Hunting, law enforcement, and African primate conservation

Abstract: Primates are regularly hunted for bushmeat in tropical forests, and systematic ecological monitoring can help determine the effect hunting has on these and other hunted species. Monitoring can also be used to inform law enforcement and managers of where hunting is concentrated. We evaluated the effects of law enforcement informed by monitoring data on density and spatial distribution of 8 monkey species in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. We conducted intensive surveys of monkeys and looked for signs of human activity throughout the park. We also gathered information on the activities of law‐enforcement personnel related to hunting and evaluated the relative effects of hunting, forest cover and proximity to rivers, and conservation effort on primate distribution and density. The effects of hunting on monkeys varied among species. Red colobus monkeys (Procolobus badius) were most affected and Campbell's monkeys (Cercopithecus campbelli) were least affected by hunting. Density of monkeys irrespective of species was up to 100 times higher near a research station and tourism site in the southwestern section of the park, where there is little hunting, than in the southeastern part of the park. The results of our monitoring guided law‐enforcement patrols toward zones with the most hunting activity. Such systematic coordination of ecological monitoring and law enforcement may be applicable at other sites.     

Spatial and mass balanced trophic models of La Rinconada Marine Reserve (SE Pacific coast), a protected benthic ecosystem: Management strategy assessment

Steady-state, dynamic, and spatial models were constructed for the benthic system of La Rinconada Marine Reserve off northern Chile (SE Pacific coast). We examined data on biomass, P/B ratios, catches, food spectrum, consumption, and the dynamics of commercial and non-commercial populations using three theoretical frameworks: Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace. The biomass of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus and the clam Tagelus dombeii were the most relevant compartments of the studied ecosystem. Among the carnivores, the functional crab group Cancer spp. was the most relevant. The Rhodophyta was the dominant macroalga compartment of the system. The results obtained using mixed trophic impacts (MTI) showed that the predatory snail Thais chocolata propagated higher magnitudes of direct and indirect effects on the other species or functional groups. The sea star Luidia magallanica and Rhodophyta had the least effects on the remaining compartments. According to the Ecosim estimates (increasing mortality by fishing), the scallop A. purpuratus had the highest impact on the other compartments. The Ecospace model showed similar qualitative and quantitative effects for changes in biomass under three different exploitation scenarios (by subsystems and globally). Nevertheless, the greatest changes were provoked by using the top-down control and the vulnerabilities estimated by Ecosim. System recovery times were highest with increased mortality of the asteroid L. magallanica and the carnivorous snail T. chocolata, suggesting that the sea star could be considered to be a top predator with a top-down control. The F_MSY estimated for the scallop A. purpuratus was close to the F_i originally entered in Ecopath, limiting the design and execution of an exploitation plan within ecologically sustainable boundaries. The situation was different (F_MSY ? F_i) for the other commercial species, making possible multi-species exploitation programs. The Ecospace trophic-spatially explicit model shows a similar pattern of direct and indirect effects generated when exerting exploitation separately by subsystems. Therefore, habitat rotation of fisheries is not justified.     

九寨沟和黄龙自然保护区原始林与次生林土壤物理性质比较

森林土壤的结构和贮水保水能力是决定土壤水分及其时空分布的关键,九寨沟和黄龙自然保护区均是以水为灵魂,其水量的多少及时空分布格局对景区景点的视觉观赏效果具有十分重要的作用.通过对几寨沟和黄龙核心景区原始林与次生林土壤容重、持水性能和孔隙度等指标的监测,探讨了不同植被类型下土壤结构及持水能力状况.结果表明:(1)由于较早地得到保护,九寨沟景区原始林、桦槭次生林土壤物理性质均优于四川西部其它同类犁植被,与此相反,人工云杉纯林土壤物理性质明显劣于其它植被类型,可能主要与云杉平根系统对土壤膨胀挤压和单优势乔木群落所形成的不利微气候影响有机物分解归还土壤有关;(2)在黄龙核心景区的原始云、冷杉林,发育于坡积母质的土壤物理性质明显优于发育于钙华母质卜的土壤物理性质.图3表1参31     

神农架国家级自然保护区樟科资源植物分析

神农架樟科植物种类共有 7属 3 1种 (含变种 ) ,资源植物十分丰富 ,按其用途可分为观赏植物类、蜜源植物类、药用植物类、木材植物类、香料植物类、工业用油脂植物类及珍稀保护植物类等。这些资源植物具有较大的开发利用价值。     

现代语境下"天人合一"思想解读

“天人合一”是中国古代思想家对于天人关系的基本认识,主张遵循自然规律．实现人和自然的和谐发展．这一思想对于生态保护与天人关系的协调发展具有重要意义。经济全球化时代。探寻“天人合一”向“天人和谐”可持续发展观的现代性转化的途径,将有助于我们重瓤认识自然,正确把握环境保护与经济发展的辩证关系,培养人类的道德责任意识及科学实践精神,为现代生态伦理学的建立和可持续发展战略的实施提供帮助。     

湖南省绥宁县黄桑坪自然保护区植物群落多样性分析

通过对湖南省绥宁县黄桑自然保护区的植物群落特征及物种多样性的分析,结果表明:1)可将黄桑自然保护区的滩地、撂荒地和山坡地划分为3种群落类型:鱼腥草-蕨群丛、早熟禾-井栏边草群丛和杉木+马尾松-三尖杉+水苏-莎草+地稔群丛;2)植物多样性指数的大小顺序为:Patrick丰富度指数(R)、Simpson指数(D)和ShannonWiener指数(H)的大小顺序为:山坡地(S,D,H)撂荒地(S,D,H)滩地(S,D,H),Pielou均匀度指数(E)的大小顺序为:潍地(E)撂荒地(E)山坡地(E);3)3种样地之间的物种Czekanowski相似性系数(CC)较低,在0.0001~0.356 8之间,样地内的物种相似性指数(CC)沿滩地→撂荒地→山坡地的顺序递减;(4)相关分析表明:S、D、H之间呈极显著正相关(P0.01),E与S、D、H呈显著负相关(P0.05).生境条件差异是物种多样性差异形成的直接原因.表3,参16.     

广东连州田心自然保护区香果树种群及其生境特征

香果树是中国特有的茜草科的单种属植物,1993年被列入国家重点保护植物名录（Ⅱ级）。论文首次报道了广东境内的香果树Emmenopterys henryi最大种群及其群落的基本情况,以期为深入了解该保护植物的生态适应性、种群的生存和发展提供基础资料。2013年采用美国Onset公司产HOBO-U23-002温度-湿度记录仪对广东连州田心梅树冲的香果树种群所处生境进行了为期1年的监测;测定了土壤的理化特性、叶面和旷地的光照强度、香果树群落的物种组成、香果树种群的基径径级结构与高度结构,以及叶片的某些生理生态特性。结果表明,连州田心梅树冲是香果树的适宜生长地,生境的年均气温17.315℃,年均大气相对湿度84.316%;土壤pH5.64,有机质含量1.95%（大于林外旷地的0.50%）;叶面光照强度小于旷地的12%。香果树叶片SPAD值约为40,净光合速率为2.16-12.92μmol·m-2·s-1（以CO2计）,蒸腾速率0.29-0.62 mmol·m-2·s-1（以H2O计）。群落中有维管植物33种,其中乔木层17种,以壳斗科的4种为最多,樟科3种次之;除香果树外,群落优势种为灯台树Bothrocaryum controversum、西川朴Celtis vandervoetiana、野黄桂Cinnamomum jensenianum和金叶含笑Michelia foveolata等。连州田心梅树冲的香果树种群共有97个个体,其中Ⅰ级幼苗11株（占11.34%）,Ⅱ级幼苗76株（占78.35%）,小树9株（占9.28%）,中树0株,大树1株（1.03%）;高度为0.20-2.03 m的个体数77株,占总数的79.38%。径级结构和高度结构均表明,种群目前虽暂时处于增长阶段,但因受2008年南岭地区的冰灾影响,能产生果实的大树严重受损,缺失中树阶段的个体,且Ⅰ级幼苗数量少于Ⅱ级幼苗,该种群将在一定时期后因无法更新而进入衰退阶段,为此应加强香果树的就地和迁地保护、科学研究和宣传教育。     

猫儿山自然保护区森林群落垂直格局与主导因素分析

陆地生态系统中海拔高度的变化会导致植物群落的垂直性分布,这是形成植物多样性的一个重要性原因。了解和分析不同区域植物群落的垂直性分布规律和生物多样性形成机制对保护森林生物多样性具有重要意义。本文通过对猫儿山自然保护区不同海拔高度森林植物群落和环境因子的调查,运用双向指示种分析（Two-way Indicator-Species Analysis）和典范对应分析（Canonical Correspondence Analysis）,对不同海拔高度的群落进行划分,对决定植物群落分布的主导环境因子进行分析,结果表明：（1）猫儿自然保护区森林群落可以分为7个群落类型,其代表树种分别是罗浮栲Castanopsis fabri、栲树Castanopsis fargeisii、银木荷Schima argentea、铁椎栲Castanopsis lamontii、南方铁杉Tsuga chinensis、长苞铁杉Tsuga longibracterata、马尾松Pinus massoniana;（2）在中亚热带,海拔对山地植物群落形成起决定性作用;（3）土壤是仅次于海拔的重要环境因子,其中土类和土层厚度对森林群落的影响较大。在中亚热带森林生态保护和恢复过程中,按照不同海拔高度的植物群落特征选择种植合适树种,按照当地土壤条件选择适当的生态保护和恢复措施能加快生态恢复的进程,提高生态保护的效益。     

Application of least-cost path model to identify a giant panda dispersal corridor network after the Wenchuan earthquake—Case study of Wolong Nature Reserve in China

With growing levels of human-activity and frequent natural disturbances throughout the world, it is increasingly important that both research and management efforts take into account the widespread landscape fragmentation and its consequences for biodiversity conservation. The magnitude 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake in China caused dramatic impacts on giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitat in the nature reserves within Minshan and Qionglai mountains. With the combined stresses of the natural disaster and the extensive human activities during postquake reconstruction, giant panda habitat in this region may become more fragmented in the future. In order to preserve the giant panda population after the earthquake and protect the species against habitat fragmentation, this article explores a method of identifying giant panda migration corridors involving habitat suitability assessments and a least-cost path model. Focusing on postquake Wolong Nature Reserve, our results demonstrate that it contains 430.3 km² of suitable habitat (21.1% of total area), 463.8 km² of marginally suitable habitat (22.8%) and 1141.9 km² of unsuitable habitat (50.1%). We further show that several giant panda dispersal corridors exist in the reserve, including four corridor groups that cross the provincial highway and five corridors that do not intersect areas of human activity. This study will contribute to management and conservation efforts in Wolong Nature Reserve and beyond after the Wenchuan earthquake.     

卧龙自然保护区华西箭竹（Fargesia nitida）生态学特征随海拔梯度的变化

海拔梯度由于包含了温度、水分、光照等环境因子的剧烈变化而成为研究植物的环境适应性及其对全球气候变化响应的理想区域。在卧龙自然保护区沿海拔梯度研究了华西箭竹（Fargesia nitida（Mitford）T.P.Yi）分株的丛结构,比叶面积（SLA）、基径、株高、枝下高、单株地上部生物量及各器官生物量的分配。结果表明：华西箭竹丛结构表现为平均单丛面积和丛密度随着海拔升高呈先增大后降低的趋势,而单丛分株数先减少后增大;华西箭竹分株生长特征除SLA和枝下高线性降低,其他各调查变量随着海拔升高,总体呈先增大后减小的单峰变化趋势,高峰值在2 800 m附近。反映了环境因子随海拔升高的非线性变化。分析认为,高海拔地区的华西箭竹对温度较为敏感,气候变暖将有利于它的生长,因此其分布上限可能会提高。本研究结果拓展和丰富了海拔梯度上植物对异质性环境的适应和响应的规律研究,也可对地震后保护区植被的恢复与重建提供科学参考。