Optimal biomass allocation in heterogeneous environments in a clonal plant—Spatial division of labor

When interconnected ramets of clonal plants are growing in heterogeneous environments, ramets may specialize to uptake locally abundant resources rather than scarce resources. This biomass allocation pattern may result in more efficient sharing of resources through physiological integration and an overall benefit to the plants (spatial division of labor; DoL).     

Disentangling the effects of heterogeneity, stochastic dynamics and sampling in a community of aquatic insects

A dynamic and heterogeneous species abundance model generating the lognormal species abundance distribution is fitted to time series of species data from an assemblage of stoneflies and mayflies (Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera) of an aquatic insect community collected over a period of 15 years. In each year except one, we analyze 5 parallel samples taken at the same time of the season giving information about the over-dispersion in the sampling relative to the Poisson distribution. Results are derived from a correlation analysis, where the correlation in the bivariate normal distribution of log abundance is used as measurement of similarity between communities. The analysis enables decomposition of the variance of the lognormal species abundance distribution into three components due to heterogeneity among species, stochastic dynamics driven by environmental noise, and over-dispersion in sampling, accounting for 62.9, 30.6 and 6.5% of the total variance, respectively. Corrected for sampling the heterogeneity and stochastic components accordingly account for 67.3 and 32.7% of the among species variance in log abundance. By using this method, it is possible to disentangle the effect of heterogeneity and stochastic dynamics by quantifying these components and correctly remove sampling effects on the observed species abundance distribution.     

Exploring the effects of individual traits and within-colony variation on task differentiation and collective behavior in a desert social spider

Social animals are extraordinarily diverse and ecologically abundant. In understanding the success of complex animal societies, task differentiation has been identified as a central mechanism underlying the emergence and performance of adaptive collective behaviors. In this study, we explore how individual differences in behavior and body size determine task allocation in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. We found that individuals with high body condition indices were less likely to participate in prey capture, and individuals’ tendency to engage in prey capture was not associated with either their behavioral traits or body size. No traits were associated with individuals’ propensity to participation in web repair, but small individuals were more likely to engage in standard web-building. We also discovered consistent, differences among colonies in their collective behavior (i.e., colony-level personality). At the colony level, within-colony variation in behavior (aggressiveness) and body size were positively associated with aggressive foraging behavior. Together, our findings reveal a subtly complex relationship between individual variation and collective behavior in this species. We close by comparing the relationship between individual variation and social organization in nine species of social spider. We conclude that intraspecific variation is a major force behind the social organization of multiple independently derived lineages of social spider.     

Understanding the sources and effects of abandoned,lost, and discarded fishing gear on marine turtles in northern Australia

Globally, 6.4 million tons of fishing gear are lost in the oceans annually. This gear (i.e., ghost nets), whether accidently lost, abandoned, or deliberately discarded, threatens marine wildlife as it drifts with prevailing currents and continues to entangle marine organisms indiscriminately. Northern Australia has some of the highest densities of ghost nets in the world, with up to 3 tons washing ashore per kilometer of shoreline annually. This region supports globally significant populations of internationally threatened marine fauna, including 6 of the 7 extant marine turtles. We examined the threat ghost nets pose to marine turtles and assessed whether nets associated with particular fisheries are linked with turtle entanglement by analyzing the capture rates of turtles and potential source fisheries from nearly 9000 nets found on Australia's northern coast. Nets with relatively larger mesh and smaller twine sizes (e.g., pelagic drift nets) had the highest probability of entanglement for marine turtles. Net size was important; larger nets appeared to attract turtles, which further increased their catch rates. Our results point to issues with trawl and drift‐net fisheries, the former due to the large number of nets and fragments found and the latter due to the very high catch rates resulting from the net design. Catch rates for fine‐mesh gill nets can reach as high as 4 turtles/100 m of net length. We estimated that the total number of turtles caught by the 8690 ghost nets we sampled was between 4866 and 14,600, assuming nets drift for 1 year. Ghost nets continue to accumulate on Australia's northern shore due to both legal and illegal fishing; over 13,000 nets have been removed since 2005. This is an important and ongoing transboundary threat to biodiversity in the region that requires attention from the countries surrounding the Arafura and Timor Seas. Entender las Fuentes y Efectos de Equipo de Pesca Abandonado, Perdido y Desechado sobre las Tortugas Marinas del Atlántico Norte     

Foliage profiles of individual trees determine competition,self-thinning,biomass and NPP of a Cryptomeria japonica forest stand: A simulation study based on a stand-scale process-based forest model

A simulation study was carried out to investigate simultaneously the effects of eco-physiological parameters on competitive asymmetry, self-thinning, stand biomass and NPP in a temperate forest using an atmosphere–vegetation dynamics interactive model (MINoSGI). In this study, we selected three eco-physiological relevant parameters as foliage profiles (i.e. vertical distribution of leaf area density) of individual trees (distribution pattern is described by the parameter η), biomass allocation pattern in individual tree growth (χ) and the maximum carboxylation velocity (V_max). The position of the maximal leaf area density shifts upward in the canopy with increasing η. For scenarios with η < 4 (foliage concentrated in the lowest canopy layer) or η > 12 (foliage concentrated in the uppermost canopy layer), a low degree of competitive asymmetry was produced. These scenarios resulted in the survival of subordinate trees due to a brighter lower canopy environment when η < 4 or the generation of spatially separated foliage profiles between dominant and subordinate trees when η > 12. In contrast, competition between trees was most asymmetric when 4 ≤ η ≤ 12 (vertically widespread foliage profile in the canopy), especially when η = 8. In such cases, vertically widespread foliage of dominant trees lowered the opportunity of light acquisition for subordinate trees and reduced their carbon gain. The resulting reduction in carbon gain of subordinate trees yielded a higher degree of competitive asymmetry and ultimately higher mortality of subordinate trees. It was also shown that 4 ≤ η ≤ 12 generated higher self-thinning speed, smaller accumulated NPP, litter-fall and potential stand biomass as compared with the scenarios with η < 4 or η > 12. In contrast, our simulation revealed small effects of χ or V_max on the above-mentioned variables as compared with those of η. In particular, it is notable that greater V_max would not produce greater potential stand biomass and accumulated NPP although it has been thought that physiological parameters relevant to photosynthesis such as V_max influence dynamic changes in forest stand biomass and NPP (e.g. the greater the V_max, the greater the NPP). Overall, it is suggested that foliage profiles rather than biomass allocation or maximum carboxylation velocity greatly govern forest dynamics, stand biomass, NPP and litter-fall.     

The effects of the risk of fire on the optimal rotation of a forest

The effects of the risk of fire or other unpredictable catastrophe on the optimal rotation period of a forest stand are investigated. It is demonstrated that when fires occur in a time-independent Poisson process, and cause total destruction, the policy effect of the fire risk is equivalent to adding a premium to the discount rate that would be operative in a risk-free environment. Other cases are also investigated and in each a modified form of the Faustmann formula is derived and a “marginal” economic interpretation given.     

The effects of a coal power plant on the environment and wildlife in southeastern Turkey

This study was carried out to determine the possible effects of the Afsin-Elbistan Coal Power Plant (AECPP) on the environment.. The soil and plant samples were collected, based on the dominant wind direction, which is from northeast to southwest and we defined the northeast part of the plant as the less contaminated direction (LCD) and the southwest part as the more contaminated direction (MCD). The results indicated that the AECPP created environmental problems and caused contaminations especially in the MCD. The results of the statistical analysis for the measured attributes between the LCD and the MCD showed that there were significant differences for pH, SO4(-2)-S, Ni and Pb. Significant correlations were found between the distance from the AECPP and some of the measured soil and plant parameters in the MCD. The concentrations of SO4(-2)-S, Ni and Pb decreased as the distance increased. The discharge water carries a potential risk for the aquatic life and soil health in the area. The honey quality was also affected negatively by fly ash and emission.     

Experimental test of the effects of a non-native invasive species on a wintering shorebird

The abundance of nearly one-quarter of the world's shorebird species is declining. At the same time, the number of non-native species in coastal ecosystems is increasing rapidly. In some cases, non-native species may affect negatively the abundance and diversity of shorebird prey species. We conducted an experimental study of the effects of the introduced European green crab (Carcinus maenas) on prey consumption by wintering Dunlin (Calidris alpina) in a central California estuary. We placed green crabs and Dunlin sequentially in field enclosures and measured changes in density of benthic invertebrate prey (e.g. polychaetes and small clams), Dunlin biomass, and gut contents of both Dunlin and crabs and observed foraging behavior of Dunlin. Green crabs significantly affected Dunlin foraging success through both direct and indirect multitrophic linkages. In enclosures with high densities of green crabs, crab foraging reduced the availability of polychaetes, and Dunlin consumed significantly fewer polychaetes compared with Dunlin in enclosures without crabs. High densities of green crabs were also associated with increased availability of small clams. Dunlin consumed significantly more small clams compared with Dunlin in enclosures without crabs. In our literature survey of studies of effects of non-native invasive species on shorebirds, we found three prior experiments that addressed the effect of non-native invasive species on shorebirds. Results of two of these studies showed positive direct effects of non-native invertebrates on shorebirds, 1 showed negative direct effects of a non-native plant on shorebirds through habitat conversion, and none showed indirect effects of non-native invertebrates. We suggest future management of shorebirds explicitly examine how non-native marine species, particularly invertebrates, directly and indirectly affect shorebirds.     

基于景观连接度的斑块分级的尺度效应

认识到尺度对景观格局分析结果的影响,生态学家们越来越多地进行尺度效应的相关研究.已有的尺度效应研究多注重描述景脱格局指数对尺度变化的响应,这只能对景观的状态进行描述.无法辨别那些对景观功能具有重要意义的关键景观元素.文章选取8个景观连接度指数.通过改变最小制图单元和物种的搜索范围,研究尺度对斑块分等定级的影响,并据此确定各连接度指数的尺度敏感性.结果表明:景观中斑块的相对重要性随尺度变化而变化,其变化程度因指数而异.其中,AWF为尺度效应最不明显的指数,PC和IIC次之,其余指数(NL,NC,LCP,H和F)的尺度效应均十分显著;在衡量景观的连通性时,除IIC外的其他所有指数的尺度效应均十分显著.由此说明,根据连接度指数确定的斑块相对重要性的尺度敏感性与该指数本身的尺度敏感性无关.     

盐胁迫对3种冷季型草坪草生长的影响

冷季型草坪草在不同盐离子含量的胁迫下生长,其各项生理指标都会发生相应的变化,这些变化可以反应出不同草坪草抗逆性的强弱.本实验所用的品种为早熟禾P.Pratensis L.、黑麦草L.Perenne L.、高羊茅F.Arundinacea Schreb..3种草均为冷季型草坪草.将氯化钠溶液设为5个处理,其质量分数分别为0.1%、0.2%、0.3%、0.6%、0.9%和一个对照,每个处理3次重复.将处理后3种草坪草的种子,播于营养钵中,实验室内培养.每日浇灌相对应的盐溶液,浇灌量为约2/3的溶液流出.待幼苗长到5～7 cm时,进行测定.在盐胁迫条件下,通过对黑麦草、高羊茅、早熟禾的发芽率、POD酶活性、质膜相对电导率等生理指标测定的研究,结果表明黑麦草抗盐性较强,早熟禾的耐盐性较弱.为在盐碱地上种植草坪提供了参考依据.     

The sublethal effects of a detergent on the reproduction,development, and settlement in the polychaetous annelid Capitella capitata

The effect of polyethylene-glycol fatty acid was studied on the various stages throughout the life cycle of Capitella capitata. All concentrations tested reduced the number of trochophores, metatrochophores, and young benthic worms and increased the time required to reach the next stage in an inverse relationship to concentration. Only the higher concentrations of detergent influenced the survival rate and the number of eggs produced and laid. A 90% decrease in the number of benthic worms produced occurred between the control and the highest concentration employed (100 mg/l). The effect of the detergent was similar in field and laboratory-collected larvae.     

The effects of size-dependent predation risk on the interaction between behavioral and life history traits in a stream-dwelling isopod

In field surveys, laboratory observations and field-based assays of behavior, I examined the effects of size-dependent predation risk on the interaction between size at reproductive maturity and maternal care behavior in the stream-dwelling isopod, Lirceus fontinalis. L. fontinalis exhibit population-specific sizes at reproductive maturity which result in population differences in predation risk during the adult phase. Females from streams containing salamander larvae (that prefer small prey) mature at large sizes and then become relatively safe from predation. Females from streams containing fish (that consume all size classes of prey equally) mature at small sizes and remain at risk. I tested whether these differences in expected survival were reflected in the behavior of females during the maternal phase (i.e., the period during which females exhibit maternal care). Female L. fontinalis carry developing juveniles inside a brood pouch. I simulated predatory attacks on gravid female L. fontinalis from the different population types and found that female behavior correlated with population differences in risk. When “attacked”, females from streams with predatory fish (that experience high risk to adult females) released juveniles from the brood pouch, whereas females from populations with predatory salamander larvae (that pose relatively little risk to adult females) did not release juveniles. I discuss the results with reference to the joint evolution of behavioral and life history traits. Received: 6 March 1996 /Accepted after revision: 12 August 1996     

The effects of a no. 2 fuel oil and two crude oils on the growth and photosynthesis of microalgae

Seawater, when equilibrated with a sample of No. 2 fuel oil, becomes toxic in varying degrees to growth of representative types of microalgae, two blue-greens, a diatom, two greens, and a dinoflagellate. For a sensitive organism such as Thalassiosira pseudonana, Strain 3H, 5 ml of seawater equilibrated with fuel oil (containing 15 mg/l of organics) in 20 ml of growth medium is lethal, or roughly in the range of 40 to 400 ppb if the toxic material(s) constitute 1 to 10% water also immediately stops photosynthesis in organism 3H. For other microalgae tested e.g. 580 (a green alga) and PR-6 (a blue-green alga), similar effects on growth and photosynthesis were found, but required higher concentrations of the oil-equilibrated seawater. Water solubles from Kuwait or Southern Louisiana crude oils (when the straight crude oil was equilibrated 1:8 with seawater) were not toxic; however, specific fractions obtained by distillation did show some water-soluble toxicity. Growth experimetns in open or closed growth systems revealed that most organisms were inhibited by varying amounts of these two crude oils when in direct contact with them. Organism 580 would not grow above 5 μl of Southern Louisiana/25 ml of medium, or 10 μl of Kuwait/25 ml of medium (oil in direct contact with algae). With both the seawater equilibrated with fuel oil and the crude oils, the toxic activity is mainly localized in medium and higher boiling fractions derived from distillation cuts from these materials.     

Towards the development of a multidisciplinary understanding of the effects of toxic chemical mixtures on health

Mixtures can be divided into simple (chemicals with comparable properties—health risk assessments on the chemicals) and complex, which can be further subdivided into defined (a reasonably distinct composition, created at a specific time and place despite dissimilar components—risk assessments on the common source) and coincidental (chemicals without similar properties or constant composition in time or space—risk assessments on the receptor). Interactions recognized are: independent action, dose addition (additivity), and potentiation (synergy and antagonism). Unpredicted outcomes need recognition. New approaches in higher education and multidisciplinary investigations are essential. The community of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health should help clarify points such as when transformations in mixtures may become important enough to alter the classification and the risk assessment. The multidisciplinary community is also well placed to support the integration of nonchemical influences into mixture analysis and to contribute to the investigation of cumulative and multiple exposures.     

The effects of aggregation on the performance of the inverse method and indicators of network analysis

Food webs are usually aggregated into a manageable size for their interpretation and analysis. The aggregation of food web components in trophic or other guilds is often at the choice of the modeler as there is little guidance in the literature as to what biases might be introduced by aggregation decisions. We examined the impacts of the choice of the a priori model on the subsequent estimation of missing flows using the inverse method and on the indices derived from ecological network analysis of both inverse method-derived flows and on the actual values of flows, using the fully determined Sylt-Rømø Bight food web model. We used the inverse method, with the least squares minimization goal function, to estimate ‘missing’ values in the food web flows on 14 aggregation schemes varying in number of compartments and in methods of aggregation. The resultant flows were compared to known values; the performance of the inverse method improved with increasing number of compartments and with aggregation based on both habitat and feeding habits rather than diet similarity. Comparison of network analysis indices of inverse method-derived flows with that of actual flows and the original value for the unaggregated food web showed that the use of both the inverse method and the aggregation scheme affected indices derived from ecological network analysis. The inverse method tended to underestimate the size and complexity of food webs, while an aggregation scheme explained as much variability in some network indices as the difference between inverse-derived and actual flows. However, topological network indices tended to be most robust to both the method of determining flows and to the inverse method. These results suggest that a goal function other than minimization of flows should be used when applying the inverse method to food web models. Comparison of food web models should be done with extreme care when different methodologies are used to estimate unknown flows and to aggregate system components. However, we propose that indices such as relative ascendency and relative redundancy are most valuable for comparing ecosystem models constructed using different methodologies for determining missing flows or for aggregating system components.     

pH变化对酸性土壤酶活性的影响

采用酸性土壤,以添加酸或碱的方式,研究酸化或碱化对土壤酶活性的影响.结果表明,培养过程中对照土壤微生物C量(Cmic)变化与土壤pH变化密切相关,Cmic大时pH值相对较低,显示土壤中微生物活动加剧对土壤pH下降的影响.除过氧化物酶外,土壤pH值变化对土壤酶活性影响较大.脲酶、过氧化氧酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、脱氢酶、多酚氧化酶和蛋白酶活性大致呈现酸化抑制碱化激活的规律.前期酸碱添加都抑制了酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、脱氢酶活性,中期酸碱添加都抑制了多酚氧化酶活性,后期酸碱添加都抑制了蛋白酶活性.蔗糖酶活性呈现前期酸化激活碱化抑制,中期酸碱都以激活为主,后期碱化又呈现抑制作用.纤维素酶活性变化没有明显规律性.总体上酸添加对土壤酶活性主要起抑制作用,碱添加主要起激活作用.土壤Cmic变化和酶活性变化之间有着较为密切的关系,存在酸化抑制Cmic碱化激活Cmic的现象,pH变化对微生物活性的影响是造成土壤酶活性变化的主要因素.     

鄱阳湖双退区受损湿地植被恢复对水质的影响

退化湿地的植被恢复有助于提高湿地生物多样性和净化水体功能。通过监测鄱阳湖双退区（湿地）生态恢复过程中前后水质变化,分析了不同植被覆盖率和植物残体分解对水质的影响。结果表明,在植物生长期间,湿地水体TN质量浓度下降65.4%～71.3%,NO3--N也呈较大幅度下降,并能降低水体TP浓度水平;高植被覆盖增加水体叶绿素质量浓度水平,中低植被覆盖不影响水体叶绿素质量浓度,植被覆盖能有效保持水体较高透明度,但不能降低水体COD质量浓度。在枯水期,高植被覆盖因为植物残体分解使氮素回流水体,导致水体含TN,NH4＋-N,NO3-_N质量浓度显著升高,中低植被覆盖植物残体分解同样显著增加水体氮素,但增加程度小于高植被覆盖;植物残体分解不影响水体TP质量浓度水平;高植被覆盖植物残体分解增加水体叶绿素质量浓度,中低植被覆盖则无影响;高中低植被覆盖区植物残体分解都显著增加水体混浊度,也提高了水体的BOD,对水体COD没有影响。     

三丁基锡对中国近海常见海洋微藻的毒性效应

研究三丁基氯化锡（TBT）对中国近海常见5种硅藻和甲藻（硅藻中丹麦细柱藻（Leptocylindrus danicus）、派格棍形藻（Bacilaria paxillifera）、聚生角毛藻（Chaetoceros socialis）,甲藻中微型原甲藻（Prorocentrum minimum）、简裸甲藻（Gymnodinium simplex））的毒性效应,考察了有机锡对浮游藻光合活性（Fv/Fm）、粒径、生长的影响。结果表明：派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻的光合活性（Fv/Fm）受TBT影响较显著;微型原甲藻、丹麦细柱藻的光合活性受TBT影响较小。高质量浓度TBT胁迫下海洋微藻峰值粒径显著减小,低质量浓度TBT对峰值粒径影响不显著。低质量浓度TBT对派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻、微型原甲藻均有较强的毒性作用,非检测毒性浓度（NDEC）分别为1.17、1.07、0.23、3.73μg.L-1,丹麦细柱藻对TBT具有很强耐受性,NDEC为112.62μg.L-1。     

航道疏浚泥悬浮液对黑鲷胚胎的发育及仔鱼摄食生长的影响

采用静水试验法,温度在20℃左右,并保持试验用水溶解氧为饱和溶氧的60%,用疏浚泥悬浮液与过滤海水按等对数间距稀释成4个体积浓度水平(1:2、1:10、1:50、1:200),同时以过滤海水为对照组,每一个浓度组设3个平行样本,对人工养殖的黑鲷Spaptls macrocephalus鱼卵和仔鱼进行毒性试验.试验结果表明:疏浚泥悬浮液对鱼卵孵化有一定影响,但不显著.仔鱼的全长和体重的增长与悬浮液浓度的变化并无十分明显的对应关系,只有当水体中的悬浮液达到一定浓度时,才显现出对仔鱼生长的影响作用.在仔鱼摄食过程中,悬浮液对全长生长产生的抑制或影响作用不显著,但高浓度的悬浮液则对体重增长产生了一定的抑制性,不过这是一种短暂性的影响,随着时间的延长,其作用逐渐减弱或消失.     

Arkadolith土壤改良剂对内蒙沙区常见牧草生长状况的影响

通过盆栽试验,对土壤采用添加25%土壤改良剂、以及添加12.5%改良剂和12.5%腐殖质的2种处理方式,研究Arkadolith土壤改良剂对冰草（Agropyron desertorum）、沙打旺（Astragalus huangheensis）和准格尔苜蓿（Medicago sativa cv ＂Zhonggeer＂）3种沙生牧草的生长特性的影响。结果表明,3种牧草中,植株高度、生长力、发芽力以及产量都较土壤改良前有所增强,沙打旺和准格尔苜蓿的生长状况要明显好于冰草。含有多种矿物成分的Arkadolith土壤改良剂不仅可以改良贫瘠土壤,提高土壤肥力,促进牧草的增产,而且还可以减少化学肥料的施用,降低成本,做到绿色环保,因此其具有广泛的推广意义。