Cryptic genetic diversity in “widespread” Southeast Asian bird species suggests that Philippine avian endemism is gravely underestimated

Mistakenly classifying morphologically cryptic endemic species as populations of widespread species potentially interferes with the conservation of biodiversity because undetected endemics that are imperilled may lack appropriate protection. It also impedes the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of a taxon by obscuring the number and distributional limits of species. Here, we present genetic and phylogenetic evidence corroborated by morphology that Philippine populations of seven widespread, non-migratory passerine birds might represent unrecognized, distinct species. An extrapolation based on this finding suggests that the proportion of endemic bird species in the Philippines could be much higher than currently estimated. This high degree of cryptic diversity in a well-studied, volant taxon implies that large numbers of unrecognized species can be expected in less thoroughly studied groups. We predict that genetic investigations of insular populations of widespread species will frequently reveal unrecognized island endemics, and because of the vulnerability of island habitats and their biota, these taxa may be particularly susceptible to extinction.     

东南亚华文视野中的杨骚

相对一些闽籍华侨作家而言,杨骚的部分话剧、诗歌、散文等是东南亚华文视野中比较早出现的作品。以杨骚的东南亚之行为切入点,从宏观角度探讨分析杨骚从事东南亚华文创作的起因、成就及其地位,说明杨骚是东南亚华文剧坛的先行者,指出鲁迅对杨骚华文创作的提携与推动作用,对杨骚研究和东南亚华文研究具有重要意义。     

浅谈西藏大麦生产的发展

在西藏自治区,大麦生产的发展意义重大。回顾西藏大麦生产发展的历史及分析现状的基础上,指出当前所面临的主要矛盾和问题,并提出了解决矛盾的措施和西藏大麦生产的发展方向。     

加查县优良核桃资源调查初报

针对过去对西藏核桃主产区之一加查县优良核桃单株调查不全、资料不详等问题,对加查县核桃优良单株的分布进行了较详细的调查。调查结果,共搜集到了酥油核桃等36个外观品质及口感好的品种(单株),突破了原来在《中国果树志.核桃卷》记载的11个优良单株,并详细记录了每个单株的当地名称,确定了分布的具体位置,如经纬度、海拔及所在村镇,同时取样测定了坚果的基本物理性状。     

西藏巨柏种群天然更新与群落特征研究

巨柏(Cupressus gigantea)为雅鲁藏布江地区分布的特有种,属国家一级保护植物。本文通过在米林-朗县雅鲁藏布江河谷13个面积为1 000 m2的巨柏林样地调查资料,按照近河谷和远河谷山坡的地理分布差异,统计分析了巨柏的种群天然更新特征;通过对群落的组成与结构的分析,初步阐述了巨柏群落的物种组成和结构特征。结果表明,雅鲁藏布江巨柏的更新情况比较差,种群年龄结构不稳定,整体上呈现了明显的种群衰退现象。通过种群的年龄结构分析,反映出了巨柏种群的失衡事件主要发生在最近几十年内,即0.6 m高度10 cm树径范围。巨柏林内物种组成结构单一,乔木层为单一巨柏种,灌木层和草本层的优势种数较少。鉴于巨柏种群环境沙化影响加剧、天然更新能力下降等因素,种群的延续面临较大威胁,需进一步加强该种群的保护和研究。     

土地利用和地形因子影响下的西藏农业产值空间化模拟

农业产值空间化模拟是客观评价农业生产效率的基础，是科学制定农业发展政策的依据。该文综合运用地统计学方法和地理信息系统空间分析功能，根据海拔高度与农业产值不同的拟合关系将西藏划分为Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型地区，分析了两类区域土地利用和地形因子与农业产值的关系。在此基础上，以土地利用为指示性因子，综合考虑地形因子对农业产值空间分布的影响，运用因子相乘的方法实现了多源数据的融合，建立了西藏农业产值空间化模拟模型。分析模拟结果：Ⅰ、Ⅱ型12个检验样本中共有8个县相对误差小于30%，模拟结果比较理想。同时，该模拟结果能够较好地反映西藏农业整体发展水平低，80%以上的农业用地每平方公里产值低于5400元， “一江两河”流域和昌都地区农业产值相对较高的实际情况。这有助于正确认识西藏的农业发展状况，为区域可持续发展服务。     

Dramatic decline in bat species richness in Singapore, with implications for Southeast Asia

Literature searches and recent surveys of the bat fauna of Singapore indicate that of the 24 species of Microchiroptera and six species of Megachiroptera documented for this small equatorial island just 15 and 5, respectively, are still present. These recorded declines in chiropteran species richness almost certainly understate the true losses as extensive land transformation/habitat loss (>95%) and biota loss occurred early in Singapore’s colonial history before comprehensive surveys of bats were made. In an effort to reconstruct the pre-settlement bat fauna, we inferred an upper bound of pre-settlement species richness using a checklist from a well-known bat assemblage in neighbouring Peninsular Malaysia, and a lower bound based on species common to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. The Singapore records were compared with these two species list predictions. Based on this analysis, we infer that between 60 and 72 species would have inhabited Singapore before 1819. We also estimate that between 33% (based on the confirmed inventory) and 72% of the species (based on the upper-bound estimate of species richness) are now locally extinct. For Microchiroptera the data suggest that the documented local extinction rate of 38% may project to between 69% and 75%. Forest-dependant bats are particularly affected and comprise a much lower proportion of the bat fauna than is seen in intact forest in Peninsular Malaysia. All hipposiderids and 40% of the documented rhinolophid taxa have been lost and almost half (6) of the surviving microchiropteran species are locally endangered. Projected local extinction rates for Megachiroptera raise the documented value (17%) to about 60%, with most of the survivors being widespread species known to forage in cultivated or secondary forest habitats or to commute long distances between fragmented resources. The dramatic decline in Singapore bat species richness and a concomitant change in chiropteran guild and trophic structure (Microchiroptera vs. Megachiroptera) reflect patterns of diversity change seen elsewhere in the region in response to loss of forest habitat. In Singapore, the decline in diversity (species richness and abundances) for both mega- and microbats may also relate to urbanisation and deliberate or accidental destruction of bats and their roost sites in a land that has one of the highest human population densities on the planet. Although these losses (actual and inferred) represent a microcosm of mainly local extinctions, a wider geographical extrapolation over the 21st century indicates that heavy deforestation in progress in Southeast Asia might be expected to lead to extinction of many bat taxa, with upper-bound estimates of regional species losses exceeding 40% and global extirpation anticipated for at least 23% of Southeast Asia’s bat fauna by 2100.     

Lowland rainforest avifauna and human disturbance: persistence of primary forest birds in selectively logged forests and mixed-rural habitats of southern Peninsular Malaysia

We compared the composition and structure of primary forest avifauna among primary forests, selectively logged forests and mixed-rural areas (e.g. villages and agricultural areas) of Peninsular Malaysia. We found that forests that were selectively logged at least 30 years ago contained only 73-75% of the 159 species of extant primary forest birds, with an increased proportion of dominant species. We estimated that only 28-32% of the primary forest species utilized the mixed-rural habitat, and that the number of species that bred in the agricultural landscapes might be even lower. The microhabitat of different species most affected their vulnerability to disturbance. Most small, arboreal frugivores and omnivores, and insectivores that fed from tree trunks, showed greater persistence in the mixed-rural habitat than ground dwelling bird species, which were affected most by disturbance. Resource abundance and variables that were closely related to forest disturbance such as the density of large trees, density of dead trees, canopy cover density and shrub volume influenced the distribution of the primary forest birds. Large primary forest reserves and a revision of short-cycle logging regimes (ca. 30 years) are needed if we are to conserve the lowland rainforest avifauna of Peninsular Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.     

Management strategies to increase stand structural diversity and enhance biodiversity in coastal rainforests of Alaska

Coastal rainforests of southeast Alaska have relatively simple species composition but complex structures with high diversity of tree ages, sizes and forest canopy layers, and an abundant understory plant community. Wildlife and fisheries resources also play an important role in the ecological functioning of forest and aquatic systems. Clearcutting has greatly altered these forest ecosystems with significant decreases in structural diversity of forest stands and greatly reduced wildlife habitat. This paper synthesizes information on management options in older forests that have never been actively managed, and in younger forests to increase diversity of stand structures and their associated effects on biodiversity. Light to moderate levels of partial cutting in old-growth forests can maintain the original diversity of overstory stand structures and understory plant communities. In younger forests that develop after clearcutting, mixed alder-conifer stands provide more heterogeneous structures and significantly higher understory biomass than in pure conifer forests. Research has shown that red alder increases diversity and abundance of understory plants, and provides forage for deer and small mammals. Results also show a clear linkage between alder and improved invertebrate diversity in aquatic systems. A combination of light partial cutting in older forests along with inclusion of red alder in conifer-dominated forests could provide the greatest amount of diversity and maintain the complex stand structures that are an important component of these forest ecosystems.     

The effects of extreme forest fragmentation on the bird community of Singapore Island

Singapore Island suffered one of the highest known deforestation rates in the tropics from the mid-to-late 19th century when over 95% of its native lowland forest was cleared. We compared the current bird community structure and composition among three habitat types, i.e., old (>50 years, 7-935 ha) and young (?50 years, 29-49 ha) naturally regenerating secondary forests and abandoned wooded plantations (27-102 ha) dominated by exotic species. Forest patch area had the strongest influence on the current species richness. The overall bird richness was not greater in most mature forest patches, but 20 species were only found in the old secondary forests and five of these were found in <50% of these patches. The rapid decrease in the number of forest species in plantations was offset by an increase in the number of open habitat species. Comparisons with current bird communities in nearby mainland forest sites (Peninsular Malaysia) suggest that the forest avifauna of Singapore is depauperate. The preservation of larger mature and maturing forests is therefore required for conserving the extant forest avifauna in Singapore. Connecting isolated patches can also be envisioned to facilitate movements of forest birds that have low densities and restricted distribution.