Persistence of Forest Birds in the Costa Rican Agricultural Countryside

Abstract:  Understanding the persistence mechanisms of tropical forest species in human-dominated landscapes is a fundamental challenge of tropical ecology and conservation. Many species, including more than half of Costa Rica's native land birds, use mostly deforested agricultural countryside, but how they do so is poorly known. Do they commute regularly to forest or can some species survive in this human-dominated landscape year-round? Using radiotelemetry, we detailed the habitat use, movement, foraging, and nesting patterns of three bird species, Catharus aurantiirostris , Tangara icterocephala , and Turdus assimilis , by obtaining 8101 locations from 156 individuals. We chose forest birds that varied in their vulnerability to deforestation and were representative of the species found both in forest and human-dominated landscapes. Our study species did not commute from extensive forest; rather, they fed and bred in the agricultural countryside. Nevertheless, T. icterocephala and T. assimilis , which are more habitat sensitive, were highly dependent on the remaining trees. Although trees constituted only 11% of land cover, these birds spent 69% to 85% of their time in them. Breeding success of C. aurantiirostris and T. icterocephala in deforested habitats was not different than in forest remnants, where T. assimilis experienced reduced breeding success. Although this suggests an ecological trap for T. assimilis , higher fledgling survival in forest remnants may make up for lower productivity. Tropical countryside has high potential conservation value, which can be enhanced with even modest increases in tree cover. Our findings have applicability to many human-dominated tropical areas that have the potential to conserve substantial biodiversity if appropriate restoration measures are taken.     

东洞庭湖湿地鸟类群落组成分析

2005年7月至2006年7月期间对东洞庭湖湿地鸟类进行了调查,共观察记录到208种,隶属于16目43科,同时对鸟类的区系组成、居留型、生态类型及重点保护鸟类进行了分析.图3,表3,参4.     

Characterizing Small Subbasins: A Case Study from Coastal Oregon

A fine-grained statisticaly robust probability sample of stream segments is used to compare two small (20,000 hectare) subbasins of the Tillamook watershed, north coastal Oregon. The two subbasins are matched with respect to several variables [size coastal climates], but vary in terms of geology and consequently land use. A total of 67 wadeable + non-wadeable sizes were identified for sampling in the two subbasins (combined) over two field seasons from a sampling universe consisting of the River Reach File 3 (blue lines on 1:100,000 maps). Target variables include an extensive array of physical habitat endpoints, selected water chemistry endpoints, species composition, and relative abundance of both benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. Field protocols generally followed those of the U.S. EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP).Eleven fish species were encountered, a typically low number for coastal Oregon streams. Exploratory analysis using nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that 92.4% of the variation in the fish assemblages could be explained with two ordination axes. Environmental factors related to stream size and substate were the most correlated to these axes. Further, stream segments for the two subbasins tended to map in different areas of species space. Therefore, we also give unweighted probability distributions for several of the factors that heavily on these two axes by subbasins, as well as probability distributions for chemical endpoints. Results from the subset of sites sampled during the first year (21 wadeable sites) reveal: 1) differences between samples from the two subbasins relates to dream size and substrate composition that are consistent with known differences in geology and land use, 2) unexpectedly minor differences between samples from the two subbasins for stream temperature, canopy cover, and dissolved oxygen, 3) differences between samples from the two subbasins for total P, and total N, possibly related to land use, and 4) unexpected differences in samples from the two subbasins for conductivity, probably related to geological factors. Sample size for each subbasin is low and therefore our samples cannot be taken to necessarily characterize either subbasin. However, our findings are consistent with a comprehensive assessment that had been previously produced for one of the two subbasins.All field work was completed in 8 weeks 3-person field crew. We conclude that rapid assessment protocols, based on probability samples at this level of resolution, can be a cost-effective approach to watershed analysis. This approach should be seen as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, systematic surveys that produced finer scale, reach specific information on factors such as channel complexity and cover relevant to in-stream restoration planning.     

Air pollution impact assessment on agroecosystem and human health characterisation in the area surrounding the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy): a multidisciplinary approach

In order to evaluate the impact of atmospheric pollutants emitted by the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy) on agriculture, sulphur dioxide and ozone levels in air were monitored and the data were used to estimate yield losses of the most widespread cultures. Trace element concentrations in crops and soils were also detected and metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities were considered. Vibrio fischeri test was used to appraise airborne pollutant ecotoxicity and epidemiological studies on causes of death distribution were carried out to characterize health state of people living in the area. All the sampling points were selected in farms on the basis of a theoretical meteo-diffusive model of industrial air pollutants. Experimental SO₂ and O₃ values mainly exceeded the threshold established by Italian and EU regulations to protect vegetation and they correspond to estimated significant crop losses. Conversely toxic element residues in soils and in agroalimentary products were generally lower than the fixed values. SO₂ and O₃ concentrations, toxic element contents and ecotoxicity levels of airborne pollutants were not related only to industrial site emissions, while the fluctuations on metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities seem to agree with the predicted deposition of xenobiotic compounds from the industrial plants. The epidemiological study evidenced a better health state of populations living in the investigated area than in the Messina province and the Sicily region but, inside the area, males living in the municipalities closest to the industrial settlement exhibited a worst health state than those in the very far ones.     

不同类型水生植物群落对铜绿微囊藻的化感作用

通过将不同类型水生植物群落种植水与藻类共同培养的方式研究了4种植物群落（群落A：梭鱼草Pontederia cordata＋黄菖蒲Iris pseudacorus-水罂粟Hydrocleys nymphoides;群落B：梭鱼草＋溪荪Iris sanguinea＋黄菖蒲;群落C：梭鱼草＋溪荪-大薸Pistia stratiotes;群落D：白花水龙Jussiaea repens-大薸＋水罂粟）对铜绿微囊藻Microcystis aeruginosa生长的化感作用。研究结果表明：4种植物群落种植水对铜绿微囊藻均具有较强的抑制作用,且随着群落种植时间的延长,种植水对铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用越强。4个植物群落对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制作用由大到小依次是：群落A,群落B,群落C,群落D。     

围封对内蒙古中东部草原植物群落和土壤线虫群落的影响

2007年8月在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站的退化样地（对照）、围封5 a样地和围封24 a样地,调查地上部植物群落、土壤性质和地下部土壤线虫群落。结果表明,围封处理能显著提高土壤水分质量分数,土壤深度和围封处理对土壤pH的交互作用显著。随着围封年限的增加,地上植物的多度、生物量和单株生物量都显著增加,而3个样地的多样性和均匀度均为围封24 a样地〉退化样地〉围封5 a年样地;随着围封年限的增加,大针茅（Stipa grandis）、苔草（Carex duriuscula）、羊草（Leymus chinensis）、锦鸡儿（Cleistogenes squarrosa）、双齿葱（Allium bidentatum）的生物量都呈现递增的趋势;围封5 a样地上冰草（Agropyron cristatum）和野韭（Allium ramosum）的生物量最大,围封24 a样地上苔草、羊草、双齿葱的生物量最大。调查样地线虫的密度平均为9.79 g-1（以干土计）,分别隶属于线虫动物门的90个属。植物寄生类线虫和食细菌类线虫分别占到总数的35%和40%,优势类群是丽突属（Acrobeles）和矮化属（Tylenchorhynchus）,二者共占总捕获个体数量的31.4%。围封24 a样地的结构指数显著高于退化样地,其它指标差异不显著。由此可知,围封有助于改善土壤理化性质;从围封角度来看,植物群落比线虫群落的反应明显得多,二者并未出现同步反应。     

完善我国流域生态补偿制度的思考——以东江流域为例

上下游对流域生态资源保护做出的贡献与生态利益享有的不平等导致区域间社会经济差距的扩大,需要通过生态补偿制度的建立和完善来实现区域统筹和谐发展,但我国现行生态补偿制度由于行政区界限制、相关法规建设不完善、补偿方式较单一、补偿标准测算困难等原因面临不少问题和困境。以东江流域现行生态补偿措施为视点,分析了当前生态补偿研究实践中存在的问题;进而以此为基点根据流域生态系统的连贯性与人类政治结构分割性之间的矛盾进行反思,提出打破流域行政区界限制,统筹构建流域“生态共同体”的理念;并在此理念指导下,提出采取“政府主导、市场运作”策略。即在明确界定流域范围后,首先由“政府主导”开展全流域综合规划、建立和完善省内流域统管机制、跨省流域生态共享共建统筹协商机制;其次以水质水量、出售许可交易权方式测算“生态共同体”之间核算补偿资金,并结合“市场运作”实施多样化并进补偿方式;同时建立流域生态补偿奖惩制度并将其纳入“生态共同体”干部绩效考核体系,构建流域补偿的长效机制,完善我国流域生态补偿制度。     

Use of Abundance of One Species as a Surrogate for Abundance of Others

Abstract: Indicator species concepts have a long history in conservation biology. Arguments in favor of these approaches generally stress expediency and assume efficacy. We tested the premise that the abundance patterns of one species can be used to infer those of other species. Our data consisted of 72,495 bird observations on 55 species across 1046 plots distributed across 30 sub basins. We analyzed abundance patterns at two spatial scales (plot and sub basin) and for empirical and a priori grouping. There were few significant indicator relationships at either scale or under either grouping rule, and those few we found did not explain a substantial portion of the abundance of other species. Coupled with the lack of proven efficacy for species surrogacy in the literature, our results indicate the utility of indicators and similar types of surrogate approaches must be demonstrated rather than assumed.     

基于干扰梯度的钦江流域底栖动物完整性指数候选参数筛选

候选参数的科学筛选是构建底栖动物完整性指数的关键步骤.在缺乏足够参照样点的情况下,生物参数与环境梯度的响应关系是重要依据.以广西钦江流域冬季枯水期22个样点的环境和底栖动物数据为例,应用主成分分析法提取研究流域的环境梯度,进而采用多重回归分析确定对环境干扰敏感且预测性强的构成参数.相关性分析表明,38个候选参数中有12个参数与其他参数间的信息冗余性很高(|r|>0.80,P<0.05);余下的26个生物参数与环境梯度主成分Ⅰ(PCⅠ)、主成分Ⅱ(PCⅡ)和栖境质量参数的多重回归分析表明,有13个参数能和环境胁迫较好地响应(P<0.05).参考各指数的代表性和实用性,提出了适于构建该区域底栖动物完整性指数的8个生物参数:科级丰度、蜉蝣目丰度、鞘翅目丰度,EPT多度、优势种百分比,捕食者百分比,属级香农多样性指数和BI指数.本研究为类似情况下底栖动物完整性指数的构建提供了一个较好的解决途径.     

基于底栖动物完整性指数的河口健康评价

建立底栖动物完整性（B-IBI）评价指标体系和评价标准评价长江口及毗邻海域健康.根据2005年7月长江口及毗邻海域41个站位的底栖动物数据（参照点13个,干扰点28个）,通过对14个生物参数的分布范围、判别能力和相关关系分析,筛选出了多样性指数、种类数、总栖息密度、总生物量、甲壳类的密度百分比和棘皮动物的密度百分比等6个生物参数构成B-IBI指标体系.采用比值法统一参数量纲,直接累加得到B-IBI指数值.根据参照点B-IBI值的50%分位数值确定健康等级标准,建立了评价长江口及毗邻海域健康的B-IBI标准：＞2.48为健康,1.86～2.48为亚健康,1.24～1.86为一般,0.62～1.24为差,＜0.62为极差.评价结果表明,长江口及毗邻海域41个站位中,7个为健康,2个为亚健康,8个为一般,8个为较差,16个为极差.用2006年6月底栖动物数据进行评价结果验证,准确率为89%.