Habitat Zones Research Articles

Spring distribution of beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in abandoned agroecosystems and surrounding forests

In most habitats in temperate zones, Carabidae show clear intra-annual changes in abundance and species composition. In the spring, we studied the beetle fauna in 5 different biotopes differing in the degree of overgrowth of the birch forest over a period of three years. According to three years of research, 10,528 specimens (64 species from 6 subfamilies) were collected. Twelve species of beetles were found in all biotopes. The highest numbers were obtained in the 12-15-year birch forest; the lowest numbers were obtained in abandoned lands. The highest biodiversity was obtained in the ecotone at the border of young birch forest and fallow lands. A high Shannon Biodiversity Index and a low Simpson Index indicate that the communities of beetles in the abandoned lands are equalized. There is a significant dominance of 1–3 species in fallow lands overgrown with birch forests.

When is Aquatic Resource Type Conversion Appropriate: A Framework for Cleaning Sand out of the Gears and a Case Study for McInnis Marsh

Wetland and stream restoration projects may sometimes involve converting one “type” of aquatic habitat to another “type” (e.g., managed salt ponds into tidal marshes, depressional wetlands into streams, marsh into transition zone habitat). This “type conversion” may be necessary and beneficial in the context of addressing watershed plans or regional restoration goals, or in achieving resiliency to climatic changes (Goals Project 2015). Conversion can also occur through other large-scale, complex actions (e.g., mitigation banking initiatives). Whether driven by habitat restoration goals or compensatory mitigation needs or both, regulatory oversight typically governs the process. Holistically assessing such conversion through the regulatory lens is challenging for permitting programs. To address this challenge, an interagency team of federal and state regulators and resource managers in California developed a structured and transparent approach for evaluating the appropriateness of aquatic resource type conversion. The resulting framework can support project planning and inform regulatory evaluation by helping to answer: 1) what loss or gain of function is expected from various aquatic resource type conversions, and 2) whether conversion might be ecologically (or functionally) appropriate. The intent is to support agencies’ technical and regulatory decisions by providing a standardized, transparent set of tools and approaches that can inform discussions between agencies and with project proponents during the project evaluation phase, with a goal of ensuring that projects are not only permittable, but environmentally beneficial.

Co-occurrence of seagrass vegetation and coral colonies supports unique fish assemblages: a microhabitat-scale perspective.

Numerous studies have suggested that seagrass beds provide nursery habitats for juvenile fish in both tropical and subtropical regions. Most of these previous studies applied a landscape-scale perspective, in which seagrass beds and coral reefs are treated as independent, homogenous habitats. However, this perspective might overlook the microhabitat-scale perspective within the habitats, for example, the possibility that small-sized hard substrates (e.g., coral colonies) within seagrass beds might serve as fish nurseries. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the presence of microhabitats (small-sized coral colonies) within seagrass beds on the structure of fish assemblages. Fieldwork was conducted at Urasoko Bay, Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan. Four habitat zones were selected: (1) seagrass bed with presence of massive coral colonies (SGCO), (2) seagrass bed without coral colonies (SG), (3) sandy bottom (without seagrass vegetation) with massive coral colonies (CO), and (4) sandy bottom without seagrass vegetation or coral colonies (SA). Six 20 m × 2 m line transects were established and monthly underwater observations were conducted between June and October in 2018 and 2019. A cluster analysis, analysis of similarity, and principal component analysis revealed that the fish assemblage at SGCO was significantly different from the other three habitat zones. This was because some fish species (e.g., Ostorhinchusishigakiensis and Lutjanus gibbus) were almost exclusively present at SGCO and rarely seen at CO, SG, and SA. Most individual fish belonging to these species were found on coral colonies at SGCO, suggesting that the co-occurrence of seagrass vegetation and coral colonies is essential for the habitats of these fish species. Although other fish species present at SGCO were also found at SG, three species, Parupeneus barberinus, Stethojulis strigiventer, and Lethrinus atkinsoni, were more abundant at SGCO with some found on coral colonies in this habitat zone. Several fish species that occurred at both SGCO and CO (e.g., Ostorhinchus properuptus, Cheilodispterus quinquelineatus, Chrysiptera cyanea, and Pomacentrus chrysurus) were more abundant or showed a greater size range at SGCO, suggesting greater survival rates in this habitat zone because of the co-occurrence of seagrass vegetation and coral colonies. This study demonstrated the existence of a unique fish assemblage structure at SGCO. Although the adoption of a landscape-scale perspective (three-dimensional structure of the vegetation) is necessary, a microhabitat-scale perspective that includes the presence of small hard substrates should also be considered to accurately evaluate the nursery function of seagrass beds.

Estimation of the Benthic Habitat Zonation by Photo-Quadrat Image Analysis along the Fringing Reef of Weno Island, Chuuk, Micronesia

Benthic habitat zonation is described from in situ observations and seabed photographs taken from the coastal area of Weno Island, Chuuk, Micronesia. Habitat groups, types, and boundaries are defined by visible substratum characteristics (i.e., in situ and by digital imaging of photo-quadrats along transect lines), and by cluster and ordination analyses using relative coverage percentage of identified classification categories. The statistical similarity between habitat groups is determined by Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM). Benthic habitat groups with significant influence on the determination of habitat type are isolated by the similarity percentage (SIMPER) test. In addition to the standard practices of using transect lines and collecting data in accordance with the already well-implemented and thoroughly-tested benthic habitat classification scheme for tropical reef monitoring, we applied simple statistics that enable comparative data interpretation. Our simple, repeatable methods provide a framework for benthic habitat-related monitoring research that allows the comparison of results across regions.

High species richness and turnover of vascular epiphytes is associated with water availability along the elevation gradient of Volcán Maderas, Nicaragua.

Research that has been conducted documenting species richness patterns on tropical mountains has resulted in conflicting observations: monotonic declines with increasing elevation, monotonic increases with increasing elevation, and a mid-elevation "bulge." Currently, it is unclear if these differences are due to environmental differences among study areas, the taxonomic groups or ecological groups (e.g., growth form) sampled, or the scale of study along elevation gradients. Because of the difficulty in sampling and identifying canopy-dwelling plants, the number of inventories quantifying tropical epiphytes is relatively limited and recent. In this study, we provide a detailed qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vascular epiphyte flora and its spatial distribution on Volcán Maderas, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, including weather and environmental measurements along the entire elevation gradient of the volcano. We sampled epiphytes in five distinct forest types associated with increasing elevation as follows: dry forest, humid forest, wet forest, cloud forest, and elfin forest. Five weather stations were placed along the elevation gradient for us to relate observed patterns to environmental conditions. A mid-elevation peak in species richness was detected for all vascular epiphytes at approximately 1000 m in elevation (cloud forest), yet epiphyte abundance increased with increasing elevation. In total we identified 206 taxa of vascular epiphytes belonging to 26 families and 73 genera. The most species-rich family was the Orchidaceae with 55 species for the entire elevation gradient, followed by Bromeliaceae (29 species), Araceae (23), Polypodiaceae (25), Dryopteridaceae (16), and Piperaceae (11), with all other families represented by fewer than 10 species each. We found that richness patterns differ phylogenetically across epiphyte groups, possibly due to different adaptive strategies, and species for the most part appear to be narrowly distributed within specific habitat zones along the elevation gradient. Variables associated with moisture, precipitation, humidity, mist, or cloud cover are key to understanding the observed patterns.

Seafloor habitats across geological boundaries in Disko Bay, central West Greenland

In this paper we describe seafloor terrain of nearly the entire Disko Bay region and provide scientific baseline information about surface geology and sedimentary environments that can support the seafloor management plan in Greenland. Our study utilized multiple datasets of multibeam bathymetry and backscatter, seismic profiles and ground-truthing consisting of video footage from drop camera and benthic video sled, as well as sediment samples from grab and corers. Our results revealed that the key geological units in Disko Bay characterize the scale of geomorphic features, which in turn affects the distribution and complexity of habitat zones. The NE sub-region is underlain by Cretaceous sandstone and characterized by large-scale landforms, mainly vast flat areas draped by glacial lineations, bedrock ridges and pockmark fields. This setting promotes less topographically complex habitats, i.e. coarse plain, muddy/sandy plain with dropstones, and muddy plain. The SW sub-region is characterized by Precambrian Gneiss and Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks with complex system of small-scale geomorphic features, such as cross-cutting channels. This results in topographically complex habitats in the area, such as rocky bank, coarse rugged terrain, and rocky slopes. Two distinctive habitat areas, associated with potential gas seeps, i) southern pockmark field and ii) western zoanthid-sponge wall, were discovered at the geological boundary separating the two sub-regions. Our study highlights the importance of seafloor habitat mapping and analyses by providing fundamental geophysical knowledge necessary to comply with long-term sustainable use of marine resources in Greenland.

Exploring the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of landscape patterns on habitat quality in a city undergoing rapid urbanization based on GTWR and MGWR: The case of Nanjing, China

Landscape pattern significantly impacts habitat quality, especially in cities undergoing rapid urbanization, where landscape patterns are changing dramatically. However, the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of landscape pattern on habitat quality are still unclear, and the proposed methods of Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) and Multiscale Geographic Weighted Regression (MGWR) provide possibilities for the exploration of these mechanisms. This study was conducted in Nanjing from 2001 to 2020. Landscape pattern indices indicating aggregation, connectivity, diversity and compactness were calculated using Fragstats from 2001 to 2020. The habitat quality was computed using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. By combining two new spatial measurement models, GTWR and MGWR, the spatial and temporal driving mechanisms of landscape patterns on habitat quality were explored. The results show that (1) as Nanjing’s land under construction has expanded, habitat quality has decreased significantly, and the overall landscape pattern has fluctuated drastically. (2) GTWR and MGWR are well-suited to such analysis and provide important insights. (3) Overall, aggregation and compactness were negatively associated with habitat quality in areas of low-quality habitat. Increased connectivity on low habitat substrates had a positive effect on habitat. The increase of diversity in proximity had a positive effect on habitat, while the opposite was true in high habitat zones. (4) As the urbanization level increases, the negative effects of aggregation expand, as do the positive effects of connectivity and diversity. (5) The extent of influence of landscape pattern effects are ranked from largest to smallest: compactness, diversity, connectivity, and aggregation, while the intensity of effects is reversed. Based on these findings, a reference point for urban planners is provided to plan urban landscape patterns in a sustainable and rational manner. It also provides a new means of integrating GTWR and MGWR into the study of landscape ecology.

Linking river flow modification with wetland hydrological instability, habitat condition, and ecological responses.

Flow modification pursuing dams is widely found. Some works also focused on its impact on floodplain wetland hydrology. However, how this change can pose an impact on habitat conditions, ecological conditions, and trophic state is also a matter of investigation. The very least attention has been paid to this so far. Therefore, the present study focused on these, taking the dam-induced Lower Tangon river basin of India and Bangladesh as a case. The degree of flow alteration in the river was presented in a heat map. Multi-parametric machine learning (ML) approaches were applied to model hydrological instability and habitat condition. The ecological consequences like evaluating eco-deficit using flow duration curve (FDC) approach, trophic state using trophic state index (TSI), fish habitat zone using image-based hydrological parameters, etc. were measured. The study exhibited that after damming, the degree of river flow modification was about 41%. Consequently, the wetland hydrological instability and habitat conditions were degraded. In the post-dam period, > 50% of wetland area was lost, and hydrological instability was enhanced considerably over wider parts of the wetland. Habitat conditions of the existing wetland also witnessed fragility (poor and very poor areas increased by about 22.23 and 9.34%). As a result of this, adverse ecological responses were found. For instance, the eco-deficit area was increased by 36.19%, a good proportion (100%) of wetlands was witnessed the transformation of TSI from oligotrophic to mesotrophic state, and optimum fish habitat area was declined. The ecological strength map integrating all the cause-effect model parameters showed that good ecological strength was reduced from 49 to 2% in the post-dam. The result of the study would be very useful for wetland restoration for ecological and human well-being.

Evolution of Ramasetu region as a link between India and Sri Lanka during the late Pleistocene and Holocene

AbstractHigh-resolution seismic data of the Ramasetu region revealed three subaerial unconformities S1, S2, and S3. S1 is the youngest subaerial unconformity, whereas S3 is the oldest. These subaerial unconformities have been determined based on the presence of channel-incision signatures. Identified buried channels originated in the Palk Strait and debouched in the Gulf of Mannar. Youngest buried channels became most active during MIS 3 (~60–29 ka) and were buried entirely at ~7.0 ka. The study suggests that the Palk Strait evolved as a large multi-centered freshwater reservoir during the last glacial period and remained a freshwater reservoir until seawater started encroaching the region at ~8.5 ka. The Ramasetu region was a potential habitat zone for foragers, with fresh and saline water ecosystems available at opposite banks. During the Microlithic and terminal Pleistocene, Homo sapiens needed to cross high-energy rivers using floaters/rafts in wet seasons of MIS 2 and 3. At the same time, they used a direct walkable land link in the extreme dry season of MIS 2. During the early to mid-Holocene, foragers required floaters/rafts or artificial structures (such as bandh/bridge) to cross shallow, low-energy estuarine patches of the Ramasetu. The Palk Strait region was not crossable without using boats/ships in the last ~7 ka except during minor sea-level falls.

Functional Connectivity of Naturally Valuable Habitats in the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area

Abstract This paper focuses on evaluating the functional connectivity of naturally valuable habitats within the territory of the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area (PLA). Analysis of functional connectivity was carried out for individual zones of classified nature preservation. The methodological approach that is applied is based on determining indicators for expressing the degree of the natural character of individual landscape segments (Nd), the distance to naturally valuable habitats (Dn), and a composite index Distance to Nature (D2N). The results for the individual zones and the PLA as a whole are mutually compared and consequently confronted with values for the territory of the entire Czech Republic. All three research questions, i.e. whether naturally valuable habitats prevail in the most valuable area in the first protected zone of the Jeseníky PLA, whether the distance to naturally valuable habitats in the first zone of the Jeseníky PLA is the shortest, and whether the territory of the Jeseníky PLA is better functionally interlinked when compared with the remaining territory of the Czech Republic (CR), were answered positively. The results highlight the need to assess the connectivity of natural habitats in the least protected zones of other PLAs in the Czech Republic and EU, to decide whether planning measures to support the ecological network are necessary.

Whole genome assembly of the armored loricariid catfish Ancistrus triradiatus highlights herbivory signatures

The catfish Ancistrus triradiatus belongs to the species-rich family Loricariidae. Loricariids display remarkable traits such as herbivory, a benthic lifestyle, the absence of scales but the presence of dermal bony plates. They are exported as ornamental fish worldwide, with escaped fishes becoming a threat locally. Although genetic and phylogenetic studies are continuously increasing and developmental genetic investigations are underway, no genome assembly has been formally proposed for Loricariidae yet. We report a high-quality genome assembly of Ancistrus triradiatus using long and short reads, and a newly assembled transcriptome. The genome assembly is composed of 9530 scaffolds, including 85.6% of ray-finned fish BUSCOs, and 26,885 predicted protein-coding genes. The genomic GC content is higher than in other catfishes, reflecting the higher metabolism associated with herbivory. The examination of the SCPP gene family indicates that the genes presumably triggering scale loss when absent, are present in the scaleless A. triradiatus, questioning their explanatory role. The analysis of the opsin gene repertoire revealed that gene losses associated to the nocturnal lifestyle of catfishes were not entirely found in A. triradiatus, as the UV-sensitive opsin 5 is present. Finally, most gene family expansions were related to immunity except the gamma crystallin gene family which controls pupil shape and sub-aquatic vision. Thus, the genome of A. triradiatus reveals that fish herbivory may be related to the photic zone habitat, conditions metabolism, photoreception and visual functions. This genome is the first for the catfish suborder Loricarioidei and will serve as backbone for future genetic, developmental and conservation studies.

Invasive peacock basses (Cichla spp.) and decreased abundance of small native fish in Brazilian reservoirs

Abstract Peacock basses (Cichla spp.) have been introduced in impoundments for decades, and their negative impacts on the native fish fauna have been documented. However, previous studies largely focused on the overall responses of fish assemblages, often neglecting specific predator–prey interactions and the underlying effects of environmental characteristics. Here, the effects of peacock bass introduction on the size structure (<120, 120–180 and >180 mm in total length) of fish assemblages in reservoirs of the Paraíba do Sul river basin were assessed. The abundance and time since the introduction of peacock basses were used as predictors, together with reservoir features, limnological variables and habitat composition as potential influencing factors. Descriptors of the overall community (richness, abundance and species composition) were only marginally associated with the occurrence of peacock basses. However, small and (to a lesser extent) medium‐sized fish were adversely affected by the abundance and introduction time of peacock basses. Two pelagic native characids – namely Astyanax cf. bimaculatus and Oligosarcus hepsetus – were the most affected. Redundancy analysis showed that reservoir age and macrophyte cover were the best predictors of fish assemblage composition. Older reservoirs and reservoirs with a higher cover of macrophytes showed a greater abundance of catfish and characids, respectively. Peacock basses appear to affect fish assemblages through predation on small fish. Therefore, analyses of assemblages by size are recommended, as the use of overall assemblage descriptors may not be sufficient to capture the adverse effects of peacock basses. Moreover, these findings underscore the importance of conserving and restoring habitats in littoral zones, which function as refuges for native fish species in reservoirs. Further educational and management measures are warranted to prevent the spread of peacock basses to other reservoirs in Brazil.

Medaka as a model for seasonal plasticity: Photoperiod-mediated changes in behaviour, cognition, and hormones

Teleosts display the highest level of brain plasticity of all vertebrates. Yet we still know little about how seasonality affects fish behaviour and the underlying cognitive mechanisms since the common neurobehavioral fish models are native to tropical environments where seasonal variation is absent or reduced. The medaka, Oryzias latipes, which inhabits temperate zone habitats, represents a promising model in this context given its large phenotypic changes associated with seasonality and the possibility to induce seasonal plasticity by only manipulating photoperiod. Here, we report the first extended investigation of seasonal plasticity in medaka behaviour and cognition, as well as the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. We compared medaka exposed to summer photoperiod (16 h light:8 h dark) with medaka exposed to winter photoperiod (8 h light:16 h dark), and detected substantial differences. Medaka were more active and less social in summer photoperiod conditions, two effects that emerged in the second half of an open-field and a sociability test, respectively, and might be at least in part related to habituation to the testing apparatus. Moreover, the cognitive phenotype was significantly affected: in the early response to a social stimulus, brain functional lateralisation shifted between the two hemispheres under the two photoperiod conditions, and inhibitory and discrimination learning performance were reduced in summer conditions. Finally, the expression of genes encoding key pituitary hormones, tshß and gh, and of the tshß regulatory transcription factor tef in the brain was increased in summer photoperiod conditions. This work reveals remarkable behavioural and cognitive phenotypic plasticity in response to photoperiod in medaka, and suggests a potential regulatory role for the same hormones involved in seasonal plasticity of other vertebrates.

Assessing the Impact of a Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Facility on a Down Gradient Mojave Desert Ecosystem

A field study was conducted in the Mojave Desert (USA) to assess the influence of a large photo voltaic facility on heat and water transport into an adjacent creosote (Larrea tridentata) bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) plant community. Air temperature, plant physiological status, soil water in storage and precipitation were monitored over a two to four year period. A service road built 27 years before the construction of the PV facility decoupled the wash system at the site leading to a significant decline in soil moisture, canopy level NDVI values and mid-day leaf xylem water potentials (p < 0.001) down gradient from the PV facility. Measurements along a 900 m gradient suggested that plants closer to where the wash was decoupled were placed under significantly greater stress during the higher environmental demand summer months. Air temperatures measured at three 10 m meteorological towers revealed warmer night time temperatures at the two towers located in close association with the solar facility (Inside Facility—IF and Adjacent to facility—AF), compared to the Down Gradient Control tower (DGC). As the warmer air was displaced down gradient, the temperature front advanced into the creosote—bursage plant community with values 5 to 8 °C warmer along an east west front just north of tower AF. Based on our research in Eldorado Valley, NV, USA, a down gradient zone of about 300 m was impacted to the greatest extent (water and heat), suggesting that the spacing between solar facilities will be a critical factor in terms of preserving high quality habitat for the desert tortoise and other species of concern. Greater research is needed to identify habitat zones acceptable for animal populations (especially the desert tortoise) within areas of high solar energy development and this should be done prior to any fragmentation of the ecosystem.

Climate Change Impact on the Habitat Suitability of Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco in Mexico: An Approach for Its Conservation

One of the conifers that survived after the last glaciation is the Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Due to the gradual increase in temperature, this species was forced to move from the south to the north and to higher elevation, causing a fragmented and intermittent distribution in Mexico. The main objective of this study was to model and identify suitable areas for the future conservation of the P. menziesii in Mexico. The specific objectives of this research were: (i) to model the habitat suitability of P. menziesii in Mexico, (ii) to identify the most relevant environmental variables based on its current and future habitat suitability (2030, 2050, 2070 and 2090) and (iii) to suggest areas for the conservation of the species in Mexico. Records were compiled from different national and international sources. Climate and topographic variables were used. With MaxEnt software version 3.4.3 (Phillips, New York, NY, USA) 100 distribution models were obtained, where the model showed an area under the curve of 0.905 for training and 0.906 for validation and partial ROC of 1.95 and Z reliable (p < 0.01), with TSS values > 0.80. The current area of the P. menziesii was 31,580.65 km2. The most important variables in the current and future distribution were maximum temperature of the hottest month, precipitation of the coldest trimester and average temperature of the coldest trimester. The percentage of permanence (resilience) for the 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2090 climate horizons was 49.79%, 25.14%, 17.45% and 16.46%, respectively, for the SSP 245 scenario. On the other hand, for the SSP 585 scenario and the analyzed horizons, the percentage resilience in areas of suitable habitat zones was 41.45%, 27.42%, 9.82% and 2.89%.

Geospatial analysis of alarmingly increasing human-wildlife conflicts in Jim Corbett National Park's Ramnagar buffer zone: Ecological and socioeconomic perspectives

Ecologically, the Ramnagar urban buffer (RUB) zone of Jim Corbett National Park (JCNP) in District Nainital (India) is highly stressed due to unstable geodiversity (active tectonics, reshaping fluvial landforms), rich biodiversity (600 species of flora 640 species of fauna), dynamic climatic conditions (rising temperature 0.03 °C/year, decreasing precipitation 0.30 mm/year), drying water resources (drying perennial springs and river streams 3%/year and 4%/year respectively), rising extreme flood events (4%/year). Despite that uncontrolled anthropogenic activities such as rapid unplanned urban growth (with 3% annual growth rate) in natural landscape of wildlife habitats (forest, horticulture, shrubs and crop land), increasing human colonized landscape (with 1.25% annual growth rate), increasing population (with 0.75% annual growth rate), emerging tourism industries (with 16% annual growth rate), increasing poaching activities (with 4% annual growth rate) have been accumulating the fragility of the buffer zone habitat of wildlife. Geospatial analysis advocates that these adverse ecological and socioeconomic changes in this transitional buffer zone accelerate the human-wildlife conflicts with 6% (20 events) annual rate, subsequently the area under low to moderate conflicting zone (annually 1–8 human-wildlife conflicts/km2) has been converting into high conflicting zone (annually more than 8 human-wildlife conflicts/km2) with 1.37% (0.89 km2) annual rate.

A 30,000-km journey by Apus apus pekinensis tracks arid lands between northern China and south-western Africa

BackgroundAs a widely distributed and aerial migratory bird, the Common Swift (Apus apus) flies over a wide geographic range in Eurasia and Africa during migration. Although some studies have revealed the migration routes and phenology of European populations, A. a. apus (from hereon the nominate apus), the route used by its East Asian counterpart A. a. pekinensis (from hereon pekinensis) remained a mystery.MethodsUsing light level geolocators, we studied the migration of adult pekinensis breeding in Beijing from 2014 to 2018, and analysed full annual tracks obtained from 25 individuals. In addition, we used the mean monthly precipitation to assess the seasonal variations in humidity for the distribution ranges of the nominate apus and pekinensis. This environmental variable is considered to be critically relevant to their migratory phenology and food resource abundance.ResultsOur results show that the swifts perform a round-trip journey of ca 30,000 km each year, representing a detour of 26% in autumn and 15% in spring compared to the shortest route between the breeding site in Beijing and wintering areas in semi-arid south-western Africa. Compared to the nominate apus, pekinensis experiences drier conditions for longer periods of time. Remarkably, individuals from our study population tracked arid habitat along the entire migration corridor leading from a breeding site in Beijing to at least central Africa. In Africa, they explored more arid habitats during non-breeding than the nominate apus.ConclusionsThe migration route followed by pekinensis breeding in Beijing might suggest an adaptation to semi-arid habitat and dry climatic zones during non-breeding periods, and provides a piece of correlative evidence indicating the historical range expansion of the subspecies. This study highlights that the Common Swift may prove invaluable as a model species for studies of migration route formation and population divergence.

Longshore sediment transport rate from the field measured wave and sediment characteristics along the coast of Karaikal, India

ABSTRACT The change in the shoreline greatly influences the coastal developments such as maritime trade, fishing activities, coastal transport, and tourism. Due to the requirements of vast developments along the coast near major habitat zones, such as the Karaikal coast along the east coast of India, it is essential to understand the longshore sediment transport (LST) movement to plan for any coastal systems to protrude. A detailed LST estimate has been made with the predicted wave climate using the wind-wave model, WAM. The wave characteristics are compared with the field measurements off the coast considered herein. The LST rates computed using five different sediment transport formulae and the method of integrating the distribution of sediment transport rates within the surf zone have been computed to understand the variations of the estimate in each method. Although the predominant direction of sediment movement is towards the north, there is a seasonal variability of LST based on the prevailing monsoon wind direction. Monitoring and analysis of the LST are important as it is required in designing coastal structures.

A Panoramic Innovation Paradigm for Eco-Sustainability in Infrastructure Megaprojects

A mega transportation project often crosses natural reserves and habitat zones of species. Preservation of endangered species has always been a challenge. This article presents a panoramic innovation paradigm for improving a megaproject's eco-sustainability. The paradigm structures the innovative solutions in four categories of organizational, strategic, technological, and management innovations along the three phases of a project's lifecycle of initialization, construction, and maintenance. The implementation of the solutions in the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge has successfully preserved the endangered Chinese white dolphin ( <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Sousa chinensis</i> ) by increasing its population by 50% from 1200 in 2009 when the project was started to 1890 in 2016 when the project was completed. The panoramic innovation paradigm can provide useful insight and guidance to similar megaprojects around the world.

Historical biogeography of the gingers and its implications for shifts in tropical rain forest habitats

AbstractAimThe relationships between biome shifts and global environmental changes in temperate zone habitats have been extensively explored; yet, the historical dynamics of taxa found in the tropical rain forest (TRF) remain poorly known. This study aims to reconstruct the relationships between tropical rain forest shifts and global environmental changes through the patterns of historical biogeography of a pantropical family of monocots, the Zingiberaceae.LocationGlobal.TaxonZingiberaceae.MethodsWe sampled DNA sequences (nrITS, trnK, trnL‐trnF and psbA‐trnH) from GenBank for 77% of the genera, including 30% of species, in the Zingiberaceae. Global fossil records of the Zingiberaceae were collected from literatures. Rates of speciation, extinction and diversification were estimated based on phylogenetic data and fossil records through methods implemented in BAMM. Ancestral ranges were estimated using single‐tree BioGeoBEARS and multiple‐trees BioGeoBEARS in RASP. Dispersal rate through time and dispersal rate among regions were calculated in R based on the result of ancestral estimation.ResultsThe common ancestor of the Zingiberaceae likely originated in northern Africa during the mid‐Cretaceous, with later dispersal to the Asian tropics. Indo‐Burma, rather than Malesia, was likely a provenance of the common ancestor of Alpinioideae–Zingiberoideae. Several abrupt shifts of evolutionary rates from the Palaeocene were synchronized with sudden global environmental changes.Main conclusionsIntegrating phylogenetic patterns with fossil records suggests that the Zingiberaceae dispersed to Asia through drift of the Indian Plate from Africa in the late Palaeocene. Formation of island chains, land corridors and warming temperatures facilitated the emigration of the Zingiberaceae to a broad distribution across the tropics. Moreover, dramatic fluctuations of the speciation rate of Zingiberoideae appear to have been synchronized with global climate fluctuations. In general, the evolutionary history of the Zingiberaceae broadens our understanding of the association between TRF shifts in distribution and past global environmental changes, especially the origin of TRF in Southeast Asia.