The value of linking paleoecological and neoecological perspectives to understand spatially-explicit ecosystem resilience

Context

Predicting ecosystem resilience is a challenge, especially as climate change alters disturbance regimes and conditions for recovery. Recent research has highlighted the importance of spatially-explicit disturbance and resilience processes to long-term ecosystem dynamics. “Neoecological” approaches characterize resilience mechanisms at relatively fine spatio-temporal resolutions, but results are difficult to extrapolate across broad temporal scales or climatic ranges. Paleoecological methodologies can consider the effects of climates that differ from today. However, they are often limited to coarse-grained spatio-temporal resolutions.

Methods

In this synthesis, we describe implicit and explicit examples of studies that incorporate both neo- and paleoecological approaches. We propose ways to build on the strengths of both approaches in an explicit and proactive fashion.

Results

Linking the two approaches is a powerful way to surpass their respective limitations. Aligning spatial scales is critical: Paleoecological sampling design should incorporate knowledge of the spatial characteristics of the disturbance process, and neoecological studies benefit from a longer-term context to their conclusions. In some cases, modeling can incorporate non-spatial data from paleoecological records or emerging spatial paleo-data networks with mechanistic disturbance/recovery processes that operate at fine spatiotemporal scales.

Conclusions

Linking these two complementary approaches is a powerful way to build a complete understanding of ecosystem disturbance and resilience.

     

Performance of Mixed Species and Mono‐specific Algal Diets for Culture of Larval Western School Prawns,Metapenaeus dalli

The effect of three mono‐specific and four combinations of the diatoms Chaetoceros muelleri, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and the chlorophyte Tetraselmis suecica on survival, development, and dry weight of the western school prawn, Metapenaeus dalli, was assessed from protozoea I until mysis I. The development and dry weight of larvae were significantly greater when fed diets comprising C. muelleri and/or T. suecica. A fourth diet, consisting of all three microalgal species also performed just as well. Survival alone was a poor measure of the performance of the various diets. Larvae fed with C. calcitrans, either alone or in a mixed diet with either C. muelleri or T. suecica, had significantly slower development and lower dry weight. Overall performance, assessed using the normalized biomass development index, determined that both mono‐specific and mixed diets containing C. muelleri and T. suecica were among the best for M. dalli larvae. These results for M. dalli are consistent with those found for commercially grown penaeid prawns. This study enhances the limited knowledge on the feeding requirements of metapenaeid prawn larvae. Moreover, the results will help improve hatchery methods for the aquaculture‐based enhancement of M. dalli in the Swan‐Canning Estuary and potentially increase the abundance of this iconic recreational species.     

二倍体和四倍体泥鳅线粒体ND-5/6基因多态性的PCR-RFLP分析

采用PCR-RFLP分析方法,对洞庭湖、武汉两地的二倍体和四倍体泥鳅线粒体DNAND-5/6基因多态性及4个群体遗传变异和遗传关系进行了研究。结果表明,120尾泥鳅mtDNAND-5/6扩增片段长度均为2.2kb;从13种限制性内切核酸酶中筛选出6种多态性内切酶(HaeⅢ、DraⅠ、RsaⅠ、TaqⅠ、HinfⅠ、MspⅠ),对扩增产物进行酶切,共检测到66种单倍型。泥鳅群体内单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性分别为0.7679～0.9385和0.01041～0.03212;其中,洞庭湖二倍体核苷酸多样性最高(0.03212),武汉二倍体其次(0.02452),二倍体群体内核苷酸多样性高于四倍体。群体间的核苷酸多样性(π)大小为0.02588～0.04144,平均值为(0.031737±0.000005)。群体间的核苷酸歧化距离(δ)大小为0.00462～0.01617,平均值为(0.010659±0.000003);其中,武汉二倍体和四倍体之间的核苷酸歧化距离最大(0.01617),武汉四倍体和洞庭湖二倍体之间的核苷酸歧化距离最小(0.00462)。MonteCarlo模拟x2检验表明,4个群体间的单倍型频率存在极...     

草莓生物技术育种研究进展

应用生物技术是草莓品种改良和种质创新的重要手段。本文综述了近几十年来国内外生物技术在草莓育种研究中的应用主要进展,内容包括草莓的遗传转化、草莓的细胞悬浮培养、草莓的原生质体培养、草莓的花药培养、草莓的离体胚培养、草莓突变体的筛选等方面的研究。最后根据草莓生物技术育种存在的问题探讨了今后草莓育种工作的发展方向。     

樊净山自然保护区黔金丝猴生境选择的研究

适宜的生境是珍稀濒危生物生存的决定性条件,对珍稀濒危生物生境的系统研究是生物多样性保护的前提。金丝猴是中国特有并且珍稀的濒危物种,黔金丝猴又是三种金丝猴中分布最为狭窄、对生境要求最为苛刻的一种。本文从黔金丝猴的最佳适宜生境、适宜生境和较适宜生境三个生境选择方面对生境内植物群落特征、环境因子、极端环境因子等进行了系统分析,对黔金丝猴的季节活动规律、活动区域和食物特点进行了系统的研究。结果表明常绿针阔混交林是黔金丝猴的最佳生存的植被群落,其最适宜的年均温度为8～15C,极端最低温度为-2.5C,极端最高温度为25C,最适宜生存的海拔高度为1500～1700m。在同一区域,植物多样性越多,越适宜黔金丝猴的生存。温度和食物是决定黔金丝猴种群活动范围大小的主要生境因子,海拔高度、植被群落特征、温度是黔金丝猴对生境选择的主要限制因子。图3表3参16。     

我国耕地数量变化与保护政策关系的实证分析

以耕地数量的统计数据耕地、保护政策的颁布和实施为基础,借助经济计量学理论以及Eviewes5.1软件,运用协整分析、Granger因果关系检验和脉冲响应等分析方法,分析了改革开放以来我国耕地数量变化与耕地保护政策之间的互动关系。结果显示:耕地数量变化与耕地保护政策之间存在一种长期均衡关系,说明二者之间存在着某种机制在制约着变量的运动,使二者之间短期内的偏离不会太远,长期则会走向均衡;耕地数量变化与耕地保护政策之间存在单向的因果关系,即耕地数量变化与是耕地保护政策的Granger原因,而耕地保护政策不是耕地数量变化的Granger原因;脉冲响应以及方差分解表明,耕地数量变化对耕地保护政策具有较为持续的促进作用,且作用程度随着滞后期的加大而加强;耕地保护政策具有较强的惯性,主要受其自身以前水平的影响,因此耕地保护政策对耕地保护政策的促进作用不太显著。这也从一个侧面佐证了Granger因果检验的结果。因此,应制定长期而非短期的策略,强化耕地保护政策理论研究,加大耕地保护政策的制定、执行和监督力度,这是解决耕地过快减少问题的重要途径。     

石家庄污灌区污水灌溉技术的研究

分析了国内外污水灌溉的研究和发展,以石家庄市污灌区为研究对象,在分析预测未来30年污水水质水量特点的基础上,采用不同的灌水技术,利用环境容量法,分析预测了在不同务件下土壤和作物中重金属和石油类浓度的发展以及相应的污清水的灌溉需水量。针对该灌区土壤现状和污水水质特点,提出了建议的合理污水灌溉技术,以保证以土壤为中心的生态系统的可持续发展。     

大豆抗原蛋白的组成及其致敏作用机理

本文综述了大豆抗原蛋白的分类、组成和特征,以及大豆球蛋白与β -伴大豆球蛋白可能的致敏作用机理.     

Spatial heterogeneity of soil water content in the reversion process of desertification in arid areas

Sandy soils in arid,rain-fed environments have low and limited water content,which is a principal factor limiting vegetation development,and a key constraint controlling the structure and functions of the ecological systems in arid areas.The spatial heterogeneity of soil water content is a major soil property,and a focus of soil science and hydrology.On the southern edge of the Tengger Desert,sample plots were selected from mobile sand dunes in desertified lands that had been enclosed for 5,15 and 25 years,respectively.This study explored the dynamic and spatial heterogeneity of soil water content in these different layers of soil that were also in the reversion process of desertification.The results showed that the soil water content of the mobile sand dunes was highest when in the initial stages of the reversion process of desertification,while the soil water content in the 0-20 cm,20-40 cm and 40-60 cm layers of soil was 1.769%,3.011%,and 2.967% respectively,presenting a restoring tendency after 25 years of enclosure.There were significant differences,as a whole,in the soil water content among different restoration stages and different soil layers,respectively.Changes in soil water content,in different soil layers,at different restoration stages,exhibited exponential or spherical patterns.The spatial distribution of soil water content exhibited a mosaic patch pattern with obvious spatial heterogeneity.The ratio of the heterogeneity of spatial autocorrelation to gross spatial heterogeneity was greater than 50%.The gross spatial heterogeneity of the 0-20 cm layer of soil improved gradually,while those of the 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm layers improved initially,then weakened in the reversion process of desertification.This study revealed that restoration with sand-binding vegetation reduced soil water content,and increased its spatial heterogeneity in arid areas.However,after 25 years of vegetation-soil system restoration,the soil water content started to increase and its spatial heterogeneity started to weaken.These results will further benefit the understanding of the ecological mechanism between soil water and sand-binding vegetation.     

Calcium, diet and fracture risk: a prospective study of 1898 incident fractures among 34 696 British women and men

OBJECTIVE: The risk factors for fractures are incompletely understood. An outstanding question concerns the optimal amount of dietary calcium needed to minimise the risk of fracture. DESIGN: We examined the associations of dietary calcium and other nutrients with self-reported fracture risk in a prospective cohort study. Nutrient intakes were estimated using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire administered at recruitment. SETTING: The UK. Participants: A total of 26 749 women and 7947 men aged 20-89 years. RESULTS: Over an average of 5.2 years of follow-up, 1555 women and 343 men reported one or more fractures, 72% of these resulting from a fall. Among women, fracture risk was higher at lower calcium intakes, with a relative risk of 1.75 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.29) among women with a calcium intake of < 525 mg day- 1 compared with women with a calcium intake of at least 1200 mg day- 1 (test for linear trend, P < 0.001). The association of dietary calcium with fracture risk was stronger among women aged under 50 years at recruitment than among women aged 50 and above. Dietary calcium intake was not associated with fracture risk in men. Fracture risk was not related to the dietary intake of any other nutrient examined. CONCLUSION: In this population, women with a low dietary calcium intake had an increased risk of bone fracture, and this association was more marked among younger women than among older women.