Changes in vegetation persistence across global savanna landscapes, 1982–2010

We present a global analysis of the changing face of vegetation persistence in savanna ecosystems by boreal seasons. We utilized nearly 30 years of monthly normalized difference vegetation index data in an innovative time-series approach and developed associated statistical significance tests, making the application of continuous vegetation metrics both more rigorous and more useful to research. We found that 8,000,000–11,000,000 km² of savanna have experienced significant vegetation decline during each season, while 20,000,000–23,000,000 km² have experienced an increase in vegetation persistence during each season, relative to the baseline period (1982–1985). In addition, with the exception of the March–April–May season, which is mixed, the pattern of significant vegetation persistence in the Northern Hemisphere is almost exclusively positive, while it is negative in the Southern Hemisphere. This finding highlights the increasing vulnerability of the Southern Hemisphere savanna landscapes; either resulting from changing precipitation regimes (e.g., southern Africa) or agricultural pressures and conversions (e.g., South America).     

Assessing ecological correlates of marine bird declines to inform marine conservation

Identifying drivers of ecosystem change in large marine ecosystems is central for their effective management and conservation. This is a sizable challenge, particularly in ecosystems transcending international borders, where monitoring and conservation of long‐range migratory species and their habitats are logistically and financially problematic. Here, using tools borrowed from epidemiology, we elucidated common drivers underlying species declines within a marine ecosystem, much in the way epidemiological analyses evaluate risk factors for negative health outcomes to better inform decisions. Thus, we identified ecological traits and dietary specializations associated with species declines in a community of marine predators that could be reflective of ecosystem change. To do so, we integrated count data from winter surveys collected in long‐term marine bird monitoring programs conducted throughout the Salish Sea—a transboundary large marine ecosystem in North America's Pacific Northwest. We found that decadal declines in winter counts were most prevalent among pursuit divers such as alcids (Alcidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae) that have specialized diets based on forage fish, and that wide‐ranging species without local breeding colonies were more prone to these declines. Although a combination of factors is most likely driving declines of diving forage fish specialists, we propose that changes in the availability of low‐trophic prey may be forcing wintering range shifts of diving birds in the Salish Sea. Such a synthesis of long‐term trends in a marine predator community not only provides unique insights into the types of species that are at risk of extirpation and why, but may also inform proactive conservation measures to counteract threats—information that is paramount for species‐specific and ecosystem‐wide conservation. Evaluación de las Correlaciones Ecológicas de las Declinaciones de Aves Marinas para Informar a la Conservación Marina     

Evaluating mortality rates with a novel integrated framework for nonmonogamous species

The conservation of wildlife requires management based on quantitative evidence, and especially for large carnivores, unraveling cause‐specific mortalities and understanding their impact on population dynamics is crucial. Acquiring this knowledge is challenging because it is difficult to obtain robust long‐term data sets on endangered populations and, usually, data are collected through diverse sampling strategies. Integrated population models (IPMs) offer a way to integrate data generated through different processes. However, IPMs are female‐based models that cannot account for mate availability, and this feature limits their applicability to monogamous species only. We extended classical IPMs to a two‐sex framework that allows investigation of population dynamics and quantification of cause‐specific mortality rates in nonmonogamous species. We illustrated our approach by simultaneously modeling different types of data from a reintroduced, unhunted brown bear (Ursus arctos) population living in an area with a dense human population. In a population mainly driven by adult survival, we estimated that on average 11% of cubs and 61% of adults died from human‐related causes. Although the population is currently not at risk, adult survival and thus population dynamics are driven by anthropogenic mortality. Given the recent increase of human‐bear conflicts in the area, removal of individuals for management purposes and through poaching may increase, reversing the positive population growth rate. Our approach can be generalized to other species affected by cause‐specific mortality and will be useful to inform conservation decisions for other nonmonogamous species, such as most large carnivores, for which data are scarce and diverse and thus data integration is highly desirable.     

Using a common commensal bacterium in endangered Takahe as a model to explore pathogen dynamics in isolated wildlife populations

Predicting and preventing outbreaks of infectious disease in endangered wildlife is problematic without an understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors that influence pathogen transmission and the genetic variation of microorganisms within and between these highly modified host communities. We used a common commensal bacterium, Campylobacter spp., in endangered Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) populations to develop a model with which to study pathogen dynamics in isolated wildlife populations connected through ongoing translocations. Takahe are endemic to New Zealand, where their total population is approximately 230 individuals. Takahe were translocated from a single remnant wild population to multiple offshore and mainland reserves. Several fragmented subpopulations are maintained and connected through regular translocations. We tested 118 Takahe from 8 locations for fecal Campylobacter spp. via culture and DNA extraction and used PCR for species assignment. Factors relating to population connectivity and host life history were explored using multivariate analytical methods to determine associations between host variables and bacterial prevalence. The apparent prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in Takahe was 99%, one of the highest reported in avian populations. Variation in prevalence was evident among Campylobacter species identified. C. sp. nova 1 (90%) colonized the majority of Takahe tested. Prevalence of C. jejuni (38%) and C. coli (24%) was different between Takahe subpopulations, and this difference was associated with factors related to population management, captivity, rearing environment, and the presence of agricultural practices in the location in which birds were sampled. Modeling results of Campylobacter spp. in Takahe metapopulations suggest that anthropogenic management of endangered species within altered environments may have unforeseen effects on microbial exposure, carriage, and disease risk. Translocation of wildlife between locations could have unpredictable consequences including the spread of novel microbes between isolated populations.     

Use of ecoacoustics to determine biodiversity patterns across ecological gradients

The variety of local animal sounds characterizes a landscape. We used ecoacoustics to noninvasively assess the species richness of various biotopes typical of an ecofriendly forest plantation with diverse ecological gradients and both nonnative and indigenous vegetation. The reference area was an adjacent large World Heritage Site protected area (PA). All sites were in a global biodiversity hotspot. Our results showed how taxa segregated into various biotopes. We identified 65 singing species, including birds, frogs, crickets, and katydids. Large, natural, protected grassland sites in the PA had the highest mean acoustic diversity (14.1 species/site). Areas covered in nonnative timber or grass species were devoid of acoustic species. Sites grazed by native and domestic megaherbivores were fairly rich (5.1) in acoustic species but none were unique to this habitat type, where acoustic diversity was greater than in intensively managed grassland sites (0.04). Natural vegetation patches inside the plantation mosaic supported high mean acoustic diversity (indigenous forests 7.6, grasslands 8.0, wetlands 9.1), which increased as plant heterogeneity and patch size increased. Indigenous forest patches within the plantation mosaic contained a highly characteristic acoustic species assemblage, emphasizing their complementary contribution to local biodiversity. Overall, acoustic signals determined spatial biodiversity patterns and can be a useful tool for guiding conservation.     

Instream Large Wood: Denitrification Hotspots with Low N2O Production

We examined the effect of instream large wood on denitrification capacity in two contrasting, lower order streams — one that drains an agricultural watershed with no riparian forest and minimal stores of instream large wood and another that drains a forested watershed with an extensive riparian forest and abundant instream large wood. We incubated two types of wood substrates (fresh wood blocks and extant streambed wood) and an artificial stone substrate for nine weeks in each stream. After in situ incubation, we collected the substrates and their attached biofilms and established laboratory‐based mesocosm assays with stream water amended with ¹⁵N‐labeled nitrate‐N. Wood substrates at the forested site had significantly higher denitrification than wood substrates from the agricultural site and artificial stone substrates from either site. Nitrate‐N removal rates were markedly higher on woody substrates compared to artificial stones at both sites. Nitrate‐N removal rates were significantly correlated with biofilm biomass. Denitrification capacity accounted for only a portion of nitrate‐N removal observed within the mesocosms in both the wood controls and instream substrates. N₂ accounted for 99.7% of total denitrification. Restoration practices that generate large wood in streams should be encouraged for N removal and do not appear to generate high risks of instream N₂O generation.     

Facilitating access to the algal economy: Mapping waste resources to identify suitable locations for algal farms in Queensland

Algae offer a multiple-benefit opportunity as the products that can result from algal cultivation are numerous and diverse. However, commercial production of algal-derived materials is scarce and in Queensland Australia is virtually non-existent, partly due to challenges around readily available resources. In this work, the potential to regionally recycle waste nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and CO₂ to support algal production is considered. A feature of the work is mapping the availability of the three resources for algal cultivation (N, P and CO₂) together with climatic and land use considerations. Mapping resolution is defined by the boundaries of Queensland's (Australia) regional authorities. Layering the maps enables identification of regional hotspots for growing algae. Waste resources are shown to be most abundant in Mackay, Burdekin, Toowoomba, Cassowary and Bundaberg; regions which also have favourable eco-climatic conditions. Waste nitrogen is the limiting waste stream, in these and most other regions however additional requirements can be fixed atmospherically, whereas waste CO₂ is shown to be abundant relative to waste nutrients. It is found that, based on the availability of waste phosphorus, the top 5 most suitable regions have sufficient resources to produce around 1.1 million t/y of algal biomass. This could potentially produce 309 ML of biodiesel which is 5% of Queensland's 2011 diesel oil sales. The outcomes of this work highlight new opportunities for industrial ecology in non-urban regions.     

2000年以来内蒙古生长季旱情变化遥感监测及其影响因素分析

为探讨内蒙古旱情状况及其影响因素,利用MODIS 16 d合成的植被指数产品数据MOD13A2和8 d合成的地表温度产品数据MOD11A2构建Ts-NDVI特征空间,计算温度植被干旱指数（TVDI）,基于内蒙古2000—2017年生长季每16 d的TVDI分析了近18年来内蒙古生长季旱情时空分布特征,结合气温和降水资料初步探讨了旱情变化的影响因素。结果表明：（1）2000—2017年内蒙古生长季TVDI平均值为0.6,重旱和中旱所占面积最大,其中2007年、2010年为旱情最为严重的年份。内蒙古干旱空间分异明显,西南部以轻旱为主,中部地区以中旱为主,大兴安岭以西的呼伦贝尔草原等地旱情严重。（2）近18年内蒙古生长季干旱程度呈现轻微加重趋势,年际变化值θ_slope介于-0.07~0.7之间,阿鲁科尔沁旗东北部至霍林河一带旱情加重趋势最为严重,阿荣旗和扎兰屯等农业生产地区旱情有轻微加重趋势。（3）2017年内蒙古生长季以区域性和局域性干旱为主,6月和9月干旱最为严重,呼伦贝尔草原和鄂尔多斯高原西部干旱发生频率高且程度重。（4）内蒙古干旱影响因子分析结果表明,TVDI值与气温呈正相关、与降水和坡度呈负相关、与小于1300 m的高程呈正相关、与大于1300 m的高程呈负相关关系。内蒙古生长季TVDI与气温和降水偏相关分析结果表明,锡林郭勒盟苏尼特左旗北部、呼伦贝尔鄂伦春自治旗和呼伦贝尔草原等地旱情与气温正相关关系较为显著（P<0.01）,锡林郭勒盟东北部干旱情况与降水负相关关系较为显著（P<0.01）,其中,气温对旱情的影响强于降水。     

近50年贵州省雷暴气候特征分析

利用贵州79个观测站1962—20¨年雷暴观测资料,采用经验正交函数分解（EOF）、小波分析和Mann—kendall检验,研究了贵州雷暴的气候变化特征。结果表明：全省雷暴活动西南向东北沿线逐渐减弱,东南向西北部减弱;根据EOF分析,雷暴异常空间分布主要有以下三类：全区一致型、纬向型、经向型,即同增同减、北多（少）南少（多）、东增（减）西减（增）,以全区一致型表现最为明显,其方差贡献为66．16％;此外,年际变化存在8～10年长周期、2～3年短周期振荡变化,且自1986年发生突变,总体呈现减弱的趋势,尤其以90年代以来最为显著,并推测未来几年全省雷暴活动将持续维持在偏少期。     

沈阳辉山水库污染源调查研究

对沈阳市重要水生态湿地辉山水库的工业、生活、农业、地面径流及明渠污染源进行了详细的调查。结果显示,污染源最大分担率分别是：COD。是明渠输入源,为95．34％;总氮、总磷和固废入河量是生活源,分别为99．73％,99．20％和95．87％;污水是工业源,为91．74％;粪尿是农业源,为94．79％。