珠江源头区不同地类人工恢复植被树种选择及生态效益研究

选择珠江源头区主要的6个造林树种,通过设置固定观测样地和观测设施,对不同地类人工恢复植被树种和其生态效益进行了4a对比分析。（1）树高生长以云南松为最慢,旱冬瓜最快,旱冬瓜、圆柏、藏柏、柳杉、川滇桤木树高分别是云南松的4.9,2.8,2.5,2.3,1.7倍。胸径生长依次为旱冬瓜〉圆柏〉藏柏〉柳杉〉川滇桤木〉云南松。从长势来看,旱冬瓜、圆柏、藏柏、柳杉、云南松为珠江源头区适宜的造林树种。（2）从6个树种的香浓—威纳指数来看,依次为阴坡退耕地〉荒草地〉退化林地〉阳坡耕地。均匀度指数则依次为阴坡退耕地〉阳坡耕地〉荒草地〉退化林地。（3）各地类的容重均减小,土壤毛管孔隙度比造林恢复前明显提高,表明土壤的结构得到了明显改善,耕地的板结状况也得到显著改善。（4）试验区的平均土壤侵蚀模数降为1087t/（km^2·a）,土壤侵蚀减少了38.48%,水土流失面积由188.27hm^2减少到104.83hm^2,水土流失面积减少44.32%。     

Conservation of Northern European plant diversity: the correspondence with soil pH

Effective biodiversity conservation requires an analysis of the existing reserve system. In temperate and boreal regions, plant diversity has a strong positive association with soil pH. Consequently, in order to protect plant diversity effectively, a relatively large proportion of protected areas should be on high pH soils. Since biodiversity data are never complete for all taxa, biodiversity indicators, e.g., threatened species, should be used. We studied soil pH distributions in protected areas in Northern Europe and tested whether soil pH requirement differs between threatened and non-threatened bryophyte and vascular plant species. As result, the proportion of high pH soils in protected areas was significantly greater than the proportion of these soils in general. This ensures that a large regional pool of plant species preferring high pH soils is relatively well protected. Threatened and non-threatened species in Northern Europe did not differ in their soil pH requirements, but threatened species required a narrower soil pH range than non-threatened species. Consequently, threatened species diversity can be used for indicating overall plant diversity.     

华北半干旱区土壤养分和植被特征的小尺度空间异质性研究

A field experiment was conducted at Kezuohouqi County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which was located on the southeastern edge of the Horqin Sandy Land, to study the spatial variability of soil nutrients for a small-scale, nutrient-poor, sandy site in a semi-arid region of northern China; to investigate whether or not there were ＂islands of fertility＂ at the experimental site; and to determine the key nutrient elements that sustained ecosystem stability. Results obtained from geostatistical analysis indicated that the spatial distribution pattern of soil total nitrogen （STN） was far different from those of soil organic matter （SOM）, total phosphorus （STP）, and total potassium （STK）. Compared to SOM, STP, and STK, STN had a lower structural heterogeneity ratio and a longer range, while other elements were all similar. In addition, STN had an isotropic spatial structure, whereas the others had an anisotropic spatial structure. The spatial structure patterns of herbage species, cover, and height also differed, indicating that spatial variability was subjected to different ecological factors. Differences in the spatial variability patterns among soil nutrients and vegetation properties showed that soil nutrients for a small-scale were not the primary limiting factors that influenced herbage spatial distribution patterns. Incorporating spatial distribution patterns of tree species, namely, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. and shrub Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. in a research plot and using fractal dimension, SOM, STP, and STK were shown to contribute to the ＂islands of fertility＂ phenomenon, however STN was not, possibly meaning that nitrogen was a key limiting element. Therefore, during restoration of similar ecosystems more attention should be given to soil nitrogen.     

Urbanization and homogenization - Comparing the floras of urban and rural areas in Germany

The process of urbanization has resulted in an expansion of alien plant species and declines of native species, in particular already rare species. These processes may cause a greater similarity between different urban regions, i.e. biotic homogenization. We explored the relationship between urban regions and homogenization for plant species in Germany using (i) all plant species, (ii) only native species, (iii) all alien species and only those introduced (iv) before or (v) after 1500, respectively. We used the database FLORKART for species distribution on a 6 min latitude × 10 min longitude (ca. 130 km²) scale. We calculated mean similarities for the 60 “most urbanized” cells. We then resampled 60 randomly drawn “less urbanized” cells and 60 “rural” cells and compared these results to the “most urbanized” cells taking distance effects into account. Urbanization does not have an overall effect on homogenization of all species, but native species as well as pre-1500 alien plant assemblages show effects of homogenization while post-1500 alien plant assemblages show the opposite effect. On a regional scale, urbanization is not unequivocally related to homogenization. This might be different when extending the analysed range across several bioclimatic regions. Specific urban habitats, or what remains of them, require special protection and management if the trend towards homogenization is to be avoided.     

Keystone effects of the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi)

Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys) have been argued to exert keystone effects because they interact strongly with other species, and their removal results in major changes in community structure. We evaluated the nature and magnitude of such impacts by the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi), employing an exclosure experiment to determine how the removal of this species impacted relative cover by vegetation, plant species diversity, abundance of a dominant annual plant genus (Erodium), and predation of seeds from artificial trays. Fifteen months of D. stephensi removal resulted in significant increases in herb cover and Erodium abundance, and significant declines in bare ground and in seed predation. These results support the hypothesis that D. stephensi has major impacts on plant community structure and seems to function as a keystone species. It remains to be seen how the loss of this species from much of its range will influence local community composition and dynamics.     

Assessing habitat use of the endangered marine mollusc Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda, Patellidae) in northern Africa: preliminary results and implications for conservation

The limpet Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791, endemic to the Mediterranean, is the most endangered marine species on the list of the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitat of Wild Fauna and Flora (1992). Its Mediterranean range has progressively contracted to a few restricted areas and the species is now threatened with extinction. Seventeen stations were sampled along the littoral zone on the coast of Ceuta, North Africa, for quantifying environmental factors (water movement, siltation and suspended solids), and 70 transects were selected for P. ferruginea sampling. The study revealed the presence of a well-established population of P. ferruginea with values of density and size of 0.67 individuals m⁻¹ ±0.96 and 48.94 mm±11.61 respectively (mean±standard error of mean). The biggest densities of P. ferruginea were found inside the harbour of Ceuta. The limpets were more abundant on artificial harbour stones than on natural rocky shores, and the areas under the highest human pressure were characterised by the lowest densities and the smallest specimens probably due mainly to the predation for food and fishing. Human pressure is probably the main contributing factor to the currently endangered status of P. ferruginea. Programmes of environmental education to avoid its collection for fishing, food or for fun as decorative objects should be conducted, and further experimental studies dealing with the reproductive biology of this species are needed to properly assess the future programmes of conservation.     

The buffer effect of non-breeding birds and the timing of farmland bird declines

Breeding territoriality in birds means that a certain proportion of the adult population may breed in suboptimal habitats or not breed at all. Non-breeding birds, or floaters, can have a `buffer effect' on breeding population size. Farmland bird declines in Britain are measured and analysed in terms of numbers of territory-holding birds. We use a population dynamics model to illustrate how, because of the buffer effect of floaters, there can be a time lag between the start of total population decline and detectable breeding population decline. Differences in the timing of declines of closely related farmland birds could therefore be due to slight differences in their population dynamics, rather than differences in their response to agricultural change.     

城市公园土壤和植被：自然和人为因子的影响

Various soil surface components, such as trees, shrubs and biological crusts, and human recreational activities, e.g., barbecues and trampling by visitors, may divide the area of the urban park into smaller fragments/microenvironments, differentiated by their microenvironmental conditions, which may differ in soil and vegetation characteristics. The spatial changes in the soil and vegetation characteristics and their causes were investigated in an urban park located south of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel. The area of the park is 0.5 km², including groves, a lake, lawns, and rest areas. Soil was sampled in nine microenvironments, of which seven were within the park: under Ceratonia siliqua trees (CsU), under Ficus sycomorus trees (FiU), rest area between tables under F. sycomorus (FiB), rest area under tables under F. sycomorus (FiT), open area with bare soil (OaS), open area with biological crust cover (OaC), and open area covered by herbaceous vegetation (OaV). Two more microenvironments, planar and sloping open areas (CoP and CoS, respectively) in the vicinity of the park, were used as the controls. Electrical conductivity, concentrations of soluble ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and HCO₃^-), pH, contents of organic carbon, calcium carbonate and moisture, and grain size distribution were determined. In addition, herbaceous vegetation cover, number and diversity of herbaceous vegetation species were measured. It was found that soil properties and herbaceous vegetation characteristics varied within the park. Soil organic carbon, electrical conductivity, soluble salts, penetration depth, and vegetation characteristics were affected by human activities, mainly in the rest area between the tables. In contrast, the above characteristics were affected by natural factors mainly in the rest of the microenvironments, which were subjected to low levels of anthropogenic intervention. The heterogeneous structure of the park, as represented by the various microenvironments, offered new habitats and promoted the preservation of natural vegetation.     

蝴蝶多样性与地形相关性研究——以大峪流域为例

蝴蝶物种丰富度是蝴蝶多样性研究的热点之一,以大峪流域的蝴蝶为研究对象,借助GIS技术,结合数字高程模型（DEM）数据,研究了大峪流域内的蝴蝶多样性沿海拔梯度分布格局,及其与地形复杂度之间的关系。结果表明：随着海拔的升高,蝴蝶的科、属、种丰富度和密度均呈逐渐降低的趋势;蝴蝶的丰富度和密度与地形复杂度成正相关,随地形复杂度的降低而降低。     

Forest vegetation responses to climate and environmental change: A case study from Changbai Mountain, NE China

The distribution of plant species has always been altered by changing climatic conditions. Nonetheless, the potential for species’ range shift responses has recently become severely limited, as exceptionally fast temperature changes coincide with a high degree of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation. This study provides rare insights into the effects current temperature increases have on pristine temperate forest ecosystems, using the forests of Changbai Mountain, NE China, as a case study. On the northern slopes of the mountain at elevations between 750 and 2100 m, the composition of trees, shrubs and herbaceous species was recorded on 60 plots in 1963 and 2006/07. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to establish the response of plant diversity and plant distribution patterns to environmental conditions. Climatic factors proved important in explaining the spatio-temporal trends within the vegetation. The composition of dominant trees remained mostly unchanged over the last 43 years, reflecting a very slow response of the forest canopy to environmental change. The composition of young trees, shrubs and herb species showed varied changes in the different forest types. A homogeneous species composition in the cohort of regenerating trees indicates an increased future uniformity in the mixed broadleaved and coniferous forest. The understory vegetation of high elevation birch forests was invaded by floristic elements of the lower-elevation coniferous forests. Both these trends pose potential threats to forests plant diversity. Future research investigating climate change responses in forest canopy composition needs to be based on even longer timescales, while investigations in the near future need to pay particular attention to the changes in the distribution of rare and threatened herbaceous species.