Assessing potential environmental influences on killer whale (Orcinus orca) distribution patterns in the Bremer Canyon,south-west Australia

ABSTRACT

Submarine canyons play an important role in the regional distribution, abundance and dispersal of marine biota and are increasingly being recognised as geomorphic features of high conservation significance along Australia’s continental margin. Certain canyons have been described as foraging ‘hotspots’ attributable to the high abundance of apex cetacean species aggregating in these areas. Anecdotal evidence of large seasonal aggregations of killer whales in the Bremer Canyon, south-west Australia, has attracted significant research attention in the last decade. To identify important environmental drivers influencing aggregation patterns, a predictive spatial habitat model using the Maxent model was developed based on presence-only whale sighting data. In addition, remotely sensed sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentrations were assessed to investigate the spatio-temporal variation in sea surface conditions. Habitat preference was predicted in areas between canyon heads, with the most influential predictor variables being depth and distance from the continental shelf break. Analysis of remote-sensing data highlighted low localised variability in surface waters and illustrated the seasonal trends of the Leeuwin Current. This study demonstrates the influence of bathymetry and submarine geomorphology on enhanced cetacean abundance and highlights the need for recognition of this potential foraging area in marine reserve planning.     

Factors Influencing Recreational Boaters’ Intentions to Comply with Right Whale Regulations in the Southeastern United States

Regulations for boaters can help mitigate adverse effects on threatened marine mammals. One management tool to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales is a 460-m distance restriction rule for all vessels. This study is the first effort to analyze factors that influence recreational boaters’ intentions to comply with this regulation. Using the theory of planned behavior, we analyzed 362 mail surveys of recreational boaters using the offshore waters of the southeastern United States. We found that two constructs of the theory significantly explained 58% of the intention to comply with the rule: (1) positive attitude toward the rule and (2) stronger belief that other people are complying. Boaters recommended increasing knowledge about whales to improve compliance, but they were divided with respect to increasing fines for violators to increase compliance. This information can be useful for designing outreach strategies to protect whales.     

广东湛江红树林国家级自然保护区鸟类调查监测及保护对策

广东湛江红树林国家级自然保护区位于中国大陆最南端的湛江市,分布有全国最大面积的红树林。红树林生态系统生物多样性丰富,非常适宜鸟类生存,而保护区地处西伯利亚-澳大利亚候鸟迁徒路线,每年都有大量候鸟在红树林区内栖息繁衍。如何保护这些珍贵鸟类及红树林栖息地是保护区的主要工作之一。介绍了湛江红树林保护区鸟类资源特点及变化情况,并提出了一些可行的保护措施。     

The MaB Reserve of Ñacuñán,Argentina: its role in understanding the Monte Desert biome

Temperate and semi-arid regions of Argentina are undergoing rapid habitat conversion as a result of several human activities (i.e. grazing, logging, agriculture, etc.). These arid ecosystems contain many endemic species and have played an important role in the evolution of South American biota. The Man and Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán (12,800 ha) is located in the central region of the lowland Monte Desert. The reserve is a stand within a highly disturbed matrix characterized by deforestation (i.e. mesquite,Prosopis)and overgrazing. Major vegetational and animal communities recovered after the reserve was fenced in 1972, and Ñacuñán thus provides critical data describing the recovery of biotic and abiotic components of the Monte Desert when anthropogenic assaults are minimized. Indeed, the Reserve of Ñacuñán protects many distinctive habitats of the Monte Desert, including mesquite forest, or algarrobal, and several representative animals of the South American biota (i.e. tinamous, rhea, marsupials, edentates and caviomorph rodents). Several research projects on community ecology, herbivory, disturbances, ecology and ecophysiology have been or are being developed in the reserve. Although the town of Ñacuñán lies within the reserve, the link between the research community and the local people has not been strong, persistent or effective. The reserve is the most important site in Argentina for monitoring the ecological health of the Monte Desert and for developing indicators of desertification. Its potential is great for long-term ecological research and for strengthening the infrastructure of science. Sustainable development in the next millennium requires integrating the activities of the research, local people, ranch landowners and governmental sectors so as to infuse science-based proposals into management and conservation initiatives.     

利用红外相机监测新疆天池博格达峰自然保护区鸟兽资源

红外相机技术目前已成为监测陆栖哺乳动物和地栖鸟类的常用技术手段。为监测新疆天池博格达峰自然保护区内鸟类和兽类资源,于2019年7月—2020年9月,在保护区内选取30个红外相机位点共布设58台红外相机,累积工作29730个工作日,共获得99850份图像及视频数据,采集独立有效照片5744张;共观测到野生陆生脊椎动物9目19科29种,其中兽类5目10科15种,鸟类4目9科14种。观测到的动物中有国家I级重点保护野生动物雪豹（Panthera uncia）,国家II级重点保护野生动物6种,分别为北山羊（Capra sibirica）、马鹿（Cervus canadensis）、猞猁（Lynx lynx）、赤狐（Vulpes vulpes）、黑鸢（Milvus migrans）以及暗腹雪鸡（Tetraogallus himalayensis）。森林生境中,兽类相对多度指数最高的是马鹿（RAI=60.569）,鸟类相对多度指数最高的是山斑鸠（Streptopelia orientalis,RAI=0.854）;高山草甸及裸岩生境中,兽类相对多度指数最高的是马鹿（RAI=18.693）,鸟类相对多度指数最高的是暗腹雪鸡（RAI=0.316）和黄嘴山鸦（Pyrrhocorax graculus,RAI=0.854）。物种累积曲线结果显示：兽类物种数在200 d之后几乎不再增长,而鸟类物种数在100 d之后增速放缓但一直持续增长,表明时长450 d的红外相机监测力度对保护区中的兽类而言较为充分,对鸟类而言还不够充分。研究结果可为新疆天池博格达峰自然保护区野生陆生脊椎动物多样性监测与评估提供数据参考,为该保护区的保护管理工作提供科学依据。     

Recent status of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, in the wintering grounds off West Greenland

Bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, belonging to the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay stock, have historically in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, including waters along the west coast of Greenland in and near the entrance of Disko Bay. Aerial surveys of the Disko Bay region during late winter (1981, 1982, 1990,1991, 1993 and 1994) showed that it was still visited regularly by a few tens of whales. Commercial whaling on bowheads in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait ended in about 1915, but occasional killing continued until as recently as the 1970s. The low numbers of bowheads observed off West Greenland in recent years are consistent with the results of surveys of the summering grounds in the eastern Canadian Arctic, indicating that any recovery has been exceedingly slow. The only conclusion supported by the data is that the current stock size is a small fraction of what it was prior to commercial whaling.     

盐城滩涂野生动物保护与自然保护区建设

建立自然保护区足生物多样性保护最有效的措施之一。盐城滩涂动物种类繁多、遗传多样性丰富,这里建有盐城国家级珍禽自然保护区、大丰麇鹿Elaphurus davidianus国家级自然保护区和东台中华鲟Acipenser sinensis自然保护区。本文介绍了盐城滩涂野生动物、保护动物及经济动物的种类,论述了盐城滩涂白然保护区建设的基本情况、取得的成绩及存在的问题,并提出了自然保护区建设及野生动物保护的对策。     

鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区白鹤、东方白鹳和小天鹅种群数量与分布

2007-2009年期间的2个越冬期,对鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区白鹤Grus leucogeranus、东方白鹳Ciconia boyciana和小天鹅Cygnus columbianus种群数量和分布进行了监测与研究,结果表明这3个物种的数量一般都在12月达到最高,而10月由于候鸟刚刚迁来以及翌年3月已有部分候鸟迁离,故这2个月份鸟类数量相对较少。保护区的9个湖泊中,沙湖是白鹤、东方白鹳和小天鹅极重要的栖息地,而大湖池是东方白鹳和小天鹅极重要的栖息地。监测发现蚌湖已成为白鹤和东方白鹳重要的栖息地,建议将该湖划为保护区的核心区以加强白鹤等濒危物种的保护。     

塞罕坝国家级自然保护区野生鱼类资源与保护对策

2014年7—9月对塞罕坝自然保护区进行野生鱼类调查,结果发现塞罕坝有鱼类13种,隶属4目5科13属,鲤鱼目鲤科鱼类是最大的类群,优势种为拉氏鱥Phoxinus lagowskii Dybowski和北方须鳅Barbatula barbatula nuda(Bleeker)。在保护区各水系中,吐力根河是鱼类主要分布地,其次是泰丰湖。在鱼类生境分布中,仅分布在一种生境的鱼类有4种,占鱼类总种数的30.77%;分布在2种或3种生境的鱼类分别有3种,占鱼类总种数的38.46%;分布在4种生境的鱼类有1种,占鱼类总种数的7.69%,广布种2种,占鱼类总种数的15.38%。生境丧失和过度捕捞是造成鱼类下降的主要原因,针对鱼类资源保护中存在的问题,提出了相应的保护对策。     

上海崇明东滩互花米草生态控制与鸟类栖息地优化工程

崇明东滩鸟类国家级自然保护区是迁徙水鸟的重要栖息地。近10余年来,保护区面临着互花米草Spartina alterniflora的入侵、鸟类栖息地退化、土著植被萎缩等生态问题。通过实施崇明东滩互花米草控制和鸟类栖息地优化工程,新建了25 km长的围堤从空间上阻断了互花米草扩张途径,并形成了"围、割、淹、晒、种、调"的生态治理方针。工程在鸟类栖息地优化区内营造了鸻鹬类主栖息区、苇塘区、雁鸭类主栖息区、鹤类主栖息区和科研监测管理区,并总结出各生境类型的地形要素与群落要素配置特点与管理要求。工程还支持了潮间带滩涂土著植物海三棱藨草Scirpus mariqueter的种群重建与复壮任务。最后,通过规范工程的后续管理和成效监测,为保护区的后期建设规划和科学管理提供了实践经验。     

Assessment and Management Strategies for Ungulate Population in Jiangxi Matoushan National Nature Reserve: Predicting the Prey-base from Empirical Field Data

In order to investigate the feasibility of reintroducing the South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) in the Jiangxi Matoushan National Nature Reserve, field surveys were conducted to assess prey distribution in the reserve. Twelve permanent transects were set in three distinct functional zones from February to April 2012 and May to July 2013. A total of 112 ungulate signs were recorded on these transects. In addition, 20 camera traps were used to survey ungulates and predators in 2012, while the following year we extended the survey site by using 30 cameras. Overall, 6641 capture events on 2930 camera days were obtained, presenting a variety of ungulate species: muntjak (Muntiacus muntjak), tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), serow (Capricornis sumatraensis) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Population structure and composition of ungulates was compared in different functional zones using a single factor of variance analysis in SPSS software. Significant differences in the distribution of ungulates were recognized between the core zone and experimental zone, but not in other zones due to differences in habitat types and management practices of the nature reserve. Using ArcGIS analysis and Salford Predictive Modeler software, we ran several predictive models to understand which areas are most suitable for ungulates. We conclude that muntjac and wild boar are mainly distributed in the experimental zone, serow are more common in the core zone, while tufted deer are located evenly in the three functional zones. Finally, suggestions for effective and feasible management strategies and techniques for Matoushan National Nature Reserve were recommended based on the results and analysis in this study.     

版纳勐养保护区鸟类及人为影响分析

切实保护和利用好西双版纳现存热带森林，是急需处理的现实问题。本文通过勐养自然保护区鸟类调查结果，揭示了西双版纳保护区管理现状。多数地区实际上未管理起来，林区居民仍滥用自然资源，对鸟类的猎捕从未停止，有的地方颇为严重；从生物多样性着眼，环境质量在下降。现已管理起来的三岔河保护区，尽管旅游开放后尚存许多问题亟待探索和改进，但鸟类保护状况已明显改善，说明自然保护区旅游在科学管理下才是可行的。就此，本文分析、评价了勐养保护区鸟类受人为影响情况，对自然保护区管理工作提出建议。     

Ant composition and activity patterns as determined by pitfall trapping and other methods in three habitats in the semi-arid Karoo

The diversity and abundance of epigaeic ant species were determined across three habitats (riverine areas, gently sloping grassland areas and steep slope areas) in summer (November–December) and winter (May–June) of 1998 at Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve in the Karoo, to determine temporal and spatial variations in the availability of potential prey species of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer). Pitfall trapping, dig sampling and quadrat sampling were used to ensure as complete a sampling effort as possible. Forty-five ant species of five sub-families and 17 genera were recorded. The grassland habitat yielded the highest abundance and diversity, followed by the steep slope and riverine areas. Ant abundance and diversity were higher during summer than winter in all three habitats. Anoplolepis custodiens was the most abundant species in summer, whilst Monomorium albopilosum was the most abundant species in winter. Pitfall trapping was responsible for recording more species than dig sampling or quadrat sampling. No method recorded all of the species present.     

漳江口红树林自然保护区的保护与发展

作为福建省唯一的红树林国家级自然保护区,漳江口红树林国家级自然保护区一直坚持保护与发展并重,致力于人与自然和谐发展。阐述了保护区的保护与管理,分析了保护区存在的问题与矛盾,进一步探讨了保护区长远的发展规划。     

Habitat suitability assessment of endangered plant Tetraena mongolica Maxim.

This paper uses Landsat TM images, GIS technology, Digital Elevation and Habitat Assessment Models to assess the habitat suitability of the endangered plant Tetraena mongolica in western Ordos Plateau of China by selecting terrain, soil, climate, and human activity factors as assessment indices. The results are as follows: natural factors such as climate and terrain are not restrictive factors for the survival and development of T. mongolica in the research region, whereas human activity causes habitat quality of T. mongolica to change intensively in quantity and distribution. The area of less suitable habitat increased by 23.87 km² compared to potential habitat suitability. Thus, in some areas, human activity may be a key factor causing the endangerment of T. mongolica. There were obvious differences of potential and practical habitat suitability between different habitat regions in the study area. The habitat quality was better in Wujiamiao, Dishan and Qipanjing regions, and worse in Wuda and Qianlishan regions.     

扎龙湿地火烧严重度分析及火灾对丹顶鹤生境的影响

利用ETM 遥感影像资料,分析了扎龙湿地火烧严重度及火灾对扎龙湿地丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)生境的影响。采用火灾前、后的ETM 影像数据,计算差异性归一化燃烧率(dNBR)和制作扎龙火烧严重度分布图,用综合燃烧指数(CBI)分析植被死亡率对生境变化的影响程度,并分析两者的相关关系;利用两种燃烧指数与对应的高程、植被类型、坡度、功能分区和丹顶鹤巢位等因子叠加分析作为火烧区的评价指标;再根据火烧严重度分类图定量化分析火灾对丹顶鹤生境和巢址变化的影响。结果表明,CBI与dNBR之间有非线性关系(n=59,R2=0.8724);判定高程在148.3~154.6m和坡度在0°~0.185°之间,且分布有大量芦苇(Phragmites australis)沼泽的核心区低洼地易发生火灾;在火烧强度较高的情况下,迫使丹顶鹤选择次适宜的栖息环境,降低了丹顶鹤对隐蔽条件和食物资源的标准,导致丹顶鹤重新选择巢址的位置,其种群数量迅速减少。研究结果对扎龙湿地动物资源可持续发展具有一定的指导意义。     

甘肃敦煌西湖国家级自然保护区作用及现存问题的分析

敦煌西湖国家级自然保护区湿地及植被是敦煌绿洲的生态屏障,通过对其作用及现存问题的分析,提出了相应的保护对策,以期为提高保护区资源的管理水平,充分发挥其生态、社会和经济效益,为我国西部生态环境建设提供支持。     

江西铜钹山自然保护区贝类物种多样性

基于2012年7月至2013年8月调查的江西铜钹山自然保护区贝类资源,研究保护区内贝类的物种多样性,以及在不同生境类型下的分布规律和区系与动物地理组成,探索该地区内贝类物种组成和栖息环境之间的关系。通过定性与定量的方法共采得贝类42种及亚种,分别隶属于2纲4目16科28属。其中,淡水贝类15种,分别隶属于2纲3目7科10属;陆生贝类27种,分别隶属于1纲3目9科18属,其中有3种为江西的新记录：小柱倍唇螺（Diplommatina paxillus）、三重真卷螺（Euplecta trifilaris）和小石环肋螺（Plectotropis calculus）。淡水贝类优势种为放逸短沟蜷（Semisulcospira libertine）和小土蜗（Galba pervia）,陆生贝类优势种为扁恰里螺（Kaliella depressa）、弗氏巴蜗牛（Bradybaena fortunei）和灰尖巴蜗牛（Bradybaena ravida ravida）。贝类动物地理区系组成以东洋界为主,共22种,占总种数的52.38%。采用Margalef丰富度指数d_MA、Shannon-Wiener（1949）多样性指数H'、Pielou均匀度指数J_SW对在不同生境类型下的贝类多样性进行分析,结果表明：灌丛生境陆生贝类的丰富度指数和多样性指数均最高,针阔混交林生境的均匀度指数最高。根据Jaccard公式计算并比较铜钹山与邻近自然保护区陆生贝类物种相似性系数发现：铜钹山自然保护区陆生贝类物种较丰富;与阳际峰自然保护区陆生贝类物种相似系数较高,为23.33%,与湖南莽山自然保护区物种相似性系数较低,为6.45%,并对其相似性差异进行了原因分析。     

Thermal acclimation and non-shivering thermogenesis in three species of South American rodents: a comparison between arid and mesic habitats

Non-hibernating mammals that live in seasonal and arid environments change their non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) capacity to maintain homeothermy. Metabolic capabilities of animals, such as NST, are considered adaptive plastic traits because they have a broad range of possible phenotypes with different ambient temperatures (i.e. the reaction norm). Consequently, we determined the reaction norm for NST in Octodon degus (Bennett, 1832; m_b=189 g) andPhyllotis darwini (Waterhouse, 1837; m_b=61 g) from the mesic habitat of central Chile, and inPhyllotis xanthopygus (Waterhouse, 1837; m_b=67 g) from the high Andean plains of northern Chile, an arid and seasonal habitat. Octodon degus showed a 22% increase in NST with thermal acclimation, whereas P. xanthopygus showed a 112% increase, and P. darwini showed a 117% increase in NST, being the largest change observed. These results are in agreement with our hypothesis of evolutionary inertia, which states that observed metabolic plasticity in Phyllotis species is consequence of their high Andean origin, in spite of the fact the actual habitat ofP. darwini is the less seasonal central valley of Chile.     

流域土地利用/覆被变化对洪河保护区湿地景观的影响

从流域尺度, 应用遥感和GIS 技术对1954 年以来6 个时段土地利用/ 覆被变化进行分析, 并采用景观生态学方法对洪河保护区及其所在浓江河流域湿地景观多样性和景观连通度进行计算, 系统研究了流域土地利用变化对保护区湿地景观的影响。结果显示: ① 浓江河流域大规模土地利用发生在20 世纪80 年代之后, 年均耕地面积增长速度为101 km²/a; ② 土地利用/ 覆被变化直接导致流域湿地景观多样性降低, 同时也间接影响了洪河保护区湿地景观多样性; ③ 流域土地利用变化带来的景观连通度降低严重割断了景观之间原有的物质交换和功能维持关系, 是导致保护区湿地景观结构和功能改变的主要因素之一; ④ 恢复保护区周围一定面积的湿地, 维持良好的景观连通度是实现保护区自然保护效益的方法之一。