Charcoal production through selective logging leads to degradation of dry woodlands:a case study from Mutomo District,Kenya

Provision of woodfuel is an important ecosystem service of dry forests and woodlands.However,charcoal production through selective logging of preferred hardwood species has the potential to alter the physiognomic composition of the residual or re-growth woodlands and may lead to their deterioration and degradation.This study,conducted through forest inventory in Mutomo District in Kenya,assessed the impact of charcoal production on unprotected dry woodlands in terms of tree density,targeted species basal area,species richness,evenness and Shannon diversity.The parameters of the disturbed woodlands were evaluated for significant differences with those of the neighbouring protected Tsavo East National Park,which served as a reference for an ecologically undisturbed ecosystem.By evaluating a consequence of tree harvesting for charcoal production,this study confirmed the overall significant differences between the protected and unprotected woodlands in all the tested parameters.To confirm if the differences in the land-covers of the woodlands had any influence on their degradation,all mentioned parameters were compared between the four differentiated classes and their respective control plots in the protected areas.At the "land-cover level",the statistically significant difference in the basal area of tree species preferred for charcoal production between the protected and unprotected open trees confirms that the class with a high density of large mature trees is the prime target of charcoal producers.In addition,there seems to be a general trend of lower values of tree species richness,evenness and Shannon diversity for the unprotected woodlands subjected to charcoal production.On the other hand,the disturbed woodlands display the potential to recover through their comparably high saplings density.The findings make an important contribution to the discourse on the impact of charcoal production in dry woodlands,a topic that is highly controversial among researchers.     

石羊河中下游河岸植被的结构及其功能研究

为了研究石羊河中下游的河岸植被结构和功能对区域生态环境管理和恢复的意义,依径流量将研究区域分为丰水河段和干涸河段,调查距河床不同间距的植被结构与空间分布,进行植被分类和空间格局分析,讨论其功能。石羊河中下游的河岸植被带宽约200~500 m,分布区域内植物群落类型的80%以上的建群种,拥有18个群丛。河岸植被类型依河床间距呈梯级分布,河岸植被盖度随河床间距增大成指数下降。河岸植被带不仅拥有乔木和沼泽植物组成的隐域性植被类型,是区域特有种栖息地;而且形成景观廊道,连结斑块,稳定区域生态系统,保护河岸、稳定河床、防治水流和风沙灾害,为当地人们提供多用途的娱乐场所和舒适的生活环境。     

石羊河中下游河岸地下水位与植被物种多样性变异及其关系

选择物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Weiner指数、均匀度指数和Simpson优势度指数,根据石羊河中下游8个调查样地的11个地下水位观测井和植物样地野外采集的数据,对石羊河中下游河岸带地下水位及物种多样性特征进行了分析。结果表明:石羊河中下游物种多样性与地下水埋深有显著的关联性,随着地下水埋深增大,石羊河中下游物种丰富度和多样性均表现出递减趋势,反映了水分是影响植被分布和生存的主要因素,地下水位的不断下降和土壤含水率降低是引起石羊河下游植被多样性变化的主导因子。     

细河河岸带植物多样性研究

以野外样方调查数据为基础,详细调查了辽宁省太子河主要支流细河河岸带植物群落的组成、种类和外貌,应用重要值计算了细河河岸带植物丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数、优势度指数,并分析了其物种的多样性差异,从而为细河河岸带的生态修复提供理论和技术依据。结果表明:细河河岸带植物群落27个植物样方中共有23科60属99种,物种组成以菊科、蓼科、禾本科、莎草科、蔷薇科、唇形科植物为主,植物种类以荩草、藨草、中华结缕草、野稗、三叶草、老芒麦、问荆.、野艾蒿、桃叶蓼、狗尾草等为主。细河河岸带植物物种结构简单,物种组成较少。植物物种多样性水平较低,从多样性指数的数量特征来看,丰富度指数7.00～25.00,Pielou均匀度指数0.54～0.94,Simpson多样性指数0.56～0.92,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数1.44～2.80,Simpson优势度指数0.08～0.44。细河河岸带受到人为活动干扰,如农业生产、挖沙等人为活动干扰降低了植物多样性水平。     

Spatial occupancy patterns and activity of arid rangeland cattle grazing small riparian pastures

The spatial occupancy patterns and activity of cattle grazing three riparian pastures was investigated in northeastern Oregon using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars logging at 1‐sec intervals. Cattle consistently selected plant communities as grazing areas that had forage in sufficient volume to meet their requirements and favored communities as resting areas that were dry and open. Cattle were stationary for more than 50% of the time in each pasture and consistently rested between dark and 04:00 hours. Interaction with stream channels was found to be 1‐2% of total occupancy time and occurred on less than 10% of channel length. Cattle were indifferent or avoided channel areas relative to their area and, when in this zone, they spent most of their time moving not resting. Cattle did not prefer the stream bank zone and spent only 2% of their time in that zone. When occupied, the stream bank zone was used as a travel corridor to gain access to water or cross the channel to access other pasture areas. These results are in contrast with the general belief that cattle are a primary occupant of the stream bank/channel area; additional research is needed to define factors influencing cattle occupancy.     

塔里木河中游荒漠河岸林土壤理化性质分布特征与植被关系

为揭示土壤理化性质的空间变异特征及其与植物数量特征、物种多样性的关系,运用相关性分析和回归分析等方法对塔里木河中游荒漠河岸林不同生境土壤理化性质的空间变异规律及其与植物数量特征和物种多样性进行了分析。结果表明:(1)不同生境土壤理化性质有明显的差异,表现为:土壤含水量、容重在河岸地带大于过渡地带和荒漠地带,持水量、孔隙度、全盐、pH值则随着垂直于河岸距离的增加而增加,有机质、全磷、全钾的最大值则出现在水热资源组合较好的过渡地带,生境内部不同土层理化因子变化呈现不同的规律;(2)随着距离河岸增加,乔木、灌木、草本的频度、盖度、密度存在不同程度退化,物种多样性指数也明显降低;(3)植物数量特征、物种多样性指数与土壤理化因子存在一定的相关性,全盐量、容重、土壤含水量、pH、全氮、全磷与植物的数量特征指标和物种多样性指数的关系最为密切;(4)经回归分析,表明土壤含水量是影响干旱地区植物生长的首要因子,而土壤养分也是影响植物生长的主要因素,且有机质、全磷、全钾与植物生长状况呈负相关。土壤理化性质的空间变异不仅促使区域植物数量特征发生明显变化,而且也影响群落的演替,同时,植物的空间分布特征对土壤理化性质有明显改良作用,通过二者关系的研究为塔里木河中游荒漠河岸林的恢复和土地沙化的治理提供理论支撑。     

Conservation of freshwater biodiversity in key areas of the Colombian Amazon

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