Benthic community and biological trait composition in respect to artificial coastal defence structures: A study case in the northern Adriatic Sea

Biological Traits Analysis (BTA) is a method for addressing ecological functioning based on traits exhibited by members of biological assemblages. This study explores and compares species and biological trait patterns on either side (landward and seaward) of coastal breakwater structures in northwestern Adriatic Sea (Italy), with the aim of giving insights and knowledge for management of sandy beach systems affected by coastal development. Eight ecological traits of 96 benthic species were considered. Taxon composition evidenced differences in benthic assemblages across time and exposure: landward and seaward communities shared less than 50% of the total number of species. BTA suggested a no-management effect in the functioning of benthic assemblages. Dominant traits modalities were deposit-feeding, short life, small body size, short life span, iteroparity, gonocorism, with plankto-planktotrophic larvae. The results of BTA highlighted similarities and stability in trait composition contrary to species composition, suggesting a possible persistence in benthic functioning despite the occurrence of species replacements. To best of my knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to investigate the effects of a management measure (submerged shore-parallel barriers with groynes) in a shallow marine system by means of BTA.     

Topographic thresholds for plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes

Soil erosion plays an important role in plant colonization of semi‐arid degraded areas. In this study, we aimed at deepening our knowledge of the mechanisms that control plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes in east Spain by (i) determining topographic thresholds for plant colonization, (ii) identifying the soil properties limiting plant establishment and (iii) assessing whether colonizing species have specific plant traits to cope with these limitations. Slope angle and aspect were surrogates of erosion rate and water availability, respectively. Since soil erosion and water availability can limit plant establishment and both can interact in the landscape, we analysed variations in colonization success (vegetation cover and species number) with slope angle on 156 slopes, as a function of slope aspect. After determining slope angle thresholds for plant colonization, soil was sampled near the threshold values for soil analysis [nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), water holding capacity]. Plant traits expressing the plant colonizing capacity were analysed both in the pool of species colonizing the steep slopes just below the threshold and in the pool of species inhabiting gentler slopes and absent from the slopes just below the threshold. Results show that the slope angle threshold for plant colonization decreased from north to south. For the vegetation cover, threshold values were 63°, 50°, 46°, 41° for the north, east, west and south slope aspect classes, respectively, and 65°, 53°, 49° and 45° for the species richness and the same aspect classes. No differences existed in soil properties at slope angle threshold values among slope aspects and between slope positions (just below and above the threshold) within slope aspect classes. This suggests that variations between slope aspect classes in the slope angle threshold result from differences in the colonizing capacity of plants which is controlled by water availability. Long‐distance dispersal and mucilage production were preferably associated with the pool of colonizing species. These results are discussed in the perspective of a more efficient ecological restoration of degraded semi‐arid ecosystems where soil erosion acts as an ecological filter for plant establishment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三峡库区近30年土地利用时空变化特征分析

利用三峡库区1975年、1987年、1995年、2000年和2005年的遥感影像数据,提取各期土地利用图。以各期土地利用图为基础图件,利用G IS技术,分析了三峡库区各期土地利用类型的数量、空间分布及变化趋势,分析表明库区的耕地、林地和草地都在减少,库区近30年建设用地和河流水面的增加最为明显。同时引入土地利用变化的景观特征指数、土地利用变化速度、土地利用程度指数来总结三峡库区近30年来土地利用变化的主要时空变化特征。采用多种特征指数相结合的研究方法,有利于了解三峡库区土地利用变化的特征,可以进一步指导库区的土地利用规划,为库区的生态环境保护提供参考。     

扁玉螺(Neverita didyma)表型性状对体重和软体部重的影响效应分析

采用相关分析和通径分析的方法,研究了扁玉螺的表型形态性状对体重和软体部重的影响。随机抽取2龄扁玉螺100只,分别测定其壳宽、壳高、壳顶至胼胝高、体高、厣长、厣宽、体重、软体部重共8项性状参数,并分别计算了各性状间的相关系数,以及以表型性状为自变量对体重和软体部重作因变量的通径系数和决定系数。结果表明,各表型性状与体重、软体部重之间的相关系数均达到极显著水平(P0.01)。壳宽对体重和软体部重的直接效应均为最大,对二者的决定程度也最高,是影响体重和软体部重的最主要因素;而厣宽、壳顶至胼胝高和体高的直接作用较小,它们主要通过壳宽的间接作用影响体重和软体部重。因此,对壳宽的直接选择可有效地增加体重和软体部重,对壳顶至胼胝高、厣宽和体高的选择也有助于增加扁玉螺的重量。     

马氏珠母贝黄壳色家系的生长、壳色分离及总抗氧化能力比较

以马氏珠母贝(Pinctada fucata martensii)黄壳色作为选育指标构建了黄壳家系,对其4个生长性状和黄壳色性状分离比进行了统计分析,并测定了黄壳家系中黄壳、褐壳色个体不同组织中的总抗氧化能力(TAC)。结果发现:黄壳色性状能遗传并发生分离,其分离不完全符合孟德尔遗传分离定律;褐壳色亲本不会产生黄壳色子代,推测褐壳色是纯合子;第一代黄壳家系5、7月龄贝仅壳宽值显著小于褐壳家系(P<0.05),壳高、壳长、总质量差异不显著, 11月龄贝仅壳长和壳宽值显著小于褐壳家系, 14、20月龄贝的壳高、壳长、壳宽、总质量这4个生长性状均极显著小于褐壳家系(P<0.01);在第一代6个黄壳家系内,黄壳、褐壳色个体的4个生长性状差异不显著;黄壳色贝在足、心、性腺中的TAC显著低于褐壳色贝(P<0.05);在鳃、闭壳肌、消化腺组织中TAC高于褐壳色贝,但差异不显著。     

基于结构面性状对岩体力学性质响应的模拟研究

为研究结构面性状对锦屏大奔流料场边坡岩体性质的影响,在对该边坡砂岩进行室内三轴压缩试验的基础上,开展含4组不同结构面性状岩体的力学模拟测试,最后对该边坡岩体的开挖进行数值模拟。试验结果表明,岩样破坏过程可以分为4个典型的阶段: 弹性变形阶段,屈服阶段,残余强度阶段及塑性流动阶段。随着围压的增大,岩石破坏所需偏应力逐渐增大,且岩石逐渐表现出延性特征。结构面性状模拟结果表明,含软弱充填结构面比不含者对岩体力学性质影响(弱化)大,有倾角结构面比无倾角结构面对岩体性质影响较大,大倾角结构面总体上比小倾角的影响大,软弱充填厚度对岩体内摩擦角影响较大。实例模拟结果表明,开挖卸荷使得边坡后缘岩体产生卸荷回弹变形,产生X向拉伸位移,煌斑岩脉的存在使得塑性区域沿此软弱带发展,开挖第8步时,塑性区贯通,边坡发生失稳。研究结果对陡高边坡岩体开挖的稳定性评价具有一定指导意义。     

拖网选择性对鱼类表型性状的选择作用研究

参照渔业生物学、渔业资源解析学、数量遗传学等有关理论模型,并应用数值模拟方法,对长期选择性捕捞（重点为渔具选择性）是否参与造成了渔业资源的生物学变化（体长、性成熟等）进行某些基础性探索。设计了一个具有一定体长遗传特征的模拟鱼类种群,并利用一种具有固定选择性参数的拖网对其进行长期捕捞。结果表明,多年的持续的捕捞压力使得模拟种群中鱼类体长逐渐减小,减小的幅度随开发率的增大而增大,而终止捕捞后种群的体长并没有发生恢复的迹象,说明这种变化很可能伴随种群遗传的变化,具有自然不可逆性。     

不同演替阶段白刺灌丛沙堆土壤因子与叶功能性状关系研究

植物功能性状与环境之间的关系是功能性状研究的重点,环境因子驱使植物功能性状发生变化,进而推动群落发生演替.本研究以民勤不同演替阶段(发育阶段、稳定阶段、衰退阶段、严重衰退阶段)白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)灌丛沙堆为研究对象,分析不同演替阶段白刺叶功能性状差异及其与土壤因子的关系,旨在揭示白刺对干旱荒漠...     

日本囊对虾(Marsupenaeus japonicus)秋繁同生群仔虾不同耐干露性能群体间的形态表型差异

于水温(18.0±1.0)?C、盐度20、p H 8.1±0.2条件下,以日本囊对虾秋繁同生群仔虾[总长(7.643±0.639)mm]为实验对象,以离水干露为胁迫因子,在确认其离水干露160min内的复水成活率为100%和离水干露240min时的复水存活率略低于5%后,借助显微扫描像素测量技术和多元分析方法定量研究了A、B、C、D、E实验群体(依次为干露处理160—180、180—200、200—220、220—240min时段内的死亡群体和干露处理240min时的存活群体)间形态表型特征的差异。结果表明:(1)在所涉15项形态性状中,各实验群体间均无显著差异(P0.05)的性状多达10项,依次为第一触角柄长、额剑长、眼径、第一腹节长、第二腹节长、第三腹节长、第四腹节长、第五腹节长、尾节长和尾节高;(2)在所涉17项形态比例指标中,各实验群体间均无显著差异(P0.05)的指标仅为3项,依次为头胸甲长/总长、头胸甲高/头胸甲长和尾节高/尾节长,群体间的欧氏距离均达到极显著水平(P0.01),且有随耐干露性能差异的增大而呈显著增大的趋势;(3)经主成分分析,提取到的4个特征值均大于1的主成分,累计贡献率达91.018%,其中第1主成分的贡献率高达57.974%,其载荷绝对值大于0.5的主要变量占形态比例指标总数的64.706%;(4)将A、B、C、D实验群体统归为干露处理淘汰群,E实验群体定义为干露处理选留群。采用逐步判别法,所建的Fisher分类函数方程组可较清晰地区分淘汰群和选留群个体,其中选留群个体的判别准确率P1、P2分别为100%和84.75%,淘汰群个体的判别准确率P1、P2分别为82%和100%,两者综合判别准确率为91%。