Applications of Very High‐Resolution Imagery in the Study and Conservation of Large Predators in the Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean is one of the most rapidly changing ecosystems on the planet due to the effects of climate change and commercial fishing for ecologically important krill and fish. Because sea ice loss is expected to be accompanied by declines in krill and fish predators, decoupling the effects of climate and anthropogenic changes on these predator populations is crucial for ecosystem‐based management of the Southern Ocean. We reviewed research published from 2007 to 2014 that incorporated very high‐resolution satellite imagery to assess distribution, abundance, and effects of climate and other anthropogenic changes on populations of predators in polar regions. Very high‐resolution imagery has been used to study 7 species of polar animals in 13 papers, many of which provide methods through which further research can be conducted. Use of very high‐resolution imagery in the Southern Ocean can provide a broader understanding of climate and anthropogenic forces on populations and inform management and conservation recommendations. We recommend that conservation biologists continue to integrate high‐resolution remote sensing into broad‐scale biodiversity and population studies in remote areas, where it can provide much needed detail. Aplicaciones de Imágenes de Muy Alta Resolución en el Estudio y Conservación de Grandes Depredadores en el Océano Antártico     

Interactions between Carbon Sequestration and Shade Tree Diversity in a Smallholder Coffee Cooperative in El Salvador

Agroforestry systems have substantial potential to conserve native biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. In particular, agroforestry systems have the potential to conserve native tree diversity and sequester carbon for climate change mitigation. However, little research has been conducted on the temporal stability of species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in these systems or the relation between species diversity and aboveground carbon sequestration. We measured changes in shade‐tree diversity and shade‐tree carbon stocks in 14 plots of a 35‐ha coffee cooperative over 9 years and analyzed relations between species diversity and carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration was positively correlated with initial species richness of shade trees. Species diversity of shade trees did not change significantly over the study period, but carbon stocks increased due to tree growth. Our results show a potential for carbon sequestration and long‐term biodiversity conservation in smallholder coffee agroforestry systems and illustrate the opportunity for synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Interacciones entre el Secuestro de Carbono y la Diversidad de Árboles de Sombra en una Cooperativa de Café de Pequeños Agricultores en El Salvador     

Geography and Recovery under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Abstract: The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) defines an endangered species as one “at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” The prevailing interpretation of this phrase, which focuses exclusively on the overall viability of listed species without regard to their geographic distribution, has led to development of listing and recovery criteria with fundamental conceptual, legal, and practical shortcomings. The ESA's concept of endangerment is broader than the biological concept of extinction risk in that the “esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific” values provided by species are not necessarily furthered by a species mere existence, but rather by a species presence across much of its former range. The concept of “significant portion of range” thus implies an additional geographic component to recovery that may enhance viability, but also offers independent benefits that Congress intended the act to achieve. Although the ESA differs from other major endangered‐species protection laws because it acknowledges the distinct contribution of geography to recovery, it resembles the “representation, resiliency, and redundancy” conservation‐planning framework commonly referenced in recovery plans. To address representation, listing and recovery standards should consider not only what proportion of its former range a species inhabits, but the types of habitats a species occupies and the ecological role it plays there. Recovery planning for formerly widely distributed species (e.g., the gray wolf [Canis lupus]) exemplifies how the geographic component implicit in the ESA's definition of endangerment should be considered in determining recovery goals through identification of ecologically significant types or niche variation within the extent of listed species, subspecies, or “distinct population segments.” By linking listing and recovery standards to niche and ecosystem concepts, the concept of ecologically significant type offers a scientific framework that promotes more coherent dialogue concerning the societal decisions surrounding recovery of endangered species.     

Understanding Interaction Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Bird Distributions through Combined Process and Habitat Models

Abstract: Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process‐based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf‐area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species’ use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.     

喀斯特灌丛土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落结构及丰度的影响因子

运用末端限制性片段长度多态性(terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)和荧光定量PCR(real-time PCR)法,检测喀斯特灌丛生态系统中不同坡位条件下土壤丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)真菌群落结构与丰度的变化,揭示不同坡位条件下影响灌丛生态系统土壤AM真菌群落结构与丰度的关键因子.研究结果表明不同坡位条件下,土壤有机碳、全氮和速效磷含量差异显著,变化趋势为上坡位≈中坡位下坡位;土壤AM真菌丰度变化趋势为上坡位≈中坡位下坡位.相关性分析表明,土壤速效磷含量与AM真菌丰度存在显著负相关(P0.05).RDA分析表明不同坡位条件下,土壤AM真菌与植物群落结构存在显著差异,植物均匀度指数显著影响土壤AM群落结构组成,而土壤有机碳、全氮显著影响植物群落结构组成.可见,不同坡位条件下,土壤养分与植物群落结构共同作用影响土壤AM真菌群落结构,说明利用AM真菌用于喀斯特地区植被恢复时,微形态(坡位)对AM真菌的影响应该纳入考虑范畴.     

生物炭添加对半干旱地区土壤温室气体排放的影响

为确定生物炭添加对半干旱地区农田土壤温室气体释放的影响,采用小区定位试验,利用锯末(J)和槐树皮(H)及3种添加比例(1%、3%、5%,质量百分比),研究了生物炭添加6个月内表层土壤CO2、CH4和N2O等3种温室气体排放的动态变化.结果表明,与对照相比,各处理土壤CO2排放通量随生物炭的添加呈现增加的趋势,锯末和槐树皮等两种生物炭处理的土壤CO2平均排放通量分别增加了1.89%和3.34%,但差异不显著.CH4排放随着生物炭添加量的增加而降低,各生物炭处理的土壤表层CH4排放量平均降幅分别为:J1:1.17%、J3:2.55%、J5:4.32%、H1:2.35%、H3:5.83%、H5:7.32%.其中,锯末生物炭仅在5%添加量时较对照差异显著(P0.05),而槐树皮生物炭处理在3%和5%的添加量与对照差异均达显著水平(P0.05).生物炭对N2O的排放影响没有明显规律性.研究表明,生物炭在短期内对半干旱地区农田土壤CO2和N2O的排放没有显著影响,而对CH4排放则影响显著(P0.05).就生物炭类型而言,槐树皮生物炭在抑制CH4排放方面优于锯末生物炭,差异显著(P=0.048).     

城市饮用水源地生态系统健康评价与保护对策研究

开展城市饮用水源地生态系统健康状况评价,为建立流域尺度的长效保护机制提供依据.以郑州尖岗水库为研究对象,构建水域生境结构、水生生物、陆域生态格局和生态功能等共6类16项评价指标,采用综合指数法开展评估.尖岗水库水域、陆域和流域综合生态健康标准化评估值分别为54.17、59.21和57.19,评价等级均为"一般",河道连通性、森林覆盖率是流域生态健康的主要限制因子.人类活动对尖岗水库生态系统健康状况产生了强烈影响,生态环境正处于负向演替和生态退化阶段.     

集雨种植下不同沟垄比对土壤呼吸的影响及其对水热因子的响应

为探明不同宽度沟垄集雨种植下土壤呼吸对土壤水热因子的响应机制,对比研究了沟垄比分别为20 cm∶40 cm(P40)、30 cm∶30 cm(P30)、40 cm∶20 cm(P20)的沟垄集雨种植和平作种植(CP)下冬小麦的土壤呼吸动态变化,及其与土壤温度和水分的关系.结果表明,4个处理的土壤呼吸速率在越冬期最低,返青期开始升高,扬花期前后达到峰值,之后逐渐降低.沟垄集雨处理土壤呼吸速率表现为P40P30P20,垄宽增加使呼吸速率提高1.2%~18.4%;苗期和越冬期,沟垄集雨种植提高了土壤呼吸速率,表现为P40P30P20CP,其中苗期3个沟垄集雨处理均显著高于CP(P0.05),越冬期P40处理显著高于CP;苗期和越冬期沟垄集雨种植提高了土壤温度,拔节期至成熟期CP土壤温度高于沟垄集雨处理;沟垄集雨种植能有效蓄水保墒,随着垄宽的增加集雨效果越好,苗期至拔节期降雨稀少,7.6 cm和12 cm土层土壤含水量均表现为P40P30P20CP.相关分析表明,土壤呼吸与温度的相关系数达极显著水平(P0.01),P40和P30的土壤呼吸与水分的相关系数小于P20和CP;水热双因子二次方程模型能解释呼吸变化的61.7%~74.1%,温度指数模型能解释50.3%~68.2%.本研究结果为沟垄集雨种植的生态效益评估提供理论依据.     

典型水库型湖泊中CDOM吸收及荧光光谱变化特征:基于沿岸生态系统分析

为进一步了解水库型湖泊溶解性有机质(DOM)的地球化学特征,本文以三峡库区典型内陆水库型湖泊——长寿湖为研究对象,利用紫外-可见和三维荧光光谱,并结合湖区周边生态系统分析,讨论了长寿湖水体中CDOM的组成、来源和空间分布特征.结果表明,长寿湖不同采样点DOM浓度(DOC和CDOM)存在一定程度的空间分布差异,但各点FDOM分布较为稳定.回水区出现DOM累积,由于受陆源输入影响有限,水体内源活动主导,具有较明显"内源控制"特征,芳香性和分子量相对较低;而周边陆地以人工林兼旅游开发为主的采样点,陆源输入在带入较多腐殖化(高芳香性)组分的同时,人为活动排放也是导致其类蛋白组分丰富的重要原因;入湖区尽管周边果林和居民生活对水体DOM有一定影响,但上游河流输入的影响也不容忽视.另外,各采样点也出现了不受周边生态系统影响的独立的相关性特征,例如芳香性特征常数(SUVA280)和光谱斜率[S(275~295)]显著负相关、CDOM和FDOM极显著正相关、CDOM和S(275~295)负相关等.同时,长寿湖水体中CDOM的生色团主要由具有芳香性结构的大分子组分构成;至少51%的CDOM波动可以通过FDOM变化来进行解释,其中回水区荧光组分对CDOM变动的影响最为明显.在采用传统FI值无法区分DOM来源差异性时,结合采样点沿岸生态系统,综合紫外-可见和荧光光谱特征,有助于对DOM组成及来源进行解析.     

地膜覆盖对菜地生态系统N2O排放的影响

为了探讨地膜覆盖对菜地N_2O的排放通量、土壤剖面N_2O浓度以及土壤温度和湿度的影响,选取西南地区常见菜地(辣椒-萝卜轮作)为研究对象,采用静态暗箱/气相色谱法,进行了为期1 a的野外观测实验.结果表明,在辣椒季,常规处理(不覆膜)N_2O的平均排放通量为1000.0μg·(m~2·h)~(-1),覆膜处理为400.6μg·(m~2·h)~(-1),覆膜显著低于常规处理(P0.05);而在萝卜季,N_2O的平均排放通量则表现为覆膜处理[128.1μg·(m~2·h)~(-1)]高于常规处理[107.8μg·(m~2·h)~(-1)],但两者差异未达到显著水平(P0.05).覆膜和常规菜地土壤中N_2O含量均基本随土层深度的增加而增加,表现为:30 cm20cm10 cm,相同处理各层次土壤N_2O含量间均呈显著相关,不同处理相同深度处的土壤N_2O含量间也存在显著的正相关关系.对不同土层中的N_2O含量与地表N_2O排放通量的相关性分析可得出,常规处理各土层处的N_2O含量与地表N_2O排放通量呈显著正相关关系.覆膜处理的N_2O排放通量仅与30 cm深土壤中的N_2O含量存在显著正相关关系.通过对土壤湿度和温度的观测可以得出,地膜覆盖对土壤的增温效应在夏季更加明显,对土壤的保水作用在秋冬季更加突出.相关性分析和主成分分析结果表明,土壤中氮素形态是决定农田N_2O排放最重要的因素,其中常规菜地N_2O排放主要受土壤中总氮含量的影响,而覆膜菜地N_2O的排放对土壤中无机态氮含量的变化更加敏感.