A model of arctic tundra vegetation derived from topographic gradients

We present a topographically-derived vegetation model (TVM) that predicts the landscape patterns of arctic vegetation types in the foothills of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. In the Arctic there is a strong relationship between water and plant structure and function and TVM is based on the relationships between vegetation types and slope (tan ) and discharge (), two independent variables that can be easily derived from digital terrain data. Both slope and discharge relate to hydrological similarity within a landscape: slope determines the gravitational hydrological gradient and hence influences flow velocity, whereas discharge patterns are computed based on upslope area and quantify lateral flow amount. TVM was developed and parameterized based on vegetation data from a small 2.2 km² watershed and its application was tested in a larger 22km² region. For the watershed, TVM performed quite well, having a high spatial resolution and a goodness-of-fit ranging from 71–78%, depending on the functions used. For the larger region, the strength of the vegetation types predictions drops somewhat to between 56–59%. We discuss the various sources of error and limitations of the model for purposes of extrapolation.     

The potential of flat-bed passive integrated transponder antennae for studying habitat use by stream fishes

Abstract – Describing habitat use by stream fishes is important from both basic ecological and fisheries management points of view. The most widely used methods of measuring habitat use vary in degree of effort required, level of intrusiveness and in the level of spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper, we describe a remote monitoring technique that can provide detailed and continuous data on habitat use of individual fish in the field. The technique is based on the passive integrated transponder (PIT) system, in which a newly developed flat-bed antenna is placed on the stream bottom and simply requires a PIT-tagged fish to swim over it. We present data obtained from work using this new technology on brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) in stream enclosures, in which we describe habitat use and temporal patterns of movement by individuals and relate such data to growth rate and sex of the individual fish as well as to pool depth and time of day. In addition, we describe the range of applications of the flat-bed PIT-antenna as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using the system. ^NOTE     

Urban permeability for birds: An approach combining mobbing-call experiments and circuit theory

The urban matrix was recently shown to be a mosaic of heterogeneous dispersal habitats. We conducted a playback experiment of mobbing calls to examine the probabilities of forest birds to cross a distance of 50 m over urban matrix with different land-cover types in an urban area. We treated the reciprocal of the crossing probabilities as a movement resistance for forest birds. We drew resistance surfaces based on the land-cover maps of urban Sapporo. We applied a circuit theory to examine the relative role of a detour route consisting of a riparian corridor and urban matrix for dispersing forest bird individuals from continuous forest to an isolated green space in the midst of an urban area. Our results showed that wood cover had the highest crossing probability, while open land (grassland and pavement) had the lowest probabilities. Buildings and water surface displayed an intermediate probability. Resistance surfaces and flow maps at 25- and 50-m resolutions were very similar and suggested that dispersing individuals are likely to use the intervening building areas that dominate the urban matrix rather than detour through riparian corridors. Our results showed the useful combination of experimental approaches and circuit theory, and the importance of the spatial configuration of corridors, as well as the composition and management of dispersal habitats, to landscape connectivity.     

Freshwater mussel assemblage structure in a regulated river in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Basin,USA

• 1. This paper documents a diverse, reproducing freshwater mussel community (20 species) in Lower Lake — an impounded, regulated portion of the Little Tallahatchie River below Sardis Dam in Panola Co., Mississippi, USA.
• 2. Despite being regulated and impounded, the lake has a heterogeneous array of habitats that differ markedly in mussel community attributes. Four distinct habitat types were identified based on current velocity and substrate characteristics, representing a gradient from habitats having lotic characteristics to lentic habitats. All four habitat types supported mussels, but habitats most resembling unimpounded, lotic situations (relatively higher current velocity and coarser substrate) had the highest mussel abundance and species density (10.1 mussels m^?2, 1.8 species m^?2, respectively). Lentic habitats (no flow, fine substrate) were characterized by lower abundance and species density (2.0 mussels m^?2, 0.8 species m^?2, respectively), but supported mussel assemblages distinctive from lotic habitats.
• 3. Evidence of strong recent recruitment was observed for most species in the lake and was observed in all four habitat types.
• 4. Although impounded and regulated, Lower Lake represents one of the few areas of stable large‐stream habitat in the region. The presence of a diverse, healthy mussel community in this highly modified habitat suggests that a large component of the regional mussel fauna is relatively resilient and adaptable and is limited primarily by the absence of stable river reaches. Management actions that increase stream stability are likely to result in expansion of the mussel fauna and restoration of a valuable component of ecosystem function in this region.

Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal stream habitat of adult Sakhalin taimen,Parahucho perryi,in the Bekanbeushi River system,eastern Hokkaido,Japan

Behavioural tracking of endangered adult Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi) by acoustic telemetry was conducted in the Bekanbeushi River system that flows through eastern Hokkaido in 2008–2010. A total of 39 tracked P. perryi showed extensive use of the river system, both upstream and downstream, regardless of the month or year. No tracked adult P. perryi stayed in the ocean for more than 1 day. Some of the fish (20%) dwelled in upstream habitat consistently from spring to autumn, while 40% of individuals showed wide utilisation of the entire upstream and downstream systems. Although 39.4% of tracked fish utilised two or more primary tributaries to the main river, 6.1% used only the main river system. Distinct variability was observed between individuals based on the proportion of time spent in each stream reach (up‐, mid‐, and downstream). A trend was observed in 2008 and 2010 showing that tracked fish moved to the upper stream reaches when water temperatures downstream increased. This trend was not observed in 2009 when the summer water temperature downstream was more than 2 °C below average when compared to 2008 and 2010. Our results suggest that adult P. perryi in the Bekanbeushi River system exhibit high behavioural plasticity, that is, the fish can select habitats based on their own individual requirements. Our results also demonstrate the importance of physical continuity among river reaches both upstream and downstream such that P. perryi does not experience barriers in moving to optimal habitats.     

Dynamics of Betula ermanni population in subalpine vegetation in Changbai Mountain, Northeast China

lntroductionNotonIyaretimberIinesthemostconspicuousvegetationboundaryinhighmountains,buttheyareaIsoanimportantecologicaIboundary(Bruce1996,Thomas1997).NowondersthenthosetimberIineshaveaIwaysattractedresearchersforbothscientificandpracticaIreasons.InChangbaiMountain,forexample,therestorationoftheclimatictimberlineandestabIishmentofanedectiveprotectiveforestarethetWoprincipalobjectivesofhigh-mountainfor-estmanagement.AIsointhisconnection,thepotentiaIresponseoftimberlinestoexpectedclimaticc…     

Effects of instream structures on Kirikuchi charr, southernmost population of genus Salvelinus, in a small mountain stream of Japan

ABSTRACT:   The changes in physical habitats and responses of fish, e.g. the Kirikuchi charr Salvelinus leucomaenis japonicus , were examined by placing instream structures in a stream on the upper drainage of the Totsu River system of the Kii Peninsula, Japan, over a two-year period. Instream structures created pools below the structures, and these pools have maintained their functions as fish habitats over two years. In two treatment sections, sections A and B (some red-spotted masu salmon were removed in advance in section B), mean water depth increased soon after placing the structures, but decreased over two years. Mean water velocity slowed after placing the structures in both sections. Total fish abundance has been relatively high at the two treatment sections compared with a control section after placing the structures. Age 1 Kirikuchi charr, however, increased only in section B. These results indicate that instream structures can serve as habitat enhancement for fish, including Kirikuchi charr, in the study area if other appropriate habitat factors for respective species are taken into consideration.     

高黎贡山地区生态环境变迁状况与重建对策

20世纪中叶以前,高黎贡山森林植被茂密,生态良好.如今,大面积的原始森林被砍伐,滑坡、泥石流自然灾害不时发生,生态环境恶化.通过对高黎贡山地区的生态环境恶化的原因进行分析,提出了5个方面的生态环境建设对策:(1)恢复植被;(2)开发替代能源以降低薪材消耗;(3)调整土地利用结构以发展社区经济;(4)发展生态旅游;(5)借助保护区的优势,争取国内外支持援助.     

不同生境柚园果熟期橘小实蝇诱捕效果及种群密度比较

【目的】掌握不同生境柚园果熟期橘小实蝇种群密度和活动规律，探索不同色板、不同方位和不同气温环境对橘小实蝇的诱捕效果。【方法】于 2019 年 9—11 月在两类不同生境柚园开展橘小实蝇监测诱捕试验。【结果】经单因素方差分析表明，自然生境柚园中亮黄板每板诱捕数量为 24.84（±1.90）头，示范标准柚园中为 4.29（±0.44）头，诱捕效果显著高于土黄板和蓝板，自然生境柚园诱捕数量显著高于示范标准柚园。自然生境柚园中南面色板诱捕数量为 12.01（±2.02）头，示范标准柚园为 2.52（±0.44）头，均较其他方位多。气温与规范管理柚园橘小实蝇种群密度呈一定程度的负相关。两类柚园 11 月诱捕数量显著高于 9 月和 10 月。【结论】亮黄色粘虫板对柚园橘小实蝇有明显的防治效果。在示范标准柚园果实成熟期应结合自然条件下橘小实蝇的种群变化规律提前做好预防工作，根据柚园生境因地制宜，综合治理。     

Habitat utilization and vertical movements of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) released from commercial and recreational fishing gears in the western North Atlantic Ocean: inferences from short duration pop-up archival satellite tags

Researchers have applied numerous techniques to improve billfish stock assessments, including habitat‐based models that incorporate behavioral and oceanographic parameters to standardize historical catch‐per‐unit‐effort time‐series data. These methods have allowed researchers to account for significant changes in the depths of pelagic longline (PLL) gear deployments over time. This study presents habitat‐use data recovered from high‐resolution 5‐ and 10‐day pop‐up satellite archival tags (PSATs) attached to 47 surviving white marlin released from commercial and recreational fishing gears offshore of the U.S. East Coast, the northern Caribbean, and Venezuela between 2002 and 2004. Data recovered from transmitting tags indicated that white marlin spent nearly half of their time associated with warm, near‐surface waters (<10 m). All fish displayed frequent short duration (mean: 39.8 min) vertical excursions from surface waters to depths averaging 51 m. Qualitative and multivariate classifications of data from completely transmitted movements of surviving white marlin revealed two major types of descents: one pattern was characterized by deep ‘V’‐shaped excursions of relatively short duration (mean: 23.4 min) while the other featured descents that were more broadly ‘U’‐shaped and confined to a specific depth range for an extended period of time (mean: 75.8 min). Based on the frequency, persistence, and patterns of these vertical movements, white marlin appear to direct a considerable proportion of foraging effort well below surface waters, a behavior that may account for relatively high catch rates of white marlin on some deep‐set PLL deployments.