North Temperate Zone Research Articles

Analysis of the invasiveness of spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in North America, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin

The polyphagous Asian vinegar fly Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing Drosophila) is a native of Eastern and Southeastern Asia. It emerged as an important invasive insect pest of berries and stone fruits in the Americas and Europe beginning in 2008. Species distribution models are commonly used for analyzing the extant and potential range expansion of invasive species. Previous modeling efforts for D. suzukii include a degree-day model, a MaxEnt ecological niche model, a demographic model incorporating the effects of temperature, and a preliminary mechanistic physiologically-based demographic model (PBDM). In the present analysis, we refine the PBDM for D. suzukii based on biological data reported in the literature. The PBDM is used to assess the effects of temperature and relative humidity from a recently published global climate dataset (AgMERRA) on the prospective geographic distribution and relative abundance of the pest in the USA and Mexico, and in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Our focus is on areas of recent invasion and of predicted higher invasiveness in these areas. Although the species is native to Asia and is of putative temperate origins, it has established in subtropical to north temperate zones worldwide where it infests a wide range of wild and domesticated berries and stone fruits. The model captures the observed phenology of D. suzukii at specific locations, as well as the potential geographic distribution and relative favorability across larger regions. The main limiting factor is cold winter temperature in northern areas, though high temperatures and low relative humidity may be limiting in arid areas. The effect of greater cold tolerance in winter morph adults is explored.

Applying systematic conservation planning to constitute a protection strategy for broad-leaved Korean pine forests in Changbai Mountains, China

The broad-leaved Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest is one of the most biodiverse zonal communities in the North Temperate Zone and an important habitat for many endangered species. Broad-leaved Korean pine forests (BKPFs) are shrinking quickly due to deforestation and rapid urbanization. Thus, scientific protection strategies are urgently needed to change this status. Changbai Mountains contains one of the largest BKPFs and is considered a priority biodiversity conservation area in China. Guided by systematic conservation planning (SCP) methods and procedures, we chose representative species and communities in BKPFs ecosystem as priority conservation objects, and set quantitative conservation target, which is in the light of the biodiversity characteristic of BKPFs. The watershed area is used as planning unit. We used C-Plan software to calculate the irreplaceability (Ir) value of each planning unit and the contribution value (Ti) of each conservation object to (1) assess the conservation efficiency; (2) identify the conservation gap of the existing conservation network. Then we calculated a human disturbance index (HDI) for planning units in the conservation gaps and combine this with the Ir value to design three conservation scenarios to optimize the conservation network. Results show that planning units with high conservation value 14.16% of the total area, with 3084.36 km2 were covered by the existing conservation network. 79.28% of planning units with high conservation value have not been protected which were concentrated mainly in the eight gap areas. Only 25.3% of protection objects achieved their conservation target with the existing conservation network. Conservation efficiency is low. Three conservation scenarios are constituted, each prioritizing a different aim: (1) ecological value; (2) species rescue; and (3) economical avoidance. The three conservation schemes potentially enable 93%, 88% and 51% of conservation objects, respectively, to achieve identified conservation targets, thereby improving conservation efficiency significantly.

Remote Sensing Classification of Marsh Wetland with Different Resolution Images

Abstract: Successful biological monitoring depends on judicious classification. An attempt has been made to provide an overview of important characteristics of marsh wetland. Classification was used to describe ecosystems and land cover patterns. Different spatial resolution images show different landscape characteristics. Several classification images were used to map and monitor wetland ecosystems of Honghe National Nature Reserve (HNNR) at a plant community scale. HNNR is a typical inland wetland and fresh water ecosystem in the North Temperate Zone. SPOT-5 10 m × 10 m, 20 m × 20 m, and 30 m × 30 m images and Landsat -5 Thematic Mapper (TM) images were used to classify based on maximum likelihood classification (MLC) algorithms. In order to validate the precision of the classifications, this study used aerial photography classification maps as training samples because of their high accuracy. The accuracy of the derived classes was assessed with the discrete multivariate technique called KAPPA accuracy....

Transcontinental latitudinal variation in song performance and complexity in house wrens (Troglodytes aedon).

There is growing interest in latitudinal effects on animal behaviour and life history. One recent focus is on birdsong, which is hypothesized to be more elaborated or complex in the north temperate zone compared with the tropics. Current evidence is mixed and based on cross-species comparisons, or single species with restricted distributions. We circumvent these limitations using a transcontinental sample of 358 songs from house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) at 281 locations spanning more than 100° of latitude (52° N-55° S) across the Americas. We found a significant latitudinal gradient in several basic elements of song performance and complexity between north temperate and tropical populations. Furthermore, we document convergence in song patterns between populations at higher latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Effects were strongest for the number of elements in a song, and the rate of element production, both increasing towards the poles, with similar but weaker effects for other song dimensions (e.g. number of unique elements, trills and trill rate). We consider possible causes related to variable habitats and morphology, concluding that the shorter breeding seasons at higher latitudes in both hemispheres may favour greater song elaboration to mediate territory competition and mate choice.

Fledgling survival increases with development time and adult survival across north and south temperate zones

Slow life histories are characterized by high adult survival and few offspring, which are thought to allow increased investment per offspring to increase juvenile survival. Consistent with this pattern, south temperate zone birds are commonly longer‐lived and have fewer young than north temperate zone species. However, comparative analyses of juvenile survival, including during the first few weeks of the post‐fledging period when most juvenile mortality occurs, are largely lacking. We combined our measurements of fledgling survival for eight passerines in South Africa with estimates from published studies of 57 north and south temperate zone songbird species to test three predictions: (1) fledgling survival increases with length of development time in the nest; (2) fledgling survival increases with adult survival and reduced brood size controlled for development time; and (3) south temperate zone species, with their higher adult survival and smaller brood sizes, exhibit higher fledgling survival than north temperate zone species controlled for development time. We found that fledgling survival was higher among south temperate zone species and generally increased with development time and adult survival within and between latitudinal regions. Clutch size did not explain additional variation, but was confounded with adult survival. Given the importance of age‐specific mortality to life history evolution, understanding the causes of these geographical patterns of mortality is important.

The structure and organization of song in Southern House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon chilensis)

Studies of birdsong across very broad geographic scales, such as between the north temperate zone and the tropics, provide special opportunities to understand the role of variable ecologies, life histories and mating pressures on song structure and organization. The problem is typically studied through comparative, cross-species analyses because few species have such broad distributions to encompass both regions. The House Wren is an important exception, having the widest distribution of any native songbird in the Americas, from Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Across this range, they manifest considerable variation in life history, mating systems and migration, but there is no systematic research on corresponding song variation. Here we provide a first detailed characterization of song structure and organization for Southern House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon chilensis) in western Argentina and provide preliminary comparisons to Northern House Wrens. Songs of Southern House Wrens contained two distinct sections: an introduction of broadband noisy, or harmonic, notes followed by a louder terminal section of tonal, frequency-modulated syllables with a mean of seven syllables and three syllable types per song. The syllable repertoire was large (28), mostly shared and used to construct very large song repertoires (up to 170 song types with no evidence of a ceiling), but much smaller repertoires of commonly produced song types (24). Males tended to repeat song types many times before switching (eventual variety) but, at times, sang with immediate variety. Compared to Northern House Wrens, there were differences in the detailed form of some notes and syllables as well as in the relative emphasis of the softer introduction versus louder terminal section of songs. In broader patterns of song construction, organization, delivery, and the size of syllable and song repertoires, the two populations were very similar. These patterns are discussed in light of differences in life history, mating and migration between them.

Projecting the dynamics of terrestrial net primary productivity in response to future climate change under the RCP2.6 scenario

This paper aims to reveal the responses of global natural vegetation to future climate change in the twenty-first century. Thus, the dynamics of terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP) in three time slices, namely, 2030s, 2050s and 2070s are projected using a segmentation model that utilized 25 global climate models under the Representative Concentration Pathway 2.6 (RCP2.6) scenario. The results showed that forests would expand at the expense of grasslands and deserts in the current century. Terrestrial NPP is projected to increase globally from 127.04 ± 1.74 Pg DW·a−1 in 2030s to 127.62 ± 2.57 Pg DW·a−1 in 2070s. Temperate forest, the largest distributed vegetation, would contribute the most to the overall increase (548.50 Tg DW·a−1). The NPP of warm desert, savanna, and tropical forest is projected to increase by 31.03, 248.45 and 111.25 Tg DW·a−1, respectively. By contrast, the NPP of all the other vegetations would decline at the end of this century. In the tropical and the south temperate zones, terrestrial NPP is projected to decrease by 99.32 and 25.56 Tg DW·a−1, respectively, with the difference lying in the increasing–decreasing trend in the former and the continually decreasing trend in the latter. However, terrestrial NPP in the north temperate and north frigid zones is projected to increase consistently by 639.43 and 57.73 Tg DW·a−1, respectively. The “increase-peak-decline” trend of greenhouses gases described in the RCP2.6 would lead to the warming and cooling periods during this century. The vegetation NPP of various ecosystems or climate zones would respond differently to the future climate change. In general, ecosystems in northern high latitudes would become more vulnerable to future climate change compared to other vegetations.

Scrophularia lucidaifolia (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Turkey

The genus Scrophularia Linnaeus (1753: 619) (Scrophulariaceae) is represented by approximately 270 taxa (species and subspecies) worldwide (Olivencia 2009). It is restricted primarily to the North Temperate Zone (Carlbom 1968). The primary centre of diversity of Scrophularia is located in the Irano-Turanian region. The Mediterranean region is also an important area of diversity and for the endemism rate of Scrophularia (Scheunert & Heubl 2014).

基于C-Plan系统保护规划软件的长白山阔叶红松林保护效率研究

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 基于C-Plan系统保护规划软件的长白山阔叶红松林保护效率 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201404040643 作者: 作者单位: 北京林业大学林学院 省部共建森林培育与保护重点实验室 北京,黑龙江科学院自然与生态研究所 哈尔滨,北京林业大学自然保护区学院 北京,中国林业出版社 北京,北京林业大学林学院 省部共建森林培育与保护重点实验室 北京,北京林业大学林学院 省部共建森林培育与保护重点实验室 北京 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 科技部"十二五"科技支撑项目(2012BAC01B03) Conservation effectiveness of broadleaved korean pine forest in Changbai Mt. based on C-Plan systematic conservation planning software Author: Affiliation: BeiJing forestry university,,,,,Beijing forestry university Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:阔叶红松林(Broadleaved Korean pine forest)是北温带物种最丰富的地带性群落之一,是极危动物东北虎(Panthera tigris altaica)的重要栖息地。长白山地区是阔叶红松林在中国范围内的中心分布区,中国政府建立了由24个自然保护区组成的网络来保护阔叶红松林及其他自然生态系统。以长白山地区为研究区域,在系统保护规划方法流程框架下,选择阔叶红松林生态系统中具有代表性的物种和群落做为优先保护对象,并制定量化保护目标,利用系统保护规划软件C-Plan,计算了研究区域规划单元的不可替代性值、各保护对象在保护网络中实现其保护目标的贡献值(Ti)及包含多个保护对象的保护区域的保护效率值(C),以此在多角度评估保护网络及其中各自然保护区的保护效率。结果显示:现有保护网络涵盖了本研究确立保护对象种类的90.4%,已达到保护目标的保护对象占其总数的25.3%。以保护阔叶红松林为"标尺"衡量各保护区的保护效率,长白山国家级自然保护区与松花江三湖省级自然保护区保护效率值最高,其余各保护区保护效率值不足10,整个保护网络保护效率值为59.99。不可替代性分析结果显示:仍有79.97%的高保护价值规划单元未被现有保护网络覆盖,空间上存在明显空缺。将空缺纳入保护网络后,新保护网络的保护效率值将提高到96.32,提高了36.33,77种保护对象达到保护目标(占保护对象总数的92.8%),5种保护对象仍未能达到保护目标,但保护对象贡献值Ti均不同程度提高,保护成效显著。 Abstract:Broadleaved Korean pine forest is one of the zonal communities with most abundant species in the North Temperate Zone. It is also an important habitat for the endangered animal of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). Changbai Mountain have been the center of China distribution areas for broadleaved Korean pine forest. A network of 24 nature reserves have been established by the Chinese government to protect Broadleaved Korean pine forest and local natural ecosystem.The paper applied the C-Plan,by following the theoritical framwork of systematic conservation planning, we seletced the representative species and communities in Broadleaved Korean pine forest ecosystem as priority conservation objects and set quantitative conservation target which is in the light of the biodiversity characteristic of broadleaved Korean pine forest. In addition, three key indicators were also caculated: (1) The irreplaceability value of planning unit of study areas; (2)the contribution value (Ti) to the reserved network by the conservation objects; (3) the conservation effectiveness value (Ti) of the protected area which contains multiple objects. All those results were aimed to multiple perspectives evalutating the conservation effieiency of the reserved network and the reserves in it. The evaluation results indicated: the existing conservation network has covered 90.4% of the protection objects 25.3% of protection objects reached the protection target.The highest conservation effectiveness value occurred in Changbai Mountain Reserve and Songhuang River Reserve.The rest of reserves has conservation effectiveness value less than 10. The conservation effectiveness value of whole conservation network is 59.99. The results of irreplaceability analysis indicated that 79.97% of planning units with high protection value has not been covered by existing conservation network.There are obviously GAP in layout. The new conservation network's conservation effectiveness value was 96.32, increased by 36.33 after including GAPs into conservation network. For 77 kinds of protection objects, it reached the protection target. It accounted for 92.8% of total protection objects. 5 kinds of protection objects could not reach protection target, while their protection efficiency has greatly enhanced.The protection effectiveness of the study area was significantly enhanced. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Lejeunea neelgherrianaGottsche (Lejeuneaceae, Hepaticae) — An Unexpected Record of a Tertiary Relict in the Russian Far East

Recent studies in the Russian Far East have revealed the presence of Lejeunea neelgherriana Gottsche, a species centered in subtropical eastern Asia and new to the Russian liverwort flora. Considering the great distance between the Russian Far East and the area where this species is abundant, as well as the striking contrast between communities characteristic of this species and that of the surrounding locality area, L. neelgherriana in the Primorsky Territory may be considered to be a Tertiary relict. The locality where this taxon was collected also houses many species that are unusual in the Russian Far East, and may be treated as an isolated north temperate zone refugium for various taxa having south temperate to subtropical distributions. A morphological description of L. neelgherriana, illustrations based on collected material, and related discussion are provided.

The taxonomic foundation, species circumscription and continental endemisms of Singerocybe: evidence from morphological and molecular data

The genus Singerocybe (Tricholomataceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) has been the subject of controversy since its proposal in 1988. Its taxonomic foundation, species circumscription and geographical distribution have not yet been examined with molecular sequence data. In this study phylogenetic analyses on this group of fungi were conducted based on collections from Europe, eastern Asia, southern Asia, North America and Australia, with four nuclear markers, ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α and rpb2. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, together with morphological observations, strongly support Singerocybe as a monophyletic group and identify the vesicles in the pileal and stipe cuticle as a synapomorphy of this genus. Seven species are recognized in the genus, including one new species and four new combinations. Clitocybe trogioides and Clitocybe trogioides var. odorifera are synonyms of Singerocybe humilis and Singerocybe alboinfundibuliformis respectively. Most of these species are geographically restricted in their distributions. Furthermore our study expands the distribution range of Singerocybe from the North Temperate Zone to Australia (Tasmania) and tropical southern Asia.

Prediction of gas/particle partition quotients of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in north temperate zone air: An empirical approach

Gas/particle (G/P) partitioning process is an important factor governing the transport and fate of chemicals in the atmosphere. Based on a large dataset of more than 700 pairs of air samples in gaseous and particulate phases with a wide ambient temperature range of 60°C from −22°C to +38°C obtained from our Chinese POPs Soil and Air Monitoring Program, Phase 2 (China-SAMP-II), we investigated G/P partitioning behavior of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) in Chinese air. We derived for the first time empirical equations to predict the values of slopes and intercepts for both subcooled-liquid–vapor-pressure (PL)-based and octanol-air-partition-coefficient (KOA)-based models as functions of temperature, and thus predicted partition quotient (KP) without assuming an equilibrium status and free of artifacts. These equations have been successfully applied to predict the values of KP for PBDEs in air of China and other countries in the north temperate zone (NTZ) and also at an Arctic site in East Greenland, and our results matched the monitoring data well at background, rural, urban, and suburban sites, but not at e-waste sites due to the unpredictable PBDE emissions at these sites. Our equations predicted that the ranges of slopes were 0.02–0.82 for logKP−logKOA plots and −0.82 to −0.02 for logKP−logPL plots at temperatures ranged of 60°C from −22°C to +38°C. Our new KOA-based equation was compared with the Harner–Bidleman equation that was derived at a condition of equilibrium, and the results indicated that our new equation has a better performance than the Harner–Bidleman equation in describing G/P partitioning behavior of PBDEs in air as functions of logKOA. We also found for the first time that the G/P partitioning of PBDE congeners would become saturated in the particulate phase respect to the gas phase if the ambient temperature is low enough. A criterion to classify the equilibrium and nonequilibrium status for PBDEs was also established using logKOA. The study presented in this paper provides a useful tool for environmental scientists in both monitoring and modeling research on G/P partitioning behavior for PBDEs in air.

Himalayan origin and evolution of Myricaria (Tamaricaeae) in the neogene.

Background Myricaria consists of about twelve-thirteen species and occurs in Eurasian North Temperate zone, most species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and adjacent areas.Methodology/Principal FindingsTwelve species of Myricaria plus two other genera Tamarix and Reaumuria in Tamaricaceae, were sampled, and four markers, ITS, rps16, psbB-psbH, and trnL-trnF were sequenced. The relaxed Bayesian molecular clock BEAST method was used to perform phylogenetic analysis and molecular dating, and Diva, S-Diva, and maximum likelihood Lagrange were used to estimate the ancestral area. The results indicated that Myricaria could be divided into four phylogenetic clades, which correspond to four sections within the genus, of them two are newly described in this paper. The crown age of Myricaria was dated to early Miocene ca. 20 Ma, at the probable early uplifting time of the Himalayas. The Himalayas were also shown as the center of origin for Myricaria from the optimization of ancestral distribution. Migration and dispersal of Myricaria were indicated to have taken place along the Asian Mountains, including the Himalayas, Kunlun, Altun, Hendukosh, Tianshan, Altai, and Caucasus etc., westward to Europe, eastward to Central China, and northward to the Mongolian Plateau.Conclusions/Significance Myricaria spatiotemporal evolution presented here, especially the Himalayan origin at early Miocene ca. 20 Ma, and then migrated westward and eastward along the Asian mountains, offers a significant evolutionary case for QTP and Central Asian biogeography.

Seasonal succession of phytoplankton community and its relationship with environmental factors of North Temperate Zone water of the Zhalong Wetland, in China.

A data set of phytoplankton community and environmental parameters in a hydrological integrity period, i.e. a poor water term, a medium term and a rich water term of North Temperate Zone climate, was analyzed in order to describe seasonal variation of phytoplankton community and its relationship with environmental variables in the Zhalong Wetland of China. The algal population of the Zhalong Wetland was not abundant, with a mean density of 5.08 × 10(7) cell/L (ranged from 4.54 × 10(7) cell/L in a poor term to 5.56 × 10(7) cell/L a medium term). However, its diversity was essentially limited to Cryptophyta, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Euglenophyta being the group with highest densities. There were considerable seasonal variations in phytoplankton composition. In general, the dominance of Bacillariophyceae was found in a medium term, which was higher than the other period (p < 0.05). The rich water period also showed Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyta dominance while the phytoplankton was dominated by Cryptophyta erosa in a poor water term. 10 environmental variables, which were significant (p < 0.05) during the studied periods in one-way analysis of covariance, were selected to explore the relationship between phytoplankton structure and environmental factors by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The results of the CCA applied to the environmental factors indicated that water temperature (WT) and ammonia (NH3-N) significantly influenced the phytoplankton community (p < 0.05; Monte Carlo test of first constrained axis). Besides WT and NH3-N, the most discriminate physic-chemical variables were nitrite (NO2-N), suspend solid, nitrate (NO3-N), silicon dioxide (SiO2) and all the 10 physical-chemical parameters had a higher marginal effect and λA in the series of constrained CCAs though they were not significant.

On The Cover—Green Ash

Ashes, Fraxinus sp., are deciduous trees of the North Temperate zone. Ashes are the only tree members of Oleaceae with native North American members, of which 16 species are found in the United States, 7 in Mexico, and 4 in Canada. 1 Farrar J.L. Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA1995: 160-170 Google Scholar , 2 Simpson B.J. A Field Guide to Texas Trees. Gulf Publishing Co, Houston1999: 150-153 Google Scholar , 3 Barnes B.V. Wagner W.H. Michigan Trees. University if Michigan Press, Ann Arbor1981: 298-307 Google Scholar Green ash, F. pennsylvanica, extends across the Northern Plains to the Rocky Mountains, into Saskatchewan, eastward to Nova Scotia, and southward into Texas. [4] Sibley D.A. The Sibley Guide to Trees. Alfred A. Knopf Inc, New York2009: 375-388 Google Scholar It is commonly found in bottomlands in river valleys, and can withstand weeks of flooding while dormant. It is a popular lawn and street tree. Ashes are valuable lumber trees for flooring, furniture, sport equipment and tool handles. All native American ash species can be killed by the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, first identified in Michigan in 2002, but probably introduced into North American from Asia in the 1990s. [5] Bauer LS. Emerald ash borer: Biology and life cycle of emerald ash borer. Available at: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/eab/biology/planipennis. Accessed January 27, 2010. Google Scholar

Terrestrial carbon sink observed from space: variation of growth rates and seasonal cycle amplitudes in response to interannual surface temperature variability

Abstract. The terrestrial biosphere is currently acting as a net carbon sink on the global scale, exhibiting significant interannual variability in strength. To reliably predict the future strength of the land sink and its role in atmospheric CO2 growth, the underlying biogeochemical processes and their response to a changing climate need to be well understood. In particular, better knowledge of the impact of key climate variables such as temperature or precipitation on the biospheric carbon reservoir is essential. It is demonstrated using nearly a decade of SCIAMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY) nadir measurements that years with higher temperatures during the growing season can be robustly associated with larger growth rates in atmospheric CO2 and smaller seasonal cycle amplitudes for northern mid-latitudes. We find linear relationships between warming and CO2 growth as well as seasonal cycle amplitude at the 98% significance level. This suggests that the terrestrial carbon sink is less efficient at higher temperatures during the analysed time period. Unless the biosphere has the ability to adapt its carbon storage under warming conditions in the longer term, such a temperature response entails the risk of potential future sink saturation via a positive carbon-climate feedback. Quantitatively, the covariation between the annual CO2 growth rates derived from SCIAMACHY data and warm season surface temperature anomaly amounts to 1.25 ± 0.32 ppm yr−1 K−1 for the Northern Hemisphere, where the bulk of the terrestrial carbon sink is located. In comparison, this relationship is less pronounced in the Southern Hemisphere. The covariation of the seasonal cycle amplitudes retrieved from satellite measurements and temperature anomaly is −1.30 ± 0.31 ppm K−1 for the north temperate zone. These estimates are consistent with those from the CarbonTracker data assimilated CO2 data product, indicating that the temperature dependence of the model surface fluxes is realistic.

Cooperative Breeding in the Campo Flicker I

Abstract. Cooperative breeding and complex social systems are known in woodpeckers, but most available information concerns species of the North Temperate Zone. The social behavior and breeding ecology of tropical woodpeckers are poorly documented. Here we present data on the breeding behavior and ecology of a tropical woodpecker, the Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris campestris). We confirm for the first time, through behavioral observations, facultative cooperative breeding in this species. Both males and females were observed visiting the nest during the incubation and nestling period. In cooperative groups some helpers were identified as young from the previous year, but others seem to be unrelated individuals that joined the groups. In addition, our behavioral observations strongly suggest both polygyny (a male breeding with more than one female simultaneously) and joint nesting (multiple females contributing eggs to a single nest) in some but not all cooperative groups. These observations reveal a ...

Vegetation and community changes of elm (Ulmus pumila) woodlands in Northeastern China in 1983–2011

Elm (Ulmus pumila), widely distributed in the north temperate zone, contributes to a special savanna-like woodland in typical grassland region in the northeastern China. This woodland performs a variety of ecological functions and environmental significance, such as decreasing soil erosion, stabilizing sand dunes, preserving species diversity. However, in the last approximate 30 years, the species composition, productivity and distribution area of elm woodland has decreased severely. A series of studies have been carried out to find out whether the climate changes or human disturbances caused the degradation of elm woodland and how these factors affected elm woodland. In this study, undisturbed, plowing and grazing elm woodland were investigated in 1983 and 2011 by using Point-Centered Quarter method. The relationship between vegetation changes and environmental factors was analyzed by Bray-Curtis ordination. The results show that in 2011, species diversity and understory productivity of undisturbed elm woodland decrease slightly compared to those of undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. However, nearly 60% of the species is lost in the plowing and grazing elm woodland relative to the species undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. Interestingly, plowing stimulates the growth of elm and certain understory species through furrowing soil and accelerating soil nutrient turnover rate. Grazing disturbance not only leads to species loss and productivity decrease, but also induces changes in elm growth (small, short and twisted). The mean age of the elm was 29 ± 2 yr in undisturbed and plowing elm woodland, while only 15 yr in the grazing elm woodland. The results of Bray-Curtis ordination analysis show that all sample stands clustered to three groups: Group I including the undisturbed sample stands of 83UE (undisturbed elm woodland in 1983) and 11UE (undisturbed elm woodland in 2011); Group II including sample stands of PE (elm woodland disturbed by plowing); Group III including samples stands of GE (elm woodland disturbed by grazing). The results indicate that the long time disturbance of the plowing and grazing have converted elm woodland to different community types. Climate change is not the primary reason causing the degradation of elm woodland, but plowing and grazing disturbance. Both plowing and grazing decrease the vegetation composition and species diversity. Grazing further decreases vegetation productivity and inhibits the growth of elm tree. Therefore, we suggest that reasonable plowing and exclusive grazing would be favorable for future regeneration of degraded elm woodland.

Study on Environmental Materials with the Influence of Soil Carbon of Temperate Forests along an Altitude Gradient

Forests cover 30% of global land area and maintain 73% of global soil carbon which is important to the global carbon cycle. In forest ecosystem, climate was expected to affect the quality and quantity of environmental materials (detritus) inputs to soil and soil chemical and physical processes which then affected carbon storage technically. Thus, altitude provided a wonderful site for this environmental research. We collected five soils along the altitudinal gradient on the Changbai Mountain in the North Temperate Zone to analyze the soil properties and carbon content. The results showed the highest SOC content was observed at lowest altitude for the larger plants residues (environmental materials). Except the lowest altitude, the amount of SOC increased with altitude for the low decomposition under the cold temperature. Multiple environmental factors (such as soil type, topography and vegetation) were thought to regulate SOC technically.

A new species of Carpinus (Betulaceae) from the Pliocene of Yunnan Province, China

Macrofossils of Carpinus have been widely reported from the Cenozoic of the Northern Hemisphere. However, the leaf cuticules of the genus have rarely been described. A new species, named Carpinus tengchongensis Dai et B.N. Sun, sp. nov., is identified based on 13 leaf fossils, collected from the late Pliocene Mangbang Formation, Tengchong County of Yunnan Province, China. The important characters of the fossil are its oblong-ovate leaf shape, obliquely cordate base, doubly serrulate margin, straight and moderately thick primary vein, pinnate secondary veins, percurrent tertiary veins, orthogonally reticulate areoles, absence of veinlets, anomocytic stomata with double-layered stomatal rim, well-formed T-pieces and trichome bases, which indicates an affinity within the genus Carpinus section Carpinus subsection Monbeigianae, especially with C. tsaiana. Carpinus fossils were present from the Eocene to Pliocene with disjunctive distribution in the North Temperate Zone, which broadly reflected the present distribution pattern and probably demonstrates the tolerance of Carpinus to environmental change.