Altitudinal Range Research Articles

Quest for New Space for Restricted Range Mammals: The Case of the Endangered Walia Ibex

Populations of large mammals have declined at alarming rates, especially in areas with intensified land use where species can only persist in small habitat fragments. To support conservation planning, we developed habitat suitability models for the Walia ibex (Capra walie), an endangered wild goat endemic to the Simen Mountains, Ethiopia. We calibrated several models that differ in statistical properties to estimate the spatial extent of suitable habitats of the Walia ibex in the Simen Mountains, as well as in other parts of the Ethiopian highlands to assess potentially suitable areas outside the current distribution range of the species. We further addressed the potential consequences of future climate change using a climate model with four emission scenarios. Model projections estimated the potential suitable habitat under current climate to 501–672 km2 in Simen and 6,251–7,732 km2 in other Ethiopian mountains. Under projected climate change by 2,080, the suitable habitat became larger in Simen but smaller in other parts of Ethiopia. The projected expansion in Simen is contrary to the general expectation of shrinking suitable habitats for high-elevation species under climate warming and may partly be due to the ruggedness of these particular mountains. The Walia ibex has a wide altitudinal range and is able to exploit very steep slopes, allowing it to track the expected vegetation shift to higher altitudes. However, this potential positive impact may not last long under continued climate warming, as the species will not have much more new space left to colonize. Our study indicates that the current distribution range can be substantially increased by reintroducing and/or translocating the species to other areas with suitable habitat. Indeed, to increase the viability and prospects for survival of this flagship species, we strongly recommend human-assisted reintroduction to other Ethiopian mountains. Emulating the successful reintroduction of the Alpine ibex that has spread from a single mountain in Italy to its historical ranges of the Alps in Europe might contribute to saving the Walia ibex from extinction.

Climate change drives mountain butterflies towards the summits

Climate change impacts biodiversity and is driving range shifts of species and populations across the globe. To understand the effects of climate warming on biota, long-term observations of the occurrence of species and detailed knowledge on their ecology and life-history is crucial. Mountain species particularly suffer under climate warming and often respond to environmental changes by altitudinal range shifts. We assessed long-term distribution trends of mountain butterflies across the eastern Alps and calculated species’ specific annual range shifts based on field observations and species distribution models, counterbalancing the potential drawbacks of both approaches. We also compiled details on the ecology, behaviour and life-history, and the climate niche of each species assessed. We found that the highest altitudinal maxima were observed recently in the majority of cases, while the lowest altitudes of observations were recorded before 1980. Mobile and generalist species with a broad ecological amplitude tended to move uphill more than specialist and sedentary species. As main drivers we identified climatic conditions and topographic variables, such as insolation and solar irradiation. This study provides important evidence for responses of high mountain taxa to rapid climate change. Our study underlines the advantage of combining historical surveys and museum collection data with cutting-edge analyses.

The Status of Flora and Fauna in the Nzoia River Drainage Basin in Western Kenya

The species richness of flora and fauna in the Nzoia River drainage basin is documented through a study of museum specimens, catalogues and databases. The catchment area and basin covers 2.2% (12900/580367 km2) of Kenya's total land area with an altitudinal range of 1140 to 4300 m and varied ecosystem and land uses. We recorded approximately 9.3% (3239/34677) of Kenya's current known species of vascular plants, invertebrates (insects and spiders), fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Bird species made up the highest proportion 58.3% (650/1114) of the national total followed by amphibians 37.3% (41/110), reptiles 45.0% (86/191), mammals 31.3% (122/390), vascular plants 17.9% (1251/7000), fish 6.7% (58/872) (32.2% (58/180) for freshwater fish only) and invertebrates (insects and spiders) 4.1% (1031/25000). Ninety-five species recorded in this area are endemic to Kenya and 42 globally threatened. The species recorded contribute to several ecosystem services including pest control, pollination, bio-indicators, medicine and cosmetics, building materials, ecotourism, research and education. Data available differed substantially across counties and taxon groups with gaps apparent in five counties (Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Siaya and Usain Gishu) and four taxa plants, invertebrates, fungi and bacteria where a dearth of information exists. To fill these gaps we recommend prioritisng future survey effort on taxa and counties with fewer than 10% of the total numbers of records.

Diversity and spatial distribution of soil diatoms along a natural altitudinal gradient in the High Atlas (Morocco)

Microscopic algae especially diatoms (Class Bacillariophyceae) are an important component of biological soil crusts (or biocrust) communities in arid and semi-arid environments. In Morocco, a largely arid and semi-arid African Mediterranean country, the soil diatom diversity and ecology remain unexplored, unlike aquatic diatoms. This study aims to understand the spatial distribution of soil diatoms and to investigate the effects of soil properties and land use on their diversity and taxonomic composition in the region of Marrakesh (Morocco). Five sampling sites with different land use and vegetation cover were selected along a natural altitudinal gradient in the Ourika watershed (from the humid mountain highlands of Oukaimeden at 2634 m (High Atlas) to the arid Haouz plain at 765 m). Biological soil crusts were taken and soil physicochemical characteristics (soil moisture and texture, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, ammoniacal nitrogen, available phosphorus) were measured at five locations and two seasons (February and May). The spatial distribution of soil diatom communities and associated influencing factors were investigated via statistical analysis using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). A total of 27 diatom taxa belonging to 16 genera were recorded. The results showed that the distribution of soil diatoms was mainly influenced by altitude, bioclimate, substratum type, land use and vegetation cover. These environmental factors induce spatial variability in the soil physicochemical properties. Diatom composition and species richness were correlated with soil moisture, pH, texture, conductivity, nutrient and organic matter content. Diatoms showed higher species richness in siliceous soils of high altitudinal humid grassland dominated by acidophilous and neutral taxa with a preference for low conductivity. In contrast diatom communities of forests and sedimentary lowland arid steppe were relatively species poor, dominated by typically alkaliphilous and halophilous soil species. This exploratory survey provides a first account of the diatom assemblages of biological soil crusts over an altitudinal range in Morocco, necessary for understanding their structure and ecological function, including improving soil condition and sustainable fertility management.

Additional information on the Giant Himalayan Horned Frog, <i>Megophrys periosa</i> Mahony, Kamei, Teeling & Biju, 2018 (Anura: Megophryidae)

In the last decade, there has been a major revision in the cryptic species complexes of the genus Megophrys Kuhl & Van Hasselt (and earlier Xenophrys), resulting in reports of many new species and new records from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Here we report additional information on the morphological variations of the recently described species Megophrys periosa Mahony, Kamei, Teeling, and Biju, 2018 (Anura: Megophryidae) from the surroundings of the type locality. The species was confirmed by generating the 16S rRNA sequences and comparing them with that of M. robusta Boulenger, 1908, a sympatric species with similar morphological characters. A preliminary phylogenetic tree has been made and discussed. Besides updating the altitudinal range for the species, a remark on the type locality is also made.

Avifauna of the Aiope River basin, Kunua District, north-west Bougainville Island

We present the results of a bird survey undertaken in the Aiope (Sarime) River basin in the Kunua District of north-west Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, during October–November 2019. Birds were surveyed across an elevational gradient of nearly 1,800 m, from the coast at the mouth of the Aiope River to the catchment headwaters in the north-west Emperor Range. Seventy-nine bird species were recorded, including three-quarters of Bougainville's resident land and freshwater avifauna (76/102 species) and a high proportion of its island-endemic and Solomons-endemic taxa (genera, species and subspecies). Resident avifauna include three species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List—Sanford's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus sanfordi, Fearful Owl Nesasio solomonensis and (provisionally) Yellow-legged Pigeon Columba pallidiceps—nine Near Threatened species and two species that are protected under Papua New Guinean law. Forest supports 84% of the recorded resident bird species, most of which are forest-dependent, including all island-endemic taxa and all species of conservation concern apart from the Near Threatened Woodford's Rail Nesoclopeus woodfordi. Forest extent and condition improved with increasing elevation along the surveyed route; upper hill zone forest provides a narrow band of suitable habitat for a suite of lowland and hill forest species that were locally formerly more common across a broader altitudinal range. Elevational range extensions are reported for six species, and the vocalisations of Solomons Frogmouth Rigidipenna inexpectata are described from Bougainville for the first time.

Driving mechanisms of gross primary productivity geographical patterns for Qinghai–Tibet Plateau lake systems

Being a fundamental property of aquatic systems, gross primary productivity (GPP) is affected by complex environmental factors, such as salinity, nutrients, pH, and sunlight. Under conditions of intensified anthropogenic activity and climate change, it is critical to understand the driving mechanisms of GPP in alpine lakes. In this study, we investigated GPP and associated environmental factors of 23 lake systems in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) along an altitudinal range (from 2500 m to 4500 m). Results showed an increase in chlorophyll a (Chl a) content as altitude increased and a corresponding decrease as salinity increased. Furthermore, geographical patterns of GPP were higher at the mid-gradient and lower at the extreme gradient. Higher solar radiation and water temperatures, stronger evaporation and higher salinity levels, and lower pH and higher nutrient content were all driving mechanisms of GPP in low altitudinal lake systems within high latitudinal regions. Such conditions have collectively resulted in the current GPP pattern via the promotion or inhibition of phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis. Specifically, geographical features and climate change jointly drive algal growth and GPP of alpine lake systems via internal circulation processes; however, anthropogenic activities interfere with external circulation processes for most of lower-middle altitudinal lake systems, thus playing a certain role in regulating environmental factors and GPP alongside climate change.

Effect of altitude on the mechanical strength of Grewia optiva fiber in Garhwal Himalaya, India

ABSTRACT In recent decades, fiber yielding plants are getting more importance due to their eco-friendly nature of material they produce compared to other conventional materials. These plants fibers are major raw materials to the textiles and other fiber-related industries. But due to over exploitation, improper utilization, and lack of proper marketing channels, these fiber-yielding plants are not getting proper recognition in the local/regional/national and international markets. Among the fiber-yielding species in Garhwal Himalaya, Grewia optiva is an important tree that yields fiber and used by villagers for several traditional purposes. Grewia optiva is distributed in wide altitudinal range (500–2500 masl) of Garhwal Himalaya and, therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of altitude on the physical properties of Grewia optiva fiber. Three major ranges of altitudes (i.e., <1000, 1000–1500, and >1500 masl) were selected for this study and four major parameters (i.e., Fiber Denier, Breaking Strength, Tenacity and Elongation at Break) were taken to understand their properties in each altitude under study. The results show that the mechanical strength of Grewia fiber at higher altitude is maximum due to fiber denier value, breaking strength, elongation at break, and lower at lowest altitude except for tenacity value (highest in middle attitude).

Daily, seasonal, and annual variability of temperature in streams inhabited by the endemic San Pedro Martir trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss nelsoni), in Baja California, Mexico, and the predicted temperature for the years 2025 and 2050

The present study measured the daily, seasonal, and annual variability of the water temperature of streams in which the endemic rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss nelsoni, is distributed on the western slope of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California, Mexico, between 1996 and 2019. The seasonal thermal interval and daily duration of summer temperatures above the thermal threshold for this trout subspecies (≥ 28°C) were determined in streams at different elevations (553, 1,220, and 2,080 masl, or meters above sea level). Temperatures ≥ 28°C were recorded at the study site on the stream with the lowest elevation (San Antonio de Murillos Creek) over an accumulated 365 h between June and September 2014, with the maximum temperature recorded there, 30.66 °C, making it the site most vulnerable to climate change. At the San Antonio de Murillos Creek, the average water temperature predicted by three models (GFDL R30, HadCM3, and Mote) for the year 2025 would be a non-lethal temperature, &lt; 28 °C, for trout at a minimum elevation of 491-511 masl, while this was predicted to be 545-701 masl for the year 2050. Predicted hourly water temperatures of 28°C (non-lethal) may occur at minimum elevations of 868-898 masl in 2025 and at 908-1028 masl in 2050, reducing a 21-23% and 23-31% its current altitudinal distribution range, respectively, thus avoiding its presence at the type locality (San Antonio de Murillos).

An assessment of biological control of Rubus alceifolius invasion on Réunion Island (Mascarene archipelago)

Biological control can be an effective conservation strategy to manage invasive species when other conventional methods cannot be implemented. Estimating the benefits of biological control for the conservation of native biodiversity remains a challenging task. Following the introduction of a defoliating sawfly, Cibdela janthina, for biological control of invasive giant bramble, Rubus alceifolius, on Réunion Island (Mascarene Archipelago), we monitored the consequent change in R. alceifolius cover as well as species richness and cover of non-native species and native species within a set of patches along an altitudinal gradient in the National Park of Réunion Island. There was an increase in native species richness and cover together with a decrease in R. alceifolius cover, showing that biological control positively impacted the native plant communities. The effectiveness of C. janthina was influenced by the altitudinal range, the surface area of the patches and the location of each patch, i.e forest edge or forest matrix. We discuss the extent to which the use of biological control within an integrated approach can optimize benefits for biodiversity conservation in the short to medium term by selecting complementary and standardised protocols.

A new occurrence record for the Vulnerable Rhinella rumbolli&amp;nbsp;(Carrizo, 1992) (Anura, Bufonidae) in Tarija, Bolivia

We present a new altitudinal record for Salta Toad, Rhinella rumbolli (Carrizo, 1992). This species is recorded in northern Argentina and southern Bolivia from 700 to 1800 m a.s.l. Our new record comes from San Lorencito, M&amp;eacute;ndez Province, Tarija Department, Bolivia, and extends the altitudinal range by 569 m a.s.l.

Potential geographic distribution of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae) in current and future conditions for Colombia.

In Colombia, little is known on the distribution of the Asian mosquito Aedes albopictus, main vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Asia and Oceania. Therefore, this work sought to estimate its current and future potential geographic distribution under the Representative Concentration Paths (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5 emission scenarios by 2050 and 2070, using ecological niche models. For this, predictions were made in MaxEnt, employing occurrences of A. albopictus from their native area and South America and bioclimatic variables of these places. We found that, from their invasion of Colombia to the most recent years, A. albopictus is present in 47% of the country, in peri-urban (20%), rural (23%), and urban (57%) areas between 0 and 1800 m, with Antioquia and Valle del Cauca being the departments with most of the records. Our ecological niche modelling for the currently suggests that A. albopictus is distributed in 96% of the Colombian continental surface up to 3000 m (p < 0.001) putting at risk at least 48 million of people that could be infected by the arboviruses that this species transmits. Additionally, by 2050 and 2070, under RCP 2.6 scenario, its distribution could cover to nearly 90% of continental extension up to 3100 m (≈55 million of people at risk), while under RCP 8.5 scenario, it could decrease below 60% of continental extension, but expand upward to 3200 m (< 38 million of people at risk). These results suggest that, currently in Colombia, A. albopictus is found throughout the country and climate change could diminish eventually its area of distribution, but increase its altitudinal range. In Colombia, surveillance and vector control programs must focus their attention on this vector to avoid complications in the national public health setting.

Elevational boundaries influence richness patterns at large spatial scales evinced by madicolous insects of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

1. ‘Biologists have long recognized that elevational and latitudinal species‐richness gradients mirror each other’. With this statement, Stevens (Stevens, The American Naturalist, 140, 893–911, 1992) and other ecologists assumed the same hypotheses to explain richness patterns in latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. However, the monotonic decrease of species toward high altitudes is far from a rule in elevational gradients studies.2. We analysed the richness pattern of the madicolous insect community along three elevational gradients of the Atlantic Forest, each representing a different altitudinal stratum in the domain (0–1100; 1200–2100; 1600–2800 m a.s.l). This way, we ensured that the complete altitudinal range extant in the Atlantic Forest (0–2800 m a.s.l.) was contemplated. We expected to find repeated patterns of richness variation in the elevational gradients where the elevational boundaries of each mountain constrained species' distribution, causing a mid‐elevation peak of richness in each gradient.3. Madicolous insects' communities from 70 sampling sites were analysed. Simple and multiple regressions were used to identify significant relations and comparisons between empirical richness data and null models for MDE were made.4. Each elevational gradient showed a different pattern of richness variation. However, a clear continuity in the richness‐altitude relation was observed in the complete elevational gradient where an intermediate peak was detected. The Rapoport effect was not observed. A significant effect of environmental variables was detected at local scale, while the hard‐elevational boundaries of the Atlantic Forest – sea level and the top of the highest mountaintop – constrained species distribution and contributed to the observed richness pattern.

Anthropocene climate warming enhances autochthonous carbon cycling in an upland Arctic lake, Disko Island, West Greenland

Abstract. The Arctic is rapidly changing, disrupting biogeochemical cycles and the processing, delivery and sedimentation of carbon (C), in linked terrestrial–aquatic systems. In this investigation, we coupled a hydrogeomorphic assessment of catchment soils, sediments and plants with a recent lake sediment sequence to understand the source and quality of organic carbon present in three Arctic upland lake catchments on Disko Island, located just south of the low–high Arctic transition zone. This varied permafrost landscape has exposed soils with less vegetation cover at higher altitudes, and lakes received varying amounts of glacial meltwater inputs. We provide improved isotope and biomarker source identifications for palaeolimnological studies in high-latitude regions, where terrestrial vegetation is at or close to its northerly and altitudinal range limit. The poorly developed catchment soils lead to lake waters with low dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (≤1.5 mg L−1). Sedimentary carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios, the C isotope composition of organic matter (δ13Corg) and biomarker ratios (n-alkanes, n-alkanols, n-alkanoic acids and sterols) showed that sedimentary organic matter (OM) in these lakes is mostly derived from aquatic sources (algae and macrophytes). We used a 210Pb-dated sediment core to determine how carbon cycling in a lake–catchment system (Disko 2) had changed over recent centuries. Recent warming since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA∼1860 CE), which accelerated after ca. 1950, led to melt of glacier ice and permafrost, releasing nutrients and DOC to the lake and stimulating pronounced aquatic algal production, as shown by a &gt;10-fold increase in β-carotene, indicative of a major regime shift. We also demonstrate that recent increases in catchment terrestrial vegetation cover contributed to the autochthonous response. Our findings highlight that in Arctic lakes with sparsely developed catchment vegetation and soils, recent Anthropocene warming results in pronounced changes to in-lake C processing and the deposition of more reactive, predominately autochthonous C, when compared with extensively vegetated low-Arctic systems.

The role of Indigenous and Community Conservation Areas in herpetofauna conservation: a preliminary list for Santa Cruz Tepetotutla, Oaxaca Mexico.

The montane cloud forests of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca (SMO) host a remarkable herpetofauna diversity and represent one of the most important areas of endemism for Mexico and Mesoamerica. Although the area has been previously studied, most of the extant records for this group are biased to locations accessed by paved roads. In addition, an important proportion of this territory is conserved by Indigenous and Community Conservation Areas (ICCA), but little information of the species occurring within these areas exists. Therefore, information on the distribution of many endemic taxa in this region to date is either underestimated or incomplete. With the aim of increasing the ecological and distributional knowledge of this group in remote areas, we carried out field surveys in Santa Cruz Tepetotutla Oaxaca, a locality 25 km in a straight line to the closest paved road that conserves 9,670 ha of land through the ICCAs modality. Surveys were made during 2018 and 2019, including both dry and wet seasons. A total of 40 species of amphibians and reptiles were recorded: 32.5% of these records represent distributional range extensions, while 20% represent altitudinal range extensions. A total of 17.5% are records of species under a high risk category, highlighting both the relevance of studying remote areas to increase species population knowledge and the role of community conservation actions for species persistence. Finally, our records include the rediscovery of Rhadinella schistosa, a species undetected for more than 50 years.

Climate change and anthropogenic food manipulation interact in shifting the distribution of a large herbivore at its altitudinal range limit

Ungulates in alpine ecosystems are constrained by winter harshness through resource limitation and direct mortality from weather extremes. However, little empirical evidence has definitively established how current climate change and other anthropogenic modifications of resource availability affect ungulate winter distribution, especially at their range limits. Here, we used a combination of historical (1997–2002) and contemporary (2012–2015) Eurasian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) relocation datasets that span changes in snowpack characteristics and two levels of supplemental feeding to compare and forecast probability of space use at the species’ altitudinal range limit. Scarcer snow cover in the contemporary period interacted with the augmented feeding site distribution to increase the elevation of winter range limits, and we predict this trend will continue under climate change. Moreover, roe deer have shifted from historically using feeding sites primarily under deep snow conditions to contemporarily using them under a wider range of snow conditions as their availability has increased. Combined with scarcer snow cover during December, January, and April, this trend has reduced inter-annual variability in space use patterns in these months. These spatial responses to climate- and artificial resource-provisioning shifts evidence the importance of these changing factors in shaping large herbivore spatial distribution and, consequently, ecosystem dynamics.

New Guinean orogenic dynamics and biota evolution revealed using a custom geospatial analysis pipeline

BackgroundThe New Guinean archipelago has been shaped by millions of years of plate tectonic activity combined with long-term fluctuations in climate and sea level. These processes combined with New Guinea’s location at the tectonic junction between the Australian and Pacific plates are inherently linked to the evolution of its rich endemic biota. With the advent of molecular phylogenetics and an increasing amount of geological data, the field of New Guinean biogeography begins to be reinvigorated.ResultsWe inferred a comprehensive dated molecular phylogeny of endemic diving beetles to test historical hypotheses pertaining to the evolution of the New Guinean biota. We used geospatial analysis techniques to compare our phylogenetic results with a newly developed geological terrane map of New Guinea as well as the altitudinal and geographic range of species (https://arcg.is/189zmz). Our divergence time estimations indicate a crown age (early diversification) for New Guinea Exocelina beetles in the mid-Miocene ca. 17 Ma, when the New Guinean orogeny was at an early stage. Geographic and geological ancestral state reconstructions suggest an origin of Exocelina ancestors on the eastern part of the New Guinean central range on basement rocks (with a shared affinity with the Australian Plate). Our results do not support the hypothesis of ancestors migrating to the northern margin of the Australian Plate from Pacific terranes that incrementally accreted to New Guinea over time. However, our analyses support to some extent a scenario in which Exocelina ancestors would have been able to colonize back and forth between the amalgamated Australian and Pacific terranes from the Miocene onwards. Our reconstructions also do not support an origin on ultramafic or ophiolite rocks that have been colonized much later in the evolution of the radiation. Macroevolutionary analyses do not support the hypothesis of heterogeneous diversification rates throughout the evolution of this radiation, suggesting instead a continuous slowdown in speciation.ConclusionsOverall, our geospatial analysis approach to investigate the links between the location and evolution of New Guinea’s biota with the underlying geology sheds a new light on the patterns and processes of lineage diversification in this exceedingly diverse region of the planet.

Applicability of Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers in assessing genetic diversity in Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlach.

Crepedium acuminatum is extensively used in the Indian traditional system of medicine and being over-harvested from natural habitats which have caused great damage to its population and species diversity. Despite its high medicinal importance, not much information is available on its genetic and conservation studies. The present study focuses on assessing the genetic diversity and population structure of C. acuminatum from the Middle and Lower Himalayas. Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers were used to assess the diversity within- and among all the populations. Thirteen SCoT primers amplified 73 fragments with 97.26 % polymorphism, whereas, 10 ISSR primers amplified 45 fragments with 91.83 % polymorphism. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) revealed higher intra-population (SCoT + ISSR = 61 %) than inter-population diversity (SCoT + ISSR = 39 %). Maximum diversity was observed using SCoT and ISSR markers in the populations from Uttarakhand (Tehri and Gothura respectively) and the least diversity was recorded in populations from Himachal Pradesh (Solan and Kasauli respectively). Grouping patterns obtained by STRUCTURE analysis separated populations collected from North and Northeast India into different groups. Genetic diversity and population structure were found to be directly correlated to the altitudinal range and anthropogenic activities. The results showed usefulness of dominant markers in genetic diversity assessment and conservation of C. acuminatum.

Population genetics under the Massenerhebung effect: The influence of topography on the demography of Acer morrisonense

AbstractAimThe Massenerhebung effect (Mass elevation effect) refers to heat‐ or wind‐driven altitudinal distribution patterns of temperature‐dependent parameters among massifs with narrower range and lower elevation around peripheral and isolated mountains compared to core and continuous ones. Although common in ecology, this effect is rarely discussed in population genetics. Here, we use genetic markers to reveal population genetic patterns and also test the mountain‐ and sky‐barrier hypotheses relevant to the Massenerhebung distribution pattern of Acer morrisonense in Taiwan's rugged topography and varied local climates.LocationThe alpine and cloud forest of Taiwan.TaxonAcer morrisonense Hayata.MethodsTwo chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments and 17 expressed sequence tag‐simple sequence repeat (EST‐SSR) loci, respectively, from 200 to 286 individuals were used to elucidate the phylogeographic pattern of pollen and seed dispersal of A. morrisonense. These data were combined with ecological niche modeling (ENM) to infer distribution range shifts and refugia. We also correlated the genetic‐divergence indices with spatial factors to clarify latitudinal and altitudinal effects on genetic diversity.ResultsThe incongruent phylogeographic patterns of genetic distributions between nuclear and cpDNA markers indicate unhindered pollen flow but spatially constrained seed dispersal. Taken together with ENM, the genetic pattern further reflects historical colonization from central‐mountain refugia to edges since the Holocene. The Massenerhebung reduces the gene flow by the surrounding mountains and also causes lower genetic diversity compared to central alpine populations.Main conclusionsThis study is the first to reveal the influence of Massenerhebung effect on cpDNA genetic structure of montane trees and reflect the spatial trends of seed dispersal. This population genetic pattern can also be attributed to the demography‐related range shifts with paleoclimate fluctuations under complex mountain topography, supporting the mountain‐barrier hypothesis. The results have important implications for conserving the genetic diversity of species with a wide altitudinal distribution range.

Climate Change Observations of Indigenous Communities in the Indian Himalaya

AbstractMountains are important global sites for monitoring biological and socioecological responses to climate change, and the Himalaya has some of the world’s most rapid and visible signs of climate change. The increased frequency and severity of climate anomalies in the region are expected to significantly affect livelihoods of indigenous communities in the region. This study documents the perceptions of indigenous communities of climate change in the western Himalaya of India. The study highlights the power of knowledge and understanding available to indigenous people as they observe and respond to climate change impacts. We conducted a field-based study in 14 villages that represent diverse socioecological features along an altitudinal range of 1000–3800 m MSL in the western Himalaya. Among the sampled population, most of the respondents (&gt;95%) agreed that climate is changing. However, people residing at low- and high-altitude villages differ significantly in their perception, with more people at high altitudes believing in an overall warming trend. Instrumental temperature and rainfall from nearby meteorological stations also supported the perception of local inhabitants. The climate change perceptions in the region were largely determined by sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, and income as well as altitude. A logistic regression, which exhibited significant association of sociodemographic characteristics with climate change perceptions, further supported these findings. The study concluded that the climate change observations of local communities can be usefully utilized to develop adaptation strategies and mitigation planning in the Himalayan region.