A rapid assessment of landscape biodiversity using diversity profiles of arthropod morphospecies

Context

The assessment of land-use impacts on biodiversity is one of the central themes of landscape ecology and conservation biology. However, due to the complexity of biodiversity, it is impossible to obtain complete information about the diversity of all species even for small areas, necessitating the selection of individual species or assemblages thereof as species surrogate. In parts of the world where taxonomic expertise is lacking, species identification has hindered progress in biodiversity conservation, and the only practical, relatively-accurate option, is the use of taxonomic minimalism.

Objective

We carried out a rapid biodiversity assessment based on three surrogates—land-use (driver-surrogate), terrestrial arthropods (species-surrogate) and morphospecies (taxonomic-surrogate)—to determine the impacts of land-use on biodiversity of the Western Region (Ghana), an area covering ~4 % of the West African biodiversity hotspot.

Method

We used diversity profiles to visualize the distribution of a total of 8848 arthropod individuals over seven land-use types which define the complete heterogeneity of the landscape.

Results

Here, we present both sample and asymptotic diversity profiles of arthropod morphospecies for each land-use type and the potential of each land-use type for conserving arthropods.

Conclusions

We conclude that (1) the morphospecies approach is useful for detecting differences in species diversity of land-use types; (2) the concept of asymptotic diversity may not be necessary for land-use based biodiversity comparison; and (3) maximum diversity profiles are useful for determining the land-use conservation values in cases where pristine areas are not available.

     

Occupancy pattern of a long-horned beetle in a variegated forest landscape: linkages between tree quality and forest cover across spatial scales

Context

Interactions between landscape-scale processes and fine-grained habitat heterogeneity are usually invoked to explain species occupancy in fragmented landscapes. In variegated landscapes, however, organisms face continuous variation in micro-habitat features, which makes necessary to consider ecologically meaningful estimates of habitat quality at different spatial scales.

Objectives

We evaluated the spatial scales at which forest cover and tree quality make the greatest contribution to the occupancy of the long-horned beetle Microplophorus magellanicus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in a variegated forest landscape.

Methods

We used averaged data of tree quality (as derived from remote sensing estimates of the decay stage of single trees) and spatially independent pheromone-baited traps to model the occurrence probability as a function of multiple cross-scale combinations between forest cover and tree quality (with scales ranging between 50 and 400 m).

Results

Model support and performance increased monotonically with the increasing scale at which tree quality was measured. Forest cover was not significant, and did not exhibit scale-specific effects on the occurrence probability of M. magellanicus. The interactive effect between tree quality and forest cover was stronger than the independent (additive) effects of tree quality and particularly forest cover. Significant interactions included tree quality measured at spatial scales ≥200 m, but cross-scale interactions occurred only in four of the seven best-supported models.

Conclusions

M. magellanicus respond to the high-quality trees available in the landscape rather than to the amount of forest per se. Conservation of viable metapopulations of M. magellanicus should consider the quality of trees at spatial scales >200 m.

     

Using landscape graphs to delineate ecologically functional areas

Context

Landscape graphs are widely used to model connectivity and to support decision-making in conservation planning. Compartmentalization methods applied to such graphs aim to define clusters of highly interconnected patches. Recent studies show that compartmentalization based on modularity is suitable, but it applies to non-weighted graphs whereas most landscape graphs involve weighted nodes and links.

Objectives

We propose to adapt modularity computation to weighted landscape graphs and to validate the relevance of the resulting compartments using demographic or genetic data about the patches.

Methods

A weighted adjacency matrix was designed to express potential fluxes, associating patch capacities and inter-patch distances. Eight weighting scenarios were compared. The statistical evaluation of each compartmentalization was based on Wilks’ Lambda. These methods were performed on a grassland network where patches are documented by annual densities of water voles in the Jura massif (France).

Results

The scenarios in which patch capacity is assigned a small weight led to the more relevant results, giving high modularity values and low Wilks’ Lambda values. When considering a fixed number of compartments, we found a significant negative correlation between these two criteria. Comparison showed that compartments are ecologically more valid than graph components.

Conclusions

The method proposed is suitable for designing ecologically functional areas from weighted landscape graphs. Maximum modularity values can serve as a guide for setting the parameters of the adjacency matrix.

     

菜豆新品种“66号”的选育

菜豆"66号"是来源于"无筋6号"的一个自然变异株,该植株蔓生,生长势强,生育期55~60d,花白色,嫩荚白绿色,圆棍形,长21~24cm,宽约1.3cm,厚约1.2cm,荚形指数1.13,单荚质量约19.6g,少筋软荚,种子白色,千粒质量331g左右。早熟丰产,前期产量高,每667m2总产量约2 847.5kg,适合春露地和大棚种植。     

不同枣头枝摘心方式对幼龄灰枣产量和品质的影响

以南疆地区密植灰枣为试材,采用生产上常用轻摘心、重摘心、极重摘心等3种枣头枝摘心方法,通过调查、测定枣吊数量、枣吊种类、果实单果质量、可溶性总糖、可滴定酸含量等指标,以确定一种合理的摘心方法。结果表明:枣头枝重摘心的单株坐果数显著高于轻摘心和极重摘心的单株坐果数,平均每株分别高出22.85、19.60个;重摘心后灰枣果实平均单果质量最大,为8.32g,分别比轻摘心和极重摘心灰枣果实的平均单果质量高9.5%、9.4%;枣头枝重摘心果实的可溶性总糖含量最高,为28.74%,分别比轻摘心和极重摘心后果实的可溶性总糖含量高3.86、4.13个百分点。因此,确定幼龄灰枣密植的夏季枣头枝摘心选择重摘心方式。     

不同肥料配方对日光温室春茬番茄产量品质和养分吸收的影响

以番茄品种"朝研299"为试材,研究日光温室滴灌条件下不同肥料配方对春茬番茄产量、品质和养分吸收的影响,从而确定适宜该区的最佳肥料配比。结果表明:氮磷钾追施比例(N∶P_2O_5∶K_2O)为1.0∶0.4∶1.8时,能够明显提高番茄产量,并增加番茄果实中维生素C、可溶性总糖含量,提高糖酸比,改善果实品质;且明显提高拉秧期植株干物质总积累量,干物质含量为果实茎叶根,该配比养分吸收总量最高,K2ONP_2O_5,根据产量和养分吸收含量计算,每生产1 000kg番茄需N 1.73kg,P_2O_50.89kg,K_2O 3.51kg,天津地区最适宜的春茬番茄种植追肥配方为1.0∶0.5∶2.0。     

熊儿河滨河绿地植物配置及其景观分析

以所选4处熊儿河滨河绿地为研究对象,采用实地调查的方法,研究了所选绿地的园林植物种类及主要配置方式,以期对今后景观规划中植物种植设计方面提供参考与借鉴。结果表明:熊儿河滨河绿地4处园林植物中郑东新区段的植物种类最多,且常落比最低;在植物配置方面,郑东新区的植物景观效果较好,基本上可以做到乔灌草合理的搭配,乡土树种运用较多的基础上加强了外来树种的引种。通过调查对熊儿河滨河绿地的植物景观提出4点建议:植物选择上要做到适地适树,以乡土树种为主,外来植物为辅;在设计理念上对地域文化多加考虑;加强养护管理;注重新老城区的过渡。     

鲜切生菜贮藏期间产品品质变化及褐变发生规律

为了研究鲜切生菜贮藏期间品质变化和褐变发生的规律及其内在机理,以新鲜圆生菜为试材,经切分处理,置于4℃下贮藏,观测贮藏期间鲜切生菜外观品质、主要营养成分以及与褐变相关的褐变度,苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性变化规律。结果表明:随着贮藏时间的延长,经过切分处理的鲜切生菜的含水量逐步降低,失重率增大,后期腐烂明显;主要营养成分叶绿素、还原型维生素C(VC)、可溶性蛋白质含量均出现不同程度的下降;褐变度呈现上升趋势,组织中的PAL活性和总酚含量先升高后逐步下降;PPO活性在整个贮藏时期内呈现出下降趋势,POD活性在贮藏的后期迅速升高。综合分析认为,切分损伤能够诱使PAL活性提高,并促进酶促褐变底物酚类物质的大量积累,通过PPO和POD协同作用,加剧褐变发生;鲜切生菜随贮藏时间延长,其综合品质下降,建议最佳食用期0~3d,货架期0~8d。     

水芹品质研究现状

水芹是具有保健功能和药用价值的特色水生蔬菜,在长江中下游各省普遍种植和食用。从水芹营养成分、功能物质和药用价值等方面对水芹的品质研究现状进行了综述。     

大棚苦瓜白粉病田间药效试验

开展了四氟醚唑、醚菌酯、丙环·醚菌酯、甲基硫菌灵4种药剂防治大棚苦瓜白粉病的田间药效试验。试验结果表明,4种药剂均可有效控制大棚苦瓜白粉病发展,且对苦瓜安全无药害,以32%丙环·嘧菌酯悬浮剂1 500倍液防效最好,其次是4%四氟醚唑水乳剂1 000倍液、50%醚菌酯水分散粒剂2 000倍液、70%甲基硫菌灵可湿性粉剂600倍液,在生产上防治时可交替使用。