Reproductive resilience: a paradigm shift in understanding spawner‐recruit systems in exploited marine fish

A close relationship between adult abundance and stock productivity may not exist for many marine fish stocks, resulting in concern that the management goal of maximum sustainable yield is either inefficient or risky. Although reproductive success is tightly coupled with adult abundance and fecundity in many terrestrial animals, in exploited marine fish where and when fish spawn and consequent dispersal dynamics may have a greater impact. Here, we propose an eco‐evolutionary perspective, reproductive resilience, to understand connectivity and productivity in marine fish. Reproductive resilience is the capacity of a population to maintain the reproductive success needed to result in long‐term population stability despite disturbances. A stock's reproductive resilience is driven by the underlying traits in its spawner‐recruit system, selected for over evolutionary timescales, and the ecological context within which it is operating. Spawner‐recruit systems are species specific, have both density‐dependent and fitness feedback loops and are made up of fixed, behavioural and ecologically variable traits. They operate over multiple temporal, spatial and biological scales, with trait diversity affecting reproductive resilience at both the population and individual (i.e. portfolio) scales. Models of spawner‐recruit systems fall within three categories: (i) two‐dimensional models (i.e. spawner and recruit); (ii) process‐based biophysical dispersal models which integrate physical and environmental processes into understanding recruitment; and (iii) complex spatially explicit integrated life cycle models. We review these models and their underlying assumptions about reproductive success vs. our emerging mechanistic understanding. We conclude with practical guidelines for integrating reproductive resilience into assessments of population connectivity and stock productivity.     

Adaptation of Asia-Pacific forests to climate change

Climate change is a threat to the stability and productivity of forest ecosystems throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The loss of forests due to climate-induced stress will have extensive adverse impacts on biodiversity and an array of ecosystem services that are essential for the maintenance of local economies and public health. Despite their importance, there is a lack of decision-support tools required to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on Asia-Pacific ecosystems and economies and to aid in the development of regionally appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The project Adaptation of Asia-Pacific Forests to Climate Change, summarized herein, aims to address this lack of knowledge and tools and to provide support for regional managers to develop effective policy to increase the adaptive capacity of Asia-Pacific forest ecosystems. This objective has been achieved through the following activities: (1) development of a high-resolution climate downscaling model, ClimateAP, applicable to any location in the region; (2) development of climate niche models to evaluate how climate change might affect the distribution of suitable climatic conditions for regionally important tree species; (3) development and application of forest models to assess alternative management strategies in the context of management objectives and the projected impacts of climate change; (4) evaluation of models to assess forest fire risk and the relationship between forest fire and climate change; (5) development of a technique to assess ecosystem carbon storage using LiDAR; and (6) evaluation of how vegetation dynamics respond to climate change using remote sensing technology. All project outputs were developed with a focus on communication and extension to facilitate the dissemination of results to regional forest resource managers to support the development of effective mitigation and adaptation policy.     

Understanding the naturalization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> in Portugal: a comparison with Australian plantations

Despite the potential utility of a biogeographical approach to understanding the naturalization of exotic species, studies using this approach are scarce. Eucalyptus globulus is an economically important Australian tree species that has become naturalized in a number of countries where it was introduced. Portugal is an ideal territory to study the naturalization of E. globulus owing to: a long introduction history, the antipodal location compared to Australia and the large cultivated area. Wildling density was assessed in 116 E. globulus plantations in central Portugal through 213 transects established along plantation borders. Boosted regression trees were used to model the influence of plantation-scale variables. Results from this survey were compared with data obtained in plantations from seven Australian regions, where a similar sampling protocol had been used. In Portugal, wildlings were more abundant in plantations that were: located in moist aspects, coppiced, with older tree stems and corresponding to intermediate site growth indexes. The overall density (127 plants ha^?1) was 14.9 times higher than in the Australian estate, but this ratio was reduced to 3.1 in a more comparable subset of unburnt, first rotation plantations. A generalized linear model fitted using a dataset combining the two surveys showed that country influenced wildling density, together with plantation rotation and stem age. These results provide insights into the naturalization of a widely cultivated tree species, pointing to a fundamental role of the introduction history, possibly acting along with the biogeographical characteristics of the introduced range.     

Characterization of 12 Novel Microsatellite Markers of Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) Identified From Next-Generation Sequence Data

The white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is a major pest of rice and has long-range migratory behavior in Asia. Microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats) have been widely used to determine the origins and genetic diversity of insect pests. We identified novel microsatellite loci for S. furcifera samples collected from Laos, Vietnam, and three localities in Bangladesh from next-generation Roche 454 pyrosequencing data. Size polymorphism at 12 microsatellite loci was verified for 40 adult individuals collected from Shinan, South Korea. The average number of alleles per locus was 7.92. The mean values of observed (H_o) and expected heterozygosities (H_E) were 0.615 and 0.757, respectively. These new microsatellite markers will be a resource for future ecological genetic studies of S. furcifera samples across more broad geographic regions in Asia and may assist in estimations of genetic differentiation and gene flow among populations for implementation of more effective management strategies to control this serious rice pest.     

Repellent and stocking guards reduce mammal browsing in eucalypt plantations

Mammalian herbivores regularly browse plantation seedlings. In many areas, seedlings require some form of protection if they are to survive and grow into a productive plantation. Two general approaches for reducing browsing damage to seedlings are to apply chemical repellents and tree guards. Both methods have existed for a long time, and new variations are constantly being developed. Seedling stocking guards, a type of tree guard, are being used operationally in Tasmania, Australia, but there is limited data quantifying their effectiveness and concerns with negative effects on tree performance. Conversely, although proven effective, repellents are not being used, but are potentially cheaper and less problematic. We therefore aimed to determine which is more effective under operational conditions, whether this effectiveness can be improved or extended, and if either treatment has any effects on seedling form or survival. We planted Eucalyptus nitens seedlings with combinations of repellent and stocking guards in six operational plantations to examine and compare their effectiveness. Seedlings were monitored for 12 months to examine treatment longevity. We found that both stocking guards and repellent significantly reduced and delayed browsing severity, with their effects being additive. No negative effects on growth were evident after 12 months, but adverse effects on seedling form warrant further investigation. Both of these methods can be easily and relatively cheaply applied in the nursery before planting, making them appealing options to reduce browsing. However, the ideal method for a given site will depend upon local browsing intensity.     

Field screening for genetic-based susceptibility to mammalian browsing

Browsing by mammalian herbivores is a major problem in plantation forestry. Seedlings are most vulnerable to browsing during establishment, making protection crucial during this period. Aside from reducing herbivore numbers, browsing can be controlled through the application of tree guards or chemical repellents. These methods are generally short-term options. A promising, potentially longer-term method of reducing browsing damage on plantations is to plant individuals with enhanced natural browse resistance. This requires the development of a rapid, cost-effective means of identifying germplasm with enhanced resistance. Here we present such a screening methodology.We planted Eucalyptus globulus seedlings from 22 different seedlots in randomised blocks along edge rows of six operational plantations. Seedlings were monitored for mammal browsing damage and growth for 2 years. Natural variation between E. globulus seedlots resulted in significant variation in the extent to which they were browsed. Differential browsing was evident just 10 weeks after planting, and caused a significant effect on tree growth after 2 years. Differential browsing was thought to be due to variation in levels of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). The identification and selective planting of high PSM seedlots in high risk areas could be an effective management tool to reduce browsing in plantation forestry.