High-resolution predictive mapping for Boophilus annulatus and B. microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Mexico and Southern Texas

In this study we use high-resolution satellite imagery to map habitat suitability for both Boophilus annulatus and B. microplus over an area covering parts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. The habitat for these tick species covers widely different regions. B. microplus finds satisfactory abiotic conditions in wet coastal habitats, whereas B. annulatus finds suitable habitat in the drier inner parts of southwestern Texas and northern Mexico; the two species have very different habitat requirements. We use habitat topology and data concerning abiotic habitat suitability to understand the effects of habitat configuration on tick abundance. This is achieved using traversability (habitat permeability) and recruitment (tick abundance at the patch level) to produce a model that computes the abundance of ticks at the patch level. Results from the computation are then compared with actual data on tick outbreaks at the Texas-Mexico border, as a test of the agreement between actual tick captures and abundance model predictions.     

The integration of climate change,spatial dynamics,and habitat fragmentation: A conceptual overview

A growing number of studies have looked at how climate change alters the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on both single and multiple species; some raise concern that biodiversity loss and its effects will be exacerbated. The published literature on spatial dynamics (such as dispersal and metapopulation dynamics), habitat fragmentation and climate change requires synthesis and a conceptual framework to simplify thinking. We propose a framework that integrates how climate change affects spatial population dynamics and the effects of habitat fragmentation in terms of: (i) habitat quality, quantity and distribution; (ii) habitat connectivity; and (iii) the dynamics of habitat itself. We use the framework to categorize existing autecological studies and investigate how each is affected by anthropogenic climate change. It is clear that a changing climate produces changes in the geographic distribution of climatic conditions, and the amount and quality of habitat. The most thorough published studies show how such changes impact metapopulation persistence, source–sink dynamics, changes in species' geographic range and community composition. Climate‐related changes in movement behavior and quantity, quality and distribution of habitat have also produced empirical changes in habitat connectivity for some species. An underexplored area is how habitat dynamics that are driven by climatic processes will affect species that live in dynamic habitats. We end our discussion by suggesting ways to improve current attempts to integrate climate change, spatial population dynamics and habitat fragmentation effects, and suggest distinct areas of study that might provide opportunities for more fully integrative work     

An early record of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) developing in the dung of game animals in southern Africa

The value of the dung of game animals as a larval habitat for Culicoides species was briefly investigated in 1973/74 in the Kruger National Park, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. A total of 4 species in the subgenus Avaritia was reared, 3 from elephant dung, 2 from zebra dung and 1 from the dung of buffalo. These early studies have recently led to more intensive rearing and a better understanding of the systematics of this subgenus in the Afrotropical region.     

内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚生境景观格局及动态研究

2009年7月、8月,2010年3月中旬、5月下旬,对内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚进行野外考察并在生境适宜度分析的基础上,利用FRAGSTATS 3.3软件对达赉湖地区蒙原羚生境进行景观格局分析。通过比较1998年和2010年达赉湖地区蒙原羚生境适宜度评价结果,表明内蒙古达赉湖地区蒙原羚一般适宜生境、中度适宜生境和适宜生境的斑块不断被分割成更小的斑块,破碎化程度加大。蒙原羚不适宜生境斑块面积在增加,而一般适宜斑块、中度适宜生境和适宜斑块面积在减小,并且适宜生境面积变化程度最大。因此应加强对适宜生境斑块的有效管理,严格控制和降低来自斑块外部的干扰,同时加强对中度适宜生境和一般适宜生境生态功能的恢复,严格控制草场载畜量。另外,应对不适宜生境的草地资源进行科学化、规范化的管理,并深入开展科学研究,以保护蒙原羚的生存空间。     

Impacts of Mesquite Distribution on Seasonal Space Use of Lesser Prairie-Chickens

Loss of native grasslands by anthropogenic disturbances has reduced availability and connectivity of habitat for many grassland species. A primary threat to contiguous grasslands is the encroachment of woody vegetation, which is spurred by disturbances that take on many forms from energy development, fire suppression, and grazing. These disturbances are exacerbated by natural- and human-driven cycles of changes in climate punctuated by drought and desertification conditions. Encroachment of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) into the prairies of southeastern New Mexico has potentially limited habitat for numerous grassland species, including lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). To determine the magnitude of impacts of distribution of mesquite and how lesser prairie-chickens respond to mesquite presence on the landscape in southeastern New Mexico, we evaluated seasonal space use of lesser prairie-chickens in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. We derived several remotely sensed spatial metrics to characterize the distribution of mesquite. We then used these data to create population-level resource utilization functions and predict intensity of use of lesser prairie-chickens across our study area. Home ranges were smaller in the breeding season compared with the nonbreeding season; however, habitat use was similar across seasons. During both seasons, lesser prairie-chickens used areas closer to leks and largely avoided areas with mesquite. Relative to the breeding season, during the nonbreeding season habitat use suggested a marginal increase in mesquite within areas of low intensity of use, yet aversion to mesquite was strong in areas of medium to high intensity of use. To our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate a negative behavioral response by lesser prairie-chickens to woody encroachment in native grasslands. To mitigate one of the possible limiting factors for lesser prairie-chickens, we suggest future conservation strategies be employed by land managers to reduce mesquite abundance in the southern portion of their current range.     

内蒙古麻黄属的分类及经济利用浅析

本文通过对内蒙古自治区麻黄属的6个种的形态特征的观察进行分类，并通过对习性，生境及生物碱的含量等特征讨论其经济利用情况。     

Common Influences on the Success of Habitat Conservation Planning under the Endangered Species Act

Over half of the endangered species in the United States depend on private lands for habitat. In 1982, Congress amended the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to address the conservation of endangered species on private lands through the introduction of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). HCPs enable landowners to comply with the ESA and can foster creative partnerships between the federal government and local stakeholders. Researchers have investigated the scientifically biological merits of HCPs, but comparatively little attention has been given to social aspects despite an emphasis on stakeholder involvement in HCPs. We explore stakeholder perceptions of HCP development through 19 semi-structured key informant interviews. Findings include the influence of interpersonal themes, shared understanding and capacity on process outcomes, and the importance of the external context in which HCP development occurs. Our research highlights the central role of understanding social dimensions to achieve the desired outcomes from collaborative conservation planning processes.     

Elusive cats in our backyards: persistence of the North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) in a human-dominated landscape in central China

The North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis), the least-known big cat, disappeared in most historical range for decades, following the development of modern civilization. Unfortunately, we have scarce knowledge about the status of this big cat so far, apart from anecdotal reports. In this study, we investigated density, distribution, and habitat use of the leopard, the apex predator, in a complex forest landscape in the Loess Plateau. We used a camera-trapping network to obtain population estimates for leopards over 2 years through spatially explicit capture–recapture models. Our results, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian/MCMC methods, reveal that the largest wild population of the leopard was found widely distributed in remnant forests in central Loess plateau. The population is increasing in our study area, and the density of leopards (1.70 (SE = 0.48) − 2.40 (SE = 0.67)/100 km²) is higher than other areas of China. According to the analysis of 2 seasonal occupancy models, prey species drive partially the leopard habitat use, predicting that the big cat thrives from the recovery of prey community. However, human disturbances, especially oil wells, seem to have negative impacts on the habitat use of leopards. Specifically, it is necessary to have joint efforts by the government and researchers to improve human disturbances management and prey species population density, as well as strengthen the investment in research on the North Chinese leopard, which could all further strengthen protection ability and ensure the long-term survival of this species.     

基于MaxEnt模型的新疆鹅喉羚生境适宜性评价

生境评价对物种保护具有非常重要的意义。本文以鹅喉羚为研究对象,2013～2017年通过对新疆各地区开展多次野外考察,共收集了180个鹅喉羚出现点数据,作为其分布点数据,选取19个气候因子、3个地形因子、植被因子、人类干扰因子等4类24种因子作为环境变量因子,利用MaxEnt模型分析了鹅喉羚的生境适宜性分布特征和主要环境变量因子对鹅喉羚分布的影响。结果表明:模型预测结果准确性较高,平均AUC(area under the curve,受试工作者曲线下面积)值为0. 973; Jackknife检验结果显示:海拔、最冷月最低温度(BIO6)、最干季平均温度(BIO9)、年均温(BIO1)、最冷季平均温度(BIO11)为对鹅喉羚生境分布影响最大的环境变量。鹅喉羚在新疆的适宜分布区主要是天山山脉南部的塔里木盆地和塔克拉玛干大沙漠周边区域、天山山脉北部的准噶尔盆地周边区域、新疆东部的吐哈盆地周边地区、新疆最北部的阿勒泰山脉周边区域等。本研究不仅揭示了新疆鹅喉羚的实际分布状况,同时为了更有效地保护新疆鹅喉羚及其栖息环境提供科学依据。     

甘南高寒草甸蝗虫和毛虫的分布与植被群落的关系

为探明甘南州夏河县高寒草甸草原蝗虫（Chorthippus sp.）和草原毛虫（Gynaephora sp.）的分布与其地形和植被因子的关系,本研究于2010年至2014年连续5年,定点选择30个样区,每年从5月至9月在各样地进行无放回取样调查密度,测量了植被的多度、盖度和地上生物量,并分析它们之间的相关性。结果表明：蝗虫选择分布在平地和半阳坡、坡中位的坡地,而毛虫只选择平地;植被盖度和地上生物量是影响草地蝗虫和毛虫分布的关键因子,与其种群密度呈显著的负相关关系;地上生物量较高的平地是蝗虫和毛虫共同分布的主要区域;洽草（Koeleria glauca）、花苜蓿（Melissilus ruthenicus）和芨芨草（Achnatherum splendens）3种植物多度与蝗虫分布显著相关,与毛虫分布不相关。可见,高寒草甸草原蝗虫和草原毛虫的分布与地形和植被因子显著相关,其栖息地利用特征有显著的偏好性。     

Zonation and habitat selection on a reclaimed coastal foredune

Geomorphic / floristic variables are useful as general habitat indicators on coastal foredunes. Variables used in this study were vegetation cover, plant community structure and sand movement. Three distinct zones, four habitats and six subhabitats were identified. Zonation and habitat selection appeared to be related to cover for two small mammal species. The arthropod orders were less susceptible to zonation and strict habitat selection, although some of the species showed selection. The normally unfavourable edaphic habitat, the transition dune, was the most populated, dominated by the marine isopods.     

Locomotion behavior of cao vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) living in karst forest in Bangliang Nature Reserve,Guangxi, China

The cao vit gibbon is a critically endangered species. Only approximately 110 individuals remain in degraded karst forest along the China‐Vietnam border. Karst forest is unusual gibbon habitat. Currently, the canopy height of cao vit gibbon habitat is approximately 10 m. Research on the locomotor behavior of gibbons living in this particular forest type might provide important insight into locomotor stability and variability of gibbons. We used 5 min scan samples to record the locomotion mode, support use and canopy strata of gibbons in 3 groups for 2096 h between January 2008 and December 2009. Although cao vit gibbon habitat has a lower canopy in comparison to that of other forests inhabited by gibbons, cao vit gibbons displayed a similar overall locomotor pattern to other gibbon species (Symphalangus syndactylus, Hylobates lar and Hylobates agilis) in which brachiation dominate their locomotor behavior. Cao vit gibbons spent most of their time travelling on inclined branches (2–10 cm) in the middle stratum through the forest canopy. Adult females appear to more often employ safer modes of locomotion (bridging more often and brachiation less), while adult males choose riskier modes (leaping more and climbing less). As gibbons increased in body weight, as they grew from infant to adult, they tended to use larger supports. This research documented that locomotor behavior in Hylobatidae is strongly determined by anatomical characters, but cao vit gibbons also show the ability to use various supports, enabling them to survive in karst forest.     

Intra-oral microbial profiles of beagle dogs assessed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization using human probes

Some investigators suggest a similarity between the oral microbiota of dogs and humans. The in vivo assessment of ecologic relationships among bacterial species and between bacterial species and their habitat is difficult to carry out. Consequently, this aspect is often neglected in animal oral microbiological studies. This study aimed to examine the proportions of 40 bacterial species in samples from five intra-oral habitats in beagle dogs using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Microbial samples were taken from subgingival and supra-gingival plaque, the tongue, tonsils and cheek mucosa in seven beagle dogs. Samples were individually evaluated for their content of 40 bacterial species and the percentage of total DNA probe count was determined for each species, at each habitat. All tested species could be detected in all sampled habitats but each habitat had a distinct community structure. The microbiotas colonizing the hard surfaces in the oral cavity were quite different from the microbiotas colonizing the soft tissues. Bacterial species that are in humans considered to be periodontopathogens are present in high proportions. This study underlines the importance of the habitat and the host on the local microbial profile.     

Climate change decreases habitat suitability for some tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) in South Africa

Models predicting current habitat availability for four prominent tick species in Africa (Boophilus decoloratus, Amblyomma hebraeum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Hyalomma truncatum) were constructed using remotely sensed information about abiotic variables and a point-to-point similarity metric. Year-to-year variations in the forecasted habitat suitability over the period 1983-2000 show a clear decrease in habitat availability, which is attributed primarily to increasing temperature in the region over this period. Climate variables were projected to the year 2015 using Fourier series analysis of the decadal abiotic data. The simulations show a trend toward the destruction of the habitats of the four tick species. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was developed to probe the changes in the habitat suitability in response to variations in temperature, vegetation availability and water vapour deficit. Four basic scenarios were studied: increasing or decreasing the temperature 1 or 2 degrees C together with correlated variations in the other abiotic variables. A decrease in temperature was predicted to promote habitat gain for every species except H. truncatum, while an increase of 1 degrees C was forecast to sustain a small but positive response in A. hebraeum and B. decoloratus. Increasing the temperature by 2 degrees C was forecast to have damaging effects on the habitat structure of all four species. The effect of climate warming on the habitat range of these ticks is considered in the light of economically sound control measures over an ecological background.     

Habitat restoration is the greatest challenge for population recovery of Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus)

Hainan gibbons are among the world's most critically endangered primates, with a remaining population of only 35 individuals distributed across 5 social groups in the Bawangling Branch of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China. Habitat conversion and forest fragmentation over the past 40 years have reduced their geographical distribution by 95%. In the absence of a quantitative assessment of the availability of remaining suitable habitat, it is unclear whether this species can survive to the end of this century. We used behavioral observations, ArcGIS, remote sensing, stereo optical imagery, and MaxEnt modeling to identify patterns of Hainan gibbon range use and compare changes in the distribution of suitable forest types and areas of forest fragmentation over the past 20 years (2000–2020). The results indicate that the combined range of the 5 extant Hainan gibbon groups totaled 14.89 km². The home range of the smallest group (Group E, 3 individuals) was 1.51 km², which likely represents the minimum home range size for this species. The remaining area of highly suitable and moderately suitable habitat totals 26.9 km². However, habitat connectivity across the gibbon range is very low (less than 0.5), limiting the ability of Hainan gibbons to move between forest patches. The results of this study indicate that the availability of suitable habitat in Bawangling is insufficient to allow for future Hainan gibbon population growth. Therefore, immediate action must be taken to restore, reforest, and establish ecological corridors to reconnect areas of suitable habitat for these critically endangered gibbons.     

太行山中段植物群落草本植物优势种种间联结性分析

植物种间关联研究对揭示植物对生境变化的响应及植被演替机制具有重要意义。运用2×2列联表、2χ检验方法对群落草本植物优势种进行总体相关性和种对间的联结性检验,应用Spearman秩相关系数刻画种对间的数量变化关系,对太行山中段植物群落草本层中重要值较高的32个优势种群、496个种对间的关联性进行定量研究。结果表明,太行山中段草本植物优势种整体上多呈现正关联,群落处于较稳定的演替阶段。其中2χ检验结果有75个种对呈极显著正关联,74个种对呈显著正关联,只有20个种对为不显著的负关联。Spearman秩相关分析结果有43个种对呈极显著相关,79个种对呈显著相关,只有6对为不显著的负相关。对生境要求相同或相似的种对表现出显著的正关联。χ2检验呈显著、极显著相关的种对数多于秩相关分析。     

Small mammals at community refuse dumps as reservoirs of pathogens and parasites]

Five-year studies (1981-1986) were performed to investigate a total number of 2589 small mammals of 18 species. Refuse dumps are marked for highly specific conditions. The difference between refuse dumps and natural habitats consists in more sufficient quantity of food, better sheltering possibilities and in highly specific microclimate particularly. As a result of aerobic and anaerobic decompositions of organic materials, temperature in dumps is approximately 50 degrees C. From ecological point of view mammalian populations in refuse dumps could be classified in three groups according to the degree of their adaptation to this specific habitat: 1. permanent, abundant species, well-adapted to and closely connected with the habitat of dumps (Crocidura suaveolens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus arvalis), 2. permanent, common species which are, however, loosely connected with this habitat (Sorex araneus, Mustela nivalis), 3. rare species whose occurrence in this habitat is largely accidental.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

When a general morphology allows many habitat uses

During the last decades the study of functional morphology received more attention incorporating more detailed data corresponding to the internal anatomy that together contribute for a better understanding of the functional basis in locomotion. Here we focus on 2 lizard families, Tropiduridae and Liolaemidae, and use information related to muscle‐tendinous and external morphology traits of hind legs. We investigate whether the value of the traits analyzed tend to exhibit a reduced phenotypic variation produced by stabilizing selection, and whether species showing specialization in their habitat use will also exhibit special morphological features related to it. As a result, we identified that evolution of hind limb traits is mainly explained by the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model, suggesting stabilizing selection. Liolaemids and tropidurids show clear ecomorphological trends in the variables considered, with sand lizards presenting the most specialized morphological traits. Some ecomorphological trends differ between the 2 lineages, and traits of internal morphology tend to be more flexible than those of external morphology, restricting the ability to identify ecomorphs shared between these 2 lineages. Conservative traits of external morphology likely explain such restriction, as ecomorphs have been historically defined in other lizard clades based on variation of external morphology.     

Can incidental sighting data be used to elucidate habitat preferences and areas of suitable habitat for a cryptic species?

The involvement of communities in ecological studies has been shown to augment conservation efforts, especially for cryptic species. However, there is a lack of studies addressing the utility of incidental sighting records from community members in gaining knowledge on habitat preferences and distribution of suitable habitat for these organisms. This study compares preferences of the Lumholtz's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi ; LTK), a cryptic rainforest folivore in northeastern Australia, for various habitat and climatic variables derived from data collected during scientific projects to those derived from incidental sighting records using ArcGIS and Maxent. Incidental sighting records suggest that the species uses a wider range of altitudes, annual rainfalls, annual mean temperatures and vegetation types than predicted by scientific studies. Incidental records also show that the species can persist in areas of lower rainfall during the wettest month and lower minimum temperature during the coldest month. Both data place the species within a comparable range of rainfalls during the driest month, maximum temperatures of the warmest month and soil types. When using identified preferences to assess the extent and distribution of suitable habitat, incidental records predicted more areas of suitable habitat than scientific records with an overlap of up to 91% between them. The present study proves that incidental sighting records can be a valuable part of the study of cryptic species and should be considered complementarily alongside scientific studies to obtain comprehensive ecological information of a species that can assist in its conservation.     

贵州贵阳阿哈湖国家湿地公园鸟类群落多样性分析

湿地鸟类多样性对维持湿地生态系统的动态平衡具有重要意义。2016年9月至2017年2月,2018年4—8月,在贵州贵阳阿哈湖国家湿地公园研究了鸟类群落结构和多样性,结果如下:1)共记录鸟类17目52科161种,其中国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物有11种。2)湿地公园鸟类群落多样性指数为3. 220 8,均匀度指数为0. 696 4,优势种为黄臀鹎(Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)、麻雀(Passer montanus)和白颊噪鹛(Garrulax sannio)。3)随着季节的更替,物种丰富度逐渐下降,多度夏季最大,春季次之,秋季和冬季相继减少,物种多样性指数和物种均匀度指数均呈现先下降后上升的趋势,优势度指数与物种多样性变化趋势相反。鸟类多样性指数自然植被生境(3. 087 4)>水陆过渡区(2. 762 5)>人工生境(2. 442 5)>水域(1. 907 0),均匀度指数水陆过渡区(0. 765 0)>自然植被生境(0. 726 7)>水域(0. 687 8)>人工生境(0. 666 7),优势度指数水域(0. 204 9)>人工生境(0. 172 2)>水陆过渡区(0. 107 7)>自然植被生境(0. 078 3)。4)不同季节、不同生境鸟类群落相似性存在差异,秋季和冬季鸟类相似性较高,相似系数为0. 651 2,春季和冬季相似性较低,相似系数为0. 464 6。自然植被生境和人工生境鸟类相似性较高,相似系数为0. 550 5,水域和自然植被生境相似性较低,相似系数为0. 139 5。