Measuring species richness on sandy beach transects: extrapolative estimators and their implications for sampling effort

Species richness is a measure that is fundamental to many studies in ecology, and it is particularly important on sandy beaches, where it underlies patterns described by the broadly accepted swash exclusion hypothesis. However, its estimation in practice is problematic. This has led ecologists in other fields to adopt extrapolative estimators of species richness, which project the total number of species present in a habitat by adjusting upward the number of species observed by an amount related to the number of rare species encountered in the samples. In so doing, the species richness can be estimated, with confidence intervals, at any level of sampling effort. Despite the availability and advantages of these methods, beach ecologists have continued to use the observed species richness as a point estimate of biodiversity for beaches. Here, we employ a Monte Carlo resampling approach over a range of routine transect designs used to sample sandy beaches, and evaluate the performance of seven non-parametric extrapolative estimators for species richness relative to that of the more conventionally used observed species richness. We find that the first-order Jackknife estimator (Jack 1) is the least biased, most accurate and most consistent across sites. Employing this estimator would allow accurate estimation of species richness on short (tens of metres) stretches of beach without exceeding the acceptable levels of sampling effort (4–5 m²). Spreading this effort evenly over three across-shore transects, each with a minimum of 13 equally spaced levels seems appropriately efficient. Although a greater number of research studies is required to ascertain the generality of these results beyond the beaches we sampled, we tentatively recommend the application of our results in biodiversity surveys on sandy beaches.     

黄海夏季典型站位的底边界层动物

2002年8月25~26日,在黄海夏季冷水团区域内的抛锚站位(35°22′N,121°59′E),使用柱状界面采样器进行了昼夜连续取样,对底边界层动物的种类组成与昼夜丰度变化进行了研究,以获得对黄海底边界层动物的初步认识。共记录底边界层动物21种,隶属18科、19属。超底栖动物和中型浮游动物是黄海夏季底边界层动物的2个重要类群,主要种类有尖额真猛水蚤(Euterpina acutifrons)、挪威小毛猛水蚤(Microsetella norvegica)、异厚盖钩虾(Synchelidium miraculum)、双刺纺缍水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)和小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus),其丰度皆有明显的昼夜波动现象。以桡足类无节幼体为代表的小型浮游动物也是底边界层动物中不容忽视的类群之一。采集到5个黄海区的新记录物种:美丽猛水蚤(Nitocrasp.)、跛足猛水蚤(Mesochrasp.)、咸水剑水蚤(Halicyclopssp.)、掌刺梭剑水蚤(Lubbockia squillimana)和异厚盖钩虾(Synchelidi-um miraculum),显示出底边界层动物种类组成的特殊性。     

苏北海滨湿地互花米草地上生物量动态

在江苏盐城新洋港滩涂由海向陆建立样地:零星米草斑块(SAP)、稳定米草滩下边缘(SAFI)、2003年米草定居处(SAF03)、1989年米草定居处(SAF89),对互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)的生物量动态变化进行了研究。结果表明:1)除SAF03样地外,其他样地互花米草叶生物量随时间的推移都有不同程度的减少,SAF03叶生物量始终都显著高于其他样地(P<0.05);各样地茎和繁殖器官生物量均有所增加,繁殖前期SAFI处茎生物量增长最快,达18.97g.m2.d-1;离海越近繁殖器官生物量增加越大;11月份SAF89样地各器官生物量顺序为:叶>茎>繁殖器官,其他样地:茎>叶>繁殖器官。2)各次调查中,随着时间的推移各样地叶生物量分配减少,而茎生物量与繁殖器官生物量分配增多;由陆向海各样地叶生物量分配减少,而茎生物量与繁殖器官生物量分配增加。3)SAFI处互花米草地下/地上生物量的比值为2.39,极显著高于其他样地(P<0.01)。     

Temporal and spatial variability in shallow- and deep-water populations of the invasive Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea in the Western Mediterranean

The invasive green alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea represents an important threat to the diversity of Mediterranean benthic coastal ecosystems by interfering with native species and modifying benthic assemblages. The present study deals, for the first time, with the temporal and spatial variability of the biomass and phenology of C. racemosa considering both deep- and shallow-water populations. Two sampling depths (30 and 10 m) were sampled at three different rocky bottom sites every 3 months in the Archipelago of Cabrera National Park (Western Mediterranean). All morphometric variables analysed showed a spatial variation and temporal patterns depending on depth. Between depths, C. racemosa biomass, stolon length, number of fronds and frond length were usually significantly higher at deep-water populations, suggesting that C. racemosa grows better in deep-waters. Deep- and shallow-water populations displayed a high temporal variation although no evidence of seasonal patterns was found, in contrast with what has been reported by other authors. The sources of this variability are still unknown but probably both physical factors and differential herbivory pressures display a key role.     

赤潮生物种类特征光谱获取技术

较为系统地研究了赤潮生物水体反射率曲线获取方法。通过对 2类反射率反演方法得出的反射率曲线与实际反射率曲线进行比较 ,得出在不具备大气环境参数的情况下 ,经验线性法的反演结果与实际反射率曲线最接近的结论 ,并进一步对正常海水和赤潮生物水体的光谱特性进行分析 ,提取出赤潮生物水体的特征光谱。这是进行赤潮监测和识别的重要前提     

Analysis of the economic benefits associated with the recovery of threatened marine mammal species in the Canadian St. Lawrence Estuary

This paper examines Canadians' willingness to pay to recover the populations of three marine mammal species found in the St Lawrence Estuary. The valuation approach utilized a stated preference tool that is somewhat a hybrid between contingent valuation and a choice experiment with multiple species recovery program options and choices framed as referenda. Program options involved the use of a marine protected area and restrictions on whale watching and shipping industries. The estimated willingness to pay (WTP) for different levels of marine mammal recovery ranged from $77 to $229 per year per household and varied according to the species affected and the recovery program effort. A series of tests revealed that people would be willing to pay more for programs that contribute to greater increases in marine mammal populations, but the additional value of programs that improve a species status beyond the “at risk” threshold is relatively small.     

Protection of marine birds and turtles at St Brandon’s Rock,Indian Ocean,requires conservation of the entire atoll

A survey of seabirds and turtles at St Brandon’s Rock, 400 km north of Mauritius, was undertaken in 2010. We estimated that 1 084 191 seabirds comprising seven breeding species and excluding non-breeders were present at the archipelago and we counted 279 turtle tracks and nesting pits of green turtles Chelonia mydas. Hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata were also present. Analyses of 30 different islets that make up the atoll showed that the seabird species mostly partitioned their use of islets based on islet size, with four species preferring larger islets and two species preferring smaller islets. Alien species introduced historically are still present and other threats, such as shipwrecks, remain. We propose conservation and other measures that should adequately protect the birds, turtles and coral reef by treating the atoll as a system.     

Relationship between phytoplankton composition and environmental factors in the surface waters of southern South China Sea in early summer of 2009

Horizontal distributions of phytoplankton abundance,species composition as well as environmental factors were investigated in the surface waters of southern South China Sea(SCS) in early summer(May 16 to June 7) of 2009.In most areas of southern SCS,the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were very low and DIN/DIP ratios usually were lower than the Redfield N/P Ratio of 16:1.Nitrogen nutrients were significant lower in the upwelling region off Vietnam.A total of 144 taxa of phytoplankton were identified in the study area.The dominant genera were Prorocentrum,Gonyaulax,Gyrodinium,Scrippsiella and Chaetoceros,respectively.Spatial patterns of early-summer phytoplankton abundance and species composition should be mainly controlled by the upwelling off Vietnam and the discharge of Mekong River in the southern SCS.Diatoms dominated in the nutritious Mekong River Estuary or upwelling region off Vietnam;while dinoflagellates dominated in the oligotrophic pelagic region.The canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) indicates that most of diatoms favor higher levels of silicate and phosphorus,as well as lower temperature;while most of dinoflagellates favor the lower silicate and phosphorous and higher temperature.Correlation and CCA results indicate that silicate,nitrate and temperature were the most relevant environmental factors to regulate the horizontal pattern of early-summer phytoplankton in the surface waters of southern SCS.     

珠江口浮游幼虫的生态研究

根据2002—2003年珠江口12个航次的调查资料,分析探讨了不同调查时间和区域浮游幼虫的组成类型、丰度变化和环境因子的影响。以表层盐度(S)变化将调查海域划分成三个区域:I区(S<25)、II区(2530)。12个航次的调查结果显示:调查海域共出现浮游幼虫12个类型,隶属5个动物门,II区和III区的类型数一般高于I区,软体动物门和棘皮动物门的幼虫只出现在II区和III区。其中2002年7月(夏季)、2003年1月(冬季)和4月(春季)的3个大航次结果表明珠江口浮游幼虫的平均丰度为61ind/m3,三个区域的平均丰度比较为II区(124ind/m3)>I区(33ind/m3)>III区(27ind/m3),春夏季的丰度高于冬季。另外在I区进行了9个小航次调查的研究表明:I区浮游幼虫平均丰度较高,月份之间的丰度差别明显,不同站位之间也有差别。温度和食料是影响珠江口浮游幼虫丰度变化的主要因素。