小麦与不同作物间作模式对麦蚜及主要捕食性天敌群落的影响

应用群落生态学结构变化特征的研究方法,研究了小麦与油菜、荷兰豆间作和单作麦田3种栽培模式条件下对麦田麦蚜及主要天敌群落的影响。结果表明,捕食性天敌的丰盛度和昆虫群落的稳定性,麦套荷兰豆最高,其次为麦套油菜田、单作麦田最低;麦套荷兰豆田麦蚜亚群落稳定性较好,单作麦田捕食性天敌亚群落的稳定性较好。麦蚜亚群落主要特征值分析表明,多样性指数和均匀度为:麦套荷兰豆>单作麦田>麦套油菜,优势度和优势集中性指数为:麦套油菜>单作麦田>麦套荷兰豆;主要捕食性天敌亚群落的多样性指数和均匀度为:单作麦田>麦套油菜>麦套荷兰豆,优势度和优势集中性指数为:麦套荷兰豆田>麦套油菜田>单作麦田。     

Effect of road density on abundance of white-footed mice

While several studies have demonstrated that roads can act as barriers to small mammal movement, the relationship between road density and small mammal abundance has not yet been investigated. In southeastern Ontario, Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mice) suffer high over-winter mortality rates, resulting in small springtime populations and frequent local extinctions. Peromyscus leucopus movement is known to be inhibited by roads, which should result in lower rates of immigration into and recolonization of habitats in landscapes with high road density. We tested two predictions: (1) Forest sites situated in landscapes with high road densities have a higher chance of P. leucopus being absent during the early spring than forest sites situated in landscapes with low road densities and (2) P. leucopus populations during the summer are smaller in forest sites situated in landscapes with high road densities than in landscapes with low road densities. We sampled P. leucopus in focal patches within nineteen landscapes (7 rural, low-road-density landscapes; 7 rural, high-road-density landscapes; 5 urban landscapes). There was no significant relationship between road density and the presence/absence of P. leucopus during the early spring. We found a significant positive effect of road density on P. leucopus relative abundance during the summer, even when we excluded the urban landscapes and based the analysis on only the 14 rural landscapes. Our results suggest that any negative effect of roads on P. leucopus populations, created by their inhibition to moving across roads, is far outweighed by some positive effect of roads on P. leucopus abundance. We suggest that the two most likely explanations are that roads are positively correlated with an important as-yet-undetermined component of habitat quality, or that roads positively affect P. leucopus by negatively affecting their predators.     

Near-shore distribution of Heaviside’s (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) and dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) at the southern limit of their range in South Africa

Photo-identification surveys over three years along 390 km of coastline north of Cape Town, revealed that Heaviside’s dolphin distribution was consistent between years and higher in areas more exposed to swells and with greater long-term availability of small hake Merluccius capensis (their principal prey). Dusky dolphin sighting rates varied considerably between years, but were generally higher in areas with lower hake availability and sandier shores (mostly straighter coastline). Large groups of 50–200 dusky dolphins were only seen in St Helena Bay, the site of a wind-driven upwelling zone. Heaviside’s dolphins were found in shallower, cooler water than dusky dolphins and were more likely to be seen during brighter phases of the moon (when nocturnal light conditions may influence the vertical migration patterns of prey) and in areas of high hake abundance. Near-shore fishing activity was higher in the northern half of the study area and clustered around harbours. Set netting occurred only at Yzerfontein and St Helena Bay, but due to changes in the industry is currently thought to be a low threat to the population. Interactions between Heaviside’s and dusky dolphins were usually neutral and sympatry appears to be mediated by differences in overall range and the type and size of prey species taken.     

Distribution of Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) and its potential prey Thysanoptera species on different cultivated host plants

The results of the monitoring of Thysanoptera species on cultivated plants in Slovenia (2000–2001), Croatia (1994–1996), and Serbia and Montenegro (1988–2003) are presented in this study. The aim of the investigation was to study the host plant distribution of the predator Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall and its potential prey. Banded thrips were found on 30 different host plant species belonging to 16 botanical families, always in mixed populations with phytophagous or facultative phytophagous insects (including 18 Thysanoptera species). On the vegetative parts of the cultivated plants, banded thrips were found less numerous in spite of the massive population of some harmful thrips species. This indicates highly important role of pollen as alternative food for Aeolothrips intermedius.     

褐菱猎蝽生物学特性的研究

据在北京室内饲养观察,褐菱猎蝽一年发生一代,以成虫越冬。卵期12.1±1.0天。若虫5龄,历期61-83天。成虫羽化后8-30天交配,次年开始产卵。描述了各虫态形态特征。记述了生物学特性。试验表明该虫对舞毒蛾、杨扇舟蛾、杨叶蜂、榆毒蛾、黄刺蛾等多种林木食叶害虫有明显捕食作用。     

不同间作模式茶园主要病虫害及天敌的调查研究

对香樟-茶、野花椒-茶、沉香-茶3种间作模式下茶树主要病虫害及天敌在春茶、秋茶2个生育期的发生数量进行调查。结果表明:茶园中间作香樟、野花椒、沉香对茶园主要病虫害及天敌的影响不一致。香樟间作茶园茶轮斑病和茶赤星病的发病率较对照茶园低,但有增加茶小绿叶蝉的趋势;野花椒间作茶园茶饼病的发病率、茶小绿叶蝉虫害均较对照茶园低;沉香间作茶园茶小绿叶蝉、茶黄蓟马、茶蚜的数量较对照茶园减少,茶轮斑病和茶煤病发病率也较对照茶园降低。     

Trapping for mink control and water vole survival: Identifying key criteria using a spatially explicit individual based model

Introduced alien species are the second most important threat to global biodiversity after habitat loss. The American mink Mustela vison has been introduced to several countries and is threatening a number of native species worldwide. We developed a spatially explicit and individual based model as a planning tool to identify key criteria for the implementation of trapping campaigns as a way to control open American mink populations. We first predicted the minimum effort required to reduce populations of mink below a certain threshold and the best time of year in which to trap mink to minimise their numbers. We then employed this methodology to predict the best trapping strategy to ensure the long-term survival of the water vole Arvicola terrestris, one of the species most endangered by the spread of the mink in the UK. We also applied the mink and water vole population models to rationalise a set of observed data in an area of 50 × 30 km in the Upper Thames (UK). The model predicted that it is necessary to remove mink for at least 3 months every year and that a mixed strategy of trapping during the mating, late dispersal and winter seasons is best for keeping mink at low densities. Concentrating trapping during the late dispersal and winter seasons is instead best for ensuring the long-term survival of water voles. Targeting immigrating juvenile mink as well as reproductive adults is important. The model also showed that trapping efficiency might be an important factor to consider when choosing periods in which to trap.     

Predator control for protecting kaki (Himantopus novaezelandiae)—lessons from 20 years of management

In New Zealand, the endemic kaki or black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) has been the focus of intensive conservation management for the past 20 years. Threatened by predation and habitat loss, the population fell to as low as 23 birds before management was implemented to reverse the decline. Predator trapping has been one form of management intervention in the wild, yet despite 20 years of control, there is only limited evidence to suggest that predator trapping is beneficial for the survival of kaki. Lack of adequate experimental design and understanding of the predator-prey dynamics in the system in which kaki live appear to be the main reasons why the benefits of predator control are not consistently clear. An adaptive management approach would have provided more information on the efficacy of predator trapping and increased understanding of the inter-relationships between kaki survival and predator abundance.     

Linking a cougar decline, trophic cascade, and catastrophic regime shift in Zion National Park

The strength of top-down forces in terrestrial food webs is highly debated as there are few examples illustrating the role of large mammalian carnivores in structuring biotic and abiotic systems. Based on the results of this study we hypothesize that an increase in human visitation within Zion Canyon of Zion National Park ultimately resulted in a catastrophic regime shift through pathways involving trophic cascades and abiotic environmental changes. Increases in human visitors in Zion Canyon apparently reduced cougar (Puma concolor) densities, which subsequently led to higher mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) densities, higher browsing intensities and reduced recruitment of riparian cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii), increased bank erosion, and reductions in both terrestrial and aquatic species abundance. These results may have broad implications with regard to our understanding of alternative ecosystem states where large carnivores have been removed or are being recovered.     

Generations in captivity increases behavioral variance: considerations for captive breeding and reintroduction programs

Long-term maintenance of captive populations followed by release of captive animals into the wild is one of many approaches to endangered species conservation. To assess captivity's effects on behavior, a simulated predator was presented and response behaviors measured in oldfield mice, Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. The animals tested were from four populations collected from Ocala National Forest, Florida, and held in captivity for varying numbers of generations: 35, 14, 2, and 0 (wild caught). Results show (1) that the more generations a population has been in captivity, the less likely an individual is to take cover after seeing a predator and (2) variance in predator-response behaviors increases with generations in captivity. These results point to two ways in which captivity can compromise animal behavior and, in turn, the success of reintroduction programs. First, because individuals from populations that have been in captivity for multiple generations seek refuge less often than their wild counterparts, they might experience increased mortality in the wild due to predation. Second, increased behavioral variance could translate into decreased survivorship upon reintroduction. Therefore, more individuals will need to be released to reach the targeted wild population size.