Community structure of bacteria on different types of mineral particles in a sandy soil

Various types of mineral particles in a soil probably provide different microenvironments for microorganisms. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether different types of mineral in a soil harbor different bacterial populations. DNA was extracted from five types (quartz, feldspar, pyroxene, magnetite, iron-coated reddish brown particles) of sand-size mineral particles separated from a sandy soil, and was amplified for partial 16 S rRNA gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty-nine to 69 amplicons per each type of mineral were cloned and sequenced, followed by phylogenetic affiliation of the sequences. As a result, some types of bacteria were detected on all of the types of mineral including the orders Rhizobiales, Bacillales, and Acidobacteriales. In the case of Acidobacteriales, higher percentages were found on magnetite and quartz. Some taxa were restricted to specific types of mineral; the class Actinobacteria was found on pyroxene but not on quartz, and rarely on magnetite and feldspar. Bacterial diversity at the order level estimated by Chao1 value was higher in feldspar and pyroxene than the other three types of mineral. The UniFrac Significance test indicated that the differences in bacterial communitiy structures among the particles were suggestive except that between feldspar and pyroxene. These results support the idea that different communities of bacteria were associated with each of the mineral types.     

The role of geomorphology in substratum patch selection by freshwater mussels in the Hawkesbury–Nepean River (New South Wales) Australia

• 1. Microhabitat preferences of freshwater mussels and associated substrate characteristics were investigated across a range of geomorphic reaches in the Hawkesbury–Nepean River, Australia.
• 2. The structure of substratum patches available was strongly influenced by geomorphic reach type. In each reach type, mussel distribution was most frequently correlated with coarse sand and a roughness element characteristic for that reach. Roughness elements such as boulders and cobbles create a flow refuge and were linked with mussel size.
• 3. Small mussels tended to be associated with boulder‐stabilized habitats and medium sized mussels with cobble habitats. Large mussels rarely co‐occurred with any particular roughness element. Individual species were strongly linked to geomorphic reach type. This association may be due to species' differences in ability to colonize available microhabitat types.
• 4. The highly tolerant Velesunio ambiguus dominated shale reaches, characterized by fine sediments and human impacts. In contrast, Hyridella depressa dominated in gorges, utilizing small flow refuges among boulders, while H. australis were present in low densities across a range of substrate conditions.
• 5. The persistence of multispecies assemblages in mussel beds throughout the Hawkesbury–Nepean River implies similar niche utilization among species. Partitioning of habitats across species on the basis of size suggests some degree of habitat selection, or differential survival. At the local scale, microhabitat characteristics influenced the size distribution and densities of mussel assemblages. Continuing declines in mussel densities are likely to result from ongoing channel modification and increased siltation resulting from changes to riparian vegetation.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microhabitat use of the diamond darter

The only known extant population of the diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta) exists in the lower 37 km of Elk River, WV, USA. Our understanding of diamond darter habitat use was previously limited, because few individuals have been observed during sampling with conventional gears. We quantified microhabitat use of diamond darters based on measurements of water depth, water velocity and per cent substrate composition. Using spotlights at night‐time, we sampled 16 sites within the lower 133 km of Elk River and observed a total of 82 diamond darters at 10 of 11 sampling sites within the lower 37 km. Glides, located immediately upstream of riffles, were the primary habitats sampled for diamond darters, which included relatively shallow depths (<1 m), moderate‐to‐low water velocities (often < 0.5 m·s^?1) and a smooth water surface. Microhabitat use (mean ± SE) of diamond darters was estimated for depth (0.47 ± 0.02 m), average velocity (0.27 ± 0.01 m·s^?1) and bottom velocity (0.15 ± 0.01 m·s^?1). Substrate used (mean ± SE) by diamond darters was predominantly sand intermixed with lesser amounts of gravel and cobble: % sand (52.1 ± 1.6), % small gravel (12.2 ± 0.78), % large gravel (14.2 ± 0.83), % cobble (19.8 ± 0.96) and % boulder (1.6 ± 0.36). Based on our microhabitat use data, conservation and management efforts for this species should consider preserving glide habitats within Elk River. Spotlighting, a successful sampling method for diamond darters, should be considered for study designs of population estimation and long‐term monitoring.     

Summer microhabitat use by adult and young‐of‐year snail darters (Percina tanasi) in two rivers

Ashton MJ, Layzer JB. Summer microhabitat use by adult and young‐of‐year snail darters (Percina tanasi) in two rivers. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 609–617. © Published 2010. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Abstract – We characterised microhabitat availability and use by adult and young‐of‐year (YOY) snail darters (Percina tanasi Etnier 1976 ) while snorkelling in the French Broad and Hiwassee rivers, TN, USA. Both age groups of snail darters disproportionately used most microhabitat variables compared to their availability. Snail darters primarily occupied moderately deep, swift water over gravel substrates with little macrophyte coverage and no silt. Univariate comparisons indicated that adult and YOY darters occupied different habitat, but there was no marked differences between principal components analysis plots of multivariate microhabitat use within a river. Although the availability of microhabitat variables differed between the French Broad and Hiwassee rivers, univariate means and multivariate plots illustrated that the habitats used were generally similar by age groups of snail darters between rivers. Because our observations of habitat availability and use were constrained to low flow periods and depths <1 m, the transferability of our results to higher flow periods may be limited. However, the similarity in habitat use between rivers suggests that our results can be applied to low‐normal flow conditions in other streams.     

额济纳盆地植物地下微生境深度范围的确定——土壤酶指示法

地下微生境位置的确定对于干旱区植被生态系统的恢复具有重要意义,但目前尚没有准确、简单可行的确定方法.应用额济纳盆地的野外调查与室内实验数据,分析了3类植物群落结构(草本 灌木组合、灌木 乔木组合及草本 灌木 乔木组合)中的土壤过氧化氢酶活性曲线.结果发现:过氧化氢酶活性曲线的各峰值区与植物群落中各生活型植物的根群位置对应,而已有研究指出植物的根群位置正与植物的地下微生境位置对应.因此,可以通过分析过氧化氢酶活性曲线来确定植物地下微生境的空间位置.     

准噶尔盆地南缘荒漠鼠类的微栖息地选择

依据地形及其内植被组成特征,划分出５种微栖息地类型。通过在不同物候期的观测表明,４种共存的鼠种间存在着明显的微栖息地分离。二足型跳鼠选择在开阔的空间活动四足型沙鼠则主要在多年生灌丛下取食。二种类型的鼠类微栖息地选择都不同程度地与同的多年生灌木     

The influence of instream cover and predation risk on microhabitat selection of stone loach Barbatula barbatula (L.)

Abstract— The microhabitat selection of stone loach ( Barbatula barbatula ) in relation to instream cover and predation risk was investigated in artificial streams. In one experiment, stone loach were presented different combinations of shelter structures, two at a time, that provided visual isolation, flow refuge, both, or none. In all cases, visual isolation shelters were selected by the fish, with little use of clear shelters and no apparent selection of flow refuges. In a second experiment, diel activity patterns and habitat selection of stone loach were measured when visual isolation structures were placed in the riffle only, pool only, both riffle and pool or in no habitat. Stone loach were marked with passive integrated transponder tags and a sensor plate was placed between the riffle and pool habitats to measure diel activity patterns. Habitat use was measured by releasing drop gates between the two habitats at the end of each trial. More stone loach used the pool than the riffle in all treatments, but use of the riffle increased when cover was present only there. Furthermore, stone loach were most active between 2100 and 0300. To determine the effect of predation threat on habitat use by stone loach, one adult brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) was added to each pool. The presence of trout caused stone loach to move into the riffle, especially the smaller loach. Overall, the study showed that stone loach used cover in a visual isolation context, preferring deeper water when there was no predation risk, but made more use of shallower water in the presence of brown trout.     

从空间尺度论述陆生野生动物生境选择研究进展

指出了生境是动物生存和繁衍的重要场所,生境的质量及其可利用程度是决定动物种群生死存亡的关键因素。因此,研究动物的生境利用特点成为生物保护学研究的热点。综述了不同空间尺度上陆生野生动物生境选择研究的概况,以期对今后开展生境利用研究工作时在方法的选取方面提供借鉴和指导。     

喀斯特区云南鼠刺树干液流及土壤水分动态

[目的]分析喀斯特区树干液流速率与土壤水分之间关系,揭示云南鼠刺的水分动态及对生境的适应机理,为喀斯特区生态环境建设提供理论依据。[方法]2009年7月26日至8月1日期间,利用热扩散式液流探针对喀斯特区的土面和石沟两种不同生境中云南鼠刺的树干液流进行连续测定,同时测定土壤水分含量的变化。[结果]两种不同生境中树干液流日变化呈现出不规则峰形曲线,每天液流速率的最大值均出现在白天,最小值均出现在夜间;同一深度土壤含水量随着时间的推移均逐渐降低,但降低速率不同,其变化与土壤深度的关系不明显;云南鼠刺树干液流速率与土壤含水量存在着不显著的正相关关系。[结论]云南鼠刺在喀斯特区的土面和石沟两种生境中的树干液流速率不同,但规律基本一致,树干液流速率与土壤含水量的相关关系不显著。     

微生境改良对太行山干瘠山地沙地柏生长的影响

[目的]探究太行山干瘠山地植被恢复技术。[方法]采用人工模拟土层厚度15 cm条件下,以耐瘠薄植物沙地柏为研究对象,结合不同微生境改良技术,研究不同微生境改良措施下沙地柏生长、叶绿素含量、露点水势及生物量分配情况。[结果]株高增长量中,石块覆盖(ST)、塑料地膜覆盖(DM)、液态地膜覆盖(YM)、菌根处理(JG)、枯落物覆盖(KL)均显著高于对照(CK),且分别比CK高385.75%、403.03%、1 330.00%、1 490.00%、1 533.00%;冠幅增长量中,ST、DM、JG、KL处理均显著高于CK处理,且分别比CK处理高185.03%、160.36%、239.80%、161.67%;7月ST处理主根长度显著高于JG,10月DM、KL处理显著高于JG;不同微生境改良处理对沙地柏叶片叶绿素含量产生影响,且ST、YM、JG和DM、KL分别在2016年7月和2017年6月显著高于CK;相对于CK处理,除4月外,不同月份微生境改良会增加沙地柏叶片露点水势,且各处理间大部分不显著,仅7月份ST处理显著低于DM、JG、KL;不同处理对沙地柏地上、地下生物量积累产生的影响不同,且JG处...