Modelling the spatial distribution of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), sole (Solea solea) and thornback ray (Raja clavata) in UK waters for marine management and planning

Species distribution maps are needed for ecosystem-based marine management including the development of marine spatial plans. If such maps are based on predictive models then modelling procedures should aim to maximise validation success, and any uncertainty in the predictions needs to be made explicit. We developed a predictive modelling approach to produce robust maps of the distributions of selected marine species at a regional scale. We used 14 years of survey data to map the distributions of plaice, sole and thornback ray in three hydrographic regions comprising parts of the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and the English Channel with the help of the hybrid technique regression kriging, which combines regression models with geostatistical tools. For each species–region combination we constructed logistic Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) based on presence–absence data using the environmental variables: depth, bottom temperature, bed shear stress and sediment type, as predictors. We selected GLMs using the mean squared error of prediction (MSEP) estimated by cross-validation then conducted a geostatistical analysis of the residuals to incorporate spatial structure in the predictions. In general, we found that species occurrence was positively related to shallow areas, a bed shear stress of between 0 and 1.5 N/m², and the presence of sandy sediment. Predicted species occurrence probabilities were in good agreement with survey observations. This modelling framework selects environmental models based on predictive ability and considers the effect of spatial autocorrelation on predictions, together with the simultaneous presentation of observations, associated uncertainties, and predictions. The potential benefit of these distribution maps to marine management and planning is discussed.     

样线法在北方基岩性海岛植被调查中的应用效果评价 ——以北长山岛为例

植被是海岛生态系统的重要组成部分。由于海岛陆地环境与大陆的差异性,现有的陆域植被调查方法不能完全适用于海岛植被。亟须结合现有成熟的陆地植被调查方法,选取不同类型的海岛,对调查方法中的关键环节进行实地测试,积累数据进行统计分析,以得到适用于海岛特殊地理环境海岛植被调查技术方法。文章针对植被调查中的样线法,以北长山岛两种不同面积的调查区域为例,对比分析不同样线设置方法,明确在该岛屿何种坡向、坡位,何种类型植物群落中设置样线,以及设置多长的样线才能够较为完整地代表该调查区域的植物物种丰富度,同时降低大量的调查时间,最终确定最优的海岛样线设置原则,为海岛植被群落调查中样线的有效选择提供科学依据。     

岭谷组合地形的植被空间变异性对比及成因

滇西南山地纵向排列着老别山、邦马山、无量山、哀牢山,其对气候因子及植被生态的影响一直是我国山地生态学的主要研究内容之一.采用moran 系数(MC)度量了植被主要气假因子的空间自相关程度,通过构建半变异数研究了EVI各向异性及其气候因子的空间变异特征.结果显示:4山地气候因子的空间分异特征与地形走向吻合,表现出南-北方向的自相关程度较大,东-西方向自相关程度最小,表明山地延伸方向上"通道"作用明显而山地排列方向上"阻隔"作用显著;哀牢山和老别山的"阻隔"作用较大、影观异质性复杂,邦马山和无量山的"阻隔"作用较小、景观变化方向性不鲜明,各纵向山地的"通道-阻隔"作用与各山地走向、规模大小密切     

宽带波浪载荷下海洋结构物内应力范围及疲劳损伤分析

研究短期海况中海洋结构物在宽带波浪载荷作用下交变应力过程中的应力范围的概率分布及结构疲劳损伤问题.首先从应力的功率谱密度出发,利用小波变换作为工具,对应力过程进行模拟.然后用雨流计数法识别出应力过程中对结构造成疲劳损伤的应力范围,并用Weibull分布对应力范围的分布进行了拟合;最后给出了应力范围服从Weibull分布时结构疲劳损伤的计算方法.     

中国岩石圈三维结构雏型

根据岩石圈的流变习性,可以将中国岩石圈分成3层,即:弹性上地壳、塑性下地壳和岩石圈地幔.它们的构造各不相同,并且各层间呈现复杂的关系.在新疆地区,上地壳推覆叠置形成以三山四盆为特点的盆山构造,驮伏在一系列东西走向的条带状背型构造与向型构造的下地壳之上.在强烈隆升中的西藏地区,它的周边是差异隆升,但它的腹部地区的弹性上地壳完整未遭破坏.这是因为它的腹部的下地壳和岩石圈地幔发生局部熔融,上地壳被局部熔融的下地壳和岩石圈地幔顶托,以液压的方式整体抬升.华北地区,则是软流圈上升破坏了岩石圈地幔,形成新生地幔与残留地幔并存的蘑菇云岩石圈地幔构造.并由于软流圈的上升,使地壳拉张减薄形成裂谷盆地.中国大陆下除了东北吉辽地区太平洋板块向大陆俯冲外,东部其他地区都没有发现太平洋板块俯冲的证据.中生代以来中国东部发生的岩石圈巨变不是太平洋板块向中国大陆的俯冲而造成的,而是软流圈物质上涌的结果.因此,中国大陆当今的构造动力,是西部由印度板块俯冲推挤和东部东亚-西太平洋软流圈上升构成的二元系统.这两个动力系统的分界是南北地震带.在南北地震带以西整体处在压缩环境中:南北地震带以东,则处在拉张环境中.正是由于应力场由压缩转变成拉张产生的剪应力造成了南北地震带.华北地区所以成为地震活动地区是因为它的岩石圈地幔已被强烈的改造成为蘑菇云构造.热流上升,弹性层急剧减薄,弹性极限下降所致.     

PALEONTOLOGY

正20140961 Zhang Linna(Graduate University,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China);Fan Junxuan The Applications of Species Distribution Models in Palaeontology(Acta Palaeontologica Sinica,ISSN0001-6616,CN32-1188/Q,52(2),2013,p.146-160,7     

Impact of litter quality and soil nutrient availability on leaf decomposition rate in a semi-arid grassland of Northeast China

It was hypothesized that litter with higher N concentration would decompose faster than that with lower N concentration and that increased soil nutrient availability would stimulate litter decomposition. To examine the interspecific differences in decomposition rate of leaf litter in relation with differences in litter chemistry and soil nutrient availability, senescent leaves of four species Pennisetum flaccidum, Artemisia scoparia, Chenopodium acuminatum and Cannabis sativa, and soil samples with different fertilization treatments (no fertilization, N, P, and N + P fertilizations, respectively) were collected from a sandy grassland in Northeast China and incubated under laboratory conditions. The decomposition rate of leaf litter was determined by measuring the CO₂ emission during decomposition of litter. We found remarkable interspecific differences in leaf decomposition rates. Moreover, rates of litter decomposition at different incubation stages were correlated with different litter quality indices. The rate of litter decomposition was positively correlated with initial litter N concentration in the initial stage of the incubation, whereas it was negatively correlated with litter N and P concentrations in the late stage. Responses of litter decomposition to soil nutrient availability differed among species. Our results suggest that both indirect changes in litter quality through shifts of species composition/dominance and direct changes in soil nutrient availability under nutrient addition conditions could affect litter decomposition and consequently C and nutrient cycling of grassland ecosystems.     

Comparing biodiversity between protected savanna and adjacent non-protected farmland in the southern Kalahari

In this study we investigated the effect of different land use options (wildlife versus livestock) on species richness of plants and reptiles in the protected Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) versus adjacent non-protected farmland within the same savanna habitat type (Aoub dune veld) in the southern Kalahari, South Africa. Our results show that both plant and reptile species richness as well as plant cover and reptile abundance was significantly higher in the protected KTP than in the non-protected farmland. The higher proportion of shrub but lower proportions of perennial grass cover, herb cover, and herb species richness in the farmland can be explained by higher stocking rates and the differences in feeding behaviour between native wild ungulates (e.g. Antidorcas marsupialis, Oryx gazella) and livestock (mainly sheep). The reptile’s prey availability and microhabitats (perennial grass tussocks and rodent burrows) for thermoregulation and protection against predators were significantly lower in the farmland. To conclude, our results clearly show that long term effects of different land use options (wildlife in protected KTP versus extensive livestock production in the non-protected farmland) even within the same habitat type have led to significant changes in vegetation composition, availability of microhabitat structures and in the reptile community.     

Spatial patterns of the soil seed bank and extant vegetation across the dry Minjiang River valley in southwest China

The medium-scale spatial patterns of soil seed banks (SSBs) and extant vegetation and the roles of abiotic factors are poorly understood. We selected the dry Minjiang River valley of southwest China to investigate SSB structure and corresponding extant vegetation in a medium-scale size (200-230 km long, 3-4 km wide) at eight sites across the valley using a germination method and field surveys. We found that, there was low seed density and species number in SSB and less coverage and litter thickness for community in extant vegetation at central sites compared with transitional sites across the dry valley; Quercus spp. occurred frequently in extant vegetation at transitional sites, while Caryopteris spp., Jasminum spp., Rabdosia parvifolia, Sophora davidii, Campylotropis spp., and Bauhinia faberi var. Microphylla was present frequently at central sites; Carex spp. and Artemisia spp. occurred frequently in SSB at transitional sites, while Ajania spp., Poa spp., and Fagopyrum caudatum was present more frequently at central sites. Hierarchical cluster analysis and Kendall’s correlation showed that the spatial variation of both SSB and extant vegetation had significant correlation with rainfall and air evaporation.     

Living on the edge? - On the thermobiology and activity pattern of the large herbivorous desert lizard Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis Blanford, 1875 at Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area, Saudi Arabia

Field active body temperatures (T_b) and operative temperatures (T_e) were assessed in a population of Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis at Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area, Saudi Arabia. In summer T_b ranged between 23.2 and 47.2 °C, in winter between 23.0 and 45.1 °C and in spring between 25.5 and 45.9 °C. There is a significant difference between respective T_b and T_e distributions which suggests that U. a. microlepis is an active thermoregulator. Above ground activity is very variable between seasons, with the highest activity level in spring. In winter the animals showed an unimodal activity profile. In spring and summer the lizards exhibit bimodal activity profiles with afternoon activity being generally lower than morning activity levels. Species distribution models were calculated to estimate the future impact of global warming on this taxon. Estimates on the basis of temperature data suggest that the range size on the Arabian Peninsula might be stable but with a remarkable decrease of environmental suitability of up to 70-80%. Based on a synthesis of thermo-ecological data and species distribution models we consider climate warming as a potential threat to the survival of the species.