1.6–3.6% in meadows and 2.0–4.0% in flower strips. The respective figures were 57.6–66.7% and 19.2–46.9% in maize, significantly higher than the parasitism rates in the nontarget habitats. Experiments carried out in small field cages confirmed these results: Again, significantly higher parasitism rates were found in maize compared to meadows and flower strips, and also compared to hedgerows (in sleeve cages). 3 To elucidate potential factors underlying the low searching efficiency in nontarget habitats, the behaviour of individual T. brassicae females was investigated on four meadow plants comparatively to maize and a filter paper control. Mean (±SE) walking speed on maize was 2.2 ± 0.2 mm/s, similar to three of the plants tested and filter paper but significantly higher than on Trifolium pratense (0.85 mm/s). A higher turning rate was found on T. pratense, Viola wittrockiana and Plantago lanceolata, in contrast to the longer leaved maize and Alopecurus pratensis. The number of wasps leaving the plant within the observation period differed significantly between plant species, and was twice as high for T. pratense (and the filter paper control) compared to the other plant species. 4 In a choice experiment carried out in a climate cabinet with all five host plant species in cages, we obtained the highest parasitism rates on maize and the lowest parasitism on T. pratense, thus confirming the behavioural observations. 5 In conclusion, there is evidence for a decreased searching efficiency on plants in nontarget habitats compared to maize. However, the data explain only part of the differences found between parasitism in maize compared to nontarget habitats. Other factors, such as the structural complexity of a habitat, may also play a role. We conclude that the risk for butterfly populations in the tested nontarget habitat due to mass released T. brassicae is low.     

不同生境草鱼肠道微生物组成和群落特征分析

[目的]分析不同生境来源的草鱼前肠、中肠和后肠的微生物组成和群落特征.[方法]利用16S rRNA高通量测序技术比较河流、湖泊、高密度池塘养殖与水库低密度养殖4种不同生境来源的草鱼其前、中、后肠的微生物组成和群落特征.[结果]Venn图、稀释性曲线和Alpha指数分析结果显示,前肠微生物群落多样性以养殖生境草鱼更高,而...     

周边区域湿地景观变化对洪河保护区涉禽栖息地的影响

以三江平原洪河国家级保护区及其周边3个农场为研究区域,利用GIS技术和栖息地评价模型方法,探讨了周边区域湿地景观变化对保护区内景观结构以及丹顶鹤、东方白鹳栖息地的影响。结果显示：（1）自1983年区域土地开发以来,周边区域湿地景观面积减少了63％,景观类型多样性趋于单一化;（2）保护区内湿地景观结构改变明显,类型多样性呈降低趋势,丹顶鹤和东方白鹳栖息地面积和空间分布均发生变化;（3）保护区与周边区域湿地景观连通度降低了70％,其结果严重改变了保护区与周边区域的景观生态联系,削弱了保护区原有湿地景观多样性和涉禽栖息地功能;（4）必须从景观尺度,恢复保护区周边一定面积的湿地景观结构,维持保护区与周边区域适当的景观生态联系,是有效管理和维护保护区可持续发展的最佳手段之一。     

浙江宁波镇海工业园区昆虫多样性研究

于2008年7-11月,对宁波镇海工业园区的昆虫群落多样性进行调查,选取林地、农田、人工苗圃、生态园和工厂区5种具有代表性的生境类型,每月对该地区的昆虫种类及数量进行抽样统计和数据分析.结果表明:该地共有昆虫284种,分属13目108科,其中优势类群为同翅目、直翅目、半翅目、鞘翅目和鳞翅目.在不同功能类群中,从个体数看...