Use of large Acacia trees by the cavity dwelling Black-tailed Tree Rat in the Southern Kalahari

Recent extensive harvesting of large, often dead Acacia trees in arid savanna of southern Africa is cause for concern about the conservation status of the arid savanna and its animal community. We mapped vegetation and nests of the Black-tailed Tree Rat Thallomys nigricauda to assess the extent to which the rats depend on particular tree species and on the existence of dead, standing trees. The study was conducted in continuous Acacia woodland on the southern and eastern edge of the Kalahari, South Africa. Trees in which there were tree rat nests were compared with trees of similar size and vigour to identify the characteristics of nest sites. Spatial analysis of tree rat distribution was conducted using Ripley's-L function. We found that T. nigricauda was able to utilize all available tree species, as long as trees were large and old enough so that cavities were existing inside the stem. The spatial distribution of nest trees did not show clumping at the investigated scale, and we therefore reject the notion of the rats forming colonies when inhabiting continuous woodlands. The selection of a particular tree as a nest site was furthermore depending on the close proximity of the major food plant, Acacia mellifera. This may limit the choice of suitable nest sites, since A. mellifera was less likely to grow within a vegetation patch containing a large trees than in patches without large trees.     

An analysis of winter temperature and dew point under the canopy of a common Sonoran Desert nurse and the implications for positive plant interactions

Many studies have focused on positive-plant interactions such as nurse plants, which provide a sheltered subcanopy environment that benefits the nursed species. Most of these studies have focused on plant distribution and association patterns, while the microclimatic benefits are often assumed. This study quantifies 5 a.m. subcanopy temperatures as well as dew points beneath a common nurse tree of the Sonoran Desert, Cercidium microphyllum (palo verde, Fabaceae). Data are collected over 35 days in the winter (January and February) at six locations (at the base of the trunk, midway to the canopy edge, canopy edge, all to the north and to the south of the base of the tree) under each of two trees, as well as a control in the open.It is warmer beneath the tree than in the open, but also, it is warmer in the interior than at the canopy edge, and warmer to the south. Furthermore, differences in temperature between the subcanopy and the open site are greater on colder nights, and less pronounced on warmer winter nights, possibly due to the effect of cloud cover which often results in warmer overnight lows. In addition, variation in 5 a.m. temperature is greatest at the canopy edge and open, and temperature varies less in the interior where temperatures are also warmer. Subcanopy cover was quantified using fish-eye imagery. Results show that there is a significant relationship between 5 a.m. temperature and overlying cover.Dew point temperatures, surprisingly, were lower under the tree than at the canopy edge and in the open. That is, it is relatively dry under the nurse. This pattern can similarly be seen by distance and direction from the base of the tree (drier in the south). This may have to do with the nurse's roots and other vegetation growing beneath the nurse's canopy that compete for water in the ground, which leaves less available water to evaporate into the subcanopy air.     

Long-term vegetation response to mesquite removal in Desert Grassland

Forty-six years of vegetation response to mesquite removal at dry, low elevation sites on the Santa Rita Experimental Range in southern Arizona was only slightly different than the vegetation dynamics where mesquite trees were left intact. Only the density of threeawn grass species (Aristida spp.) was greater in the mesquite removal areas: and that difference persisted even after the cover of mesquite was no longer different between treatment and control areas. Cover of shrubs and perennial grasses, and density of all other perennial grasses did not differ between mesquite treatments throughout the study period. Mesquite cover on treated areas was not different than untreated areas 40 years after tree removal. The long-term results support the interpretation that vegetation dynamics at these dry locations, are not limited by the abundance of neighbouring mesquite. Alternatively, mesquite abundance is self-limiting at levels less than would influence grass abundance and precipitation anomalies may override any effects of neighbouring mesquite. Practically, these results suggest that areas with 350 mm year⁻¹ of annual precipitation and <20% mesquite cover may have very little potential for increasing grass abundance through the removal of mesquite trees.     

Engineering rodents create key habitat for lizards

There is growing recognition among ecologists that ecosystem engineers play important roles in creating habitat for other species, but the comparative and combined effects of co-existing engineers are not well known. Here, we evaluated the separate and interactive effects of two burrowing rodents, Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) and banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis), on lizards in the Chihuahuan Desert grassland (USA). We found that the mounds and burrow systems of both rodent species provided important habitat for lizards, with lizard abundance being 2 to 4-fold higher on mounds than in adjacent areas without mounds. Kangaroo rat mounds supported greater numbers of lizards than prairie dog mounds, but the prairie dog colony with kangaroo rats supported 2-times more lizards than the landscape with only kangaroo rats. A greater number of mound habitats were available for lizards where prairie dogs and kangaroo rats co-occurred, and the rodents created unique structural mound types with different spatial distributions on the landscape. Our results demonstrate the importance of burrowing rodents in creating habitat for other animals, and that the combined effect of ecosystem engineers, especially those with large ecological roles, can be complementary and additive in areas where they co-occur.     

Assessing Natural and Cultural Determinants of Urban Forest Quality in Nanjing (China)

This study assessed underlying natural and cultural determinants of tree health and ways to improve urban forest performance in compact Nanjing city. Two groups of factors were investigated: (1) habitat conditions, including planting site, ground-cover, land cover, and district; and (2) tree traits, including species provenance and seasonality, and tree dimensions. A stratified sampling strategy selected 6351 trees for detailed assessment. The data were analyzed by multivariate logistic regressions. Institutional, park-garden and industrial trees with more open-space sites with vegetated ground-cover performed better than roadside and residential ones. Poor trees in confined residential sites deviated from those in other cities. Park-garden sites did not always nurture meritorious, large and diversified trees. District differentiation in tree performance was related to land cover. Exotic and evergreen species grew better than indigenous and deciduous, offering hints on species-habitat matching. Detailed field and statistical analyses could yield tree-environment information to enhance urban forestry research and management.     

Effects of sand grain size and morphological traits on running speed of toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus frontalis

We conducted a manipulative experiment to investigate the influential factors of locomotor ability in steppe toad-headed lizards. By using a video-base method, we measured running speed of the lizards when they run on sands of different grain sizes. We also considered body condition, tail length and sex as fixed factors to analyze their effects on running speed of the lizard. Results showed that running speed of the lizard significantly differed among different trials of sand grain size. Specifically, the peak and the nadir values of the running speed were found on sands of 0.5-1 mm and 0.075-0.25 mm grains, respectively. When lizards ran on sands of different grain size their running speed changed significantly. Body condition and tail length also had significant effects on running speed. The findings indicated that locomotor ability of lizards depended on both body condition and the external environment. We hypothesized that sand grain size is one of the factors that influence the habitat selection in steppe toad-headed lizards. Moreover, this lizard may be used as an indicator of the development of sand dunes.     

Soil evaporation beneath and between olive trees in a non-Mediterranean climate under two contrasting irrigation regimes

Olive production with microirrigation systems has increased in the last 15 years in northwestern Argentina. An irrigation experiment in a commercial olive orchard was conducted from September 2005 to May 2007 under two different irrigation regimes (moderate irrigation MI, and high irrigation HI). From May 2006 to March 2007, soil evaporation was studied using microlysimeters located beneath olive trees, and spatial variability in a sunlit exposed area, and a shaded site was analyzed. The soil evaporation observed under the HI regime was higher than the equilibrium evaporation during the entire experimental period, while the soil evaporation under the MI regime was higher than the equilibrium evaporation only during end of autumn and winter. The high values of evaporation were associated with microadvection in the shaded area, but not in the sunlit sites between olive trees, based on the use of a microadvection coefficient. A model that takes into account the surface energy balance was used to estimate soil evaporation under the olive tree canopy. The first day after irrigation the model underestimated the observed values due to microadvection in the areas wetted by the drip emitters, whereas subsequent days (>1 day) the effect of microadvection was not present.     

季节性积雪区不同遮挡条件下深霜发育比较

以中国科学院天山积雪雪崩研究站为研究区,在2009～2010年冬季观测期利用体视显微镜(XTZ-E)及拍照设备和雪特性分析仪(Snow Fork),对3种遮挡条件的开阔地(0遮挡)、树缘(50%遮挡)和树下(90%遮挡)的积雪深霜进行连续观测,比较和分析西北季节性积雪区不同遮挡条件下的深霜发育特征。研究表明:1)深霜发育主要受温度制约,其次是温度梯度。由不同遮挡条件引起积雪累积和太阳辐射差异而导致雪深不同,从而形成的温度环境差异,是深霜发育差异的根本原因。2)深霜发育厚度与雪深呈正相关关系,有开阔地(0遮挡)>树缘(50%遮挡)>树下(90%遮挡),融雪期深霜的消减速率为树下>开阔地>树缘。3)深霜冰晶粒径呈先减小(稳定累积期-过渡期)再增大(-融雪期)的变化,积雪稳定累积期后,深霜粒径开阔地>树缘>树下。4)2009～2010年冬季雪深大,因而圆角深霜(DHxr)和圆角刻面冰晶(FCxr)在深霜中发育最多,二者共占70%～80%。开阔地易发育杯型深霜(DHcp),树缘和树下则易发育柱状条纹深霜(DHla)、棱柱状深霜(DHpr)和刻面冰晶(FCso)。深霜中胶结态冰晶约占10%～30%,其比例在开阔地深霜中递减,而在树缘和树下处递增。     

Susceptibility of lizards to predation under two levels of vegetative cover

The risk of increased predation is a potential cost for habitat specialists, when dispersing through non-habitat matrix. We hypothesized that dispersal success of lizards is limited by the loss of vegetative cover, as occurs with overgrazing, due to increased susceptibility to predation. We analyzed the movement behavior of the saxicolous lizards (Liolaemus elongatus and Phymaturus patagonicus) in the Patagonian steppe using a habitat generalist (Liolaemus bibroni) as a control species. We compared the proportion of stops on bare ground during movement in two experimental enclosures with different levels of vegetative cover. Both specialists and generalists stopped more frequently on bare ground when there was less vegetative cover, and specialists stopped more frequently than generalists on bare ground. We found no significant difference in the time it took specialists to reach the end of the enclosure in the two different levels of vegetative cover. Additionally we compared the time to capture by a human predator under the two levels of vegetative cover. All species were captured more quickly when there was less vegetative cover and we found a tendency towards shorter capture times in specialists than in generalists. Our results suggest that saxicolous lizards are more susceptible to predation with less vegetative cover.     

Water availability in almond orchards on marl soils in southeast Spain: The role of evaporation and runoff

Clean sweeping (i.e., frequent and shallow tillage in orchards) is a common practice in semi-arid areas. A potential drawback in dry areas is that the tree roots cannot access the water in the plough layer. Our objective was to quantify the loss of water by evaporation and the loss or gain by overland flow in almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) orchards on loamy soils in southeast Spain. The evaporation from a 15 cm plough layer equals 70–104% of annual precipitation, taking into account losses or gains by overland flow. The large evaporation explains the low canopy cover observed, which averaged 3.2%. The runoff coefficient of the test sites is 1–6%. There is no drainage below 15 cm during dry years, except for an area that receives a net influx of overland flow. The trunk basal area in this depression is 12% larger compared to the rest of the field. The options for increasing the water intake of the trees are to reduce the tillage depth or to switch from clean sweeping to no-tillage combined with chemical weeding.     

祁连山东部地区树木年轮年表的建立

利用采自祁连山东部的祁连圆柏样芯,经常规程序晾干、固定、打磨、定年和读数后,建立了标准化年表,并将标准年表的树轮指数与采样点附近的天祝乌鞘岭气象站的温度和降水进行了相关分析。结果表明,年轮指数与3~4月降水呈显著正相关,相关系数达0.525。由于3~4月份的降水为该地区树木生长季之初的降水,是树木生长的限制因子,因此该相关具有明确的生物学意义。研究还发现,年轮指数与1月气温也呈显著负相关(相关系数为- 0.297),这可能是由于冬季最冷月气温偏高时,影响树木代谢和土壤湿度,从而影响树木的生长。祁连山东部地区树木年轮年表具有明确的气候学意义。     

A dendroclimatological study of east- and west-facing slopes in mountainous areas subjected to strong air pollution (the Sudetes,Central Europe)

The Sudetes Mountains (Central Europe) were under a particularly intense long-term air pollution load during the 1970s and 1980s. Intense industrial activity in this area led to large-scale forest dieback and reductions in tree growth rates, potentially limiting the use of tree-ring data from this region in dendroclimatic research. In this paper, ring-width chronologies were constructed for 493 Norway spruce trees (Picea abies L. Karst.) from 17 sampling sites within five major mountain ranges in the Sudetes Mountains of Poland. Growth-climate response data indicate that April?July temperatures are the main factor affecting radial growth of trees in the study area. Our data also indicate the strong influence of slope aspect on temperature signal strength. The lowest correlation values were obtained for sites located on western slopes with effective fog deposition, which are strongly affected by pollution. An appropriate sampling strategy resulted in the creation of a temperature-sensitive proxy record (rAMJJ = 0.70), exceptional for areas under strong pressure from human activity. Based on a regional master chronology, growing season (April?July) temperatures over the past 200 years were then reconstructed. Four warm and four cold periods were distinguished and compared with other reconstructions and long-term instrumental data.     

Effects of seasonal heat on the activity rhythm,habitat use,and space use of the beira antelope in southern Djibouti

In hot, arid environments, non-burrowing mammals are at risk of overheating and dehydration, so human-induced reduction in thermal cover may constitute a threat for their survival. We studied the daytime activity rhythm, habitat use, and space use of the beira (Dorcatragus megalotis), a threatened antelope living in arid hills of the Horn of Africa, where tree cover is shrinking because of logging, and overgrazing by livestock. During the cool season (Nov.–Mar.; mean midday temperature: 28.5 °C), beira did not particularly seek shade, and alternated in the course of the day between short phases of activity and rest (median duration in Dec.–Feb.: 57.5 and 42.5 min, respectively). In contrast, during the hot season (May–Sep.; mean midday temperature: 39.1 °C), beira often foraged in a hill's shade, and midday resting phases were especially long (median duration in May–Jul.: 280 min) and spent in the shade of trees, or of rock shelters when available in the home range. Because of reduced diurnal movements when temperature was high, beira home ranges were smaller during the hot than during the cool season (mean ± SE: 0.25 ± 0.05 km² in May–Jul. vs 0.42 ± 0.10 km² in Dec.–Feb.). Whatever the season, beira mainly used areas supporting trees. The obtained results suggest that the decrease of tree cover in the areas inhabited by the beira constitutes a threat for the species survival.     

Current climate change effects on the ground thermal regime in Central Yakutia

The evolution of ground thermal state has been studied to assess impacts of current climatic warming on permafrost in Central Yakutia. The analysis of long-term data of regional weather stations has revealed one of the highest increasing trends in mean annual air temperature in northern Russia. A forecast of surface air temperature fluctuations has been made by applying a frequency analysis method. Monitoring of ground thermal conditions allows us to identify inter-annual and long-term variability among a wide range of natural conditions. Experimental research has indicated a long-term dynamics of ground thermal state evolution： ground temperatures at the depth of zero annual amplitude and seasonally thawed layer depth. Long-term variability of thaw depth shows near-zero to weak positive trends in small valleys in contrast to weak negative trends on slopes. With significant climatic warming, the thermal state of near-surface layers of permafrost demonstrates steadiness. Anthropogenic impacts on ground thermal regime in various terrain types have been qualitatively evaluated. Clear-cutting, ground cover stripping, and post-fire deforestation in inter-alas type terrains result in a significant increase of temperature and seasonal ground thaw depth, as well as adverse cryogenic processes. The dynamics of mean annual ground temperature in slash and burn sites have been evaluated in reference to stages of successive vegetation recovery.     

Patterns of lizard species richness within National Parks and Biosphere Reserves across North America's deserts

Warm deserts world-wide provide habitats for rich lizard species assemblages; North American deserts are no exception, however the desert regions of the US and Mexico are experiencing increasing habitat changes from multiple anthropogenic sources. Our objective here was to document current lizard species richness patterns across the North American deserts within the existing network of conservation areas. We identified 110 lizard species occurring across one or more of the 19 sites we analyzed. Three species richness hot spots were identified; a northern Baja California faunal extension into southern California in the US, and in Mexico, two sites within the state of Coahuila, as well as high endemism in the Cape Region of Baja California Sur. Species richness was associated with sites where desert ecoregions overlap and with insular isolation. Our uncertainty regarding how species will respond to the multifaceted aspects of global change is such that large protected natural areas with complex topography may be the most effective strategy for protecting desert lizards along with overall biodiversity. The 19 sites we analyzed represent the cores of a more robust conservation network that will be needed for the protection of biodiversity across North American Deserts.     

The impact of tree cover loss on land surface temperature: A case study of central Massachusetts using Landsat Thematic Mapper thermal data

Land surface temperature (LST) variability results from diversity in urban surface materials over space and time such that locations with impervious urban cover experience higher temperature and larger temperature variation compared to non-impervious cover. There is growing awareness that warmer temperatures in urban locations negatively impact city residents by increasing heat related death and energy usage during heat waves. However, little previous work investigates the linkages between urban tree cover loss events related to invasive species eradication and urban heat trends. This paper examines the variation in LST using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) thermal imagery in Worcester County, Massachusetts where over 30,000 trees were removed since 2008 to eradicate the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), most of which existed in urban residential areas. Throughout the study area a 10% loss in tree canopy cover caused a 0.7 °C increase in LST whereas a 10% increase in sub-canopy impervious surface area exposed due to tree loss caused 1.66 °C increase in LST. The Burncoat and Greendale neighborhoods in northern Worcester experienced a combined 48% tree cover loss from 2008 to 2010 due to ALB eradication and an average relative LST increase of 2.4 °C (range 0.6–4.1 °C). Given that areas with an increase in exposed impervious surface produce greater temperature increases than areas of tree loss, future tree replanting efforts may focus on locations that reduce exposed impervious surfaces.     

藏北高原土壤温度分布的纬向效应和高度效应

利用ＧＡＭＥ－Ｔｉｂｅｔ野外观测期间所得藏北高原不同地点土壤温度资料,对藏北高原土壤温度分布纬向地带性和垂直地带性特征进行分析,结果表明夏季土壤温度分布主要表现为高度效应,而冬季土壤温度分布主要表现为纬度效应,年平均土壤温度分布是纬度效应和高度效应综合作用的结果。     

Changes in soil nutrients, vegetation structure and herbaceous biomass in response to grazing in a semi-arid savanna of Ethiopia

The effect of grazing was studied on vegetation structure, herbaceous biomass, basal and bare ground covers, together with soil nutrient concentrations in two locations in an Ethiopian semi-arid savanna. The lightly grazed sites had significantly higher herbaceous diversity, total abundance, basal cover and aboveground biomass, and a lower percentage of bare ground compared with the heavy grazed sites. Grazing pressure had no effect on the density and number of woody species as well as on the proportion of encroaching woody species. The light grazing sites had higher organic carbon, phosphorus and exchangeable bases, and therefore a higher pH and higher electrical conductance, indicating an improved soil nutrient status compared with heavy grazing sites, mainly attributed to the higher basal cover and standing biomass at light grazed sites, and the export of nutrients through grazing and dung collection from the heavily grazed sites. There were significantly higher soil nutrients, species diversity, aboveground biomass and basal cover in the light grazing sites compared with heavy grazing sites. We concluded that changes in herbaceous vegetation, standing biomass and soil compositions are caused by interactions between grazing, soil and vegetation, and these interactions determine the transitions of semi-arid savannas.     

长江黄河源区高寒植被变化的NDVI记录

使用8 km分辨率Pathdfinder NOAA-AVHRR/NDVI时间序列数据, 对青藏高原长江、黄河源区1982~2001年地表植被覆盖的空间分布和时间序列变化进行了分析, 并在典型区NDVI与气温、降水量和浅层地温单相关关系分析的基础上, 在不考虑地温作用和考虑地温作用两种条件下, 构建了NDVI与气温、降水量和浅层地温的统计模型。结果表明：近20年来江河源区的植被覆盖总体上保持原状,　局部继续退化。黄河源区的扎陵湖、鄂陵湖周边及其北东部地区、巴颜喀拉山北麓的多曲源头地区、长江源区的曲麻莱和治多一带、托托河沿至伍道梁之间的青藏公路两侧一定范围、格拉丹冬局部地区年NDVI减少显著,　幅度在0%~20%之间,　植被退化严重。江河源区年NDVI的变化, 即植被覆盖状况的好坏主要受温度, 尤其是40 cm附近地温的影响, NDVI对40 cm的地温变化极为敏感。在江河源多年冻土区, 冻土冻融过程不仅与地温变化息息相关, 而且影响土壤含水量的多少, 冻土的退化将会直接影响该区植被的生长。     

Dendroecological Analysis of Spruce Budworm Outbreaks and their Relation to Climate Near the Prairie-Forest Border in Northwestern Minnesota

This paper investigates the effects of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and white spruce (Picea glauca) at Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota. We studied the species composition, age structure, and radial growth patterns in tree rings along five belt transects at sites infested with spruce budworm. Our objectives were to: (1) discover when the latest spruce budworm outbreak started; (2) determine whether tree growth was similarly reduced in earlier decades, suggesting earlier spruce budworm outbreaks; and (3) test whether radial tree growth and the start of the outbreak(s) were correlated with climate. We used the computer program OUTBREAK to determine that the current spruce budworm infestation began to reduce tree growth in the 1990s, before it was detected by park officials in 2001. The tree-ring record indicated that growth of the host-species trees was periodically reduced at all sites prior to the 1990s. We found no consistent relationship between temperature/precipitation and the initiation of spruce budworm outbreaks, as reconstructed by the OUTBREAK program, at the southwestern edge of the distribution of balsam fir. The Palmer Drought Severity Index, however, was positive (i.e., wetter-than-normal conditions) before increased spruce budworm activity at all sites. Outbreaks are related to climatic conditions, but they also depend on other factors such as the availability of sufficient food for the spruce budworm.