Targeting sites for conservation: using a patch-based ranking scheme to assess conservation potential

Rare habitats are increasingly threatened by fragmentation and measures are required to conserve these valuable resources. Here, we present a method of targeting habitat patches for conservation using a Geographical Information System. We ranked patches of chalk grassland in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty using simple abiotic criteria, namely: patch area, patch shape, proximity to areas of the same habitat and surrounding land-use type. We compiled a regionally specific list of indicator species and ranked the habitat patches based on their alpha diversity (calculated from species richness). We compared the results of the two ranking schemes and identified key aggregations of the existing reserve network. These could form the basis of future habitat expansion as required by the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan.     

A Natural Experiment on the Impact of Overabundant Deer on Forest Invertebrates

Abstract:  In large parts of North America and Europe, deer overabundance threatens forest plant diversity. Few researchers have examined its effects on invertebrate assemblages. In a natural experiment on Haida Gwaii (British Columbia, Canada), where Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis ) were introduced, we compared islands with no deer, with deer for fewer than 20 years, and with deer for more than 50 years. We sampled invertebrates in three habitat categories: forest edge vegetation below the browse line, forest interior vegetation below the browse line, and forest interior litter. In forest edge vegetation, invertebrate abundance and species density decreased with increasing length of browsing history. In forest interior vegetation, decrease was significant only on islands with more than 50 years of browsing. Insect abundance in the vegetation decreased eightfold and species density sixfold on islands browsed for more than 50 years compared with islands without deer. Primary consumers were most affected. Invertebrates from the litter showed little or no variation related to browsing history. We attributed the difference between vegetation-dwelling and litter-dwelling invertebrates to differences in the effect of browsing on their habitat. In the layer below the browse line deer progressively removed the habitat. The extent of litter habitat was not affected, but its quality changed. We recommend more attention be given to the effect of overabundant ungulates on forest invertebrate conservation with a focus on edge and understory vegetation in addition to litter habitat.     

内蒙古温带草原氮沉降的观测研究

在内蒙古太仆寺旗对温带草原地区的氮沉降进行了为期1 a(2011年11月～2012年10月)的观测.在线分析大气NH3和NO2浓度,用CMAQ模型计算的干沉降速率计算了气体干沉降量;采集降水、降尘和穿透雨样品并测定NH4+和NO3-浓度,分别得到湿沉降、颗粒物干沉降和穿透雨沉降量.观测结果表明该地区的氮沉降量已经高达3.43 g.(m2.a)-1,有可能对草原生态系统产生危害.其中,湿沉降占44%,气体干沉降占38%,颗粒物干沉降占18%.干沉降对氮沉降的贡献大于湿沉降,必需重视干沉降的测定,而穿透雨沉降明显小于总沉降,说明穿透雨法不适合于草原地区.从组分上看,还原态氮(包括NH4+和NH3)对氮沉降的贡献为71%,而氧化态氮(NO3-和NO2)的贡献仅29%,因此在控制氮沉降时,不应只针对NOx排放进行削减,NH3减排同样重要.     

黄土区农田和草地生态系统土壤呼吸差异及其影响因素

明确土地利用方式变化对土壤呼吸速率的影响,对预测黄土区退耕还草条件下的土壤碳循环变化具有重要的意义.于2010年7月～2011年12月,利用Li-8100系统(Li-COR,Lincoln,NE,USA)监测黄土高原沟壑区塬坡上相邻农田和草地的土壤呼吸速率,用以验证不同土地利用方式是否导致土壤呼吸速率的变化.结果发现,土地利用方式的改变导致了土壤呼吸速率的显著(P<0.05)变化,试验期间草地平均土壤呼吸速率[1.67μmol·(m2.s)-1]较相邻农田[1.35μmol·(m2.s)-1]提高24%(P<0.05),累积土壤呼吸草地(856 g·m-2)较农田(694 g·m-2)提高了23%(P<0.05).农田与草地的土壤温度差异显著,草地平均土壤温度(14.9℃)较农田(12.4℃)高2.5℃(P<0.05).农田和草地生态系统土壤温度与土壤呼吸均呈显著的指数关系(P<0.000 1).但农田和草地生态系统中土壤呼吸对温度响应存在本质差异(α=0.05),农田土壤呼吸的Q10(2.30)高于草地(1.74).土壤温度能够很好地解释农田和草地生态系统之间土壤呼吸的差异.     

人工封育区沙化草地植被生态位研究

采用样线和样方结合法对宁夏人工封育草原进行野外调查,运用重要值、Levins生态宽度指数和Pianka生态位重叠指数对封育外围区、边缘区、核心区3种不同措施下的植物生态位宽度及生态位重叠进行分析,以揭示人工封育区沙化草地植被生态位变化规律。结果表明：在整个人工封育区,重要值之和较大的为黑沙蒿（Artemisia ordosica Krasch.）和刺沙蓬（Salsolaruthenica IIjin.）,分别为689.53、455.83。外围区与边缘区生态位宽度最大的均为黑沙蒿,生态位宽度分别为0.846、0.790,核心区生态位宽度最大的是阿尔泰狗娃花（Heteropappus altaicus（Willd.）Novopokr.）,生态位宽度为0.640,是人工封育区的优势种。生态位重叠计测结果表明,植被的生态位宽度和生态位重叠并不存在直接的线性关系;生态位重叠度平均值和重叠对百分数表现为外围区〉核心区〉边缘区。不同封育措施间生态位宽度和生态位重叠度的差异表明适度封育有利于草地植被恢复,但随着封育时间延长,植物的再生和幼苗的形成会受到一定程度抑制。     

温带落叶林的植物物候特征及其对气候变化的响应

植被物候是气候变化对生物圈产生长期或短期影响的重要指示因子。气候变化已经明显改变了许多物种的营养生长和繁殖物候,尤其是在温带地区。研究温带森林物候变化及其对全球变暖的响应,对认识森林物种共存,协同进化以及森林保护和经营等有重要意义。通过概述温带森林下物候研究的进展发现,光照和积温是影响木本植物展叶及繁殖物候的关键因素,林下层树木通过更早展叶,以尽量减少生长季林冠层遮阴对下层树木生长的影响,更早时期开花的树木具有从顶部向四周次第开花的时空格局,林冠层树种开花具有较好的同步性。而草本植物的物候通常受融雪时间和冠层动态的影响更大,并且,温带森林下不同生活史对策的草本植物的物候特征对气候变化的响应也不尽相同,存在明显的季节动态。繁殖物候、光照的季节变化、光合特征、授粉成功之间的联系决定了林下不同繁殖特性的草本植物的繁殖成功率。量化的、多指标、多对象的定位监测是精准物候研究的基础,物候变化的机理和建立可预测的物候模型将是未来研究的重点。     

北京地区人工景观生态服务价值估算

以生态系统服务价值定量评价的现有成果为手段,针对北京市的具体问题,对北京市人工草地与人工林木、人工景观水面与人工湿地的生态服务价值进行了估算和对比分析.结果显示北京地区的人工草地和人工景观水面的生态服务价值皆为负值,而人工林木和人工湿地的生态服务价值较高,所以种草不如种树,造水面不如建湿地.     

氮沉降对草原凋落物分解的影响

大气氮沉降增加是全球变化的重要现象之一,草原生态系统对氮沉降增加的响应成为草地生态学的研究热点之一。凋落物分解是草原生态系统养分循环和能量流动的主要途径,氮沉降增加引起草原植物群落结构变化,导致凋落物质量、土壤肥力、土壤微生物和土壤动物的变化,最终影响凋落物的分解。本文综述了氮沉降对草原凋落物结构、化学组成和分解环境的影响等方面的国内外最新研究进展,讨论了需进一步加强研究的内容,以期为进一步拓展该领域研究的广度和深度、为全面分析和评估全球变化对草原生态系统的影响提供参考。     

Causes and consequences of woody plant encroachment into western North American grasslands

As woody plants encroach into grasslands, grass biomass, density and cover decline as wood plant biomass, density and cover increase. There is also a shift in location of the biomass from mostly belowground in the grasslands to aboveground in the woodlands. In addition, species richness and diversity change as herbaceous species are replaced by woody species. This is not a new phenomenon, but has been going on continually as the climate of the Planet has changed. However, in the past 160 years the changes have been unparalleled. The process is encroachment not invasion because woody species that have been increasing in density are native species and have been present in these communities for thousands of years. These indigenous or native woody species have increased in density, cover and biomass because of changes in one or more abiotic or biotic factors or conditions. Woody species that have increased in density and cover are not the cause of the encroachment, but the result of changes of other factors. Globally, the orbit of the Earth is becoming more circular and less elliptical, causing moderation of the climate. Additional global climate changing factors including elevated levels of CO₂ and parallel increases in temperature are background factors and probably not the principal causes directing the current wave of encroachment. There is probably not a single reason for encroachment, but a combination of factors that are difficult to disentangle. The prime cause of the current and recent encroachment appears to be high and constant levels of grass herbivory by domestic animals. This herbivory reduces fine fuel with a concomitant reduction in fire frequency or in some cases a complete elimination of fire from these communities. Conditions would now favor the woody plants over the grasses. Reduced grass competition, woody plant seed dispersal and changes in animal populations seem to modify the rate of encroachment rather than being the cause. High concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ are not required to explain current woody plant encroachment. Changes in these grassland communities will continue into the future but the specifics are difficult to predict. Density, cover and species composition will fluctuate and will probably continue to change. Increased levels of anthropogenic soil nitrogen suggest replacement of many legumes by other woody species. Modification and perhaps reversal of the changes in these former grassland communities will be an arduous, continuing and perhaps impossible management task.