Ecological niche and phylogeny: the highly complex echolocation behavior of the trawling long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum

Bats produce echolocation signals that reflect the sensory tasks they perform. In open air or over water, bats encounter few or no background echoes (clutter). Echolocation of such bats is the primary cue for prey perception and varies with the stage of approach to prey, typically comprising search, approach, and terminal group calls. In contrast, bats that glean stationary food from rough surfaces emit more uniform calls without a distinct terminal group. They use echolocation primarily for orientation in space and mostly need additional sensory cues for finding food because clutter echoes overlap strongly with food echoes. Macrophyllum macrophyllum is the only Neotropical leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) that hunts in clutter-poor habitat over water. As such, we hypothesized that, unlike all other members of its family, but similar to other trawling and aerial insectivorous bats, M. macrophyllum can hunt successfully by using only echolocation for prey perception. In controlled behavioral experiments on Barro Colorado Island, Panamá, we confirmed that echolocation alone is sufficient for finding prey in M. macrophyllum. Furthermore, we showed that pattern and structure of echolocation signals in M. macrophyllum are more similar to aerial and other trawling insectivorous bats than to close phylogenetic relatives. Particularly unique among phyllostomid bats, we found distinct search, approach, and terminal group calls in foraging M. macrophyllum. Call structure, however, consisting of short, multiharmonic, and steep frequency-modulated signals, closely resembled those of other phyllostomid bats. Thus, echolocation behavior in M. macrophyllum is shaped by ecological niche as well as by phylogeny.     

崇明岛公路两侧蔬菜地土壤和蔬菜重金属污染研究

为了研究崇明岛公路两侧土壤和蔬菜重金属污染状况,采集陈海、北沿公路两侧蔬菜地土壤、蔬菜和路面灰尘样品,测定重金属Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn含量.结果表明,以上海市土壤环境背景值上限值为评价标准,所有土壤样品Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn的超标率分别为10.1%、25.4%、6.5%和8.7%;以HJ 332-2006 食用农产品产地环境质量评价标准中蔬菜地土壤环境质量评价指标限值(pH值6.5～7.5)为标准,Cd超标率在21.0%,仅有不到3%样品Pb含量超标,而没有样品Cu、Zn含量超标.以国家食品卫生标准中规定的重金属限量为标准,路侧蔬菜样品Pb含量超标率为43.2%,Cd为18.6%,Zn和Cu则小于5%.由此可见,崇明岛主要公路两侧土壤污染以Cd为主,而蔬菜污染则以Pb为主.在长期运营的前提下,低交通量公路两侧50 m范围内耕作层土壤和两侧作物会发生一定程度的重金属污染,路面灰尘是路侧土壤和蔬菜的潜在污染源.     

海南岛地表水的区域地球化学特征及其影响因素

始于2004年的海南岛多目标生态地球化学调查,对全岛的地表水进行了区域调查取样,分析测试了24项指标(部分样品增加测试12项)。测试结果表明,大多数指标优于国家地表水环境质量标准(GB3838-2002)中III类水体水质标准,只有Hg和总氮存在区域性的超Ⅲ类水体水质。经对样品的聚类分析研究表明,全岛地表水样品主要分为4类,分别反映了地表植被、海水入侵、灌溉水田排水、矿山废水排放对地表水化学成分的控制作用。在此认识的基础上,依地表水样品所处的土地利用方式的不同,按一定顺序对样品进行编号赋值(沿海的土地视为"海洋利用方式"),该赋值与聚类分析所得到的样品类别值之间存在极显著的正相关性,相关系数达0.8280,表明海南岛的土地利用方式是控制地表水地球化学特征的关键因素,从而为海南岛地表水环境质量的保护和提高指出了方向。     

崇明岛东部不同年代围垦区土壤有机质组成变化研究

在崇明岛东部不同年代围垦区选择4个典型部位的钻孔样品,应用热裂解气相色谱质谱联用技术(Py-GC-MS),取得土壤有机质热裂解产物的类型与相对含量,从分子层面探究埋藏盐沼土壤有机质组成特征,研究土壤有机质稳定性随时间的变化规律.结果表明,自西向东4个钻孔的样品(CM2、CM4、CM5、CM6)中,分别检测到53、80、...     

海南岛西部地区砖红壤中微量元素含量及其分布特征

对海南岛西部地区发育典型的5个砖红壤剖面微量元素的组成特征进行研究发现,5个剖面微量元素的含量变化趋势具有一定的相似性,其中Cu、Pb、Zn、As平均含量大多高于中国南方砖红壤的平均值,而Ni、Mo、Cd、Sn、Sb等微量元素则刚好相反。各剖面微量元素含量的纵向变化规律显示,土壤中微量元素含量及其垂直变化从根本上取决于土壤母质的特征。受区内自然条件影响,区内土壤微量元素的垂向迁移能力相对较弱,而人类的工业活动、农业活动也可导致少量As、Cd、Pb等有害外源微量元素进入土壤并趋向于在土壤的浅层富集。     

Spatial distribution of copper in relation to recreational boating in a California shallow-water basin

The overall effect of the number of boats on the copper (Cu) levels in the water column and sediment, along with their spatial variability within Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB), San Diego Bay, California was examined. We identified a horizontal gradient of increasing dissolved Cu and Cu in sediment from outside to the head of SIYB which was coincident with the increasing number of boats. Spatial models of Cu distribution in water and sediment indicated the presence of ‘hotspots’ of Cu concentration. From outside to the head of SIYB, dissolved Cu ranged from 1.3 μ g L^?1 to 14.6 μ g L^?1 in surface water, and 2.0 μ g L^?1 to 10.2 μ g L^?1 in bottom water. Cu in sediment exceeded the Effect Range Low of 34 mg kg^?1 (i.e. where adverse effects to fauna may occur), with a peak concentration of 442 mg kg^?1 at the head of the basin. Free Cu⁺⁺ in surface water was several orders of magnitude higher than in sediment porewater. High-resolution data of Cu species together with probability maps presented in this paper will allow managers to easily visualise and localise areas of impaired quality and to prioritise which areas should be targeted to improve Cu-related conditions.     

湛江特呈岛红树林植物群落的结构和动态特征

对特呈岛红树林植被进行多次和全面的调查,通过采用格子样的方法,选取面积为100～800 m^2的样地,每片样地再分成若干10 m×10 m的样方,对红树林样地内的植物进行每木测量,记录各植物的种名、胸径、高度、冠幅等,并进行重要性以及多样性等常规的群落分析,判定该地区植被的生长特征以及研究其演替动态变化。结果表明：①面积较大的群落主要有3个类型,即白骨壤群落（Avicennia marina）、白骨壤＋红海榄群落（Avicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa）、白骨壤-桐花树群落（Avicennia marina-Aegiceras corniculatum）;其它面积较小的群落有：白骨壤＋红海榄-木榄＋桐花树群落（vicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa-Bruguiera gymnorrhiza＋Aegiceras corniculatum）、红海榄＋木榄群落（Rhizophora stylosa＋Bru-guiera gymnorrhiza）;②在3个主要群落中,优势种的苗木和小树相对较少,优势种群的年龄结构均为衰退型;③各群落的Simpson指数关系为：白骨壤＋红海榄群落﹥红海榄＋木榄群落﹥白骨壤＋红海榄—木榄＋桐花树群落﹥白骨壤—桐花树群落﹥白骨壤群落;白骨壤群落的重要值为300,为典型的单优群落;④特呈岛的白骨壤群落是中国该类群落中面积最大的,目前长势良好,无病虫害,并且红树林外缘的白骨壤枝干在波浪冲刷或人为原因下,受到较严重的侵蚀,其幼树在林外缘基本无法存活,需要加强保护,对其生理生态学特征也值得进一步深入研究。     

秦山岛周边海域大型底栖动物群落健康状况评价

2015年8月,对秦山岛周边的10个站位进行大型底栖动物定量调查。采用生物多样性指数法和丰度生物量比较法对大型底栖动物群落健康状况进行评价。结果显示,共鉴定大型底栖动物7大类31种,其中软体动物、环节动物各10种,节肢动物5种,脊索动物和棘皮动物各2种,纽虫类和腔肠动物各1种;密度优势类群为软体动物,占总密度的35.00%,生物量优势类群为脊索动物,占总生物量的49.35%;优势种分别为红狼牙虾虎鱼(Odontamblyopus rubicundus)、棘刺锚参(Protankyra bidentata)、内卷原盒螺(Eocylichna involuta)和微角齿口螺(Odostomia subangulata)。大型底栖动物密度为站位St.6最大,为115 ind./m²,St.2最小,为20 ind./m²,平均值为70 ind./m²;生物量St.3最大,为197.25 g/m²,St.9最小,为2.56 g/m²,平均值为54.04 g/m²。秦山岛受污染压力、人为活动干扰和生境限制能因素影响,多样性偏低,优势种为耐污的软体动物、脊索动物和棘皮动物,但其主要为K对策种类,大型底栖动物群落受到了轻度干扰,但群落结构仍较为稳定。     

Factors affecting the floristic diversity and nestedness in the islets of Lake Bardawil, North Sinai, Egypt: implications for conservation

Island biogeography theory and nestedness are two relevant and important concepts in biogeography and conservation. However, their integration and application has not been examined for maintaining or maximizing species diversity, especially in arid regions. The aim of this study is to investigate the ecological mechanisms related to the observed pattern of floristic diversity and nestedness in the Lake Bardawil islets on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai Peninsula before the execution of the North Sinai Agricultural Development Project (NSADP) that will threaten the ecosystem of the lake. Plant species on 15 islets were identified and categorized into ecological groups related to their life-form, salt tolerance and succulence. Richness of total plant species and their ecological groups were positively correlated with islet area, number of habitats and elevation, and negatively with disturbance index. The temperature calculator detected highly significant nestedness for the entire flora and all ecological groups. Distance from the mainland had no effect on either species richness or nested pattern of total plant species and their ecological groups. Both the analyses of species richness and nested distribution yielded evidence for a positive species-area relationship. Although nestedness was detected for the entire plant species and their ecological groups, many species and islets exhibited idiosyncratic distribution. Idiosyncrasies could be mainly attributed to demographic stochasticity which is an important character for species interaction and diversity maintenance in arid regions. Therefore, in developing conservation strategies for the Lake Bardawil islets, it is important to incorporate spatial and temporal stability of populations.     

Retrospective Estimation of Radiation Load and Its Effect on Some Biological Parameters of Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from Wrangel Island

The results of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis of pure tooth enamel and the data on the radionuclide content in bones were used for estimating the radiation load on reindeer that lived on Wrangel Island in the 1970s and early 1980s. Based on the measurements of the lower jaws, some biological parameters of the Wrangel reindeer population were estimated and compared with those in the Novaya Zemlya and Taimyr populations. Changes in only two of these parameters—the degree of root cementum resorption and animal life span–might be attributed to the effect of the radiation load.