A Bayesian hierarchical model for monitoring harbor seal changes in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Bayesian hierarchical models were used to assess trends of harbor seals, Phoca vitulina richardsi, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Data consisted of 4–10 replicate observations per year at 25 sites over 10 years. We had multiple objectives, including estimating the effects of covariates on seal counts, and estimating trend and abundance, both per site and overall. We considered a Bayesian hierarchical model to meet our objectives. The model consists of a Poisson regression model for each site. For each observation the logarithm of the mean of the Poisson distribution was a linear model with the following factors: (1) intercept for each site and year, (2) time of year, (3) time of day, (4) time relative to low tide, and (5) tide height. The intercept for each site was then given a linear trend model for year. As part of the hierarchical model, parameters for each site were given a prior distribution to summarize overall effects. Results showed that at most sites, (1) trend is down; counts decreased yearly, (2) counts decrease throughout August, (3) counts decrease throughout the day, (4) counts are at a maximum very near to low tide, and (5) counts decrease as the height of the low tide increases; however, there was considerable variation among sites. To get overall trend we used a weighted average of the trend at each site, where the weights depended on the overall abundance of a site. Results indicate a 3.3% decrease per year over the time period.     

Role of small mammals in natural and anthropogenic landscapes of the right-bank region of Saratov oblast

Small mammal communities inhabiting natural and anthropogenically transformed areas of the right-bank region of Saratov oblast are fairly similar in species composition. They are represented by wide-spread, common species that, against the background of a low population density of typical steppe species, make a major contribution to the community. The highest ecological tolerance is characteristic of the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius, which is widespread in the study region and dominates in the majority of natural biotopes and in agrocenoses; the common vole Microtus arvalis is scarce in agrocenoses.     

洋山深水港水域鱼卵仔鱼分布特征

根据2001年5、8月和2003～2005年间5月和8月分别对洋山港航道水域20个定点测站进行的鱼卵仔鱼调查资料,着重就水域鱼卵仔鱼的数量时空分布和种类组成的年际变化特征与洋山港工程建设产生的环境影响的关系作了分析和探讨.结果表明:鱼卵仔鱼隶属6目19科25种,另有2种未定种.种类数以2005年最高,2004年与2003年持平.2003年和2005年鱼卵仔鱼的种类数比工程前期的2001年有所减少,2004年则与之持平.鱼卵仔鱼的数量年际变化较大,2003年和2005年鱼卵数量均低于2001年,2004年则要高于2001年;仔鱼数量上,2003～2005年均明显低于2001年.从区域分布看,航道区鱼卵仔鱼数量密度最高,其次为港口区,大桥区的数量密度最低.港口航道的开挖建设,其疏浚后海底地形的改变会导致水动力条件的变化而产生泥沙回淤,加上抛泥作业产生的悬浮物对鱼类特别是游泳能力较弱的仔、稚幼鱼会造成不同程度的危害.由于施工造成局部地区的流场和生态有较大改变,使得某些不适应环境变化的亲鱼群体逃离或生殖能力下降,代之以适应能力较强的种群,最终导致优势种群结构的改变较明显.随着工程建设进度的开展,影响程度逐渐趋缓.     

三江源国家公园不同草地土壤微生物功能基因的差异性分析

土壤微生物在陆地生物地球化学循环过程中起着非常重要的作用。为了探索青藏高原高寒草地类型地上植被特性和地下土壤环境与土壤微生物功能基因之间关系,以三江源国家公园高寒草原、高寒沼泽化草甸及高寒草甸3种典型草地类型为研究对象,利用基因芯片(GeoChip 5.0)技术测定其微生物功能基因丰度,并分析它们之间的差异及影响因素。结果表明:(1)3种草地类型地上群落结构和地下土壤环境存在差异性,其中高寒草原物种多样性指数、pH值较高,沼泽化草甸中土壤含水量、微生物量碳、地上生物量、土壤速效氮含量较高,高寒草甸中则是土壤微生物量氮含量较高;(2)3种高寒草地类型的碳循环、氮循环、磷循环、有机修复的土壤微生物功能基因丰度存在显著差异,其中这些功能基因的丰度在高寒沼泽化草甸最高,高寒草甸、高寒草原次之;(3)地上植物物种多样性虽对功能基因丰度变化的解释率(r2)在57.1%-61.2%之间,但统计学上不显著(P>0.05),而微生物基因丰度随地上生物量的增加而增加,且解释率(r2)为77.5%-80.0%(P<0.05)。在pH、土壤含水量、土壤微生物量等地下土壤环境因子中,pH对功能基因丰度存在显著影响(P<0.01)解释率在83.4%-87.5%间,且土壤微生物功能基因丰度随土壤pH的增加而降低;土壤含水量、土壤微生物量对土壤微生物功能基因丰度的解释率分别为81.9%-83.1%(P<0.05)和76.8%-86.2%(P<0.05),微生物功能基因丰度随这两者含量的增加呈上升趋势。进一步运用RDA分析发现,pH、土壤微生物量、地上生物量是影响微生物功能基因丰度的主要因子,其中土壤微生物量是土壤有机质的重要组成部分,土壤有机质又是通过地上植被凋落物沉积所得到的。因此,地上植被特性的自上而下控制因子影响了土壤环境中自下而上的控制因子,间接的影响了微生物功能基因丰度。由此得出,地上植被特性和地下土壤环境因子共同作用控制了微生物功能基因丰度使其出现差异性。     

群落中物种多度格局的研究综述

物种多度格局是群落结构的重要内容，但在目前的生态学研究中对其重视不够；多度格局研究早在３０年代就开始，在过去的数十年中得到了重要发展；现已建立了多种多度格局模型，它们各有所长；多度格局与物种多样性指数结合，对群落结构研究更具意义；在多度格局研究中也有一些问题值得讨论。     

Species abundance estimation using point-to-plant sampling in a design-based setting

A new species abundance estimator is proposed when point-to-plant sampling is adopted in a design-based framework. The method is based on the relationship between each species abundance and the probability density function of the relative squared point-to-plant distance. Using this result, a kernel estimator for species abundance is provided and the nearest neighbor method is suggested for bandwidth selection. The proposed estimator requires no assumptions about the species point patterns nor corrections for sampling near the edges of the study region. Moreover, the estimator shows suitable statistical properties as well as good practical performance as is shown in a simulation study.     

南黄海鯷鱼产卵场大型底栖生物次级生产力研究

根据2001至2003年南黄海鯷鱼产卵期在鯷鱼产卵场33个站考察采集的大型底栖生物定量样品资料，利用Brey’s(1990)的经验公式对调查海区进行了大型底栖生物栖息密度、生物量、次级生产力和P/B值的研究计算，结果表明，该海域大型底栖生物平均栖息密度为194．3ind．m^-2，平均生物量以去灰干重计，为4．08gm^-2，平均次级生产力以去灰干重计，为4．09gm^-2a^-1，研究表明，生物量和次级生产力受水深的影响，平均P／B值在研究海域为1．32a^-1，对研究结果与整个南黄海、渤海和东海的结果进行了比较与讨论，证明生产力随水深的加大而降低，P／日值随水漏升高而升高，图2表1参25     

Determination of Fish Community Composition in the Untempered Regions of a Thermal Effluent Canal – The Efficacy of a Fixed Underwater Videography System

High flows and deep waters associated with thermal dischargecanals invoke safety concerns and preclude the use of conventional fish sampling methodologies. Despite these challenges, it is critical that assessments of thermal effectsfrom power generation do not rely solely on data collected in the plume, but also focus on fish living in the canal, particularly in regions above the zone of tempering influence. We deployed a fixed underwater videography apparatus to monitor the community composition and abundance patterns of fish in the Nanticoke thermal generating discharge canal on the north shore of Lake Erie from February 1, 1999 until July 31, 1999. We also compared the number of species observed using video to angling surveys, visual observations through the air/water interface and two modified netting procedures. Our results indicate that videography permitted the detectionof the most species and the highest number of individuals. Variable visibility was the largest limitation of this approach. The addition of infrared lighting for low light conditions and a series of cameras positioned at several depths would be a cost effective, safe, and efficient method ofassessing community structure and behaviour of fish in thermal discharge canals.     

Influence of benomyl and prometryn on the soil microbial activities and community structures in pasture grasslands of Slovakia

The effects of pesticides (a herbicide and a fungicide) on the microbial community structure and their activity were analyzed in soil from four alpine pasture grasslands in Slovakia. Specifically, the effects of the herbicide, Gesagard (prometryn active ingredient), and fungicide, Fundazol 50 WP (benomyl active ingredient), on the microbial respiration activity (CO₂ production), the numbers of selective microbial physiological groups (CFU.g^?1) and the structure (relative abundance) of soil microbial communities [(phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA)] were analyzed under controlled laboratory conditions. All treatments including the treatments with pesticides increased (statistically significantly) the production of CO₂ in all fields during 21 days of incubation and posed a statistically insignificant negative influence on the numbers of the observed physiological groups of microorganisms. The significantly negative influence was evaluated only in the numbers of two physiological groups; spores of bacteria utilizing organic nitrogen and bacteria, and their spores utilizing inorganic nitrogen. A shift in the microbial composition was evident when the PLFA patterns of samples from different sites and treatments were compared by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). According to the second component PCA 2 (15.95 %) the locations were grouped into two clusters. The first one involved the Donovaly and Dubakovo sites and the second one contained the Velka Fatra and Mala Fatra locations. The PLFA composition of the soils showed important changes after the treatment with pesticides according to PCA 1 (66.06 %). Other treatments had not had a significant effect on the soil microbial community with the exception of the population of fungi. The lower relative abundance (significant effect) of Gram-positive bacteria, actinomycetes and general group of bacteria were determined in samples treated by the herbicide Gesagard. The application of fungicide Fundazol decreased (statistically significantly) the relative abundance of actinomycetes and general group of bacteria and paradoxically increased the population of fungi.     

Ecological and Biological Features of Melic (Melica virgata Turch. ex Trin.) in Transbaikalia

The endangered species Melica virgata was studied with respect to geographic distribution, the recent state of cenopopulations, the characteristics of habitats, phytocenotic relationships, morphology, and specific ecological and physiological features. The data on the introduction, biochemical composition, and economic significance of M. virgata are presented, and measures aimed at species conservation are proposed.