Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings

Poor land use management and practice inhibit the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in dryland areas.We assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM)status of Faidherbia albida(Del.)A.Chev.trees grown on different land uses.We quantified the growth and nutrient uptake of F.albida seedlings inoculated with AM from different sources.These efforts were based on soil and fine root samples from the rhizosphere soils of F.albida trees.AM root colonization was determined using the gridline intersect method.Spores were extracted by the wet sieving and decanting method and identified to genus level.The seedling experiment had a completely randomized onefactorial design with four treatments and five replications.Faidherbida albida seedlings were grown in a greenhouse.All in situ F.albida trees were colonized by AM fungi.AM root colonization of F.albida trees was significantly higher(P<0.0086)in area exclosures than on lands used for grazing or cultivation.Spore abundance was significantly higher(P<0.0014)in area exclosures followed by cultivated land and grazing land.Glomus was the dominant genus in all land-uses.AM-inoculated F.albida seedlings grew better(P<0.05)than non-inoculated controls.Seedlings inoculated with AM from area exclosure had significantly(P<0.05)higher growth and nutrient uptake than those inoculated with AM from grazing and cultivated land.This emphasizes the importance of the native soil AM potential for better establishment of seedlings to achieve optimum plant growth improvement and assist in rehabilitation of degraded arid lands.     

Potential application of baited remote underwater video to survey abundance of west coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii

The first assessment of the baited remote underwater video system (BRUVs) for monitoring rock lobster Jasus lalandii (Milne‐Edwards) in South Africa was compared to annual ring net and trap survey data. Count data from 58 BRUVs, 36 ring net and 95 trap samples were fitted with generalised additive models using depth, habitat, time and spatial gradient as independent variables. A power analysis was used to determine the number of samples needed per annum to detect a 5 and 10% increase and decrease in population size. The BRUVs outperformed the nets and traps in terms of sampling effort and were better at detecting changes in abundance of lobster than abundance of three fish species. Considering factors such as cost, analysis time, additional data and environmental impact, traps are the most feasible method in deeper waters but BRUVs could replace nets and traps in depths less than 60 m, low‐density areas and marine reserves.     

3种龙胆科植物的资源分配对策

选择青藏高原东缘同一生境类型下具有不同交配系统特点和不同传粉者丰度的3种龙胆科植物湿生扁蕾(Gentianopsis paludosa)(自花授粉)、祁连獐牙菜(Swertia przewalskii)(高昆虫访问异花授粉)和线叶龙胆(Gentiana farreri)(低昆虫访问异花授粉)为对象,研究其资源分配特征。结果表明,1)3种植物的花粉胚珠比例(P/O)存在显著差异(P0.05),湿生扁蕾的P/O显著低于另外两种异花授粉植物的(P0.05),祁连獐牙菜的P/O显著低于线叶龙胆的(P0.05);2)3种植物的繁殖分配比例存在差异,湿生扁蕾的繁殖分配比例显著高于另外两种异花授粉植物的(P0.05),线叶龙胆的繁殖分配比例显著高于祁连獐牙菜的(P0.05);3)在繁殖分配比例与个体大小关系上,湿生扁蕾与其个体大小不存在显著相关关系(P0.05),而另外两种异花授粉植物则与其各自个体大小之间存在显著负相关关系(P0.05)。研究表明,交配系统类型和传粉者丰度与植物的资源分配模式有关,尽管3种植物的繁殖绝对投入量都与其个体大小显著正相关(P0.05),但自花授粉植物相对于异花授粉植物具有较高的繁殖分配比例,并且这种较高的繁殖分配比例不受个体大小影响,这种高繁殖投入的资源分配模式可能与自花授粉植物具有繁殖保障,从而降低其繁殖代价有关。     

Density-dependent effects on salmonid populations: A review

We reviewed 199 published data sets (21 species) to assess the relative frequency of various density-dependent processes in salmonids. We examined studies for the presence or absence of density-dependence: in growth, mortality, fecundity and recruitment. Based on data from all studies pooled 71% showed density-dependence in growth, 23% found density-dependence in mortality, 2% detected density-dependence in fecundity and 4% displayed density-dependence in recruitment. Most studies at the population level (e.g. changes in abundance or means of growth, mortality or fecundity) demonstrated density-dependence; however, these studies were not common, likely because they require long time series of data (at least 3–4 times mean generation time for the species). Our review indicated there was no evidence that the probability of finding density-dependent effects differed among the 21 species examined, but the number of studies per species varied substantially (5 [minimum for analysis] – 20+); hence, this finding should be viewed as tentative. Most salmonid species showed evidence of density-dependence in growth; however, few studies examined density-dependent effects on fecundity or recruitment, and further study is needed on these phenomena. There was no evidence that density-dependent effects were restricted to a particular habitat type or geographic region.     

Rodent abundance triggered switch between the relative mutualism and predation in a rodent–seed system of the subtropical island forest

Density-dependent non-monotonic species interactions are important in maintaining ecosystem stability and function, but empirical evidences are still rare. Rodents, as both seed dispersers and seed predators, have dual effects on plant regeneration and may result in non-monotonic rodent-plant interactions. According to the non-monotonic models, the relative positive or negative effects of rodents on seedling establishment can be measured based on the positive or negative association of seedling recruitment rate and rodent abundance. In this study, we investigated the fates of acorns of Quercus serrata by tracking tagged seeds on 21 fragmented subtropical islands in the Thousand Island Lake, China. We found that the proportion of germinated seeds of all released seeds showed a dome-shaped association with rodent abundance per seed. The proportion of removed seeds and cached seeds showed a saturated- and a weak dome-shaped association with rodent abundance per seed, respectively. Our results demonstrated a clear empirical evidence that rodent abundance per seed triggered a switch between the relative mutualism and predation in a rodent–seed system. Our study implied that the observed non-monotonic interactions between plants and animals may play a significant role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. We appeal for more investigations of the complex non-monotonic interactions in various ecosystems.     

“森林资源诅咒”的存在性、传导机制及破解对策:综述与展望

文中研究森林资源丰裕度与经济增长的关系，从森林资源诅咒的存在性检验、传导机制和破解对策3个方面对国内外相关文献进行了梳理总结。结果表明:森林资源诅咒研究已经取得了一定成果，但是现有文献对森林资源诅咒现象的实证研究结果不稳定，会因研究对象、时间、样本以及模型和指标选取的不同而变化；现有研究对森林资源诅咒的传导机制缺乏实证检验，在指标选择和模型构建中尚存在许多不足之处。未来研究需要考虑指标筛选的科学性、计量模型的稳健性以及中介和调节效应的引入等；此外，森林资源丰裕度与经济增长之间的关系可能不是线性关系，因此在建立计量模型时应对模型形式进行优化选择。     

Evaluating the relationship between yearling walleye,Sander vitreus,electrofishing catch‐per‐unit‐effort and density in northern Wisconsin lakes

Recruitment declines of walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), observed in some northern Wisconsin lakes have resulted in management actions to evaluate and rehabilitate populations. An effective index for estimating relative abundance of yearling walleye is required. The objectives herein were : (a) to evaluate the relationship between yearling walleye electrofishing CPUE and density in northern Wisconsin lakes; (b) to test for the influence of lake‐specific factors on electrofishing catchability of yearling walleye; and (c) to develop an index whereby electrofishing CPUE can be used to quantify yearling walleye relative abundance. Yearling density was significantly positively related to electrofishing CPUE on a long‐term dataset from Escanaba Lake as well as a dataset including several lakes combined. Electrofishing catchability of yearling walleye was negatively related to lake‐surface area but was not related to other lake‐specific variables. This index can provide an efficient method to continue monitoring natural recruitment and also to evaluate survival of stocked walleye.     

One hundred years of population ecology: Successes,failures and the road ahead

Population ecology is the most mature of the three subdisciplines of ecology partly because it has a solid mathematical foundation and partly because it can address the primary questions of distribution and abundance with experimental protocols. Yet there is much left to do to integrate our population knowledge into community and ecosystem ecology to help address the global issues of food security and the conservation of biodiversity. Many different approaches are now being developed to bring about this integration and much more research will be necessary to decide which if any will be most useful in achieving our goals of explaining the changes we see in the distribution and abundance of animals and plants. Food web ecology would appear to be the best approach at present because it uses the detailed information of the population ecology of particular species in combination with data on consumer–resource interactions to apply to the applied problems of biodiversity conservation, food security, pest management and disease prevention. If we can use our understanding of population ecology to address the practical problems of our time in a creative way, we will benefit both the human population and the Earth's biodiversity. Much remains to be done.     

Nitrogen-fixation dynamics in a cut-and-carry silvopastoral system in the subhumid conditions of Guadeloupe, French Antilles

This paper summarizes several studies on N recycling in a tropical silvopastoral system for assessing the ability of the system to increase soil fertility and insure sustainability. We analyzed the N₂ fixation pattern of the woody legume component (Gliricidia sepium), estimated the recycling rate of the fixed N in the soil, and measured N outputs in tree pruning and cut grass (Dichanthium aristatum). With this information, we estimated the N balance of the silvopastoral system at the plot scale. The studies were conducted in an 11-year-old silvopastoral plot established by planting G. sepium cuttings at 0.3 m × 2 m spacing in natural grassland. The plot was managed as a cut-and-carry system where all the tree pruning residues (every 2-4 months) and cut grass (every 40-50 days) were removed and animals were excluded. No N fertilizer was applied. Dinitrogen fixation, as estimated by the ¹⁵N natural abundance method, ranged from 60-90% of the total N in aboveground tree biomass depending on season. On average, 76% of the N exports from the plot in tree pruning (194 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) originated from N₂ fixation. Grass production averaged 13 Mg ha^–1 yr^–1 and N export in cut grass was 195 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. The total N fixed by G. sepium, as estimated from the tree and grass N exports and the increase in soil N content, was about 555 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. Carbon sequestration averaged 1.9 Mg [C] ha^–1 yr^–1 and soil organic N in the 0-0.2 m layer increased at a rate of 166 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1, corresponding to 30% of N₂ fixation by the tree. Nitrogen released in nodule turnover (10 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) and litter decomposition (40 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) contributed slightly to this increase, and most of the recycled N came from the turnover or the activity of other below-ground tree biomass than nodules. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

次生幼龄林封山育林后乔木层物种结构变化研究

1999年在浙江省仙居县俞坑村的封山育林区设置20 m×20 m的固定样地2块,对连续5年的调查数据进行统计分析,以其对次生幼林乔木物种结构变化进行研究.分析结果,乔木层物种丰富度指数增加了7～11,乔木物种增加了2～5科,3～8属.自然恢复为以壳斗科、杉科、山茶科、樟科、胡桃科、安息香科等物种为建群种或共建种的次生常绿阔叶林、针阔混交林.