Change in plant spatial patterns and diversity along the successional gradient of Mediterranean grazing ecosystems

In this study, we analyze the complexity of plant spatial patterns and diversity along a successional gradient resulting from grazing disturbance in four characteristic ecosystems of the Mediterranean region. Grazing disturbance include not only defoliation by animals, but also associated disturbances as animal trampling, soil compaction, and mineralization by deposition of urine and feces. The results show that woodland and dense matorral are more resistant to species loss than middle dense and scattered matorral, or grassland. Information fractal dimension declined as we moved from a dense to a discontinuous matorral, increasing as we moved to a more scattered matorral and a grassland. In all studied cases, the characteristic species of the natural vegetation declined in frequency and organization with grazing disturbance. Heliophyllous species and others with postrate or rosette twigs increased with grazing pressure, particularly in dense matorral. In the more degraded ecosystem, only species with well-adapted traits, e.g., buried buds or unpalatable qualities showed a clear increase with grazing. Indeed, the homogeneity of species distribution within the plant community declined monotonically with grazing impact. Conversely, the spatial organization of the characteristic plants of each community increased in the better-preserved areas, being also related to the sensitivity of the species to grazing impact. The degree of autocorrelation of plant spatial distribution at the species level and the information fractal dimension at the community level allow us to quantify the degree of degradation of natural communities and to determine the sensitivity of key species to disturbance.     

Beta diversity at different spatial scales: plant communities in organic and conventional agriculture.

Biodiversity studies that guide agricultural subsidy policy have generally compared farming systems at a single spatial scale: the field. However, diversity patterns vary across spatial scales. Here, we examined the effects of farming system (organic vs. conventional) and position in the field (edge vs. center) on plant species richness in wheat fields at three spatial scales. We quantified alpha-, beta-, and gamma-diversity at the microscale in 800 plots, at the mesoscale in 40 fields, and at the macroscale in three regions using the additive partitioning approach, and evaluated the relative contribution of beta-diversity at each spatial scale to total observed species richness. We found that alpha-, beta-, and gamma-diversity were higher in organic than conventional fields and higher at the field edge than in the field center at all spatial scales. In both farming systems, beta-diversity at the meso- and macroscale explained most of the overall species richness (up to 37% and 25%, respectively), indicating considerable differences in community composition among fields and regions due to environmental heterogeneity. The spatial scale at which beta-diversity contributed the most to overall species richness differed between rare and common species. Total richness of rare species (present in < or = 5% of total samples) was mainly explained by differences in community composition at the meso- and macroscale (up to 27% and 48%, respectively), but only in organic fields. Total richness of common species (present in > or = 25% of total samples) was explained by differences in community composition at the micro- and mesoscale (up to 29% and 47%, respectively), i.e., among plots and fields, independent of farming system. Our results show that organic farming made the greatest contribution to total species richness at the meso (among fields) and macro (among regions) scale due to environmental heterogeneity. Hence, agri-environment schemes should exploit this large-scale contribution of beta-diversity by tailoring schemes at regional scales to maximize dissimilarity between conservation areas using geographic information systems rather than focusing entirely at the classical local-field scale, which is the current practice.     

Study on changes of urban spatial pattern and heterogeneity of driving factors in the Su-Xi-Chang region

Environmental and Ecological Statistics - Using the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou (referred to as Su-Xi-Chang) region as a case study, this work applied an Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis model to study...     

Raising groundwater differentially affects mineralization and plant species abundance in dune slacks.

The experience with restoring high water levels (i.e., rewetting) within restoration ecology is limited, and information on changes in soil nutrient supply is scarce. A reduction in nutrient supply is needed to restore the desired oligotrophic vegetation. We determined the effects of restoration of high water levels on decomposition and net carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) mineralization rates in wet dune slacks and its consequences for the relative abundance of eutrophic vs. oligotrophic species in the vegetation. This was done by analyzing these variables for valleys that experienced a large groundwater rise vs. valleys that had a small groundwater rise but the same current water level. In addition, the influences of underlying factors (waterlogging, vegetation dieback, and soil dynamics prior to groundwater rise) were separated in a transplantation experiment. Short-term effects of large groundwater rise were a massive dieback of vegetation, increased thickness of the fermentation layer, increased microbial decomposition activity, increased C mineralization, and decreased net N mineralization. Net P mineralization was not affected. The relative abundance of oligotrophic vs. eutrophic species was greater at large groundwater rise. Changes in decomposition and mineralization by large groundwater rise were, however, not caused by the vegetation dieback, but due to previous soil conditions. Soils experiencing waterlogged conditions for 3-4 years or more prior to large groundwater rise had lower C and higher net N mineralization rates at waterlogged conditions than soils that had experienced aerobic conditions, presumably due to differences in labile soil C contents. Contrary to expectations induced by previously determined nutrient pulses and measured vegetation dieback, large groundwater rise resulted in lower soil nutrient supply rates and more oligotrophic vegetation. If these trends continue on the longer term, restoration of high water levels may be effective in restoration ecology to establish oligotrophic, wet vegetation in dune slacks.     

Temporal trends in urban and rural blood lead concentrations

A long term programme to assess the impact of reduced lead emissions in the UK has been established in central London and rural Suffolk. Blood lead concentrations of 5 and 6 year old children and their mothers both show an urban-rural difference of about 1.5 g/dl, which is related to the urban-rural differences in air and dust lead concentrations between areas.This paper is also being published in Proceedings of the Conference on Lead in the Home Environment and is one of several selected from SEGH sponsored conferences for simultaneous publication in this journal.     

流沙湾海水中石油烃的时空分布特征研究

于2008年2月（冬季）、5月（春季）、8月（夏季）和11月（秋季）对流沙湾进行了4次采样考察,研究分析了流沙湾表层海水中石油烃质量浓度的平面分布和季节变化特征。结果表明,在2008年度,流沙湾表层海水石油烃的质量浓度为0~1.930 mg.L-1,平均值为0.080 mg.L-1,季节差异比较明显,呈春、冬、夏、秋季依次减小的变化趋势,冬、春季节海水呈现不同程度石油污染,夏、秋季节属Ⅰ、Ⅱ级水质,整个流沙湾海域表层海水石油烃的平面分布相对比较均匀。在内外湾分布上,冬、春、秋季节外湾大于内湾,而夏季节内湾大于外湾。流沙湾的水产养殖活动是其海水石油烃时空分布的主要影响因素。     

Evolutionary diversity and spatiotemporal dynamics of a spatial game

In this paper, the evolution of cooperation is studied by a spatially structured evolutionary game model in which the players are located on a two-dimensional square lattice. Each player can choose one of the following strategies: “always defect” (ALLD), “tit-for-tat” (TFT), and “always cooperate” (ALLC). Players merely interact with four immediate neighbors at first and adjust strategies according to their rewards. First, the evolutionary dynamics of the three strategies in non-spatial population is investigated, and the results indicate that cooperation is not favored in most settings without spatial structure. Next, an analytical method, which is based on comparing the local payoff structures, is introduced for the spatial game model. Using the conditions derived from the method as criteria, the parameter plane for two major parameters of the spatial game model is divided and nine representative regions are identified. In each parameter region, a distinct spatiotemporal dynamics is characterized. The spatiotemporal dynamics not only verify that the spatial structure promote the evolution of cooperation but also reveal how cooperation is favored. Our results show that spatial structure is the keystone of the evolution of intraspecific diversity.     

增温对荒漠草原植物群落组成及物种多样性的影响

以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,通过采用远红外线辐射器模拟增温的方法,探讨了增温对荒漠草原植物群落结构及生物量和物种多样性的影响。结果表明：由于远红外线辐射器的增温作用,在2012年整个生长季内,增温样地10、20、30 cm土壤平均温度与对照样地相比,平均增加了0.39、0.38、0.31℃;各土层土壤含水量较对照平均减少0.76%、0.73%、0.60%。受温度升高及土壤含水量减少的影响,模拟增温6个生长季后,与对照样地相比,群落的高度整体增加,密度、盖度、频度表现为部分物种增加和部分物种减少的趋势,冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）等物种的重要值下降,阿氏旋花（Convolvulus ammanii）等物种的重要值上升,但是增温没有明显改变植物群落的组成。同时,增温处理使荒漠草原禾草的盖度减少,杂类草的盖度增加,半灌木和一两年生植物分盖度未发生明显变化;增温使地上地下生物量出现了不同程度的减少,在0~30 cm土壤深度地下生物量分配中,增温样地0~10 cm分配比例（81.23%）小于对照（86.07%）,10~20 cm分配比例（11.55%）大于对照（9.16%）;20~30 cm 分配比例（7.22%）大于对照（4.77%）,增温使得地下生物量分配格局向深层转移。增温后,增温样地植物Shnnon-Winener指数降低,Pielou均匀度指数升高,温度升高使荒漠草原植物群落的均匀度增加,但并没有提高草地植物的物种多样性。     

内蒙古乌梁素海水质时空分布特征

将地质统计学理论与地理信息系统相结合对乌梁素海富营养化指标、有机污染指标和盐化污染指标进行了kriging空间插值,结果表明:从时间角度分析,冬季总氮浓度、总磷浓度、化学需氧量质量浓度明显高于其他季节;叶绿素a质量浓度浓度冬季最低;时空电导率平均值在4.0 ms.cm-1左右波动。从空间角度分析,总氮浓度、总磷浓度、叶绿素a质量浓度呈现出由北向南递减的趋势;夏秋季化学需氧量空间分布与春冬季节相反;冬季电导率空间分布与其他季节明显不同。从浓度大小分析,乌梁素海复合污染已十分严重。     

内蒙古乌梁素海水质时空分布特征

将地质统计学理论与地理信息系统相结合对乌梁素海富营养化指标、有机污染指标和盐化污染指标进行了kriging空间插值,结果表明：从时间角度分析,冬季总氮浓度、总磷浓度、化学需氧量质量浓度明显高于其他季节;叶绿素a质量浓度浓度冬季最低;时空电导率平均值在4.0 ms.cm-1左右波动。从空间角度分析,总氮浓度、总磷浓度、叶绿素a质量浓度呈现出由北向南递减的趋势;夏秋季化学需氧量空间分布与春冬季节相反;冬季电导率空间分布与其他季节明显不同。从浓度大小分析,乌梁素海复合污染已十分严重。     

雷州半岛地表水体非点源污染物时空变化特征研究

以雷州半岛为研究区，利用2000-2003年问南渡河与九洲江，以及赤坎水库与鹤地水库的4年常规监测数据，结合实地调查，利用数理统计分析，对雷州半岛地表水体非点源污染物及其时空变化规律进行了初步研究。研究发现，河流与水库的水质均是以氮污染为主，水体有富营养化现象发生，同时，两河流在雨季都不同程度受到了非点源污染的影响，而只有赤坎水库明显受到了非点源污染的影响。究其原因，主要是由于土地利用方式的不同在一定程度上决定了雷州半岛地表水体非点源污染物质量浓度的时空变化特征。因此，只有合理调整流域和库区的土地利用方式、加强区域的水土流失治理工作，才能有效降低非点源污染所带来的地表水体环境污染问题。     

中国华南地区持续干期日数时空变化特征

利用华南地区46个地面气象站1960-2012年逐日降水数据,分析该地区各季节持续干期日数的时空分布特征。结果表明：1）近53年来,华南地区春季和夏季的持续干期日数呈波动下降趋势,下降速率分别为0.042和0.108 d·（10 a）-1;秋季和冬季的持续干期日数呈波动上升趋势,上升速率分别为1.911和0.118 d·（10 a）-1。广东省春季和夏季持续干期日数呈下降趋势,下降速率分别为0.171和0.243 d·（10 a）-1;秋季和冬季持续干期日数呈增加趋势,增加速率分别为1.737和0.32 d·（10 a）-1。广西省春、夏和秋季持续干期日数呈增加趋势,增加速率分别为0.109、0.046和2.117 d·（10 a）-1;冬季为减小趋势,减少速率为0.106 d·（10 a）-1。2）华南地区持续干期日数在春季呈从北向南逐渐增多的趋势,夏季呈自西南向东北逐渐增加的趋势,秋季呈自西向东逐渐增加的趋势,冬季呈从北向南逐渐增多的趋势。冬季的持续干期日数是4个季节中最长的,大致在20~44 d。3）华南地区春季持续干期日数变化倾向率在-1.20~1.00 d·（10 a）-1之间,增加趋势最明显的区域是广西省的南部地区,减少趋势最明显的区域是广东省的沿海地区;夏季在-1.00~0.60 d·（10 a）-1之间,呈增加趋势的区域主要位于广西省的中部和南部,呈减少趋势的区域位于广东省大部分地区和广西省的东部;秋季在0~3.50 d·（10 a）-1之间,整体呈现增加趋势,变化倾向率较大的区域主要位于广西省的中部和广东省的东北部沿海地区;冬季在-1.50~2.00 d·（10 a）-1之间,呈增加趋势的区域主要集中在广东省的中南部和东部地区,以及广西的东部边缘,呈减少趋势的区域主要集中在广东省的北部以及广西的中部和西北部地区。持续干期日数增加趋势最明显的季节是秋季。4）持续干期日数与降水量表现出负相关性,与气温和无降水日数表现为正相关性。降水量和无降水日数的变化对持续干期日数的变化起着重要的作用,而温度对持续干期日数的影响比较小。     

Earthworms and legumes control litter decomposition in a plant diversity gradient

The role of species and functional group diversity of primary producers for decomposers and decomposition processes is little understood. We made use of the "Jena Biodiversity Experiment" and tested the hypothesis that increasing plant species (1, 4, and 16 species) and functional group diversity (1, 2, 3, and 4 groups) beneficially affects decomposer density and activity and therefore the decomposition of plant litter material. Furthermore, by manipulating the densities of decomposers (earthworms and springtails) within the plant diversity gradient we investigated how the interactions between plant diversity and decomposer densities affect the decomposition of litter belonging to different plant functional groups (grasses, herbs, and legumes). Positive effects of increasing plant species or functional group diversity on earthworms (biomass and density) and microbial biomass were mainly due to the increased incidence of legumes with increasing diversity. Neither plant species diversity nor functional group diversity affected litter decomposition, However, litter decomposition varied with decomposer and plant functional group identity (of both living plants and plant litter). While springtail removal generally had little effect on decomposition, increased earthworm density accelerated the decomposition of nitrogen-rich legume litter, and this was more pronounced at higher plant diversity. The results suggest that earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) and legumes function as keystone organisms for grassland decomposition processes and presumably contribute to the recorded increase in primary productivity with increasing plant diversity.     

Predation-affected spatial pattern changes in a prey population

Predation-affected spatial pattern changes in a prey population were studied. The spatial pattern of a population of Galleria mellonella is changed by its predator, Podisus maculiventris. The pattern is affected by the frequency of attack by the predator (attack ability), the homogeneity of the attack ability within a predator population and the mobility of the predator. A mathematical model incorporating these three factors was constructed, and several computer simulations were conducted by changing the parameter values. A natural enemy population having high and homogeneous attack ability and high mobility effectively kills prey individuals.     

Temporal, spatial, and between-host comparisons of patterns of parasitism in lake zooplankton

In nature, multiple parasite species infect multiple host species and are influenced by processes operating across different spatial and temporal scales. Data sets incorporating these complexities offer exciting opportunities to examine factors that shape epidemics. We present a method using generalized linear mixed models in a multilevel modeling framework to analyze patterns of variances and correlations in binomially distributed prevalence data. We then apply it to a multi-lake, multiyear data set involving two Daphnia host species and nine microparasite species. We found that the largest source of variation in parasite prevalence was the species identities of host-parasite pairs, indicating strong host-parasite specificity. Within host-parasite combinations, spatial variation (among lakes) exceeded interannual variation. This suggests that factors promoting differences among lakes (e.g., habitat characteristics and species interactions) better explain variation in peak infection prevalence in our data set than factors driving differences among years (e.g., climate). Prevalences of parasites in D. dentifera were more positively correlated than those for D. pulicaria, suggesting that similar factors influenced epidemic size among parasites in D. dentifera. Overall, this study demonstrates a method for parsing patterns of variation and covariation in infection prevalence data, providing greater insight into the relative importance of different underlying drivers of parasitism.     

2003—2010年中国对流层CO2时空分布研究

利用2003年到2010年的美国宇航局(National Aeronautics and Space Administration,NASA)的AIRS(Atmosphere InfraRed Sounder)官方反演的对流层中层(500 hPa)左右一段气柱内的CO2体积混合比产品分析中国地区对流层的CO2体积分数分布时空变化特征。所用数据是对AIRS L3产品2°×2.5°网格数据进行处理分析得到。经过对这8年的观测数据(2003年1月—2010年12月)的数据分析研究发现:中国地区平均CO2的体积分数在空间分布上极不平衡,总体高值集中于北部。CO2对流层中层的高值区集中在35°—45°N,形成东北平原、内蒙古中西部地区、塔克拉玛干沙漠和塔里木盆地4个高值中心,而云南地区和西藏南部上空的CO2值偏低。与中国地区8年平均CO2体积分数变化特征大体一致,每月(8年平均值)分布趋势也呈北部地区和东部地区高而南方体积分数值相对低的特征。CO2月平均体积分数的最高值一般出现在每年的4月或者5月,而每年的最低值则出现在每年的1月。对流层中层CO2体积分数呈现明显季节变化,总体上来说,从2003年到2010年这8年中,平均春、夏两季对流层中CO2含量较高,而秋、冬季CO2低于春夏两季。     

2003—2010年中国对流层CO2时空分布研究

利用2003年到2010年的美国宇航局（National Aeronautics and Space Administration,NASA）的AIRS（Atmosphere InfraRed Sounder）官方反演的对流层中层（500 hPa）左右一段气柱内的CO2体积混合比产品分析中国地区对流层的CO2体积分数分布时空变化特征。所用数据是对AIRS L3产品2°×2.5°网格数据进行处理分析得到。经过对这8年的观测数据（2003年1月—2010年12月）的数据分析研究发现：中国地区平均CO2的体积分数在空间分布上极不平衡,总体高值集中于北部。CO2对流层中层的高值区集中在35°—45°N,形成东北平原、内蒙古中西部地区、塔克拉玛干沙漠和塔里木盆地4个高值中心,而云南地区和西藏南部上空的CO2值偏低。与中国地区8年平均CO2体积分数变化特征大体一致,每月（8年平均值）分布趋势也呈北部地区和东部地区高而南方体积分数值相对低的特征。CO2月平均体积分数的最高值一般出现在每年的4月或者5月,而每年的最低值则出现在每年的1月。对流层中层CO2体积分数呈现明显季节变化,总体上来说,从2003年到2010年这8年中,平均春、夏两季对流层中CO2含量较高,而秋、冬季CO2低于春夏两季。     

Temporal and spatial assessment of natural resource use in China using ecological footprint method

China has about 20% of the world's population. With rapid economic development and substantial population increase, China is now faced with severe conflicts between limited natural resources and increasing resource requirements. In this study, we used the ecological footprint method to assess the resource demand and supply conditions of each land use in China between 1978 and 2003. In order to provide insight into the spatial heterogeneity of resource demand and supply conditions, we also assessed the ecological footprint at provincial level in 2002. An ecological footprint curve method was introduced to compare differences in natural resource use, economic development and technological progress among different countries and provinces. The results showed that the ecological footprint, biocapacity and ecological deficit per capita for China have all been increasing during 1978–2003. The ecological footprints per person in northern and eastern China were larger than those in southern and western China. The ecological deficits per person in southern and eastern China were more severe than those in northern and western China. Though the resource use efficiency has increased considerably during 1978–2003, it was still much lower than those of the Netherlands, France, South Korea, Mexico, the Philippines and India.     

Temporal and spatial variation in bacterial production in the water column over a coral reef

Production and doubling times of the bacterial populations in the water around and over the reefs at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef were measured during summer and winter, 1982 and 1983. Bacterial productivity, determined from the rate of tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA, was high over the reef flats and a Thalassia hemprichii sand flat (28 to 58 g Cl^-1 d^-1). Bacterial growth rates increased during the day and fell at night over the reef flats and seagrass bed. Growth rates were slower over the reef front and in open water. Doubling times ranged from about 2 d in the open water to about 3 h over the reef flat in summer. As numbers did not increase, grazing was probably intense on the reef flats. Growth rates were much slower in winter. The main source of organic nutrient used by the bacteria was probably mucus released following photosynthesis in the corals. The cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. was sometimes very numerous, especially in summer when 2×10⁸ cells l^-1 were recorded in one water mass. The number of bacteria was also very high in summer, with values ranging from 1×10⁹ to 2.5×10⁹l^-1.     

帽峰山森林土壤碳氮随雨季月及土壤深度的时空变化特征

采用森林生态系统定位观测及对比试验方法,对广州帽峰山常绿阔叶林和杉木人工林（16年）土壤（0~90 cm）有机碳、无机碳、总氮及有机氮的雨季月（5—10月）含量动态、垂直梯度变化特征及土壤湿度影响进行了对比观测研究。结果表明：常绿阔叶林及杉木林土壤有机碳、无机碳雨季月的剖面权均含量变化趋势均为倒S型,常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳剖面权均质量分数较相应杉木林大0.14%、土壤无机碳则小0.12%。常绿阔叶林土壤表层0~10、10~30 cm有机碳雨季月含量变差较杉木林分别高出1.83%、0.61%,土壤30~90 cm雨季月含量变差相对较小;常绿阔叶林土壤70~90 cm无机碳含量在5—8月份较高、杉木林则以土壤30~50 cm在5、6及10月含量较高;常绿阔叶林群落土壤0~20 cm的总氮雨季月含量均大于相应杉木林,植被吸收作用影响使土壤20 cm以下层的雨季各月总氮相对较低;常绿阔叶林土壤剖面雨季月无机氮含量随土层深度递减变化显著,即表层0~30 cm受矿化作用影响较大、深层30~90 cm则受植被吸收作用影响较大;而杉木林土壤剖面层无机氮含量则随雨季的月变化显著,5—7月份含量相对较小、8—10月份含量相对较大。常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳、总氮含量随土壤深度的增加均呈幂函数规律的递减,而杉木人工林土壤有机碳随土壤深度的增加呈对数函数规律的递减、土壤总氮含量则随土壤深度的增加呈二次函数规律的递减。在0~10 cm处,土壤有机碳和有机氮含量与土壤湿度呈负相关。