Robustness in life history of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) across large scales: effects of spatially and temporally induced variability on population growth

Understanding the demography and function of biotope-forming seaweed species is of great importance for the conservation of the target species itself, as well as its associated organisms. The brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum is fundamental for the functioning of coastal marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic. In this study, we use a data-based size-classified matrix model to investigate the temporal and spatial variability in demography, and the environment-specific stochastic sensitivity and elasticity, of two A. nodosum populations, one in western Sweden and one on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. A significant difference between the two populations was that the Swedish population had comparably low and more variable stochastic population growth rate (λ _s). This pattern was partly explained by the relatively high and varying mortality rates during extreme ice-years in Sweden, and by the lower survival of small individuals during all years. There were also fewer large individuals in Sweden due to lower transitions to the larger size-classes and higher probability of shrinkage. Sensitivities were analogous in the two populations, and showed a high selection pressure for increased individual growth. Elasticities were also similar, with the exception that survival of the smallest individuals (i.e., transition a _1,1), had a higher elasticity on the Isle of Man. Overall, the stochastic growth rate (λ _s) was most sensitive to proportional changes in loop- (i.e., survival within size-class) and, to some extent, growth-transitions in both study areas. These results show that structurally and demographically diverging A. nodosum populations may be similarly sensitive to changes in vital rates. This, in turn, indicates a plastic life history of A. nodosum that may cope with large environmental variability. The results further suggest that environmental change affecting the survival or growth of the larger, reproductive A. nodosum individuals could have severe and regional effects on the abundance and biomass of this species, with potential negative effects on the biodiversity of the associated communities.     

浅水湖泊孢粉和植物残体对水生植被的表现率

研究浅水湖泊中植物残体对水生植物的表现率,用于重建近代水生植被历史,可为治理湖泊富营养化,恢复湖泊生态环境提供依据。研究选址为英国北部的一个小湖泊,通过水生植物调查及表层沉积物中植物残体和孢粉分析,及地理信息系统方法定量研究植物残体对水生植物的表现率。结果表明：沉积物中植物残体精确地反映了植物优势种的存在;植物和植物残体的关系是很复杂的,有些植物在残体中表现率明显超高,而有些表现率偏低; 应把叶子和其它非繁殖植株部分作为恢复近代多年生植物历史依据;植物残体传输性较差,主要集中在植物母体附近;利用植物残体与孢粉分析相结合的方法能更准确地重建植被历史。     

The oasis effect: response of birds to exurban development in a southwestern savanna

Ranches are being converted to exurban housing developments in the southwestern United States, with potentially significant but little-studied impacts on biological diversity. We counted birds in grasslands and savannas in southeastern Arizona that were grazed by livestock, embedded in low-density exurban housing developments, or both, or neither. Species richness and bird abundance were higher in exurban neighborhoods than in undeveloped landscapes, independent of livestock grazing. The positive response to development was particularly evident among doves, quail, hummingbirds, aerial insectivores, and some but not all ground-foraging sparrows. Effects of livestock grazing were comparatively minor and mostly involved birds with requirements for tall ground cover or the lack of it. The average rank correlation between counts of individual species and housing density was positive across all transects. However, this relationship disappeared among the exurban transects alone, and bird species richness on the exurban transects was negatively correlated with the number of homes nearby. These results suggest that the positive influence of exurban development on avian abundance and variety was greatest at the lowest housing densities. We attribute the attraction of many birds to exurban development to an oasis effect, in which resources otherwise scarce in arid southwestern environments (shade, nectar, nest sites, and especially water) are relatively abundant around exurban home sites. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that exurban home sites represented resource supply points inside birds' home ranges otherwise consisting mostly of natural vegetation.     

Spatial dynamics and substrate impacts of recreational snorkelers and SCUBA divers in Hawaiian Marine Protected Areas

We quantified spatial dynamics and substrate impacts of snorkelers and SCUBA divers within four Hawaiian MPAs to determine: (1) whether coral reefs in these areas are being damaged by recreational activities, and (2) how damage might be mitigated. Observers secretly followed snorkelers and SCUBA divers, and used handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units to record their geographic tracks and substrate contacts. Most activities occurred within relatively small, well-defined areas associated with access points. Despite heavy use, recreation impact was low at Hawaiian MPAs because most fragile corals occurred below the maximum depth of the dominant recreational activity (snorkeling). SCUBA diving was only common at one MPA with physically durable benthic habitats. GPS tracking provided useful insights into how recreational impacts to MPAs could be reduced. General topography could be used to predict where visitors will go, and designated access points could be used to focus substrate contact away from fragile habitats.