Correction to: Coupling landscape graph modeling and biological data: a review

Landscape Ecology - In the original publication of the article, the sixth author name has been misspelt. The correct name is given in this Correction. The original article has been corrected.     

Mortality of silver fir and Norway Spruce in the Western Alps — a semi-parametric approach combining size-dependent and growth-dependent mortality

Question

Tree mortality can be modeled using two complementary covariates, tree size and tree growth. Tree growth is an integrative measure of tree vitality while tree diameter is a good index of sensitivity to disturbances and can be considered as a proxy for tree age which may indicate senescence. Few mortality models integrate both covariates because classical model calibration requires large permanent plot data-sets which are rare. How then can we calibrate a multivariate mortality model including size and growth when permanent plots data are not available?

Location

To answer this question, we studied Abies alba and Picea abies mortality in the French Swiss and Italian Alps.

Method

Our study proposes an alternative semi-parametric method which includes a random sample of living and dead trees with diameter and growth measurements.

Results

We were able to calibrate a mortality model combining both size-dependent and growth-dependent mortality. We demonstrated that A. alba had a lower annual mortality rate (10%) than P. abies (18%) for low growth (< 0.2 mmyear^?1). We also demonstrated that for higher diameters (DBH ≥ 70 cm), P. abies had a higher mortality rate (0.45%) than A. alba (0.32%).

Conclusion

Our results are consistent with the mechanisms of colonization-competition trade-off and of successional niche theory which may explain the coexistence of these two species in the Alps. The method we developed should be useful for forecasting tree mortality and can improve the efficiency of forest dynamics models.     

The impact of beaver dam removal on the chemical properties of water in drainage ditches in peatland forests

ABSTRACT

Despite near-extinction in the nineteenth century, after efficient restoration measures the population of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber L.) in Latvia currently is viable and growing. While the ecological effect of the species on water quality and biodiversity is generally positive, the high number of animals in production forests often creates challenges for management. Drainage ditches are among the most favoured habitats of beavers resulting in flooded stands, reduced tree growth and economical losses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical properties of water in forest drainage ditches, affected by beaver activity, and their changes after the dam removal. Chemical composition of surface water in ditches was analysed in sampling points above dam, below dam and in the ditch itself after removal of the dam; results compared to pristine beaver site nearby on a small stream. Results did not show significant differences between concentrations above and below dams. After removal of the dams, significant increase in DOC, N-NO₃ ^-, N-NH₄ ⁺ and TSS concentrations and significant decrease in TP concentrations were observed in some of the sites. Observed concentrations of all measured parameters were significantly lower in pristine beaver site than in beaver sites on drainage ditches.     

Using landscape graphs to delineate ecologically functional areas

Context

Landscape graphs are widely used to model connectivity and to support decision-making in conservation planning. Compartmentalization methods applied to such graphs aim to define clusters of highly interconnected patches. Recent studies show that compartmentalization based on modularity is suitable, but it applies to non-weighted graphs whereas most landscape graphs involve weighted nodes and links.

Objectives

We propose to adapt modularity computation to weighted landscape graphs and to validate the relevance of the resulting compartments using demographic or genetic data about the patches.

Methods

A weighted adjacency matrix was designed to express potential fluxes, associating patch capacities and inter-patch distances. Eight weighting scenarios were compared. The statistical evaluation of each compartmentalization was based on Wilks’ Lambda. These methods were performed on a grassland network where patches are documented by annual densities of water voles in the Jura massif (France).

Results

The scenarios in which patch capacity is assigned a small weight led to the more relevant results, giving high modularity values and low Wilks’ Lambda values. When considering a fixed number of compartments, we found a significant negative correlation between these two criteria. Comparison showed that compartments are ecologically more valid than graph components.

Conclusions

The method proposed is suitable for designing ecologically functional areas from weighted landscape graphs. Maximum modularity values can serve as a guide for setting the parameters of the adjacency matrix.

     

杨凌区降雨对作物生长适应性的模糊分析

依据模糊数学理论 ,采用模糊综合评判方法 ,从降雨“适量”、“适时”和“有效程度”3个指标出发 ,就杨凌区降水资源对农作物生长发育适应性做了评价分析 ,并提出降雨对作物生长的适宜度模型。通过实地调查与计算分析 ,该模型较好地反映了杨凌区主要作物对该区降雨特征的适宜能力 ,同时也较好地反映了本区降雨资源的地域特征 ,为该地区农作物合理布局决策提供了科学依据     

我国北方地区节水农业技术水平及评价

在系统分析我国节水农业技术水平现状的基础上 ,对各类节水技术的差距和存在问题进行了探讨 ,提出了各类技术亟待研究解决的若干重点问题。并指出建立以渠道防渗技术、管道输水技术及地面灌水技术为核心 ,符合国情的节水农业技术体系已迫在眉睫。     

How to assess the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity in ever-changing landscapes: a literature review

Landscape Ecology - Landscape connectivity plays a key role in determining the persistence of species inhabiting fragmented habitat patches. In dynamic landscapes, most studies measure connectivity...     

Prüfung vonAegilops-Arten auf Resistenz gegenPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton

Zusammenfassung 490 Sippen von 21Aegilops-Arten wurden in den Jahren 1980 bis 1982 unter Freilandbedingungen mit künstlicher Infektion auf Resistenz gegenüber dem Erreger der Halmbruchkrankheit des Getreides,Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton geprüft. Außerdem erfolgte an ausgewählten Sippen die Prüfung der Jungpflanzenanfälligkeit im Phytotron. Unter denAegilops-Mustern erwiesen sich im Freiland 31 Herkünfte als resistent bzw. schwach anfällig. Im einzelnen handelte es sich um Vertreter der ArtenAe. ventricosa, Ae. triuncialis, Ae. kotschyi, Ae. bicornis, Ae. columnaris, Ae. lorentii, Ae. peregrina, Ae. geniculata, Ae. speltoides, Ae. crassa undAe. tauschii. Die im Jungpflanzenstadium geprüften 7 Sippen, 3 vonAe. ventricosa und je 1 vonAe. bicornis, Ae. kotschyi undAe. lorentii, waren ebenfalls resistent bzw. schwach anfällig.

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TestingAegilops species for their reaction toPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton

Summary From 1980–1982 490 accessions out of 21Aegilops species were tested in a field trial with artificial infection regarding their resistance toPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton in cereal crops. Simultaneously, selected accessions were checked for their susceptibility in the seedling stage under controlled conditions in the phytotrone. Among theAegilops samples 31 accessions proved to be resistant or only slightly susceptible. This refers toAe. ventricosa, Ae. triuncialis, Ae. kotschyi, Ae. bicornis, Ae. columnaris, Ae. lorentii, Ae. peregrina, Ae. geniculata, Ae. speltoides, Ae. crassa andAe. tauschii. The accessions checked in the seedling stage, i. e. 3 ofAe. ventricosa and 1 ofAe. bicornis, Ae. kotschyi andAe. lorentii, showed also resistance or only low susceptibility.

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Aegilops Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides

1980–1982 . 490 21 Aegilops Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton. , . Aegilops 31 ; ¶rt; Ae. ventricosa, Ae. triuncialis, Ae. kotschyi, Ae. bicornis, Ae. columnaris, Ae. lorentii, Ae. peregrina, Ae. geniculata, Ae. speltoides, Ae. crassa, Ae. tauschii. , , Ae. ventricosa Ae. bicornis, Ae. kotschyi, Ae. lorentii .

     

Gas chromatographic analysis of milk for deoxynivalenol and its metabolite DOM-1

A gas chromatographic method is described for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolite DOM-1 in milk. Milk samples were extracted with ethyl acetate on a commercially available disposable extraction column, followed by hexane-acetonitrile partitioning. Final purification was accomplished on a reverse phase C-18 cartridge. The trimethylsilyl ether (TMS) derivatives of DON were prepared, chromatographed on an OV-17 column, and quantitated with an electron capture detector. Chromatography of the TMS derivatives of milk extracts was compared to that of the corresponding heptafluorobutyryl derivatives. The limit of detection using TMS derivatives was 1 ng/mL for both toxins with recoveries averaging 82% +/- 9% at 2.5 and 10 ng/mL milk for DON and 85% +/- 6% at 10 ng/mL for DOM-1.