Assessing ecological function in the context of species recovery

Species interactions matter to conservation. Setting an ambitious recovery target for a species requires considering the size, density, and demographic structure of its populations such that they fulfill the interactions, roles, and functions of the species in the ecosystems in which they are embedded. A recently proposed framework for an International Union for Conservation of Nature Green List of Species formalizes this requirement by defining a fully recovered species in terms of representation, viability, and functionality. Defining and quantifying ecological function from the viewpoint of species recovery is challenging in concept and application, but also an opportunity to insert ecological theory into conservation practice. We propose 2 complementary approaches to assessing a species’ ecological functions: confirmation (listing interactions of the species, identifying ecological processes and other species involved in these interactions, and quantifying the extent to which the species contributes to the identified ecological process) and elimination (inferring functionality by ruling out symptoms of reduced functionality, analogous to the red-list approach that focuses on symptoms of reduced viability). Despite the challenges, incorporation of functionality into species recovery planning is possible in most cases and it is essential to a conservation vision that goes beyond preventing extinctions and aims to restore a species to levels beyond what is required for its viability. This vision focuses on conservation and recovery at the species level and sees species as embedded in ecosystems, influencing and being influenced by the processes in those ecosystems. Thus, it connects and integrates conservation at the species and ecosystem levels.     

Using environmental and geographic data to optimize ex situ collections and preserve evolutionary potential

Maintenance of biodiversity through seed banks and botanical gardens, where the wealth of species’ genetic variation may be preserved ex situ, is a major goal of conservation. However, challenges can persist in optimizing ex situ collections if trade-offs exist among cost, effort, and conserving species evolutionary potential, particularly when genetic data are not available. We evaluated the genetic consequences of population preservation informed by geographic (isolation by distance [IBD]) and environmental (isolation by environment [IBE]) distance for ex situ collections for which population provenance is available. We used 19 genetic and genomic data sets from 15 plant species to assess the proportion of population genetic differentiation explained by geographic and environmental factors and to simulate ex situ collections prioritizing source populations based on pairwise geographic distance, environmental distance, or both. Specifically, we tested the impact prioritizing sampling based on these distances may have on the capture of neutral, functional, or putatively adaptive genetic diversity and differentiation. Individually, IBD and IBE explained limited population genetic differences across all 3 genetic marker classes (IBD, 10–16%; IBE, 1–5.5%). Together, they explained a substantial proportion of population genetic differences for functional (45%) and adaptive (71%) variation. Simulated ex situ collections revealed that inclusion of IBD, IBE, or both increased allelic diversity and genetic differentiation captured among populations, particularly for loci that may be important for adaptation. Thus, prioritizing population collections based on environmental and geographic distance data can optimize genetic variation captured ex situ. For the vast majority of plant species for which there is no genetic information, these data are invaluable to conservation because they can guide preservation of genetic variation needed to maintain evolutionary potential within collections.     

生态旅游区不同距离带上植物群落的结构对比

通过对芦芽山自然保护区植物群落的结构分析 ,揭示旅游活动和群落演替的内在机理 ,为景区植被保护和旅游管理提供依据 .结果表明 :不同地段上各植被层由于各种因素的影响而有所不同 ,大部分景区的植被生长良好 .不同距离带上各植被层大致表现出近距离 <中距离 <远距离的格局规律 ,但其明显度不尽一致 ,说明各植被层反映旅游活动对群落结构作用程度的能力大小依次为乔木层 <灌木层 <苔藓层 <草本层 .5个旅游影响因子的变化趋势 ,反映了旅游活动对群落生态环境的结构作用的规律 .距游径的水平距离愈远 ,垃圾量愈少 ,林下死枝下高愈高 ,枯层愈厚 ,树桩量愈多 ,幼苗量也愈多 .不同距离带上的变化规律客观地描绘了旅游活动的规律性变化 ,近距离处旅游活动强度最大 ,中距离处次之 ,远距离处则最小 .图 1表 1参 8     

丛枝菌根对盐胁迫的响应及其与宿主植物的互作

丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi,AMF)作为陆地生态系统的组成部分之一,在促进宿主植物对土壤养分和水分的吸收、提高植物生物量生产、调节种群和群落的结构、维持生态系统的稳定性等方面发挥了重要作用。其中,盐渍化是自然生态系统中广泛存在的一种胁迫生境条件,全球盐渍化土地约占耕地总面积的10%,因而探讨AM菌根在此胁迫生境下对宿主植物生长的影响具有重要意义。从以下几个方面,围绕盐胁迫条件、AM菌根和宿主植物三者之间的关系对当前国际上相关领域的研究进展进行了综述:1)AM真菌对盐胁迫的响应,包括菌根共生体形成、菌根侵染率、AM真菌的分布、菌丝体生长发育、孢子的形成和分布等;2)盐胁迫条件下AM菌根对宿主植物的效应,包括AM菌根促进宿主植物对P、N等元素的吸收、降低植物体内Na 的含量、提高光合作用能力,进而提高植物的生物量和对植物的群落结构产生影响等;3)AM菌根提高宿主植物耐盐性的机理,分别从植物根系形态的改变、水分吸收能力的加强、细胞内营养物质的平衡,以及细胞生理代谢的调节等方面对AM菌根促进植物抗盐性的机理进行了剖析。     

水稻田的甲烷释放特性及其生物学机理

本文报导采用土柱法和田间原位法研究渍水稻田甲烷释放特性的结果。不同生育期的测定表明,早稻以分蘖盛期时释放量最大,以后逐渐减少,晚稻从分蘖始期起逐渐增加,至分蘖盛期、末期时达到最大,随后在孕穗期急剧减少,至生长后期又有所回升。以原位法测定表明,晚间和上午释放的甲烷量较多,中午几乎无甲烷释放,下午又有少量释放。不同施肥区稻田甲烷释放量明显不同,以施猪粪有机肥区为最高,次为施尿素无机氮区,不施肥区最低。但各施肥区水稻不同生育期的甲烷释放趋势完全一致,以分蘖期释放量最大,稻田释放的甲烷主要是稻植株释放的,可占总释放量的85％以上。行株间土壤释放的量不多。田间水释放极少,就植株而言,甲烷释放部位主要是在与土壤密切结合的未扰动的根基和根系部位,水面下茎秆白色部分和水上绿色部分几乎无释放。根系也主要是靠近根基的上半部分,根尖部位甲烷形成活性明显小得多。且研究表明,产甲烷细菌附存于根表而不进入根内组织。根际土壤中产甲烷细菌、厌氧性纤维素分解细菌和甲烷氧化细菌的数量以及总挥发有机酸含量都明显高于和行间土壤。     

浙江省萧山市山一村农村生态良性循环与系统管理研究 Ⅴ.农田病虫害综合防治试验与实施

本项调控工程分两步:1984—1986年在山一村106ha农田开展病虫害综合防治试验示范;1987—1989年将试验成果应用于生产。试验研究取得了明显的经济效益、生态效益和社会效益:农药用量比1983年前减少80.6％,稻谷中农药残留不超标(原有机氯农药666残留超标率31.6％);害虫天敌稻田蜘蛛增加83.3—180.0％,稻虱多索线虫增加2倍;防治农药成本减少53.7％。并制定了《山一村农田农药污染防治技术规程》,其主要内容有:开展病虫害“二查二定”,达到防治指标时用药;制定病虫害防治策略,在防治适期内用药;推广高效低残留农药,遵守农药安全间隔期;推广抗性良种,适施N肥,增施P、K肥;保护利用天敌,发挥天敌自然抑制作用。     

红壤坡地茶园蒸腾及其影响因子研究

用整株容器法研究了红壤坡地茶园的蒸腾作用 ,结果显示 :(1)茶园蒸腾速率具有明显的早晚低、中午高的日变化特征 ,但在不同的日期蒸腾速率日变化曲线存在一定差异。 (2 )蒸腾速率受诸多田间小气候因子的影响 ,相关分析及多元逐步回归分析表明 ,气温与净辐射是影响茶园蒸腾作用的 2个主要气象因子。 (3)蒸腾速率与叶片气孔导度关系密切 ,且随着气孔导度的增加 ,蒸腾速率增大。最后探讨了植物蒸腾驱动力及其抑制的可能性及气孔行为的调节与水分利用。     

高速公路绿化带对交通噪声的衰减效果研究

公路绿化带可对交通噪声产生一定衰减作用,这对于减轻路域环境噪声污染具有重要意义。然而,针对高速公路绿化带种植树种、种植密度、林带宽度等多种因素对降噪效果影响的研究尚属空白。该研究采用选取试验点进行原位调查的方法,研究了山东省3条主要高速公路路侧绿化带对交通噪声的衰减效果,并探讨了林带宽度和郁闭度对噪声衰减的影响。研究结果表明,高速公路绿化带对交通噪声有一定的减轻作用,但在不同的绿化模式下,衰减效果存在较大差别。交通噪声的绿化衰减同林带宽度有很大关系,对于较宽林带,靠近声源前半部分的林带对噪声有较好的减轻作用,但后半部分的减噪效果较小。林带的对噪声的绿化衰减与林带宽度以及宽度和郁闭度的乘积均呈极显著的线性关系。     

A simulation model of rhizome networks for Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) in the United Kingdom

Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) is an aggressively invasive herbaceous perennial that causes substantial economic and environmental damage in the United Kingdom (UK). As such, it is of considerable concern to councils, environmental groups, private landowners and property developers. We construct a 3D correlated random walk model of the development of the subterranean rhizome network for a single stand of F. japonica. The formulation of this model uses detailed knowledge of the morphology and physiology of the plant, both of which differ in the UK to that of its native habitat due to factors including a lack of predation and competition, longer growth seasons and favourable environmental conditions in the UK. Field data obtained as a part of this study are discussed and used in the model for parameterisation and validation. The simulation captures the field data well and predicts, for example, quadratic growth in time for the stand area. Furthermore, the role of a selection of parameters on long-term stand development are discussed, highlighting some key factors affecting vegetative spread rates.     

固氮放线菌Frankia与放线菌根植物共生进化的研究进展

固氮放线菌Frankia是能够诱导大范围的放线菌根植物(actinorhizal plants)产生根瘤放线菌.放线菌根植物是植物受Frankia侵染后能够形成根瘤的植物[1].目前,它们之间的进化研究虽然取得了很大进展,但是仍然存在许多不清楚的东西.本文根据最近对植物和Frankia系统进化研究成果、根瘤中放线菌Frankia的多样性研究情况,综述放线菌根植物和共生Frankia进化的研究进展.