Experimental evidence for nest-site competition between invasive ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) and native nuthatches (Sitta europaea)

Ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri) originate from Africa and Asia, but have been widely introduced and are thought to compete for nest-sites with native hole-nesting birds, raising concerns for the loss of native avifauna. In this study, we adopt a replicated before-after-control experimental design to test for competition between parakeets and native cavity-nesters. In experimental plots in Brussels, Belgium we blocked parakeet nesting cavities and conducted surveys to evaluate availability and use of cavities by parakeets and native hole-nesters. Numbers of breeding pairs, as well as cavity quality index - based on cavity occupancy rates - were evaluated before and after blocking. After blocking, numbers of native nuthatches (Sitta europaea) declined significantly, largely due to nest take-overs by parakeets. Nuthatches and parakeets strongly overlap in preferred nest-sites and this overlap explains the competition that leads to a reduction in nuthatch numbers when suitable cavities become scarce. Average quality of parakeet nests was lower after blocking, indicating that parakeets will utilize alternative cavities when preferred sites are not available, bringing them into greater conflict with other cavity nesters. Although some nuthatches remain in areas dominated by ring-necked parakeets, our results raise conservation concerns for the vulnerability of native cavity-nesting birds to the expansion of invasive parakeet populations.     

亚热带不同人工林土壤理化性质的研究

该文通过对江西大岗山地区马尾松纯林、马褂木纯林、杉木纯林及马褂木 桤木混交林与对照次生林的土壤理化性质状况的比较,研究了不同人工林更新方式对土壤肥力状况的影响.结果表明:除马褂木纯林对土壤孔隙状况的改善表现出一定的作用外,其他林下土壤表现出表层土壤孔隙状况恶化的变化趋势;各人工林林下土壤养分指标均显著降低,4种人工林类型中,马褂木纯林土壤养分状况恶化程度最强烈;土壤有效铁、有效锌含量明显降低,但各层土壤有效铁含量仍高于土壤有效铁临界值,而土壤有效锌含量的降低导致土壤缺锌状态的加剧;杉木纯林有利于土壤有效铜积累,而其他3种人工林林下土壤表现出表层增加,下层降低的变化特征.      

修枝对迭部林区人工云杉林生长量影响

本文通过对迭部林区修枝抚育过的粗枝云杉(Picea asperataMast)林和未经人工经营的林分生长状况进行调查,并做解析木数据对比分析,结果表明:人工云杉林在经过较大强度修枝抚育管理后,导致3年内林分的生长量明显下降;同时发现修枝抚育期较早的人工林易受到雨雪冰冻等自然灾害;云杉人工林的抚育管理、间伐应在林木完全分化后进行。     

山核桃幼林和黄花菜间作技术研究

通过对山核桃纯林、混交林（山核桃和楠竹）、林下间作（山核桃和黄花菜）等不同造林类型的调查和试验,筛选出山核桃幼林的最佳经营模式为山核桃×黄花菜,不仅能实现以短养长,而且具有较好的生态效益。根据黄花菜日产量变化图和趋势线,可以为制定采收和加工计划、合理安排人力物力等提供参考。     

粤西桉树人工林土壤水分空间异质性分析

依据2 hm~2样方的调查数据,结合经典统计学与地统计学方法对广东省肇庆市三叉顶自然保护区桉树人工林土壤水分的空间异质性进行了研究.结果表明,随着林龄的增长,土壤水分含量有增加的趋势;不同林龄桉树林不同土层水分含量差异明显(P＜0.05).1年生桉树林0～25,25～50 cm层土壤水分变异函数的最佳拟合模型均为指数模型,3年生桉树林各层土壤水分变异函数的最佳拟合模型均为球状模型.空间自相关分析表明,同林龄桉树林各层土壤水分均具有强烈的空间自相关性.且自相关部分的空间变异性在总的空间变异性中占主要部分.同林龄桉树林在不同土层土壤水分具有相似的空间自相关变化趋势,不同林龄桉树林相同土层土壤水分的空间自相关变化趋势差异明显.Kriging插值分析显示.1年生桉树林各层土壤水分空间变异性小,空间依赖性小,破碎化程度相对较高.3年生桉树林各层土壤水分空间变异性大,空间依赖性相对较高,破碎化程度较低.     

不同人工林对土壤有机质的影响

[目的]选出适合察右后旗土壤条件的人工林地树种,为当地的人工林地建设提供理论参考。[方法]对土牧尔台林场不同人工林地及无林地的土壤有机质进行调查采样、室内实验分析。[结果]在所有被选样地的各个土层中,大部分的有机质含量为6~20 g/kg。榆树人工林林缘、林内、林间及草地与杨树林带内和外缘的土壤有机质含量差异显著。整体来看,5个土层的土壤有机质含量差异极显著。各样地间表层土壤的有机质含量变化较大。杨树林带内表层土壤的有机质含量高于杨树林带外缘。榆树林地的土壤有机质含量与草地的土壤有机质含量无显著差异,但显著高于杨树林地。[结论]榆树和杨树对土壤的改良作用都不明显,但榆树优于杨树。     

红松人工林生态系统土壤含水率变化规律

于2005年4月,对不同地类、不同土层垂直深度、不同季节的土壤含水率进行了连续3a的定位测定,并探讨了影响土壤含水率的相关因子.结果表明,红松郁闭林分土壤含水率为22.52%,均超过未郁闭的红松纯林和红松-白桦混交林.表层(0～10cm)土壤含水率最高,为22.62%,并呈现出随土壤深度的加深而含水率逐渐减小.在水热同...     

海南岛外来入侵生物分析

据调查,海南岛外来入侵生物已达近200种,对当地生物多样性和农林牧渔业造成了严重的影响。随着旅游、商贸和工农业等的迅速发展,外来入侵生物将会越来越多,对生态系统的影响将会更加严重。     

Tropical reptiles in pine forests: Assemblage responses to plantations and plantation management by burning

Worldwide, the land area devoted to timber plantations is expanding rapidly, especially in the tropics, where reptile diversity is high. The impacts of plantation forestry and its management on native species are poorly known, but are important, because plantation management goals often include protecting biodiversity. We examined the impact of pine (Pinus caribaea) plantations, and their management by fire, on the abundance and richness of reptiles, a significant proportion of the native biodiversity in tropical northern Australia, by (i) comparing abundance and diversity of reptiles among pine plantations (on land cleared specifically for plantation establishment), and two adjacent native forest types, eucalypt and Melaleuca woodlands, and (ii) comparing reptile abundance and richness in pine forest burnt one year prior to the study to remove understorey vegetation with pine forest burnt two years prior to the study. We also examined the influence of fire on reptile assemblages in native vegetation, by comparing eucalypt woodland burnt two years prior to the study and unburnt for eight years. To quantify mechanisms driving differences in reptile richness and abundance among forest types and management regimes, we measured forest structure, the temperatures used by reptiles (operative temperature) and solar radiation, at replicate sites in all forest types and management regimes. Compared to native forests, pine forests had taller trees, lower shrub cover in the understorey, more and deeper exotic litter (other than pine), and were cooler and shadier. Reptile assemblages in pine forests were as rich as those in native forests, but pine assemblages were composed mainly of species that typically use closed-canopy rainforest and prefer cooler, shadier habitats. Burning did not appear to influence the assemblage structure of reptiles in native forest, but burning under pine was associated with increased skink abundance and species richness. Burned pine was not warmer or sunnier than unburned pine, a common driver of reptile abundance, so the shift in lizard use after burning may have been driven by structural differences in understorey vegetation, especially amounts of non-native litter, which were reduced by burning. Thus, burning for management under pine increased the abundance and richness of lizard assemblages using pine. Pine plantations do not support the snake diversity common to sclerophyllous native forests, but pine may have the potential to complement rainforest lizard diversity if appropriately managed.     

A lack of large-diameter logs and snags characterises dead wood patterns in Irish forests

Dead wood is an important component of forest ecosystems and volumes vary depending on forest age, management intensity and productivity. This is the first large-scale study to quantify dead wood in Irish forests and to compare them to forests in other locations. We measured the volume and size distribution of logs, the density and size distribution of snags and the volume of dead wood contained in stumps in Oak (Quercus spp.) and Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forests and in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations throughout Ireland. We also assigned each log, snag and stump to one of three decay classes (intact, part-rotted and well-rotted). We found no significant difference in log volume between any of the forest types. The majority (>90%) of logs were less than 20 cm in diameter, and large logs (>40 cm diameter) were scarce. We found a relatively high density of snags in all forest types but, as in the case of logs, over 90% of snags were <20 cm DBH and large snags (>40 cm DBH) were rare. The volume of dead wood contained in stumps was significantly higher in plantations than in Oak or Ash forests as a result of thinning and harvesting. Most logs and snags were moderately decayed but, in plantations, most stumps were intact. Log volume and the size of logs and snags were considerably lower than in old-growth forests in other regions. These patterns may reflect historical use of Irish forests for coppice and timber production. Management for biodiversity should aim to accelerate dead wood accumulation to increase the frequency of large-diameter logs and snags. Although management seeking to replicate the dead wood volumes of old-growth forests is ideal, it may be unrealistic in the short term.