A Matrix‐Calibrated Species‐Area Model for Predicting Biodiversity Losses Due to Land‐Use Change

Abstract: Application of island biogeography theory to prediction of species extinctions resulting from habitat loss is based on the assumption that the transformed landscape matrix is completely inhospitable to the taxa considered, despite evidence demonstrating the nontrivial influence of matrix on populations within habitat remnants. The island biogeography paradigm therefore needs refining to account for specific responses of taxa to the area of habitat “islands” and to the quality of the surrounding matrix. We incorporated matrix effects into island theory by partitioning the slope (z value) of species–area relationships into two components: γ, a constant, and σ, a measure of taxon‐specific responses to each component of a heterogeneous matrix. We used our matrix‐calibrated model to predict extinction and endangerment of bird species resulting from land‐use change in 20 biodiversity hotspots and compared these predictions with observed numbers of extinct and threatened bird species. We repeated this analysis with the conventional species–area model and the countryside species–area model, considering alternative z values of 0.35 (island) or 0.22 (continental). We evaluated the relative strength of support for each of the five candidate models with Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The matrix‐calibrated model had the highest AIC weight (w_i = 89.21%), which means the weight of evidence in support of this model was the optimal model given the set of candidate models and the data. In addition to being a valuable heuristic tool for assessing extinction risk, our matrix‐calibrated model also allows quantitative assessment of biodiversity benefits (and trade‐offs) of land‐management options in human‐dominated landscapes. Given that processes of secondary regeneration have become more widespread across tropical regions and are predicted to increase, our matrix‐calibrated model will be increasingly appropriate for practical conservation in tropical landscapes.     

Reassessment of the Use of Fire as a Management Tool in Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America

Prescribed burning is increasingly being used in the deciduous forests of eastern North America. Recent work suggests that historical fire frequency has been overestimated east of the prairie–woodland transition zone, and its introduction could potentially reduce forest herb and shrub diversity. Fire‐history recreations derived from sedimentary charcoal, tree fire scars, and estimates of Native American burning suggest point‐return times ranging from 5–10 years to centuries and millennia. Actual return times were probably longer because such records suffer from selective sampling, small sample sizes, and a probable publication bias toward frequent fire. Archeological evidence shows the environmental effect of fire could be severe in the immediate neighborhood of a Native American village. Population density appears to have been low through most of the Holocene, however, and villages were strongly clustered at a regional scale. Thus, it appears that the majority of forests of the eastern United States were little affected by burning before European settlement. Use of prescribed burning assumes that most forest species are tolerant of fire and that burning will have only a minimal effect on diversity. However, common adaptations such as serotiny, epicormic sprouting, resprouting from rhizomes, and smoke‐cued germination are unknown across most of the deciduous region. Experimental studies of burning show vegetation responses similar to other forms of disturbance that remove stems and litter and do not necessarily imply adaptation to fire. The general lack of adaptation could potentially cause a reduction in diversity if burning were introduced. These observations suggest a need for a fine‐grained examination of fire history with systematic sampling in which all subregions, landscape positions, and community types are represented. Responses to burning need to be examined in noncommercial and nonwoody species in rigorous manipulative experiments. Until such information is available, it seems prudent to limit the use of prescribed burning east of the prairie–woodland transition zone. Reevaluación del Uso de Fuego como Herramienta de Manejo en Bosques Deciduos de América del Norte     

Model Evaluation of Dry Deposition to Vegetation for Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in a Multimedia Environment

Gas-phase atmospheric deposition wasevaluated in a screening level model of themultimedia environmental distribution of toxics(MEND-TOX). Algorithmic additions to MEND-TOXfor the estimation of gas-phase depositionvelocity over vegetated surfaces were analyzedusing recently published dry deposition fluxmeasurements for nitric acid. Model outputs arecompared to similar estimates from the NOAAmultilayer dry deposition model. Results of theevaluation indicate that MEND-TOX performs wellas a screening level model for the estimation ofgas-phase dry deposition velocity of nitric acidover soybeans. The present study expandsprevious laboratory results for organic speciesto include an inorganic species and open fieldand dry leaf, conditions.(On assignment to the National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency); (author for correspondence, e-mail     

NATURAL VEGETATION AS A SOURCE OF DIFFUSE SALT WITHIN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN1

Abstract: Foliage and litter leachate from selected natural vegetation in the Price River Basin (within the Upper Colorado River basin) was studied to determine the probable impact of plants on the amount of diffuse salt movement from rangeland watersheds. Calculations using concentrations of various leachates and characteristics of range sites expected to be high salt annual salt load to the Price River. It was therefore concluded that plants are not a significant source of diffuse salt within the Colorado River Basin.     

Disturbance-Mediated Mammal Persistence and Abundance-Area Relationships in Amazonian Forest Fragments

Abstract:  Few researchers have investigated the synergistic effects of tropical forest fragmentation and disturbance on species persistence and abundance. We examined effects of both forest-patch metrics and forest disturbance in determining richness and abundance of midsized to large-bodied mammal species in a highly fragmented Amazonian forest landscape. Twenty-one forest fragments, ranging from 2 to 14,480 ha, and two continuous forest sites were sampled based on sightings, tracks, line-transect censuses, armadillo burrow censuses, and camera trapping. Patch occupancy of 37 species recorded ranged from 4% to all forest sites surveyed. Forest fragment size was the strongest predictor of species persistence, explaining 90% of the variation in species richness. Information-theoretic analysis confirmed that fragment area was the most important explanatory variable for the overall species richness and abundance of mammal species, followed by surface fires, which affected the abundance of seven species. Large mammal species were typically absent from fragments <100 ha, whereas some ubiquitous species were favored by fragmentation, exhibiting hyperabundance in small patches. Our findings highlight the importance of large (>10,000 ha), relatively undisturbed forest patches to maximize persistence and maintain baseline abundances of Neotropical forest mammal species.     

Why the Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources Has Not Worked

Abstract:  Genetic diversity is indispensable for long-term forest sustainability and is therefore mentioned in numerous binding and nonbinding political covenants calling for action. Nevertheless, there are significant obstacles to the conservation of forest genetic resources. We discuss hindrances to genetic conservation, mainly in Europe. We identified impediments by reviewing the literature and on the basis of the experiences of the authors in this field and their participation in related political processes. The impediments include (1) difficulties in assessing and monitoring genetic erosion and human impacts (e.g., by the lack of markers showing adaptive variation and the lack of record keeping on the use and transfer of forest-tree germplasm), (2) complexities of European national structures that make the development of a common strategy toward forest genetic conservation problematic, (3) lack of effective forest governance in many parts of the world, (4) the general unattractiveness of genes as flagships in raising public awareness, (5) lack of integration of genetic aspects into biodiversity conservation, and (6) the fact that scientists and politicians are often at cross-purposes. To overcome these impediments, forest geneticists and their peers in species conservation have to participate more actively in decision making. In doing so, they must be prepared to face challenges on 2 fronts: participating in political processes and the provision of significant research findings to ensure that decisions with respect to forest genetic diversity are politically implementable and effectively address targets.     

金沙江头塘小流域人工林有机碳及其剖面分布特征

采用野外调查、室内分析并结合相关的方法,研究探讨了金沙江头塘小流域7种不同植被恢复人工林土壤剖面层次有机碳(SOC)含量、有机碳密度(SOCD)和有机碳储量及分布特征。结果表明,不同林分类型及土层间土壤SOC含量存在明显差异:就整个土层(0~100 cm)而言,7种林分土壤SOC平均含量介于6.46±1.67~24.95±2.32 g·kg–1,大小依次为柳杉林旱冬瓜林圆柏林栓皮栎林圣诞树林墨西哥林藏柏林,且差异显著(p0.05);7种林分土壤SOC含量均出现表聚现象,从表层到深层都呈现递减趋势,且具有一定的规律性;7种林分土壤容重总体上均表现为随土层深度的增加逐渐增加,土壤容重表现为:柳杉林栓皮栎林圣诞树林圆柏林旱冬瓜林墨西哥柏林、藏柏林;7种林分土壤有机碳密度垂直分布和土壤有机碳含量垂直分布特征一致,随土层深度增加土壤有机碳密度减少,以表土10 cm的土壤有机碳密度最大;有机碳储量均随着土层加深所占比例逐渐降低,同时土壤有机碳主要集中于土层0~40 cm内,分别占总有机碳的65.60%(圣诞树林)、63.16%(旱冬瓜林)、54.41%(墨西哥柏林)、58.56%(圆柏林)、62.96%(藏柏林)、61.70%(栓皮栎林)和56.37%(柳杉林),0~40 cm土层土壤有机碳占总有机碳的百分比均达到50%以上。     

中国东部典型森林生态系统蒸散及其组分变异规律研究

森林蒸散包括植被蒸腾、土壤蒸发、冠层截留蒸发三个组分,在陆地生态系统水分循环及能量流动研究中占有重要地位。论文基于Priestley-Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory Model （PT-JPL）模型,估算温带针阔混交林、人工常绿针叶林、亚热带常绿阔叶林三个典型森林生态系统2003-2008年蒸散（组分）;在模拟结果基础上揭示了蒸散（组分）的季节变异规律及主控因子。结果表明：①PT-JPL模型在中国东部森林生态系统蒸散及其组分估算中具有较高的稳定性和可靠性;②蒸散（组分）季节变化特征明显,不同森林生态系统类型变化规律差异较小,但主控因子存在较大差异：温带针阔混交林蒸散和植被蒸腾季节变异主要由净辐射和增强植被指数（EVI）共同控制,而亚热带人工常绿针叶林和亚热带常绿阔叶林主要受净辐射影响;EVI和饱和水汽压差（VPD）是土壤蒸发季节变异的主控因子,截留蒸发的季节变化则主要受VPD影响。     

金昌镍铜矿区植物的重金属含量特征与先锋植物筛选

论文研究了西北荒漠的金昌镍铜矿区植物重金属特征, 并初步筛选了植被重建的可用物种 资源。该次调查共记录了32 种高等植物, 分属30 属14 科, 调查区域的物种数为: 露天矿(20 种)>新 尾砂库坝(13 种)>露天矿周边(8 种)>老尾砂库坝(6 种)>老尾砂库(5 种)。优势物种主要为: 砂蓝刺头、 中亚紫菀木、弯茎还羊参、乳苣、芦苇、针茅属、骆驼蓬、泡泡刺、角果藜。砂蓝刺头、弯茎还羊参、乳 苣、芦苇和密叶锦鸡儿适宜作荒漠矿区植被重建的先锋植物, 而种植针茅属和角果藜可用于西北荒 漠的矿区土地重金属污染治理。矿区植物的地上部平均Cu 含量最高, 为52.9mg/kg。植物地上部Ni 含量为5.1～155.6mg/kg, 平均含量为39.1mg/kg。角果藜地上部Ni 和Cu 含量是所有植物中最高 的, 分别为155.6 和239.0mg/kg。回归分析发现, Ni 与Cu 密切相关, Cu 含量越高, Ni 的富集和累积 Ni 量也越高。     

采伐与人工更新对红壤丘陵区森林面积和地上生物量的影响模拟——以会同县磨哨林场为例

我国人工林生态系统正面临着结构退化、功能降低等问题,迫切需要通过合理的森林管理方案实施有效的管理措施加以改善。本文以湖南省会同县磨哨林场为研究区,应用生态系统过程模型PnET-II和森林景观模型LANDIS-II,采用情景模拟的方式研究未来100年低、中、高强度的采伐措施以及人工更新对森林面积和地上生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)随着采伐强度增加,人工针叶林面积持续减少、森林AGB下降幅度加大;(2)人工更新措施能够使人工针叶林面积保持稳定,促进其AGB积累,有利于人工林更新与生长;(3)对人工林采取中等强度采伐且实施伐后人工更新的管理方案有利于我国南方以杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、马尾松(Pinus massoniana)为主要树种的人工林地区实现森林可持续经营。