小流域森林生态系统土壤发生与元素地球化学特性

本文研究了广东五华县牛角塘综合治理试验区几种典型森林生态系统土壤的物质迁移、肥力特性及元素迁移与富集传性，结果表明，生态类型的差异不仅会影响到土壤的肥力状况，同时由于水土流失等因素的影响，还会造成土壤机械组成、元素迁移富集特点以及其它发生学特性的差异，林地、半林地及光山地之间在这些方面也存在着明显的差异性．     

稻田生态系统的特点及其分区——以太湖地区为例

本文分析了水稻土生态系统的特点及其中作物与土壤系统的相互影响,作物的适种性与土壤供肥性是左右生态系统功能的主要因素,这均与土壤基础肥力水平有密切关系,所以土壤基础肥力水平是运筹熟制的重要依据。 基于热量条件,土壤水文状况与土壤基础肥力的区域差异,讨论了太湖地区水稻土生态分区。     

施用氮肥对不同肥力红壤性水稻土硝化作用的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了施用尿素、硫铵条件下不同肥力红壤性水稻土的硝化作用变化特征,以明确土壤肥力和施用氮肥对红壤性水稻土硝化作用的影响.结果表明,不施氮条件下,不间肥力红壤性水稻土硝化作用表现为高肥力土壤<低肥力土壤.施用尿素条件下红壤性水稻土硝化作用显著增强,120和360 mg·kg-1施氮量下,高肥力土壤平均硝化速率分别比不施氮对照升高了75.8%和357.1%,而低肥力土壤则分别升高了52.0%和146.9%,硝化作用强度表现为:高肥力土壤>低肥力土壤,360 mg·kg-1施氮量>120 mg·kg-1施氮量.施用硫铵条件下红壤性水稻土硝化作用强度降低,120和360 mg·kg-1施氮量下,高肥力土壤平均硝化速率分别比对照降低了41.8%和74.7%,低肥力土壤则分别降低了3.1%和65.3%,硝化作用表现为:低肥力土壤>高肥力土壤,120 mg·kg-1施氮量>360 mg·kg-1施氮量.     

江英乡石灰岩山区农业综合开发与治理研究 Ⅰ.自然资源、环境与土壤肥力特性

论述了阳山县江英乡生态环境特点、土壤类型和各类土壤的肥力特性。着重讨论了生态环境与作物生长的关系,指出了各类土壤种植作物的适宜性,为阳山县江英乡农业综合开发与治理提供了科学依据。     

阿特拉津对不同肥力土壤磷酸酶的影响

通过室内恒温培养法，研究除草剂阿特拉津对4种长期定位施肥处理下的土壤的磷酸酶活性的影响。试验结果表明，在阿特拉津质量分数不同和处理时间长短不同的情况下，阿特拉津对土壤磷酸酶的活性既有激活作用又有抑制作用。在试验过程中，4种不同肥力的土壤其磷酸酶活性随着处理时间的延续而呈现出“降低→升高→降低→升高”的消长趋势。不同阿特拉津质量分数对磷酸酶的影响没有规律，同一质量分数处理既有激活作用，也有抑制作用。在4种不同肥力的土壤中，磷酸酶活性最高的是以氮、磷、钾无机肥配合有机肥施用的土壤。     

广东陆丰海岸带荒地的改造利用

在广东省陆丰市红江橙示范场进行的海岸带荒地改造利用试验表明，将海岸带荒地改造为果园后，可取得较好的经济效益和明显的生态效益，土壤理化性质和肥力得到改善，荒地的旱生性禾本科植物被阴生性植物取代，生物量也由0.19t/hm^2提高于13.95t/hm^2。通过比较一地的沿海荒地改造效益，认为在海岸带荒地改造时，要因地制宜，综合考虑土壤、水分、品种、病虫害和园艺措施等多方面因素才能取得较好的生态、经济和社会效益。     

配施的有机无机肥料氮在红壤性水稻土中的残留特征

（１５）Ｎ追踪结果显示，熟化上（Ａ）和低肥力土（Ｃ）有机、无机肥料配施的氮的残留特征均为随配施有机成分和土壤肥力水平的变化而变化．肥力制约残留水平，肥料氮总平衡影响残留率一利用率一损失率的关系；配施有机肥是造成氮残留差异的基本因素，相关分析表明，总残留主体为有机肥氮，残留率随有机肥Ｃ／Ｎ和木质素含量的增减而增减；影响无机肥氮残留的相关因素较复杂．有机氮残留量占总残留量的百分数与无视氮残留量占总残留量的百分数之比，在Ａ，Ｃ两种土壤中约为２．肥力对氮残留作用的实质是，肥料氮在低肥力土中具固持优势，而在熟化土中具矿化利用优势．肥力因素对无机氮残留的影响更显著．根据配施组合中有机成分Ｃ／Ｎ－木质素含量与氮残留／平衡特征的关系．将不同配施组合划分为三大类型。     

子午岭植被演替过程中土壤生物学特性的动态

土壤生物学特性在土壤有机质的形成和降解、营养循环等方面起重要作用。植被的恢复演替显著影响土壤生物学特性,尤其影响土壤酶活性。植被演替过程中土壤酶活性的研究结果表明,随着植被恢复年限的延长,土壤脲酶和转化酶的活性逐渐提高,17 a达到最大值,随后有所降低。土壤酶活性和土壤化学特性和微生物量的相关性分析表明,土壤转化酶和脲酶不仅互相之间具有显著的相关性,而且它们与土壤有机碳、全氮、微生物碳氮之间都具有显著的正相关性,说明土壤酶活性与土壤有机质紧密相关,与微生物的大小紧密相关,所以土壤酶活性可以表征土壤生物学肥力。     

中亚热带区域几种典型生态系统土壤质量评价Ⅱ.不同生态系统对土壤质量的影响

采用定位研究方法,以中亚热带区域七种典型森林生态系统为研究对象,探讨了不同生态系统对土壤生物学肥力指数、内梅罗土壤质量指数、土壤退化指数的影响,以及各指数之间的相互关系.结果表明,土壤生物学肥力指数和内梅罗土壤质量指数都是以常绿阔叶林最高,其次是混交林和阔叶纯林,连栽杉木纯林最低.土壤退化指数与内梅罗土壤质量指数正好相反,连栽杉木纯林土壤退化指数最高,混交林和阔叶纯林稍低.另外,混交树种不同,土壤质量指数也有差异.相关分析表明,内梅罗土壤质量指数、土壤退化指数与土壤生物学肥力指数相互之间存在正的相关性;另外,这3种土壤质量指示指标分别和林下植被层、森林凋落物现存量之间也有着显著的正相关.     

城市园林绿化用地土壤肥力诊断与综合评价——以广州市长虹苗圃为例

以广州市长虹苗圃为例，在实地调查与采样分析的基础上，首先对土壤肥力各单项指标进行诊断分析，然后采用修正的内梅罗指数对各地块进行土壤综合肥力评价。结果表明长虹苗圃土壤pH值偏低，有机质以及其它主要养分含量缺乏，各地块综合肥力系数大都属于贫瘠水平，其中南区、北区综合肥力明显低于东区。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.