Ecophysiological studies on arthropods from Spitsbergen

The cold-hardiness, high temperature tolerance and metabolic activity of summer specimens of staphylinid beetles ( Atheta graminicola ), collembolans ( Onichiurus groenlandicus ), spiders ( Erigone arctica ), and prostigmatid mites ( Molgus littoralis ) from Spitsbergen were investigated. The animals displayed cold-hardiness and haemolymph melting points within the normal ranges for summer insects from temperate regions, but were less tolerant to high temperatures. Haemolymph from spiders and from one species of collembolans ( Isotoma sp.) was found to contain thermal hysteresis factors. The beetles, collembolans, and mites were found to have oxygen consumption rates above the values of their relatives in other climatic zones, whereas the spiders had values within the range of temperate arachnoids. The study supports the view that polar arthropods have activation energy values lower than those of temperate animals.     

Photosynthesis and respiration of some marine benthic algae from Spitsbergen

Light-photosynthesis curves for 9 species of benthic algae from the Hornsund fiord were determined. As a result of adaptation to the conditions in the Arctic, benthic algae from Spitsbergen have a low requirement of light. Saturation and compensation points are low and within a range typical for shadow-tolerant plants.The values for gas exchange rates indicate that Arctic algae have lower photosynthctic capacity than temperate species.     

North American transect of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in water beetles from a museum collection

Museum collections contain a wealth of insect remains originating from a wide geographic range, which can be used to investigate their utility as a proxy for environmental isotope ratios. Chitinous remains of insects such as beetles (Coleoptera) are chemically stable and their stable isotope composition is strongly related to that of environmental water in the period of cuticle formation. We present a dataset of chitin ??D and ??¹⁸O in two genera of water beetles from a museum collection containing 40 locations for Helophorus (water scavenging beetles) and 48 locations for Hydroporus (predaceous diving beetles) that were selected from latitudes 27?C82°N in North America. Only two genera were used to minimize inter-sample variation caused by species-specific differences in metabolic effects, feeding strategy, habitat, and life cycle. The isotopic composition of water beetle exoskeletons had a strong latitudinal trend (North?CSouth) from ?160 to +65??? for ??D and from 7 to 34??? for ??¹⁸O, paralleling gradients of isotopes in precipitation. Strong relationships were observed between isotopic composition of beetles and modelled July precipitation (0.71?<?R ²?<?0.82, p?<?0.001). The relationship between ??D and ??¹⁸O in the beetle samples had a systematic offset from the global meteoric water line, which was likely caused by metabolic effects during chitin formation. The offset between ??D values in beetles and in modelled precipitation was 33??? larger, on average, for Hydroporus compared with Helophorus, suggesting fractionation of hydrogen isotopes during passage through the food chain. This trophic level effect was not observed for stable oxygen isotopes. Furthermore, the observed deviations between isotopic composition of water beetles and modelled precipitation at collection sites were not constant and indicated local hydrological deviations from modelled precipitation. The largest deviations were observed for sites in the Southern US and the Arctic that are highly evaporative and at sites in the Rocky Mountains and Coastal Mountains that were fed by snow melt. Our results indicated that the isotopic composition of water beetles from a museum collection was systematically related to ??D and ??¹⁸O values of precipitation at the collection site.     

中国植被类型区大气增温趋势及其不对称性研究

利用1962~2011年中国各植被类型区的452个站点的气温资料,分析了各植被类型区的年平均温度和极端温度随时间的变化趋势。结果表明：① 过去50 a间,中国各植被类型区年平均气温、年平均最高温、年平均最低温都显著升高,并且最低温增温速度快于最高温增温速度,呈温差减小的不对称增温趋势;同时,寒冷地区增温速度高于温暖地区的增温速度,其中寒温带森林的增温幅度超过亚热带森林的2倍。近30 a间,寒温带森林区和温带森林区增温速度减缓,其他各植被类型区增温速度加快,呈现出热带、亚热带地区增温速度高于温带、寒温带地区的空间特点;② 最高温增温速度在变快,最低温增加速度在变慢,多个植被类型区的最高温增温速度高于最低温增温速度,呈现出一种新的不对称增温趋势,即最高温与最低温间的温差在加大;③ 过去50 a和近30 a间,生长季和非生长季的温度变化多样,并分别对年平均温度产生了不同的影响,而生长季和非生长季温度的不同变化分别决定于其最高温和最低温的多样变化。     

Body mass and water economy in the South American olivaceous field mouse along a latitudinal gradient: Implications for climate change

We compared geographic trends in body mass in a number of populations of the olivaceous field mouse (Abrothrix olivaceus,) along a latitudinal gradient in Chile, and tested the expected neutral tendency resulting from the opposite influences of environmental temperature and aridity across the gradient. Also, we studied water economy through physiological measurements of total evaporative water loss and urine osmolality in individuals from populations inhabiting two contrasting habitats (northern semiarid shrubland and southern temperate rainforest) and acclimated during six months to the same conditions. No change in male body mass with latitude was found across 39 populations. Evaporative water loss in rodents from the semiarid shrubland was significantly lower than that of individuals from the temperate rainforest, and urine osmolality was significantly higher in rodents from the semiarid habitat. We found a better tolerance of water shortage in the rodent population from the xeric habitat, thus suggesting the occurrence of local adaptation to the prevailing habitat conditions. The mechanisms by which rodents regulate their water economy in face of spatial and temporal fluctuations in environmental conditions constitute an essential component of the physiological flexibility that is necessary to cope with challenging climate change scenarios.     

Late-glacial and early-Holocene Coleoptera assemblages as indicators of local environment and climate at Kråkenes Lake, western Norway

Thirty-six Coleoptera (beetle) taxa and other insects were identified from the late-glacial and early-Holocene sediments at Kråkenes Lake. Compared with other Scandinavian late-glacial sites, this is a rather sparse record. The water beetles found in the Allerod are characteristic of a poorly vegetated clear-water lake. The terrestrial fauna is indicative of dwarf-shrub and moss vegetation. A marked decline in the number of species at the start of the Younger Dryas was rather rapid, probably over less than 80 calendar yrs. No obligate tundra species replaced the Allerod fauna. Most of the Younger Dryas is virtually devoid of beetles. The increase in numbers and diversity of both aquatic and terrestrial species at the Younger Dryas/Holocene transition is very rapid. After an initial pioneer stage, beetles associated with dwarf-shrub heath and willow scrub appeared, but no obligate tree or forest taxa were recorded.Mutual Climatic Range (MCR) temperature reconstructions suggest that the Allerod was colder and more continental than present. The near absence of beetles in the Younger Dryas probably reflects very cold conditions. A rapid temperature rise at the start of the Holocene resulted in a warmer and more continental climate than present.     

应用多元统计技术和GIS技术进行印度野牛生境定量分析--以西双版纳纳板河流域生物圈保护区为例

印度野牛目前在中国仅发布于西双版纳地区可以视为西双版纳热带森林系统中的代表性物种。有关印度野牛生境信息的缺乏和西双版纳热带雨林修复的要求必须进行印度野牛生境的分析。文中综合利用多元统计技术和ＧＩＳ技术,建立逻辑斯蒂回归模型去评价所调查的印度野牛生活动位置与一组生增变量之间的关系。ＧＩＳ为逻辑斯蒂回归模型提供空间信息,并执行逻辑斯辑期蒂模型预测印度野牛生培在该区的空间分布概率。结果表明,硝塘、居民点     

Some observations of intertidal communities on Spitsbergen (79°N), Norwegian Arctic

The zonation pattern of rocky shores on north-west Spitsbergen is described. Intertidal communities on protected sites have features remarkably similar to temperate areas. Black lichens dominate the littoral fringe, fucoids and gastropods the eulittoral zone, whereas upper sublittoral zone is occupied by kelp. The species composition seems to be typical for the Atlantic arctic areas.     

Thermal regime of a valley glacier, Erikbreen, northern Spitsbergen

The thermal regime of the valley glacier, Erikbreen, northern Spitsbergen (79°40'N, 12°30'E) was studied using radio-echo sounding and temperature measurements from eight boreholes ranging from 13.5 to 24 m. Radar images indicate a glacier with a two-layered thermal structure. A surface layer of cold ice, 20 to 60 m thick along the centre flow line, extends from an altitude above equilibrium line to the glacier front. This layer represents 20 to 35% of the glacier thickness, except at the floating front, where the cold layer is about 50%. The ice beneath the cold surface layer is interpreted to be temperate. Cold-based areas exist near the glacier margin and in some locations in the accumulation area; the ice is interpreted to be entirely temperate in central parts of the accumulation area at high altitude. Freezing of temperate ice at the base of the cold surface layer is probably the main mechanism of cold ice formation in the frontal parts of Erikbreen. Calculated heat fluxes based on the borehole measurements show that a steady state cold layer 25 to 30 m thick is likely, assuming a surface melting of 1.7 m/y and a maximum water content of 3%. In the frontal parts the calculated mean annual upward heat flux at 10 to 15 m depth is roughly 0.6 W/m².     

Palynology of two 4500 year old skua-mounds of the Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus (L.)) in Svalbard

Skuamounds are peaty hillocks up to 70 cm high used by Arctic Skuas (Stercorarius parasiticus (L.)) for surveying their breeding territory. Well-developed skua-mounds in Svalbard can be considered as small guanogenic bogs', because the peat formation depends on manuring by birds and the water-table in the mound is higher than the surrounding tundra. Peat sections measuring 34 cm and 40 cm from two skuamounds from Edgeøya and Spitsbergen were radiocarbon dated and studied for pollen and spores. Peat formation on the two skua-mounds started c. 4500 calendar years ago. Concentration values of longdistance transported pollen were used to detect time gaps in the records. The time gap in the skua-mound from Spitsbergen was found to be considerably greater than in the skuamound from Edgeøya. Erosion has progressed considerably further on the Edgeøya skua-mound than on the skua-mound from Spitsbergen due to differences in hydrology: the peat of the former mound is dry and unfrozen in summer, whereas in the latter mound it is wet and frozen. Time gaps and erosion are probably associated with phases of decreased manuring by birds. At two levels in the Edgeøya skua-mound there is evidence of a climatic change towards cooler conditions, one being an early major climatic shift and the other a later minor climatic shift. A similar major climatic shift is associated with one level in the skuamound from Spitsbergen.     

西藏阿里西部地区种子植物区系研究

基于路线调查和样地调查资料,鉴定记录到西藏阿里西部地区共有种子植物319种,隶属于53科159属。其中,裸子植物1科1属2种,被子植物52科158属317种,表明该地区植物种类贫乏。种子植物的区系成分复杂,划分为5个科分布区类型和9个属分布区类型,其中温带成分分布占绝对优势:温带科16科,占总科数的72.73%,温带属99属,占总属数的77.34%,说明本区系具有明显的温带性质。而热带成分仅有几个科属作为代表,表明本区系在发生发展过程中曾经历过与热带相联系的历史渊源。此外,特有性程度极低,没有中国特有科和特有属分布,证实了本区系植物的年轻性及其较短的演化发展历史。     

Reconstructing riverine paleo-flow regimes using subfossil insects (Coleoptera and Trichoptera): the application of the LIFE methodology to paleochannel sediments

Sub-fossil insect remains have the potential to characterise changing environmental conditions in both lentic and lotic water systems, however, relatively few studies have been undertaken in riverine environments. This paper uses sub-fossil caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera) and aquatic beetles (Coleoptera) to reconstruct river flow conditions for a large paleochannel (from multiple monoliths) using the Lotic invertebrate Index for Flow Evaluation (LIFE). Examination of the larval Trichoptera and Coleoptera remains indicated a marked change in the community and flow environment, as suggested by paleoLIFE scores within the profile of three of the monoliths examined. At the base of the channel the community was characterised by taxa indicative of high energy lotic habitats with predominantly mineral substrates (e.g. Trichoptera: Hydropsyche contubernalis and Brachycentrus subnubilis, Coleoptera: Elmis aenea and Esolus parallelepipedus). Within three of the monoliths there was a change in community composition to one indicative of a low energy backwater/lentic environment with abundant submerged and emergent vegetation (e.g. Trichoptera: Phryganea bipunctata and Limnephilus flavicornis, Coleoptera: Colymbetes fuscus and Hydrobius fuscipes). Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and loss of mass on ignition (LOI) indicated the presence of a strong environmental gradient within the data, associated with river flow. The utilisation of two aquatic insect orders provides clear evidence of temporal changes within the instream community and when combined with knowledge of ecological and habitat associations, allows differences between the two groups to be interpreted more clearly.     

新疆种子植物科的区系地理成分分析

对新疆种子植物区系及其科的组成和地理成分进行研究,结果表明：（1）新疆野生种子植物中科的优势现象很明显,种类超向于集中在少数科内。（2）科的地理成分方面,世界广布科占有很高的比例（35．0％）,说明新疆区系具有明显的过渡性;但各类温带分布科比例更大（52．0％）。（3）新疆区系的表征科有特殊性,如含有世界广布的藜科、十字花科、蓼科、石竹科等,这是与热带、亚热带区系的组成完全不同的;但其它表征科、优势科仍以温带科或主产温带的科为主。     

黄土高原山地森林群落植物区系特征与地理格局

本文以样地数据为基础,对黄土高原内11座山地森林群落的区系组成、联系、格局以及与气候因子的关系等方面进行了较为系统的分析,结果表明：(1) 研究区内森林群落物种丰富,353个样地共调查到维管植物108科473属1222种,其中被子植物93科447属1179种,裸子植物4科7属9种,蕨类植物11科19属34种。(2) 按区域和局地两个尺度统计显示,研究区内科、属分布区类型以“温带分布”特别是“北温带分布”为主,此特征在群落尺度上尤显突出。(3) 非度量多维度标度排序 (NMDS) 第一轴主要揭示各山地森林分布的典型海拔变化范围,第二轴则展示出各山地的地理纬度位置关系;系统聚类树同样体现出各山地间基于区系组成特征的地理空间联系与南北位置关系,并将各山地依区系组成特征划分为4组;经比较山地间最大Sørenson相似性系数知,贺兰山因地处区域西北边缘而与其他山地间区系联系最弱,反之太岳山与其他山地区系联系最强。(4) R/T值 (热带属与温带属比值) 线性回归模型解释了42.1%的数据变异,并揭示该值随年均温升高呈显著上升趋势,随着海拔升高则有显著下降趋势,但与年均降水量之间并无显著趋势。     

PREDICTING ABOVE-GROUND NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF TROPICAL RAINFORESTS FROM EVAPOTRANSPIRATION DATA

The relationship between above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and actual evapotranspiration (AE) has been previously shown by Rosenzweig (1968) to be significant for a variety of mainly temperate terrestrial ecosystems. Our study of ANPP and AE data from the humid tropics showed that AE remains a useful predictor of ANPP in tropical rainforest environments. However, we also noted that 80% of the tropical rainforest data points were depressed below Rosenzweig's original regression line. We attribute these lower-than-predicted ANPP values to transpiration losses and rainfall interception losses that do not result in a corresponding production of biomass.     

塔吉克斯坦种子植物区系分析

塔吉克斯坦区系位置特殊、物种独特丰富,研究其植物区系特点对于进一步全面了解中亚植物资源现状、起源及演化具有重要意义。通过文献搜集、野外调查和标本查阅,对塔吉克斯坦种子植物区系特点进行了分析。结果表明：塔吉克斯坦境内共有种子植物4 115种,隶属于110科864属,种子植物丰富、种类分布表现出多数种集中于少数科属中,同时单种及寡种科属多的两端分布的特点;植物区系主要表现为温带性质,但也受到热带植物区系的深远影响,区系成分复杂、过渡特征明显,特有属少。特有成分在种级水平上分化明显,种子植物区系性质表现出与所处自然地理条件的一致性。     

Projecting land-use change processes in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico

The objective of study was to explore short-term trends of processes that determine land-use change in Sierra Norte of Oaxaca (SNO), Mexico. Land use and land cover changes (LULCC) were estimated in a complex mosaic of vegetation in the SNO from 1980 to 2000, and projected them to 2020 through a Markovian model. SNO is highly vulnerable to climatic change according to a 2050 GCM scenario. However, 3% annual rate of tropical and temperate forest deforestation from agriculture and livestock encroachment, suggest the threat from land-use change is higher than that from climatic change for this study site. Productive land-use strategies are needed to reduce such high deforestation rates for tropical regions. Controlling deforestation would also reduce short-term effects of CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere. Because of the necessity to evaluate anthropogenic ecosystem changes, it is imperative to separate short-term influences such as deforestation, from long-term influences such as climatic change.     

Accuracy assessment of the Mexican National Forest Inventory map: A study in four ecogeographical areas

The accuracy of the Mexican National Forest Inventory (NFI) map is derived in four distinct ecogeographical areas, using an assessment design tailored for the project. A main achievement of the design was to integrate the high diversity of classes encompassed at the most detailed subcommunity level of the classification scheme within a cost‐controlled statistically sound assessment. A hybrid double sampling strategy was applied to the 2.5 million‐ha study area. A total of 5955 reference sites were verified against their NFI map label. The availability of detailed quasi‐synchronous reference data for the 2000 Landsat‐derived NFI and the high diversity of mapped classes allowed a careful thematic analysis on the selected regions, relevant for national extrapolation. Global accuracy estimates of 64–78 per cent were registered among the four ecogeographical areas (two with mainly temperate climate and the other two with mainly tropical climate), with the lower accuracy levels found in areas more densely covered with forests. According to the estimates, the NFI map tends to underestimate the presence of temperate forest (especially oak) and overestimate the presence of tropical forest in the areas investigated. The analysis of confusions reveals difficulties in unambiguously interpreting or labelling forests with secondary vegetation, herbaceous and/or shrub‐like vegetation as well as distinguishing between aquatic vegetation types. The design proved useful from the perspective of accuracy assessments of regional maps in biodiverse regions.     

Factors affecting the interpretation of caddisfly assemblages from Quaternary sediments

The use of assemblages of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in paleoecology has been explored over the past ca. 12 years. During this time, sites in North America, Great Britain and Europe have been studied and progress has been made in both the mechanics of identification and in the understanding of factors relevant to the interpretation of assemblages of this wholly aquatic group. Quaternary caddisfly fossils are abundant and usually well-preserved in waterlaid sediments. Individual larval sclerites can be identified by reference to shapes, textures, colour patterns muscle scar patterns and setal distributions. The flat frontoclypeus is particularly easily identified.Study of the biological and distributional data relevant to a caddisfly assemblage yields information at two levels. First the probable local habitat and second the climate can be described. This information is derived from both modern collections and the literature as the morphology of species, and hence it is assumed their environmental requirements, have not changed during the Quaternary. Comparisons with fossil assemblages of other plant and animal groups suggest that there are important factors to be considered in interpreting caddisfly assemblages, particularly those from sediments deposited during cold periods: for example, caddisflies may be slower to migrate than certain terrestrial insects, in particular the beetles (Coleoptera), and some glacial assemblages may therefore be dominated by hangers on. Lotic and lentic species also may migrate at different rates.Although caddisflies have not yet been fully exploited as paleoecological indicators, they have already contributed to our understanding of past environments and warrant much greater use.     

Microclimate of the nest and egg water loss of the Eider Somateria mollissima and other waterfowl in Spitsbergen

Temperature gradients in the nest and within the egg. nest humidity as well as eggshell conductance and rate of egg water loss of the Eider Somateria mollissima and other waterfowl were studied at Ny-Alesund. Spitsbergen (78°55'N latitude). These studies suggest a specific interrelationship between eggshell conductance and maintenance of an appropriate temperature and humidity environment of the nest, resulting in an egg water loss rate which is optimal for hatching success. In spite of low ambient temperatures of less than 3°C and very low absolute humidities of less than 4 torr (similar to those found in hot deserts). the nest's microclimate and rate of water loss were similar to those reported for nests and eggs in temperate climates.