Coexistence of two sympatric and morphologically similar bat species Rhinolophus affinis and Rhinolophus pearsoni

Ecologists have long focused on the coexistence of sympatric species. Here, we investigated two horseshoe bat species, Rhinolophus affinis and Rhinolophus pearsoni inhabited in the same cave, for their foraging strategies, niche differentiation, prey selection, and their coexistence status. These two species of horseshoe bats were different in the dominant frequency of their echolocation calls, but similar in their morphology. We found evidence for prey selectivity although there was a high degree of overlap in prey categories and sizes. R. affinis and R. pearsoni foraged on 16 and 7 categories insects, respectively, with Pyralidae, Geometridae, Melolonthidae dominating their diets. The degree of trophic niche overlap was 0.69. Pairwise comparisons suggested that there was no obvious differentiation in prey categories and size. However, high prey availability in the environment （Simpson diversity index = 0.79 and Margalef richness index = 4.12） contributed to their coexistence by dampening the interspecific competition. Since there are one or more mechanisms facil- itating species coexistence in a community, our results suggest that the spatial niche differentiation in foraging rnicrohabitats and in foraging habitats at landscape scale may promote the coexistence of the two bat species. However, additional field data are needed to confirm this speculation.     

Coexistence of two sympatric and mOrpho1ogically similar bat species Rhinolophus affnis and Rhinolophus pearsoni

Ecologists have long focused on the coexistence of sympatric species.Here,we investigated two horseshoe bat species,Rhinolophus affinis and Rhinolophus pearsoni inhabited in the same cave,for their foraging strategies,niche differentiation,prey selection,and their coexistence status.These two species of horseshoe bats were ditierent in the dominant frequency of their echolocation calls.but similar in their morphology.We found evidence for prey selectivity although there was a high degree of overlap in prey categories and sizes.R affinis and R pearsoni foraged on 16 and 7 categories insects,respectively,with Pyralidae,Geometridae,Melolonthidae dominating their diets.The degree of trophic niche overlap was 0.69.Pairwise comparisons suggested that there was no obvious differentiation in prey categories and size.However,high prey availability in the environment(Simpson diversity index=0.79 and Margalef richness index=4.121 contributed to their coexistence by dampening the interspecific competition.Since there are one or more mechanisms facilitating species coexistence in a community,our results suggest that the spatial niche differentiation in foraging microhabitats and in foraging habitats at landscape scale may promote the coexistence of the two bat species.However,additional field data are needed to confirm this speculation.     

南亚热带马尾松人工林近自然恢复过程中林下木本植物生态位动态

为了解广西南亚热带近自然恢复过程中马尾松Pinus massoniana人工林林下主要木本植物的生态位动态变化特征,以“空间代替时间”的方法,在群落学调查的基础上采用Levins生态位宽度指数和Pianka生态位重叠指数对马尾松人工林亚乔木层和灌木层木本植物种群生态位进行定量分析。结果表明：（1）马尾松中龄林亚乔木层的山乌桕Sapium discolor、灌木层的鹅掌柴Schefflera heptaphylla,成熟林亚乔木层的狭基润楠Machilus attenuata、灌木层的三桠苦Evodia lepta,以及过熟林亚乔木层的鹅掌柴、灌木层的纽子果Ardisia palysticta生态位宽度较大,在各自群落中属于优势种群;（2）重要值越大的物种通常生态位宽度越大,但是二者之间的排序并不完全相同,生态位宽度与生态位重叠之间无显著的正相关关系;（3）随着马尾松人工林从中龄林到成熟林到过熟林近自然恢复的进行,亚乔木层物种间生态位分化程度增加,生态位重叠程度逐渐下降,灌木层物种受到可利用资源和自身生物学特性的限制,物种间生态位分化不明显,生态位重叠程度增加,马尾松人工林群落中亚乔木层较灌木层有更高的稳定性。     

Echolocation signals reflect niche differentiation in five sympatric congeneric bat species

Echolocating bats can be divided into guilds according to their preferred habitat and foraging behaviour, which coincide with distinct adaptations in wing morphology and structure of echolocation signals. Although coarse structuring of niche space between different guilds is generally accepted, it is not clear how niches differ within guilds, or whether there is fine-grained niche differentiation reflected in echolocation signal structure. Using a standardized performance test, here we show clutter-dependent differences in prey-capture success for bats from five species of European Myotis. These species are morphologically similar, sympatric, and all belong to the guild labelled "edge space aerial/trawling foragers". We further demonstrate a strong correlation between the prey-detection ability of the species and the respective search-call bandwidth. Our findings indicate that differences in echolocation signals contribute to within-guild niche differentiation. This is the first study relating sensory abilities of a set of potentially competing animal species to a direct measure of their respective foraging performance, suggesting an important role of sensory ecology in the structuring of animal communities.     

京密引水渠常见沉水植物的生态位和群落演替

生态位是生物(个体、种群或群落)对生态环境条件适应性的总和。通过野外调查,研究菹草、轮苞轮藻、马来眼子菜、苦草等沉水植物的生态位。生态位的重叠导致物种间的竞争与排斥,生态位的分离,导致物种间的协调平衡。引水渠沉水植物群落状况是生态位的重叠和分离共同作用的结果。在常年输水条件下,菹草以时间生态位分离,空间无竞争对手而占据优势;轮苞轮藻以群落的致密絮状结构越冬,优先占领空间生态位;在冬季不输水的条件下,苦草以温度生态位在淤泥、浅水区占优势;马来眼子菜以生长生态位在硬泥质、深水水域占优势。并讨论了生态位理论在水草群落演替控制中的应用。     

褐家鼠和黄胸鼠取食行为研究

在４５ｍ２室内人工模拟自然条件下进行褐家鼠和黄胸鼠取食行为生态学特征的研究。观察结果显示，两种鼠对所提供的食物的日平均取食量和觅食时所付出的活动行为强度均无明显差异，但在日内的７时、１５时和２３时之间的摄食量和活动量的差异均极显著。当所提供的食物源有选择机会时，褐家鼠选择的平均取食量是玉米碎＞稻谷＞大米；黄胸鼠是玉米碎＞大米＞稻谷，无食物选择机会时褐家鼠的取食量是稻谷＞玉米碎＞大米；黄胸鼠是大米＞玉米碎＞稻谷。褐家鼠和黄胸鼠在寻找选择食物的过程中，通常付出的活动行为强度（量）是２３时点＞７时点＞１５时点。褐家鼠和黄胸鼠的取食行为特征表现可用“摄食时间＋食物源＋行为反应”的模式表示。同时指出鼠的取食行为与防治实践之间关系的重要性。     

南亚热带4个苗木的生态位

在模糊超体积生态位理论的基础上，研究了南亚热带4个不同演替阶段树种苗木的生态位，探索森林群落演替的规律．以所测定的净光合作用强度值为指标，度量包括pH值、矿物质营养浓度、土壤含水量三个生态因子的三维生态位．结果表明：生态位宽度的大小次序为马尾松（0．4056），荷木（0．3614），藜蒴（0．3108）和黄果厚壳桂（0．3068），正好对应演替不同阶段的优势种；生态位重叠最小值为0．6827，表示总体上物种对资源的竞争较激烈；种间竞争系数介于0．6359和0．7357之间，表示物种问有回避竞争的趋势，这往往有助于物种共存；利用Cody和May的原则会带来生态位重叠的偏差最大为0．1262，最小为0．0361，因此应该避免使用Cody和May的原则．     

东北草地羊草种群生态位的研究

计测了东北松嫩草原上羊草种群的资源生态宽度、生态位宽度季节变化，羊草与其它主要植物种群的资源生态位重叠，并在不同水平梯度上做了较深入的分析。研究表明：羊草种群水分生态位宽度主要取决于羊草的资源占据比例；光生态位宽度主要依赖于光能的利用强度；营养生态位宽度主要受生境土壤养分差异的影响；羊草生态位宽度存在着季节性变化；植物种群生态位的重叠值随土壤水分与碱化度梯度呈有规律变化，生态位重叠是该地域植物共存的基础。     

福建卫闽光皮桦种群与主要伴生树种的生态位

对卫闽光皮桦群落的８个主要伴生树种进行了生态位宽度、生态位重叠度以及生态位分离度测定。结果表明,该群落中的优势树种其生态位宽度值均普遍较大,在理论上均可属于广生态位。优势种之间的竞争颇为激烈,如果不进行一定的人为措施,目前主要伴生树种之间这种暂时的资源共享、和平共存局面,将难以维持。     

深圳城市公园不同栽植环境对毛棉杜鹃生长的影响

【目的】研究毛棉杜鹃(Rhododendron moulmainense)在深圳城市公园不同环境下的生长适应性,为其引入城市进行观赏种植提供参考。【方法】选择长势一致的10年生毛棉杜鹃,在深圳市香蜜公园选择了临水、高地、平地3个栽植环境并各为半光照和全光照两个环境,分为6个试验样地进行种植,测定植株开花情况、生长量、叶绿素含量、光响应曲线的变化和光合特性日变化等。【结果】(1)不同栽植环境对毛棉杜鹃的形态和生长量均有不同程度的影响,临水环境-半光照环境中毛棉杜鹃的花芽数量、新梢粗度、新梢体积、新梢数量显著高于(P<0.05)其他试验样地;(2)平地-全光照环境中毛棉杜鹃叶片的叶绿素a(Chla)、叶绿素b(Chlb)、总叶绿素(Chlt)含量显著高于其他试验样地,而平地-半光照环境中Chla、Chlb、Chlt含量均出现最低值。高地-半光照环境下类胡萝卜素(Car)、叶绿素a与叶绿素b质量比(Chla/Chlb)、总叶绿素与类胡萝卜素质量比(Chlt/Car)显著高于其他样地;(3)临水-半光照和临水-全光照环境下毛棉杜鹃的最大净光合速率(P_{n, max})、...     

百里杜鹃国家森林公园优势种生态位研究

【目的】评估百里杜鹃国家森林公园杜鹃花科优势种的资源利用能力和空间占据能力,为经营管理提供依据。【方法】应用生态位宽度、生态位相似度及Pianka生态位重叠度计算方法,对百里杜鹃优势种群生态位特征进行研究。【结果】①群落中杜鹃花科植物(马樱杜鹃、露珠杜鹃、迷人杜鹃、映山红)生态位宽度较大,分别为1.709、1.576、1.411、1.062,是群落的优势种; ②该群落种群间的生态位相似性比例较小,生态位宽度与生态位相似性之间无显著关系; ③生态位宽度大的物种与其他物种发生重叠的概率更大,但生态位重叠值不一定大。【结论】杜鹃花科植物在群落中生态位宽度较大,而马缨杜鹃与露珠杜鹃的生态位重叠程度在降低,这主要与植物的生物-生态学特性有关,是种群对资源利用的长期适应性结果。     

捕食者追捕与食饵逃逸对共位捕食系统中物种共存的影响

基于元胞自动机模型,探讨捕食者追捕和食饵逃逸两种行为对共位捕食系统中物种共存动态的影响.结果表明:捕食者追捕能够扩大物种共存区域,但食饵逃逸能否提高共位捕食系统中物种的共存取决于两物种竞争与捕食能力的相互权衡关系.在捕食者占绝对优势以及竞争与捕食之间存在弱权衡关系时,食饵逃逸能够促进两物种的共存;而在食饵占有绝对优势以及两物种间强权衡关系时,食饵逃逸则使得物种共存变得更加困难.另外,模拟结果显示,捕食者追捕与食饵逃逸对物种共存与种群密度产生不对称性效应:捕食者追捕对系统产生的影响较食饵逃逸行为更为显著.     

露天矿排土场植被恢复过程中种群生态位特征

研究了阜新新邱露天矿排土场植被恢复过程中主要种群的生态位特征,结果表明:(1)在本研究区域内,猪毛菜(Artemisia scoparia)的生态位宽度最大,对资源的利用能力最强,对环境的适应性也是最强的。与伴生物种的重叠值也是很高的。但并没有出现明确的关系。(2)黄花蒿(Artemisia annua)与羊草(Aneurolepidium chinese),蒙古蒿(Artemisia mongolia)与早熟禾(Poa annua)之间的生态位重叠最高,说明它们对空间资源的利用效率比较高,能充分的利用资源。(3)猪毛菜(Artemisia scoparia)、黄花蒿(Artemisia annua)、蒙古蒿(Artemisia mongolia)同属于菊科草本植物,对环境的生存条件比较相似,所以它们存在较强的竞争关系。这些结论有助于了解生态恢复中的种群生态适应性。     

A possible neuronal basis for Doppler-shift compensation in echo-locating horseshoe bats

The auditory system of the horseshoe bat is finely tuned to the bat's individual vocalization frequency. To compensate for flight-induced Doppler shifts in the echo frequency, the horseshoe bat adjusts the frequency of its echo-location call to maintain the echo frequency within the narrow range to which its auditory system is best tuned. In this report I describe neurons in the midbrain tegmentum of the horseshoe bat, with properties that strongly indicate their involvement in this Doppler-shift compensation. The activity of these neurons was influenced by both sound emission and auditory stimuli. Neuronal discharges in response to vocalization, however, differed from those in response to purely auditory stimuli that mimicked the bat call. When an auditory stimulus was temporally locked to a preceding vocalization, the response was dependent on the time delay between the two. This delay-sensitivity completely disappeared when vocalizations were simulated acoustically. Only those vocalization and 'echo' parameters were encoded that occur in Doppler-shift compensation. In conclusion, I suggest a model for the regulation of the vocalization frequency through auditory feedback.     

天然黄山松群落主要树种营养生态位特征研究

【目的】了解戴云山天然黄山松群落主要乔木树种在不同土壤营养资源空间中的营养利用情况和空间占据能力,为更好地营造天然林提供理论依据。【方法】以福建省戴云山自然保护区天然黄山松群落为对象,通过生态位空间分割原理,应用生态位宽度、重叠度和相似性比例对黄山松群落主要树种生态位特征进行研究。【结果】①考虑资源利用率与对多维生态位宽度的测度存在显著性差异,在不同测度公式下生态位宽度较大的树种均是黄山松、罗浮栲、木荷、马尾松、鹿角杜鹃、野漆,宽度值均在0.700以上,但树种的重要值与生态位宽度值之间相关性不明显。②生态位宽度较大的黄山松、罗浮栲、木荷、马尾松、鹿角杜鹃、野漆生态位重叠平均值分别为0.424、0.321、0.328、0.290、0.303、0.294。③生态位宽度、生态位重叠度和生态位相似性关系表现为生态位宽度较大的树种对其他树种的生态位重叠概率较大,但生态位重叠度值不一定大。各主要树种生态位相似性和生态位重叠度的变化趋势基本吻合。【结论】在戴云山自然保护区,黄山松与其他树种重叠度偏大,占据相同资源的树种数量增加,但资源的减少造成树种竞争加强,黄山松的优势地位很可能被环境适应能力强的树种(木荷、鹿角杜鹃)所替代, 即这些物种很可能演替为优势种群。因此建议采用人工干扰措施并加强对研究区黄山松的管理和保护。     

Harmonic-hopping in Wallacea's bats

Evolutionary divergence between species is facilitated by ecological shifts, and divergence is particularly rapid when such shifts also promote assortative mating. Horseshoe bats are a diverse Old World family (Rhinolophidae) that have undergone a rapid radiation in the past 5 million years. These insectivorous bats use a predominantly pure-tone echolocation call matched to an auditory fovea (an over-representation of the pure-tone frequency in the cochlea and inferior colliculus) to detect the minute changes in echo amplitude and frequency generated when an insect flutters its wings. The emitted signal is the accentuated second harmonic of a series in which the fundamental and remaining harmonics are filtered out. Here we show that three distinct, sympatric size morphs of the large-eared horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus philippinensis) echolocate at different harmonics of the same fundamental frequency. These morphs have undergone recent genetic divergence, and this process has occurred in parallel more than once. We suggest that switching harmonics creates a discontinuity in the bats' perception of available prey that can initiate disruptive selection. Moreover, because call frequency in horseshoe bats has a dual function in resource acquisition and communication, ecological selection on frequency might lead to assortative mating and ultimately reproductive isolation and speciation, regardless of external barriers to gene flow.     

4种白蚁生态位宽度与资源竞争分析

研究分析了台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki、黄肢散白蚁Reticulitermes flaviceps Oshima、黄翅大白蚁Macrotermes barneyi Light和黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki的空间和营养生态位宽度与重叠度,并分析了多个生态位宽度和重叠度测算公式用于白蚁研究领域的适宜性.结果表明台湾乳白蚁的空间生态位和营养生态位宽度最大,黄翅大白蚁对生存环境的要求最苛刻.而它们之间营养生态位的重叠度不大,仅黑翅土白蚁与黄肢散白蚁、黄翅大白蚁在空间分布上具有较大的重叠度.     

南川金佛山甑子岩灌丛群落优势种群生态位特征

利用Levins,Hurlberty生态位宽度公式和Pianka生态位重叠公式测定了金佛山甑子岩灌丛群落中9个优势种群的生态位宽度和生态位重叠,并对生态位宽度,生态位重叠以及种间联结性的关系进行了初步探讨,结果表明,灌丛群落中主要优势种群的生态宽度较大,具有相同或相似环境要求的物种间生态位重叠较大,生态位宽度较大的物种与其它种群间的生态位重叠较大,种间正联结性越强,其生态位重叠值越大,种间负联结性越强,其生态位重叠值越小。     

Foraging strategies in the greater horseshoe bat （Rhinolophus f errumequinum ）on Lepidoptera in summer

Abstract The diet of the bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum was studied at the Zhi＇an Village of Ji＇an City in China, from June to August 2004. The bats were trained in a laboratory （volume： 9×4×4 m^3）. Foraging strategies of the bat were observed at night and prey remains were collected and identified. The results showed that the diet consisted mainly of Lepidoptera in summer, including 11 families, more than 30 species of moths, such as Noctuidae （36.6% by number）,Sphingidae （24.1%）, Geometridae （13.4%） and Limacodidae （9.5%）. The length of culled wings ranged from 10--40 mm （97.7%）. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the bat R.ferrumequinum foraged their prey selectively, but not opportunistically. From field studies, two ways were observed in which the bats retrieved their prey including aerial hawking during peak active period of the insects and flycatching during the insects＇ non-peak activity period. The bats never gleaned prey from the ground, though they appeared to be well able to detect fluttering moths on the ground.