Effects of Land Use and Wildfires on the Habitat Selection of Great Bustard (Otis tarda l.)—Implications for Species Conservation

Increasing agricultural activities have been shown to affect soil and vegetation changes leading to serious biodiversity declines throughout the world. These effects are amplified in dry grassland areas, where resulting changes in habitat structure affect threatened animals on long temporal scales. Great bustards (Otis tarda) inhabit open landscapes where fire and grazing have been a part of the natural disturbance regime since historical times. Even fire and grazing are hypothesized to be important factors in the lifecycle of the species, studies are still missing on disturbance‐related lekking distribution patterns of great bustards. We analyzed the importance of fires and grazing on the spatial distribution of lekking bustards controlling for habitat types, habitat diversity, distance from roads and social effects. Our standardized dataset spanned 31 years, being one of the largest datasets on bustard lekking. During the 31 years we observed 10 118 individuals at 639 observation points in Hortobágy National Park, East‐Hungary. One of the most important predictors for total number of birds and number of males was the area burnt in previous years. We found that increased habitat diversity had a positive effect on female numbers. Models fit on second‐ and third‐year burn data detected no substantial role of burning on lekking distribution. Our results suggest that introduction of a patch‐burning management system in lekking areas could increase the availability of optimal lek sites for bustards. As an effective management tool, we suggest applying patch‐burning annually in a spatially mosaic structure inside the area occupied by each sub‐population unit. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

从空间尺度论述陆生野生动物生境选择研究进展

指出了生境是动物生存和繁衍的重要场所,生境的质量及其可利用程度是决定动物种群生死存亡的关键因素。因此,研究动物的生境利用特点成为生物保护学研究的热点。综述了不同空间尺度上陆生野生动物生境选择研究的概况,以期对今后开展生境利用研究工作时在方法的选取方面提供借鉴和指导。     

立地类型对于造林类型适宜性评定初探

根据生态因子综合作用律和最小因子作用律,用偏好值和偏好权重表示树种对立地因子项目及其级（类）别的喜好或忌怕等生态习性,综合评定立地类型对于造林类型的适宜程度,为适地适树探索出一个新途径。     

濒危植物大花黄牡丹与生境地群落特征的关系

在濒危植物大花黄牡丹生境地群落学调查的基础上,划分生境地群落类型,分析生境地群落特征,探讨大花黄牡丹与生境地群落特征的相互关系。研究结果表明:TWINSPAN将大花黄牡丹生境地群落划分为乔木群落和灌木群落。乔木群落中大花黄牡丹多度显著低于灌木群落,但大花黄牡丹平均胸径和平均高则与灌木群落无显著差异。群落特征与大花黄牡丹的相关性分析表明:大花黄牡丹多度及平均胸径与群落总多度、灌木多度及乔木物种丰富度存在显著的相关性,而大花黄牡丹多度与乔木多度存在显著负相关,大花黄牡丹平均胸径与群落平均高也存在显著负相关,大花黄牡丹平均胸径及平均高与藤本物种丰富度则存在显著的正相关,具有相关性的变量之间可用不同的回归方程较好的表述。此外,大花黄牡丹冠幅面积、高度、丛数及幼苗数量均与灌丛的冠幅面积存在显著的正相关,但大花黄牡丹幼苗数量在两种群落间无显著性差异。     

莲花山自然保护区珍稀鸟类及其栖息地调查

对莲花山自然保护区分布的珍稀鸟类及其栖息地进行了调查，并利用卫星影像资料分析了鸟类栖息地现状，表明该地区鸟类栖息地严重破碎化，严重威胁着保护区内珍稀鸟类的生存，提出了封山育林扩大保护区面积等加强珍稀鸟类保护的建议。     

Analysis of the change in the original Metasequoia glyptostroboides population and its environment in Lichuan, Hubei from 1948 to 2003

Lichuan, located at the foot of the Wuling Mountain in southwest Hubei Province of central China, is well known in the world for the discovery of the living fossil Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & Cheng in the 1940s. Its natural habitat has been well protected by the Chinese government. In order to provide a scientific foundation for the protection of the Metasequoia resource, it has become necessary to analyze the changes in the original, natural Metasequoia mother trees (ONMMT) and their environment from 1948 to 2003. The results and countermeasures are as follows: First, the distribution areas have little changed, involving four towns/farmland, 45 villages, 5,746 individual trees in 1983 and 5,388 trees in 2003, covering nearly 600 km², with an average density of less than 0.1 tree/hm². The Metasequoia distribution consists of two main types: a scattered distribution type found mainly at the foothills or near houses, roads, villages and rivers while the population distribution type is found mainly at the mountains and valleys with a minority at low elevations in the mountains and basins. The largest Metasequoia populations have 105 and 123 trees. Second, in the past, attention was only paid to the protection of individual trees while the protection of the Metasequoia population and environment was neglected. This led to a shift from the past mixed forests to pure Metasequoia forests, with a simpler structure, reduced biodiversity and conditions non-conducive for natural renewal. From 1983 to 2003, 386 original Metasequoia mother trees died. So it is vital to enhance the protection of the only original Metasequoia population in the world and its habitat. Third, modern ecological means should be taken to protect the original Metasequoia population and its habitat. Research on the restoration and rehabilitation of Metasequoia vegetation should be carried out. Restoration and rehabilitation should be put into practice in the Xiaohe Valley, where the highest concentration of Metasequoia is found. Fourth, efficient measures should be taken to stop human activities that are harmful to Metasequoia and to improve the environment of ONMMT in order to promote the protection of the ONMMT population and its ecosystem. Eco-emigration and the return of marginal agricultural land to forestry can be practiced. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(5): 972–977 [译自: 生态学报, 2005, 25(5): 972–977]     

The loss of large wood affects rocky mountain trout populations

Western U.S. rivers are currently influenced by legacy effects of reduced large wood (LW) loading and retention that has substantially reduced in‐stream habitat complexity. Large wood is typically associated with streams in undisturbed old‐growth forest and in the correct geomorphic context can drastically alter stream and valley habitat complexity. Streams with LW are typically multichannel and depositional, while streams lacking LW, due to relatively recent wildfire or logging (<200 years ago), are usually single channelled and erosional. We compared population biomass and individual growth rates of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis in streams across a gradient of wood volumes. At both the square metre and valley length scales, standing stock biomass of aquatic invertebrates was the best predictor of trout biomass. However, at the valley scale, the number of pools was important in predicting trout biomass in combination with standing stock biomass of aquatic invertebrates. Individual growth rates of age‐1 Brook Trout were negatively affected by increasing density; however, growth rates for the largest and smallest individuals at each site were unaffected by density. Our results suggest the pool habitat created by LW acts synergistically with prey availability to dramatically increase trout populations. However, in streams lacking LW, negative effects of detrimental land use practices have persisted >100 years, suggesting that recovering lost animal production in mountain stream networks will only occur at decadal to century time scales.     

信阳粳稻晚播气候适宜度分析

以信阳市近35年(1980-2014年)晚播粳稻幼苗期、分蘖期、拔节孕穗期、抽穗扬花期和灌浆成熟期等5个生育阶段的平均气温、降水量和日照时数等数据为基础,利用前人研究的气候适宜度公式模型,计算研究信阳粳稻晚播后的气候适宜度。结果表明,苗期气温、降水和日照气候适宜度分别为0.98、0.99和0.63,综合值0.85,适宜度高;分蘖期分别为0.99、0.51和0.54,综合值0.65,适宜度一般;拔节孕穗期分别为0.99、0.87和0.67,综合值0.83,适宜度较高;抽穗扬花期分别为0.70、0.99和0.56,综合值0.73,适宜度较高;灌浆成熟期分别为0.60、0.98和0.57,综合值0.73,适宜度较高。可见,信阳粳稻适当晚播后的气候适宜度总体较为适宜。     

融合MCR模型的绿色基础设施适宜性评价——以上海市青浦区练塘镇为例

长三角一体化的战略背景下，针对长三角一体化前沿城镇的绿色基础设施适宜性评价，有助于协调城镇发展和生态环境保护之间的矛盾，优化城镇生态格局。通过MCR模型，可将景观连通性因子融入到适宜性评价体系中，在绿色基础设施适宜性评价中考虑景观连通性，对优化景观生态格局具有重要意义。以长三角一体化前沿城镇上海市青浦区练塘镇为例，基于ArcGIS、Linkage Mapper等软件平台，综合景观连通性、生态敏感性等因子，对练塘镇绿色基础设施的适宜性进行定量评价。结果表明，练塘镇绿色基础设施适宜性呈现外围较高、中心较低的特点，最适宜用地占比为11.63%、较适宜用地占比为19.62%、中等适宜用地占比为25.02%、低适宜用地占比为27.44%、不适宜用地占比为16.29%。适宜以太浦河、大蒸港沿岸林地等作为绿色基础设施核心区，朱枫公路沿线、泖阳港沿岸等地作为绿色基础设施连接廊道，构建绿色基础设施网络。研究结果可为长三角一体化前沿城镇的生态规划管理提供决策支持，并为类似区位的绿色基础设施构建提供一定的思路借鉴。     

不同生境黑果枸杞实生苗生长及土壤养分空间差异的研究

研究不同生境黑果枸杞实生苗数量、生长状况、生物量分配及土壤养分空间差异，探讨环境因子对黑果枸杞实生苗生长的影响，为黑果枸杞种群恢复及持续经营提供理论依据。采用固定样地调查法,于2016年对张掖市甘州区、临泽县、肃南县及周边地区的农田地埂、水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地等各生境黑果枸杞进行调查。研究结果表明：不同生境均有黑果枸杞实生苗分布，农田地埂生境实生苗数量相对水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地分别增加66.67%、122.22%、215.79%。因环境条件差异，不同生境的黑果枸杞实生苗采取了不同的生存策略适应环境：农田地埂生境的黑果枸杞主要为增高生长，盐化沙地的黑果枸杞主要为冠幅的增长，而盐碱荒地的黑果枸杞主要为增粗生长。农田地埂生境0~20 cm土层有机质含量相对水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地分别增加28.50%、2.62%、10.13%；全氮含量分别增加44.08%、33.16%、72.41%；有效氮含量分别增加46.81%、0%、50%。空气湿度、土壤含水量对黑果枸杞幼苗数量及幼苗生长有显著影响。在今后的黑果枸杞栽培管理中，幼苗期应加强水分管理。