Dispersal ecology of deadwood organisms and connectivity conservation

Limited knowledge of dispersal for most organisms hampers effective connectivity conservation in fragmented landscapes. In forest ecosystems, deadwood‐dependent organisms (i.e., saproxylics) are negatively affected by forest management and degradation globally. We reviewed empirically established dispersal ecology of saproxylic insects and fungi. We focused on direct studies (e.g., mark‐recapture, radiotelemetry), field experiments, and population genetic analyses. We found 2 somewhat opposite results. Based on direct methods and experiments, dispersal is limited to within a few kilometers, whereas genetic studies showed little genetic structure over tens of kilometers, which indicates long‐distance dispersal. The extent of direct dispersal studies and field experiments was small and thus these studies could not have detected long‐distance dispersal. Particularly for fungi, more studies at management‐relevant scales (1–10 km) are needed. Genetic researchers used outdated markers, investigated few loci, and faced the inherent difficulties of inferring dispersal from genetic population structure. Although there were systematic and species‐specific differences in dispersal ability (fungi are better dispersers than insects), it seems that for both groups colonization and establishment, not dispersal per se, are limiting their occurrence at management‐relevant scales. Because most studies were on forest landscapes in Europe, particularly the boreal region, more data are needed from nonforested landscapes in which fragmentation effects are likely to be more pronounced. Given the potential for long‐distance dispersal and the logical necessity of habitat area being a more fundamental landscape attribute than the spatial arrangement of habitat patches (i.e., connectivity sensu strict), retaining high‐quality deadwood habitat is more important for saproxylic insects and fungi than explicit connectivity conservation in many cases.     

Exposing ecological and economic costs of the research‐implementation gap and compromises in decision making

The frequently discussed gap between conservation science and practice is manifest in the gap between spatial conservation prioritization plans and their implementation. We analyzed the research‐implementation gap of one zoning case by comparing results of a spatial prioritization analysis aimed at avoiding ecological impact of peat mining in a regional zoning process with the final zoning plan. We examined the relatively complex planning process to determine the gaps among research, zoning, and decision making. We quantified the ecological costs of the differing trade‐offs between ecological and socioeconomic factors included in the different zoning suggestions by comparing the landscape‐level loss of ecological features (species occurrences, habitat area, etc.) between the different solutions for spatial allocation of peat mining. We also discussed with the scientists and planners the reasons for differing zoning suggestions. The implemented plan differed from the scientists suggestion in that its focus was individual ecological features rather than all the ecological features for which there were data; planners and decision makers considered effects of peat mining on areas not included in the prioritization analysis; zoning was not truly seen as a resource‐allocation process and not emphasized in general minimizing ecological losses while satisfying economic needs (peat‐mining potential); and decision makers based their prioritization of sites on site‐level information showing high ecological value and on single legislative factors instead of finding a cost‐effective landscape‐level solution. We believe that if the zoning and decision‐making processes are very complex, then the usefulness of science‐based prioritization tools is likely to be reduced. Nevertheless, we found that high‐end tools were useful in clearly exposing trade‐offs between conservation and resource utilization.     

A multispecies test of source–sink indicators to prioritize habitat for declining populations

For species at risk of decline or extinction in source–sink systems, sources are an obvious target for habitat protection actions. However, the way in which source habitats are identified and prioritized can reduce the effectiveness of conservation actions. Although sources and sinks are conceptually defined using both demographic and movement criteria, simplifications are often required in systems with limited data. To assess the conservation outcomes of alternative source metrics and resulting prioritizations, we simulated population dynamics and extinction risk for 3 endangered species. Using empirically based habitat population models, we linked habitat maps with measured site‐ or habitat‐specific demographic conditions, movement abilities, and behaviors. We calculated source–sink metrics over a range of periods of data collection and prioritized consistently high‐output sources for conservation. We then tested whether prioritized patches identified the habitats that most affected persistence by removing them and measuring the population response. Conservation decisions based on different source–sink metrics and durations of data collection affected species persistence. Shorter time series obscured the ability of metrics to identify influential habitats, particularly in temporally variable and slowly declining populations. Data‐rich source–sink metrics that included both demography and movement information did not always identify the habitats with the greatest influence on extinction risk. In some declining populations, patch abundance better predicted influential habitats for short‐term regional persistence. Because source–sink metrics (i.e., births minus deaths; births and immigrations minus deaths and emigration) describe net population conditions and cancel out gross population counts, they may not adequately identify influential habitats in declining populations. For many nonequilibrium populations, new metrics that maintain the counts of individual births, deaths, and movement may provide additional insight into habitats that most influence persistence.     

The use of waste basic oxygen furnace slag and hydrogen peroxide to degrade 4-chlorophenol

A new treatment method is developed to degrade 4-chlorophenol (4-cp) and its oxidation intermediates. The experimental results of this research demonstrate that 4-cp and its oxidation intermediates can be decomposed completely by basic oxygen furnace slag (BOF slag) with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in an acid solution. The factors that effect the treatment efficiency were studied including initial concentration of 4-cp, pH of the solution, concentration of H₂O₂ and amount of BOF slag. The BOF slags are final waste materials in the steel making process. The major components of BOF slag are CaO, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, FeO, MgO and MnO. As the BOF slag in an acid solution, FeO and Fe₂O₃ can be dissociated to produce ferrous ion and ferric ion. Ferrous ion reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form “Fenton's reagent” which can produce hydroxyl radicals (OH^.). Hydroxyl radical possession of high oxidation ability can oxidize organic chemicals effectively. Results show that 100 mg/l of 4-cp is decomposed completely within 30 min by 438.7 g/l BOF slag with 8.2 mM hydrogen peroxide in pH=2.8±0.2 solution. The COD value of the solution is reduced from 290 to 90 mg/l. The factors studied which affect the 4-cp decomposition efficiency were the hydrogen peroxide concentration, BOF slag concentration, pH of the solution and initial concentration of 4-cp. Because large amounts of Fe₂O₃ and FeO are present in the BOF slag, the BOF slag not only has a high treatment efficiency, but also can be used repeatedly.     

不同氨氮填加量下沉水植物对沉积物DOM荧光特性的影响

采用三维荧光光谱技术,模拟研究了不同氨氮添加量(0,100,200和400 mg/kg)下沉水植物对湖泊沉积物DOM(溶解性有机质)荧光特性的影响.结果表明:不同氨氮添加量下,沉水植物的存在明显增强沉积物DOM荧光强度,其中对类蛋白质和类氨基酸组分荧光强度影响较大(荧光强度分别增大了20%～77%和27%～56%);而对类腐殖酸和类富里酸组分影响相对较小(荧光强度分别增大了5%～25%和21%～29%). 添加氨氮可增强沉水植物对沉积物DOM荧光强度影响的程度,当添加量为100 mg/kg时,沉水植物生长最旺盛,沉积物DOM中类蛋白质和类氨基酸组分荧光强度增幅最大(分别约77%和56%);即外源氨氮通过增加沉积物蛋白质和氨基酸含量增强了沉积物有机氮的生物有效性;而在其他添加量下,DOM各荧光组分强度增幅不大,即适当添加外源氨氮,可通过促进沉水植物生长增加沉积物中蛋白质和氨基酸等含量,从而提高沉积物有机氮的生物有效性.      

Modelling the impact of thermal adaptation of soil microorganisms and crop system on the dynamics of organic matter in a tropical soil under a climate change scenario

No consensus currently exists about how climate change should affect the status of soil organic matter (SOM) in the tropics. In this study, we analyse the impact of climate change on the underlying mechanisms controlling SOM dynamics in a ferralsol under two contrasting tropical crops: maize (C4 plant) and banana (C3 plant). We model the effect of microbial thermal adaptation on carbon (C) mineralisation at the crop system scale and introduce it in the model STICS, which was previously calibrated for the soil-crop systems tested in this study. Microbial thermal adaptation modelling is based on a reported theory for thermal acclimation of plant and soil respiration. The climate is simulated from 1950 to 2099 for the tropical humid conditions of Guadeloupe (French Antilles), using the ARPEGE model and the IPCC emission scenario A1B. The model predicts increases of 3.4 °C for air temperature and 1100 mm yr⁻¹ for rainfall as a response to an increase of 375 ppm for atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in the 2090-2099 decade compared with the 1950-1959 decade. The results of the STICS model indicate that the crop affects the response of SOM to climate change by controlling the change in several variables involved in C dynamics: C input, soil temperature and soil moisture. SOM content varies little until 2020, and then it decreases faster for maize than for banana. The decrease is weakened under the hypothesis of thermal adaptation, and this effect is greater for maize (−180 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ without adaptation and −140 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ with adaptation) than for banana (−60 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and −40 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). The greater SOM loss in maize is mainly due to the negative effect of warming on maize growth decreasing C input from residues. Climate change has a small effect on banana growth, and SOM loss is linked to its effect on C mineralisation. For both crops, annual C mineralisation increases until 2040, and then it decreases continuously. Thermal adaptation reduces the initial increase in mineralisation, but its effect is lower on the final decrease, which is mainly controlled by substrate limitation. No stabilisation in SOM status is attained at the end of the analysed period because C mineralisation is always greater than C input. Model predictions indicate that microbial thermal adaptation modifies, but does not fundamentally change the temporal pattern of SOM dynamics. The vegetation type (C3 or C4) plays a major role in SOM dynamics in this tropical soil because of the different impact of climate change on crop growth and then on C inputs.     

元江流域干热河谷草地植物群落结构特征与相似性分析

选择元江干热河谷典型草地群落,采用标准样地调查法,对流域上、中、下游干热河谷草地植物群落的分布特征、群落结构、种群习性等特征开展研究,结果表明：（1）元江流域上游祥云和中下游红河干热河谷草地群落中出现的植物种类最多,元江流域干热河谷草地植物群落是以灌木为主、多年生草本为辅的结构类型。（2）元江流域干热河谷草地群落中,扭黄茅（Heteropogon contortus）为优势种群,次优种群随流域环境的改变而不同。（3）元江流域干热河谷草地植物群落之间的相似性系数均在0.00～0.25之间,处于极不相似水平,种群的扩散受流域河谷通道作用影响较小。（4）种群的扩散和定居受海拔高度的影响,随着海拔高度的变化,植物群落的组成也发生变化,形成不同的群落结构。     

不同种植制度对稻田旱作季节CH_4和N_2O排放的影响

通过大田试验研究了稻田旱作季节几种典型种植制度对CH4和N2O排放的影响,包括休闲(fallow)、油菜对照(OR-ck)、小麦对照(W-ck)、油菜施N(OR-N)和小麦施N(W-N)5个处理。试验结果表明,稻田旱作季节N2O排放明显,CH4排放量较低,甚至表现为弱的CH4汇。稻田旱作季节N2O排放除受到N肥和种植制度影响外,还受土壤含水量影响,施N处理显著促进了N2O排放,降雨后N2O排放明显。小麦和油菜施N处理N2O平均排放通量分别为18.51和13.47μg.m-2.h-1,季节累积排放量分别为87.31和59.48 mg.m-2,均显著高于对照和休闲处理。不同作物种类间N2O平均排放通量无显著差异,N2O季节累积排放量则表现为小麦显著高于油菜。各处理综合温室效应(100 a)依次为:OR-NW-NW-ckfallowOR-ck。各施N处理综合温室效应以N2O为主,但各无N处理则以CH4为主,也不容忽视。     

冬季土地管理对稻季CH_4产生、氧化和排放的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验测定了冬季休闲、种麦和淹水处理水稻生长期CH4的产生潜力、氧化潜力及其排放通量,以探讨冬季土地管理对后续稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明:休闲与种麦处理间CH4产生潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05);各处理间CH4氧化潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),土壤中NH4+-N含量可能是较冬季土地管理更为重要的影响CH4氧化潜力的因素;休闲处理CH4平均排放通量显著高于种麦处理(P<0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05)。冬季持续淹水稻田CH4产生潜力显著高于冬季排水稻田是其CH4排放量远高于冬季排水稻田的原因。冬季土地管理对稻季CH4排放的影响主要受CH4产生潜力而非CH4氧化潜力的限制。