Ontogenetic niche shifts in the American Alligator establish functional connectivity between aquatic systems     

Amanda L. Subalusky  Lee A. Fitzgerald 《Biological conservation》2009,142(7):1507-1514

Individual animals undergoing ontogenetic shifts in habitat use may establish a mobile link between discrete ecosystems via movement of energy, nutrients and matter, as well as through impacts on ecosystem and habitat structure. The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a model species for studying ecological implications of ontogenetic niche shifts, because they grow in size by several orders of magnitude, and they play a critical role as both top predators and ecosystem engineers. We used equal trapping effort, radio telemetry and nest surveys to document ontogenetic habitat shifts of alligators between hydrologically isolated, seasonal wetlands and riverine systems. To estimate the degree of functional connectivity between systems, we quantified alligator biomass and nutrient excretion in both systems. Seasonal wetlands provided nesting and nursery sites for adult females and juveniles, which constituted 0.78 g/m² biomass and excreted 0.05 g/m²/yr N, P, Ca, Mg, Na and K in that system. In contrast, the riverine system provided non-nesting habitat for adults and sub-adults of both sexes, totaling 0.18 g/m² biomass and excreting 0.01 g/m²/yr of nutrients. Furthermore, sub-adults and adult females were documented moving across the terrestrial matrix, while adult males spent the duration of the study in the creek. Our results demonstrated that ontogenetic niche shifts in alligators establish connectivity between seasonal wetlands and riverine systems and with the surrounding terrestrial matrix. These findings have implications for the definition of jurisdictional wetlands under the US Supreme Court’s 2001 SWANCC decision and highlight the importance of ecological, as well as hydrological, connectivity.  相似文献   

石羊河上游退化草地植物功能群生态位分异特征——以阿尔泰狗哇花型草地为例   总被引：3，自引：1，他引：2  

林丽  赵成章  龙瑞军  王帅  王溪  李以康  张法伟 《草业科学》2009,26(5):50-55

采用时空转换方式,以石羊河上游高山草地阿尔泰狗哇花Heteropappus altaicus型退化草地及其原生群落为研究对象,以其主要功能群结构特征调查为基础,研究各功能群生态位季节动态特征。结果表明：该区生态位季节动态变化趋势同功能群类别有关,与功能群所处的演替阶段无关;功能群生态位数量特征变化的绝对数量及相对数量受到其所处的演替阶段影响,表现为随季节的推移禾本科功能群生态位宽度上升,其上升相对值为退化样地（120.8%）高于原生群落（65.5%）;而杂类草下降,其下降相对值差异较小,依次为51.38%和66.34%。随季节的推移禾本科-杂类草生态位重叠度升高,且升高的幅度为退化样地(113.3%)略低于原生群落(119.4%),就升高的绝对值而言,原生群落各观测时期均低于退化草地;杂类草-禾本科生态位重叠度则逐渐降低,其相对数量在退化样地与原生群落中依次下降53.0%和54.9%。其中退化草地禾本科、杂类草生态位重叠度在7月中旬存在一个拐点,其前期禾本科-杂类草组对低于杂类草-禾本科组对,而后期刚好相反。造成上述现象的原因可能与功能群生长特性和放牧干扰共同作用有关。返青较早的禾本科功能群早期生长受到放牧干扰的影响,为返青较迟的杂类草生长提供较大的资源空间,从而使得杂类草功能群在“植被空隙中进行季节更新”,进而改变了原群落的功能群结构。阿尔泰狗哇花型退化草地是植物群落退化演替过程中的关键阶段,如果加以适当的管理,草原退化将得到一定程度的改善;如果不加以保护,草地继续退化后的不可预知风险将提高。  相似文献   

麦田害虫与天敌群落动态变化研究   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

吕文彦  秦雪峰  杜开书 《中国生态农业学报》2010,18(1):111-116

2008年3月15日至5月29日系统调查了冬小麦田害虫与天敌的种群数量动态,并利用相对丰富度、优势度指数、优势集中性指数、多样性指数和均匀度分析了害虫与天敌群落动态变化及时间生态位。结果表明:麦田昆虫群落组成较为丰富,由11目39科59种昆虫组成;优势种为麦长管蚜(Macrosiphum avenae)、麦圆叶爪螨(Penthaleus major)、龟纹瓢虫(Propylea japonica)和麦蚜茧蜂(Ephedrus plagiator)。群落的总个体数和丰富度随调查时间而变化;多样性指数与均匀度指数在小麦生长前期较低,中期和后期较高,两者变化规律基本一致,而优势集中性指数变化趋势与其相反。在害虫种群中以棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera)种内竞争最为激烈,条斑叶蝉(Psammotettix striatus)的竞争最缓和;棉铃虫与麦长管蚜种间竞争最强,其次为麦圆叶爪螨与小麦叶蜂(Dolerus tritici)。在天敌种群中以七星瓢虫(Coccinella septempunctata)种内竞争最为激烈,麦蚜茧蜂的种内竞争最为缓和;龟纹瓢虫分别与七星瓢虫和异色瓢虫(Leis axyridis)在时间维度上的竞争较为激烈,而麦蚜茧蜂分别与龟纹瓢虫、七星瓢虫和异色瓢虫的竞争比较缓和。从害虫种群与天敌种群之间的重叠值看,异色瓢虫和七星瓢虫对棉铃虫的控制作用较强,而麦蚜茧蜂和龟纹瓢虫则对麦田主要害虫麦长管蚜、条斑叶蝉和小麦潜叶蝇(Phytomyza nigra)等的跟随和控制作用均较强。  相似文献   

岷江干旱河谷主要灌木种群生态位研究   总被引：14，自引：0，他引：14  

冶民生  关文彬  吴斌  马克明  刘国华  汪西林 《北京林业大学学报》2006,28(1):7-13

利用Levins生态位宽度指数和Schoener生态位重叠指数分析了岷江干旱河谷20种主要灌木种群在土壤水分、全N、速效P、速效K和pH 5个资源维上的生态位宽度和生态位重叠特征.结果表明:小花滇紫草、三花莸、白刺花、多花胡枝子、马鞍羊蹄甲具有较大生态位宽度,对环境有较强的适应能力,在维持岷江干旱河谷群落的物种多样性和相对稳定性中发挥重要作用;种群在各个资源维上的宽度值不同,说明对不同的资源利用能力不尽相同,在不同资源空间中的生态适应性亦不同.各个资源维上所有种群生态位宽度和的大小依次为pH全N土壤水分速效K速效P.由此看出,物种对速效P和速效K的利用能力低于对土壤水分的利用;同属种群间的重叠值较低.具有较高生态位宽度的物种一般具有较高的生态位重叠,但并非生态位宽度小的物种其重叠值也就小.灌木种群生态位的研究可用于指导岷江干旱河谷植被的保护和恢复.   相似文献   

莱州湾4种大型甲壳类的空间与营养生态位     

李凡  丛旭日  张孝民 《水产学报》2021,45(8):1384-1394

根据2010—2019年夏季莱州湾底拖网调查数据,研究了4种大型甲壳类(中国明对虾、三疣梭子蟹、日本蟳和口虾蛄)的优势度、种间联结、空间生态位特征,并应用碳氮稳定同位素数据分析了4种大型甲壳类的营养级、营养生态位与摄食来源。结果显示,口虾蛄、日本蟳是目前莱州湾夏季甲壳类最主要的优势种,放流种类中国明对虾、三疣梭子蟹为群落的重要种;4种大型甲壳类的种间联结性不强,显著正联结主要出现于中国明对虾与其他三者之间;日本蟳空间生态位宽度最高(2.45),口虾蛄(2.13)次之,中国明对虾(1.92)和三疣梭子蟹(1.93)较低;生态位重叠较高主要发生于中国明对虾与其他3种之间;4种大型甲壳类营养级相近(3.02～3.28),中国明对虾生态位总面积最大,三疣梭子蟹与日本蟳、口虾蛄的生态位总面积相近,三疣梭子蟹和日本蟳的营养生态位重叠较高;摄食来源分析表明,中国明对虾摄食双壳类比例更高,其他3种摄食来源同质化程度较高。目前莱州湾三疣梭子蟹和中国明对虾的优势度低于口虾蛄和日本蟳,表明增殖放流虽然扩大了三疣梭子蟹和中国明对虾的种群规模,但尚未较大程度改变甲壳类群落结构。综合4种甲壳类的群落地位、种间联结性、空间生态位宽度与重叠、营养级与营养生态位以及摄食来源的研究结果,中国明对虾与其他三者竞争相对较小,而三疣梭子蟹与日本蟳、口虾蛄竞争较大。为最大程度发挥增殖效益,建议在确定放流地点和放流数量时,应着重考虑相近生态位物种对放流物种的竞争和限制。  相似文献   

Trophic consequences of postfire logging in a wolf–ungulate system     

M. Hebblewhite  R.H. Munro  E.H. Merrill 《Forest Ecology and Management》2009

Controversy surrounds postfire logging, often because of negative effects on snag-dependent wildlife species. Few studies, however, have examined effects on early-seral species that may benefit from postfire logging, nor effects on trophic relationships. We studied the effects of postfire logging on trophic dynamics between wolves (Canis lupus), three ungulate species and ungulate forage biomass during the first 3 years in a large burn in the Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada. We examined plant biomass and ungulate responses to two treatments (post- and prefire logging) compared to a burned but unlogged area (control). We evaluated resource selection for the three treatments by elk (Cervus elaphus) using radiotelemetry and for deer (Odocoileus spp.), moose (Alces alces), and, secondarily, elk using pellet counts. Elk resource selection was modeled as a function of the trade-off between wolf predation risk and herbaceous forage biomass to test for trophic impacts of postfire treatments. Postfire logging had transient effects on total herbaceous biomass; while forb biomass was reduced, increases in graminoid biomass more than compensated by the third year. Prefire logging areas were dominated by a few species, but had generally higher forage biomass by the third year. Ungulates avoided postfire and prefire logged areas despite greater herbaceous biomass. Only when we considered elk resource selection as a function of both forage and wolf predation risk was the extent to which trophic interactions affected by postfire logging revealed. Wolves selected proximity to roads and the higher forage biomass associated with postfire logging in open logged areas. This translated to the highest predation risk for elk in postfire logged areas. Thus, ungulates avoided postfire logged areas because of human alteration of top-down predation risk despite enhancements to bottom-up forage biomass. Managers should consider trophic consequences of postfire logging on the interactions among species when gauging logging effects on terrestrial ecosystems. Making use of existing roads, minimizing the construction of new roads, and managing road removal following postfire logging will help mitigate the negative effects of postfire logging on terrestrial ecosystems.  相似文献   

芒果炭疽病生态位研究     

肖厚贞  方佳  王绥通  刘志威  林运萍 《湖北农业科学》2009,48(2)

以叶片和果实病情指数为依据,研究了海南省7个芒果品种的炭疽痛生态位.结果表明,芒果炭疽病对叶片和果实的侵染效应差别较小,对时间、空间和营养3资源的利用程度不尽相同.时间生态位宽度指数(平均值)分别为0.117 7和0.263 9,说明芒果炭疽病在时间维上的利用程度小,其发生和发展具有条件性;空间生态位宽度指数(平均值)为0.704 7和0.904 0,病菌能够充分利用各空问资源;营养生态宽度指数为0.666 2和0.579 6.说明病菌可以侵染各品种,但品种间的抗病性有较明显差异,台农1号抗病性较强,红芒6号、凯特和白玉较易感病.  相似文献   

果园植被对芒果炭疽病生态位的影响     

肖厚贞  方佳  王绥通  辛吉武 《广东农业科学》2009,(7):119-120,130

通过果园植被对芒果炭疽病的时间、空间、营养生态位的影响研究,结果表明,常规管理区和生草区芒果炭疽病的时间生态位宽度指数平均值分别为0.1763和0.2350,空间生态位宽度指数平均值分别为0.8557、0.9483,营养生态位宽度指数分别为0.8741、0.7716.说明杂草能扩张芒果炭疽病的时空生态位宽度.但却压缩了营养生态位宽度,对生草植被进行合理化管理可能在一定程度上影响芒果炭疽病菌的生存与繁衍,降低危害水平.  相似文献   

1996～2006年福建省社会-经济-自然复合生态系统生态位变化分析     

李艳春  王义祥  黄毅斌 《福建农业学报》2009,24(2)

依据福建省的实际情况,建立了福建省社会-经济-自然复合生态系统生态位评价指标体系,并运用全排列多边形综合指数法对1996～2006年福建省社会-经济-自然复合生态系统生态位变化做出了定量分析.结果表明:1996～2006年资源生态位总体上是在较高水平上呈现波浪式上升,环境、经济、社会生态位总体上呈逐渐上升的趋势;综合生态位也呈逐渐上升的趋势,从1996年的0.28上升至2006年的0.66,上升了1.36倍.  相似文献   

Assessing the food web impacts of an anadromous Arctic charr introduction to a sub‐Arctic watershed using stable isotopes     

A. Murdoch  G. Klein  D. W. Doidge  M. Power 《Fisheries Management and Ecology》2013,20(4):302-314

Anadromous Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), was introduced to a sub‐Arctic river–lake system near the village of Kujjuuaq, Nunavik, and the stable isotope values and diets of key resident fish species were used to assess changes in feeding patterns. Stable isotope values for most species did not differ significantly between the pre‐ and post‐introduction periods, with observed shifts being within the bounds of expected natural variation. Lake chub, Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz), were the single species to show a difference between study periods, with a small but significant increase in δ¹⁵N. No significant post‐introduction changes were seen in lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), omnivory or in any of the assessed quantitative food web metrics. Gut contents of major fish species similarly showed significant temporal overlap between the pre‐ and post‐introduction periods, and there was no significant change in species' weight–length relationships. The minor ecological impact was interpreted in relation to the availability of open niches exploitable by ecological generalists such as Arctic charr. The explanation accords with the known habitat and feeding flexibility of Arctic charr and the ecological immaturity of sub‐Arctic lakes known to have driven adaptive variation among Arctic charr. Findings suggest that anadromous Arctic charr may be introduced at moderate densities to other sub‐Arctic watersheds without major negative food web consequences for other resident fish species.  相似文献