Quantifying patch distribution at multiple spatial scales: Applications to wildlife-habitat models

Multiscale analyses are widely employed for wildlife-habitat studies. In most cases, however, each scale is considered discrete and little emphasis is placed on incorporating or measuring the responses of wildlife to resources across multiple scales. We modeled the responses of three Arctic wildlife species to vegetative resources distributed at two spatial scales: patches and collections of patches aggregated across a regional area. We defined a patch as a single or homogeneous collection of pixels representing 1 of 10 unique vegetation types. We employed a spatial pattern technique, three-term local quadrat variance, to quantify the distribution of patches at a larger regional scale. We used the distance at which the variance for each of 10 vegetation types peaked to define a moving window for calculating the density of patches. When measures of vegetation patch and density were applied to resource selection functions, the most parsimonious models for wolves and grizzly bears included covariates recorded at both scales. Seasonal resource selection by caribou was best described using a model consisting of only regional scale covariates. Our results suggest that for some species and environments simple patch-scale models may not capture the full range of spatial variation in resources to which wildlife may respond. For mobile animals that range across heterogeneous areas we recommend selection models that integrate resources occurring at a number of spatial scales. Patch density is a simple technique for representing such higher-order spatial patterns.     

Changes in the density and growth of brown trout (Salmo trutta) after intensive removal of sympatric Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in the sub‐Arctic lake Møkkelandsvatn,Norway

This study tests the basic hypothesis that the removal of charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), would cause an increase in both the growth and density of a sympatric trout population, Salmo trutta L. The charr population was characterised by slow‐growing individuals, with a high proportion of mature fish, that is typical for so‐called overpopulated populations. A total of 31,000 charr was removed from the lake in the period 1990–1992, and the density of younger trout (1+, 2+), but not older trout (3+, 4+), increased. The growth of older trout (3+, 4+) increased, but the evidence for similar growth increases of younger trout (1+, 2+) was limited. From 1989 to 1990, the proportion of trout increased from 30 to only 40% of the total catch, but from 1991 to 1994, it was significantly higher (60–80%) than that of charr. Total trout biomass increased to a maximum in 1992 and then decreased so that the biomass of 1994 was nearly similar to that of 1989, that is before the start of the charr removal. Back‐calculated lengths of trout from otoliths showed that 2+ and 3+ trout caught in the pelagic were growing consistently faster over previous years than those caught in the littoral, while this was not the case for the 4+ fish. Therefore, the hypothesis was partially supported; the growth rate of trout increased (age groups 1+ to 4+), while the density of juvenile trout (1+, 2+), but not the older trout (3+, 4+), increased after the removal of charr.     

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Fructooligosaccharides on Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Biochemical Indices of Arctic Foxes (Alopex lagopus) during Early Growth Period北大核心CSCD

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indices of Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) during early growth period. Sixty male post-litter Arctic foxes with the average body weight of (1.16±0.15) kg and at the age of (45±3) days were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 5 foxes per replicate. The foxes were fed the following diets, respectively: basal diet (control group), basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB (LAB group), basal diet+5 g / kg FOS (FOS group) and basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB+5 g / kg FOS (LAB+FOS group). The experiment lasted for 30 days. The results showed as follows: 1) on the days 1 to 15, the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB group and LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05). On the days 16 to 30, the average daily gain of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); compared with the FOS group, the feed to gain ratio of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). 2) The dry matter digestibility of foxes in the LAB + FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P < 0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in nitrogen intake, fecal nitrogen, urine nitrogen, nitrogen deposition, net protein utilization and protein biological value among all groups (P>0.05). 3) Serum total protein (TP) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with control group and LAB group (P>0.05). Serum albumin (ALB) content of foxes in the LAB group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB+ FOS group (P>0.05). Serum urea nitrogen (UN) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0. 05). In conclusion, the combined supplementation of 3 × 109 CFU / kg LAB and 5 g / kg FOS in the diet is beneficial to reduce diarrhea rate, improve dry matter digestibility, improve body immune level, and promote the growth of Arctic foxes during early growth period. © 2023 Chinese Journal of Urology. All rights reserved.     

Littoral spawning habitats of three southern Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) populations

Abstract Arctic charr populations in southern latitudes are nonmigratory, with all life‐stages limited to freshwater lakes and in‐ or out‐flowing tributaries. Although many of these populations are reported to also spawn in lake littorals, little is known about the physical characteristics of putative spawning grounds. A total of 23 discrete spawning sites within three Irish lakes were located by fyke netting of spawning adults and snorkelling in littoral habitats. Spawning sites were found to be long, narrow strips running parallel to the shore at a maximum depth of 124 cm. Spawning sites were limited to areas of coarse mineral substrate with an adequate (c. 8 cm) depth of clean interstitial spaces. In individual lakes, combined areas of spawning sites made up 0.4–0.7% of available littoral. Egg densities varied considerably between sites (33–900·eggs m^?2) and were significantly correlated with gradient and width of spawning sites. No evidence of redd digging was found. The shallow, localised and restricted nature of spawning grounds makes such populations vulnerable to anthropogenically induced postoviposition changes in surface water level, eutrophication processes such as increased lake sedimentation and elevated nutrient status.     

阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性成熟个体的体征和生殖投入

为深入全面地认识阿根廷滑柔鱼(Illexargentinus)的繁殖策略,本研究选取2018—2021年西南大西洋公海海域收集的阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性成熟个体样本,利用残差指标分析法计算体质量–胴长标准差作为个体的体征指标,并利用混合效应模型分析体征和性腺指数与栖息海域主要环境因子之间的关系。结果显示,阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性成熟个体的胴长为143～291 mm,体质量为89～559 g,体型以2020年的最大,2018年的最小。2018年和2020年成熟个体的体质量–胴长幂函数关系b值与匀速生长(b=3)存在显著性差异。体征以2020年的体征最好,2018年和2021年的体征较差;性腺指数则以2020年的最低,2018年和2021年次之。体征与海表温度和叶绿素a质量浓度存在显著的相关关系,在海表温度为9.0～12.5℃时,体征随海表温度的增加呈下降趋势;在叶绿素a质量浓度为1 mg/m³左右,体征处于较佳状态。性腺指数仅与海表温度存在显著的相关关系,在海表温度为15℃左右处于较大值。以上结果表明,阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性成熟个体的体征与生殖投入存在权衡,海表温度对体征和生殖投入均有显...     

Assessing the efficacy and impact of management of an invasive species in a protected area: Poa annua on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island

Plant eradication is difficult, particularly in remote, protected areas. The Southern Ocean Islands are very isolated and highly protected, but the flora contains many alien plants. Small restricted populations have been eradicated, but eradication of established species has proven difficult. A better understanding of the efficacy of control methods at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and their off‐target impacts may increase eradication success. With interest in controlling non‐native Poa annua in the region, we aimed to determine if physical and chemical methods can control P. annua (the sub‐Antarctic biotype) in sub‐Antarctic conditions and examined their impact on native plants. We quantified the effectiveness of physical control methods on P. annua in situ on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island through field‐based experiments and assessed their selectivity on P. annua compared with native grasses. We also quantified the effectiveness of several herbicides on P. annua at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and assessed their selectivity on native grasses. Of the four physical disturbance methods tested, none effectively reduced P. annua cover as one‐off treatments. Of the herbicide treatments, glyphosate and trifloxysulfuron sodium were effective and were less damaging to native grass species, indicating potential selectivity. Physical control was of limited effectiveness, but did not affect native species richness. An integrated weed management programme utilising the strategic use of selective herbicides with follow‐up chemical and physical intervention may balance control and biodiversity outcomes. This research highlights the importance of site‐specific testing of control methods and understanding off‐target impacts of control when managing alien plant species in protected areas.     

Fluorescence of Extracts from Argentine Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) Muscle and Its Correlation with Quality Indices During Chilled Storage

Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) was stored chilled for 8 days. The evolution of fluorescence of the aqueous and organic extracts of muscle during storage at 4°C was studied and correlated with common damage indices; pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, free fatty acids, and the fluorescence intensity of the aqueous phase showed a good correlation with storage time. The excitation-emission matrices of the aqueous extracts were also obtained. A fluorescence landscape that could be attributed to tryptophan decreased with storage time, meanwhile a peak (around 340 and 400 nm for excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively) is developed during chilled storage.     

基于分位数回归的大西洋中部公海大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)栖息环境综合指数

摘要：2001年7月4日-10月27日，中国水产总公司所属的3艘大洋性超低温金枪鱼延绳钓渔船对大西洋中部公海海域进行金枪鱼渔业调查。本文根据所获得的渔场环境、作业参数、渔获统计等数据，应用栖息地适应性指数（habitat suitability index, HSI）模型并结合分位数回归分析方法分别对有关水层（60m为一层）及总渔获率与温度、盐度和相对流速等环境因素的关系并考虑其不同的影响权重及交互作用建立了数值模型，根据该模型计算大眼金枪鱼的栖息环境综合指数(HEII)，利用MarineExplore4.0绘制大眼金枪鱼HEII指数等值线分布图。结果显示：（1）180～240m水层中，中部海区的 指数分布较高（高于0.6），其他海区分布较低（小于0.6）；（2）240～300m水层中，6ºN以南的海区 分布较高（高于0.6），以北的海区分布较低；（3）300～360m水层中，仅南部部分海区（4ºS，23ºW附近） 分布较高，其他大部分海区分布很低（低于0.3）；（4）7ºN以南的大部分海区 指数分布较高（高于0.6），仅在部分较小海区（5ºN，22ºW、2ºS，17ºW和2ºS，23ºW的附近）内 指数分布低于0.5。 关键词：大眼金枪鱼；栖息环境综合指数；分位数回归；大西洋中部公海     

不同气候模态下西北太平洋柔鱼渔场环境特征分析

柔鱼冬春生群体广泛分布于西北太平洋,其种群分布与大小受气候变化和环境因子调控。本实验根据中国鱿钓组提供的1995—2011年渔业捕捞数据和海洋环境数据包括海表温度(SSTA)、海表面高度(SSHA)和混合层深度(MLDA)的距平值,分析不同气候模态下(PDO暖期和PDO冷期)柔鱼渔场环境的变化。结果显示,PDO暖期时,柔鱼CPUE高;PDO冷期时,CPUE变低。柔鱼渔场SSTA、SSHA和MLDA年间变化显著,各环境变量的时间变化与PDO冷暖相位对应。SSTA和SSHA与PDO指数负相关,滞后时间分别为–9~10月和–20~17月,且均在0月时相关系数最大;而MLDA与PDO指数呈正相关,滞后时间为–6~5月,在–1月相关系数最大。利用经验正交函数分析了SSTA、SSHA和MLDA时空变化的主要模态,前5个模态特征向量分别反映了西北太平洋柔鱼渔场SSTA、SSHA和MLDA分布场78.73%、32.82%和64.57%的信息。研究表明,气候模态变化驱动柔鱼渔场环境的变化,进而对西北太平洋柔鱼资源丰度产生显著影响。