Northernmost Range Research Articles

Multilocus analysis of intraspecific differentiation in three endemic bird species from the northern Neotropical dry forest

Among-species phylogeographic concordance provides insight into the common processes driving lineage divergence in a particular region. However, identifying the processes that caused phylogeographic breaks is not always straight forward, and inferring past environmental conditions in combination with documented geologic events is sometimes necessary to explain current patterns. We searched for concordant phylogeographic patterns and investigated their causes in three bird species (Momotus mexicanus, Melanerpes chrysogenys, and Passerina leclancherii) that belong to three different avian orders and are endemic to the northernmost range of the Neotropical dry forest. We obtained mitochondrial DNA (ND2 and COI or cyt b) and nuclear DNA (20454, GAPDH, MUSK, and TGFB) sequences for at least one locus from 162 individuals across all species and defined climatically stable areas using environmental niche model projections for the last 130,000years to have a paleoenvironmental framework for the phylogeographic results. All three species showed marked phylogeographic structure, with breaks found in roughly similar areas, such as the border between the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, and between southern Jalisco and Michoacán. Both of these regions are known biogeographic breaks among other taxa. Patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation were partially compatible with climatically stable areas. Coalescent analyses revealed recent population growth and estimated the deeper haplogroup divergence of all three taxa to have occurred within the last 600,000years. The phylogeographic patterns found are noteworthy because they are maintained in a relatively small area for bird species with continuous ranges, and highlight a unique situation when compared to phylogeographic patterns found in other studies of Neotropical birds that have stressed the role of geographic barriers to explain intraspecific differentiation. Our results point to a scenario of population isolation resulting in the present phylogeographic structure, likely a result of historical climate fluctuations that have fragmented and reconnected the Neotropical dry forest. This study contributes to a growing body of evidence indicating active diversification of endemic lineages in the northern Neotropical dry forest region.

Food limitation at species range limits: Impacts of food availability on the density and colony expansion of prairie dog populations at their northern periphery

Understanding limiting factors affecting population growth for imperilled species is crucial for conservation and management. This research investigates whether black–tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) populations are food limited on their northernmost range extent. We measured background vegetation rates and used food supplementation in a ‘before–after–control–impact’ (BACI) design to test whether increased food positively impacted prairie dog population density and colony expansion. Experimental results did not support food limitation. Overall, density increased from 2008 to 2009 but remained relatively similar between control and treatment plots. Correlations between natural, non-supplemented vegetation biomass and prairie dog density suggest that natural food availability in 2008 may have driven population growth into 2009. Natural food availability was highly variable among years and prairie dog densities may be impacted by food scarcity in some years but not others. Colony spatial expansion was greater in the absence of food supplementation, suggesting food scarcity may drive colony expansion. This research has important implications for the conservation and management of prairie dogs and species that depend on them such as reintroduced black–footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) in Canada and other populations across their range.

Satellite data identify decadal trends in the quality of Pygoscelis penguin chick‐rearing habitat

Pygoscelis penguins are experiencing general population declines in their northernmost range whereas there are reported increases in their southernmost range. These changes are coincident with decadal-scale trends in remote sensed observations of sea ice concentrations (SIC) and sea surface temperatures (SST) during the chick-rearing season (austral summer). Using SIC, SST, and bathymetry, we identified separate chick-rearing niche spaces for the three Pygoscelis penguin species and used a maximum entropy approach (MaxEnt) to spatially and temporally model suitable chick-rearing habitats in the Southern Ocean. For all Pygoscelis penguin species, the MaxEnt models predict significant changes in the locations of suitable chick-rearing habitats over the period of 1982-2010. In general, chick-rearing habitat suitability at specific colony locations agreed with the corresponding increases or decreases in documented population trends over the same time period. These changes were the most pronounced along the West Antarctic Peninsula where there has been a rapid warming event during at least the last 50years.

Recruitment patterns and northward tree migration through gap dynamics in an old-growth white pine forest in northern Ontario

Decreases in abundances and declines in growth of eastern white pine over the past century due mainly to human activities have resulted in few large intact old-growth white pine forests in Ontario. These stands may be vulnerable to replacement by deciduous species from temperate forests further south, where recruitment in canopy gap disturbances can greatly define the regeneration process. We investigated recruitment dynamics in canopy gaps of an old-growth white pine forest of Temagami, northern Ontario, Canada, the northern limit of the temperate–boreal ecotone. White pine, red pine, black spruce and eastern white cedar represented 85 % of the mature canopy abundance, where trees and saplings established equally in gaps and the closed canopy. Balsam fir and paper birch were more abundant in gaps, showing increases of abundance and basal area with increases in gap size representing canopy self-replacement (balsam fir) and autogenic succession (paper birch). Red maple, at its northernmost range limit, was the only species to show linear increases of abundance and basal area with increases in gap size and gap age. This result, along with adult red maples present in gaps but absent from the closed canopy, identifies the establishment of a northward migrating species in gaps as hypothesized for pine forests at the northern limit of this broad ecotone. We discuss how migration pressures, coupled with pine recruitment limitation through reduced fire frequency by regional fire suppression and predicted future increased warming of 2–4 °C over the next century, threatens replacement of old-growth white pine forests at this latitude with northward migrating tree species found further south.

The invasive gastropod Crepidula fornicata: reproduction and recruitment in the intertidal at its northernmost range in Wales, UK, and implications for its secondary spread

The establishment and spread of a non-native species in an introduced range depends to a large extent on the performance of the species under the prevailing environmental conditions. The spawning, larval and spatfall periods of the invasive gastropod Crepidula fornicata were monitored in the intertidal zone at its northernmost range in Wales, UK, between February 2010 and January 2011. The duration of the reproductive season was similar to that recorded from more southerly European populations. Spawning and larval release occurred throughout most of the year even at low seawater temperatures of 16 °C. Recruitment was low and likely controlled by post-settlement mortality. These observations suggest that C. fornicata’s northwards spread in Welsh waters will not be limited by seawater temperature negatively affecting reproduction, but by processes acting after larval release. These data show the importance of incorporating settlement and post-settlement processes into studies on recruitment success when aiming to predict the potential spread of a potentially harmful invader such as C. fornicata.

The spatial variation of alpine timberlines and their biogeographical characteristics in the northern Tianshan Mountains of China

Alpine timberline is a proper indicator of climate change and has received much attention in ecological research during the past decades. In this study, variations of alpine timberlines and their biogeographic characteristics were investigated by a combination of field surveys, climate indices, and soil nutrient analyses in the northern Tianshan Mountains (NTM) of northwest China. The timberline altitudes were probed to range from 2,530 to 2,800 m a.s.l. in the NTM, gradually descending from west to east along the V-shaped Ili valley (from Zhaosu to Xinyuan), and ascending from west to east across the northernmost range of the study area (from Bole to Balikun). The vertical widths between the upper and lower limits of the timberlines were widest in the middle NTM (Kuytun to Changji) and the Ili valley (Zhaosu to Xinyuan). Interactions between the terrain and air currents resulted in variant climates within the NTM, which contributed to significant timberline distribution differences. Although vertical width was positively correlated to soil nutrient (especially organic matter, r = 0.78), and timberline altitudes were positively related to the soil pH values, the temperature during the growing season primarily determines both altitude and vertical width. In conclusion, timberline altitudes were dominated by the combined effects of local topography, soil nutrient properties, water, and thermal conditions. Identifying the dominating influencing factors of NTM timberlines provided potential insights to better understand the effects of climate change on the alpine ecosystem over central Asia.

First record of Gorgona guitarfish, Rhinobatos prahli, from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican Pacific

The capture of two Gorgona guitarfish, Rhinobatos prahli, in the Gulf of Tehuantepec represents the first record for the species in Mexican waters and its northernmost range extension in the eastern Pacific.

Trans-Atlantic rafting by the brooding reef coral Favia fragum on man-made flotsam

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 445:209-218 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09460 Trans-Atlantic rafting by the brooding reef coral Favia fragum on man-made flotsam Bert W. Hoeksema1,* Piet J. Roos2,4 Gerhard C. Cadée3 Department of Marine Zoology, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 2Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis (Section ZMA), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94766, 1090 GT Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands 4Present address: Rembrandt van Rijnweg 8, 1191 GG Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, The Netherlands *Email: bert.hoeksema@ncbnaturalis.nl ABSTRACT: Specimens of the brooding reef coral Favia fragum were found on man-made flotsam stranded on the North Sea shore of the Netherlands. Based on the associated epifauna originating from the southeast USA, we estimate that the corals must have crossed the Atlantic Ocean, transported by the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift. The size of the corals suggests that they might have had enough time to cross the Atlantic alive and that they already reached the age of possible self-fertilization before they entered waters that were too cold to survive. The temperature requirements and the presently known geographic range of F. fragum are compared with Atlantic summer and winter isotherms and oceanic currents in order to project a hypothetical northernmost range boundary. With increasing pollution, man-made flotsam may become a progressively more common substrate for reef corals that depend on rafting for long-distance dispersal. Eventually, with warming seawater, floating debris may cause tropical marine species to expand their distribution ranges towards higher latitudes. KEY WORDS: Distribution range · Epifauna · Life history · Long-distance dispersal · Ocean currents · Temperature tolerance Full text in pdf format Corrigendum PreviousNextCite this article as: Hoeksema BW, Roos PJ, Cadée GC (2012) Trans-Atlantic rafting by the brooding reef coral Favia fragum on man-made flotsam. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 445:209-218. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09460 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 445. Online publication date: January 20, 2012 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.

Illustrated list of additions to the ichthyofauna of Yaku-shima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan: 50 new records from the island

Previous surveys of marine and estuarine fishes of Yaku-shima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, have recorded a total of 958 species. Recent examinations of museum collections and newly-collected specimens during the present study resulted in an additional 29 species recorded from Yaku-shima Island for the first time, plus a further 21 species now represented by voucher specimens, having been previously recorded from Yaku-shima only by underwater observations and/or from photographs. Thus, the number of marine and estuarine fish species from Yaku-shima Island now totals 987, the second highest fish species diversity recorded from a single region in Japan. Of the 50 voucher-based species newly recorded in this study, 11 represented a northernmost range extension and one, a southernmost extension. Color photographs of most are provided.

Nuclear genetic markers indicate Danish origin of the Norwegian beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) populations established in 500–1,000 AD

The northernmost range of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is in southern Norway and consists of two distinct and isolated distributions, a single population at Seim in West Norway and several adjacent populations in Vestfold, East Norway. The modest beech pollen deposits beyond these main distributions suggest that the Norwegian beech distribution has never been an extension of the south Scandinavian range. We used genetic markers and historical sources to trace the ancestor populations for the beech at Seim and Vestfold, hypothesising Denmark as the most likely source. Nuclear inter-simple sequence repeat markers, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were applied to estimate genetic distances between beech populations in Norway, England and Denmark. The variation in chloroplast DNA polymorphism was estimated using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The nuclear genetic data indicate Denmark as a source for the beech in Norway, although the data are less certain in the case of Seim than in that of Vestfold. The populations from South England were genetically different from most Scandinavian populations. The genetic variation within Norwegian populations was only slightly lower than that of the English and Danish populations, questioning birds as vectors for dispersal. Thus, the pollen data and our results are in accordance with the intentional introduction and documented human migrations across Skagerrak before and during the Viking Age.

Impact of global warming on European tidal estuaries: some evidence of northward migration of estuarine fish species

The aim of this study was to determine whether the latitudinal distribution of fish species that use estuaries to complete their entire life cycle has shifted northward as an expected consequence of global warming. The mean latitude of past fish species distributions found in 1970s’ literature was compared with the mean latitude of distributions today based on fish density indices collected in 55 tidal estuaries along the Atlantic European seaboard, from Portugal to Scotland. Among the 15 most common species, 11 displayed a positive difference between current and past mean latitudes suggesting a northward shift of the populations. Using the occurrence of subtropical species in temperate areas as an indicator of water warming, the northernmost range limit of 10 subtropical species was subsequently focused on. Six of them were recorded up to their past northern latitudinal limit. These results reinforced the idea that a number of fish species associated to estuaries have migrated northwards over the last 30 years, possibly due to water warming. These ecological changes can get important managerial implications, i.e. in the assessment of the ecological status in European directives.

Isolation and characterization of compound microsatellite loci in the tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus)

The tri-spine horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, known as “a living fossil”, is distributed from coastal Southeast Asia to western Japan. The Japanese population represents the northernmost range for this species. As is probably the case for almost of all the Asian T. tridentatus populations, in Japan it is facing near extinction and lies in urgent need of protective conservation measures. To examine the genetic structure and the genetic diversity of the Japanese population, eight novel compound microsatellite loci were developed by the intercompound microsatellite method. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 4 per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities were between 0.38 and 0.66, and between 0.36 and 0.67, respectively. All 32 individuals analyzed had unique genotype with 8 loci and were considered useful as conservation genetic markers for this endangered species.

Genetic diversity associated with conservation of endangered Dongxiang wild rice (Oryza rufipogon)

The wild progenitor species (Oryza rufipogon) of Asian cultivated rice (O. sativa L.) is located in Dongxiang county, China which is considered its the northernmost range worldwide. Nine ex situ and three in situ populations of the Dongxiang wild rice (DXWR) and four groups of modern cultivars were genotyped using 21 SSR markers for study of population structure, conservation efficiency and genetic relationship. We demonstrated that the ex situ conservation of the DXWR failed to maintain the genetic identity and reduced genetic diversity. Therefore, in situ conservation is absolutely necessary to maintain the genetic identity, diversity and heterozygosity. Also, in situ conservation is urgently needed because natural populations in DXWR have decreased from nine to three at present due to farming activity and urban expansion. In DXWR, the three surviving in situ populations had greater expected heterozygosity than any cultivated rice, and were genetically closer to japonica than either the male-sterile maintainer or restorer lines, or indica. Japonica has the lowest genetic diversity of cultivated rice. As a result, DXWR is a rich gene pool and is especially valuable for genetic improvement of japonica rice because these O. rufipogon accessions are most closely related to the japonica as compared to O. rufipogon collected anywhere else in the world.

Seasonal patterns of life cycle of ground beetle Carabus nitens (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in southern tundra

Seasonal dynamics of activity and demographic structure of Carabus nitens in the forest-tundra and southern tundra of the Kanin Peninsula was studied. In the northernmost range, the species has a one-year life cycle with reproduction in the early season and summer larvae. C. nitens demonstrated elongated period of development from egg to imago compared to the temperate zone in the polar region. At the same time, over-wintered beetles rapidly matured and the reproduction period was reduced to three decades. This synchronizes larval development and the young generation emergence. The northern populations have increased life span of imago, which leads to repeated postwinter reproduction during several seasons. As a result, the abundance of the northern C. nitens populations remains high.

Natural and manipulated populations of the treehole mosquito, Ochlerotatus triseriatus, at its northernmost range limit in southern Ontario, Canada

Ochlerotatus triseriatus, the eastern treehole mosquito, reaches its northernmost range limit in the extreme southeast of Canada. As a known vector of West Nile and La Crosse encephalitis viruses and a potential vector of eastern equine encephalitis, its population biology is of interest. In southern Ontario, high larval densities occur in urban woodlots within sugar maple and American beech treehole communities comprising rotifers, nematode worms, mites, other dipterans, and scirtid beetles. Treehole water was characterized by low dissolved oxygen levels and seasonally variable pH and temperature, with the latter being most influential on local populations. Densities were significantly higher (up to 503 larvae 100 ml(-1)) in tree holes close to the forest floor (<1 m) and in experimental tree holes seeded with autumn-shed maple leaves as opposed to leaves of black oak and beech. In this locality, weekly sampling showed Oc. triseriatus to be multivoltine, with mass egg hatching beginning under coldwater (<10 degrees C) conditions in March/April, and thereafter producing three successful generations with a possible, less successful fourth in late summer. Some 1st instar larvae were present in water as cold as 0.7 degree C. Compared with larval psychodids living in the same tree hole, population losses of Oc. triseriatus due to washout during major rainfall events were negligible despite high flowthrough of water derived from stemflow.

NEW LOCALITY RECORDS EXTENDED THE DISTRIBUTION OF Telescopus nigriceps (AHL, 1924), BLACK HEADED CAT SNAKE, IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA, TURKEY

Two Telescopus nigriceps (Ahl, 1924) specimens were found Sanliurfa and Kilis, except the known locality (Ceylanpinar-Sanliurfa) in Southern Anatolia. Moreover, the distribution range of the species was extended with additional two new localities and the known northernmost range of the species was determined as Sanliurfa in the Middle East. Regarding pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements and color-pattern features, Sanliurfa and Kilis specimens show a similarity with Ceylanpinar-Sanliurfa, Syrian, and Jordan specimens.

First record of Polyprion oxygeneios(Perciformes: Polyprionidae) for the south‐west Atlantic and a northernmost range extension

The occurrence of Polyprion oxygeneios(Perciformes: Polyprionidae) is recorded for the first in the south‐west Atlantic. Twenty specimens were caught off Rio Grande do Sul (33°41·8′–34° 15·3′ S, 370–854 m depth) during winter cruises of the commercial fishing fleet.

Rubiacearum Americanarum Magna Hama Pars X. New Species and a New Subspecies of Faramea (Coussareae) from Central and South America

Descriptions and illustrations are presented for the new species Faramea accumulans C. M. Taylor and E areolata C. M. Taylor of the San Blas region of eastern Panama, F guaramacalensis C. M. Taylor from cloud forests in northwestern Venezuela, and E longistipula C. M. Taylor from montane forests in northwestern Colombia. The new subspecies E tamberlikiana subsp. sessifolia (P. H. Allen) C. M. Taylor from southern Costa Rica represents the northernmost range extension of this

Finding of the tropical group testate amoebae (Protozoa: Testacea) at the Far East ( Sikhote Alin Reserve)

Testate amoebae species Hoogenraadia humicola, Planhoogenraadia media, and Distomatopyxis couillardi of the Gondwana-tropical and tropical groups have been found for the first time in the territory of Russia. Brown and dark-colored soil of oak forest in Primorsky Kray (Sikhote Alin Reserve, northeast part of the East Asian Holarctic) are the northernmost range of these tropical species. The morphometric data are presented and the specific composition of the communities and geographical distribution of the tropical group species are discussed. A new species Planhoogenraadia daurica Bobrov has been described.

Observations on the Macroalgae Inhabiting Deep-Water Hard Bank Communities in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

A preliminary species list of subtidal macroalgal collections from established monitoring sites on two midshelf hard banks communities in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is provided. A total of 50 taxa belonging to the green (Chlorophyta), brown (Phaeophyceae), and red (Rhodophyta) algae were identified, providing the first documentation of algal composition at Stetson Bank, TX, and Sonnier Bank, LA. Both sites are much more species rich and taxonomically distinct than previously reported, with a surprisingly different floristic composition between both. New records for the Gulf of Mexico include Laurencia chondrioides, Callithamniella tingitana, Diplothamnion jolyi, Griffithsia heteromorpha, and Dictyota pfaffii. Northernmost range extensions for four taxa are reported for the northwestern Gulf.