Changes of leaf morphology in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> roth and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. pubescens</Emphasis> Ehrh. along a zonal-climatic transect in the Urals and Western Siberia

Leaf size, shape, and parameters of venation in Betula pendula and B. pubescens have been studied along a 1600-km latitudinal zonal transect in the Urals and Western Siberia. The results show that leaf size and venation density depend on the geographic location of population, with these parameters in the two species changing in opposite directions along the transect. In its northern part (forest tundra-southern taiga), B. pubescens shows a positive correlation of leaf area with long-term-average air temperature, while this correlation in B. pendula is negative. In the southern part, correlations of leaf size with long-term average precipitation in the two species are also opposite in sign. Parameters of leaf shape in both species depend mainly on weather conditions in the current year rather than on long-term average climatic parameters. The conclusion is drawn that B. pendula and B. pubescens have different mechanisms of structural adaptation of leaves to climate and weather conditions that are based on changes in leaf size and shape.     

Dynamics of floristic composition of communities dominated by Carex acuta in the northern Volga-Akhtuba floodplain

The floristic composition of plant communities dominated by Carex acuta in the northern Volga-Akhtuba floodplain has been analyzed over the period from 1928 to 2009. It has been shown that, in 2008 to 2009, some hygrophytes disappeared from these phytocenoses; simultaneously, their composition was enriched with mesophytes and adventive species. Ramenskii??s ecological scales have indicated a decrease in water supply to habitats of the communities studied.     

Responses of leaf-eating insects feeding on aspen to emissions from the Middle Ural copper smelter

Foliar damage to aspen from leaf-chewing insects and miners has been assessed during a 4-year period in the environs of a large copper smelter in the Middle Urals. It has been shown that the total area removed, proportion of damaged leaves, and average area removed per damaged leaf are considerably smaller near the smelter than in the background zone. The degree of the effect is similar for all three parameters and remains stable with time. Both groups of leaf pests display lower trophic activity in the impact zone, but the effect of pollution on leaf-chewing insects is greater than on miners, while individual features of the tree and its environment affect miners more strongly than leaf-chewing insects.     

Effect of ecotopic factors and nature resource use on the diversity of forest communities in northern Kostroma oblast

The results of studies on southern taiga forests in northern Kostroma oblast are presented. They include the typing of old-growth forests, their phytocenotic and ecological characterization, and assessment of their structural and species diversity, successional status, and degree of anthropogenic disturbance. Geomorphological features of the study area and parameters of soils under plant communities of different forest type groups are described. On the basis of generalization of available data, conclusions were drawn concerning specific features of the structure and species diversity of forest communities in different ecotopes and at different stages of succession.     

Technogenic stress and its effect on deciduous trees (an example from parks in Yaroslavl)

A comparative analysis of several morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of leaves has been performed in birch (Betula pendula Roth), linden (Tilia cordata Mill.), and poplar (Populus nigra L.) trees growing in industrial areas of Yaroslavl with different levels of anthropogenic pollution. The results show that high concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere suppress the growth of leaves, and the number and severity of necrotic lesions in them increase. Water content in leaves becomes lower, whereas ash content increases. The contents of photosynthetic pigments change as well: the leaves contain smaller amounts of chlorophylls a and b, whereas the accumulation of carotenoids increases. Judging from changes in the test parameters, P. nigra is more resistant to pollution than B. pendula and T. nordata.     

Biodiversity of plants and soils in landscapes adjacent to the Buzuluk Pine Forest

The influence of the Buzuluk Pine Forest on biodiversity of plants and soil properties in adjacent territories has been studied. The results show that in the immediate vicinity of the pine forest, under the influence of the relatively mild and humid mesoclimate, natural phytocenoses are dominated by mesophytic species. Biodiversity reaches a peak at a distance of 17–18 km from the forest, which is explained by the presence of both mesophytes and xerophytes in the same phytocenosis. The same zone is also characterized by the maximum diversity of soil properties and structural complexity of the soil cover. Grass communities on ordinary chernozems with a homogeneous soil cover, typical of the steppe zone, are formed at greater distances from the forest.     

三峡库区城市消落带生态规划与保护探讨

三峡库区消落带因反季节涨落、落差大、面积广等特点,其生态环境的保护和恢复一直是困扰世界的难题。而位于城市区域的消落带,因受人类活动的干扰强度大,生态环境更易遭受破坏。根据消落带功能的不同,将城市消落带划分为生态景观区、生态屏障区和航运枢纽区3个功能区。根据消落带生态类型的不同,以坡度和高程作为消落带类型划分主要指标,将城市消落带划分为平坝阶地型 (0~15°)、缓坡型 (15~25°)、陡坡型 (>25°)3个坡类和145~155、155~170、170~175 m 3个区段。基于城市消落带的功能分区,根据其生态类型的划分,应用生态恢复和植物配置等原理和技术,因地制宜地提出了城市消落带的生态规划与保护方案,以充分发挥城市消落带拦截降解污染物、吸附削减营养盐、提供亲水空间及改善城市景观等综合功能,为城市消落带的生态规划与管理提供决策依据和科学支撑。     

Ecological-biogeochemical role of macrophytes in aquatic ecosystems of urbanized territories (an example of small water bodies of St. Petersburg)

The accumulation of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd) and biogenic elements (P, S, K, Ca, Na) in leaves has been studied in macrophytes of different ecological groups growing in small water bodies of St. Petersburg. The ecogeological and biogeochemical role of macrophytes in the water-aquatic plants-bottom sediments system and their contribution to the stability of aquatic ecosystem functioning under conditions of a megalopolis are considered. Prospects for using macrophytes for bioindication and phytoremediation of polluted aquatic ecosystems are discussed.     

基于遥感的上海崇明东滩湿地典型植被净初级生产力估算

湿地是具有丰富的生物多样性和较高生产力的生态系统,在全球碳循环中占有重要地位。湿地植被净初级生产力（NPP）是衡量湿地生态系统健康状况的重要指标。以上海崇明东滩湿地3种典型植被--芦苇、海三棱藨草、互花米草为研究对象,结合实地调查、实验室测定和遥感技术进行湿地植被净初级生产力估算研究。首先,设置湿地3种典型植被样方,测量植被鲜重、高度、密度、盖度和叶面积指数（LAI）等反映植被生物学特性的特征参数,按不同植被类型分别建立基于LAI的样方NPP回归模型;其次,利用一景相近时相的SPOT5影像,经过几何纠正和辐射定标后,采用面向对象分类方法对影像分类,同时,计算出能较好地反映植被特征和消除土壤背景影响的修正土壤调节植被指数（MSAVI）,建立了基于MSAVI的3种典型植被LAI遥感估测模型;最后,分别根据样方3种典型植被的NPP估测模型以及LAI遥感估测模型,进行尺度化转换,估算出崇明东滩湿地典型植被净初级生产力。模型简单可行,精度较高,可为快速定量评估湿地植被碳贡献及碳储量提供依据     

巢湖浮游植物群落生态位的研究

运用物种间Levins生态位宽度和Petrailis生态位重叠计算公式分析了3月份巢湖东区和西区的24种优势浮游植物的生态位宽度值和生态位重叠程度,并以这两个参数为基础研究浮游植物物种间生态关系及它们与周围环境的相互影响。结果表明巢湖东区星形冠盘藻、啮蚀隐藻、颗粒直链藻最窄变种等10个种的生态位较宽,均大于3,而巢湖西区生态位较宽的主要有星形冠盘藻、啮蚀隐藻、卵形隐藻等9个种;研究结果还表明以生态位变动幅度大的种类作为水质指示种有更可靠的生态学意义,因此确定了以颗粒直链藻最窄变种、水华鱼腥藻和星杆藻sp.这3种藻作为巢湖水体区域污染状态的指示种。生态位重叠表明在巢湖东区蛋白核小球藻的发展速度最快;在巢湖西区星杆藻sp.的发展速度最快;巢湖西区的发展种比东区的发展种更多,大多数为耐污染的种。随后4月份进行了浮游植物群落组成调查,比较2次采样群落结构差异,验证了浮游植物生态位模型在巢湖鱼腥藻水华预测方面应用的可靠性。     

Relationship between Habitat Properties and Composition of Communities in Conifer–Broadleaf Forest

Ecological and phytocenotic features of forest communities were studied in the southwest of Moscow oblast. Based on the ecomorphological groups of species prevalent in the herb–dwarf shrub and moss layers, five groups of communities typical of the conifer–broadleaf forest zone were distinguished (small-herb, small herb-large herb, large-herb, moist-herb, and mixed-herb communities), and their composition was analyzed. Discriminant analysis of the species composition of lower vegetation layers revealed significant differences between the syntaxa, with the percentage of correct classification being 89.8%. To evaluate ecological determination of the above groups of communities, a hypothesis was tested concerning the correlation of their composition with ecotope properties. This hypothesis was verified by means of (1) ordination by ecological indicator values and interpretation of the axes, (2) revealing differences in ecological regimes between habitats of the syntaxa, and (3) combined analysis of on-ground and remote sensing data, particularly spectral brightness of satellite images and morphometric characteristics of the terrain surface. The results confirmed the informativeness of the syntaxa distinguished based on the species composition of the ground vegetation layer and mapping of the ecological regimes of habitats.     

基于时序植被指数的湖北省物候空间特征分析

湖北省地貌类型多样,植被类型丰富,也是农业大省,物候信息监测对于自然生态和农业生产具有重要意义。使用MODIS MOD13Q1 产品中的归一化植被指数数据集,运用时间序列谐波分析法重构 NDVI时序曲线,并结合土地覆被数据,采用物候特征动态阈值法获取湖北省植被物候空间分布特征,分析不同土地覆被类型的物候指标。结果表明：(1)湖北省西部山区、东南部和东北部丘陵地区,多为自然植被覆盖,且植被状况良好,NDVI最大值达到0.75以上,大部分区域NDVI最小值在0.6以上。中部江汉平原和农作物区域NDVI变化受农业耕种方式影响较大,与自然植被NDVI变化特征有所差异。(2)不同土地覆被类型物候特征各异。湖北省大部分区域的植被在2月到3月进入生长季,11月到12月结束生长,襄阳地区呈现相反的特征。耕地、裸地、水体等受人类影响较大的土地覆被类型生长季长度较短,开始时间较晚,结束较早。森林、草地、灌丛等自然植被生长季长度较长,开始较早、结束较晚。(3)物候参数由于地形地貌、地表覆被类型、人类和自然因素的影响具有显著的差异,对区域植被生态状况、不同土地覆被类型物候空间分布特点的分析,结果对于植被生态保护、植被分类、农业区划等都具有参考意义。     

云南省干热河谷地区的生态现状与生态建设

主要在长江上游的金沙江及其他一些大江河流域分布有被称为干热河谷的一种地理景观单元，这些地区具有与其周围地区不同的特殊生态环境，光、热充足，水份缺乏是这些地区的基本气候特征。该地区森林及植被的复盖率低，但植物种类不贫乏，资源植物的品种及数量都较多，矿产丰富，开发历史久远，经济建设的优势明显。生态建设作为经济建设持续发展的基础和条件，在这些地区尤其显得特别重要，它与当地的持续发展息息相关，又与下游的发展密切联系，并且具有国际意义。     

雅砻江锦屏二级水电站减水河段生态需水量研究

针对雅砻江锦屏二级水电站减水河段面临的水生生物生态需水问题,提出了计算河道最小生态基流量的生态水力学法,考虑了水力生境参数的全河段变化情况,计算结果避免了单凭最低值进行判断所造成的判断失误。确定了锦屏二级水电站减水河段鱼类对流速、水深、水面宽等水力生境的需求。通过河道水力模拟,得出为满足减水河段鱼类的生存及繁衍,必须保证枯水季节猫猫滩闸址下泄45 m3/s流量,在该流量下,锦屏二级水电站减水河段中95%左右河段水力因子可满足研究中提出的河道内鱼类的生存条件;水温的变化不会影响河道内鱼类产卵;鱼类适应的缓流水、急流水、浅滩、深潭等水力形态的位置虽然发生变化,但数量保持不变。     

Chemical Composition of the Leaves of Plants with Different Ecological Strategies from the Boreal Zone

The content of main chemical components (total nitrogen and carbon, soluble and polymeric sugars, organic acids, and mineral substances) were studied in the leaves of 73 boreal plant species with different types of Grime–Ramenskii strategies. The type of ecological strategy was demonstrated to be related to the chemical composition of the leaf, with the substances studied falling into two groups. The concentrations of the substances belonging to the first group (nitrogen, organic acids, and mineral substances) were minimum in stress-tolerant and maximum in ruderal species. With respect to the type of strategy, these concentrations increased in the following series: S C R. Conversely, the concentrations of the substances of the second group (carbon and soluble sugars) decreased in this series. The nitrogen concentration and the carbon-to-nitrogen concentration ratio in leaves may be used for identifying the types of strategies.     

Intra- and interspecific morphological variation of some European terrestrial orchids along a latitudinal gradient

Morphological trait variation in populations of rhizomatous (Cypripedium calceolus, Listera ovata) and root-tuber orchid species (Platanthera bifolia, Gymnadenia conopsea) has been studied along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. It has been shown that the structure of shoots changes with transition from the center to the northern or southern periphery of the species range. The reduction in the number of metameres at the range periphery is more distinct in orchids with multimetameric shoots, compared to those with oligometameric shoots. The plasticity of shoot structure observed along the geographic gradient is contingent on climatic factors and can be manifested regionally in cases of long-term temperature deviations. Other morphological parameters, such as shoot height and the sizes of leaves and flowers, can serve as indicators of ecological conditions in habitats.     

(137)Cs inter-plant concentration ratios provide a predictive tool for coral atolls with distinct benefits over transfer factors

Inter-plant concentration ratios (IPCR) [Bqg(-1)(137)Cs in coral atoll tree food crops/Bqg(-1)(137)Cs in leaves of native plant species whose roots share a common soil volume] can replace transfer factors (TF) to predict (137)Cs concentration in tree food crops in a contaminated area with an aged source term. The IPCR strategy has significant benefits relative to TF strategy for such purposes in the atoll ecosystem. IPCR strategy applied to specific assessments takes advantage of the fact that tree roots naturally integrate (137)Cs over large volumes of soil. Root absorption of (137)Cs replaces large-scale, expensive soil sampling schemes to reduce variability in (137)Cs concentration due to inhomogeneous radionuclide distribution. IPCR [drinking-coconut meat (DCM)/Scaevola (SCA) and Tournefortia (TOU) leaves (native trees growing on all atoll islands)] are log-normally distributed (LND) with geometric standard deviation (GSD)=1.85. TF for DCM from Enewetak, Eneu, Rongelap and Bikini Atolls are LND with GSDs of 3.5, 3.0, 2.7, and 2.1, respectively. TF GSD for Rongelap copra coconut meat is 2.5. IPCR of Pandanus fruit to SCA and TOU leaves are LND with GSD=1.7 while TF GSD is 2.1. Because IPCR variability is much lower than TF variability, relative sampling error of an IPCR field sample mean is up 6- to 10-fold lower than that of a TF sample mean if sample sizes are small (10-20). Other IPCR advantages are that plant leaf samples are collected and processed in far less time with much less effort and cost than soil samples.     

Arthropods and birds in the forest–tundra of Western Siberia and the edge effect

Over 2500 species of invertebrate macrofauna and over 177 species of avifauna live in the forest–tundra of the Lower Ob region and adjacent areas of the northern taiga and shrub tundra. About half of the invertebrate species of the study area are northern—mostly hypo- and hemiarctic—tundra species; the rest are boreal and arctomontane-boreal Holarctic and trans-Palearctic species. The anthophilic and aerobiont insect assemblages include many boreal forest forms. A total of 153 species have been observed nesting at the taiga–foresttundra boundary; 81 species have been observed nesting at the tundra–forest-tundra boundary. The avifauna of the forest–tundra becomes enriched with taiga species in floodplain forests and with tundra species on the flat interfluve, in areas of tundra and tundra-like wetlands. The forest–tundra of the Lower Ob region has no avifauna and entomofauna of its own and contains a mixture of taiga and tundra faunas. It has been found that the ecotone effect is not pronounced in the taxonomic composition of birds and insects in the forest–tundra, where only some particular groups (such as amphibiont insects) have increased abundance.     

Human Population Numbers as a Function of Food Supply

Human population growth has typically been seen as the primary causative factor of other ecologically destructive phenomena. Current human disease epidemics are explored as a function of population size. That human population growth is itself a phenomenon with clearly identifiable ecological/biological causes has been overlooked. Here, human population growth is discussed as being subject to the same dynamic processes as the population growth of other species. Contrary to the widely held belief that food production must be increased to feed the growing population, experimental and correlational data indicate that human population growth varies as a function of food availability. By increasing food production for humans, at the expense of other species, the biologically determined effect has been, and continues to be, an increase in the human population. Understanding the relationship between food increases and population increases is proposed as a necessary first step in addressing this global problem. Resistance to this perspective is briefly discussed in terms of cultural bias in science.     

上海浦东东滩鸟类栖息地生态修复区的水鸟群落变化

河口和海岸带自然湿地的大量退化与丧失导致了迁徙路线上水鸟栖息地的大量减少,从而加剧了迁徙水鸟种群数量的下降,一般认为,栖息地修复能够缓解上述过程。于2010年、2012年对位于上海浦东东滩的鸟类栖息地生态修复区和自然退化区（对照样地）进行调查,比较两个区域的水鸟群落结构差异与年际变化,研究生态修复区的水鸟群落变化并评价其在水鸟保育方面的作用。结果表明：生态修复区的水鸟种类、数量和物种多样性均极显著高于自然退化区,而均匀度与自然退化区无显著差异;生态修复区2012年水鸟种类显著低于2010年,而水鸟数量、物种多样性和均匀度均无显著差异;自然退化区2012年水鸟种类、数量和物种多样性均极显著低于2010年,而均匀度无显著差异。生态修复区通过营造浅滩、浅水区、深水区等多样化生境,为迁徙水鸟提供了重要的补充栖息地,对水鸟保育工作起到了积极作用