Impacts of Fire-Suppression Activities on Natural Communities

Abstract:  The ecological impacts of wildland fire-suppression activities can be significant and may surpass the impacts of the fire itself. A recent paradigm shift from fire control to fire management has resulted in increased attention to minimizing the negative effects of suppression. While the philosophy behind minimum-impact suppression tactics has provided a good first step in this direction, increased attention to the ecological effects of suppression is needed, especially in the management of public lands. We reviewed the potential impacts of suppression on land, air, and water resources and the impacts of using fire to help control fire. Effects on land resources include erosion, which is exacerbated by the construction of fire lines, temporary roads, and helicopter pads, and some postfire rehabilitation activities. Although the fire itself is the most obvious source of air pollution, the vehicles used in suppression activities contribute to this problem and to noise pollution. Water resources, including aquatic flora and fauna, may be seriously affected by suppression activities that can increase erosion, sedimentation, turbidity, and chemical contamination. Finally, the use of backburns and burnout operations contributes to the risk of soil and water contamination, increases the total area burned, and promotes more intense fires or more homogeneous burned areas. Although no fire-management strategy should be applied uniformly, some general techniques such as use of natural clearings, natural barriers, and appropriately sized fire lines, "leave no-trace" camping, and careful application of fuels and retardants can be employed to minimize the impacts of suppression.     

Effects of Restoring Oak Savannas on Bird Communities and Populations

Abstract:  Efforts to restore and maintain oak savannas in North America, with emphasis on the use of prescribed fire, have become common. Little is known, however, about how restoration affects animal populations, especially those of birds. I compared the breeding densities, community structure, and reproductive success of birds in oak savannas maintained by prescribed fire (12 sites) with those in closed-canopy forests (13 sites). All sampling was conducted in Illinois (U.S.A.). Of the 31 bird species analyzed, 12 were more common in savannas, 14 were not affected by habitat structure, and 5 were more common in forest habitat. The species favored by disturbance and restoration included Northern Bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus ), Mourning Doves (  Zenaida macroura ), Red-headed Woodpeckers (  Melanerpes erythrocephalus ), Indigo Buntings (  Passerina cyanea ), and Baltimore Orioles ( Icterus galbula ). Those more common in closed-canopy forest included Ovenbirds ( Seiurus aurocapilla ) and Wood Thrushes (  Hylocichla mustelina ). Few species were unique to one type of habitat, but overall avian community structure in oak savannas and closed-canopy forests was generally distinctive. Estimates of nesting success (derived from 785 nests) revealed that 6 of the 13 species considered experienced greater productivity in the savanna habitat. Rates of brood parasitism were unaffected by restoration and habitat structure. Within savannas, tract size had little effect on breeding abundances and reproductive success. My results illustrate that restoration techniques can significantly affect the ecology of constituent animal populations and communities and have key implications regarding avian conservation and the management of forest habitat in fragmented landscapes. Small patches of forest habitat that regularly function as population sinks may offer far better prospects for birds if they are subjected to disturbance and ecosystem restoration.     

The Combined Effects of Remnant Vegetation and Tree Planting on Farmland Birds

Abstract:  Biodiversity conservation on agricultural land is a major issue worldwide. We estimated separate and joint effects of remnant native woodland vegetation and recent tree plantings on birds on farms (approximately 500–1000 ha) in the heavily cleared wheat and sheep belt of southern Australia. Much of the variation (>70%) in bird responses was explained by 3 factors: remnant native-vegetation attributes (native grassland, scattered paddock trees, patches of remnant native woodland); presence or absence of planted native trees; and the size and shape of tree plantings. In terms of the number of species, remnant native vegetation was more important than tree planting, in a 3:1 ratio, approximately. Farms with high values for remnant native vegetation were those most likely to support declining or vulnerable species, although some individual species of conservation concern occurred on farms with large plantings. Farm management for improved bird conservation should account for the cumulative and complementary contributions of many components of remnant native-vegetation cover (e.g., scattered paddock trees and fallen timber) as well as areas of restored native vegetation.     

火力发电厂灰渣场地理化性质对植物生长的影响

经实地考察分析 ,对芜湖火力发电厂灰渣场地理化性质和植物生长的关系进行了研究。结果表明 ,芜湖发电厂灰渣场地自然定居的植物仅 30种 ,大部分定居物种是适于风力传播的繁殖体 ,它和渣场周边的植物繁殖体源有重要关系。灰渣场地物理性质不良、养分不平衡而贫瘠和重金属浓度过高是限制植物定居的主要因素。     

赤泥对土地处理系统中植物除磷效果的影响研究

将赤泥按0％、2.5％、5％、7.5％、10％的重量比例与土壤混合,考察赤泥掺混对土地处理系统中植物除磷效果的影响.结果表明,赤泥从生物量以及磷吸收两方面影响植物除磷.适量的赤泥掺混可提高植物生物量,掺混比为5％时生物量最大.另一方面,赤泥掺混越多,对植物磷吸收的抑制也越大.总体效果上,掺混比例为5％时,黑麦草和高羊茅...     

环境因子和火干扰因子对喀纳斯泰加林柳兰分布的影响

喀纳斯泰加林植被的生长和分布受火干扰和环境因子的共同作用,为了解喀纳斯泰加林林下柳兰分布与生态因子的关系,促进种群扩繁,共设置了35个样地进行调查和分析。建立柳兰重要值与生态因子矩阵,利用CCA分析法对不同火烧林分中柳兰的生长分布状况与林火烈度、火后时间、海拔、坡度、坡向、郁闭度、土壤pH值、速效钾、土壤有机质、灌木层盖度、草本层盖度和草本层物种多样性指数等20个生态因子的关系进行了分析。结果显示,第一轴主要反映林火烈度、海拔、坡向,灌木层盖度、pH值、有机质、全钾和速效钾的变化;第二轴主要反映林火烈度、火后时间、草本层盖度、坡向、坡位、土壤容重、电导率、有机质、有效磷和全氮的变化。对柳兰分布有显著影响的生态因子是林火烈度、有机质、海拔、坡向、灌木层盖度、土壤容重、全钾和速效钾,前两轴的累计贡献率为72.48%。柳兰适合在土壤呈弱酸性、海拔低、阳坡、土壤容重小、土壤有机质、全钾和速效钾含量高的环境中生长。柳兰是阳性植物,是火烧后的先锋植物。对影响柳兰分布的生态因子进行定量分离,结果发现环境因子和火干扰因子对柳兰样地物种分布的解释能力为88.2%,显示出较好的排序效果。喀纳斯泰加林受人为...     

青海三江源区植被退化对土壤养分和微生物区系的影响

采用化学分析法、微生物平皿分离计数和形态鉴定技术研究了青海三江源地区天然与退化植被下的土壤养分和微生物生态特征。结果表明,随着三江源地区天然草地植被退化,土壤有机质含量急剧下降,退化高山草甸土的有机质平均含量为14.85gkg-1,较天然高山草甸土的平均含量降低54.3%,较高山草原土和沼泽化草甸土分别降低74.5%和90.7%,其他养分含量也有不同程度的降低,土壤养分状况明显恶化.不同类型植被下土壤微生物区系特征变化显著,退化高山草甸土的细菌、真菌、放线菌(GA)平均数量分别为8.8×106、9.5×103、8.1×105cfug-1,较天然高山草甸土降低65.8%、46.6%、57.3%,较高山草原土降低37.1%、23.3%、62.6%,较沼泽化草甸土降低90.3%、48.1%、69.6%;退化草地土壤微生物组成较天然草地更为简单,退化高山草甸土的真菌种类数明显降低,土壤放线菌组成趋于简单化,其小单孢菌和其他菌属所占比例明显低于天然草地.三江源高寒湿地生态系统中土壤养分与微生物数量之间存在密切关系,土壤全磷对微生物数量影响最大.     

铜陵铜矿尾矿理化性质的变化对植被重建的影响

通过野外调查和室内分析,对铜陵不同弃置堆放时间的铜矿尾矿的理化性质及植被定居状况进行了研究。结果表明,随着堆放时间的推移,表层尾矿的稳定性增加,基质结构改善,持水肥能力提高,有机质,全氮、有效磷、速效钾、有效铜及水溶性盐类含量上升,ｐＨ值降低,有的甚至出现酸化现象。铜矿尾矿的植被定居状况与其堆放时间及理化性质的变化有着密切关系。     

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.     

基于MODIS时序数据北回归线(云南段)地区植被物候时空变化及其对气候响应分析

植被物候作为自然界规律性、周期性事件,对开展全球气候变化、植被长势观测等研究具有重要价值。以北回归线(云南段)穿过的县域为研究区,基于长时间序列MODIS EVI(Enhanced Vegetation Index,EVI)、土地利用类型和气候因子数据,采用S-G滤波、动态阈值、相关分析等方法分析19 a(2001—2019年)间植被物候的时空分布特征及其对水热因子的响应。结果表明,(1)海拔和地势起伏在物候地域分异中作用显著,植被物候存在明显的垂直地带性分布特征。山地与河谷、坝子、低海拔区的物候值差异较大,山地地区的植被生长季开始期(Start of Season,SOS)在192—240 d,生长季结束期(End of Season,EOS)在次年144—192 d,生长季长度(Length of Season,LOS)为272—304 d;河谷、坝子、东部低海拔地区的植被SOS在80—112 d,EOS在337至次年17 d,LOS在224—256 d。(2)19 a间植被物候年际变化总体特征为SOS显著提前(R²=0.51,P=0.001<0.05),平均提前1.14 d·(10 a)^?1;EOS推迟(R²=0.01,P=0.756>0.05),平均推迟0.07 d·(10 a)^?1;LOS显著延长(R²=0.47,P=0.001<0.05),平均延长1.07 d·(10 a)^?1。(3)不同植被类型的物候期及其变化趋势不同,研究区森林植被生长期最长,草地次之,耕地最短;19 a间SOS、EOS、LOS变化最大的分别是常绿阔叶林(?1.68 d·(10 a)^?1)、耕地(1.25 d·(10 a)^?1)、木本热带稀树草原(1.28 d·(10 a)^?1)。(4)水热组合对植被生长影响显著,河谷、坝子、东部低海拔地区的植被SOS、EOS分别主要受2月降水(负相关)和4月气温(正相关)、9月降水和气温(正相关)影响,山地地区植被SOS、EOS分别主要受6月降水(正相关)和5月气温(正相关)、5月降水(正相关)和4月气温(正相关)影响。     

农业生产、小城镇和城市废水对西苕溪水质和底栖动物群落的影响

于2006年4月～2007年3月调查了西苕溪中上游3个参照、7个农业面源、3个小城镇和1个城市废水污染溪流的水质和底柄动物.结果表明,受污染溪流的NH3-N、TP、CODMn和电导率显著高于参照(P＜0.05).城市溪流的NH3-N[(2.464±2.69)mg/L]、TP[(0.5734±0.179)mg/L]和CODMn[(4.6804±0.959)mg/L]显著高于农业面源和小城镇废水的(P＜0.05),但pH(7.34±0.06)和DO[(4.74±0.88)mg/L]显著低于农业面源和小城镇的(P＜0.05).小城镇污染溪流的TP和电导率显著高于农业面源的,其余指标均无显著差异.与参照相比,3种污染类型溪流底栖动物群落总分类单元丰富度、EPT丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和B-IBI生物完整性指数均显著降低.城市对底柄动物群落的影响最严重,但小城镇与农业面源之间对底栖动物群落结构的影响无显著差异.研究结果表明,农业牛产废水和城镇废水污染是西苕溪中上游水生态系统健康退化的主要原因之一,但有关退化的机制还需深入研究.图2表4参19     

Effects of Local Disturbance of Tropical Forests on Frugivores and Seed Removal of a Small-Seeded Afrotropical Tree

Abstract:  Small-scale, local disturbance of tropical forests, for example from selective logging, is widespread, but its effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function have rarely been studied. In 3 East African tropical rainforests, we investigated the effect of different levels of local forest disturbance on the frugivore community and on tree visitation and fruit removal rates of the small-seeded tree Celtis durandii. We quantified birds and primates in little and heavily disturbed sites, distinguishing between forest specialists, forest generalists, and forest visitors. We quantified frugivorous tree visitors and seed removal rates of C. durandii trees in the same sites. Forest disturbance reduced the species richness and density of the frugivore community and of forest specialists. Frugivorous species and individuals visiting the study trees were reduced significantly, which led to a marginally significant decline in fruit removal by all frugivores and a significant reduction in removal by forest specialists. Reduction in fruit removal by forest specialists was not compensated for by increases in removal by forest generalists or visitors. Results did not differ among the 3 rainforests, which suggests they were consistent at a regional scale. So local forest disturbance led to a loss of frugivores and their seed removal services. This suggests that large-seeded tree species and trees with small fruits are losing seed dispersers. Thus, local forest disturbance appears to have a more general negative impact on frugivores and their seed dispersal services than anticipated previously.     

Effects of Urban Development on Ant Communities: Implications for Ecosystem Services and Management

Abstract:  Research that connects the effects of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem services is lacking. Ants perform multifarious ecological functions that stabilize ecosystems and contribute to a number of ecosystem services. We studied responses of ant communities to urbanization in the Lake Tahoe basin by sampling sites along a gradient of urban land development. We sampled ant communities, measured vegetation characteristics, quantified human activities, and evaluated ant-community responses by grouping ants into service-providing units (SPUs), defined as a group of organisms and their populations that perform specific ecosystem services, to provide an understanding of urbanization impacts on biodiversity and their delivery of ecosystem services. Species richness and abundance peaked at intermediate levels of urban development, as did the richness of 3 types of ant SPUs (aerators, decomposers, and compilers). With increasing land development aerator and decomposer ants significantly declined in abundance, whereas compiler ants significantly increased in abundance. Competing models demonstrated that precipitation was frequently among the strongest influences on ant community structure; however, urban development and human activities also had a strong, negative influence on ants, appearing in most models with ΔAIC_c < 2 for species richness and abundance patterns of SPUs and generalists. Response diversity was observed within SPUs, which suggests that the corresponding ecosystem services were maintained until development reached 30–40%. Our data provide evidence that ecosystem functions, such as water infiltration and soil productivity, may be diminished at sites subject to greater levels of urbanization and that conserving ant communities and the ecosystem services they provide could be an important target in land-use planning and conservation efforts.     

Vegetation succession and lichen diversity on dry coastal calciumpoor dunes and the impact of management experiments

The negative impact of grass and moss encroachment on the botanical diversity of West European coastal dunes attracted increasing attention in the 1990s. This paper focuses on moss encroachment during primary succession in the xeroseries. Until the mid-1970s, vegetation types rich in species of the lichen generaCladonia andCladina were found on the fixed,Corynephorus canescens-dominated, so-called grey dunes all over the island of Terschelling, The Netherlands. In addition, species ofHypogymnia, Parmelia andUsnea, which usually grow on trees, occurred here terrestrially on moss carpets or bare sand. These vegetation types are still present on the Noordsvaarder, a nature reserve in the western part of the island. They occur on parts of seven dune ridges parallel to the coast and form a chronosequence in which age increases with distance from the sea. Our study found the highest lichen diversity on the second and third dune ridges in a stage of primary succession that can be assigned to theViolo-Corynephoretum. The changes from lichen-rich to moss-dominated stadia were significantly related to soil development and acidification in connection with the ageing of the dune soil. The superficial cutting of sods in moss-encroached vegetation appeared to be unsuccessful as a management technique for restoring the biodiversity of cryptogams. Our findings suggest that the best option for maintaining lichen vegetation in theViolo-Corynephoretum is the blow-in of sand with a subneutral or neutral pH from reactivated and natural blowouts or from foredunes, with increasing lime content respectively. Nomenclature: Van der Meijden (1990) for higher plants; Touw & Rubers (1989) for mosses; Purvis et al. (1992) for lichens. A set of lichen specimens has been deposited at the herbarium of Dr. A. Aptroot (C.B.S. Baarn) — herbarium code ABL (Taxon 44: 258).     

不同嫁接方式对黄瓜嫁接苗成活及生长特性的影响

研究了不同嫁接方式对黄瓜嫁接苗成活率、生物学性状及其植株抗病性的影响．结果表明：以湘园三号黄瓜作为接穗，黑籽南瓜作为砧木，采用靠接、顶插、劈切、芽接四种嫁接方式，其嫁接苗成活率分别为100．0％、78．4％、92．9％和75．5％；其平均株高、平均真叶数均以靠接苗为大，分别为15．8cm、3．0片；四种嫁接苗的平均株幅无明显差异．以津春二号黄瓜作为接穗，分别以黑籽南瓜和西葫芦作为砧木，均采用靠接方式，其靠接苗成活率分别为99．4％、100．0％，平均株高、平均株幅和真叶数均以前者为大．经嫁接后，黄瓜植株枯萎病发病率明显下降，控制在0-14．0％范围之内；而未经嫁接的津春二号（对照1）、津春三号（对照2）黄瓜植株，病株率分别达到48．0％、36．0％．     

西南环境移民安置地的生态环境状况研究初报

以桂西北环江县肯福环境移民安置示范区为例,对我国西南喀斯特地区环境移民安置区的气候、地貌、土壤与植被等主要生态因子进行了调查研究和取样分析。研究表明,环境移民安置地由于地处亚热带季风气候区,具有气候温暖,雨量充沛,日照充足,且雨热同季的特点;地貌破碎,土地以坡地为主,但有一定量可开垦利用的土地;土壤主要为红壤,土壤剖面发育良好,土壤质地和结构尚可,有机质和氮含量相对丰富,但磷、钾缺乏,土壤酸度大;植被以先锋植物为主。     

珠江口红树群落钾的累积和循环研究

在测定珠江口红树群落生物量和生产力的基础上,进一步测定红树群落各组分的钾质量分数,计算群落钾的贮量、年存留量、年归还量、年吸收量、周转期和富集率,以了解珠江口红树群落钾元素的累积和循环状况,为珠江口红树林资源的保护和利用提供科学依据。     

土壤有机碳储量估算的影响因素和不确定性

土壤作为陆地生态系统最大的碳库和碳循环过程的关键环节,其源、汇的变化直接影响全球碳平衡,因此,土壤有机碳储量估算成为生态领域的重要研究内容之一。通过比较不同研究者在不同研究尺度上报道的有机碳储量的研究结果,发现这些研究结果较不一致。分析认为导致土壤有机碳储量评估结果存在较大差异的原因,主要是来自于采样过程中人类干扰以及气候变化等环境要素的波动,特别是研究者所采取的不同估算方法和背景资料。从环境要素（外因）和估算方法（内因）两个角度出发,提出了土壤有机碳储量的研究意义,阐述了造成土壤有机碳储量估算的不确定性和目前研究中存在的问题,并在此基础上,对其未来研究方向和重点进行了展望。     

内蒙古地区近25年植被对气温和降水变化的影响

利用1982—2006年内蒙古地区GIMMS-NDVI和降水量、气温数据,分析了不同植被类型对气温和降水变化趋势的影响。结果表明：近25年来内蒙古地区气温整体上呈上升趋势,降水量呈微弱降低趋势,西部荒漠区呈暖湿化趋势,中东部草原、森林等植被类型区呈暖干化趋势;从不同植被类型NDVI与平均气温和降水量的变化趋势率相关分析表明,NDVI值越低,升温趋势越明显,其中春季和秋季各植被类型间NDVI与季均气温升高趋势率呈显著和较显著的相关,夏、冬季关系不明显;植被NDVI越高,降水量减少趋势越明显。基于栅格的NDVI与气温升高幅度、降水变化趋势相关分析表明,年均气温升高幅度基本随NDVI的增加而降低,其中春、夏和秋季的季均气温升高幅度均随NDVI的增加而显著降低,冬季趋势不明显;而年降水量减小趋势率随植被NDVI的增加而显著增加,其中春季和冬季NDVI变化对降水的变化几乎没有影响;夏季和秋季均表现为随NDVI的增加,降水减小趋势率呈增加趋势。     

青海省干旱半干旱地区农村的能源问题

以青海省为例，探讨了我国西北干旱、半干旱地区农村的能源问题及其对自然生态环境的影响。针对青海省农村由于能源消费结构不合理，商品能源供应不足，生活能源利用率低下，可再生能源资源破坏严重等特点所引发的生态环境问题和社会问题，提出了解决青海省农村能源问题，保护生态环境的对策建议。