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Plasman M, Gonzalez-Voyer A, Bautista A, Díaz DE LA Vega-Pérez AH. Flexibility in thermal requirements: a comparative analysis of the wide-spread lizard genus Sceloporus. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 38880782 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12860] [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] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Adaptation or acclimation of thermal requirements to environmental conditions can reduce thermoregulation costs and increase fitness, especially in ectotherms, which rely heavily on environmental temperatures for thermoregulation. Insight into how thermal niches have shaped thermal requirements across evolutionary history may help predict the survival of species during climate change. The lizard genus Sceloporus has a widespread distribution and inhabits an ample variety of habitats. We evaluated the effects of geographical gradients (i.e. elevation and latitude) and local environmental temperatures on thermal requirements (i.e. preferred body temperature, active body temperature in the field, and critical thermal limits) of Sceloporus species using published and field-collected data and performing phylogenetic comparative analyses. To contrast macro- and micro-evolutional patterns, we also performed intra-specific analyses when sufficient reports existed for a species. We found that preferred body temperature increased with elevation, whereas body temperature in the field decreased with elevation and increased with local environmental temperatures. Critical thermal limits were not related to the geographic gradient or environmental temperatures. The apparent lack of relation of thermal requirements to geographic gradient may increase vulnerability to extinction due to climate change. However, local and temporal variations in thermal landscape determine thermoregulation opportunities and may not be well represented by geographic gradient and mean environmental temperatures. Results showed that Sceloporus lizards are excellent thermoregulators, have wide thermal tolerance ranges, and the preferred temperature was labile. Our results suggest that Sceloporus lizards can adjust to different thermal landscapes, highlighting opportunities for continuous survival in changing thermal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Plasman
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Gonzalez-Voyer
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Amando Bautista
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Aníbal H Díaz DE LA Vega-Pérez
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias, y Tecnologías-Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
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2
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Yao B, Shi G, Zhou H, Zhao X, Peñuelas J, Sardans J, Wang F, Wang Z. Uneven distributions of unique species promoting N niche complementarity explain the stability of degraded alpine meadow. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 911:168487. [PMID: 37977375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Alpine meadow degradation, usually involving decreased soil nitrogen (N) and patchy landscapes, is a challenge for natural restoration. However, the mechanism underlying plant species coexistence under degradation is unclear. In this study, we evaluated plant N niche complementarity in degraded alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau using a 15N-labeling (15NO3-, 15NH4+, and 15N-glycine) experiment. At the community level, the concentration of 15NO3- in the degraded alpine meadow was 1.5 times higher than that in the undegraded alpine meadow; both alpine meadows had a significant preference for NO3- (60.72 % and 66.84 % for the degraded and undegraded alpine meadows, respectively), and the degree of glycine preference was significantly higher in the degraded alpine meadow (30.77 %) relative to the undegraded alpine meadow (21.85 %). At the species level, dominant species in both alpine meadows consistently preferred NO3-; the generalist species that can be found in both meadows and unique species of the two alpine meadows generally showed NO3- preferences, while the other plant species that were unevenly distributed in the degraded alpine meadow tended to show increased utilization of glycine, which could reduce N competition. We observed that differentiation among N sources and the uneven distribution of unique species may explain the stability of degraded alpine meadows. Our results suggested that uneven distributions of plants could have strong impacts on community stability and highlighted the importance of considering fine-scale analysis in studies of niche theory. This study has important implications for the restoration of degraded alpine meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buqing Yao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology of Cold Area in Qinghai Province, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Guoxi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Utilization of Agriculture Solid Waste Resources, College of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui 741000, China
| | - Huakun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology of Cold Area in Qinghai Province, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xinquan Zhao
- College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia 08193, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia 08193, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Fangping Wang
- College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Sichuan Zoige Alpine Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China; Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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3
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Gallou A, Jump AS, Lynn JS, Field R, Irl SDH, Steinbauer MJ, Beierkuhnlein C, Chen JC, Chou CH, Hemp A, Kidane Y, König C, Kreft H, Naqinezhad A, Nowak A, Nuppenau JN, Trigas P, Price JP, Roland CA, Schweiger AH, Weigelt P, Flantua SGA, Grytnes JA. Diurnal temperature range as a key predictor of plants' elevation ranges globally. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7890. [PMID: 38036522 PMCID: PMC10689480 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43477-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A prominent hypothesis in ecology is that larger species ranges are found in more variable climates because species develop broader environmental tolerances, predicting a positive range size-temperature variability relationship. However, this overlooks the extreme temperatures that variable climates impose on species, with upper or lower thermal limits more likely to be exceeded. Accordingly, we propose the 'temperature range squeeze' hypothesis, predicting a negative range size-temperature variability relationship. We test these contrasting predictions by relating 88,000 elevation range sizes of vascular plants in 44 mountains to short- and long-term temperature variation. Consistent with our hypothesis, we find that species' range size is negatively correlated with diurnal temperature range. Accurate predictions of short-term temperature variation will become increasingly important for extinction risk assessment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Gallou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Alistair S Jump
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Joshua S Lynn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Field
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Severin D H Irl
- Biogeography and Biodiversity Lab, Institute of Physical Geography, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Manuel J Steinbauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research & Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Carl Beierkuhnlein
- Chair of Biogeography, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
- Department of Botany, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jan-Chang Chen
- Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hung Chou
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Andreas Hemp
- Department of Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Yohannes Kidane
- Chair of Biogeography, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christian König
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alireza Naqinezhad
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, P.O. Box: 47416-95447, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Arkadiusz Nowak
- Institute of Biology, University of Opole, Oleska St., 45-052, Opole, Poland
- PAS Botanical Garden - Center for Biodiversity Conservation in Powsin, Prawdziwka St. 2, 02-952, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Jan-Niklas Nuppenau
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Panayiotis Trigas
- Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
| | - Jonathan P Price
- Department of Geography, University of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
| | - Carl A Roland
- Denali National Park, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK, 99709, USA
| | - Andreas H Schweiger
- Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, Department of Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim, Ottilie-Zeller-Weg 2, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Patrick Weigelt
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Campus-Institut Data Science, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Suzette G A Flantua
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - John-Arvid Grytnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, PO Box 7803, 5020, Bergen, Norway
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Xing S, Leahy L, Ashton LA, Kitching RL, Bonebrake TC, Scheffers BR. Ecological patterns and processes in the vertical dimension of terrestrial ecosystems. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:538-551. [PMID: 36622247 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Climatic gradients such as latitude and elevation are considered primary drivers of global biogeography. Yet, alongside these macro-gradients, the vertical space and structure generated by terrestrial plants form comparable climatic gradients but at a fraction of the distance. These vertical gradients provide a spectrum of ecological space for species to occur and coexist, increasing biodiversity. Furthermore, vertical gradients can serve as pathways for evolutionary adaptation of species traits, leading to a range of ecological specialisations. In this review, we explore the ecological evidence supporting the proposition that the vertical gradient serves as an engine driving the ecology and evolution of species and shaping larger biogeographical patterns in space and time akin to elevation and latitude. Focusing on vertebrate and invertebrate taxa, we synthesised how ecological patterns within the vertical dimension shape species composition, distribution and biotic interactions. We identify three key ecological mechanisms associated with species traits that facilitate persistence within the vertical environment and draw on empirical examples from the literature to explore these processes. Looking forward, we propose that the vertical dimension provides an excellent study template to explore timely ecological and evolutionary questions. We encourage future research to also consider how the vertical dimension will influence the resilience and response of animal taxa to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Xing
- School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lily Leahy
- Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise A Ashton
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Roger L Kitching
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Timothy C Bonebrake
- Ecology and Biodiversity Area, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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5
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Kefford BJ, Ghalambor CK, Dewenter B, Poff NL, Hughes J, Reich J, Thompson R. Acute, diel, and annual temperature variability and the thermal biology of ectotherms. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6872-6888. [PMID: 36177681 PMCID: PMC9828456 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is increasing mean temperatures and altering temperature variability at multiple temporal scales. To better understand the consequences of changes in thermal variability for ectotherms it is necessary to consider thermal variation at different time scales (i.e., acute, diel, and annual) and the responses of organisms within and across generations. Thermodynamics constrain acute responses to temperature, but within these constraints and over longer time periods, organisms have the scope to adaptively acclimate or evolve. Yet, hypotheses and predictions about responses to future warming tend not to explicitly consider the temporal scale at which temperature varies. Here, focusing on multicellular ectothermic animals, we argue that consideration of multiple processes and constraints associated with various timescales is necessary to better understand how altered thermal variability because of climate change will affect ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Kefford
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Cameron K. Ghalambor
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Beatrice Dewenter
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - N. LeRoy Poff
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Jane Hughes
- Australian Rivers InstituteGriffith UniversityNathanQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jollene Reich
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Ross Thompson
- Centre for Applied Water Science, Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
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6
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Bota‐Sierra CA, García‐Robledo C, Escobar F, Novelo‐Gutiérrez R, Londoño GA. Environment, taxonomy and morphology constrain insect thermal physiology along tropical mountains. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cornelio A. Bota‐Sierra
- Red de Biodiversidad y Sistemática, Instituto de Ecología (INECOL A.C.), Xalapa Mexico
- Grupo de Entomología Universidad de Antioquia (GEUA), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin Colombia
| | - Carlos García‐Robledo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut U.S.A
| | - Federico Escobar
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología (INECOL A.C.), Xalapa Mexico
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7
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Klinges DH, Duffy JP, Kearney MR, Maclean IMD. mcera5: Driving microclimate models with
ERA5
global gridded climate data. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David H. Klinges
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida, 32605 Gainesville FL USA
| | - James P. Duffy
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Michael R. Kearney
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Victoria, Australia 3010
| | - Ilya M. D. Maclean
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
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Leahy L, Scheffers BR, Williams SE, Andersen AN. Arboreality drives heat tolerance while elevation drives cold tolerance in tropical rainforest ants. Ecology 2021; 103:e03549. [PMID: 34618920 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Determining how species thermal limits correlate with climate is important for understanding biogeographic patterns and assessing vulnerability to climate change. Such analyses need to consider thermal gradients at multiple spatial scales. Here we relate thermal traits of rainforest ants to microclimate conditions from ground to canopy (microgeographic scale) along an elevation gradient (mesogeographic scale) and calculate warming tolerance to assess climate change vulnerability in the Australian Wet Tropics Bioregion. We test the thermal adaptation and thermal niche asymmetry hypotheses to explain interspecific patterns of thermal tolerance at these two spatial scales. We tested cold tolerance (CTmin ), heat tolerance (CTmax ), and calculated thermal tolerance range (CTrange ), using ramping assays for 74 colonies of 40 ant species collected from terrestrial and arboreal habitats at lowland and upland elevation sites and recorded microclimatic conditions for one year. Within sites, arboreal ants were exposed to hotter microclimates and on average had a 4.2°C (95% CI: 2.7-5.6°C) higher CTmax and 5.3°C (95% CI: 3.5-7°C) broader CTrange than ground-dwelling ants. This pattern was consistent across the elevation gradient, whether it be the hotter lowlands or the cooler uplands. Across elevation, upland ants could tolerate significantly colder temperatures than lowland ants, whereas the change in CTmax was less pronounced, and CTrange did not change over elevation. Differential exposure to microclimates, due to localized niche preferences, drives divergence in CTmax , while environmental temperatures along the elevation gradient drive divergence in CTmin . Our results suggest that both processes of thermal adaptation and thermal niche asymmetry are at play, depending on the spatial scale of observation, and we discuss potential mechanisms underlying these patterns. Despite the broad thermal tolerance range of arboreal rainforest ants, lowland arboreal ants had the lowest warming tolerance and may be most vulnerable to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Leahy
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Stephen E Williams
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Alan N Andersen
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
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