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Kang D, Sun Z, Tao J, Huang Y, Zhao T. Patterns of Tadpole β Diversity in Temperate Montane Streams. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1240. [PMID: 38672388 PMCID: PMC11047721 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the spatial variation and formation mechanism of biological diversity is a hot topic in ecological studies. Comparing with α diversity, β diversity is more accurate in reflecting community dynamics. During the past decades, β diversity studies usually focused on plants, mammals, and birds. Studies of amphibian β diversity in montane ecosystems, in particular, tadpoles, are still rare. In this study, Mount Emei, located in southwestern China, was selected as the study area. We explored the tadpole β diversity in 18 streams, based on a two-year survey (2018-2019). Our results indicated a high total β diversity in tadpole assemblages, which was determined by both turnover and nestedness processes, and the dominant component was turnover. Both the total β diversity and turnover component were significantly and positively correlated with geographical, elevational, and environmental distances, but no significant relationship was detected between these and the nestedness component. Moreover, the independent contributions of river width, current velocity, and chlorophyll α were larger than that of geographical and elevational distance. Overall, tadpole β diversity was determined by both spatial and environmental factors, while the contribution of environmental factors was larger. Future studies can focus on functional and phylogenetic structures, to better understand the tadpole assembly process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Kang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China;
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.S.); (J.T.)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zijian Sun
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Jiacheng Tao
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.S.); (J.T.)
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China;
| | - Tian Zhao
- College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.S.); (J.T.)
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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2
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Umair M, Hu X, Cheng Q, Ali S, Ni J. Distribution patterns of fern species richness along elevations the Tibetan Plateau in China: regional differences and effects of climate change variables. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1178603. [PMID: 37229119 PMCID: PMC10203567 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1178603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Because of its distinct geological history, frigid temperature, and rich biodiversity, the Tibetan Plateau gives an excellent opportunity to assess the effect of climate change on determining species richness. The distribution patterns of fern species richness and their underlying processes have long been a matter of debate in ecology research, with various hypotheses suggested over the years. Here, we explore richness patterns of fern species in Xizang on the southern and western Tibetan Plateau along an elevational gradient (100-5300 m a.s.l.) and evaluate climatic factors causing the spatial decrease and increase of fern species richness. We used regression and correlation analyses to relate the species richness with elevation and climatic variables. Throughout our research, we identified 441 fern species from 97 genera and 30 families. The Dryopteridaceae family (S = 97) has the highest number of species. All energy-temperature and moisture variables except drought index (DI) had a significant correlation with elevation. The altitude has a unimodal relationship with fern species, and the species richness is the largest at an altitude of 2500 m. The horizontal richness pattern of fern species on the Tibetan Plateau also showed that areas of extremely high species richness are mainly distributed in Zayü and Mêdog County, with an average elevation of 2800 m and 2500 m, respectively. The richness of fern species has a log-linear relationship with moisture-related factors such as moisture index (MI), mean annual precipitation (MAP), and drought index (DI). Because the peak corresponds spatially with the MI index, the unimodal patterns confirm the significance of moisture on fern distributions. Our results showed that mid-altitudes have the highest species richness (high MI), but high elevations have lower richness due to high solar radiation, and low elevations have lower richness due to high temperatures and low precipitation. Twenty-two of the total species are classified as nearly threatened, vulnerable or critically endangered, and varied in elevation from 800 m to 4200 m. Such relationships between the distribution and richness of fern species and climates on the Tibetan Plateau can provide data support for future predictions of the impacts of climate change scenarios on fern species, the ecological protection of representative fern species, and references for the planning and construction of nature reserves in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jian Ni
- *Correspondence: Muhammad Umair, ; Jian Ni,
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3
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Zhao X, Che X, Ning T, Zou F. Distribution of birds in the high-altitude area of Mount Everest. Integr Zool 2023; 18:199-204. [PMID: 34936218 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The species and abundance of birds in the high altitude area of Mount Everest decreased sharply with the increase of altitude. Alpine Choughs forage at altitudes of up to 8000 m and are the highest distribution of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebing Zhao
- Yunnan Asian Elephant Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianli Che
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Ning
- Kunming Bird Conservation Association, Kunming, China
| | - Fasheng Zou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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4
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Morton ER, Robinson SK, Mulindahabi F, Masozera M, Singh A, Oli MK. Spatiotemporal patterns in an Afrotropical montane forest bird community. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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5
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Wang X, Zhong M, Yang S, Jiang J, Hu J. Multiple β‐diversity patterns and the underlying mechanisms across amphibian communities along a subtropical elevational gradient. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Maojun Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
| | - Shengnan Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jianping Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
| | - Junhua Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
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6
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Dewan S, Sanders NJ, Acharya BK. Turnover in butterfly communities and traits along an elevational gradient in the eastern Himalaya, India. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sailendra Dewan
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences Sikkim University Gangtok Sikkim India
| | - Nathan J. Sanders
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
| | - Bhoj Kumar Acharya
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences Sikkim University Gangtok Sikkim India
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7
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Liu Q, Zhang H, Chang F, Xie P, Zhang Y, Wu H, Zhang X, Peng W, Liu F. eDNA revealed in situ microbial community changes in response to Trapa japonica in Lake Qionghai and Lake Erhai, southwestern China. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132605. [PMID: 34678346 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Trapa japonica was observed to have inhibiting effects and could be used as a potential environment-friendly control strategy for cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater. However, the changes and effecting mechanisms in eukaryotic and prokaryotic communities by T. japonica are not yet clear. In this study, the effects of T. japonica on microbial communities were assessed in Lake Qionghai and Lake Erhai by 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, respectively. The results showed that T. japonica can improve biodiversity and change the microbial community structures to varying degrees in both lakes. The alpha diversity indexes of microbial communities (e.g., Shannon, Sobs, Ace and Chao 1) were higher in the water inhabited by T. japonica (TJ group) than the water uninhabited by T. japonica (control) (P < 0.05). The PCoA results suggested that the microbial community compositions differed between the two groups (PERMANOVA P = 0.001). In Lake Qionghai, the relative abundances of dominant taxa and nutrients level showed little differences between the two groups. These may result from the homogenous water condition in Lake Qionghai. While the genera Cyanobium_PCC-6307, the majority of Cyanobacteria, decreased significantly in TJ group than control according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In Lake Erhai, environmental variables were distinctly affected by T. japonica, which was found to drive Cryptophyceae to become the main taxa through taxonomic analysis of 18S rRNA. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, T. japonica reduced the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria, such as Planktothrix_NIVA-CYA_15 and Cyanobium_PCC-6307, by enriching cyanobactericidal bacteria and growth-inhibiting bacteria (e.g., Limnohabitans and Flavobacterium) and changing environmental parameters. Our results revealed that T. japonica acts in shaping microbial communities in lakes on the community level, shedding new lights on eutrophication mitigation, one of the most serious global ecological problems we are facing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Hucai Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Fengqin Chang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Han Wu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Wei Peng
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Fengwen Liu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
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8
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Liang D, Pan X, Luo X, Wenda C, Zhao Y, Hu Y, Robinson SK, Liu Y. Seasonal variation in community composition and distributional ranges of birds along a subtropical elevation gradient in China. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation Southwest Forestry University Kunming China
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs Princeton University Princeton NJ USA
| | - Xinyuan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Xu Luo
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation Southwest Forestry University Kunming China
| | - Cheng Wenda
- Division for Ecology & Biodiversity School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Yanyan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Yiming Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen China
| | - Scott K. Robinson
- Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
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9
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Contrasting drivers of diversity in hosts and parasites across the tropical Andes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2010714118. [PMID: 33731475 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010714118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Geographic turnover in community composition is created and maintained by eco-evolutionary forces that limit the ranges of species. One such force may be antagonistic interactions among hosts and parasites, but its general importance is unknown. Understanding the processes that underpin turnover requires distinguishing the contributions of key abiotic and biotic drivers over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Here, we address these challenges using flexible, nonlinear models to identify the factors that underlie richness (alpha diversity) and turnover (beta diversity) patterns of interacting host and parasite communities in a global biodiversity hot spot. We sampled 18 communities in the Peruvian Andes, encompassing ∼1,350 bird species and ∼400 hemosporidian parasite lineages, and spanning broad ranges of elevation, climate, primary productivity, and species richness. Turnover in both parasite and host communities was most strongly predicted by variation in precipitation, but secondary predictors differed between parasites and hosts, and between contemporary and phylogenetic timescales. Host communities shaped parasite diversity patterns, but there was little evidence for reciprocal effects. The results for parasite communities contradicted the prevailing view that biotic interactions filter communities at local scales while environmental filtering and dispersal barriers shape regional communities. Rather, subtle differences in precipitation had strong, fine-scale effects on parasite turnover while host-community effects only manifested at broad scales. We used these models to map bird and parasite turnover onto the ecological gradients of the Andean landscape, illustrating beta-diversity hot spots and their mechanistic underpinnings.
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10
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Hu Y, Scheffers B, Pan X, Hu H, Zhou Z, Liang D, Wenda C, Wen Z, Gibson L. Positive abundance-elevational range size relationship weakened from temperate to subtropical ecosystems. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2623-2636. [PMID: 34245566 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Describing the patterns and revealing the underlying mechanisms responsible for variations in community structure remain a central focus in ecology. However, important gaps remain, including our understanding of species abundance. Most studies on abundance-based relationships are from either temperate ecosystems or tropical ecosystems, and few have explicitly tested abundance-based relationships across a temperate to tropical ecotone. Here, we use a comprehensive dataset of breeding birds across elevation spanning a temperate to subtropical gradient in the Himalayas-Hengduan Mountains of China to examine the relationship between species abundance and (a) elevational range size, (b) body size, (c) elevational range centre and (d) endemicity. We tested a priori predictions for abundance-elevational range size relationship, abundance-body size relationship and abundance-elevational range centre relationship, and explored how these relationships change along this temperate to subtropical mountain ecosystem. We found that species abundance was significantly positively correlated with elevational range size across the study sites, demonstrating the key importance of elevational range size towards species abundance. Body size and elevational range centre are weakly correlated with abundance. A novel finding of our study is that the abundance-elevational range size relationship gradually weakened from temperate to subtropical ecosystems, adding to a growing body of evidence suggesting that abundance-elevational range size tracks a temperate to tropical ecotone. Our study demonstrates that abundance range-size relationship can transition across ecotones where faunas of different evolutionary origins converge. Furthermore, measuring abundance relationships across different environmental variables at the same spatial scale with comparable biogeography is a key strategy that can reveal the underlying mechanisms behind abundance patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Brett Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xinyuan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huijian Hu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhixin Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Liang
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Cheng Wenda
- Division for Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R. China
| | - Zhixin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luke Gibson
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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11
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Liang J, Hu H, Ding Z, Lie G, Zhou Z, Singh PB, Zhang Z, Ji S. Climate-driven elevational variation in range sizes of vascular plants in the central Himalayas: A supporting case for Rapoport's rule. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9385-9395. [PMID: 34306629 PMCID: PMC8293715 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental yet controversial topic in biogeography is how and why species range sizes vary along spatial gradients. To advance our understanding of these questions and to provide insights into biological conservation, we assessed elevational variations in the range sizes of vascular plants with different life forms and biogeographical affinities and explored the main drivers underlying these variations in the longest valley in China's Himalayas, the Gyirong Valley. Elevational range sizes of vascular plants were documented in 96 sampling plots along an elevational gradient ranging from 1,800 to 5,400 m above sea level. We assessed the elevational variations in range size by averaging the range sizes of all recorded species within each sampling plot. We then related the range size to climate, disturbance, and the mid-domain effect and explored the relative importance of these factors in explaining the range size variations using the Random Forest model. A total of 545 vascular plants were recorded in the sampling plots along the elevational gradient. Of these, 158, 387, 337, and 112 were woody, herbaceous, temperate, and tropical species, respectively. The range size of each group of vascular plants exhibited uniform increasing trends along the elevational gradient, which was consistent with the prediction of Rapoport's rule. Climate was the main driver of the increasing trends of vascular plant range sizes in the Gyirong Valley. The climate variability hypothesis and mean climate condition hypothesis could both explain the elevation-range size relationships. Our results reinforce the previous notion that Rapoport's rule applies to regions where the influence of climate is the most pronounced, and call for close attention to the impact of climate change to prevent species range contraction and even extinction due to global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Liang
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody PlantsSchool of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource UtilizationGuangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationInstitute of ZoologyGuangdong Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Huijian Hu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource UtilizationGuangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationInstitute of ZoologyGuangdong Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhifeng Ding
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource UtilizationGuangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationInstitute of ZoologyGuangdong Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Ganwen Lie
- Guangdong Eco‐Engineering PolytechnicGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhixin Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource UtilizationGuangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationInstitute of ZoologyGuangdong Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Paras Bikram Singh
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource UtilizationGuangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and UtilizationInstitute of ZoologyGuangdong Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
- Biodiversity Conservation Society NepalLalitpurNepal
| | - Zhixiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody PlantsSchool of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Museum of Beijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Shengnan Ji
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Ecological Processes and Functions AssessmentChinese Research Academy of Environmental SciencesBeijingChina
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12
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Lukhele SM, Shapiro JT, Mahlaba TA, Sibiya MD, McCleery RA, Fletcher RJ, Monadjem A. Influence of sugarcane growth stages on bird diversity and community structure in an agricultural-savanna environment. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06563. [PMID: 33851055 PMCID: PMC8024607 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural intensification is a threat to terrestrial ecosystems around the world. Agricultural areas, especially monocultures, create homogenous landscapes for wildlife. However, certain crops, such as sugarcane, are harvested in phases, creating a mosaic of fields in different stages of growth. We investigated changes in avian communities across four different sugarcane growth stages: emerging, short, medium and tall sugarcane, as well as control sites that represented native savanna habitat in northeast Eswatini prior to conversion to agriculture. In total, we sampled nine sites in sugarcane fields (at different growth stages) and three in native savanna. We conducted bird counts at 5-week intervals along 200m line transects over both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. We recorded a total of 124 bird species belonging to 58 families. Bird species richness and diversity were higher in savannas compared to any stages of growth in sugarcane. In contrast, functional beta diversity and uniqueness were higher in sugarcane than in savanna. Community composition was also different between the two land-uses. While there was overlap in bird species composition between different sugarcane growth stages, there was high beta diversity and high turnover between sites, indicative of the high temporal and spatial variability in bird communities in sugarcane fields. We demonstrated that the spatial and temporal variability created by the different growth stages of sugarcane promotes the occurrence of species with different traits, which may contribute to ecosystem functioning and promote the conservation of bird species as sugarcane fields can provide resource complementation for species with different needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifiso M. Lukhele
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, P O Box 20537, Nicosia, 1678, Cyprus
| | - Julie Teresa Shapiro
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 Allée d’Italie, Lyon, 69007, France
| | | | - Muzi D. Sibiya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Robert A. McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Robert J. Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
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13
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Klinges DH, Scheffers BR. Microgeography, Not Just Latitude, Drives Climate Overlap on Mountains from Tropical to Polar Ecosystems. Am Nat 2021; 197:75-92. [PMID: 33417520 DOI: 10.1086/711873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAn extension of the climate variability hypothesis is that relatively stable climate, such as that of the tropics, induces distinct thermal bands across elevation that render dispersal over tropical mountains difficult compared with temperate mountains. Yet ecosystems are not thermally static in space-time, especially at small scales, which might render some mountains greater thermal isolators than others. Here we provide an extensive investigation of temperature drivers from fine to coarse scales, and we demonstrate that the degree of similarity in temperatures at high and low elevations on mountains is driven by more than just absolute mountain height and latitude. We compiled a database of 29 mountains spanning six continents to characterize thermal overlap by vertically stratified microhabitats and biomes and owing to seasonal changes in foliage, demonstrating via mixed effects modeling that micro- and mesogeography more strongly influence thermal overlap than macrogeography. Impressively, an increase of 1 m of vertical microhabitat height generates an increase in overlap equivalent to a 5.26° change in latitude. In addition, forested mountains have reduced thermal overlap-149% lower-relative to nonforested mountains. We provide evidence in support of a climate hypothesis that emphasizes microgeography as a determinant of dispersal, demographics, and behavior, thereby refining the classical theory of macroclimate variability as a prominent driver of biogeography.
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14
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Bhat JA, Kumar M, Negi A, Todaria N, Malik ZA, Pala NA, Kumar A, Shukla G. Species diversity of woody vegetation along altitudinal gradient of the Western Himalayas. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Liang J, Ding Z, Lie G, Zhou Z, Singh PB, Zhang Z, Hu H. Species richness patterns of vascular plants and their drivers along an elevational gradient in the central Himalayas. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Neupane J, Khanal L, Gyawali B, Chalise MK. Elevational pattern and seasonality of avian diversity in Kaligandaki River Basin, central Himalaya. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2020. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.5815.12.14.16927-16943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored bird diversity, seasonal variation, and associated factors along an elevational gradient in an important biodiversity area (IBA) of central Nepal: the Kaligandaki River basin of Annapurna Conservation Area. The field survey was carried out in 2019 over two seasons, winter (January and February) and summer (May and June) using the point count method. A total of 90 sampling plots were set up from elevations of 800m (Beni) to 3,800m (Muktinath). Data for variables including the number of fruiting trees (indicator of resource availability) and distance to the road (indicator of disturbance) were collected, and their influence on avian diversity were assessed. The results revealed a diverse assemblage of avian fauna in the study area with consistent species richness over the two seasons. A decline in species richness and diversity with increasing elevation was observed. Of the different habitat types within the study area, forest and shrubland habitats showed the strongest association with bird species distribution and richness. We emphasize the need for long-term monitoring programs with standardized sampling approaches to better understand the avifauna in the central Himalaya.
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Distribution Pattern of Gymnosperms' Richness in Nepal: Effect of Environmental Constrains along Elevational Gradients. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9050625. [PMID: 32422935 PMCID: PMC7285339 DOI: 10.3390/plants9050625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the pattern of species distribution and the underlying mechanism is essential for conservation planning. Several climatic variables determine the species diversity, and the dependency of species on climate motivates ecologists and bio-geographers to explain the richness patterns along with elevation and environmental correlates. We used interpolated elevational distribution data to examine the relative importance of climatic variables in determining the species richness pattern of 26 species of gymnosperms in the longest elevation gradients in the world. Thirteen environmental variables were divided into three predictors set representing each hypothesis model (energy-water, physical-tolerance, and climatic-seasonality); to explain the species richness pattern of gymnosperms along the elevational gradient. We performed generalized linear models and variation partitioning to evaluate the relevant role of environmental variables on species richness patterns. Our findings showed that the gymnosperms’ richness formed a hump-shaped distribution pattern. The individual effect of energy-water predictor set was identified as the primary determinant of species richness. While, the joint effects of energy-water and physical-tolerance predictors have explained highest variations in gymnosperm distribution. The multiple environmental indicators are essential drivers of species distribution and have direct implications in understanding the effect of climate change on the species richness pattern.
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Corrigendum. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4311. [PMID: 31016008 PMCID: PMC6467854 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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