Response of snails and slugs to fragmentation of lowland forests in NW Germany

Habitat fragmentation is a major cause for species loss, but its effect on invertebrates with low active dispersal power, like terrestrial gastropods, has rarely been studied. Such species can not cross a hostile habitat matrix, for which the predictions of island theory, such as positive relations between species richness and patch size, should apply. In order to test this prediction, we studied gastropod species diversity by assessing gastropod assemblage characteristics from 35 sites in 19 fragments of deciduous old-growth forests in the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany. Assemblages differed between larger (≥700 ha) and smaller forests (<400 ha), those of large forests held a higher percentage of forest species. Although α-diversity was similar between the two forest size classes, small forests often comprised matrix species, resulting in a higher β-diversity. Edge effects on the species richness of matrix species were noticeable up to 250 m into the forest. Hierarchical partitioning revealed that distance to disturbances (external edge, internal edges like roads) explained most assemblage variables, whereas forest size and woodland cover within a 1 km radius from the sites explained only a few assemblage variables. Densities of two forest-associated species, Discus rotundatus and Arion fuscus, decreased with forest size. Yet, forest size was positively correlated with richness of typical forest species and densities of Limax cinereoniger. The latter species seems to need forests of >1,000 ha, i.e., well above the size of most fragments. In conclusion, the prediction is valid only for forest species. The response to fragmentation is species specific and seems to depend on habitat specialization and macroclimatic conditions. Jean-Pierre Maelfait: Deceased.     

The significance of meandering channel morphology on the diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates in a lowland river in Japan

• 1. Many rivers and streams across the world have been channelized for various purposes. Channel cross‐sections of meandering rivers are asymmetrical and have cross‐sectional diversity in their physical environment; cross‐sections of a channelized river are typically trapezoidal and have little cross‐sectional diversity, both in physical and ecological conditions. Several programmes to restore stream meanders have been undertaken to improve river ecosystems degraded by channelization. However, the association between diversification in the physical environment due to meander restoration and the macroinvertebrate community structure is poorly known.
• 2. This study of a lowland river in Japan assessed how the cross‐sectional diversity of the physical environment changed with restoration of a meander in a channelized river, and how the macroinvertebrate communities responded to the changes in physical habitat variation. Comparisons were made between the macroinvertebrate communities of a channelized reach, the restored meandering reach, and a natural meandering reach.
• 3. Natural meandering and restored meandering reaches showed higher cross‐sectional diversity in physical variables and total taxon richness across a reach than did the channelized reach. Almost all taxa observed in the natural and restored meandering reaches were concentrated in the shallowest marginal habitats near the banks. Shear velocity increasing with water depth had a negative association with macroinvertebrate density and richness.
• 4. This study demonstrated that the shallow river bed along the inside of bends formed point bars that provided a highly stable substrate, a suitable habitat for macroinvertebrates in a lowland river. It is concluded that meander restoration could be an effective strategy for in‐stream habitat restoration in lowland meandering rivers.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of cattle grazing on ecology and habitat of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis)

Dramatic declines in the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, a genetically unique population of small, burrowing rabbits in Northwestern United States, are likely the combined results of habitat degradation and fragmentation, disease, and predation. A critical component of pygmy rabbit habitat includes big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), which constitutes 82-99% of their winter diet and 10-50% of their summer diet. Sagebrush also forms the bulk of hiding cover around burrow sites. Across the range of pygmy rabbits, sagebrush habitat is grazed extensively by cattle. However, grazing has unknown effects on pygmy rabbits inhabiting the remaining, fragmented shrub-steppe habitat. We evaluated the effects of four grazing treatments on the distribution of pygmy rabbit burrows, diets of pygmy rabbits, and quality and quantity of vegetation at Sagebrush Flat in central Washington. Ungrazed areas contained significantly more burrows per unit area than did grazed areas. Vegetation composition and structure differed little among treatments in early summer before annual grazing by cattle. However, cattle grazing in late summer through winter removed about 50% of the grass cover, and reduced the nutritional quality (e.g., increased fiber and decreased protein) of the remaining grass. Although pygmy rabbits ate <2% grasses in winter, grasses and forbs comprised 53% of late summer diets. Because these endangered rabbits avoided grazed areas, removing cattle grazing from key habitat locations may benefit efforts to restore this rabbit in Washington.     

Responses of Chilean forest birds to anthropogenic habitat fragmentation across spatial scales

Although it is recognized that anthropogenic forest fragmentation affects habitat use by organisms across multiple spatial scales, there is uncertainty about these effects. We used a hierarchical sampling design spanning three spatial scales of habitat variability (landscape > patch > within-patch) and generalized mixed-effect models to assess the scale-dependent responses of bird species to fragmentation in temperate forests of southern Chile. The abundances of nine of 20 bird species were affected by interactions across spatial scales. These interactions resulted in a limited effect of within-patch habitat structure on the abundance of birds in landscapes with low forest cover, suggesting that suitable local habitats, such as sites with dense understory cover or large trees, are underutilized or remain unused in highly fragmented landscapes. Habitat specialists and cavity-nesters, such as tree-trunk foragers and tapaculos, were most likely to exhibit interactions across spatial scales. Because providing additional sites with dense understory vegetation or large habitat trees does not compensate the negative effect of the loss of forest area on bird species, conservation strategies should ensure the retention of native forest patches in the mixed-use landscapes.     

Graph theory in action: evaluating planned highway tracks based on connectivity measures

Maintaining connectivity among local populations in a fragmented landscape is crucial for the survival of many species. For isolated habitat patches, stochastic fluctuations and reduced gene flow can lead to high risk of extinction. The connectivity of the landscape is especially crucial for the carabid species living in the fragmented forests of the Bereg plain (NE Hungary and W Ukraine) because a highway will be constructed through the plain. Our purpose is to (1) evaluate the impacts of three possible highway tracks, (2) suggest a solution that is realistic with less impact on connectivity than other plans and (3) discuss how to decrease the disadvantageous effects of each track. Our results, based on a network analysis of landscape graph of patches and ecological corridors, indicate that the intended highway could have deleterious consequences on forest-living carabids. Relatively simple actions, like the establishment of stepping stones, could compensate for the loss of habitat connectivity and promote the survival of carabids, or minor modifications in one possible track could diminish its adverse effects. While many other studies would be needed for a comprehensive assessment of the biotic impact of the highway, we provide an example on the usefulness of network analysis for land use management. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

物种优先效应对植物群落构建的影响及其生态恢复意义

植物群落构建是退化生态系统恢复中的关键生态学过程,但如何定向培育植物群落以加快生态系统过程与功能的恢复仍是当前亟待解决的关键问题。优先效应是指在植物群落重塑中,早期到达物种对随后到达物种的建植、生长及繁殖等产生促进、抑制或无影响的现象,其对群落结构调整、功能维持及演替动态等过程起到重要的调控作用,在植物群落的人为构建中具有不可忽视的作用。当前此类研究主要集中于北美和欧洲国家,用于解决外来物种入侵、多样性保护、植被建设与管理等问题,而在我国的研究尚十分少见。本研究通过文献检索分析,综述了物种优先效应的研究现状,归纳了其主要驱动因素、响应机制及量化方法等内容。结果表明：优先效应的大小和方向受物种特性、组装顺序、环境条件及相互作用等多种因素影响;两个主要的驱动机制为生态位抢占和生态位修饰;存在研究区域较为局限,试验观测时间短,生物与非生物因素的交互研究少及理论支持缺乏等问题。本研究结合我国退化植被恢复的迫切需求,提出了未来的研究方向,以期为今后相关研究提供借鉴,为我国生态恢复工作提供新思路。     

毛乌素沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性对不同生态修复措施的响应

[目的] 研究不同生态修复措施对毛乌素沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性的影响。[方法] 以围封作为对照（Ⅳ）,采用施肥（Ⅰ）、补播（Ⅱ）、喷藻（Ⅲ）、藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）和施肥+补播（Ⅵ）措施对内蒙古鄂尔多斯市乌审旗苏力德苏木沙化草地进行修复,通过监测植被群落特征及计算物种多样性指标,评价其对生态修复措施的响应。[结果] 施肥（Ⅰ）、补播（Ⅱ）、喷藻（Ⅲ）、藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）和施肥+补播（Ⅵ）处理区的植被群落平均高度均显著（P<0.05）高于对照区（Ⅳ）;藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）处理区的植被群落盖度、密度和地上生物量显著（P<0.05）高于其他5个处理区;施肥（Ⅰ）处理区的植物种类最多,共20种;补播（Ⅱ）处理区最少,共10种;喷藻（Ⅲ）、施肥（Ⅰ）和藻类补播拌种（Ⅴ）处理区的Margarlef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数较高,显著（P<0.05）高于其他处理组。[结论] 不同修复措施对于沙化草地植被群落特征及物种多样性均有显著影响。喷藻或拌藻、施肥等具有养分输入作用的修复措施对短期内修复沙化草地具有显著效果,修复后植物种类、物种丰富度明显增加,植被群落变得相对复杂。     

藏沙蒿与多年生禾草混播对西藏沙化草地土壤酶活性和微生物生物量的影响

为分析藏沙蒿(Artemisia wellbyi)与多年生禾草混播3年的土壤酶活性和微生物生物量的含量特征,筛选出修复效果最好的混播比例,本研究采用比色和氯仿熏蒸的方法分别测定不同处理下的土壤酶活性和微生物生物量,以藏沙蒿、垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)和细茎冰草(Agropyron trachycaulhum)不同比例混播为处理,分别为T₁(4∶1∶2),T₂(4∶2∶1)和T₃(5∶1∶1),同时以未修复沙化草地为对照(CK),并与天然草地(NG)作比较。结果表明：与CK相比,3个比例混播处理均能改善土壤理化性质、提高土壤酶活性和微生物生物量碳氮磷含量,以T₃处理的效果最好。相关性分析表明,土壤酶活性与有机质、速效钾和全氮呈正相关;土壤微生物生物量与有效磷、碱解氮和含水量呈正相关。因此,灌草混播时,适当增加灌木的占比有利于土壤养分及生物学特性的恢复。     

山地退化森林生态系统恢复评价方法的研究

以未经干扰的原始甜槠林作对照,运用聚类分析的方法,以生物多样性为标准将各生态系统恢复情况进行了分类,量化了生态系统恢复评价指标,对判断和分析生态系统恢复状况、指导森林生态系统管理提供决策支持.     

西部大开发中的生态环境建设问题——代笔谈小结

本文是在《林业科学》上连续登载的“在西部大开发中的生态环境建设问题”笔谈的阶段小结。文中概略阐述了生态环境建设的概念和内涵 ,生态环境建设在西部大开发中的位置 ,提出了西部地区生态环境建设应遵循的 6项原则 ,即因地制宜 ,因害设防 ;保护先行 ,善待自然 ;多样措施 ,林草为本 ;生态经济 ,密切结合 ;全面规划 ,综合治理 ;加大投入 ,群策群力。最后对当前生态环境建设中存在的及有不同看法的一些问题进行了分析探讨 ,这些问题包括 :天然林保护工程的导向问题 ,退耕还林还草的选向问题 ,林草植被建设的方式和技术问题 ,以及生态环境建设与水资源的关系问题