Metapopulation theory and habitat fragmentation: a review of holarctic breeding bird studies

Metapopulations are conceived as spatially structured populations consisting of distinct units (subpopulations), separated by space or barriers, and connected by dispersal movements. Metapopulations characteristically demonstrate a turnover of local populations going extinct and becoming re-established, resulting in a distribution pattern that shifts over time. Metapopulation theory is used to analyse the effects of habitat fragmentation on birds in the temperate zone, integrating various explanations for the paucity of species in isolated ecotopes.There is some evidence that turnover of local populations occurs in fragmented systems. A few studies based on time series demonstrate the local extinction rate to be related to the size of the habitat fragment, whereas the recolonization rate depends on the degree of isolation. Most evidence comes from short-term pattern studies in which the probability of occurrence was found to depend on the size of habitat fragments, on their relative position in the landscape and on the density of corridors lowering the landscape resistance. These data are consistent with predictions from metapopulation theory. However, almost all investigations consider wood fragmentation in agricultural landscapes, and there is a great need for studies in naturally fragmented landscapes as well as for studies focussing on other, less predictable, habitat types.     

Spatial and temporal effects on seed dispersal and seed predation of Musa acuminata in southern Yunnan, China

Wild bananas are abundant in tropical areas and many ecologists have observed that the succession process is quicker following increased disturbance. This study was conducted to analyze animal-seed interactions and their effects on the seed fate of a wild banana species (Musa acuminata) in tropical southern Yunnan (China) through experiments considering spatial (site and habitat) and temporal (seasons) variation. The largest proportion of fruits (81%) was removed by frugivorous seed dispersers, especially by bats at nighttime. Only 13% of the fruits were removed by climbing seed predators (different species of rats). In the exclosure treatment, rodents accounted for a significantly higher total artificially exposed seed removal number than ants, but with spatial and temporal differences. The highest seed predation rate by rodents (70%) was found in forest with wild banana stands, corresponding with the highest rodent diversity (species numbers and abundance) among the habitat types. In contrast, the seed removal number by ants (57%) was highest in the open land habitats, but there was no close correlation with ant diversity. Seed removal numbers by ants were significantly higher in the dry compared to the rainy season, but rodent activity showed no differences between seasons. The overall results suggest that the largest proportion of seeds produced by wild banana are primarily dispersed by bats. Primary seed dispersal by bats at nighttime is essential for wild banana seeds to escape seed predation.     

The function of the hygroscopic awn of Themeda triandra 1

The hygroscopic awn of species such as Themeda triandra is widely believed to be a device ensuring the early burial of its seed. This belief has been extensively tested and no tendency for such self‐burial has been found. It has been demonstrated that the propelling action of the awn does cause the seed to move along the surface and its possible function as a dispersal mechanism is tentatively suggested.     

Effects of insect infestation on rodent‐mediated dispersal of Quercus aliena: results from field and enclosure experiments

Rodents influence plant establishment and regeneration by functioning as both seed predators and dispersers. However, these rodent–plant interactions can vary significantly due to various environmental conditions and the activity of other insect seed predators. Here, we use a combination of both field and enclosure (i.e. individual cage and semi‐natural enclosure) experiments, to determine whether rodents can distinguish sound seeds from those infested with insects. We also demonstrate how such responses to insects are influenced by food abundance and other environmental factors. We presented rodents with 2 kinds of Quercus aliena seeds (sound and insect‐infested seeds) in a subtropical forest in the Qinling Mountains, central China, from September to November of 2011 to 2013. The results showed that rodents preferred to hoard and eat sound seeds than infested seeds in the field and semi‐natural enclosure, while they preferred to eat infested seeds over sound seeds in the individual cages. In addition, both hoarding and eating decisions were influenced by food abundance. Rodents hoarded more sound seeds in years of high food abundance while they consumed more acorns in years of food shortage. Compared with field results, rodents reduced scatter‐hoarding behavior in semi‐natural enclosures and ate more insect‐infested seeds in smaller individual cages. These results further confirm that rodents distinguish infested seeds from non‐infested seeds but demonstrate that this behavior varies with conditions (i.e. environment and food abundance). We suggest that such interactions will influence the dispersal and natural regeneration of seeds as well as predation rates on insect larvae.     

Do active‐dispersing insects dominate the invertebrate fauna of rock pools in the wet–dry tropics,Kimberley, Australia?

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转基因水稻基因飘流研究十年回顾

中国是世界最大的水稻生产国和亚洲栽培稻的起源中心之一。随着中国转基因水稻研发的快速发展,需要研究水稻转基因飘流可能对环境和食品安全带来的潜在风险。基因飘流及其数据是对转基因水稻进行科学评估和监管的重要参数。为此,从2002年开始组建了研究团队,对转基因水稻的基因飘流进行了为期10年的系统研究。取得的结果主要包括：（1）阐明了水稻基因飘流的基本规律,揭示了影响水稻基因飘流的生物学和气象学主控因子。沿水稻开花期的主流风向,采用长方形田间试验设计,分别在三亚、广州和杭州3个点2-3个生长季,研究了纯合转bar基因花粉供体L201或B2 (姐妹系,抗除草剂Basta)向19个非转基因受体（包括不育系、常规稻品种、杂交稻F1和普通野生稻）在不同距离上的基因飘流率,明确了转基因向不育系的飘流率最高,向普通栽培稻品种的基因飘流率最低(相邻种植时小于1%或0.1%),向普通野生稻的基因飘流率介于不育系和常规稻之间,向不育系的最大基因飘流率比向普通野生稻和栽培稻要大1-3个数量级;基因飘流率随距离增加呈负指数曲线衰减,且存在急剧降低的“拐点”,“拐点”的距离与试验点水稻开花期的风速密切相关,广州和杭州为1-2 m,三亚约为5 m;采用圆形、以花粉供体为中心的田间试验设计,以异交结实率很高的不育系博A作受体,清晰地解析了风向与基因飘流率的数值关系,主流和次主流风向下游4个扇区的基因飘流事件累计达90%-96%,而逆风向和侧逆风向4个扇区仅为4%-10%。综上所述,水稻转基因飘流率与常规育成品种间的异交率（一般在1%以下）基本相同,在数量级上转基因并未增加新的风险。（2）建立了以气象资料为参数的水稻花粉扩散和基因飘流普适模型,计算和预测了中国南方稻区17省、市的最大基因飘流阈值距离（maximum threshold distances, MTDs）。受东南季风和地形地貌的影响,中国南方稻区MTDs的空间分布特征为：东西之间有自东向西逐渐减小的趋势,南北之间首先在南方丘陵地区逐渐减小、越过南岭后再向东南沿海地区逐渐增大。（3）利用人工构建的普通野生稻与基因（Bt或bar）飘流后代栽/野F1杂种混栽群体,经多年多代跟踪观察,分析了转基因飘流至普通野生稻后的命运,发现栽/野F1杂种在3-5年后完全消失,混栽群体中检测不到外源的Bt和bar,有理由推测普通野生稻具有自我保护的机制。（4）研究了小规模田间试验中采用花期隔离和布帐隔离措施降低水稻基因飘流率的效果;调查了海南、广东、广西普通野生稻原生境居群与相邻种植的栽培稻花期相遇情况,建立了相应的数据库;研究了基因拆分技术作为生物学限控措施从根本上限控基因飘流的效果;以本研究的结果及对国际上主要农作物基因飘流的调研数据为基础,提出了在水稻基因飘流风险评估和监管中采用分类管理和阈值管理的原则。在10年回顾和科学分析的基础上,对未来研究的重点也进行了展望。     

Do frugivorous birds assist rainforest succession in weed dominated oldfield regrowth of subtropical Australia?

Exotic plants often form the first woody vegetation that grows on abandoned farmland. If this vegetation attracts vertebrate frugivores which disperse the seeds of native plants, then native plants may recruit to such oldfield sites. However, there is debate about the extent to which exotic vegetation assists or suppresses the regeneration of native plants, and about its effects on faunal biodiversity. These issues were investigated in subtropical eastern Australia, where rainforests were cleared for agriculture in the 19th century, and where regrowth dominated by camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora, an exotic, fleshy-fruited tree) has become common on former agricultural land. The study assessed the assemblages of frugivorous birds, and the recruitment of rainforest plants, at 24 patches of camphor laurel regrowth. The patches were used by nearly all frugivorous birds associated with subtropical rainforest. Many of these birds (16 of 34 species) are considered to have a medium to high potential to disperse the seeds of rainforest plants, and eight of these were abundant and widespread in regrowth patches. Of 208 recorded plant species, 181 were native to local rainforest. The ratio of native to exotic species was higher amongst tree recruits than adult trees, both for numbers of species and individuals. Among native tree recruits, 79% of 75 species, and 93% of 1928 individuals, were potentially dispersed by birds. These recruits included many late-successional species, and there were relatively more individuals of late-successional, bird-dispersed native species amongst recruits than adult trees. The species richness, but not the abundance, of both frugivorous birds and of bird-dispersed rainforest trees decreased with distance from major rainforest remnants. Camphor laurel regrowth provides habitat for rainforest birds and creates conditions suitable for the regeneration of native rainforest plants on abandoned farmland. Careful management of regrowth dominated by fleshy-fruited exotic invasive trees can provide an opportunity for broadscale reforestation in extensively-cleared landscapes.     

Exploring connectivity between spawning and nursery areas of Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) in the Mediterranean through a dispersal model

Connectivity between spawning and nursery areas plays a major role in determining the spatial structure of fish populations and the boundaries of stock units. Here, the potential effects of surface current on a red mullet population in the Central Mediterranean were simulated using a physical oceanographic model. Red mullet larvae were represented as Lagrangian drifters released in known spawning areas of the Strait of Sicily (SoS), which represents one of the most productive demersal fishing‐grounds of the Mediterranean. To consider the effect of inter‐annual variability of oceanographic patterns, numerical simulations were performed for the spawning seasons from 1999 to 2012. The main goal was to explore connectivity between population subunits, in terms of spawning and nursery areas, inhabiting the northern (Sicilian‐Maltese) and southern (African) continental shelves of the SoS. The numerical simulations revealed a certain degree of connectivity between the Sicilian–Maltese and the African sides of the SoS. Connectivity is present in both directions, but it is stronger from the Sicilian–Maltese spawning areas to the African nurseries owing to the marine circulation features of the region. However, because the majority of the larvae are transported to areas unsuitable for settlement or outside the SoS, the dispersal process is characterized by a strong loss of potential settlers born in the spawning areas. These results are in agreement with the low genetic heterogeneity reported for this species in the Mediterranean Sea and support the existence of a metapopulation structure of red mullet in the SoS and the adjacent areas.