Distribution and diversity of leaf-cutting ants in Northeastern Argentina: species most associated with forest plantations

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants (LCA) are considered one of the main herbivores and one of the most destructive pest insects of the Neotropics. Northeastern Argentina harbors the greatest species richness of these ants and in turn comprises the highest surface with forest plantations. Our aim was to establish which species of leaf-cutting ants are most commonly associated with forest plantations by analyzing their geographic distribution using published and unpublished species occurrence data. Also, estimate their potential areas of distribution along a latitudinal gradient that entirely encompasses northeastern Argentina using Ecological Niche Modeling. Only seven of the 20 species recorded were strongly associated with productive systems along the gradient, but only 2–3 species in each region could be considered high-risk species for forest plantations. High-risk species composition shows a turnover between regions. Our models show the potential distribution areas where LCA could become more abundant and dominant, and possibly causing a detrimental effect on the forest plantations in the studied region. We find that ecological niche models are useful tools to assess the environmental suitability of important LCA.     

Demographic trends in Claremont California’s street tree population

The aim of this study was to quantify street tree population dynamics in the city of Claremont, CA. A repeated measures survey (2000 and 2014) based on a stratified random sampling approach across size classes and for the most abundant 21 species was analyzed to calculate removal, growth, and replacement planting rates. Demographic rates were estimated using a hierarchical Bayesian framework. The community-level (all species) median growth rate was 1.41% per year (95% CI: 1.21–1.65%) with Pinus brutia and Pistacia chinensis growing significantly faster than the community-level median. The community-level median removal rate was 1.03% per year (95% CI: 0.66–1.68%), with no significant differences between species and the community-level medium. Once removed, only 7.2% (95% CI: 4.4–12.9%) were replaced annually. Presence of overhead utility lines influenced tree removal rates while age, diameter-at-breast-height, and prior tree condition influenced tree growth. Overall live aboveground biomass in sampled sites was 713.29 Mg in 2000 and increased to 877.36 Mg by 2014. Biomass gain from growth outweighed loss from removals nearly three-fold; replacement contributed 0.5% of the total biomass gain. We conclude that to increase the resilience of the street tree population will require 1) an increase in percent of full stocking or biomass stock and 2) a shift in the species palette to favor species less vulnerable to pests and expected disturbance from climate change and 3) ongoing monitoring to detect departures from baseline demographic rates.     

敖汉旗双井林场乔木林资源现状及经营对策

文章在阐述敖汉旗双井林场乔木林资源现状的基础上,分析其存在问题,并结合林场实际情况提出今后经营发展对策,切实提升林场乔木林资源的质量。     

基于SWOT分析的三明市全域森林康养产业发展对策

利用SWOT分析方法,对三明市发展全域森林康养产业进行优势、劣势、机遇和威胁分析,并针对存在的劣势和威胁提出了初步的对策与建议,以期为推进三明全域森林康养产业发展提供参考。     

3种遥感产品检测黄土高原森林变化及差异比较

基于Landsat Vegetation Continuous Fields（LVCF）、MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields（MVCF）和MODIS Land Cover（MODLC）等遥感产品和森林清查数据（NFI）检测2000-2015年黄土高原森林分布及变化。结果表明:1）2000-2015年黄土高原森林覆盖度升高，基于LVCF和MVCF的全区森林覆盖度均值分别由2000年的7.8%和9.6%增加到2015年的9.7%和13.2%。2）遥感产品估算的森林分布空间格局和面积差异较大，基于LVCF、MVCF和MODLC估算的黄土高原森林面积在2000年分别为726.6×10⁴、604.7×10⁴ hm²和325.1×10⁴ hm²，2015年分别为926.2×10⁴、998.3×10⁴ hm²和400.1×10⁴ hm²。3）遥感产品估算的省级尺度上森林面积与NFI的不一致性因省份和年份而异，LVCF与NFI一致性整体略优于MVCF，MODLC与NFI差异最大且估算的森林面积远低于LVCF、MVCF和NFI。4）遥感产品检测的陕西和山西2省的森林面积增加值与NFI一致性高于宁夏；基于遥感产品估算的宁夏森林面积及增加幅度均远低于NFI。     

九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度时空变化及影响要素研究

负氧离子不仅对空气质量具有改善作用，而且对人体健康起到重要的影响。通过连续观测九连山国家森林公园空气负氧离子浓度，分析负氧离子浓度的时空变化规律及与各气象要素之间的相互关系。结果表明，九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度水平达到Ⅰ级标准，对人体健康极有利。原始阔叶林中负氧离子浓度明显高于人工林中负氧离子的浓度，且原始阔叶林和人工林中负氧离子浓度都呈现夏秋高于冬春，夏季最高，冬季最低；早晚浓度明显高于白天浓度的规律。因此九连山国家森林公园适合出游时间为夏秋季，且上午或傍晚最佳。此外，负氧离子的浓度与空气温度、湿度以及降水量都有明显的相关性，同时也受其他气象因素的影响。这些结果可以为推进森林旅游业的建设提供科学支持，特别是自然保护区内负氧离子资源和旅游产品的开发。     

Exploring tree diversity and stand structure of savanna woodlands in southeastern Sudan

Savanna woodlands in Sudan host great biodiversity, provide a plethora of ecosystem goods and services to local communities, and sustain numerous ecological functions. Although the importance of the Acacia trees in these areas is well known, up-to-date information about these woodlands' diversity is limited and changes in their woody vegetation composition, density, diversity and relative frequency are not monitored over time. This study explored tree diversity and stand stage structure in Nuara Reserved Forest, a typical savanna woodland ecosystem in southeastern Sudan. A total of 638 circular sample plots (1000 m² for each) were established using a systematic sampling grid method. The distance between plots was 200 m. In each plot, all living trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥5.00 cm were identified and counted, and their DBH values were recorded. From these data, tree composition, diversity, density and stage structure were assessed. There were 12,259 individual trees representing four species (Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia Senegal and Acacia mellifera) that belong to two families. The dominant species was Acacia seyal. Average tree density was 191 trees/hm² and the Shannon-Weiner index for trees diversity was 0.204. Overall, young trees comprised 86.30% of the forest. The state of tree richness and density in the study area was low compared to other similar environments in the region and around the world. We recommended adoption of a proper management system that includes monitoring of woody vegetation diversity in this forest, and management actions to enhance tree diversity and sustain ecosystem services to local communities. In addition to care for the dominant Acacia seyal stands, more attention and conservation should be devoted to reestablishing Acacia senegal and Acacia mellifera trees because of their high ecological and economic values for local communities.     

桉树人工林中433MHz信道LoRa信号的传播特性

LoRa技术是最新出现的一种无线通信技术,具有低功耗、距离远、工作在非授权波段等特点,与ZigBee等现在常用的无线通信技术相比,其在人工林无线传感器网中更具潜力。然而由于LoRa的传输受环境影响较大,目前在人工林中传播特性的研究还处于空白。本研究基于Shadowing信号衰减模型,在广西东门林场中测试了433 MHz信道LoRa信号在两种天线高度下(1.5,2.0 m)和3种不同环境下(开阔环境、3 a林龄桉树人工林,5 a林龄桉树人工林)LoRa信号接收强度(RSSI)随距离变化的情况,每种条件下得到了两组数据。首先利用其中一组数据对模型进行拟合,拟合结果表明,LoRa信号传输遵从Shadowing模型,拟合度在0.886~0.982。然后利用另一组数据对模型的精度进行验证,验证结果表明,模型精度较高,模型的精度介于0.780~0.961。最后分析了桉树人工林中影响LoRa信号传输的主要因素。本研究的方法和获得的信号衰减系数可以为桉树人工林无线传感器网络监测中LoRa节点的组网和部署提供依据和参考。     

河北太行山区典型水土保持林乔木层生物量及碳储量研究

以河北太行山区4种典型水土保持林为研究对象,对混交林(栓皮栎-侧柏)、油松林、栓皮栎林和刺槐林的乔木层各器官生物量、含碳率以及碳储量进行比较研究。结果表明:混交林、油松林、栓皮栎林和刺槐林生物量分别为51.94,86.40,90.19,18.08t/hm^2,栓皮栎林和油松林生物量高于4种水土保持林生物量的均值(61.65t/hm^2),而混交林和刺槐林生物量分别占生物量均值的84.25%,29.33%。不同林分各器官在乔木层生物量中分配顺序均表现为树干>树根>树枝>树叶。4种典型林分各器官含碳率分别为45.16%~58.93%,58.48%~64.61%,51.16%~58.37%,52.35%~62.30%。4种典型林分碳储量为10.10~53.85t/hm^2。不同林分类型各器官碳储量与生物量呈正比关系,与生物量趋势基本相同,碳储量大小表现为油松林>栓皮栎林>混交林>刺槐林。     

Linking size‐based trophodynamics and morphological traits in marine fishes

The rule of thumb in marine trophodynamics indicates that the bigger an organism, the higher its trophic level (TROPH). This generalization leads to the assumption that fishes increase their TROPH with growth. However, a recent review showed that for many species, TROPH does not increase with body size, suggesting that size‐independent feeding is not rare in marine fishes. Here, we assessed some morphological traits of marine fishes that could potentially be used as indicators for the ability to vary TROPH with body size. Stable isotope values of nitrogen were used as a proxy TROPH. The specific objectives were as follows: (a) to evaluate the relationship between the oral gape and the trophodynamic trend and (b) to quantify the relevance of 11 external morphological traits in determining the size‐based trophodynamics. We used random forest models to identify the morphological traits that would help predict which species would have the potential to increase TROPH with growth and which would have not. The selected traits included the pelvic fin relative position, the dorsal fin shape, total length, and relative mouth size. Our results also showed a marked relationship between the rate of increase in the oral gape and TROPH. The analyses presented here provide the first comprehensive and quantitative review aiming at linking the trophodynamics of marine fishes with external morphological traits.