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Gruppuso L, Falasco E, Fenoglio S, Marino A, Nizzoli D, Piano E, Bona F. Dataset of a flow intermittency study: Benthic communities of 13 alpine intermittent rivers. Data Brief 2024; 54:110449. [PMID: 38711741 PMCID: PMC11070659 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, perennial mountain streams are becoming increasingly intermittent, due to global climate change and anthropogenic pressures. This phenomenon leads to negative effects on benthic communities' biodiversity and river ecosystems functionality. However, the impact of flow intermittency in previously perennial Alpine streams is still poorly investigated. This dataset consists of all the data collected during a spring sampling campaign performed in April-May 2017 along 13 mountain streams located in the SW Italian Alps. These watercourses have been selected because it was possible to identify two different sampling sites: one perennial, where water has always been flowing throughout the years, and one intermittent, which showed flowing water during the sampling campaign but, in the last decade, has experienced summer dry phases. All the sites have been characterized defining the microhabitats in which samples were retrieved, and physico-chemical data were collected at each site. Biological sampling included benthic macroinvertebrates and diatoms. Therefore, the present dataset offers various biological, ecological and physico-chemical information regarding Alpine streams which have recently become intermittent. Potentially, it could be used for comparisons with different benthic communities present in mountain rivers worldwide which are facing drying events too. The broad range of information present in this dataset offers the possibility to examine only the perennial sites themselves, as an example of good river functionality due to continuous flowing water, or only the intermittent ones, to better understand the effects of drying events on these peculiar ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gruppuso
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - Elisa Falasco
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - Stefano Fenoglio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - Anna Marino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - Daniele Nizzoli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
| | - Francesca Bona
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via A. Albertina, 13, 10123 Torino, Italy and ALPSTREAM—Alpine Stream Research Center/Parco del Monviso, 12030 Ostana, (CN), Italy
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2
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Wilkes MA, Carrivick JL, Castella E, Ilg C, Cauvy-Fraunié S, Fell SC, Füreder L, Huss M, James W, Lencioni V, Robinson C, Brown LE. Glacier retreat reorganizes river habitats leaving refugia for Alpine invertebrate biodiversity poorly protected. Nat Ecol Evol 2023:10.1038/s41559-023-02061-5. [PMID: 37142743 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02061-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Alpine river biodiversity around the world is under threat from glacier retreat driven by rapid warming, yet our ability to predict the future distributions of specialist cold-water species is currently limited. Here we link future glacier projections, hydrological routing methods and species distribution models to quantify the changing influence of glaciers on population distributions of 15 alpine river invertebrate species across the entire European Alps, from 2020 to 2100. Glacial influence on rivers is projected to decrease steadily, with river networks expanding into higher elevations at a rate of 1% per decade. Species are projected to undergo upstream distribution shifts where glaciers persist but become functionally extinct where glaciers disappear completely. Several alpine catchments are predicted to offer climate refugia for cold-water specialists. However, present-day protected area networks provide relatively poor coverage of these future refugia, suggesting that alpine conservation strategies must change to accommodate the future effects of global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Wilkes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - J L Carrivick
- School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - E Castella
- Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - C Ilg
- VSA, Swiss Water Association, Glattbrugg, Switzerland
| | - S Cauvy-Fraunié
- INRAE, UR RIVERLY, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - S C Fell
- School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - L Füreder
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Huss
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - W James
- School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - V Lencioni
- Climate and Ecology Unit, Research and Museum Collections Office, MUSE- Science Museum of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - C Robinson
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Duebendorf, CH and Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L E Brown
- School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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3
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Shah AA, Hotaling S, Lapsansky AB, Malison RL, Birrell JH, Keeley T, Giersch JJ, Tronstad LM, Woods HA. Warming undermines emergence success in a threatened alpine stonefly: A multi‐trait perspective on vulnerability to climate change. Funct Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alisha A. Shah
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Department of Integrative Biology Michigan State University Hickory Corners Michigan USA
| | - Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
- Department of Watershed Sciences Utah State University Logan Utah USA
| | - Anthony B. Lapsansky
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
- Department of Zoology University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Rachel L. Malison
- Flathead Lake Biological Station University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - Jackson H. Birrell
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - Tylor Keeley
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - J. Joseph Giersch
- Flathead Lake Biological Station University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - Lusha M. Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - H. Arthur Woods
- Division of Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
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4
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McCulloch GA, Waters JM. Rapid adaptation in a fast-changing world: Emerging insights from insect genomics. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:943-954. [PMID: 36333958 PMCID: PMC10100130 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many researchers have questioned the ability of biota to adapt to rapid anthropogenic environmental shifts. Here, we synthesize emerging genomic evidence for rapid insect evolution in response to human pressure. These new data reveal diverse genomic mechanisms (single locus, polygenic, structural shifts; introgression) underpinning rapid adaptive responses to a variety of anthropogenic selective pressures. While the effects of some human impacts (e.g. pollution; pesticides) have been previously documented, here we highlight startling new evidence for rapid evolutionary responses to additional anthropogenic processes such as deforestation. These recent findings indicate that diverse insect assemblages can indeed respond dynamically to major anthropogenic evolutionary challenges. Our synthesis also emphasizes the critical roles of genomic architecture, standing variation and gene flow in maintaining future adaptive potential. Broadly, it is clear that genomic approaches are essential for predicting, monitoring and responding to ongoing anthropogenic biodiversity shifts in a fast-changing world.
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5
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Malison RL, Frakes JI, Andreas AL, Keller PR, Hamant E, Shah AA, Woods HA. Plasticity of salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) respiratory phenotypes in response to changes in temperature and oxygen. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276432. [PMID: 36004671 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Like all taxa, populations of aquatic insects may respond to climate change by evolving new physiologies or behaviors, shifting their ranges, exhibiting physiological and behavioral plasticity, or by going extinct. We evaluated the importance of plasticity by measuring changes in growth, survival, and respiratory phenotypes of salmonfly nymphs (the stonefly Pteronarcys californica) in response to experimental combinations of dissolved oxygen and temperature. Overall, smaller individuals grew more rapidly during the six-week experimental period, and oxygen and temperature interacted to affect growth in complex ways. Survival was lower for the warm treatment, though only four mortalities occurred (91.6 vs 100%). Nymphs acclimated to warmer temperatures did not have higher critical thermal maxima (CTMAX), but those acclimated to hypoxia had CTMAX values (in normoxia) higher by approximately 1 °C. These results suggest possible adaptive plasticity of systems for taking up or delivering oxygen. We examined these possibilities by measuring the oxygen-sensitivity of metabolic rates and the morphologies of tracheal gill tufts located ventrally on thoracic and abdominal segments. Mass-specific metabolic rates of individuals acclimated to warmer temperatures were higher in acute hypoxia but lower in normoxia, regardless of their recent history of oxygen exposure during acclimation. The morphology of gill filaments, however, changed in ways that appeared to depress rates of oxygen delivery in functional hypoxia. Our combined results from multiple performance metrics indicate that rising temperatures and hypoxia may interact to magnify the risks to aquatic insects, but that physiological plasticity in respiratory phenotypes may offset some of these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Malison
- The University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Flathead Lake Biological Station, 32125 Bio Station Lane, Polson, MT 59801, USA
| | - James I Frakes
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Amanda L Andreas
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Priya R Keller
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Emily Hamant
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Alisha A Shah
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - H Arthur Woods
- The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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6
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Siqin Z, Niu D, Li M, Zhen H, Yang X. Carbon dioxide emissions, urbanization level, and industrial structure: empirical evidence from North China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:34528-34545. [PMID: 35038097 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17373-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to examine the nexus among carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, urbanization level and industrial structure in North China over the period 2004-2019, according to an expanded Cobb-Douglas production function. The panel econometric techniques are employed to complete the empirical analysis, including cross-sectional correlation test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, and panel Granger causality test. The empirical results support the long-term equilibrium relationship among CO2 emissions, urbanization level and industrial structure in North China, and the urbanization level contributes most to CO2 emissions, followed by fossil energy consumption. Furthermore, the bidirectional causality between CO2 emissions and urbanization level and unidirectional causality from industrial structure to CO2 emissions are found in North China, indicating that urbanization level and industrial structure have significant impacts on CO2 emissions. Finally, according to the empirical findings, several policy suggestions are proposed for the purpose of reducing CO2 emissions in North China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoya Siqin
- School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Dongxiao Niu
- School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Mingyu Li
- School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Hao Zhen
- School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China
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7
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Fallon CE, Blevins E, Blackburn M, Cotten TB, Stinson DW. New Distributional Data for the Northern Forestfly, Lednia borealis Baumann and Kondratieff, 2010 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae), in Washington, USA. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.3398/064.082.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilie Blevins
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR
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Huang J, Miao X, Wang Q, Menzel F, Tang P, Yang D, Wu H, Vogler AP. Metabarcoding reveals massive species diversity of Diptera in a subtropical ecosystem. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8535. [PMID: 35127039 PMCID: PMC8796913 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Diptera is often considered to be the richest insect group due to its great species diversity and broad ecological versatility. However, data on dipteran diversity from subtropical ecosystems have hitherto been scarce, due to the lack of studies conducted at an appropriate large scale. We investigated the diversity and composition of Diptera communities on Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang, China, using DNA metabarcoding technology, and evaluated their dynamic responses to the effects of slope aspect, season, and altitudinal zone. A total of 5,092 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were discovered and tentatively assigned to 72 dipteran families, including 2 family records new for China and 30 family records new for the locality. Cecidomyiidae, Sciaridae, and Phoridae were the predominant families, representing 53.6% of total OTUs, while 52 families include >95% unidentified and presumed undescribed species. We found that the community structure of Diptera was significantly affected by aspect, seasonality (month) and elevation, with richer diversity harbored in north-facing than south-facing slopes, and seasonality a more profound driver of community structure and diversity than elevation. Overall, massive species diversity of Diptera communities was discovered in this subtropical ecosystem of east China. The huge diversity of potentially undescribed species only revealed by metabarcoding now requires more detailed taxonomic study, as a step toward an evolutionary integration that accumulates information on species' geographic ranges, ecological traits, functional roles, and species interactions, and thus places the local communities in the context of the growing knowledge base of global biodiversity and its response to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Huang
- Department of Forestry ProtectionSchool of Forestry and BiotechnologyZhejiang A&F UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoqian Miao
- Department of Forestry ProtectionSchool of Forestry and BiotechnologyZhejiang A&F UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qingyun Wang
- Department of Forestry ProtectionSchool of Forestry and BiotechnologyZhejiang A&F UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Frank Menzel
- Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches InstitutMünchebergGermany
| | - Pu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural EntomologyInstitute of Insect SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Ding Yang
- College of Plant ProtectionChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Forestry ProtectionSchool of Forestry and BiotechnologyZhejiang A&F UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Alfried P. Vogler
- Department of Life SciencesNatural History MuseumLondonUK
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonAscotUK
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9
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Olivares-Castro G, Cáceres-Jensen L, Guerrero-Bosagna C, Villagra C. Insect Epigenetic Mechanisms Facing Anthropogenic-Derived Contamination, an Overview. INSECTS 2021; 12:780. [PMID: 34564220 PMCID: PMC8468710 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the human species has been recognized as the primary species responsible for Earth's biodiversity decline. Contamination by different chemical compounds, such as pesticides, is among the main causes of population decreases and species extinction. Insects are key for ecosystem maintenance; unfortunately, their populations are being drastically affected by human-derived disturbances. Pesticides, applied in agricultural and urban environments, are capable of polluting soil and water sources, reaching non-target organisms (native and introduced). Pesticides alter insect's development, physiology, and inheritance. Recently, a link between pesticide effects on insects and their epigenetic molecular mechanisms (EMMs) has been demonstrated. EMMs are capable of regulating gene expression without modifying genetic sequences, resulting in the expression of different stress responses as well as compensatory mechanisms. In this work, we review the main anthropogenic contaminants capable of affecting insect biology and of triggering EMMs. EMMs are involved in the development of several diseases in native insects affected by pesticides (e.g., anomalous teratogenic reactions). Additionally, EMMs also may allow for the survival of some species (mainly pests) under contamination-derived habitats; this may lead to biodiversity decline and further biotic homogenization. We illustrate these patterns by reviewing the effect of neonicotinoid insecticides, insect EMMs, and their ecological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Olivares-Castro
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Avenida José Pedro Alessandri 774, Santiago 7760197, Chile;
| | - Lizethly Cáceres-Jensen
- Laboratorio de Físicoquímica Analítica, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago 7760197, Chile;
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Integrative Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cristian Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Avenida José Pedro Alessandri 774, Santiago 7760197, Chile;
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Zhang L, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Shi Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Chu H. Co-existing water and sediment bacteria are driven by contrasting environmental factors across glacier-fed aquatic systems. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 198:117139. [PMID: 33895591 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Glacier-fed aquatic ecosystems provide habitats for diverse and active bacterial communities. However, the environmental vulnerabilities of co-existing water and sediment bacterial communities in these ecosystems remain unclear. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to investigate co-existing bacterial communities in paired water and sediment samples from multiple rivers and lakes that are mainly fed by glaciers from the southeast Tibetan Plateau. Overall, the bacterial communities were dissimilar between the water and sediment, which indicated that there were limited interactions between them. Bacterial diversity was greatest in the sediments, where it was mainly driven by changes in nitrogen compounds and pH. Meanwhile water bacterial diversity was more susceptible to evapotranspiration, elevation, and mean annual temperature. Water samples contained higher proportions of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while sediment harbored higher proportions of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes. Bacterial community composition was significantly correlated with mean annual precipitation in water, but with nitrogen compounds in sediment. The co-occurrence network of water included more keystone species (e.g., CL500-29 marine group, Nocardioides spp., and Bacillus spp.) than the sediment network. These keystone species showed stronger phylogenetic signals than the species in the modular structures. Further, ecological clusters within the networks suggested that there were contrasting environmental vulnerabilities and preferences between water and sediment communities. These findings demonstrated that co-existing water and sediment bacterial communities and ecological clusters were shaped by contrasting environmental factors. This work provides a basis for understanding the importance of bacterial communities in maintaining glacier-fed aquatic ecosystems. Further, the results provide new perspectives for water resource management and water conservation in changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Yu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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Climate Change, Ecosystem Processes and Biological Diversity Responses in High Elevation Communities. CLIMATE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cli9050087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The populations, species, and communities in high elevation mountainous regions at or above tree line are being impacted by the changing climate. Mountain systems have been recognized as both resilient and extremely threatened by climate change, requiring a more nuanced understanding of potential trajectories of the biotic communities. For high elevation systems in particular, we need to consider how the interactions among climate drivers and topography currently structure the diversity, species composition, and life-history strategies of these communities. Further, predicting biotic responses to changing climate requires knowledge of intra- and inter-specific climate associations within the context of topographically heterogenous landscapes. Changes in temperature, snow, and rain characteristics at regional scales are amplified or attenuated by slope, aspect, and wind patterns occurring at local scales that are often under a hectare or even a meter in extent. Community assemblages are structured by the soil moisture and growing season duration at these local sites, and directional climate change has the potential to alter these two drivers together, independently, or in opposition to one another due to local, intervening variables. Changes threaten species whose water and growing season duration requirements are locally extirpated or species who may be outcompeted by nearby faster-growing, warmer/drier adapted species. However, barring non-analogue climate conditions, species may also be able to more easily track required resource regimes in topographically heterogenous landscapes. New species arrivals composed of competitors, predators and pathogens can further mediate the direct impacts of the changing climate. Plants are moving uphill, demonstrating primary succession with the emergence of new habitats from snow and rock, but these shifts are constrained over the short term by soil limitations and microbes and ultimately by the lack of colonizable terrestrial surfaces. Meanwhile, both subalpine herbaceous and woody species pose threats to more cold-adapted species. Overall, the multiple interacting direct and indirect effects of the changing climate on high elevation systems may lead to multiple potential trajectories for these systems.
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12
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Hotaling S, Shah AA, Dillon ME, Giersch JJ, Tronstad LM, Finn DS, Woods HA, Kelley JL. Cold Tolerance of Mountain Stoneflies (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from the High Rocky Mountains. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2021. [DOI: 10.3398/064.081.0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Alisha A. Shah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
| | - Michael E. Dillon
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
| | - J. Joseph Giersch
- Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, West Glacier, MT
| | - Lusha M. Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
| | - Debra S. Finn
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
| | - H. Arthur Woods
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
| | - Joanna L. Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
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13
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Brahney J, Bothwell ML, Capito L, Gray CA, Null SE, Menounos B, Curtis PJ. Glacier recession alters stream water quality characteristics facilitating bloom formation in the benthic diatom Didymosphenia geminata. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142856. [PMID: 33092829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Glaciers provide cold, turbid runoff to many mountain streams in the late summer and buffer against years with low snowfall. The input of glacial meltwater to streams maintains unique habitats and support a diversity of stream flora and fauna. In western Canada, glaciers are anticipated to retreat by 60-80% by the end of the century, and this retreat will invoke widespread changes in mountain ecosystems. We used a space-for-time substitution along a gradient of glacierization in western Canada to develop insights into changes that may occur in glaciated regions over the coming decades. Here we report on observed changes in physical (temperature, turbidity), and chemical (dissolved and total nutrients) characteristics of mountain streams and the associated shifts in their diatom communities during de-glacierization. Shifts in habitat characteristics across gradients include changes in nutrient concentrations, light penetration, temperatures, and flow, all of which have led to distinct changes in diatom community composition. Importantly, glacial-fed rivers were 3-5 °C cooler than rivers without glacial contributions. Declines in glacial meltwater contribution to streams resulted in shifts in the timing of nutrient fluxes and lower concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and light penetration. The above set of conditions were linked to the overgrowth of the benthic diatom Didymosphenia geminata. These changes in stream condition and D. geminata colony development primarily occurred in streams with marginal (2-5%) to no glacier cover. Our data support a hypothesis that climate-induced changes in river hydrochemistry and physical condition lead to a phenological mismatch that favors D. geminata bloom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Brahney
- Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States of America.
| | - M L Bothwell
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - L Capito
- Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States of America
| | - C A Gray
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States of America
| | - S E Null
- Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, United States of America
| | - B Menounos
- Geography Program and Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada
| | - P J Curtis
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
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14
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Brighenti S, Hotaling S, Finn DS, Fountain AG, Hayashi M, Herbst D, Saros JE, Tronstad LM, Millar CI. Rock glaciers and related cold rocky landforms: Overlooked climate refugia for mountain biodiversity. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1504-1517. [PMID: 33404095 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Mountains are global biodiversity hotspots where cold environments and their associated ecological communities are threatened by climate warming. Considerable research attention has been devoted to understanding the ecological effects of alpine glacier and snowfield recession. However, much less attention has been given to identifying climate refugia in mountain ecosystems where present-day environmental conditions will be maintained, at least in the near-term, as other habitats change. Around the world, montane communities of microbes, animals, and plants live on, adjacent to, and downstream of rock glaciers and related cold rocky landforms (CRL). These geomorphological features have been overlooked in the ecological literature despite being extremely common in mountain ranges worldwide with a propensity to support cold and stable habitats for aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. CRLs are less responsive to atmospheric warming than alpine glaciers and snowfields due to the insulating nature and thermal inertia of their debris cover paired with their internal ventilation patterns. Thus, CRLs are likely to remain on the landscape after adjacent glaciers and snowfields have melted, thereby providing longer-term cold habitat for biodiversity living on and downstream of them. Here, we show that CRLs will likely act as key climate refugia for terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in mountain ecosystems, offer guidelines for incorporating CRLs into conservation practices, and identify areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Brighenti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Debra S Finn
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | | | - Masaki Hayashi
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David Herbst
- Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory and Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Jasmine E Saros
- School of Biology and Ecology, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Lusha M Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Constance I Millar
- Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Albany, CA, USA
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15
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Birrell JH, Shah AA, Hotaling S, Giersch JJ, Williamson CE, Jacobsen D, Woods HA. Insects in high-elevation streams: Life in extreme environments imperiled by climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6667-6684. [PMID: 32931053 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is altering conditions in high-elevation streams worldwide, with largely unknown effects on resident communities of aquatic insects. Here, we review the challenges of climate change for high-elevation aquatic insects and how they may respond, focusing on current gaps in knowledge. Understanding current effects and predicting future impacts will depend on progress in three areas. First, we need better descriptions of the multivariate physical challenges and interactions among challenges in high-elevation streams, which include low but rising temperatures, low oxygen supply and increasing oxygen demand, high and rising exposure to ultraviolet radiation, low ionic strength, and variable but shifting flow regimes. These factors are often studied in isolation even though they covary in nature and interact in space and time. Second, we need a better mechanistic understanding of how physical conditions in streams drive the performance of individual insects. Environment-performance links are mediated by physiology and behavior, which are poorly known in high-elevation taxa. Third, we need to define the scope and importance of potential responses across levels of biological organization. Short-term responses are defined by the tolerances of individuals, their capacities to perform adequately across a range of conditions, and behaviors used to exploit local, fine-scale variation in abiotic factors. Longer term responses to climate change, however, may include individual plasticity and evolution of populations. Whether high-elevation aquatic insects can mitigate climatic risks via these pathways is largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson H Birrell
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Alisha A Shah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - J Joseph Giersch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT, USA
| | | | - Dean Jacobsen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H Arthur Woods
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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16
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Tronstad LM, Hotaling S, Giersch JJ, Wilmot OJ, Finn DS. Headwaters Fed by Subterranean Ice: Potential Climate Refugia for Mountain Stream Communities? WEST N AM NATURALIST 2020. [DOI: 10.3398/064.080.0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lusha M. Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
| | - Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - J. Joseph Giersch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT
| | - Oliver J. Wilmot
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
| | - Debra S. Finn
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
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17
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Hotaling S, Shah AA, McGowan KL, Tronstad LM, Giersch JJ, Finn DS, Woods HA, Dillon ME, Kelley JL. Mountain stoneflies may tolerate warming streams: Evidence from organismal physiology and gene expression. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:5524-5538. [PMID: 32698241 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rapid glacier recession is altering the physical conditions of headwater streams. Stream temperatures are predicted to rise and become increasingly variable, putting entire meltwater-associated biological communities at risk of extinction. Thus, there is a pressing need to understand how thermal stress affects mountain stream insects, particularly where glaciers are likely to vanish on contemporary timescales. In this study, we measured the critical thermal maximum (CTMAX ) of stonefly nymphs representing multiple species and a range of thermal regimes in the high Rocky Mountains, USA. We then collected RNA-sequencing data to assess how organismal thermal stress translated to the cellular level. Our focal species included the meltwater stonefly, Lednia tumana, which was recently listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to climate-induced habitat loss. For all study species, critical thermal maxima (CTMAX > 20°C) far exceeded the stream temperatures mountain stoneflies experience (<10°C). Moreover, while evidence for a cellular stress response was present, we also observed constitutive expression of genes encoding proteins known to underlie thermal stress (i.e., heat shock proteins) even at low temperatures that reflected natural conditions. We show that high-elevation aquatic insects may not be physiologically threatened by short-term exposure to warm temperatures and that longer-term physiological responses or biotic factors (e.g., competition) may better explain their extreme distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Alisha A Shah
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Kerry L McGowan
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Lusha M Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - J Joseph Giersch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT, USA
| | - Debra S Finn
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | - H Arthur Woods
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Michael E Dillon
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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18
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Abstract
Glaciers are important drivers of environmental heterogeneity and biological diversity across mountain landscapes. Worldwide, glaciers are receding rapidly due to climate change, with important consequences for biodiversity in mountain ecosystems. However, the effects of glacier loss on biodiversity have never been quantified across a mountainous region, primarily due to a lack of adequate data at large spatial and temporal scales. Here, we combine high-resolution biological and glacier change (ca. 1850-2015) datasets for Glacier National Park, USA, to test the prediction that glacier retreat reduces biodiversity in mountain ecosystems through the loss of uniquely adapted meltwater stream species. We identified a specialized cold-water invertebrate community restricted to the highest elevation streams primarily below glaciers, but also snowfields and groundwater springs. We show that this community and endemic species have unexpectedly persisted in cold, high-elevation sites, even in catchments that have not been glaciated in ∼170 y. Future projections suggest substantial declines in suitable habitat, but not necessarily loss of this community with the complete disappearance of glaciers. Our findings demonstrate that high-elevation streams fed by snow and other cold-water sources continue to serve as critical climate refugia for mountain biodiversity even after glaciers disappear.
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19
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A global synthesis of biodiversity responses to glacier retreat. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 3:1675-1685. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-1042-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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20
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Xiang H, Zhang Y, Atkinson D, Sekar R. Combined effects of water temperature, grazing snails and terrestrial herbivores on leaf decomposition in urban streams. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7580. [PMID: 31608164 PMCID: PMC6788434 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The decomposition of organic matter in freshwaters, such as leaf litter, can affect global nutrient (e.g., carbon) cycling. This process can be influenced by fast urbanization through increased water temperature, reduced aquatic diversity and changed leaf litter quality traits. In this study, we performed a mesocosm experiment to explore the individual and combined effects of warming (8°C higher and ambient), the presence versus absence of grazing snails (Parafossarulus striatulus), and intraspecific difference of leaf litter quality (intact versus > 40% area of Liriodendron chinense leaves grazed by terrestrial insects) on litter decomposition in urban streams. Litter decomposition rates ranged from 0.019 d−1 to 0.058 d−1 with an average decomposition rate of 0.032 ± 0.002 d−1. All the three factors had significant effects on litter decomposition rate. Warming and the presence of snails accelerated litter decomposition rates by 60% and 35% respectively. Litter decomposition rates of leaves damaged by terrestrial insects were 5% slower than that of intact leaves, because litter quality of terrestrial insect-damaged leaves was lower (i.e., higher specific leaf weight) than intact leaves. For treatments with snails, warming stimulated microbial and snail mediated litter decomposition rates by 35% and 167%, respectively. All combinations of treatments showed additive effects on litter decomposition except for the interaction between warming and snails which showed positive synergistic effects. In addition, neither temperature nor litter quality affected snail growth rate. These results imply that higher water temperature and the presence of abundant snails in urban streams greatly enhanced litter decomposition. Moreover, the effect of pest outbreaks, which resulted in lower litter quality, can cascade to aquatic ecosystems by retarding microbe-mediated litter decomposition. When these factors co-occurred, warming could synergistically interact with snails to speed up the depletion of organic matter, while the effect of leaf quality on litter decomposition may be diminished at high water temperature. These effects could further influence stream food webs and nutrient cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyong Xiang
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.,Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yixin Zhang
- Research Center of Environmental Protection and Ecological Restoration Technology, Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - David Atkinson
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Raju Sekar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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21
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Ren Z, Martyniuk N, Oleksy IA, Swain A, Hotaling S. Ecological Stoichiometry of the Mountain Cryosphere. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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22
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Hotaling S, Foley ME, Zeglin LH, Finn DS, Tronstad LM, Giersch JJ, Muhlfeld CC, Weisrock DW. Microbial assemblages reflect environmental heterogeneity in alpine streams. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:2576-2590. [PMID: 31077498 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Alpine streams are dynamic habitats harboring substantial biodiversity across small spatial extents. The diversity of alpine stream biota is largely reflective of environmental heterogeneity stemming from varying hydrological sources. Globally, alpine stream diversity is under threat as meltwater sources recede and stream conditions become increasingly homogeneous. Much attention has been devoted to macroinvertebrate diversity in alpine headwaters, yet to fully understand the breadth of climate change threats, a more thorough accounting of microbial diversity is needed. We characterized microbial diversity (specifically Bacteria and Archaea) of 13 streams in two disjunct Rocky Mountain subranges through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our study encompassed the spectrum of alpine stream sources (glaciers, snowfields, subterranean ice, and groundwater) and three microhabitats (ice, biofilms, and streamwater). We observed no difference in regional (γ) diversity between subranges but substantial differences in diversity among (β) stream types and microhabitats. Within-stream (α) diversity was highest in groundwater-fed springs, lowest in glacier-fed streams, and positively correlated with water temperature for both streamwater and biofilm assemblages. We identified an underappreciated alpine stream type-the icy seep-that are fed by subterranean ice, exhibit cold temperatures (summer mean <2°C), moderate bed stability, and relatively high conductivity. Icy seeps will likely be important for combatting biodiversity losses as they contain similar microbial assemblages to streams fed by surface ice yet may be buffered against climate change by insulating debris cover. Our results show that the patterns of microbial diversity support an ominous trend for alpine stream biodiversity; as meltwater sources decline, stream communities will become more diverse locally, but regional diversity will be lost. Icy seeps, however, represent a source of optimism for the future of biodiversity in these imperiled ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Mary E Foley
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Biology Department, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, New Jersey
| | - Lydia H Zeglin
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Debra S Finn
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
| | - Lusha M Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
| | - J Joseph Giersch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, Montana
| | - Clint C Muhlfeld
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, Montana
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, The University of Montana, Polson, Montana
| | - David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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23
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Hotaling S, Shain DH, Lang SA, Bagley RK, Tronstad LM, Weisrock DW, Kelley JL. Long-distance dispersal, ice sheet dynamics and mountaintop isolation underlie the genetic structure of glacier ice worms. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190983. [PMID: 31213183 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disentangling the contemporary and historical factors underlying the spatial distributions of species is a central goal of biogeography. For species with broad distributions but little capacity to actively disperse, disconnected geographical distributions highlight the potential influence of passive, long-distance dispersal (LDD) on their evolutionary histories. However, dispersal alone cannot completely account for the biogeography of any species, and other factors-e.g. habitat suitability, life history-must also be considered. North American ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) are ice-obligate annelids that inhabit coastal glaciers from Oregon to Alaska. Previous studies identified a complex biogeographic history for ice worms, with evidence for genetic isolation, unexpectedly close relationships among geographically disjunct lineages, and contemporary migration across large (e.g. greater than 1500 km) areas of unsuitable habitat. In this study, we analysed genome-scale sequence data for individuals from most of the known ice worm range. We found clear support for divergence between populations along the Pacific Coast and the inland flanks of the Coast Mountains (mean FST = 0.60), likely precipitated by episodic ice sheet expansion and contraction during the Pleistocene. We also found support for LDD of ice worms from Alaska to Vancouver Island, perhaps mediated by migrating birds. Our results highlight the power of genomic data for disentangling complex biogeographic patterns, including the presence of LDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- 1 School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University , Pullman, WA , USA
| | - Daniel H Shain
- 2 Department of Biology, Rutgers University , Camden, NJ , USA
| | - Shirley A Lang
- 3 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University , Stratford, NJ , USA
| | - Robin K Bagley
- 4 Department of Biology, University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA
| | - Lusha M Tronstad
- 5 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming , Laramie, WY , USA
| | - David W Weisrock
- 6 Department of Biology, University of Kentucky , Lexington, KY , USA
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- 1 School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University , Pullman, WA , USA
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24
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Inouye DW. Effects of climate change on alpine plants and their pollinators. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1469:26-37. [PMID: 31025387 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Alpine environments are among the habitats most strongly affected by climate change, and consequently their unique plants and pollinators are faced with the challenge of adapting or going extinct. Changes in temperature and precipitation affect snowpack and snowmelt, resulting in changes in the growing season in this environment where plant growth and pollinator activity are constrained to the snow-free season, which can vary significantly across the landscape if there is significant topographic complexity. As in other ecosystems, the resulting changes in phenology are not uniform among species, creating the potential for altered and new interspecific interactions. New plant and animal species are arriving as lower altitude species move up with warming temperatures, introducing new competitors and generating changes in plant-pollinator interactions. Repeating historical surveys, taking advantage of museum collections, and using new technology will facilitate our understanding of how plants and pollinators are responding to the changing alpine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Inouye
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Crested Butte, Colorado
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25
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Ecosystem Services, Global Diversity, and Rate of Stonefly Species Descriptions (Insecta: Plecoptera). INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10040099. [PMID: 30959938 PMCID: PMC6523762 DOI: 10.3390/insects10040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) provide ecosystem services as indicators of water quality, as food for predators, as mediators of energy flow and nutrient cycling, and through cultural services related to recreation and artistic creativity. The Plecoptera Species File (PSF) aggregates stonefly nomenclature, distribution, and literature to help society and scientists understand the value of services stoneflies provide. Using PSF data, we examined global and regional diversity, compared species description rates, and predicted future species description numbers through the year 2100. Through 2018, extant species totaled 3718 with Temperate Asia having the greatest regional diversity at 1178 species. The Perlidae was the most species-rich of the 16 families at 1120 species. The recent global rate of species description was 43.6 species/yr, with Temperate Asia having the highest regional rate at 13.7 species/yr, followed by China and South America adding approximately 9.0 species/yr. We predicted that 1140 ± 130 new species would be described globally by 2050, and 2130 ± 330 by the year 2100, most of the increase occurring in China and South America. We discuss the possibility of reaching these predicted values.
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26
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Scotti A, Tappeiner U, Bottarin R. Stream benthic macroinvertebrates abundances over a 6-year monitoring period of an Italian glacier-fed stream. Biodivers Data J 2019; 7:e33576. [PMID: 30872941 PMCID: PMC6416225 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.7.e33576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aquatic macroinvertebrates are widely used as bioindicators for water quality assessments involving different kinds of disruptive factors, such as hydrological regime variations or pollutant spills. Recently, they demonstrated to be effective in monitoring effects of climate change in alpine stream and rivers. Indeed, since the distribution of macroinvertebrates in glacier-fed streams has been succesfully investigated and described by several authors, the discrepancy in presence/absence and quantity of specific taxa from the established models may represent an early warning of the effects of climatic changes occurring in alpine riverine ecosystems. New information Together with the present paper, we provide a dataset covering a period of 6 years (2010-2015) sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrates along a longitudinal transect of a glacier-fed stream located in the Italian Alps, inside the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) macrosite of Matsch|Mazia (IT-25). Data were collected during the glacial melt period (April - September), with monthly resolution. Owing to the unique temporal resolution of the dataset, we aim to produce a reliable tool (i.e. reference point) for future ecological assessment on the same stream, but also to similar streams worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Scotti
- Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research Bolzano Italy.,Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | - Ulrike Tappeiner
- Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research Bolzano Italy.,Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria
| | - Roberta Bottarin
- Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy Institute for Alpine Environment, EURAC Research Bolzano Italy
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27
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Deiner K, Bik HM, Mächler E, Seymour M, Lacoursière-Roussel A, Altermatt F, Creer S, Bista I, Lodge DM, de Vere N, Pfrender ME, Bernatchez L. Environmental DNA metabarcoding: Transforming how we survey animal and plant communities. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:5872-5895. [PMID: 28921802 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 614] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The genomic revolution has fundamentally changed how we survey biodiversity on earth. High-throughput sequencing ("HTS") platforms now enable the rapid sequencing of DNA from diverse kinds of environmental samples (termed "environmental DNA" or "eDNA"). Coupling HTS with our ability to associate sequences from eDNA with a taxonomic name is called "eDNA metabarcoding" and offers a powerful molecular tool capable of noninvasively surveying species richness from many ecosystems. Here, we review the use of eDNA metabarcoding for surveying animal and plant richness, and the challenges in using eDNA approaches to estimate relative abundance. We highlight eDNA applications in freshwater, marine and terrestrial environments, and in this broad context, we distill what is known about the ability of different eDNA sample types to approximate richness in space and across time. We provide guiding questions for study design and discuss the eDNA metabarcoding workflow with a focus on primers and library preparation methods. We additionally discuss important criteria for consideration of bioinformatic filtering of data sets, with recommendations for increasing transparency. Finally, looking to the future, we discuss emerging applications of eDNA metabarcoding in ecology, conservation, invasion biology, biomonitoring, and how eDNA metabarcoding can empower citizen science and biodiversity education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Deiner
- Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Holly M Bik
- Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Elvira Mächler
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mathew Seymour
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Centre Wales Building, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | | | - Florian Altermatt
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Creer
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Centre Wales Building, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Iliana Bista
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Environment Centre Wales Building, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David M Lodge
- Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Natasha de Vere
- Conservation and Research Department, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, UK.,Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Michael E Pfrender
- Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- IBIS (Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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28
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Fell SC, Carrivick JL, Brown LE. The Multitrophic Effects of Climate Change and Glacier Retreat in Mountain Rivers. Bioscience 2017; 67:897-911. [PMID: 29599537 PMCID: PMC5862337 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is driving the thinning and retreat of many glaciers globally. Reductions of ice-melt inputs to mountain rivers are changing their physicochemical characteristics and, in turn, aquatic communities. Glacier-fed rivers can serve as model systems for investigations of climate-change effects on ecosystems because of their strong atmospheric–cryospheric links, high biodiversity of multiple taxonomic groups, and significant conservation interest concerning endemic species. From a synthesis of existing knowledge, we develop a new conceptual understanding of how reducing glacier cover affects organisms spanning multiple trophic groups. Although the response of macroinvertebrates to glacier retreat has been well described, we show that there remains a relative paucity of information for biofilm, microinvertebrate, and vertebrate taxa. Enhanced understanding of whole river food webs will improve the prediction of river-ecosystem responses to deglaciation while offering the potential to identify and protect a wider range of sensitive and threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Fell
- Sarah Fell is a PhD student studying alpine-river ecosystem response to glacier retreat. Dr. Lee Brown is an associate professor of aquatic science with a research interest in the population and community ecology, hydrology, and geomorphology of cold-environment river systems. Dr. Jonathan Carrivick is a senior lecturer in geomorphology, with a research focus spanning Earth-surface processes and landforms in polar, Arctic, and alpine environments. All authors are affiliated with the School of Geography and water@leeds at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan L Carrivick
- Sarah Fell is a PhD student studying alpine-river ecosystem response to glacier retreat. Dr. Lee Brown is an associate professor of aquatic science with a research interest in the population and community ecology, hydrology, and geomorphology of cold-environment river systems. Dr. Jonathan Carrivick is a senior lecturer in geomorphology, with a research focus spanning Earth-surface processes and landforms in polar, Arctic, and alpine environments. All authors are affiliated with the School of Geography and water@leeds at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom
| | - Lee E Brown
- Sarah Fell is a PhD student studying alpine-river ecosystem response to glacier retreat. Dr. Lee Brown is an associate professor of aquatic science with a research interest in the population and community ecology, hydrology, and geomorphology of cold-environment river systems. Dr. Jonathan Carrivick is a senior lecturer in geomorphology, with a research focus spanning Earth-surface processes and landforms in polar, Arctic, and alpine environments. All authors are affiliated with the School of Geography and water@leeds at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom
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Hotaling S, Tronstad LM, Bish JC. Macroinvertebrate richness is lower in high-elevation lakes vs nearby streams: evidence from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. J NAT HIST 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1353149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Lusha M. Tronstad
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - James Cody Bish
- Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Kaycee, Wyoming, USA
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30
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Hotaling S, Hood E, Hamilton TL. Microbial ecology of mountain glacier ecosystems: biodiversity, ecological connections and implications of a warming climate. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:2935-2948. [PMID: 28419666 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glacier ecosystems are teeming with life on, beneath, and to a lesser degree, within their icy masses. This conclusion largely stems from polar research, with less attention paid to mountain glaciers that overlap environmentally and ecologically with their polar counterparts in some ways, but diverge in others. One difference lies in the susceptibility of mountain glaciers to the near-term threat of climate change, as they tend to be much smaller in both area and volume. Moreover, mountain glaciers are typically steeper, more dependent upon basal sliding for movement, and experience higher seasonal precipitation. Here, we provide a modern synthesis of the microbial ecology of mountain glacier ecosystems, and particularly those at low- to mid-latitudes. We focus on five ecological zones: the supraglacial surface, englacial interior, subglacial bedrock-ice interface, proglacial streams and glacier forefields. For each, we discuss the role of microbiota in biogeochemical cycling and outline ecological and hydrological connections among zones, underscoring the interconnected nature of these ecosystems. Collectively, we highlight the need to: better document the biodiversity and functional roles of mountain glacier microbiota; describe the ecological implications of rapid glacial retreat under climate change and resolve the relative contributions of ecological zones to broader ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Eran Hood
- Department of Natural Science, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK, 99801, USA
| | - Trinity L Hamilton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
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31
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Hotaling S, Finn DS, Joseph Giersch J, Weisrock DW, Jacobsen D. Climate change and alpine stream biology: progress, challenges, and opportunities for the future. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:2024-2045. [PMID: 28105701 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In alpine regions worldwide, climate change is dramatically altering ecosystems and affecting biodiversity in many ways. For streams, receding alpine glaciers and snowfields, paired with altered precipitation regimes, are driving shifts in hydrology, species distributions, basal resources, and threatening the very existence of some habitats and biota. Alpine streams harbour substantial species and genetic diversity due to significant habitat insularity and environmental heterogeneity. Climate change is expected to affect alpine stream biodiversity across many levels of biological resolution from micro- to macroscopic organisms and genes to communities. Herein, we describe the current state of alpine stream biology from an organism-focused perspective. We begin by reviewing seven standard and emerging approaches that combine to form the current state of the discipline. We follow with a call for increased synthesis across existing approaches to improve understanding of how these imperiled ecosystems are responding to rapid environmental change. We then take a forward-looking viewpoint on how alpine stream biologists can make better use of existing data sets through temporal comparisons, integrate remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technologies, and apply genomic tools to refine knowledge of underlying evolutionary processes. We conclude with comments about the future of biodiversity conservation in alpine streams to confront the daunting challenge of mitigating the effects of rapid environmental change in these sentinel ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, U.S.A
| | - Debra S Finn
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, U.S.A.,Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - J Joseph Giersch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT 59936, U.S.A
| | - David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, U.S.A
| | - Dean Jacobsen
- Freshwater Biological Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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