Effects of an extreme flash flood on the native fish assemblages across a Mediterranean catchment

Abstract  The effects of an extreme flash flood on the native fish assemblages across a Mediterranean catchment in Southwest Portugal were investigated. The fish community structure and habitat were surveyed at 10 sites pre- and post-flood. Overall species richness and rank abundances changed little after the flood, despite there being a consistent decline in the abundance of small cyprinids. Pre- and post-flood habitat correlates of abundance changed for at least some species, and variability in assemblage structure was associated with flood, depth and pH. These results indicate that extreme floods occurring early in the wet season may have little disruptive effects on the overall structure of native fish assemblages in Mediterranean streams, although may at least partially influence population dynamics for some species. Habitat quality and complexity are likely to play a role in mediating species responses to flooding.     

Effects of wind turbines and other physical elements on field utilization by pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus): A landscape perspective

The effects of wind turbines and other physical landscape elements on field utilization by wintering pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) were studied in a Danish farmland landscape. Within the study area geese were feeding on pastures, which together with cereals were the main crop types. Apart from wind turbines a variety of potentially disturbing landscape elements was present, e.g., high-power lines, windbreaks, roads and settlements. Patterns of field use were assessed by measuring goose dropping densities along transects perpendicular to wind farms (with turbines in clusters and in lines) and other landscape elements. Local effects were expressed in terms of `avoidance distance', i.e., the distance from a given landscape element to the point at which 50% of maximal dropping density was reached. The spatial distribution of landscape elements within an eight km radius from the goose roost was determined from aerial photographs. The area occupied by various elements, together with the adjacent zones which were not available to geese due to their associated avoidance distances, were quantified using Geographic Information System (GIS).The avoidance distance of wind farms with turbines in lines and in clusters were ca 100 m and ca 200 m, respectively. Geese did not enter the area between turbines within the cluster. At the landscape level, the combined effect of physical elements other than wind turbines caused an effective loss of 68% of the total field area (40 km²). Wind turbines caused an additional loss of 4% of the field area. However, of the remaining area available to geese (13 km²), wind turbines caused a loss of 13% of the total area. The habitat loss per turbine was higher for the wind farm with turbines arranged in a large cluster than for wind farms with turbines in small clusters or lines. This difference was mainly due to the fact that wind farms in small clusters or with a linear layout were generally placed close to roads or other elements with existing associated avoidance zones, whereas the large cluster was placed in the open farmland area. The avoidance zones associated with physical elements in the landscape do not take into account possible synergistic effects and, hence, actual field areas affected are likely to be minimum estimates. Implications of these findings for planning of wind farms in areas of conservation interest to geese are discussed.     

Interspecific cross‐hybrids of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. (gla.) S ‘K326’ with Nicotiana alata

In order to introduce the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) resistance from Nicotiana alata into Nicotiana tabacum, a cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) line of N. tabacum (N. tabacum L. cv. (gla.) S ‘K326’), was successfully crossed with N. alata. Despite a high DNA content variability, F₁ hybrids could be classified in two subgroups, a major one encompassing fertile hybrids morphologically similar to their tobacco maternal parent but TSWV sensitive, and a minor one displaying sterile hybrids showing an intermediate phenotype and TSWV resistant. In order to elucidate the unexpected fertility recovery of the fertile F₁ plants, some N. alata fertility restoration ppr genes were cloned and were shown to be differentially expressed between parental lineages as well as between both F₁ subgroups, suggesting that N. alata contains fertility restoring allele able to overcome the CMS of N. tabacum.     

Frequency and fertility restoration efficiency of Rf3 and Rf4 genes in Indian rice

Identification of new parental lines is crucial for developing ecology‐specific hybrids with ideal agronomic performance. We screened a total of 570 different ecology‐specific Indian rice varieties for the presence of fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4 using tightly linked markers DRRM Rf3‐10 and RM6100, respectively. Among these varieties, 13% carried Rf3Rf3/Rf4Rf4, 31% carried rf3rf3/rf4rf4, 6% carried Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4 and remaining 50% carried Rf4Rf4/rf3rf3 allelic combinations. A mini set of 40 varieties with variable allelic combinations of fertility restorer genes were testcrossed with WA and Kalinga‐based CMS lines. All the 80 F₁s were evaluated for spikelet fertility and fertility restoration ability. Rf3Rf3/rf4rf4 genotypes mostly behaved as partial maintainers or partial restorers. In contrast, rf3rf3/Rf4Rf4 genotypes were partial or effective restorers. However, double dominant genotypes showed better fertility restoration than the genotypes containing Rf3 or Rf4 individually. Some of the genotypes showed unexpected restoration pattern implying occurrence of other fertility restorer(s) apart from Rf3 and Rf4. The perfect restorers and maintainers identified in this study can be directly used in hybrid rice breeding.     

荒漠草原区家庭牧场退化草地恢复管理措施研究

为探索荒漠草原区家庭生态牧场退化草地恢复治理措施,2014—2017年开展了对3户家庭生态牧场退化草地恢复管理措施试验。结果表明:补播措施和划破加补播措施明显提高了退化草地地上生物量、植被盖度及草群高度,对物种丰富度的影响不显著,补播措施地上生物量增加51.6%~58.4%,划破加补播处理地上生物量增加48.3%~48.9%;第3年,补播处理、划破加补播处理植被盖度较第1年的对照增加50.2%~70.8%,草群高度增加52.1%~69.8%;补播措施和划破加补播措施使杂草类在总生物量中的比例降低至10%左右,莎草类降低至14%左右。综合评价后,补播、划破加补播措施为当地家庭生态牧场退化草地恢复的有效管理措施;可以为荒漠草原区家庭生态牧场退化草地恢复治理提供技术支持。     

不同生境黑果枸杞实生苗生长及土壤养分空间差异的研究

研究不同生境黑果枸杞实生苗数量、生长状况、生物量分配及土壤养分空间差异,探讨环境因子对黑果枸杞实生苗生长的影响,为黑果枸杞种群恢复及持续经营提供理论依据。采用固定样地调查法,于2016年对张掖市甘州区、临泽县、肃南县及周边地区的农田地埂、水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地等各生境黑果枸杞进行调查。研究结果表明：不同生境均有黑果枸杞实生苗分布,农田地埂生境实生苗数量相对水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地分别增加66.67%、122.22%、215.79%。因环境条件差异,不同生境的黑果枸杞实生苗采取了不同的生存策略适应环境：农田地埂生境的黑果枸杞主要为增高生长,盐化沙地的黑果枸杞主要为冠幅的增长,而盐碱荒地的黑果枸杞主要为增粗生长。农田地埂生境0~20 cm土层有机质含量相对水渠边、盐化沙地、盐碱荒地分别增加28.50%、2.62%、10.13%;全氮含量分别增加44.08%、33.16%、72.41%;有效氮含量分别增加46.81%、0%、50%。空气湿度、土壤含水量对黑果枸杞幼苗数量及幼苗生长有显著影响。在今后的黑果枸杞栽培管理中,幼苗期应加强水分管理。     

陕北固沙林恢复过程中土壤碳氮组分库特征与固存效应

选取陕北毛乌素沙地从半固定沙地到恢复2354a的灌木和乔木固沙林地,采用密度分组法分析表层土壤轻、重组分碳氮含量、C/N的演变及累积速率、固定碳氮贡献率特征。结果表明:固沙林从恢复2354a,乔木和灌木林土壤轻组碳分别增加了14.040.6倍和8.819.2倍,显著高于对应重组碳3.27.7倍和3.58.1倍的增幅;对应轻组氮分别增加了14.540.9倍和11.829.1倍,也显著高于重组氮4.68.5倍和4.412.6倍的增幅,说明轻组碳氮相对重组碳氮对固沙林恢复更加敏感。土壤轻重组碳氮含量增加使得乔木和灌木林轻组碳密度增速分别达0.57mg·hm^-2·a^-1和0.26mg·hm^-2·a^-1,重组碳密度增速则仅为0.18mg·hm^-2·a^-1和0.20mg·hm^-2·a^-1;同时,轻组氮密度增速分别达0.03mg·hm^-2·a^-1和0.02mg·hm^-2·a^-1,重组氮密度增速则分别达0.02mg·hm^-2·a^-1和0.04mg·hm^-2·a^-1。按此碳氮组分增速,到固沙林恢复54a时,乔木林和灌木林土壤轻组碳可分别贡献75.9%和59.4%的全有机碳增量;土壤重组氮则可贡献44.6%和63.9%的全氮增量。另外,恢复54a两种林地土壤重组C/N分别比半固定沙地降低11.4%和38.5%。但轻组C/N在乔木林并无显著变化,在灌木林恢复2354a土壤轻组C/N降低了21.7%31.0%,显著改变了土壤碳库性质。表明陕北固沙林恢复土壤表现出显著的固定碳氮效应,并且乔木林有更好的固碳能力,灌木林则有较好的固氮效应。     

Conversion of cropland into agroforestry land versus naturally-restored grassland alters soil macro-faunal diversity and trophic structure in the semi-arid agro-pasture zone of northern China

Restoration of cropland(termed 'Farm') after abandonment including shrubs(termed 'Shrub'),trees(termed 'Tree') and natural grassland(termed 'Grass') has become a routine process aimed to improve land productivity and control desertification. During this restoration process, soil macro-faunal diversity, and trophic structure were investigated at four types of sites(Farm, Shrub, Tree, and Grass)during growing season in the semi-arid agro-pasture zone of northern China. Results indicated that the Staphylinidae family was found to dominate at the Grass, Shrub, and Tree sites, whiles larval Pyralidae individuals were found at the Grass site only. The density of the omnivores(i.e., Formicidae family) was significantly(P<0.05) greater at the Grass site than at the Tree and Farm sites. The total density and richness of predator and phytophages were found to be markedly(P<0.05) greater at the Grass site than at the Farm site. Meanwhile, we found the taxon richness of predators was significantly(P<0.05) higher at the Shrub site than at the Farm and Tree sites. Compared with the Farm and afforested Shrub/Tree sites,the Grass site had greater density, taxon richness, and Shannon index(P<0.05). In conclusion, natural restoration of abandoned croplands toward grassland was an effective strategy relative to artificial afforestation for improvement of soil biological diversity. Moreover, planting shrub is a preferable measure in abandoned croplands for land development in the semi-arid agro-pasture zone of northern China.     

高寒草原不同种草方式对流动沙丘植被恢复的影响

[目的]研究种草方式对流动沙丘植被恢复效果的影响,为高寒草原沙化土地治理提供技术支持.[方法]在甘肃省玛曲县流动沙丘,设置不同播种方式、不同草种和不同种草模式试验,分析不同种草方式对植被恢复的影响.[结果]撒播和条播对植被恢复无显著影响.总体上草种对植被恢复影响不大,流动沙丘植被恢复中只需种植垂穗披碱草(Elymus ...