Increased longevities of post-Paleozoic marine genera after mass extinctions

Cohorts of marine taxa that originated during recoveries from mass extinctions were commonly more widespread spatially than those originating at other times. Coupled with the recognition of a correlation between the geographic ranges and temporal longevities of marine taxa, this observation predicts that recovery taxa were unusually long-lived geologically. We analyzed this possibility by assessing the longevities of marine genus cohorts that originated in successive substages throughout the Phanerozoic. Results confirm that several mass extinction recovery cohorts were significantly longer lived than other cohorts, but this effect was limited to the post-Paleozoic, suggesting differences in the dynamics of Paleozoic versus post-Paleozoic diversification.     

Responses to elevated carbon dioxide in artificial tropical ecosystems

Carbon, nutrient, and water balance as well as key plant and soil processes were simultaneously monitored for humid tropical plant communities treated with CO(2)-enriched atmospheres. Despite vigorous growth, no significant differences in stand biomass (of both the understory and overstory), leaf area index, nitrogen or water consumption, or leaf stomatal behavior were detected between ambient and elevated CO(2) treatments. Major responses under elevated CO(2) included massive starch accumulation in the tops of canopies, increased fine-root production, and a doubling of CO(2) evolution from the soil. Stimulated rhizosphere activity was accompanied by increased loss of soil carbon and increased mineral nutrient leaching. This study points at the inadequacy of scaling-up from physiological baselines to ecosystems without accounting for interactions among components, and it emphasizes the urgent need for whole-system experimental approaches in global-change research.     

Spreading dead zones and consequences for marine ecosystems

Dead zones in the coastal oceans have spread exponentially since the 1960s and have serious consequences for ecosystem functioning. The formation of dead zones has been exacerbated by the increase in primary production and consequent worldwide coastal eutrophication fueled by riverine runoff of fertilizers and the burning of fossil fuels. Enhanced primary production results in an accumulation of particulate organic matter, which encourages microbial activity and the consumption of dissolved oxygen in bottom waters. Dead zones have now been reported from more than 400 systems, affecting a total area of more than 245,000 square kilometers, and are probably a key stressor on marine ecosystems.     

Impacts of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems

Low-trophic level species account for more than 30% of global fisheries production and contribute substantially to global food security. We used a range of ecosystem models to explore the effects of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems, including marine mammals and seabirds, and on other commercially important species. In five well-studied ecosystems, we found that fishing these species at conventional maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels can have large impacts on other parts of the ecosystem, particularly when they constitute a high proportion of the biomass in the ecosystem or are highly connected in the food web. Halving exploitation rates would result in much lower impacts on marine ecosystems while still achieving 80% of MSY.     

A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems

The management and conservation of the world's oceans require synthesis of spatial data on the distribution and intensity of human activities and the overlap of their impacts on marine ecosystems. We developed an ecosystem-specific, multiscale spatial model to synthesize 17 global data sets of anthropogenic drivers of ecological change for 20 marine ecosystems. Our analysis indicates that no area is unaffected by human influence and that a large fraction (41%) is strongly affected by multiple drivers. However, large areas of relatively little human impact remain, particularly near the poles. The analytical process and resulting maps provide flexible tools for regional and global efforts to allocate conservation resources; to implement ecosystem-based management; and to inform marine spatial planning, education, and basic research.     

The pace of shifting climate in marine and terrestrial ecosystems

Climate change challenges organisms to adapt or move to track changes in environments in space and time. We used two measures of thermal shifts from analyses of global temperatures over the past 50 years to describe the pace of climate change that species should track: the velocity of climate change (geographic shifts of isotherms over time) and the shift in seasonal timing of temperatures. Both measures are higher in the ocean than on land at some latitudes, despite slower ocean warming. These indices give a complex mosaic of predicted range shifts and phenology changes that deviate from simple poleward migration and earlier springs or later falls. They also emphasize potential conservation concerns, because areas of high marine biodiversity often have greater velocities of climate change and seasonal shifts.     

Magnification of secondary production by kelp detritus in coastal marine ecosystems

Kelps are highly productive seaweeds found along most temperate latitude coastlines, but the fate and importance of kelp production to nearshore ecosystems are largely unknown. The trophic role of kelp-derived carbon in a wide range of marine organisms was assessed by a natural experiment. Growth rates of benthic suspension feeders were greatly increased in the presence of organic detritus (particulate and dissolved) originating from large benthic seaweeds (kelps). Stable carbon isotope analysis confirmed that kelp-derived carbon is found throughout the nearshore food web.     

Comment on "A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems"

Halpern et al. (Reports, 15 February 2008, p. 948) integrated spatial data on 17 drivers of change in the oceans to map the global distribution of human impact. Although fishery catches are a dominant driver, the data reflect activity while impacts occur at different space and time scales. Failure to account for this spatial disconnection could lead to potentially misleading conclusions.     

生态化学计量学: 探索从个体到生态系统的统一化理论

目的理解尾巨桉人工林土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量及其化学计量学特征随林龄(1、2、3、5、7年生)的变化,为研究尾巨桉人工林可持续发展提供理论基础。方法运用空间代时间的研究方法,选取立地条件相近的5个林龄的林分,在各林分内设置3块样地,采用5点法分层取样,测定土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量,并计算不同元素之间的计量比。结果尾巨桉人工林表层土壤(0~20 cm)的有机碳含量随着林龄增加而增加,但不同林龄表层土壤的全氮含量差异不显著。5年生林地全磷与全钾含量均低于或显著低于(P<0.05)其他各林龄;不同林龄林下土壤有机碳和全氮含量均随土层深度增加而下降,土壤全磷及全钾含量随土层深度变化未产生显著差异;随林龄增加,表层土壤碳氮比、碳磷比有增加趋势,土壤磷钾比、碳钾比、氮钾比随着林龄的增加呈现先降低后升高的变化趋势,不同林龄间土壤氮磷比未产生显著差异;相关分析表明：土壤有机碳与土壤全氮、全磷含量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),土壤全氮、全磷及全钾含量间相关性均不显著(P>0.05)。结论研究区尾巨桉中幼龄期林下土壤碳氮循环速率较低,随林龄增加,土壤有机质矿化速率有所下降。5个林龄土壤磷元素含量较充足,氮元素成为主要限制因子。     

气候变化下西北太平洋大海洋生态系海表面温度特征分析

气候变化和气候事件对海洋环境有着重大的影响,其影响存在着时空差异。研究以西北太平洋五个大型海洋生态系统(Large Marine Ecosystem,LME,包括西白令海,鄂霍茨克海,黑潮、亲潮以及日本海)的海表面温度(Sea surface temperature,SST)为研究对象,分析SST的随时空变化趋势及其与太平洋年代际振荡((Pacific Decadal Oscillation, PDO)和厄尔尼诺(El Ni?o)、拉尼娜(La Ni?a)事件的影响。研究发现,除了西白令海,其它四个大型海洋生态系统的SST都在1987年左右发生了急剧的上升,呈现出两个变化模态;将SST的长期变化趋势去除后,可以发现,五个LME的SST随着时间上下波动,并没有固定的周期性变化存在,但是与厄尔尼诺拉尼娜事件有着密切联系。水温的空间分布上看,各区域的SST都呈现由北向南逐渐增高的趋势,但是增温趋势不尽相同,在西白令海的整个区域SST都在升高,降温区域围绕在库页岛和日本的北海道附近,这其中相关机制有待后续进一步研究。     

Abundance of Type II Diamonds

More than 1300 natural microdiamonds, mostly averaging 0.0015 carat, were studied for transparency to ultraviolet radiation, lambda2537. Of most of them, of this size, 16 percent were completely transparent (presumably type II); 27 percent, completely absorbent (presumably type I). The remainder transmitted partially. The number of type-II diamonds is unexpectedly very high; a considerable proportion of microdiamonds may begin life as type II, later incorporating absorbent type-I material.     

Stability and diversity of ecosystems

Understanding the relationship between diversity and stability requires a knowledge of how species interact with each other and how each is affected by the environment. The relationship is also complex, because the concept of stability is multifaceted; different types of stability describing different properties of ecosystems lead to multiple diversity-stability relationships. A growing number of empirical studies demonstrate positive diversity-stability relationships. These studies, however, have emphasized only a few types of stability, and they rarely uncover the mechanisms responsible for stability. Because anthropogenic changes often affect stability and diversity simultaneously, diversity-stability relationships cannot be understood outside the context of the environmental drivers affecting both. This shifts attention away from diversity-stability relationships toward the multiple factors, including diversity, that dictate the stability of ecosystems.