彭州白水河国家级自然保护区植物群落a多样性的海拔梯度变化

白水河国家级自然保护区位于四川省彭州市境内,地处龙门山脉东南部,从海拔1400～4800m依次覆盖着常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶混交林、落叶阔叶林、亚高山针叶林、高山亚高山灌丛、高山草甸和流石滩植被．通过对白水河保护区山地东南坡不同海拔高度的样方调查,研究了该区域植物群落a多样性及其沿海拔梯度的变化规律．结果表明,乔木层物种的丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈明显的线性下降趋势;灌木层和草本层物种丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈抛物线下降趋势．乔木物种从海拔1400m的12种至林线下降为2种;灌木和草本植物分别从35种和38种至山顶下降为5种和20种．乔木层物种的均匀度在2800～2900m由于出现单一的冷杉群落而突然降低;灌木层和草本层物种的均匀度则较为一致,波动不大．乔木层物种的优势度随海拔升高而逐渐上升,并在2900m急速升高;灌木层和草本层的优势度呈浅波状变化．乔木层物种随海拔升高在不同群落类型间出现明显的物种替代现象,表明海拔梯度包含了多种环境因子的梯度效应,影响着植物群落的分布、结构及物种多样性．     

彭州白水河国家级自然保护区植物群落α多样性的海拔梯度变化

白水河国家级自然保护区位于四川省彭州市境内,地处龙门山脉东南部,从海拔1400～4800 m依次覆盖着常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶混交林、落叶阔叶林、亚高山针叶林、高山亚高山灌丛、高山草甸和流石滩植被.通过对白水河保护区山地东南坡不同海拔高度的样方调查,研究了该区域植物群落α多样性及其沿海拔梯度的变化规律.结果表明,乔木层物种的丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈明显的线性下降趋势;灌木层和草本层物种丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈抛物线下降趋势.乔木物种从海拔1400 m的12种至林线下降为2种;灌木和草本植物分别从35种和38种至山顶下降为5种和20种.乔木层物种的均匀度在2800～2900 m由于出现单一的冷杉群落而突然降低;灌木层和草本层物种的均匀度则较为一致,波动不大.乔木层物种的优势度随海拔升高而逐渐上升,并在2900m急速升高;灌木层和草本层的优势度呈浅波状变化.乔木层物种随海拔升高在不同群落类型间出现明显的物种替代现象,表明海拔梯度包含了多种环境因子的梯度效应,影响着植物群落的分布、结构及物种多样性.图4表1参20     

重庆缙云山常绿阔叶林群落物种多样性与土壤因子的关系

探讨了缙云山常绿阔叶林物种多样性的变化特征，并运用去势典范对应分析(DCCA)方法，分析了不同样方中土壤因子与群落多样性指数之间的关系．结果表明：(1)17个样方中物种丰富度指数是草本层最高，均匀度指数是乔木层最高．(2)土壤含水量和水解氮与乔木层物种丰富度和均匀度相关性明显，有效磷和乔木层均匀度有明显相关；全氮含量和有机质含量与草本层物种的均匀度有明显相关．(3)多酚氧化酶活性和乔木层物种的均匀度有明显相关，转化酶活性与乔木层物种丰富度和均匀度均有一定相关，多酚氧化酶活性和酸性磷酸酶活性与草本层的物种均匀度和丰富度有明显相关．图2表3参20     

Species diversity and leaf functional traits of understory vegetation one year after severe burning北大核心CSCD

以北京油松(Pinus tabuliformis)人工林为研究对象,采用独立样本T检验、冗余分析等方法,分析重度火烧1年后林下植被(灌木层和草本层)的物种多样性、叶功能性状及其与土壤因子的关系.结果显示:(1)与对照样地相比,重度火烧后灌木层物种丰富度指数极显著降低(P <0.01),但Shannon指数、Simpson指数以及Pielou指数虽呈下降趋势但未达显著水平(P> 0.05);草本层除Pielou指数外,各物种多样性指数均显著增加(P <0.05).(2)重度火烧样地灌木层和草本层的叶厚度(LT)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶碳含量(LCC)、叶磷含量(LPC)均高于对照样地,而比叶面积(SLA)、叶氮含量(LNC)、叶片氮磷比(N:P)、叶绿素含量(CHL)低于对照样地,除灌木层LPC和N:P及草本层SLA、LCC和LPC外,其他各叶功能性状在火烧与对照间差异均达显著水平.对于不同生活型而言,对照样地的LDMC、LNC、LCC、CHL存在显著差异,而在重度火烧后差异不显著;LT、SLA在重度火烧和对照样地上均呈现显著差异;而LPC、N:P在重度火烧与对照样地上均无显著差异.(3)重度火烧后1年,灌木层和草本层的叶功能性状均仅与土壤含水率、容重和非毛管孔隙度密切相关.本研究表明在油松人工林重度火烧后1年,灌木层物种多样性降低,而草本层物种多样性增加,灌草层的各叶功能性状主要受土壤物理性质的影响呈现不同的变化规律.(图4参45)     

古田山国家级自然保护区常绿阔叶林类型及其群落物种多样性研究

在群落调查的基础上，分析了古田山自然保护区常绿阔叶林的群落类型和群落物种多样性特征．结果表明：古田山自然保护区常绿阔叶林主要有6种类型(群系)，即甜槠林、栲树林、野含笑-钩栗林、青冈林、虎皮楠-甜槠林、乌冈栎-青冈林，并对各群落类型的结构和物种组成进行了描述．从各群落的外貌、结构和种类组成上看，均具有我国典型常绿阔叶林的基本特征．不同群落类型其物种多样性大小不同，栲树林和野含笑-钩栗林物种多样性较高，虎皮楠-甜槠林和乌冈栎-青冈林物种多样性较低．在群落垂直结构中，灌木层→乔木层→草本层物种多样性依次降低，乔木层与灌木层之间物种多样性差异不显著，草本层的物种丰富度、物种多样性指数均明显小于乔木层和灌木层．与邻近4个山地常绿阔叶林物种多样性相比较，古田山常绿阔叶林物种多样性比纬度位置高的黄山和大别山要大，但比纬度位置低的乌岩岭和缙云山小．     

重庆四面山杉木群落物种多样性研究

通过对重庆四面山杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)林样地的调查,运用丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数,分析了该地区杉木群落物种多样性特征,将该地区现存杉木群落划分为2个群系组(杉木林和杉木针阔混交林),8个群系,10个群丛。结果表明,杉木群落可分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层。在杉木林群系组中,丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数均表现为灌木层>草本层>乔木层。在杉木针阔混交林群系组中,丰富度指数表现为灌木层>乔木层>草本层;多样性指数多数表现为灌木层>乔木层>草本层;均匀度指数变化较为复杂,没有统一规律。杉木群落各层的丰富度指数随海拔高度的升高总体上呈下降趋势。群落各层的多样性指数随海拔高度的升高在特定区间内表现出一定规律性:在海拔1180m以下低海拔区域,随海拔高度的升高呈下降趋势;在海拔1180～1351m范围内,随海拔高度的升高呈波动状态;而在海拔1351m以上高海拔区域,又呈下降趋势。群落各层的均匀度指数随海拔梯度变化较为复杂,未表现出明显规律。     

浙江古田山自然保护区青冈林植物物种多样性研究

分析了浙江古田山自然保护区青冈林的植物区系组成和群落物种多样性。结果表明，8个样地中共有维管束植物147种(含变种)，隶属51科92属。其中蕨类植物5科7属14种，裸子植物1科1属1种，被子植物45科84属132种。青冈林植物区系成分复杂，具有较高的热带成分比例。群落科、属、种组成多样性较高，植物种类丰富，组成复杂。群落垂直结构中，物种多样性依灌木层→乔木层→草本层的次序递减，乔木层、灌木层的物种多样性指数明显大于草本层。     

历山山核桃群落物种多样性特征

采用Patrick指数、Simpson指数、Shannon指数、Pielou指数、Alatalo指数等5个多样性指数,结合TWINSPAN分类,研究历山自然保护区山核桃(Juglans mandshurica)群落的物种多样性与群落类型、结构及环境因子的关系.结果表明:TWINSPAN分类将35个样方分为7个群丛,各群丛的物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数之间存在差异,各群丛乔木层、灌木层和草本层之间的丰富度指数和均匀度指数也存在差异,山核桃群落物种多样性受其所处的坡向、坡度、土壤类型等物理微环境及群落物种组成、干扰等共同影响.方差分析结果表明:各群丛间丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数差异不显著,各群丛乔木层、灌木层和草本层之间的丰富度指数和均匀度指数也差异不显著,这说明山核桃群落生境异质性小,物种对地带性气候有相似的适应特征以及相似的资源利用方式.     

古田山国家自然保护区针阔叶混交林植物物种多样性特征

利用样方法进行野外群落调查.共调查了6个样地,每个样地大小为20m×20 m,研究古田山自然保护区针阔叶混交林植物物种多样性特征.结果表明:古田山针阔混交林的科、属、种组成多样性较高,植物种类丰富.组成复杂.群落的属种多样性>科属多样性>科种多样性.从灌木层、乔木层至草本层物种多样性依次递减,乔木层和灌木层的物种多样性指数明显大于草本层物种多样性指数.     

澳门松山市政公园物种多样性特征

根据实际情况.将澳门松山市政公园植物群落分为阴香群落、假萍婆群落、假萍婆+石栗群落,调查并分析了各群落的物种多样性特征.结果表明,乔木层、灌木层和草本层的物种多样性水平表现为灌木层较高.草本层与乔木层较低.但总体而言.这些群落的植物种类都较少,物种多样性水平尤其乔木层物种多样性水平低.因此,应加强抚育,可通过生态恢复改善环境条件,为生物多样性的发展创造条件;通过林分改造促进群落物种多样性水平的提高,同时也能丰富森林景观.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

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     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

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.