氮磷营养盐因子对缘管浒苔生长、叶绿素荧光特性和氮磷富集的影响

为探讨大型海藻缘管浒苔(Ulva linza)对氮、磷加富的生理响应及其机制,分析了氮、磷浓度变化对藻体相对生长速率(Rr.g),氮、磷富集,叶绿素(Chl)含量,类胡萝卜素(Car)含量,色素比值(Chl a/Chl b、Chl/Car)以及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明,在30μmol·L-1P浓度不变条件下,随着N浓度的增加,藻体P含量持续降低,而其Rr、g、N含量、Chl含量、Car含量、色素比值(Chl a/Chl b、Chl/Car)和叶绿素荧光参数均逐渐上升,N3处理(500μmol· L-1 N)缘管浒苔Rr.g和叶绿素荧光参数均达到最大值,N4处理(1 000 μmol·L-1)缘管浒苔Chl含量、Car含量和Chl a/Chl b比值均达到最大值.在500 μmol·L-1N浓度不变条件下,依次增加P浓度,缘管浒苔Rr,g没有显著差异,N含量没有显著变化,而P含量则呈明显上升趋势,其他指标变化幅度小.综上所述,与P相比,N的变化对缘管浒苔生长、光合色素和光合作用的影响更明显,在N浓度为500 μmol·L-1、P浓度为30 μmol ·L-1、N/P比值为16.67条件下,藻体生长最佳.当水体富营养化加剧时,缘管浒苔富集氮、磷的能力持续上升.     

Effects of an Exotic Plant Invasion on Native Understory Plants in a Tropical Dry Forest

Abstract: The dry forests of southern India, which are endangered tropical ecosystems and among the world's most important tiger (Panthera tigris) habitats, are extensively invaded by exotic plants. Yet, experimental studies exploring the impacts of these invasions on native plants in these forests are scarce. Consequently, little is known about associated implications for the long‐term conservation of tigers and other biodiversity in these habitats. I studied the impacts of the exotic plant Lantana camara on understory vegetation in a dry‐forest tiger habitat in southern India. I compared the richness, composition, and abundance of tree seedlings, herbs, and shrubs and the abundance of grass among plots in which Lantana was cleared or left standing. These plots were distributed across two blocks—livestock free and livestock grazed. Removal of Lantana had an immediate positive effect on herb–shrub richness in the livestock‐free block, but had no effect on that of tree seedlings in either livestock block. Tree‐seedling and herb–shrub composition differed significantly between Lantana treatment and livestock block, and Lantana removal significantly decreased survival of tree seedlings. Nevertheless, the absence of trees, in any stage between seedling and adult, indicates that Lantana may stall tree regeneration. Lantana removal decreased the abundance of all understory strata, probably because forage plants beneath Lantana are less accessible to herbivores, and plants in Lantana‐free open plots experienced greater herbivory. Reduced access to forage in invaded habitats could negatively affect ungulate populations and ultimately compromise the ability of these forests to sustain prey‐dependent large carnivores. Additional research focused on understanding and mitigating threats posed by exotic plants may be crucial to the long‐term protection of these forests as viable tiger habitats.     

Assessing Sustainability at Multiple Scales in a Rotational Bushmeat Hunting System

Abstract: Results of many studies show unsustainable levels of bushmeat hunting across West/Central Africa. Nevertheless, these results are usually derived from snapshot sustainability indices in which critical parameters are often taken from the literature. Simple, more informative tools for assessing sustainability are needed. We evaluated the impact of bushmeat hunting across a range of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic scales in a comparison of different measures of sustainability. Over 15 months in 2002–2004 in and around a village close to Equatorial Guinea's Monte Alén National Park, we collected data via a village offtake survey, hunter‐camp bushmeat‐consumption diaries, hunter interviews, and following hunters during hunts. We compared 2003 data with a previous offtake survey (1998–1999) and interview reports back to 1990. In the past 14 years, average distance from the village at which hunters operated remained constant, with hunters switching back and forth between long‐established camps, although trapping effort increased. In the past 5 years, overall offtake and number of active hunters did not change substantially, although catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased slightly. Although the proportion of the two most commonly trapped species (Cephalophus monticola and Atherurus africanus) and gun‐hunted primates increased in the offtake, species presumably less robust to trapping decreased slightly. Apparent sustainability in economic terms may be masking gradual local extirpation of more vulnerable species before and during this study. Our results suggest that changes in prey profiles and CPUE may be the most accurate indicators of actual sustainability; these indices can be monitored with simple village‐based offtake surveys and hunter interviews to improve community management of bushmeat hunting.     

Defining Historical Baselines for Conservation: Ecological Changes Since European Settlement on Vancouver Island,Canada

Abstract: Conservation and restoration goals are often defined by historical baseline conditions that occurred prior to a particular period of human disturbance, such as European settlement in North America. Nevertheless, if ecosystems were heavily influenced by native peoples prior to European settlement, conservation efforts may require active management rather than simple removal of or reductions in recent forms of disturbance. We used pre‐European settlement land survey records (1859–1874) and contemporary vegetation surveys to assess changes over the past 150 years in tree species and habitat composition, forest density, and tree size structure on southern Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island, British Columbia, Canada. Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that frequent historical burning by native peoples, and subsequent fire suppression, have played dominant roles in shaping this landscape. First, the relative frequency of fire‐sensitive species (e.g., cedar [Thuja plicata]) has increased, whereas fire‐tolerant species (e.g., Douglas‐fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii]) have decreased. Tree density has increased 2‐fold, and the proportion of the landscape in forest has greatly increased at the expense of open habitats (plains, savannas), which today contain most of the region's threatened species. Finally, the frequency distribution of tree size has shifted from unimodal to monotonically decreasing, which suggests removal of an important barrier to tree recruitment. In addition, although most of the open habitats are associated with Garry oak (Quercus garryana) at present, most of the open habitats prior to European settlement were associated with Douglas‐fir, which suggests that the current focus on Garry oak as a flagship for the many rare species in savannas may be misguided. Overall, our results indicate that the maintenance and restoration of open habitats will require active management and that historical records can provide critical guidance to such efforts.     

模拟酸雨对薇甘菊种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

薇甘菊是入侵性杂草,已在我国华南地区及云南部分地区造成严重危害。我国华南地区同时也是强酸雨分布区域。采用不同pH值的模拟酸雨对薇甘菊种子及幼苗进行处理,测定其对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。测定了不同pH值下薇甘菊幼苗叶绿素含量、丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、超氧阴离子产生速率、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性。结果表明,薇甘菊种子具有较强的耐酸能力,pH≥3．5时均能正常萌发,pH≤3．0时不能萌发。不同pH值模拟酸雨对薇甘菊幼苗叶绿素含量影响不显著。随着模拟酸雨pH值下降,超氧阴离子产生速率上升,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性和过氧化物酶活性呈先上升后下降。pH3．5时,丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、过氧化物酶活性均达最大值;pH4．0时超氧化物歧化酶活性达最大值。结果表明薇甘菊对华南地区酸雨胁迫表现出适应。     

典型城区与郊区环境两种灌木生理生化特性比较

选取北京城区与郊区典型样点,针对栽植多年的大叶黄杨（Euonymus japonicus）和小叶黄杨（Buxus sinica subsp.sinica var.parvifolia）成龄植株,分别于春、夏、秋3季取样测定叶片的各项生理生化指标,研究了城区与郊区环境下2种灌木的生理生化特性的差异。结果表明：生长前期（春季）城区车公庄2种灌木的叶绿素总量高于郊区植物园,经过一段时期之后低于植物园（夏秋）。Chlb的城郊变化幅度大于Chla。Chla的变化趋势与Chlb相反造成了Chla/b的大幅度变化。大叶黄杨的叶绿素总量和Chla/b比小叶黄杨受城区环境影响更大。城区环境下2种灌木自由水/束缚水降低,脯氨酸质量分数、丙二醛质量摩尔浓度升高,说明城区环境下2种灌木生理代谢水平降低,膜脂过氧化。城区环境下大叶黄杨的自由水/束缚水、脯氨酸质量分数的变化率较小叶黄杨高,2种灌木丙二醛的变化率相近。综合来看,城区环境下大叶黄杨的生理生化反应比小叶黄杨更敏感。     

养殖场饲养鸡对苯并[a]芘的摄入、排泄和积累

在北京市郊区一家中等规模养鸡场采集了不同品种和不同生长阶段的饲养鸡的肌肉和内脏样品,并同步采集了鸡蛋、饲料、粪便和大气样品,测定了其中苯并[a]芘的浓度,据此分析了苯并[a]芘在饲养鸡体内的积累、排泄和代谢的动态过程.结果显示,饲养鸡体内各组织苯并[a]芘的湿重浓度在0.024～0.15ng·g-1之间,肌肉中的浓度显著低于其它组织;饲料和粪便中的浓度显著高于体内各组织浓度.饲养鸡体内摄入的苯并[a]芘约60%在体内代谢,约三分之一直接排泄进入粪便,仅有少量残留在体内如表皮、肌肉和其他器官中.肌肉、肝脏和胃中苯并[a]芘浓度和总累积量的动态变化规律不尽相同.北京居民摄食类似鸡肉导致的对苯并[a]芘的暴露量较春、秋、冬季呼吸暴露量低两个量级,与夏季呼吸暴露量相当.     

Correlates of bushmeat hunting among remote rural households in Gabon, Central Africa

Hunted wild animals (i.e., bushmeat) are a main source of protein for many rural populations in the tropics, and the unsustainable harvest of these animals puts both human food security and ecosystem functioning at risk. To understand the correlates of bushmeat consumption, we surveyed 1219 households in 121 rural villages near three newly established national parks in Gabon. Through the surveys we gathered information on bushmeat consumption, income, and material assests. In addition, we quantified land cover in a 5-km radius around the village center and distance of the village center to the nearest park boundary. Bushmeat was not a source of income for most households, but it was the primary animal protein consumed. Ninety-seven percent of households consumed bushmeat at least once during a survey period of 12 days. Income or wealth, land cover, distance of village to the nearest park boundary, and level of education of the head of the household were among the factors that significantly related to the likelihood of consuming any of the 10 most commonly consumed species of bushmeat. Household size was the predictor most strongly associated with quantities of bushmeat consumed and was negatively related to consumption. Total bushmeat consumption per adult male equivalent increased as household wealth increased and decreased as distance of villages to park boundaries increased. Bushmeat consumption at the household level was not related to unit values (i.e., price estimates for a good that typically does not have a market value; estimates derived from willingness to sell or trade the good for items of known price) of bushmeat or the price of chicken and fish as potential substitutes. The median consumption of bushmeat at the village level, however, was negatively related to village mean unit values of bushmeat across all species. Our results suggest that a lack of alternative protein sources motivated even the wealthiest among surveyed households to consume bushmeat. Providing affordable, alternative protein sources to all households would likely reduce unsustainable levels of bushmeat consumption in rural Gabon.     

Reduced effect of Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease at the disease front

Pathogen-driven declines in animal populations are increasingly regarded as a major conservation issue. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened with extinction by devil facial tumor disease, a unique transmissible cancer. The disease is transmitted through direct transfer of tumor cells, which is possible because the genetic diversity of Tasmanian devils is low, particularly in the major histocompatibility complex genes of the immune system. The far northwest of Tasmania now holds the last remaining disease-free wild devil populations. The recent discovery of unique major histocompatibility complex genotypes in the northwestern region of Tasmania has raised the possibility that some animals may be resilient to the disease. We examined the differences in the epidemiology and population effects of devil facial tumor disease at 3 well-studied affected sites in eastern Tasmania and 1 in western Tasmania (West Pencil Pine). In contrast to the 3 eastern sites, there has been no rapid increase in disease prevalence or evidence of population decline at West Pencil Pine. Moreover, this is the only onsite at which the population age structure has remained unaltered 4 years after the first detection of disease. The most plausible explanations for the substantial differences in population effects and epidemiology of the disease between eastern and western sites are geographic differences in genotypes or phenotypes of devils and functional differences between tumor strains in the 2 regions. We suggest that conservation efforts focus on identifying whether either or both these explanations are correct and then, if resistance alleles exist, to attempt to spread the resistant alleles into affected populations. Such assisted selection has rarely been attempted for the management of wildlife diseases, but it may be widely applicable.     

Use of linkage mapping and centrality analysis across habitat gradients to conserve connectivity of gray wolf populations in western North America

Centrality metrics evaluate paths between all possible pairwise combinations of sites on a landscape to rank the contribution of each site to facilitating ecological flows across the network of sites. Computational advances now allow application of centrality metrics to landscapes represented as continuous gradients of habitat quality. This avoids the binary classification of landscapes into patch and matrix required by patch-based graph analyses of connectivity. It also avoids the focus on delineating paths between individual pairs of core areas characteristic of most corridor- or linkage-mapping methods of connectivity analysis. Conservation of regional habitat connectivity has the potential to facilitate recovery of the gray wolf (Canis lupus), a species currently recolonizing portions of its historic range in the western United States. We applied 3 contrasting linkage-mapping methods (shortest path, current flow, and minimum-cost-maximum-flow) to spatial data representing wolf habitat to analyze connectivity between wolf populations in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming). We then applied 3 analogous betweenness centrality metrics to analyze connectivity of wolf habitat throughout the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada to determine where it might be possible to facilitate range expansion and interpopulation dispersal. We developed software to facilitate application of centrality metrics. Shortest-path betweenness centrality identified a minimal network of linkages analogous to those identified by least-cost-path corridor mapping. Current flow and minimum-cost-maximum-flow betweenness centrality identified diffuse networks that included alternative linkages, which will allow greater flexibility in planning. Minimum-cost-maximum-flow betweenness centrality, by integrating both land cost and habitat capacity, allows connectivity to be considered within planning processes that seek to maximize species protection at minimum cost. Centrality analysis is relevant to conservation and landscape genetics at a range of spatial extents, but it may be most broadly applicable within single- and multispecies planning efforts to conserve regional habitat connectivity.