Impacts of Alternative Timber Harvest Practices on Leaf-Chewing Herbivores of Oak

Abstract:  Studies of the effects of logging on Lepidoptera rarely address landscape-level effects or effects on larval, leaf-feeding stages. We examined the impacts of uneven-aged and even-aged logging on the abundance, richness, and community structure of leaf-chewing insects of white ( Quercus alba L.) and black ( Q. velutina L.) oak trees remaining in unharvested areas by sampling 3 years before and 7 years after harvest. After harvest, white oaks in uneven-aged sites had 32% fewer species of leaf-chewing insects than control sites. This reduction in species richness may have resulted from changes in microclimate (reducing plant quality and/or changing leaf phenology) that affected a much larger total area of each site than did even-aged cuts. For black oak after harvest, species richness in uneven- and even-aged sites increased relative to levels before harvest. Harvesting did not alter total insect density or community structure in the unlogged habitat for either oak species with one exception: insect density on black oak increased in the oldest forest block. Community structure of herbivores of black and white oaks in clearcut gaps differed from that of oaks in intact areas of even-aged sites. Furthermore, both richness and total insect density of black oaks were reduced in clearcut gaps. We suggest that low-level harvests alter herbivore species richness at the landscape level. Treatment effects were subtle because we sampled untreated areas of logged landscapes, only one harvest had occurred, and large temporal and spatial variation in abundance and richness existed. Although the effects of logging were greater in uneven-aged sites, the effects of even-aged management are likely to increase as harvesting continues.     

Monitoring of Biological Diversity: a Common-Ground Approach

Abstract:  Practical approaches to monitoring biological diversity vary widely among countries, and the accumulating data are frequently not generalizable at the international scale. Although many present monitoring schemes, especially in developed countries, produce highly complex data, there is often a lack of basic data about the level and spatial distribution of biodiversity. We augmented the general framework for improving biomonitoring, proposed by Green et al. (2005) , and identified its core tasks and attributes. The first priority for a more unified biodiversity monitoring is to agree on a minimum set of core tasks and attributes, which will make it possible to build a standardized biomonitoring system even in countries with few resources. Our scheme has two main organizational levels—taxa and ecosystems. The basic elements of the biomonitoring system proposed are recording of presence and absence of taxa and ecosystems in a target area, mapping of their distribution in space, and assessment of their status. All the elements have to be repeated over time. Although these tasks are fundamental, they are frequently not considered in currently functioning biomonitoring programs. The whole system has to be hierarchical and additive: if more resources are available, new activities may be added to the basic routine. Agreeing on a common standard will facilitate aggregating measures of biodiversity status and trends into regional and global indices. This information will relate directly to several Convention on Biological Diversity indicators for assessing progress toward the 2010 Biodiversity Target.     

南岳森林群落生物多样性研究(Ⅱ)广济寺森林群落植物物种多样性测定

本文根据实地调查资料及其统计分析结果,选用了24个物种多样性指数公式,并采用重要值、株数或鲜重以及优势度或盖度等作为测度指标,对南岳广济寺森林群落植物物种多样性进行了研究。结果表明,南岳广济寺森林属落多样性较高,接近山地季雨林的水平;此外,不同测度指标对物种多样性指数计算值并无明显的规律性。     

南岳森林群落生物多样性研究(Ⅲ)广济寺森林群落植物物种相对多度分布格局

本文选用几何级数分布、分割线段、对数级数分布和对数正态分布等模型研究了南岳广济寺森林群落植物物种相对多度的分布格局。结果表明,对数级分布模型适于拟合南岳广济寺森林群落乔木层和灌木层物种相对多度的分布格局;分割线段中的序列一多度模型仅适合于乔木层;对数正态分布模型仅适合于草本层;几何级数分布模型完全适合于拟合任何层次。此外,α指数值亦显示出本群落接近山地季雨林的多样性水平。     

Is Ammophila arenaria (Marram grass) a threat to South African dune fields?

Ammophila arenaria (marram grass) was introduced to South Africa from Europe as a means of stabilizing the Cape Flats in the 1870s, but was only successfully established in the 1890s as it was found that seeds from the first introductions did not readily germinate. By the end of the last century, it was successfully used as a dune stabilizing grass. It is now widely used in stabilization projects along the Cape coastline, being established by planting cuttings or whole plants. Because of problems experienced of marram becoming invasive, especially on the west coast of North America, and the fact that we have many invasive species which threaten our indigenous dune fields, studies have been initiated on this plant in South Africa. Most work to date has involved investigating the methods used to establish the plant in stabilization sites, and very little has been done on the biology of the species in this country. Marram is generally thought not to seed in South Africa, and thus its spread has been limited. However, in the light of recent reports of successful germination of the seed, detailed studies on the phenology of seed production and establishment in natural areas will be undertaken. Studies on the natural control by fungal species and nematodes will be carried out in conjunction with work done in the Netherlands, so that a comparison of the biology of the species in South Africa can be made with that in Europe, where it is used extensively to stabilize dunes.     

土壤pH对锰赋存形态的影响

以热带亚热带土壤为研究对象，用连续分级浸提法探讨了土壤中锰赋存形态与ｐＨ值的关系。结果表明：土壤中的锰处于一种动态平衡状态，各形态锰的含量及其占全锰的比例随ｐＨ的变化而变化，其中代换态锰和有机态锰随ｐＨ值升高而减少，氧化态锰、无定形铁结合态锰和晶形铁结合态锰则随ｐＨ值升高而增加，土壤中锰的生物有效性则随ｐＨ值升高而降低。     

Finding all optimal solutions to the reserve site selection problem: formulation and computational analysis

The problem of selecting nature reserves has received increased attention in the literature during the past decade, and a variety of approaches have been promoted for selecting those sites to include in a reserve network. One set of techniques employs heuristic algorithms and thus provides possibly sub-optimal solutions. Another set of models and accompanying algorithms uses an integer programming formulation of the problem, resulting in an optimization problem known as the Maximal Covering Problem, or MCP. Solution of the MCP provides an optimal solution to the reserve site selection problem, and while various algorithms can be employed for solving the MCP they all suffer from the disadvantage of providing a single optimal solution dictating the selection of areas for conservation. In order to provide complete information to decision makers, the determination of all alternate optimal solutions is necessary. This paper explores two procedures for finding all such solutions. We describe the formulation and motivation of each method. A computational analysis on a data set describing native terrestrial vertebrates in the state of Oregon illustrates the effectiveness of each approach.     

Significance of Sighting Rate in Inferring Extinction and Threat

Abstract:  We are now entering a time of immense environmental upheaval in which, increasingly, experts are required to provide conservation assessments. Quantitative assessment of trends in species' range and abundance is costly, requiring extensive field studies over a long period of time. Unfortunately, many species are only known through a few "chance" sightings or a handful of specimens, and therefore extinction may be even harder to ascertain. Several methods have been proposed for estimating the probability of extinction. However, comparison within and between species is difficult because of variations in sighting rates. We applied a probabilistic method that incorporates sighting rate to the sighting record of Vietnamese slipper orchids ( Paphiopedilum ). The method generates a probability that another sighting will occur given the previous sighting rate and the time since last observation. This allows greater comparability between species discovered at different times. Its predictions were more highly correlated with the World Conservation Union criteria than previous methods. Trends in data collection and the political climate of a country, which affects access to material, are important potential sources of variation that affect sighting rates. A lack of understanding of the process by which data are generated makes inferring extinction from sighting records difficult because extinction status depends on how the sighting rate varies. However, such methods allow rapid conservation prioritization of taxa that are poorly known and would otherwise go unassessed.     

川中半自然型防护林演替过程中的物种多样性

四川中部绵阳官司河流域的半自然型林是长江中上游地区防护林的一个较典型类型。本文以它为研究对象，对群落的物种多样性及其在次生演替过程中的动态变化趋势进行了初步研究，并结合影响多样性的几个主要环境因子进行了相关性分析。结果表明：（1）现阶段该防护林的植物种类组成和群落结构均较简单，松、柏、栎混交的针阔叶林占绝对优势，其物种多样性较小，但随着群落次生演替的进展，各层次的多样性趋于增加；（2）用灰色系统理论的关联度分析方法研究群落的物种多样性与主要环境因子的相关性是可行的。经测定，研究区的土壤pH值，外界干扰度和土壤含水量等指标对防护林的物种多样性有显著的影响。图2表3参16     

高浓度复合型聚铁硅絮凝剂PFSS和PSFS的形态分布研究

采用紫外分光光度法、逐时络合比色法和红外图谱从不同角度对高浓度聚合硫酸铁硅和聚合硅酸铁的形态分布及转化规律进行了探讨。紫外吸收表明,聚铁硅絮凝剂中主要以Fe(OH)+2、Fe2(OH)4+2等二聚体为主,而且还有三聚体或其他聚合形态的存在;逐时络合分析显示,复合型聚铁硅体系中硅形态以Si(c)为主,铁形态以Fe(a)和Fe(c)为主;红外图谱证实高浓度聚铁硅是以羟桥为主结构连接的高分子复合物,在1100cm-1附近M—OH—M的振动证明有铁羟基及其聚合态存在,且其形态区别于PFS。