Bat diversity in montane rainforest and shaded coffee under different management regimes in southeastern Chiapas, Mexico

Differences in alpha and beta bat diversity among montane rainforest and five shaded coffee plantations under different management regimes, as well as some environmental factors and vegetation parameters influencing bat richness, were evaluated for the first time in southeastern Chiapas, Mexico. In each site, bats were captured every 2 months from March 2004 to July 2005, with six mist-nets, during two nights, using the capture-recapture method. We captured 2970 individuals of 43 bat species. Montane rainforest had the greatest alpha diversity (H′ = 2.681; n = 37), whereas alpha diversity was similar among coffee plantations (H′ = 2.229-2.364; n = 23-26). The number of frugivorous and nectarivorous species was similar among the sites; the greatest exchange in species composition (beta diversity) occurred for insectivorous bats, which reduce their number in coffee plantations as pesticides are incorporated. Bat richness species was significantly related to the number of vegetation strata, height, and cover of trees. We suggest that coffee plantations could act as corridors, facilitating connection among different elements of the landscape in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas for some frugivorous and nectarivorous bats.     

Effects of woody debris, microtopography, and organic matter amendments on the biotic community of constructed depressional wetlands

To increase wetland acreage and biodiversity, Delaware agencies constructed >220 depressional wetlands. During construction, agencies included amendments thought to increase biodiversity. Because the efficacy of amendments is unknown, we investigated their effects on macroinvertebrate and vegetative communities. We selected 20 standardized wetlands (five contained coarse woody debris (CWD) and microtopography amendments (land surface ridges and furrows), five had neither, five had CWD only, and five had microtopography only). Additionally, 12 wetlands had received organic matter amendments (i.e., straw). Insect richness (P = 0.010; r² = 0.16), insect biomass (P = 0.023; r² = 0.13), intolerant insect biomass (P = 0.033, r² = 0.03), Ephemeroptera biomass (P = 0.027; r² = 0.12), and Odonata biomass (P = 0.046; r² = 0.10) increased with CWD volume. Obligate plant percent cover increased with microtopographic variation (P = 0.029; r² = 0.120). Although organic matter amendments did not increase percent soil organic matter (t_13.7 = −1.16, P = 0.264), total (P = 0.027; r² = 0.12), native (P = 0.036; r² = 0.11), and facultative (P = 0.001; r² = 0.24) plant richness increased with percent soil organic matter. To enhance biodiversity, constructed wetlands should contain CWD, but additional research is needed to understand the benefits of microtopography and organic matter amendments.     

Interrelations of vegetal cover,silicophytolith content and pedogenesis of Typical Argiudolls of the Pampean Plain,Argentina

Knowledge of the origin, evolution and weathering of Pampean soils is still limited. There are few prior studies of silicophytoliths, even though they could be important pedogenetic indicators that provide information about the role of amorphous silica in the reestablishment of soil structure. The aim of this work is to determine the silicophytolith content in Typical Argiudolls of the Pampean Plain, Argentina, its relation with vegetal cover and its effect on pedogenesis. We worked in three plots with different vegetal cover: grasses and shelter-belt plantations of Acacia melanoxylon – Celtis tala and Eucalyptus globulus – Celtis tala. In the study area, morphological characterization and particle size distribution analysis of soils were completed, and pH and organic matter content were determined. The heavy liquid separation was realized with sodium polytungstate (δ = 2.3 g/cm³) and an average of around 500 mineral grains were counted under optical microscope for the quali-quantitative analysis. There were no differences between profiles with respect to their morphological properties, organic matter content and particle size distribution, except for the higher organic horizon development of the forest plots as compared with the grass plot. The silicophytolith content was higher in the forest plots than in the grass one; within each profile, this fraction content decreased from the surface (63–40%) to the subsurface levels (23–5%) of soils. This decrease parallels the pieces of amorphous silica (< 7.5 μm) distribution in all plots analyzed. Afforestation over the past 50 years does not affect either the morphological or the physico-chemical properties of soils. These forest species, through the organic horizons, preserve soil conditions, which insures a higher representativity of silicophytoliths in comparison with the grass plot.     

Effects of soil microarthropods on plant litter decomposition across an elevation gradient in the Wuyi Mountains

Soil microarthropods are considered to be among the strongest determinants of plant litter decomposition in warm, humid sites. Little is known, however, about the regulation of plant litter decomposition dynamics along an elevation gradient in such sites. Our study examined the contributions of soil microarthropods to leaf litter decomposition of a single substrate (Castanopsis carlesii) along an elevation gradient across four types of zonal vegetations in southeastern China: evergreen broadleaf forest (EVB): coniferous forest (COF): dwarf forest (DWF): and alpine meadow (ALM) during April 2007 to March 2008. Leaf litter decomposition of C. carlesii was significantly accelerated by the presence of fauna in all four sites. After 360 days in the field, mass loss rates with the full decomposer assemblage and in the reduction of microarthropods were 62.9% and 41.2% in EVB, 48.1% and 30.6% in COF, 36.4% and 27.8% in DWF, 30.3% and 23.7% in ALM, respectively. The percentage of total decomposition due to the presence of soil fauna was 37% in EVB, 25% in COF, 12% in DWF, and 8% in ALM, thus showing strong systematic variation along the elevational gradient. The mass losses in control plots at the four sites were significantly correlated with the abundances of total Acari, Collembolans, and Mesostigmata mites. Although the proportion of Oribatid mites at EVB was not the highest among the four sites, there were elevated proportions of Mesostigmatid and Prostigmata mites, many of which were microbe-consuming species and induce an indirect influence on litter decomposition. Moreover, Shannon Index (F = 2.455, p = 0.093) and Group Number (F = 5.830, p = 0.005) both decreased along the elevation gradients. Mass losses were also found to be distinctively related to H′ (r² = 0.984, p = 0.016), and GN (r² = 0.952, p = 0.048) across the four sites. Our results suggest that the faunal contribution to plant litter decomposition varies markedly across environmental gradients that differ in litter faunal diversity.     

Assessing exotic plant species invasions and associated soil characteristics: A case study in eastern Rocky Mountain National Park,Colorado, USA,using the pixel nested plot design

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, USA, contains a diversity of plant species. However, many exotic plant species have become established, potentially impacting the structure and function of native plant communities. Our goal was to quantify patterns of exotic plant species in relation to native plant species, soil characteristics, and other abiotic factors that may indicate or predict their establishment and success. Our research approach for field data collection was based on a field plot design called the pixel nested plot. The pixel nested plot provides a link to multi-phase and multi-scale spatial modeling-mapping techniques that can be used to estimate total species richness and patterns of plant diversity at finer landscape scales. Within the eastern region of RMNP, in an area of approximately 35,000 ha, we established a total of 60 pixel nested plots in 9 vegetation types. We used canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and multiple linear regressions to quantify relationships between soil characteristics and native and exotic plant species richness and cover. We also used linear correlation, spatial autocorrelation and cross correlation statistics to test for the spatial patterns of variables of interest. CCA showed that exotic species were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with photosynthetically active radiation (r = 0.55), soil nitrogen (r = 0.58) and bare ground (r = −0.66). Pearson's correlation statistic showed significant linear relationships between exotic species, organic carbon, soil nitrogen, and bare ground. While spatial autocorrelations indicated that our 60 pixel nested plots were spatially independent, the cross correlation statistics indicated that exotic plant species were spatially associated with bare ground, in general, exotic plant species were most abundant in areas of high native species richness. This indicates that resource managers should focus on the protection of relatively rare native rich sites with little canopy cover, and fertile soils. Using the pixel nested plot approach for data collection can facilitate the ecological monitoring of these vulnerable areas at the landscape scale in a time- and cost-effective manner.     

What is the appropriate paradigm for riparian forest conservation?

Because forest width is thought to be the most relevant metric to ecological communities, it has persisted as the dominant paradigm and focus of management recommendations for riparian forest conservation. Consequently, managers may overlook important effects of the surrounding landscape matrix. We determined if characteristics of the landscape matrix, particularly the amount of urban development surrounding a forest, were better predictors of bird communities than forest width. We sampled breeding-bird communities 3 times each June 2001-2004 in 33 riparian forest sites (69-565 m wide) in Ohio, USA. We examined if bird community structure and composition were more closely associated with forest width or the amount of urban development within 1 km of each forest using canonical correlation analysis. Results indicate that the landscape matrix surrounding these relatively large forest tracts explained >94% of the variation in bird communities compared to <6% explained by forest width. Numbers of Neotropical migrants were negatively associated with urbanization in the landscapes (r = −0.43), whereas residents (r = 0.57) and short-distance migrants (r = 0.41) were positively associated with urbanization. Similar patterns persisted at the individual species level, particularly for Neotropical migrants as 76% of species in this guild were negatively related to urban development. Our findings suggest that the traditional approach to conserving riparian forests is not sufficient and that explicit consideration of the surrounding landscape matrix also should be a key component in conservation efforts.     

What is the impact of Impatiens glandulifera on species diversity of invaded riparian vegetation?

Effect of invasion by Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae) on the community characteristics and species composition of invaded riparian communities was studied at six rivers in the Czech Republic. Two approaches were used: space for time substitution approach, i.e., comparing invaded and uninvaded sites under the same habitat conditions, and removal of the invader from experimental plots. Differences in the number of species, Shannon diversity index H′ and evennes J were compared between invaded and uninvaded plots. Uninvaded plots of the comparative study harboured by 0.23 more species per 16 m², and had higher value of H′ and J, calculated with species covers as importance values; however only the difference in J was marginally significant (p = 0.04). Other effects were not significant, indicating that once I. glandulifera is removed, communities recover without any consequences for species diversity. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any effect of invasion on the species composition in terms of species presence but their cover hierarchies changed after the invasion, as I. glandulifera became dominant at the expense of tall native nitrophilous dominants. It is concluded that I. glandulifera exerts negligible effect on the characteristics of invaded riparian communities, hence it does not represent threat to the plant diversity of invaded areas. This makes it very different from other Central European invasive aliens of a similar performance.     

Field characterization of olive (Olea europaea L.) tree crown architecture using terrestrial laser scanning data

Since the introduction of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) instruments, there now exists a means of rapidly digitizing intricate structural details of vegetation canopies using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. In this investigation, Intelligent Laser Ranging and Imaging System (ILRIS-3D) data was acquired of individual tree crowns at olive (Olea europaea L.) plantations in Córdoba, Spain. In addition to conventional tripod-mounted ILRIS-3D scans, the unit was mounted on a platform (12 m above ground) to provide nadir (top-down) observations of the olive crowns. 24 structurally variable olive trees were selected for in-depth analysis. From the observed 3D laser pulse returns, quantitative retrievals of tree crown structure and foliage assemblage were obtained. Robust methodologies were developed to characterize diagnostic architectural parameters, such as tree height (r² = 0.97, rmse = 0.21 m), crown width (r² = 0.97, rmse = 0.13 m), crown height (r² = 0.86, rmse = 0.14 m), crown volume (r² = 0.99, rmse = 2.6 m³), and Plant Area Index (PAI) (r² = 0.76, rmse = 0.26 m²/m²). With the development of such LiDAR-based methodologies to describe vegetation architecture, the forestry, agriculture, and remote sensing communities are now faced with the possibility of replacing current labour-intensive inventory practices with, modern TLS systems. This research demonstrates that TLS systems can potentially be the new observational tool and benchmark for precise characterization of vegetation architecture for improved agricultural monitoring and management.     

Waterfowl-habitat associations during winter in an urban North Atlantic estuary

Coastal habitats near urban centres in North Atlantic estuaries often support substantial numbers of wintering waterfowl, but little is known of the effects of landscape setting and urbanisation on habitat use. We conducted surveys of waterfowl at 32 wintering sites in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, to identify characteristics that may influence habitat use. Sites were chosen along a gradient of urbanisation and reflected the dominant habitat types used by waterfowl in the Bay. Mean waterfowl abundance was 206.7 ± 209.5 birds per site, and sites in the inner part of the estuary had higher overall waterfowl abundances (r² = 0.40, p = 0.021). Species richness ranged from 3.2 to 13.0 and decreased with increasing hunting activity (r² = 0.36, p = 0.040). Hunting activity and habitat characteristics (e.g., latitude, shoreline configuration, prey density) explained 13-27% of the variation in waterfowl abundance and species richness among sites, but landscape characteristics (e.g., surrounding residential development, vegetated land, or wetland surrounding the sites and the extent of wetland edge) explained an additional 1-26%. The landscape characteristics extent of adjacent residential development and vegetated upland were the most common variables entering into the models; most species were more abundant at sites with more adjacent vegetated upland and less adjacent residential development. Our results suggest that landscape setting may be influencing the distribution of wintering waterfowl, and should be considered when developing strategies for the conservation for these species in urban North Atlantic estuaries.     

Cross-taxon surrogacy of biodiversity in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya

Biodiversity surveys were conducted in 13, 10×50 m² plots located between 1400 to 3700 m above mean sea level in a range of habitats in temperate mixed Oak and Coniferous forests through sub-alpine to the alpine grasslands in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal state in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya. Cross-taxon congruence in biodiversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) across macrolichens, mosses, liverworts, woody plants (shrubs and trees) and ants was investigated, so as to examine the extent to which these groups of organisms can function as surrogates for each other. Although woody plants provided a major substrate for macrolichens and mosses, there was no species-specific association between them. Woody plant species richness was highly positively correlated with mosses (r²=0.63, P<0.001), but the relationship was not particularly very strong with lichens and liverworts. While there was a significant correlation in the species turnover (β-diversity) of macrolichens with mosses (r²=0.21, P<0.005), the relationship was relatively poor with the woody plants. On the other hand, negative correlations emerged in the species richness of ants with those of macrolichens, mosses and woody plants (r²=−0.44, P<0.05), but most of the complementarity (turnover) relationships among them were positive. Since diversity between taxonomic hierarchies within the group was consistently significantly positively correlated in all these taxa, the higher taxonomic categories such as genus and family may be employed as surrogates for rapid assessment and monitoring of species diversity. Although no single group other than macrolichens has emerged as a good indicator of changes in species richness in all other groups, some concordant relationships between them conform to the hypothesis that species assemblages of certain taxonomic groups could still be used as surrogates for efficient monitoring of species diversity in other groups whose distribution may further predict the importance of conserving overall biodiversity in landscapes such as the Garhwal Himalaya.     

Sulphur immobilization and arylsulphatase activity in two calcareous arable and fallow soils as affected by glucose additions

In this study we examined the effects of glucose-C on the activities of fungi and bacteria determined by the method of substrate-induced respiration (SIR) in combination with the selective inhibition technique, the immobilized-S and the arylsulphatase (ARS) activity in two calcareous arable and fallow soils. The amounts of glucose-C were added at six doses: 0, 125, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg kg^− 1 soil to the soils and then incubated for one week with a Na₂³⁵SO₄ solution (518.9 kBq kg^− 1 dry soil and 20 mg S kg^− 1 dry soil) prior to analysis. At the highest dose of 1000 mg kg^− 1 soil, fungal activity increased by 59.1% (of the dose 0) versus 45.5% for bacterial activity in the arable soil, while in the fallow soil the increases were more marked and corresponded to 69.9% and 71.1%, respectively. Largest increase in immobilized-S was observed in the arable soil (300.7%) compared with the fallow soil (153.1%). In contrast, the ARS activity increased by 16.4% in the arable soil versus 32.1% in the fallow soil. These results indicate that glucose proportionately affected more the intensities of immobilized-S than those of ARS. Strong positive correlation coefficients were found between fungal activities and immobilized-S in the arable soil (r = 0.96, P < 0.01) and in the fallow soil (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). However, non-significant correlations were observed between fungal activities and ARS in both studied soils. As to bacterial activities, positive significant correlation coefficients were found with immobilized-S in the arable soil (r = 0.95, P < 0.01) and in the fallow soil (r = 0.90, P < 0.05) as well as with ARS activities in the arable soil (r = 0.83, P < 0.05) and in the fallow soil (r = 0.97, P < 0.01). Overall, we also found positive and significant correlation coefficients of immobilized-S with ARS activities in the arable soil (r = 0.86, P < 0.05) and in the fallow soil (r = 0.83, P < 0.05). Accordingly, the results showed a presence of extracellular arylsulphatase activity of 38.7 mg p-nitrophenol kg^− 1 soil h^− 1 in the arable soil and of 63.5 mg p-nitrophenol kg^− 1 soil h^− 1 in the fallow soil. It was concluded that fallowing maintained larger activities of fungi, bacteria and arylsulphatase compared with the arable soil.     

Relationship between plants and soil microbial communities in fertilized grasslands

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is of major scientific concern today. Few studies though have measured the interactions between soil microorganisms and plant diversity, the purpose of this study was to examine the link between plant diversity and microbial communities in fertilized versus unfertilized grasslands. Experiments were carried out on a permanent grassland in north-eastern France where agricultural practices had remained unchanged for the last 13 years. The experimental design included two plots of 300 m² (fertilized at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ or non-fertilized). Plots were replicated into three equal sub-plots (100 m²). From each sub-plot, six samples of soil and vegetation were taken at three dates during floristic development. At sampling, ground cover of each species was estimated, and total amount of C and N was determined in aboveground and root biomass. Soil samples were analyzed in order to measure the metabolic fingerprints of microorganisms using Biolog^® GN2 microplates. Floristic composition and carbon substrate utilization patterns of rhizobacterial communities were more diversified in unfertilized than fertilized plots. In unfertilized plots, the development of Convolvulus arvensis and two legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) may help maintain observed floristic diversity. Moreover, an inversion of C and N distribution between aboveground and root biomass during the vegetation cycle probably induced a variation of rhizodeposition. This phenomenon could explain the differences of rhizobacterial metabolic fingerprints observed between experimental plots.     

Diversity patterns of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with rhizosphere of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Benin,West Africa

Assessment of diversity and understanding factors underlying species distribution are fundamental themes in ecology. However, the diversity of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species in African tropical agro-ecosystems remains weakly known. This research was carried out to assess the morphological diversity of indigenous AMF species associated with rhizosphere of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of Benin and to examine the effects of soil chemical properties, climatic factors and agricultural practices on this diversity. Results showed that, in Benin, cowpea was grown by farmers in very exhausted soils, where available phosphorus and potassium were deficient. The indigenous AMF spore density was on average 202 spores per 100 g dry soil and there was no difference in the density among the agro-ecological zones (P = 0.56). Fifteen AMF morphospecies belonging to eight genera (Gigaspora, Scutellospora, Racocetra, Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Glomus and Claroideoglomus) were detected. The computed species richness estimators indicated that a limited number of additional undetected morphospecies are probably present in cowpea fields. According to analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), the arbuscular mycorrhizas community composition of the Sudanian zone and Guinean zone were not significantly different (r = −0.01; P = 0.517). The diversity of AMF morphospecies in the fields was weak with prevalence of Glomeraceae (92%). Furthermore, AMF diversity and evenness indices were negatively correlated with annual rainfall (P < 0.01) and with available phosphorus (P < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was observed between AMF diversity indices and soil organic carbon. Ultimately, this study tends to confirm that soil management practices (tillage, soil disturbance) have negative effect on AMF diversity.     

Biodiversity conservation and livelihoods in human-dominated landscapes: Forest commons in South Asia

Strict protected areas are a critical component in global biodiversity conservation, but the future of biodiversity conservation may well depend upon the ability to experiment successfully with a range of institutional forms, including those that permit human use. Here, we focus on forest commons in human-dominated landscapes and their role in biodiversity conservation at the same time as they provide livelihood benefits to users. Using a dataset of 59 forest commons located in Bhutan, India, and Nepal, we estimated tree species richness from plot vegetation data collected in each forest, and drew on interview data to calculate a livelihoods index indicating the overall contribution of each forest to villager livelihoods for firewood, fodder, and timber. We found that tree species richness and livelihoods were positively and significantly correlated (rho = .41, p < 0.001, N = 59). This relationship held regardless of forest type or country, though significance varied somewhat across these two factors. Further, both benefits were similarly associated with several drivers of social-ecological change (e.g., occupational diversity of forest users, total number of users, and forest size), suggesting identification of potential synergies and complexes of causal mechanisms for future attention. Our analysis shows that forest commons in South Asia, explicitly managed to provide livelihoods for local populations, also provide biodiversity benefits. More broadly, our findings suggest that although strict protected areas are effective tools for biodiversity conservation, a singular focus on them risks ignoring other resource governance approaches that can fruitfully complement existing conservation regimes.     

Are urban forests ecological traps for understory birds? An examination using Northern cardinals

Many studies have reported increased numbers of certain synanthropic species in urbanizing landscapes, but few have evaluated if urban habitats constitute ecological traps for these species. The Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was used as a model species to evaluate if urban riparian forests might act as ecological traps for understory-nesting birds. Cardinals were surveyed within 2-ha riparian forest plots within rural (n = 6) and urban (n = 6) landscapes in Ohio USA during breeding and non-breeding seasons 2003-2005. Cues used by cardinals to select habitats were identified based on measurements surrounding 219 nests and in 106 randomly-located plots and 96 systematically-located plots. Productivity of 161 cardinal pairs and survival of 180 adults were monitored from late March-September, 2003-2005. Cardinals were 1.7× (in the breeding season) to nearly 4× (in non-breeding season) more abundant in urban than rural forests, and the results suggest that these differences in abundance stemmed from urban-associated changes in habitat and microclimate features used by cardinals to select habitats. Most notably, cardinals were strongly associated with dense understory vegetation and warmer minimum January temperatures, both of which were promoted as urban development increased within the landscapes surrounding riparian forests. Although other studies suggest mismatches between the habitat cues used by cardinals and how those features affect nesting success (e.g., higher nest predation in exotic shrubs), these results provide no evidence that urban forests were acting as ecological traps for cardinals. Instead, cardinals in urban and rural forests had similar numbers of nesting attempts, young fledged over the breeding season, and apparent annual survival rates. Thus, these findings do not support for the idea that urban forests in central Ohio represent ecological traps for synanthropic understory birds.     

Large-scale correlates of alien plant invasion in Catalonia (NE of Spain)

Identification of the main correlates of the invasion process is a fundamental step in alien species management at the regional scale. This paper explores the main climatic, territorial, and anthropic correlates of alien plant species richness and percentage in Catalonia (NE of Spain), by means of GIS techniques. We used floristic data collected in FLORACAT per UTM 10 km × 10 km to set up the number and the percentage of alien species. The association of these variables with climate, topography, landscape, human settlement, and geographic position was explored by means of stepwise regression models applied on the axes obtained from principal component analysis. The significance of the resulting correlates was tested using the modified t test of Dutilleul to remove the effects of spatial autocorrelation. PCA reduced the 22 variables to 12 principal components (PC) that explained 90% of the cumulative variance. Regression models were highly significant and captured a high proportion of total variance (adjusted r² = 0.70 for alien species richness and r² = 0.56 for alien species percentage). Both alien species richness and percentage were mainly correlated to PC summarising variables concerning climate, habitat and landscape heterogeneity, and potential anthropogenic disturbance. However, while these PC exhibited similar weights on alien species richness, species percentage was mainly determined by climate. Implications for conservation are discussed considering a future scenario of climate warming and increasing land use change in Mediterranean areas.     

Performance of para-nitrophenyl phosphate and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate as substrate analogues for phosphomonoesterase in soils with different organic matter content

Phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) activity plays a key role in nutrient cycling and is a potential indicator of soil condition and ecosystem stress. We compared para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP) as substrate analogues for PMEase in 7 natural ecosystem soils and 8 agricultural top soils with contrasting C contents (8.0-414 g kg⁻¹ C) and pH (3.0-7.5). PMEase activities obtained with pNPP (0.05-5 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) were significantly less than activities obtained with MUP (0.9-13 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹), especially in soils with a high organic matter content (>130 g kg⁻¹). Only PMEase activities assayed with MUP correlated significantly with total C and total N (r=0.7, P<0.01 all), and pH (r=−0.71, P<0.01). PMEase activities obtained with the two substrate analogues were correlated when expressed on a C-content basis (r=0.8, P<0.001), but not when expressed on an oven-dry soil weight basis. This indicated that interference by organic matter is related to the quantity rather than to the quality of organic matter. Overall, assaying with MUP was more sensitive compared to assaying with pNPP, particularly in the case of high organic and acid soils.     

Projecting the local impacts of climate change on a Central American montane avian community

Significant changes in the climates of Central America are expected over the next century. Lowland rainforests harbor high alpha diversity on local scales (<1 km²), yet montane landscapes often support higher beta diversity on 10-100 km² scales. Climate change will likely disrupt the altitudinal zonation of montane communities that produces such landscape diversity. Projections of biotic response to climate change have often used broad-scale modelling of geographical ranges, but understanding likely impacts on population viability is also necessary for anticipating local and global extinctions. We model species’ abundances and estimate range shifts for birds in the Tilarán Mountains of Costa Rica, asking whether projected changes in temperature and rainfall could be sufficient to imperil high-elevation endemics and whether these variables will likely impact communities similarly. We find that nearly half of 77 forest bird species can be expected to decline in the next century. Almost half of species projected to decline are endemic to Central America, and seven of eight species projected to become locally extinct are endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and Panamá. Logistic-regression modelling of distributions and similarity in projections produced by temperature and rainfall models suggest that changes in both variables will be important. Although these projections are probably conservative because they do not explicitly incorporate biological or climate variable interactions, they provide a starting point for incorporating more realistic biological complexity into community-change models. Prudent conservation planning for tropical mountains should focus on regions with room for altitudinal reorganization of communities comprised of ecological specialists.     

Feasibility of using FGD gypsum to conserve water and reduce erosion from an agricultural soil in Georgia

Crop production in Georgia and the Southeastern U.S. can be limited by water. Highly-weathered, drought-prone soils are susceptible to runoff and erosion. Rainfall patterns generate runoff producing storms followed by extended periods of drought during the crop growing season. Thus, supplemental irrigation is often needed to sustain profitable crop production. Increased water retention and soil conservation would efficiently improve water use and reduce irrigation amounts/costs and sedimentation, and sustain productive farm land, thus improving producer's profit margin. Soil amendments, such as flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, have been shown to retain rainfall and/or irrigation water through increased infiltration while decreasing runoff (R) and sediment (E). Objectives were to quantify rainfall partitioning and sediment delivery improvements with surface applied FGD gypsum from an Ultisol managed to conventional till (CT) and to assess the feasibility of using FGD gypsum on agricultural land in southern Georgia. A field study (Faceville loamy sand, Typic Kandiudult) was established (2006, 2007) near Dawson, GA managed to CT, irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). FGD gypsum application rates evaluated were 0, 1.1, 2.2, 4.5, and 9 Mg ha^− 1. Gypsum treatments and simulated rainfall (50 mm h^− 1 for 1 h) were applied to 2-m wide × 3-m long field plots (n = 3). Runoff and E were measured from each 6-m² plot (slope = 1%). FGD gypsum plots averaged 26% more infiltration (INF), 40% less R, 58% less E, 27% lower maximum R rates (R_max), and 2 times lower maximum E rates (E_max) than control plots. Values of INF and water for crop use increased, and R, E, R_max, and E_max decreased as FGD gypsum application rate increased. Values of INF, R, E, R_max, and E_max for 9 Mg ha^− 1 plots were as much as 17% greater, 35% less, 1.9 times less, 35% less, and 1.9 times less than those from other FGD gypsum plots, respectively; and 40% greater, 40% less, 2.2 times less, 52% less, and 2.9 times less than those from control plots, respectively. Applying FGD gypsum to agricultural lands is a cost-effective management practice for producers in Georgia that beneficially impacts natural resource conservation, producer profit margins, and environmental quality. Agriculture in the Southeast provides a viable market for the electric power industry to convert disposal costs of FGD gypsum into a profitable commodity.     

A single application of Cu to field soil has long-term effects on bacterial community structure, diversity, and soil processes

Long-term diversity-disturbance responses of soil bacterial communities to copper were determined from field-soils (Spalding; South Australia) exposed to Cu in doses ranging from 0 through to 4012 mg Cu kg⁻¹ soil. Nearly 6 years after application of Cu, the structure of the total bacterial community showed change over the Cu gradient (PCR-DGGE profiling). 16S rRNA clone libraries, generated from unexposed and exposed (1003 mg Cu added kg⁻¹ soil) treatments, had significantly different taxa composition. In particular, Acidobacteria were abundant in unexposed soil but were nearly absent from the Cu-exposed sample (P<0.05), which was dominated by Firmicute bacteria (P<0.05). Analysis of community profiles of Acidobacteria, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas showed significant changes in structural composition with increasing soil Cu. The diversity (Simpsons index) of the Acidobacteria community was more sensitive to increasing concentrations of CaCl-extractable soil Cu (Cu_Ext) than other groups, with decline in diversity occurring at 0.13 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil. In contrast, diversity in the Bacillus community increased until 10.4 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil, showing that this group was 2 orders of magnitude more resistant to Cu than Acidobacteria. Sphingomonas was the most resistant to Cu; however, this group along with Pseudomonas represented only a small percentage of total soil bacteria. Changes in bacterial community structure, but not diversity, were concomitant with a decrease in catabolic function (BioLog). Reduction in function followed a dose-response pattern with Cu_Ext levels (R²=0.86). The EC₅₀ for functional loss was 0.21 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil, which coincided with loss of Acidobacteria diversity. The microbial responses were confirmed as being due to Cu and not shifts in soil pH (from use of CuSO₄) as parallel Zn-based field plots (ZnSO₄) were dissimilar. Changes in the diversity of most bacterial groups with soil Cu followed a unimodal response - i.e. diversity initially increased with Cu addition until a critical value was reached, whereupon it sharply decreased. These responses are indicative of the intermediate-disturbance-hypothesis, a macroecological theory that has not been widely tested in environmental microbial ecosystems.