Prevalence and intensity of mycorrhiza formation in herbaceous plants with different types of ecological strategies in the Middle Urals

The prevalence of arbuscular mycorrhizas and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots of herbaceous plants with different types of Grime-Ramenskii’s ecological strategies (competitors, ruderals, and stress tolerators) have been studied in the Middle Urals. The closest association with arbuscular fungi has been observed in species with a competitive strategy. Compared to them, stress-tolerant species are characterized by lower abundance of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in the root system, while ruderal plants include a relatively large proportion of nonmycotrophic species showing no interaction with arbuscular fungi.     

Faunal diversity and dynamics of species richness and dominance of parasite communities in age series of the perch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perca fluviatilis</Emphasis>)

Changes in parameters of species richness and dominance in parasite communities of perch have been analyzed in the age series of hosts from two water bodies, Lake Gusinoe and Chivyrkui Bay (Lake Baikal), at the levels of a host individual (infracommunity) and a host age group (set of infracommunities). The species richness of parasite infracommunities has been found to increase in both age series due to decreasing proportions of fish affected by no more than three to four parasite species and increasing proportion of fish parasitized by more than four to five species.     

Spiders in mountain habitats of the Giant Mountains

Ground-living spiders were studied using modified pitfall traps during several years in four characteristic habitats in Giant Mountains (Krkono?e Mts.), the High Sudetes, Czech Republic: alpine tundra, subalpine mire, tall-herb stand at the bottom of a glacial corrie, and decaying mountain spruce forest. Ecological and zoogeographical aspects of spider communities were analysed. The spider communities of alpine tundra, subalpine mire, and glacial corrie exhibited long-term stability, whereas the community of decaying mountain forest changed during observations. Small linyphiid spiders, dominating in mature forest, were gradually replaced by larger Iycosid and gnaphosid species. Zoogeographic characterization of mountain habitats was made based on species exhibiting disjunctive area. In contrast to plants, for spiders of boreal origin alpine tundra is the most important habitat for survival, followed by screes, mires, spruce forests, and corries.     

Changes in Species Diversity of Rove Beetles (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae) Depending on the Age of Pine Plantations in Central Belarus

Trends of changes in species richness and dominance in staphylinid communities depending on the age of pine plantations have been analyzed. The species richness of these communities is high in the plantations of age classes 1 and 2 (11 and 28 years, respectively) but decreases in the plantations of age class 3 (60 years). The highest and lowest indices of species diversity are observed in the plantations of age classes 2 and 3, respectively. Four groups of rove beetles have been distinguished by the criterion of their dominance in pine plantations of different ages.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 306–313.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Derunkov.     

Abundance and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in lakes exposed to Chernobyl-derived ionising radiation

Littoral (lake shore) macroinvertebrate communities were studied in eight natural lakes affected by fallout from the Chernobyl accident. The lakes spanned a range in ¹³⁷Cs contamination from 100 to 15500 kBq m⁻² and estimated external dose rates ranged from 0.13 to 30.7 μGy h⁻¹. General linear models were used to assess whether abundance of individuals, taxon richness, Berger-Parker dominance and Shannon-Wiener diversity varied across the lakes. Step-wise multiple regressions were used to relate variation in total abundance, taxon richness, Berger-Parker dominance, Shannon-Wiener diversity, taxon richness within major groups of macroinvertebrates and abundance of the more common individual taxa to the measured environmental characteristics (conductivity, pH, total hardness and phosphate; lake area, lake maximum depth and total external dose) of the lakes. No evidence was found in this study that the ecological status of lake communities has been influenced by radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl accident. Indeed, the most contaminated lake, Glubokoye, contained the highest richness of aquatic invertebrates. Taxon richness in the eight study lakes varied from 22 (Svyatskoe #7) to 42 (Glubokoye) which spans a range typical for uncontaminated lakes in the region. Since ⁹⁰Sr is readily-absorbed by Mollusca, estimated dose rates to this group exceeded those for other invertebrate groups in two lakes (Perstok and Glubokoye). However this study found no association between mollusc diversity or abundance of individual snail species and variation between lakes in the external radiation dose. Indeed Glubokoye, the lake most contaminated by ⁹⁰Sr, had the highest richness of freshwater snails per sample (an average of 8.9 taxa per sample).     

Ecological assessment of murine rodent communities in the mountain forest belt of southern Central Siberia

The results of long-term studies on the fauna and ecology of murine rodents inhabiting the mountain forest belt of southern Central Siberia are considered. A comparative analysis of the composition and organization of rodent communities has been performed in 15 key plots located within three geographic-climatic facies: perhumid, humid, and semihumid. The species composition, dominance structure, and total abundance of these communities in each facies have significant distinctive features, despite the generally high similarity of the communities within the forest belt. Information indices have been used to determine parameters of the diversity and evenness of communities, which reflect their state and degree of resistance to various factors.     

生态修复后海三棱藨草湿地底栖生物多样性的年度变化及影响因子

如何确定湿地生态修复过程中底栖生物群落结构的变化及其影响因子对湿地生态系统操纵及生态修复效果有重要意义。研究以南汇东滩海三棱藨草湿地为对象,研究底栖生物群落结构的年度季节变化及空间格局。共鉴定大型底栖动物30种,四季都存在的优势种有光滑狭口螺、拟沼螺、堇拟沼螺和中国绿螂。春季以中国绿螂为主要物种,优势度大于0.4;夏季以拟沼螺和堇拟沼螺为主,优势度分别大于0.1和0.2;秋冬季优势种数目比春夏季高,均为13种,但优势种值较春夏季为低,且均匀。多样性、丰富度指数(p0.01)及均一性指数(p0.05)在空间上均具有显著性差异,其中多样性指数最高到达2.53。根据近岸海域环境监测规范(HJ442-2008),南汇东滩湿地生境质量从极差、差改善成等级一般,生境质量提高明显。底栖生物群落结构影响因素的排序分析表明,春夏秋三季大型底栖动物群落结构特征与植被指数及高程相关,其次是有机碳、含水率、导电率和硝氮,而冬季大型底栖动物群落结构特征受含水率、导电率和硝氮的影响最大。     

镇江内江湿地植物群落演替动态研究

采用“空间代替时间”方法,于镇江内江湿地选择4类典型样地,分别代表群落演替的4个不同时间段,从物种组成、多样性及生活型等方面研究湿地植被的演替规律,从而探索受损群落的修复途径。结果表明：不同演替阶段植物群落的物种组成、多样性指数和生活型变化明显。物种丰富度指数和多样性指数随演替呈上升趋势,且演替中后期最高,均匀度随演替递增,而优势度递减;在生活型上,多年生草本的重要值随演替先降后升,其物种数逐渐上升并在后期维持相对稳定,并在各演替阶段处于主导地位。而一、二年生草本植物的重要值和物种数均为先升后降;在科属总数上,科属数随演替逐渐增加,其中,禾本科植物始终处于优势种地位。     

Drastic reduction in the potential habitats for alpine and subalpine vegetation in the Pyrenees due to twenty-first-century climate change

Recent climate change is already affecting both ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them, with mountains and their associated biota being particularly vulnerable. Due to the high conservation value of mountain ecosystems, reliable science-based information is needed to implement additional conservation efforts in order to ensure their future. This paper examines how climate change might impact on the distribution of the main alpine and subalpine vegetation in terms of losses of suitable area in the Oriental Pyrenees. The algorithm of maximum entropy (Maxent) was used to relate current environmental conditions (climate, topography, geological properties) to present data for the studied vegetation units, and time and space projections were subsequently carried out considering climate change predictions for the years 2020, 2050 and 2080. All models predicted rising altitude trends for all studied vegetation units. Moreover, the analysis of future trends under different climate scenarios for 2080 suggests an average loss in potential ranges of 92.3–99.9 % for alpine grasslands, 76.8–98.4 % for subalpine (and alpine) scrublands and 68.8–96.1 % for subalpine forest. The drastic reduction in the potential distribution areas for alpine grasslands, subalpine scrublands and Pinus uncinata forests highlights the potential severity of the effects of climate change on vegetation in the highest regions of the Pyrenees. Thus, alpine grasslands can be expected to become relegated to refuge areas (summit areas), with their current range being taken over by subalpine scrublands. Furthermore, subalpine forest units will probably become displaced and will occupy areas that currently present subalpine scrub vegetation.     

Means for soil nutrient uptake in sedges with different ecological strategies

The prevalence of arbuscular mycorrhizas and nonsymbiotic modifications of absorbing organs (dauciform roots) has been studied in species of the genus Carex with competitive (C) and stress-tolerant (S) types of Grime-Ramenskii’s ecological strategies. The groups of C- and S-strategists do not differ in the ability to form mycorrhizas. Dauciform roots are more frequent in S-strategists, which accounts for a higher diversity of means for soil nutrient uptake in this group, compared to S-strategists.     

长江中游监利江段鱼类群落结构研究

基于2013~2015年、2017~2018年长江中游监利江段的鱼类资源监测数据,采用多样性指数和多元统计方法分析该江段的鱼类群落结构特征。研究表明:5年共监测到鱼类68种,隶属于6目13科,其中鲤形目共46种;2018年监测的鱼类种类数要多于其他年份。各年份的均匀度指数值相差不大,2018年Shannon Wiener指数值和Margalef丰富度指数值要大于前面4个年份,优势度指数值有一定波动,但值均偏低。ABC曲线及W统计表明2013年和2014年鱼类群落结构受到了人类活动的严重扰动,而2015、2017和2018年受到人类活动的扰动程度不大。聚类分析和非度量多维尺度分析显示鱼类群落可以分为三组,但相似性分析表示三组间无明显差异。     

江西大鄣山夏季鸟类群落多样性研究

2009年6月至2010年8月采用样线法对江西大鄣山夏季鸟类资源及其生境分布状况进行调查,并计算其物种多样性、均匀性、优势度及不同生境群落间的相似性。共记录江西大鄣山夏季鸟类13目31科78种,其中留鸟45种,夏候鸟21种,冬候鸟7种,旅鸟5种;其中国家二级保护鸟类6种,省级保护鸟类22种;结果表明：东洋种鸟类占有明显优势（500%）,古北种次之（282%）,广布种占218%。白头鹎（〖WTBX〗Pycnonotus sinensis）和白腰文鸟（Lonchura striata〖WTBZ〗）为当季优势种。6种群落类型中,Shannon Weiner指数与Simpson指数排序均为：阔叶林>农田居民区>针阔混交林>溪流水域>灌木草丛>针叶林。Pielou指数排序为:针阔混交林>溪流水域>阔叶林>农田居民区>灌木草丛>针叶林。Sorenson指数中阔叶林 针阔混交林（〖WTBX〗S〖WTBZ〗=048）为最高。研究结果可为当地森林管理和鸟类保护提供依据     

Factors of variation in the number of adventive species in herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus

The saturation of herbaceous communities with adventive species in the Northern Caucasus has been estimated using as an indicator the number of such species in 0.5-m² plots. Among factors accounting for variation in the test parameter, consideration has been given to the coverage of the herbaceous layer, the species richness of communities (in 0.5-m² plots), and the numbers of adventive and indigenous species (in 15-m² plots). The field data have been processes by methods of ordinary and multivariate regression analysis. The results show that variation in saturation with adventive species between small areas of herbaceous communities largely depends on the number of such species in larger areas, their species-holding capacity, and the level of completeness of communities.     

Analysis of trends in the formation of species richness of plant communities using syntaxonomy and ecological scales

On the basis of syntaxonomy of primary forests in the Southern Ural region, an analysis of trends in the formation of their species diversity has been performed in regard to heat supply, soil moisture, and general soil richness. The roles of environmental factors have been estimated using Landolt’s scales. The results have shown that communities of forest classes Querco-Fagetea, Brachypodio-Betuletea, and Vaccinio-Piceetea differ in the trends of changes in species richness along gradients of the above factors. In communities of all these classes, species richness depends primarily on heat supply, with soil richness being the second most important factor.     

Species richness of tree and shrub layers in riparian forests of the Western Caucasus dominated by alien species

The consequences of replacement of native dominants by alien species (Ailanthus altissima, Ficus carica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo, and Amorpha fruticosa) in the tree and shrub layers have been studied in riparian forests of the Western Caucasus. The results show that the invasive dominant species do not always achieve higher abundance, compared with native dominants. When this is the case, however, the dominance of alien species as stronger competitors leads to reduction in the species richness of communities, because they not only intercept the greater part of resources from the environment but also provoke increasingly strict partitioning of remaining resources among associated species.     

长湖鱼类群落结构的时空变化

为系统阐明长湖鱼类群落结构特征,2014年3~11月对长湖鱼类群落结构的空间差异和季节动态进行了较为全面的调查。结果表明,长湖共调查到鱼类43种,隶属于7目14科37属,主要为湖泊定居型鱼类;大湖区和海子湖区鱼类优势种组成虽存在一定的差异,但鲫、鰐、鲤和达氏鲌为两个湖区的共同优势种;长湖鱼类群落的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数分别为0.53~2.30、0.52~2.02和0.24~0.66,除丰富度指数外,均表现为5月或8月相对较高;聚类和MDS排序分析结果表明长湖鱼类群落分为两大类群,呈现显著的时空异质性;ABC曲线显示长湖优势鱼类以小型鱼类或大型鱼类的幼体为主,且已受到不同程度的干扰。针对长湖鱼类资源已出现衰退,建议在拆除围网/拦网养殖、取缔有害渔具的同时,考虑增殖放流、栽种水生植物等措施来达到长湖鱼类资源保护和可持续利用的目的。     

Study on Community Diversity of Coastal Shelter Forest in Jiaonan

Evaluating the biodiversity of previous and current species in a forest community is an important task. Some methodological researches and effective applications have been carried out widely in the temperate upland zone. However, they lack related researches in coastal shelter forests. This paper attempts to analyze them for Jiaonan coastal forest communities from the following three aspects, the relationship between plant biodiversity structure and its environment, the nexus between biodivers…     

Study on Community Diversity of Coastal Shelter Forest in Jiaonan

Abstract

Based on the research of the plots in coastal areas in Jiaonan city, Shandong Province, the indices of richness, evenness and diversity of different community types are analyzed. The results show that: The richness indices indicates that arbor layers are close to shrub layers, and both are lower than herbage layers; the ranges among communities vary a little except those of the arbor ones. Mostly the biodiversity indices reveal that herbage, the arbor, the shrub; Biodiversity of communities has great influences on microclimate to a certain extent and is under the control of regional environment.     

Inhibition of restorative succession by invasive plant species: Examples from southeastern Belarus

Consideration is given to the examples of suppression of restorative succession by invasive plant species (Solidago canadensis L., Helianthus subcanescens (A. Gray) E. Watson, Impatiens glandulifera Royle) in anthropogenic landscapes of southeastern Belarus. Characteristics of communities blocking the succession process have been revealed: low species richness, dominance of alien species in coverage, high level of synanthropization, and the absence of natural regeneration of trees and shrubs. It is suggested that a delay in succession is caused by the suppressing influence of transformer species on seed germination in apophytic trees.     

Altitude dependent 137Cs concentrations in different plant species in alpine agricultural areas

The Gastein valley in the Central Part of the Austrian Alps was one of the regions most heavily affected by fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe, depositing (137)Cs inventory up to 70 kBq/m(2) in May 1986. In many studies dealing with the uptake of (137)Cs by vegetation used for farming, a significant correlation between (137)Cs concentration in the plants and altitude a.s.l. has been observed. In order to quantify the influence of the composition of plant communities on the average (137)Cs concentration in vegetation on farmland, plant-specific activity concentrations in plant species have been determined. Alongside a transect from valley sites at 850 m a.s.l. to alpine pastures at 1660 m, the aggregated transfer factors C(ag) (m(2)/kg) have been measured for plant communities and plant species. C(ag) values for mixed vegetation are more or less similar in valley sites, but they increase exponentially with a doubling height of 122+/-22 m above appr. 1200 m altitude a.s.l. On average all species are affected by this increase in a similar way. C(ag) values of ubiquitous plant indicate that the composition of plant communities is of minor importance for the contamination of mixed vegetation.