Linking habitat suitability and seed dispersal models in order to analyse the effectiveness of hydrological fen restoration strategies

The effectiveness of measures targeted at the restoration of populations of endangered species in anthropogenically dominated regions is often limited by a combination of insufficient restoration of habitat quality and dispersal failure. Therefore, the joint prediction of suitable habitat and seed dispersal in dependency of management actions is required for effective nature management. Here we demonstrate an approach, which links a habitat suitability and a seed dispersal model. The linked model describes potential species distribution as a function of current species distribution, species-specific dispersal traits, the number of successful dispersal events, dispersal infrastructure and habitat configuration. The last two variables were related to water management actions. We demonstrate the applicability of the model in a strategy analysis of hydrological restoration measures for a large fen area in which still numerous endangered plant species grow.With the aid of the linked model, we were able to optimise the spatial planning of restoration measures, taking into account both the constraints of water management practices on abiotic restoration and the effects of habitat fragmentation on dispersal. Moreover, we could demonstrate that stand-alone habitat suitability models, which assume unlimited dispersal, may considerably overestimate restoration prospects. For these reasons, we conclude that linked habitat suitability and dispersal models can provide useful insights into spatially differentiated potentials and constraints of nature restoration measures targeted at the sustainable conservation of endangered plant populations whose habitats have been deteriorated due to undesirable effects of land and water management on abiotic conditions. These insights may contribute to the design of cost-effective nature restoration and conservation measures.     

“水土保持规划与设计”课程实践环节设计

针对原"水土保持规划"课程教学中存在的问题,提出的新"水土保持规划与设计"课程是根据我国目前生产实际的需求,在原"水土保持规划"课程基础上整合形成的一门实践性很强的水土保持与荒漠化防治专业骨干课程。新"水土保持规划与设计"教学实践环节体系设计了"规划整体"和"典型流域治理措施设计"2个方向共8个方面的具体内容,既可反映整体水土保持规划的要求,更好地完成教学大纲中规定的要求,又可使学生牢固地掌握规划编制的内容和深度,同时有助于提高课程教学质量和学生的实践能力。     

Insular pest control within a metapopulation context

Introduced pests threaten many species and their control is generally beneficial for conservation, particularly on islands where complete eradication is possible. Unfortunately on ‘nearshore’ islands neighbouring source populations exist and unaided reinvasion is likely. Pest control programmes at these sites thus require a metapopulation context to adequately manage movements between source and sink populations. We investigated the ecology of introduced ship rats (Rattus rattus) on a nearshore island, and gene flow with adjacent mainland populations, in order to understand the metapopulation dynamics and relative levels of pest control required within the landscape. We sampled the entire population by trapping (n = 30), achieving eradication, and found a low rat density (3.2 ha⁻¹) indicative of a sink population. Seed and other plant material constituted the major dietary component of rats. Despite its proximity to mainland source populations, the island population was genetically distinct with reduced allelic diversity caused by a recent reinvasion founder effect. Genetic analyses also detected recent migrants between the populations. In contrast, two mainland populations separated by a similar distance displayed complete genetic mixing. The small water gap therefore provides a sufficient barrier to lower the migration rate to the island and delay reinvasion, which nonetheless eventually happens. In order to maintain nearshore islands pest-free, conservation management will require a metapopulation approach simultaneously focusing on both island and source population pest control.     

Soil texture affects soil microbial and structural recovery during grassland restoration

Many biotic and abiotic factors influence recovery of soil communities following prolonged disturbance. We investigated the role of soil texture in the recovery of soil microbial community structure and changes in microbial stress, as indexed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, using two chronosequences of grasslands restored from 0 to 19 years on silty clay loam and loamy fine sand soils in Nebraska, USA. All restorations were formerly cultivated fields seeded to native warm-season grasses through the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program. Increases in many PLFA concentrations occurred across the silty clay loam chronosequence including total PLFA biomass, richness, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and actinomycetes. Ratios of saturated:monounsaturated and iso:anteiso PLFAs decreased across the silty clay loam chronosequence indicating reduction in nutrient stress of the microbial community as grassland established. Multivariate analysis of entire PLFA profiles across the silty clay loam chronosequence showed recovery of microbial community structure on the trajectory toward native prairie. Conversely, no microbial groups exhibited a directional change across the loamy fine sand chronosequence. Changes in soil structure were also only observed across the silty clay loam chronosequence. Aggregate mean weighted diameter (MWD) exhibited an exponential rise to maximum resulting from an exponential rise to maximum in the proportion of large macroaggregates (>2000 μm) and exponential decay in microaggregates (<250 μm and >53 μm) and the silt and clay fraction (<53 μm). Across both chronosequences, MWD was highly correlated with total PLFA biomass and the biomass of many microbial groups. Strong correlations between many PLFA groups and the MWD of aggregates underscore the interdependence between the recovery of soil microbial communities and soil structure that may explain more variation than time for some soils (i.e., loamy fine sand). This study demonstrates that soil microbial responses to grassland restoration are modulated by soil texture with implications for estimating the true capacity of restoration efforts to rehabilitate ecosystem functions.     

南京牛首山森林公园植被恢复与景观改造策略

南京牛首山森林公园地处亚热带中部,植被以常绿阔叶和落叶阔叶混交林为主。因人类活动频繁和过度开发造成该地区植被的次生性很强。对其植被的生态恢复应采取人工促进天然更新的方法,促使其顺行演替。应突出“春牛首”的主题,采取有效措施对该森林公园进行景观改造。     

三江平原湿地野生动物濒危原因分析

对濒危野生物种致濒因素做了深入细致的分析，结果表明，随着农业活动的加强，环境污染的加剧，三江平原区湿地生物多样性面临严重威胁。三江平原未来的湿地濒危物种的保护，应注重湿地生境的管理和切实停止对湿地的开发，并加强执法与科研力度。     

中国境内外来杂草的特点危害及其综合治理对策

中国有外来杂草23科、76属、108种。我国外来杂草的特点表现为来源广泛，以一年生种类为主，近年来入侵的种类较多。外来杂草入侵的原因主要与生境相似度、外来杂草的生态位宽度、繁殖能力以及遗传多样性的改变有关。外来杂草入侵已经对我国各种各样的生态系统和社会经济发展造成明显损害。针对我国外来杂草的危害现状，本文提出了有效治理外来杂草的策略。     

生态入侵的危害及防范对策

生态入侵的途径主要有4种：自然传播，贸易渠道传播，旅客携带物传播和人为引种传播。生态入侵不仅会导致生物多样性丧失，而且会带来巨大的经济损失，因此要严格执行《进出境动植物检疫法》，加强生态学知识的普及与宣传，并对引种进行生态风险评价，使生态灾害出现的可能性降低到最低限度。     

长白山自然保护区西坡生态环境保育对策

分析了长白山自然保护区西坡存在的生态环境问题，指出；目前长白山西坡森林生态系统正处于不稳定的演替状态，人为干扰影响着森林生态系统的正常演替，生态恢复存在着不利的自然因素。生物多样性日趋减少，旅游加大了对生态环境的影响，为此，提出了长白山西坡的生态环境保育对策。     

杉木基因资源收集、保存和利用的研究

在介绍基因资源调查、收集方法的基础上 ,提出基因资源命名与编号的方法 ,论述了保存“方法多样化、滚动式发展、保存与利用相结合”的保存方式和技术。保存基因资源 31 1 3个编号、1 876 4个个体。建立了种源基因资源继代保存林和“陈山杉”优良小群体原境保存林。对有关基因资源作了形态学、物候学、形态与生长、材性、同功酶谱等的调查与分析。提出冠层浓密、宽冠、反卷果鳞等与高材积量相关 ;灰枝杉同功酶谱有异、黄枝杉木材密度大等观点。研究了“陈山杉”林分的形状结构与材性特点。