The Potential for Species Conservation in Tropical Secondary Forests

Abstract: In the wake of widespread loss of old‐growth forests throughout the tropics, secondary forests will likely play a growing role in the conservation of forest biodiversity. We considered a complex hierarchy of factors that interact in space and time to determine the conservation potential of tropical secondary forests. Beyond the characteristics of local forest patches, spatial and temporal landscape dynamics influence the establishment, species composition, and persistence of secondary forests. Prospects for conservation of old‐growth species in secondary forests are maximized in regions where the ratio of secondary to old‐growth forest area is relatively low, older secondary forests have persisted, anthropogenic disturbance after abandonment is relatively low, seed‐dispersing fauna are present, and old‐growth forests are close to abandoned sites. The conservation value of a secondary forest is expected to increase over time, as species arriving from remaining old‐growth forest patches accumulate. Many studies are poorly replicated, which limits robust assessments of the number and abundance of old‐growth species present in secondary forests. Older secondary forests are not often studied and few long‐term studies are conducted in secondary forests. Available data indicate that both old‐growth and second‐growth forests are important to the persistence of forest species in tropical, human‐modified landscapes.     

TURBIDITY SUSPENI)ED SEDIMENT,AND WATER CLARITY: A REVIEW1

ABSTRACT: Suspended sediment causes a range of environmental damage, including benthic smothering, irritation of fish gills, and transport of sorbed contaminants. Much of the impact, while sediment remains suspended, is related to its light attenuation, which reduces visual range in water and light availability for photosynthesis. Thus measurement of the optical attributes of suspended matter in many instances is more relevant than measurement of its mass concentration. Nephelometric turbidity, an index of light scattering by suspended particles, has been widely used as a simple, cheap, instrumental surrogate for suspended sediment, that also relates more directly than mass concentration to optical effects of suspended matter. However, turbidity is only a relative measure of scattering (versus arbitrary standards) that has no intrinsic environmental relevance until calibrated to a ‘proper’ scientific quantity. Visual clarity (measured as Secchi or black disc visibility) is a preferred optical quantity with immediate environmental relevance to aesthetics, contact recreation, and fish habitat. Contrary to common perception, visual clarity measurement is not particularly subjective and is more precise than turbidity measurement. Black disc visibility is inter‐convertible with beam attenuation, a fundamental optical quantity that can be monitored continuously by beam transmissometry. Visual clarity or beam attenuation should supplant nephelometric turbidity in many water quality applications, including environmental standards.     

Reestablishing Naturally Functioning Dunes on Developed Coasts

Common beach management practices reduce the ecological values of coastal dunes. Mechanical beach cleaning eliminates incipient dunes, habitat for nesting birds, seed sources for pioneer dune colonizers and food for fauna, and artificially small, stabilized foredunes reduce the variability in microenvironments necessary for biodiversity. Recent initiatives for reducing coastal hazards, protecting nesting birds, and encouraging nature-based tourism provide incentive for the development of a restoration program for beaches and dunes that is compatible with human use. Suggested changes in management practice include restricting or rerouting pedestrian traffic, altering beach-cleaning procedures, using symbolic fences to allow for aeolian transport while preventing trampling of dunes, and eliminating or severely restricting exotic species. Landforms will be more natural in function and appearance but will be more dynamic, smaller and in a different position from those in natural areas. Research needs are specified for ecological, geomorphological, and attitudinal studies to support and inform restoration planning.     

Conservation Value of Remnant Riparian Forest Corridors of Varying Quality for Amazonian Birds and Mammals

Abstract:  Forest corridors are often considered the main instrument with which to offset the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. Brazilian forestry legislation requires that all riparian zones on private landholdings be maintained as permanent reserves and sets fixed minimum widths of riparian forest buffers to be retained alongside rivers and perennial streams. We investigated the effects of corridor width and degradation status of 37 riparian forest sites (including 24 corridors connected to large source-forest patches, 8 unconnected forest corridors, and 5 control riparian zones embedded within continuous forest patches) on bird and mammal species richness in a hyper-fragmented forest landscape surrounding Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil. We used point-count and track-sampling methodology, coupled with an intensive forest-quality assessment that combined satellite imagery and ground truthed data. Vertebrate use of corridors was highly species-specific, but broad trends emerged depending on species life histories and their sensitivity to disturbance. Narrow and/or highly disturbed riparian corridors retained only a depauperate vertebrate assemblage that was typical of deforested habitats, whereas wide, well-preserved corridors retained a nearly complete species assemblage. Restriction of livestock movement along riparian buffers and their exclusion from key areas alongside deforested streams would permit corridor regeneration and facilitate restoration of connectivity .     

Review of the effects of in-stream pipeline crossing construction on aquatic ecosystems and examination of Canadian methodologies for impact assessment

Pipeline crossing construction alters river and stream channels, hence may have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. This review examines the effects of crossing construction on fish and fish habitat in rivers and streams, and recommends an approach to monitoring and assessment of impacts associated with these activities. Pipeline crossing construction is shown to not only compromise the integrity of the physical and chemical nature of fish habitat, but also to affect biological habitat (e.g., benthic invertebrates and invertebrate drift), and fish behavior and physiology. Indicators of effect include: water quality (total suspended solids TSS), physical habitat (substrate particle size, channel morphology), benthic invertebrate community structure and drift (abundance, species composition, diversity, standing crop), and fish behavior and physiology (hierarchy, feeding, respiration rate, loss of equilibrium, blood hematocrit and leukocrit levels, heart rate and stroke volume). The Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) approach, which is often applied in Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM), is recommended as a basis for impact assessment, as is consideration of site-specific sensitivities, assessment of significance, and cumulative effects.     

长江流域水生态评价指标初步研究

通过调研20世纪90年代以来国外主流水生态评价项目中采用的生境指标,统计了14个类型生境指标的使用频率,并针对不同的河流类型,筛选出物理形态特征、河岸带状况、生境组成、生境复杂性、人类干扰和水质状况等6个类型的11项评价指标,推荐作为长江流域河流生境评价指标.随后,利用层次分析法对国外水生生物评价指标进行了统计分析,并...     

喀斯特小流域复杂景观中水质状况

以红枫湖流域周边一个受人为活动严重影响的农田源头溪流-王家寨小流域为研究对象,设置11个监测点研究硝酸盐（NO3-N）、氨态氮（NH4＋-N）、溶解性无机磷（PO4--P）、总磷（TP）和总悬浮物（TSS）在复杂景观中的变化状况。降雨后采样水中氮、磷含量明显低于雨后的地表积水,地表积水受各种影响,水质降低。水塘型湿地,其丰水期的PO43--P、TP、SS高于枯水期,与水循环条件较好的流水溪流还是存在明显的区别。从平均值来看,枯水期地表水和地下水TP都超过5级水质标准。水质与＂源＂景观的关系不明显,说明喀斯特小流域中复杂的景观结构对氮磷的截留作用。     

晋西黄土区林草复合界面雨后土壤水分空间变异规律研究

利用统计学方法对晋西黄土区林草复合系统界面上雨后表层（0～10 cm）、亚表层（10～20 cm）和20～40 cm土层土壤水分空间变异性进行研究。结果表明：草地、林地以及二者组成的林草界面的土壤水分含量、变异系数差别均不大,土壤水分含量随着深度的增加而减少,但土壤水分变异系数则相反;移动窗口法分析表明,林草界面对表层和亚表层的土壤水分影响范围均为4.0 m;草地土壤质量含水量的变异函数模型可以拟合成高斯模型,林地和林草界面则可以拟合球状模型,草地土壤水分总体空间异质性要大于林地和林草界面,草地土壤水分变异函数的平均变程为10.96 m,林草界面及林地土壤水分的平均变程分别为5.37 m和4.31 m。对于描述界面土壤水分分布情况,克立格制图直观性强,具有良好效果。     

天山云杉天然林分土壤呼吸速率的时空变化规律分析

天山云杉(Picea schrenkiana var.tianschanica(Rupr.)Chen et Fu)是构成天山山地森林生态系统的主体。在天山中部,从天山云杉在此区域分布的底线开始,结合天山云杉自然分布特征,沿每隔约100m的海拔梯度选择典型地段设置样地。根据远红外气体分析原理,采用LI-6400-09土壤呼吸室和LI-6400便携式光合作用测量系统,于2006年6-9月,测定了天山云杉天然林分在生长季内土壤呼吸速率随海拔高度和时间的变化规律。在空间上,林分的土壤呼吸速率并非随海拔高度呈线性增加或减少的关系,而是有规律的波动,在海拔1950～2110m之间,土壤呼吸速率是随着海拔高度的增加而降低,在2110～2428m之间是随着海拔高度的增加而升高,在海拔2428m处达到最大的呼吸速率值后又降低。不同海拔高度林分的土壤呼吸速率主要受土壤表面空气相对湿度及土壤温度的影响。在时间上,林分的土壤呼吸速率在生长季内随不同月份的变化为单峰曲线,其最大值出现在7月份;生长季内土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈显著负相关,与土壤表面空气相对湿度呈极显著正相关。而林分土壤呼吸速率的日变化在各时间点上的大小排序为7月>6月>8月>9月。它的变化与土壤温度具有极显著的正相关性,与土壤表面空气相对湿度具有显著的负相关性。     

东洞庭湖保护区1989～1998年水禽栖息地动态研究

栖息地的改变是全球生物多样性存在的最大威胁。利用卫星遥感技术和地理信息系统的空间分析功能,从景观尺度上研究了东洞庭湖自然保护区1989～1998年越冬水禽栖息地的动态变化特征,结果表明:1989～1998年水体、泥滩地、草滩地和水田等水禽适宜栖息地的面积在减小,破碎化程度有所增加,而芦苇滩地、旱地、林地、建成区这几类水禽分布较少栖息地类型的面积和破碎化程度的变化正好相反;近10年来水禽栖息地的变化比较明显,其中草滩地演变为芦苇滩地及水田改为旱作农田的变化最为突出,变化的面积分别占整个保护区面积的10.66%和6.13%。这些变化趋势意味着研究区近10年来水禽的适宜栖息地在退化。针对变化的原因,论文还对该区域生物多样性的保护与栖息地管理提出了可行的建议。