Altitude Habitats Research Articles

The combination of high leaf hydraulic safety and water use efficiency allows alpine shrubs to adapt to high‐altitude habitats

Abstract Leaf hydraulic traits are considered the key determinants of gas exchange and therefore affect species distributions along environmental gradients, but the patterns of leaf hydraulic traits and their associations with gas exchange across altitudinal gradients remain largely unknown. Here, we measured leaf hydraulic traits, gas exchange, leaf anatomical traits and plant size traits in two dominant alpine shrubs (Caragana jubata and Salix gilashanica) across an altitudinal gradient from 3100 to 3700 m. The findings indicated that with increasing altitude, both shrub species exhibited an increase in leaf hydraulic safety (more negative Kleaf P50), a decrease in leaf hydraulic efficiency (Kleaf‐max) and an increase in intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), thus allowing them to adapt to higher altitude habitats. The more negative Kleaf P50 was associated with a greater ratio of major to minor vein density (VLAmaj/VLAmin), the lower Kleaf‐max was associated with a lower minor vein density (VLAmin) and greater increase in WUEi arose from the small decrease in the photosynthetic rate relative to the stomatal conductance. However, C. jubata was consistent with the ‘hydraulic safety strategy’ with a great decrease in Kleaf P50, a small decrease in Kleaf‐max and a small increase in WUEi along with decreasing plant height and leaf area with increasing altitude. Whereas S. gilashanica was consistent with the ‘photosynthetic efficiency strategy’ with a small decrease in Kleaf P50, a greater decrease in Kleaf‐max and a greater increase in WUEi along with an increasing plant height and unchanged leaf area with increasing altitude. Overall, these findings provide new insights to improve understanding how shift in leaf hydraulic traits and their associations with gas exchange and plant size allow plants to adapt to high‐altitude habitats. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Differentiation in Leaf Functional Traits and Driving Factors of the Allopatric Distribution of Tetraploid and Octaploid Buddleja macrostachya in the Sino-Himalayan Region

Leaf functional traits reflect species’ adaptive strategies and habitat requirements. Examining intra-specific variations and their underlying drivers can aid in comprehending species differentiation and adaptation. Here, we investigated the leaf functional traits of Buddleja macrostachya tetraploids and octaploids across 18 sites in the Sino-Himalayan region. The habitat environmental variables were also recorded. In this study, leaf functional traits showed a considerable differentiation in both tetraploid and octaploid B. macrostachya. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the octaploid cytotypes displayed higher specific leaf area, leaf total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, water-use efficiency, and light-use efficiency in contrast to the tetraploid plants. These functional leaf traits exhibited different plasticity levels in both taxa. A positive link was found between habitat altitude and soil total P concentration and the geographic distribution of the B. macrostachya complex, using RDA and Pearson’s correlation. Our findings suggest that both tetraploid and octaploid B. macrostachya exhibited divergent ecological strategies, conservative and acquisitive strategies, respectively. The ecological adaptability of species within the B. macrostachya complex is enhanced by the combination of divergent ecological strategies and high phenotypic plasticity of distinct key ecological traits. Furthermore, abiotic environmental factors influenced the allopatric geographic distribution pattern of the B. macrostachya complex in the Sino-Himalayan region.

Response of beetle communities to the heterogeneity of vegetation in high altitude habitats in north-western Argentina

Response of beetle communities to the heterogeneity of vegetation in high altitude habitats in north-western Argentina

Divergence in cold tolerance promotes niche differentiation between diploid and polyploid kiwifruits along an altitudinal gradient in Southwest China

Polyploidization is hypothesized to improve the freezing resistance of plants in cold regions. However, adaptive strategies and key physiological mechanisms involved in the freezing resistant ability of polyploids remain unclear. In Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruits), the tetraploids and hexaploids occupy higher altitude habitats with colder climates than the diploids, providing a study system to investigate mechanisms responsible for differentiation in freezing resistance between cytotypes. We characterized environmental conditions of their natural distribution areas, and measured leaf‐level traits of cold damages and water relations at typical sites of each cytotype along an altitudinal gradient. Polyploids showed lower semi‐lethal temperature (LT50) than ice nucleation temperature (INT), reflecting a tolerance strategy to cope with freezing events in the plateau regions. More negative turgor loss points and larger cell elastic modulus of polyploids could help to alleviate damages from freezing‐induced cell dehydration, thus strengthening their tolerance to lower subzero temperatures (lower LT50). The increased supercooling capacity of polyploids (lower INT) might correlate with less extracellular ice formation due to lower osmotic potential at full turgor, apoplastic water fraction and tissue capacitance. Our study uncovers a greater cold tolerance in polyploid kiwifruits than diploids, and suggests the potential linkage between freezing tolerance and water relations. Taken together, such a divergence in stress resistance may underlie the niche shift of polyploid plants towards harsh environments.

Changes in Profiles of Classes and of Individual Polyphenols in Leaves of Spiraea chamaedryfolia and Spiraea media along an Altitudinal Gradient.

Plants in high-altitude habitats are exposed to severe environmental stressors, including extreme temperatures and irradiation, which can have wide-ranging effects on changes of secondary-metabolite profiles in higher plants. Altitude-related variation of levels of polyphenols in organs of medicinal and food plant species has not yet been investigated sufficiently. This study was focused on variation in quantitative profiles of classes and of individual biologically active phenolic compounds in leaf extracts of resource species Spiraea chamaedryfolia and Spiraea media from the family Rosaceae in coenopopulations of the Altai Mountains, along an altitudinal gradient. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed 22 polyphenolic compounds in the extracts of S. media leaves, with the main polyphenolic compounds being flavonols. Sixteen compounds were found in S. chamaedryfolia leaf extracts, and the major ones were flavonols and a flavanone. Opposite responses to changes in the altitude-associated growth conditions were documented for levels of some individual polyphenolic compounds. With an increase in altitude, concentrations of chlorogenic acid and of flavanone in the extracts of S. chamaedryfolia leaves significantly increased, while concentrations of cinnamic acid, astragalin, and kaempferol diminished. A statistically significant positive correlation between the altitude of plant habitats and total levels of polyphenols and phenolcarboxylic acids was detected. In leaf extracts from S. media, an altitude increase was significantly positively correlated with astragalin, avicularin, and cinnamic acid levels and negatively correlated with hyperoside concentration.

Response mechanism of growth and gypenosides content for Gynostemma longipes cultivated at two altitude habitats to fine root morphological characteristics.

Fine roots are the critical functional organs of plants to absorb water and nutrients from the soil environment, while the relation between fine root morphological characteristics and yield & quality has received less attention for medicinal plants. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between fine root morphological characteristics and biomass & gypenosides content. We explored the primary environmental drivers of fine root indicators for Gynostemma longipes from three provenances cultivated at two altitude habitats. At the end of the growing season, compared with the low-altitude habitat, the underground biomass of G. longipes in the high-altitude habitat increased significantly by 200%~290% for all three provenances. The response of gypenosides content to different altitude habitats varied with provenance and plant organs. The biomass of G. longipes strongly depended on the fine root characteristic indicators (P < 0.001), fine root length density, and fine root surface area. Our results also showed that the harvest yield of G. longipes could be effectively increased by promoting the growth of fine roots per unit leaf weight (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.63). Both fine root length density and fine root surface area had strong positive correlations with soil nutrient factors (R2 > 0.55) and a strong negative correlation with soil pH (R2 > 0.48). In a word, the growth of G. longipes is strongly controlled by the fine root morphological characteristics through the response of fine roots to soil nutrient factors and pH. Our findings will help to deepen the understanding of the root ecophysiological basis driven by soil factors for the growth and secondary metabolites formation of G. longipes and other medicinal plants under changing habitat conditions. In future research, we should investigate how environmental factors drive plant morphological characteristics (e.g., fine roots) to affect the growth & quality of medicinal plants over a longer time scale.

Mitochondrial genomic characterization of two endemic Chinese freshwater crabs of the genus Sinopotamon (Brachyura: Potamidae) and implications for biogeography analysis of Potamidae.

As an endemic freshwater crab group in China, the phylogenetic relationships within Sinopotamon are still controversial because of the limited taxon samples. In this study, the complete mitogenomes of Sinopotamon chishuiense with 17,311 bp and the nearly complete mitogenomes of S.wushanense with 16,785 bp were firstly sequenced and analyzed. Compared with other reported mitogenomes of Potamidae, some novel patterns of gene rearrangement were detected in these two Sinopotamon mitogenomes, which could be illuminated by the mechanisms of tandem duplication-random loss, recombination, and translocation. Phylogenetic analyses showed the nonmonophyly of the Sinopotamon and a sister group relationship with Tenuilapotamon. These crabs from the eastern and southern of the Yangtze River basin were more closely related while other crabs form the plateau areas formed a separate clade. Divergence time indicated that the Sinopotamon and its sister group Tenuilapotamon diverged from other potamiscine freshwater crabs approximately 42.65 Mya, which belongs to the recent main uplifts period of the Tibetan Plateau in the Late Miocene. Combined with the similar evolutionary rates and relatively stable habitat altitude of these Sinopotamon species, these results implied that the ecological environment may be relatively stable during the speciation. Overall, our study yielded worthy perceptions for the evolutionary and taxonomic relationship of Sinopotamon and will help to better clarify the gene rearrangement events of the invertebrate mitogenome and lay the foundation for further phylogenetic study of Sinopotamon. Overall, our study yielded valuable insights into the evolutionary history and taxonomic relationship of Sinopotamon and these results will help to better explain the gene rearrangement events of the invertebrate mitogenome and lay the foundation for further phylogenetic study of Sinopotamon.

Characteristics of Sentigi (Pemphis acidula) As Environmental Bioindicators of Mangrove Conservation in the Regional Marine Conservation Area Gili Sulat, East Lombok, Indonesia

Sentigi (Pemphis acidula) is one of the mangrove species that is classified as pure stand so it has the potential to be used as an indicator species in the mangrove area in Gili Sulat. The research location ganti dengan Kawasan Konservasi Laut Daerah (KKLD) Gili Sulat Lombok Timur. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of sentigi as environmental bioindicators in mangrove forests in Gili Sulat, East Lombok. The research method is done by delineation method using high resolution satellite imagery and ground check. Determination of the sampling point at the research location was determined using satellite imagery. The data analysis technique uses visualization analysis of satellite imagery catches and analysis of mangrove vegetation which is described descriptively. The results of this study indicate that a) species Sentigi can be identified using high resolution satellite imagery based on the color resolution quality of satellite imagery, namely high, medium and low cover. (b) Sentigi species can be used as indicator plants in the Gili Sulat mangrove community based on the characteristics of environmental factors such as habitat type, habitat altitude, pH and salinity. Conclusions from this study include: a. The distribution of the population of stands sentigi (Pemphis acidula) on Gili Sulat is unique, namely in the middle of a mangrove forest. b.population Sentigistands on Gili Sulat are grouped separately as pure stands. c. Satellite imagery can be used to identify the presence of populations sentigi on Gili Sulat. (d) The presence of sentigi can be a bioindicator of sandy environments, ecoton areas, and climax succession in Gili Sulat.

Charophytes (Charophyceae, Charales) of South Kazakhstan: Diversity, Distribution, and Tentative Red List.

The presented research was conducted during 2019-2022 in south and southeast Kazakhstan to document the species richness, distribution, and ecology of charophytes (Characeae) as a first step towards to estimate the need for species protection. Across the 54 sites, we found ten species and one variety. Chara vulgaris Linnaeus and C. contraria A.Braun ex Kützing were the most common species, followed by C. canescens Loiseleur, C. kirghisorum C. F. Lessing, C. tomentosa Linnaeus, C. dominii J. Vilhelm, C. globata W. Migula, Nitellopsis obtusa (Desvaux) J. Groves, and Nitella hyalina (De Candolle) C. Agardh. The list of localities for each species was compiled. The distribution of each taxon was mapped in relations to the ecoregions studied. The two most frequent species were found in a wide spectrum of ecoregions, whereas all other species occurred in only a few regions in Kazakhstan. The Kaskelen River Valley had the most sampled sites with the highest number of co-occurring species (up to five together). Statistical maps were plotted in attempt to outline key environmental variables explaining the distribution of each species. A comparison of species and environmental variables distribution maps lets us assume that C. vulgaris prefers low altitude habitats with higher water temperatures, organic enrichments, and color, but low oxygen and pH. Other species prefer clear, alkaline, organically unpolluted, and well-oxygenated waters in lowland habitats. The redundancy detrended analysis (RDA) defined pH and altitude as negative factors for Nitellopsis obtusa whereas an increase in water temperature was positive. Altitude and water temperatures affected Chara contraria positively while altitude negatively influenced the rare species: Chara tomentosa, C. kirghisorum, and C. dominii. The matK sequences were obtained for C. contraria and C. vulgaris to confirm their identity according to morphological traits and to compare populations of C. gymnophylla and C. vulgaris from an arid region in Israel. Our data allowed for the preparation of a tentative red list from the study region. One species was recognized as endangered, four species and one variety as vulnerable, and two species as least concern. There was insufficient data to determine the status of two species and one variety.

How to survive in the world's third poplar: Insights from the genome of the highest altitude woody plant, Hippophae tibetana (Elaeagnaceae).

Hippophae tibetana (Tibetan sea-buckthorn) is one of the highest distributed woody plants in the world (3,000-5,200 meters a.s.l.). It is characterized by adaptation to extreme environment and important economic values. Here, we combined PacBio Hifi platform and Hi-C technology to assemble a 1,452.75 Mb genome encoding 33,367 genes with a Contig N50 of 74.31 Mb, and inferred its sexual chromosome. Two Hippophae-specific whole-genome duplication events (18.7-21.2 million years ago, Ma; 28.6-32.4 Ma) and long terminal repeats retroelements (LTR-RTs) amplifications were detected. Comparing with related species at lower altitude, Ziziphus jujuba (<1, 700 meters a.s.l.), H. tibetana had some significantly rapid evolving genes involved in adaptation to high altitude habitats. However, comparing with Hippophae rhamnoides (<3, 700 meters a.s.l.), no rapid evolving genes were found except microtubule and microtubule-based process genes, H. tibetana has a larger genome, with extra 2, 503 genes (7.5%) and extra 680.46 Mb transposable elements (TEs) (46.84%). These results suggest that the changes in the copy number and regulatory pattern of genes play a more important role for H. tibetana adapting to more extreme and variable environments at higher altitude by more TEs and more genes increasing genome variability and expression plasticity. This suggestion was supported by two findings: nitrogen-fixing genes of H. tibetana having more copies, and intact TEs being significantly closer genes than fragmentary TEs. This study provided new insights into the evolution of alpine plants.

Gene expression in the female tree swallow brain is associated with inter- and intra-population variation in glucocorticoid levels

Studies of the evolutionary causes and consequences of variation in circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) have begun to reveal how they are shaped by selection. Yet the extent to which variation in circulating hormones reflects variation in other important regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and whether these relationships vary among populations inhabiting different environments, remain poorly studied. Here, we compare gene expression in the brain of female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) from populations that breed in environments that differ in their unpredictability. We find evidence of inter-population variation in the expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus, with the highest gene expression in a population from an extreme environment, and lower expression in a population from a more consistent environment as well as in birds breeding at an environmentally variable high-altitude site that are part of a population that inhabits a mixture of high and low altitude habitats. Within some populations, variation in circulating GCs predicted differences in gene expression, particularly in the hypothalamus. However, some patterns were present in all populations, whereas others were not. These results are consistent with the idea that some combination of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity may modify components of the HPA axis affecting stress resilience. Our results also underscore that a comprehensive understanding of the function and evolution of the stress response cannot be gained from measuring circulating hormones alone, and that future studies that apply a more explicitly evolutionary approach to important regulatory traits are likely to provide significant insights.

Siberian Ibex Capra sibirica Respond to Climate Change by Shifting to Higher Latitudes in Eastern Pamir

Climate change has led to shifts in species distribution and become a crucial factor in the extinction of species. Increasing average temperatures, temperature extremes, and unpredictable weather events have all become a part of a perfect storm that is threatening ecosystems. Higher altitude habitats are disproportionately affected by climate change, and habitats for already threatened specialist species are shrinking. The Siberian ibex, Capra sibirica, is distributed across Central Asia and Southern Siberia and is the dominant ungulate in the Pamir plateau. To understand how climate change could affect the habitat of Siberian ibex in the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve (TNR), an ensemble species distribution model was built using 109 occurrence points from a four-year field survey. Fifteen environmental variables were used to simulate suitable habitat distribution under different climate change scenarios. Our results demonstrated that a stable, suitable habitat for Siberian ibex was mostly distributed in the northwest and northeast of the TNR. We found that climate change will further reduce the area of suitable habitat for this species. In the scenarios of RCP2.6 to 2070 and RCP8.5 to 2050, habitat loss would exceed 30%. In addition, suitable habitats for Siberian ibex will shift to higher latitudes under climate change. As a result, timely prediction of the distribution of endangered animals is conducive to the conservation of the biodiversity of mountain ecosystems, particularly in arid areas.

Incorporating interspecific relationships into species distribution models can better assess the response of species to climate change, a case study of two Chinese primates

Whether the distribution of species can track future changes in climate will ultimately determine their survival. However, traditional predictions of species distributions in response to climate change often ignore the effects of biotic interactions. Here, we incorporated interspecific competition into SDMs (Species distribution models) to assess the distribution of two species endemic to China, namely the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellanae) and Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana), in response to climate change. Due to overlap areas in the distributions of both species, niche competition between the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and Tibetan macaque was observed, and the former was less competitive in terms of theirability to source food and their reproductive capacity. The area where niche overlap between the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and Tibetan macaque occurs accounts for half of the suitable habitat for the former, suggesting that the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey cannot use this habitat effectively. Both species are predicted to lose more than 70 % of their suitable habitat by the 2050s, and the altitude of suitable habitat will likely decrease. Bio3 (Isothermality) and Bio13 (Precipitation of Wettest Month) were the most important climatic variables affecting the distribution of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and Tibetan macaque, respectively. The suitable habitat of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and Tibetan macaque was fragmented into several isolated pieces, which requires that ecological restoration should be carried out in advance. We demonstrated that the incorporation of interspecific competition into SDMs can accurately assess the response of species to future climate change, as less competitive species cannot effectively use their suitable habitat.

Living high and at risk: predicting Andean bear occurrence and conflicts with humans in southeastern Peru

Human encroachment into wildlife habitat threatens the persistence of large carnivore populations because it shrinks their distribution and promotes conflicts related to agricultural and livestock damage. Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) have experienced one of the greatest range contractions among large carnivores. Habitat loss and damages to crops and livestock are among the main threats to the conservation of the species. Here, we analyzed the occurrence of the Andean bear and the risk of conflict with humans at different spatial scales in southeastern Peru using Generalized Linear Models. First, we modeled the species distribution at two spatial scales (4 × 4 km and 1 × 1 km) and then, the risk of conflict within the predicted bear occurrence at the fine scale (1 × 1 km), taking damage records as a proxy of conflicts. The species distribution models at both scales identified altitude as the most important predictor of bear presence, with high altitudinal habitats having the highest probability of bear occurrence. Steep slopes (at coarse scale) and areas close to forest (at fine scale) were also associated with high probability of bear occurrence. The predicted occurrence spanned mostly grasslands and montane forests. The conflict risk model indicated a high probability of bear damage associated with places far from forest patches and with low vegetation cover, where bears can encounter unprotected livestock and crops. The spatial projection of our models showed that only 43% of the predicted bear occurrence had some level of legal protection and 45% is under human-bear conflict risk, including parts of the protected areas. Moreover, our models suggested that the potential distribution of Andean bears in the area has contracted around 50% in relation to the historical range. We encourage local and national authorities and policymakers to enlarge protected areas to reduce the impact of human activities on Andean bear occurrence and to improve the management of human-bear conflicts. This is of special importance under climate change, which will increase the vulnerability of high altitude habitats, crucial for Andean bears, to land-use changes.

Community structure and environmental determinants of the bacterial and fungal gut microflora in Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus)

High-throughput sequencing technology was used to establish the OTU (Operational Taxonomic Units) composition and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the gut of three family groups of Hainan gibbons ( Nomascus hainanus ) in the Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, southern China. Firmicutes (47.23%) and Bacteroidetes (36.54%) predominated at the phylum level, while the predominant genera were Prevotella-7 (15.30%), Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group (12.49%), and uncultured_bacterium_f_Erysipelotrichaceae (11.79%). At the phylum level, the dominant fungi were Ascomycota (66.41%), as well as Hanseniaspora (23.33%), Schwanniomyces (13.44%), and Pichia (5.43%) at the genus level. We found significant differences in the bacterial OTU diversity (Shannon index) between family groups living in Tropical Lowland or Tropical Montane Rain Forest, compared to those inhabiting Tropical Montane Evergreen Forest at higher altitudes. Bacterial OTU community composition also differed between family groups, unraveling significant differences among the 30 most dominant bacterial core taxa. Furthermore, we unraveled a significant difference of OTU richness in the fungal microbiome (Chao 1) between family groups living at lower altitudes, i.e., Tropical Lowland or Tropical Montane Rain Forest and those inhabiting the Tropical Montane Evergreen Forest. Our analysis further indicated significant differences in the fungal OTU community composition between the three family groups, especially regarding the three most dominant fungal core taxa. Subsequently, two habitat factors, and nine environmental and anthropogenic variables were used to explore possible causes of disparity in the microbial flora of gibbon groups. A factor reduction procedure resulted into three principal components which were correlated to bacterial and fungal OTU richness and diversity using Spearman's rank-order correlations. Bacterial and fungal OTU diversity was high in areas of high altitude, steep slopes, high tree density, but low tree height, while high fungal OTU richness corresponded to high altitude habitats, i.e., in the Tropical Montane Evergreen Forest. Distance to human settlements and to the next water body showed no significant relation with bacterial and fungal richness and diversity.

Microalgae Indicators of Charophyte Habitats of South and Southeast Kazakhstan

Charophyte algae is a very sensitive group of organisms occupying Kazakhstan waterbodies. They are distributed throughout the country; however, not enough studies have been conducted, especially in the southern region. Research carried out in 2019–2022 identified 33 habitats of charophyte algae in the south and southeastern regions of Kazakhstan, including 15 new to Kazakhstan. Bioindicators and the statistical analysis of 223 species of nine phyla of microalgae associated with charophytes revealed that the main factors influencing the distribution of algal diversity may be habitat altitude and hydrology. The habitat altitude of about 700 m above sea level was shown to be the boundary between the different diversity distributions. The application of bioindicator methods can expand our knowledge on the ecology of the charophyte species in Kazakhstan. The study of algal diversity in charophyte habitats can serve as a tool for tracking climate change under potential future climate warming.

Comparison of the Home Ranges of Mountain Hawk-Eagles during Different Phases of Wind Farm Construction

Raptors are long-lived apex predators with a lower rate of breeding success than smaller birds. Therefore, their responses to the construction of wind farms must be documented to assess the impact of wind energy on birds. We estimated the home ranges of three pairs of Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis orientalis before, during, and after construction of a wind energy facility to assess changes in home range. We also compared altitude, inclination, and land cover composition of habitats within home ranges during the construction phase. For one pair, the home range of which included wind farm construction, the distance from the home range to the construction area during the first year of construction increased significantly compared with that during pre-construction, but there was no significant difference between the post-construction and construction phase. It is thought that the construction of a wind farm within the home range caused the displacement, and that displacement began during the first phase of construction and continuing during the second phase and afterwards. Because the birds moved about 500 m away from the wind farm during the construction and post-construction phases but succeeded in breeding, we think that the distance of 500 m may be meaningful in terms of mitigating disturbance. The nest trees of all three successful breeding pairs were more than 1.3 km from the closest wind turbine, perhaps indicative that impact on breeding is light if construction takes place this far away from breeding sites. No significant differences in either land cover or inclination within home ranges were found during the construction phase, which might explain why all birds bred successfully during the second construction phase. After construction, all three pairs continued to use areas with similar habitat.

贺兰山西坡啮齿动物生境选择及种间关系

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 贺兰山西坡啮齿动物生境选择及种间关系 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202109152593 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金资助项目（31870512，32071649，32070519）；中央高校基本科研业务费资助项目（2572014CA03） Habitat selection and interspecific relationship of rodent in the west slope of Helan Mountain Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: National Natural Science Foundation of China [31870512, 32071649, 32070519],Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2572014CA03], 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:为明确对贺兰山西坡啮齿动物生境选择起关键作用的主要环境因子，探讨各鼠种之间的相互作用如何影响鼠种的生境选择，选取地理因子（海拔、坡度、坡向）、植被因子（植被盖度、植被高度、灌木/乔木高度）和其他因子（距水源距离、距道路距离、距灌木/乔木距离）等9种生境因子，利用资源选择函数模型和logistic回归模型对啮齿动物生境选择和种间关系进行分析。结果表明，在贺兰山西坡，捕获数量最多的6种啮齿动物对的生境选择存在差异，大林姬鼠（Apodemus peninsulae）偏好高海拔、多灌木（乔木）的生境；子午沙鼠（Meriones meridianus）偏好海拔较低的半荒漠稀疏生境，对道路和人为干扰不回避；灰仓鼠（Cricetulus migratorius）偏好距水源较远、多灌木（乔木）、距道路较近的生境；阿拉善黄鼠（Spermophilus alaschanicus）偏好低海拔、植被丰富的生境；短尾仓鼠（Cricetulus eversmanni）偏好高海拔、距道路较近的生境；社鼠（Niviventer niviventer）偏好海拔较高、坡度较大、距水源较远的生境。鼠种间的相互关系主要呈现回避或随机关系。研究结果有助于了解啮齿动物分布的变化及种群动态规律，可为贺兰山生物资源保护，区域性鼠害的预测、预报和综合治理提供基础资料和科学依据。 Abstract:To identify the main environmental factor that plays a key role in habitat selection of rodents in the western slope of Helan Mountains, and to explore how the interaction among rodent species affect habitat selection, we selected geographic factors (altitude, gradient, slope direction), vegetation factors (vegetation coverage, vegetation height, height of shrubs/arbors) and other factors (distance from the water, away from the road distance, distance from shrubs/arbors) to analyze the habitat selection and interspecific relationship of rodents by resource selection function model and logistic regression models. The results showed that there were significant differences in the habitat selection among six captured rodent species. Apodemus peninsulae preferred high-altitude habitats covered with dense shrubs/arbors. Meriones meridianus preferred sparsely vegetated semi-desert habitats at lower altitude, and did not avoid the road and human disturbance. Cricetulus migratorius preferred habitats which were far away from water, covered with dense shrubs/arbors and close to roads. Spermophilus alaschanicus preferred the low-altitude habitats where are rich in vegetation. Cricetulus eversmanni preferred the high altitude habitats close to roads. Niviventer niviventer preferred habitats with higher altitudes, higher slopes and far from water. The relationship between rodent species is mainly avoidance or random. Our study is contributing to understand the changes of rodent distribution and population dynamics. It can provide basic data and scientific basis for protecting biological resources, predicting and forecasting rodents damage, and comprehensive management of the regional damage that caused by rodent in Helan Mountains. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

A new species of Succinea (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) from the Puna highlands of Argentina

A new species of Succinea Draparnaud, 1801, S. punasp. nov., from the Puna highlands in Catamarca Province, Argentina, is described. Seventeen water bodies were surveyed in the Puna ecoregion of Catamarca, with gastropods being found only at two localities, El Peñón and Guanchín River. We explored the morphological features of shells, reproductive system, radulae, and mandibles of specimens from each site. Although we found slight differences in the shell and the terminal genitalia, with specimens exhibiting an epiphallus folding over itself with terminal globular appearance, whereas others with an epiphallus cylindrical, we conclude that these are intraspecific variabilities. We used DNA sequences of the 16S-rRNA gene to explore genetic distances and genealogical relationships among both populations and other species of Succinea. We found maximum genetic interpopulation distances of up to 2.38%. Mean interspecific divergences among S. punasp. nov. and other Succinea species ranged between 7.14% and 15.21%. A secondary structure model of domains IV and V of the 16S-rRNA gene was developed, with polymorphic sites being concentrated in loop regions. A GIS analysis was carried out using a selection of bioclimatic variables to characterize the environment of the new species in comparison to other close Succinea species from South America. The analysis showed that the particular environmental conditions of the Puna in Catamarca are hardly present in other zones of South America, supporting our hypothesis that S.puna is endemic to that area. The restricted distribution of S. punasp. nov. in a single ecoregion with extreme climatic and physiographic characteristics, high altitude habitat and its microhabitat specialization, makes this species potentially vulnerable to impacts of future anthropogenic changes.

Evidence for genetic isolation and local adaptation in the field cricket Gryllus campestris.

Understanding how species can thrive in a range of environments is a central challenge for evolutionary ecology. There is strong evidence for local adaptation along large-scale ecological clines in insects. However, potential adaptation among neighbouring populations differing in their environment has been studied much less. We used RAD sequencing to quantify genetic divergence and clustering of ten populations of the field cricket Gryllus campestris in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain, and an outgroup on the inland plain. Our populations were chosen to represent replicate high and low altitude habitats. We identified genetic clusters that include both high and low altitude populations indicating that the two habitat types do not hold ancestrally distinct lineages. Using common-garden rearing experiments to remove environmental effects, we found evidence for differences between high and low altitude populations in physiological and life-history traits. As predicted by the local adaptation hypothesis, crickets with parents from cooler (high altitude) populations recovered from periods of extreme cooling more rapidly than those with parents from warmer (low altitude) populations. Growth rates also differed between offspring from high and low altitude populations. However, contrary to our prediction that crickets from high altitudes would grow faster, the most striking difference was that at high temperatures, growth was fastest in individuals from low altitudes. Our findings reveal that populations a few tens of kilometres apart have independently evolved adaptations to their environment. This suggests that local adaptation in a range of traits may be commonplace even in mobile invertebrates at scales of a small fraction of species' distributions.