Effect of field margins on moths depends on species mobility: Field-based evidence for landscape-scale conservation

Agri-environment schemes (AES) are widely used policy instruments intended to combat widespread biodiversity declines across agricultural landscapes. Here, using a light trapping and mark-release-recapture study at a field-scale on nine common and widespread larger moth species, we investigate the effect of wide field margins (a popular current scheme option) and the presence of hedgerow trees (a potential scheme option in England) on moth abundance. Of these, we show that wide field margins positively affected abundances, although species did not all respond in the same way. We demonstrate that this variation can be attributed to species-specific mobility characteristics. Those species for which the effect of wide margins was strongest covered shorter distances, and were more frequently recaptured at their site of first capture. This demonstrates that the standard, field-scale uptake of AES may be effective only for less mobile species. We discuss that a landscape-scale approach, in contrast, could deliver significant biodiversity gains, as our results indicate that such an approach (perhaps delivered through targeting farmers to join AES) would be effective for the majority of wider countryside species, irrespective of their mobility level.     

Does hedgerow management on organic farms benefit small mammal populations?

Organic farming is a whole-farm management approach believed to encourage biodiversity by excluding the input of agrochemicals and introducing specific management regimes for non-crop habitats. We examined the impact of the hedgerow management regime encouraged for organic farms on small mammal populations, since small mammal numbers influence a range of species at higher trophic levels and, in particular, are key to the conservation of a range of mammalian and avian predators. We compared differences in management and structure of non-crop habitats at the farm-scale between organic and conventional farms, and used within-farm variations in hedgerow size to predict the effect of hedgerow size on small mammals on both farm types. There were no significant differences in the proportion of non-crop habitats between organic and conventional farms, although management differences produced larger hedgerows on organic farms and greater diversity of hedgerow growth stages. However, a difference in hedgerow size between the farm types did not have a significant effect on small mammal abundance or diversity. We conclude that increased hedgerow size is not benefiting small mammal populations on organic farms: significant gains in small mammal numbers may be more effectively achieved by increasing the area of non-crop habitats rather than by improving management regimes.     

Effect of allelochemicals sustained-release microspheres on the ingestion,incorporation, and digestion abilities of Daphnia magna Straus

Allelochemicals sustained-release microspheres (ACs-SMs) exhibited great inhibition effect on algae,however,few studies have focused on ACs-SMs toxicity on invertebrate.In this study,the effects of single high-concentration ACs (15 mg/L,SH-ACs),repeated low-concentration ACs (3×5 mg/L,RL-ACs) and ACs-SMs containing 15 mg/L ACs exposure on the ingestion,incorporation,and digestion of Daphnia magna Straus (DS) were investigated by stable isotope¹⁵N labeling method.Meanwhile,the diversit...     

Effects of irrigation and landscape heterogeneity on butterfly diversity in Mediterranean farmlands

Irrigation effects on biodiversity are poorly known, particularly in Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. In this study we analyzed irrigation effects on butterfly species richness, abundance and diversity as well as on species composition in a farmed landscape under Mediterranean climate. The study area consisted of four contiguous agricultural sub-areas with a decreasing degree of intensification: irrigated, mixed (dry and irrigated), dry and environmentally protected (i.e. Special Protection Area, SPA) dry farmland. Forty one km-transects (ten per sub-area) were searched for butterflies in 2008 and 2009. Contrary to expectations, species richness (alfa, beta and gamma diversity) was highest in both years in the most intensified sub-area (i.e. irrigated) followed by SPA, dry and mixed sub-areas. Landscape characteristics accounted for most of the between-subareas differences in species richness. Species richness was negatively related to mean field size at the landscape level and positively related to the number of trees and large shrubs along transects. Therefore, the higher number of butterfly species recorded in the irrigated farmland could be due to a more complex landscape. In contrast, butterfly abundance was highest in cereal steppes (i.e. dry and SPA sub-areas), with abundance being negatively affected by mean field size. Inter-annual change in butterfly abundance was much sharper in rainfed (i.e. dry and SPA) than in irrigated (i.e. irrigated and mixed) sub-areas. Irrigated farmland may provide more favorable conditions for butterflies by buffering the (year-to-year and summer) drought periods characterising Mediterranean climate. Species composition differed among sub-areas, with differences being partly explained by field size and number of trees and shrubs along transects. Our study suggest an important role of landscape characteristics in boosting butterfly biodiversity in intensively managed irrigated croplands and emphasizes the importance of encouraging studies on farmland butterfly diversity in different (bioclimatic) regions allowing the design of region-specific agri-environmental schemes.     

The evolution of agrarian practices and its effects on the structure of enclosure landscapes in the Alt Empordà (Catalonia,Spain), 1957–2001

During the last 50 years, mechanisation of the rural environment, and, more recently, the Common Agricultural Policy have led to profound changes in agrarian landscapes throughout Europe, and in particular in the rich and diverse Mediterranean landscapes (Meeus et al., 1990). In the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, a small area of hedgerow landscape persists as a remnant of what was once an important centre for livestock production. This paper presents the results of a study carried out in this area with the aim of clarifying the relationship between the structural change of this hedgerow landscape and the evolution of farming practices developed by its owners and workers. It also considers these farmers’ perceptions of their pastures, of their farms and of the region. Up to 61 statistically significant relationships were found between the physical landscape characteristic variables and the socio-economical variables. Results depict a hedgerow landscape determined by the combination of two management models. Here, and contrary to conclusions reported in similar literature, traditional pasture activity leads to a weaker hedgerow network than a farming model based on crop cultivation. Management guidance required to move from the current situation towards a hedgerow landscape supporting both biodiversity and agrarian activity is discussed.     

生计多样性对农户参与农田生态补偿政策响应状态的影响——以上海闵行区、苏州张家港市发达地区为例

农田生态补偿政策是采用经济手段激励农户对农田生态系统服务功能进行保育和维护,解决因市场失灵造成生态效益外溢的一种有效方式,对于改善农田生态环境、提升农地开敞空间、增加农户收益具有积极作用。论文从发达地区农户生计多样性角度入手,利用结构方程模型分析农户生计多样性对农户参与补偿政策的支持意愿、政策实施效果响应的影响。结果表明:①农户基本特征、家庭特征、生计多样性特征、村庄发展特征在5%的水平下对农户在农田生态补偿政策上的支持意愿具有正向影响;②农户基本特征、家庭特征、生计多样性特征在5%的水平下对农户在补偿政策实施效果上的响应具有正向影响,农户村庄发展特征在5%的水平下对其具有负向影响;③农户生计多样性特征是影响农户补偿政策支持意愿最主要的因素,是影响补偿政策实施效果响应的次要因素。这表明补偿政策实施后,农户生计多样性特征对于提高农户对补偿政策支持意愿与政策实施效果响应方面具有积极的作用。把握三者之间的关系有利于政府制定和完善现有农田生态补偿政策,为引导农户生计多样性发展提供参考。     

耕地种植速生林的影响因素及其政策启示——基于山东省两市的农户调查

文章建立农户理论模型与回归模型,并基于山东省两个县级市——平度市与高密市282份农户问卷,对两市农户耕地中种植速生林的特征及其影响因素进行了分析,结果表明:①调查区80%以上的速生林土地来源于耕地,其占用耕地面积占总耕地面积的比例达到3.9 个百分点;②地块面积越大,农户将此地块转种速生林的几率越低;③户主年龄、户主受教育程度、农业收入、耕地质量与耕地种植速生林的关系不显著,说明速生林种植技术要求较低,普通耕地质量就可以满足速生林的种植需求,这也是调查区超过80%的速生林土地来源于耕地的主要原因之一;④农户种植速生林会明显提高劳动生产率,高非农工资收入的家庭,更倾向于种植速生林,而地块破碎、耕作距离较远会增加传统农业的总劳动投入量与强度,导致农户种植速生林;⑤邻地是否种植速生林对农户的速生林种植决策影响明显,说明速生林对耕地的胁迫效应严重。从保护基本农田的角度,需要避免新的速生林种植现象出现,重点针对常年举家外出的农户与非农收入较高的农户;政府亦应在推动土地向种粮农户流转方面作深入工作。     

Abundance thresholds and the underlying ecological processes: Field voles Microtus agrestis in a fragmented landscape

Field voles (Microtus agrestis) were trapped in 14 field margins and their behavioural and demographic parameters measured. Strong support was found for thresholds in margin width below which vole abundance was extremely low. Narrow margins were male biased with individuals moving greater distances and a large proportion of males behaved as transient individuals. However, no effect was observed on the age structure or survival of the population. Individuals were able to compensate for the lack of habitat through alterations in their behaviour sufficiently to maintain their survival. Within intensive agro-ecosystems, narrow strips between crops are important links for voles between wider margins and, if available, other more suitable habitats. Maintenance of narrow margins, along with larger areas of suitable habitat, is therefore effective in farmed landscapes for sustaining populations of specialist species where they show sufficient flexibility.     

Plant species in arable field margins and road verges of central Norway

Plant species composition and species number were studied in two types of field margins: 31 arable field margins and 33 road verges. Both field margin types were adjacent to intensively managed grass or cereal fields. Effects of eight variables on field margin vegetation were studied. Despite having many plant species in common, composition and species number differed between the two field margin types, due to different ecological conditions and margin management. Arable field margins were composed of tall and/or nutrient demanding ubiquitous species and were characterised by species of later successional stages than those of road verges. The vegetation of road verges was lower and species numbers were higher than in arable field margins. The road verges contained several semi-natural meadow species that are declining in abundance. A CCA ordination of the field margins and the recorded variables showed that plant species composition was significantly affected by thickness of litter, slope, width, moisture level and type of crop in the adjacent field. Number of plant species was significantly higher in mown than unmown margins and generally higher in margins adjacent to fields with mainly grass production than in margins adjacent to fields with mainly cereal crops. In order to preserve botanical diversity in this agricultural landscape, the maintenance of regularly mown road verges should be prioritized.     

Effects of landscape complexity on farmland birds in the Baltic States

Data on birds occurring in farmland in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were related to the spatial organisation of farmed habitats in three different agricultural landscape types. Species richness, abundance, and diversity of farmland bird communities, as well as abundance of the most frequently observed species were positively related to the number of residual non-cropped elements within farmland, the local mixture of annual crop and grass fields, and the variety of field types. The positive association of the species richness and abundance of the farmland bird community with richness in residual habitats and crops was most prominent in open landscapes. The results suggest that, by simplifying farmland structure and making it more homogenous, EU agricultural policies will have a detrimental effect on farmland bird populations in Eastern Europe. Ways of better targeting of the agri-environment schemes are suggested.     

基于农户生计的乡村能源消费模式研究——以陕南金丝峡乡村旅游地为例

为探讨乡村旅游发展对农户生计转型及能源消费模式产生的影响,论文借鉴可持续生计理论,以陕南金丝峡乡村旅游地为例,通过入户调查与访谈,构建能源消费-生计多样性模型对农户分类,基于用能多样性矩阵与效益评估法,分析不同生计类型农户用能结构及其综合效益,继而依据灰色关联分析,识别影响农户能源消费的主要生计资本因子,并总结农户能源消费模式转变的驱动机制.结果表明:① 参与旅游经营与不参与旅游经营的两大类农户中,农户用能多样性水平随生计多样性水平的提高而上升;② 与非旅游经营户相比,旅游经营户商品能源消费大幅增加,新型能源迅速推广,传统能源消费有所降低,能源消费模式向优质化和商品化发展;③ 不同类型农户用能综合效益差异明显,旅游经营户用能综合效益(16.96 元/kgce)明显大于非旅游经营户(13.53 元/kgce),表明旅游经营户从能源消费中获益更多;④ 促使农户能源消费模式变化的主要影响因素是物质、人力和金融三大生计资本.乡村旅游业发展带来了农户生计资本与策略的变化,并成为农户能源消费模式转变的重要驱动力,最后为进一步改善环境政策和优化能源利用,提出了相应的对策和建议.     

Coherent array of branched filamentary scales along the wing margin of a small moth

In butterflies and moths, the wing margins are fringed with specialized scales that are typically longer than common scales. In the hindwings of some small moths, the posterior margins are fringed with particularly long filamentary scales. Despite the small size of these moth wings, these scales are much longer than those of large moths and butterflies. In the current study, photography of the tethered flight of a small moth, Phthorimaea operculella, revealed a wide array composed of a large number of long filamentary scales. This array did not become disheveled in flight, maintaining a coherent sheet-like structure during wingbeat. Examination of the morphology of individual scales revealed that each filamentary scale consists of a proximal stalk and distal branches. Moreover, not only long scales but also shorter scales of various lengths were found to coexist in each small section of the wing margin. Scale branches were ubiquitously and densely distributed within the scale array to form a mesh-like architecture similar to a nonwoven fabric. We propose that possible mechanical interactions among branched filamentary scales, mediated by these branches, may contribute to maintaining a coherent sheet-like structure of the scale array during wingbeat.     

旱地作物根际和非根际土壤硝酸盐异化还原成铵细菌群落组成的研究

为研究典型旱地农田土壤硝酸盐异化还原成铵过程(Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium,DNRA)的群落组成,针对DNRA过程的功能基因nrfA进行高通量测序.根际和非根际、4种典型农作物共16个样品,质控后每个样品得到87000条序列,在相似度≥90%下划分到27952个OTUs,选取其中丰度较高的258个代表OTUs进行生态学分析.多样性分析(OTUs水平)结果表明:3/4的作物根际土壤样品中的DNRA群落丰富度、物种多样性和物种均匀度高于相应非根际样品,对比4种作物,粟作物根部土壤DNRA群落多样性最高,玉米作物非根际土壤最低.对代表OTUs进行分类,共定义到6个门(Phylum),19个属(Genus).其中相对丰度最高的3个属为Hyalangium(29.31%)、Chthoniobacter(20.33%)和Nitrospira(13.41%),表明三者在群落组成中占主导地位.结合土壤理化因子分析,DNRA群落相对丰度与NO~-_2-N、TN、含水率、TOM、pH及温度呈显著相关关系.本研究在一定程度上揭示了旱地农田土壤DNRA细菌的群落组成、多样性及与土壤环境因子的关系,为提高氮肥的利用效率和减小环境污染提供理论依据.     

炉渣与生物炭施加对稻田土壤细菌多样性及群落组成的影响

以福州平原稻田为试验基地,通过设置对照组、炉渣施加组、生物炭施加组、炉渣与生物炭混施组,探究它们对稻田土壤细菌相对丰度、多样性、群落组成的影响.结果发现,在晚稻生长期,废弃物施加处理条件下细菌群落多样性有所提高,与对照相比,生物炭、炉渣处理组细菌多样性指数分别提高了2.55%、3.21%.早稻混施组与早稻对照组之间的群落结构差异最大,晚稻生物炭施加组与晚稻对照组之间的差异最大.废弃物施加处理均提高了早稻芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）相对丰度,降低了晚稻芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）相对丰度,但晚稻中Bacillus占比始终高于早稻.环境因子对稻田土壤细菌相对丰度有显著影响,其中,芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）相对丰度与稻田土壤pH值呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）.建议在晚稻生长期可进行表层废弃物单独施加管理,以通过微生物多样性的增加,改良土壤、提高土壤肥力并达到增产的效果,而对于早稻未来可尝试废弃物深施方式,并探讨其生态影响.     

含四环素沼肥对蔬菜品质及抗性基因的影响

为探讨含四环素沼肥的生态毒性,采用盆栽试验研究了含四环素沼肥对小白菜品质、土壤微生物群落代谢功能多样性及抗性基因的影响. 结果表明:与CK相比,添加高浓度(15 mg/kg)四环素沼肥处理下,小白菜鲜质量和w(维生素C)分别降低了5.7%和16.7%,w(硝酸盐)增加了34.3%. Biolog微平板分析显示,添加高浓度四环素的沼肥显著提高了土壤微生物群落碳源利用多样性和物种丰富度. 实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,在小白菜幼苗期,添加高浓度四环素的沼肥处理下,土壤中四环素类抗性基因相对丰度比CK高出0.69~4.03倍. 无论沼肥中是否添加四环素,施肥后小白菜内生菌中均存在抗性基因,并且小白菜内生菌抗性基因相对丰度均以CK最高,比其他处理高出0.55~325.72倍. 研究显示,添加四环素的沼肥改变了小白菜品质和产量以及土壤微生物群落碳源利用多样性和物种丰富度,增加了土壤中四环素类抗性基因丰度,降低了小白菜内生菌的抗性基因水平.      

Pollinator diversity increases fruit production in Mexican coffee plantations: The importance of rustic management systems

Pollination is an ecological process that provides important services to humans. Pollination service in agroecosystems depends on several factors, including the land management systems used by farmers. Here we focused on the effects of insect pollinator diversity on coffee fruit production along a gradient of management systems in central Veracruz, Mexico. The gradient ranged from low environmental impact management systems (the native forest is not completely removed) to high environmental impact management systems (the native forest is completely removed). We hypothesized that pollinator diversity should be higher in low-impact systems. Then, if fruit production is positively related to pollinator diversity, plantations with low-impact management systems should display higher fruit production than plantations with high-impact management systems. We used observational and experimental data to test this hypothesis. Our results indicated that low-impact management systems have higher species richness and relative diversity (measured with the Shannon-Wiener diversity index) of pollinators than high-impact management systems. In all cases, fruit production was positively related with species richness and diversity of pollinators. Moreover, fruit production was higher in low-impact than in high-impact management systems. These results suggest that the diversity of insect pollinators can be influenced by the management system applied by farmers, and that such effects may have strong consequences on coffee fruit production.     

黄土区沟道泥沙微生物群落变化特征及其影响因素

在黄土高原沟壑区,通过16S rRNA基因片段和ITS高通量测序,研究沟道泥沙中细菌和真菌群落在上-中-下游的变化特征.结果表明：与沟头相比,把口站的细菌群落中拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）与厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）的相对丰度分别增加6.6%和10.5%,而变形菌门（Proteobacteria）的相对丰度降低15.1%;真菌群落中担子菌门（Basidiomycota）的相对丰度增加7.7%,而子囊菌门（Ascomycota）降低30.2%;泥沙中黏粒含量与细菌丰富度（Chao1指数）和多样性（Shannon指数）之间显著负相关（P<0.05）,与真菌的丰富度和多样性无显著相关性;细菌和真菌群落多样性和丰富度的空间差异与SOC、Olsen-P的变化有关（P<0.05）.因此,泥沙中颗粒组成物和养分含量可能是影响沟道微生物群落变化的主要因素.     

Low abundance of long-tongued pollinators leads to pollen limitation in four specialized hawkmoth-pollinated plants in the Atlantic Rain forest,Brazil

Long-tubed hawkmoth-pollinated species present some of the most remarkable examples of floral specialization depending exclusively on long-tongued hawkmoths for sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, long-tongued hawkmoths do not rely exclusively on specialized plants as nectar sources, which may limit sexual reproduction through pollen limitation. However, very few studies have quantified the level of pollen limitation in plants with highly specialized floral traits in tropical regions. In this context, we studied four sympatric hawkmoth-pollinated species in a highland Atlantic Rain forest and assessed pollen limitation and their dependence on pollinators by analyzing the floral biology, breeding system, pollination mechanisms, and abundance of long-tongued pollinators. We showed that the four species are self-compatible, but are completely dependent on long-tongued hawkmoths to set fruits, and that flower visitation was infrequent in all plant species. Pollen limitation indices ranged from 0.53 to 0.96 showing that fruit set is highly limited by pollen receipt. Long-tongued moths are much less abundant and comprise only one sixth of the hawkmoth fauna. Pollen analyses of 578 sampled moths revealed that hawkmoths visited ca. 80 plant species in the community, but only two of the four species studied. Visited plants included a long-tubed hawkmoth-pollinated species endemic to the lowland forest ca. 15–20 km away from the study site. Specialization index (H ₂ ′?=?0.20) showed that community-level interactions between hawkmoths and plants are generalized. We suggest that sexual reproduction of these highly specialized hawkmoth-pollinated species is impaired by competition among plants for pollinators, in conjunction with the low abundance and diversity of long-tongued pollinators.     

典型生活垃圾填埋场覆盖土微生物群落分析

采用第二代高通量测序技术Illumina MiSeq对典型生活垃圾填埋场覆盖土样(山东莱芜,SD;广东深圳,GD;上海老港,SH;重庆长生桥,CQ)进行16S rDNA V3~V4区高通量测序,并分析了Alpha多样性、物种组成和丰度、菌群结构及环境因子对群落结构的影响.结果表明:取自垃圾填埋场GD土样的物种种类多于其他土样,GD、SD、SH、CQ土样的Shannon指数分别为5.52±0.026、4.76±0.030、4.89±0.037、3.43±0.027;所有覆盖土样的优势菌为Alphaproteobacteria(α-变形杆菌纲)和Betaproteobacteria(β-变形杆菌纲),所占比例范围分别为12.67%~25.54%,14.35%~18.88%;SD、GD和SH三种覆盖土样的优势菌为Sphingomonas(鞘氨醇单胞菌属),分别占7.25%、10.67%、11.30%; Deltaproteobacteria(德耳塔变形杆菌纲)和Gammaproteobacteria(γ-变形菌杆纲)的相对丰度分别与TN(r=1.00,P<0.001)和TP(r=1.00,P<0.001)呈正相关关系,且结合RDA图,TN、TP和OM含量可能是SD土样区别于其他土样群落组成的主要因素.     

GeoChip-based analysis of the microbial community functional structures in simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification process

The elemental sulfur （S^0） recover）, was evaluated in the presence of hi,ate in two development models of simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification （SDD） process. At the loading rates of 0.9 kg S/（m^3.day） for sulfide and 0.4 kg N/（m^3.day） for nitrate, SO conversion rate was 91.1% in denitrifying sulfide removal （DSR） model which was higher than in integrated simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification （ISDD） model （25.6%）. A comprehensive analysis of functional diversity, structure and metabolic potential of microbial communities was examined in two models by using functional gene array （GeoChip 2.0）. GeoChip data indicated that diversity indices, community structure, and abundance of functional genes were distinct between two models. Diversity indices （Simpson＇s diversity index （1/D） and Shannon-Weaver index （H′）） of all detected genes showed that with elevated infiuent loading rate, the functional diversity decreased in ISDD model but increased in DSR model. In contrast to ISDD model, the overall abundance of dsr genes was lower in DSR model, while some functional genes targeting from nitrate-reducing sulfide-oxidizingbacteria {NR-SOB）, such as Thiobacillus denitrficans, Sulfurimonas denitrificans, and Paracoccus pantotrophus were more abundant in DSR model which were highly associated with the change of SO conversion rate obtained in two models. The results obtained in this study provide additional insights into the microbial metabolic mechanisms involved in ISDD and DSR models, which in turn will improve the overall performance of SDD process.