Desert grassland canopy arthropod species richness: temporal patterns and effects of intense, short-duration livestock grazing

Arthropods living in the canopies of two woody shrub species (a sub-shrub (Gutierrezia sarothrae) and a large shrub (Prosopis glandulosa)) and perennial grasses plus associated herbaceous species, were sampled on 18, 0.5 hectare plots in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland for five consecutive years. Mesquite shrubs were removed from nine plots, six plots were grazed by yearling cattle in August and six plots were grazed in February for the last 3 years of the 5 year study. Arthropod species richness ranged between 154 and 353 on grasses, from 120 to 266 on G. sarothrae, and from 69 to 116 on P. glandulosa. There was a significant relationship between the number of families of insects on grass and G. sarothrae and growing season rainfall but species richness was not a function of growing season rainfall on any of the plants. Several of the arthropod families that were the most species rich in this grassland were found on all of the plants sampled, i.e. Salticid spiders, Bruchid and Curculionid beetles, Cicadellid and Psyllid homopterans, and ants (Formicidae). There were more species rich families that were shared by grasses and the sub-shrub G. sarothrae than with mesquite. The absence of a relationship between growing season rainfall and species richness was attributed to variation in life history characteristics of arthropods and to the non-linear responses of annual and perennial desert grassland plants to rainfall.There were no significant differences in insect family or species richness on any of the plant types as a result of removal of mesquite (P. glandulosa) from selected plots. Intense, short duration (24 h) grazing by livestock during in late summer resulted in reduced species richness in the grass-herb vegetation layer but had no effect on insect species richness on snakeweed or mesquite shrubs. Livestock grazing in winter had no effect on insect species richness on any of the vegetation sampled.     

土壤盐分特征对内陆盐沼盐生植物群落的影响

为研究内陆盐沼植物群落的分布对土壤盐分的响应特征,选取鄂尔多斯盐湖盐沼区作为研究区,筛选了肉质耐盐植物群落,苔草植物群落和禾草植物群落3类典型植物群落,开展了土壤含水量、pH、电导率以及Na_⁺,K_⁺,Mg2_⁺,Ca_{^{2 +}},Cl_^-、SO_4^2-、CO_3^2-和HCO_3^-的测定,分析了区内典型植物群落对土壤水盐因子的响应规律。探讨了3类植物群落之间土壤因子含量的差异性;采用相关性分析和CCA分析,评价了3类植物群落多样性及物种分布随土壤因子的变化规律。结果表明,区内3类植物群落中,土壤盐分含量表现为肉质耐盐植物群落最高,苔草植物群落最低,禾草植物群落居中;植物多样性与土壤中含量最高的Na_⁺和SO_4^2-的相关性最显著;植物分布同时受到土壤盐分、水分和pH的显著影响。研究结果可为鄂尔多斯盐湖区土壤盐渍化改良和植被恢复提供理论支撑。     

2007—2011年春季珠江口中东部水域水母研究

根据2007-2011年每年春季在珠江口中东部水域6个站位的调查数据,对该水域的水母种类组成及其数量变化进行了研究。结果表明:调查水域春季水母种类组成上以软水母为主,总种类数在2007-2009年略有下降(平均为13种),2010年下降明显,仅为7种,而2011年大幅增至18种。软水母和栉水母在水母总丰度中占有较大比例,2007-2010年水母平均丰度为91.77ind/m3,2011年水母数量急剧上升,高达1185.07ind/m3,其中河口半咸淡水种弗洲指突水母(Blackfordia virginica)和近岸暖水种球型侧腕水母(Pleurobrachia globosa)增加尤为明显;浮游动物总丰度中水母所占比例从2007年的0.5%上升至2011年的51.1%。地理分布上,水母密集区主要位于调查区域的中北部;环境因素如表层叶绿素a、桡足类丰度、地形和潮汐等对水母的集群现象有影响。     

The Caulerpa racemosa invasion: a critical review

Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is a marine Chlorophyta introduced into the Mediterranean Sea from south-western Australia. Since 1990, it has been invading the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands, raising ecological problems. Although this invasion event can be considered as one of the most serious in the history of species introduced into the Mediterranean Sea, C. racemosa has not triggered as much attention as the famous "killer alga"Caulerpa taxifolia. The aim of the present study was: (i) to summarize the current state of knowledge with regard to the distribution, the various biological and ecological characteristics of the introduced C. racemosa and its impact on the Mediterranean coastal environment; (ii) to discuss the various hypotheses regarding the explanation for its rapid and successful spread; (iii) to investigate the disparity in the treatment of C. racemosa and Caulerpa taxifolia invasions; and (iv) to outline future research needs.     

Abiotic conditions, neighbour interactions, and the distribution of Stipa tenacissima in a semiarid mountain range

Abiotic conditions and interactions among plants are important factors determining plant geographical distributions. With the aim of analyzing the distribution of a perennial grass species in a semiarid mountain range, we experimentally tested above- and belowground effects of shrubs on the grass along a gradient of aridity. We measured growth, physiology and reproductive output of Stipa tenacissima tussocks surrounded by intact or manipulated neighbour shrubs. Performance of Stipa improved under mesic conditions, but the net effect of shrubs on Stipa did not change along the gradient. Belowground, we did not find significant effects, suggesting belowground resource partitioning between tussocks and shrubs. Aboveground net effects of shrubs on Stipa were generally positive and independent from abiotic conditions. The improved performance of Stipa at the mesic end of gradient suggests that its absolute physiological optimum lies out of its realized range. Overall, the arid end of the geographical distribution of Stipa in this mountain range may be determined by environmental severity. The coincidence of the upper limit of Stipa with the lower tree limit suggests that the more mesic end of Stipa distribution may depend on other factors; most likely competition with trees, which, unlike shrubs, could be excluding Stipa tenacissima from forests.     

Risk formulation for the sonic effects of offshore wind farms on fish in the EU region

In 2007, European leaders agreed to source 20% of their energy needs from renewable energy; since that time, offshore wind farms have been receiving attention in the European Union (EU). In 2008, the European Community submitted a proposal to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in order to combat marine noise pollution. In consideration of these facts, the present paper aims to deduce a preliminary hypothesis and its formulation for the effect of offshore wind farm noise on fish. The following general picture is drawn: the short-term potential impact during pre-construction; the short-term intensive impact during construction; and the physiological and/or masking effects that may occur over a long period while the wind farm is in operation. The EU’s proposal to UNEP includes noise databases that list the origins of man-made sounds; it is advisable that offshore wind farms should be listed in the noise databases in order to promote rational environment management.     

Distribution and reproductive behavior of penguins on Ardley Island and their environmental impact factors

During the 2006/07 Antarctic summer, the species population, distribution and reproductive behavior of penguins in areas near the Great Wall Station were investigated. Five species of penguin were recorded: gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), adelie penguin (P. adeliae), chinstrap penguin (P. antarctica), King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Emperor penguin (A. forsteri). The first three species bred locally, while the other two species were observed occasionally. Ardley Island is one of the most important breeding areas for penguins. After the breeding season of 2006/07, there were a total of about 17 234 penguins and the breeding success rate was 0.40-141. Comparing with historical data, changes in penguin species populations and distribution were analyzed, and their relationships with the environment, climate change and human activity were investigated.     

Theoretical Clues for Mode Identification - Instability Ranges and Rotational Splitting Patterns

Frequency spectra of unstable modes for typical models of Cephei, SPBand Scuti variables are presented. Comparison of theoretical andobserved instability ranges allows to constrain possible parameters of thestellar models. As an example, models of ² Tau are considered. Mainuncertainties in the determination of the theoretical frequency ranges for Sct variables are due to unsatisfactory treatment of convection.The structure of rotationally split multiplets for the low-order modesexcited in Sct stars is discussed. The rotational coupling betweenclose modes of spherical harmonic degree, , differing by 2, cansignificantly disturb the frequency spectrum.     

Saisonales Vorkommen von Arten der Saprolegniales und Leptomitales im Auesee und in der Fulda in Kassel (Hessen) unter Berücksichtigung fischpathogener Arten

Seasonal Occurrence of Species of Saprolegniales and Leptomitales in Lake Aue and the River Fulda in Kassel (Hesse) with Special Consideration of Fish Pathogenic Species In this study, we examined the occurrence of species of aquatic Oomycetes of Saprolegniales und Leptomitales in Lake Aue and the river Fulda in Kassel (Hesse, Germany) with special consideration of fish pathogenic species. We monthly collected water samples of both water bodies from July 2003 to June 2004. The baiting method was used to gain an insight into the specific seasonal occurrence of aquatic Oomycetes. Some species show a seasonal periodicity. Nine of 11 species of Saprolegniales isolated from the two water bodies, and Leptomitus lacteus (Roth) C. Agardh, one of the two species of Leptomitales, were already documented on fish according to references. Additionally, 7 of 10 species could according to references already be detected on fish species present in the two water bodies. Simultaneous measurements of limnological‐chemical parameters were done during the sampling of water for the isolation of aquatic Oomycetes. The results of some measurements, concerning the river Fulda, were additionally compared with the predetermined guideline values and limit values of water bodies of fish of the “Cyprinid region”.     

Vegetation diversity and its application in sandy desert revegetation on Tibetan Plateau

The dry and cold Tibetan Plateau is, by its nature, sensitive to desertification, and now human impacts and overexploitation makes things worse. One of the most important things involved in combating desertification is to stabilize mobile sandy land and facilitate revegetation. A study was conducted on shifting sand dunes of Tibetan Plateau to investigate the relationships among sand control, vegetation restoration and diversity dynamics of seed plant species. It was found that a positive correlation lay between sand stabilizing shrubs (Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica) and Leymus secalinus, a species of dominant and perennial grass in well-restored vegetation, but a negative correlation occurred between those shrubs and Agriophyllum arenarium indicator of shifting dunes. Secondly, sand stabilization facilitated revegetation, and total cover and cover of L. secalinus rose continuously from the beginning of restoration, but diversity indices showed a complex tendency. Based on these results, it was reasoned that on alpine shifting dunes of desertified regions, continual sand drifting caused by gales was the limiting factor for plant to survival. If sand barriers were established, sand drifting would be effectively controlled, then many native plant species could colonize shifting dunes gradually, so the process of revegetation was facilitated.