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Yu J, Shi P, Zong N, Song M, Miao Y, Huang X, Chen X, Hei H. Responses of Intraspecific and Interspecific Trait Variations to Nitrogen Addition in a Tibetan Alpine Meadow. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1764. [PMID: 38999605 PMCID: PMC11244433 DOI: 10.3390/plants13131764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
A community functional structure may respond to environmental changes such as nitrogen (N) enrichment by altering intraspecific and interspecific trait variations. However, the relative contributions of both components in determining the community response to N enrichment are unclear. In this study, we measured the plant height (H), leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and specific leaf area (SLA) based on a nine-year N addition gradient experiment in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. We examined the intraspecific and interspecific variations within and among the communities, the responses of traits in terms of community weighted mean (CWM) and non-weighted mean (CM) to N addition, and the effects of these trait variations on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). Our results show that N addition increased the interspecific variation in H while decreasing that of LA within the community, whereas it had no significant effects on the intraspecific variations in the four traits within the community. In contrast, N addition significantly increased the intraspecific variation in H and decreased that of LA among the communities. Moreover, the contribution of intraspecific variation was greater than that of the interspecific variation in terms of CWM for all traits, while the opposite contribution was observed in terms of CM, suggesting that the dominant species would have greater resilience while subdominant species would become less resistant to N addition. Further, intraspecific variations of LA and LDMC within the community played an important role in explaining community productivity. Our results highlight the importance of both intraspecific and interspecific variations in mediating functional trait responses to N enrichment, and intraspecific variation within the communities has important implications for community functioning that should be considered to better understand and predict the responses of the alpine grasslands to N enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialuo Yu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Peili Shi
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Ning Zong
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Minghua Song
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yujue Miao
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiaofang Huang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xueying Chen
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Huixin Hei
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Fattorini S, Vitozzi A, Di Biase L, Bergamaschi D. Macroecology of Dung Beetles in Italy. INSECTS 2024; 15:39. [PMID: 38249045 PMCID: PMC10816216 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The Italian fauna includes about 170 species/subspecies of dung beetles, being one of the richest in Europe. We used data on dung beetle distribution in the Italian regions to investigate some macroecological patterns. Specifically, we tested if species richness decreased southward (peninsula effect) or northward (latitudinal gradient). We also considered the effects of area (i.e., the species-area relationship), topographic complexity, and climate in explaining dung beetle richness. Finally, we used multivariate techniques to identify biotic relationships between regions. We found no support for the peninsula effect, whereas scarabaeines followed a latitudinal gradient, thus supporting a possible role of southern areas as Pleistocene refuges for this group of mainly thermophilic beetles. By contrast, aphodiines were more associated with cold and humid climates and do not show a distinct latitudinal pattern. In general, species richness was influenced by area, with the Sardinian fauna being however strongly impoverished because of its isolation. Faunal patterns for mainland regions reflect the influence of current ecological settings and historical factors (Pleistocene glaciations) in determining species distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Fattorini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Alessia Vitozzi
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Letizia Di Biase
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Davide Bergamaschi
- Department of Entomology, Forbes 410, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Di Biase L, Tsafack N, Pace L, Fattorini S. Ellenberg Indicator Values Disclose Complex Environmental Filtering Processes in Plant Communities along an Elevational Gradient. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020161. [PMID: 36829440 PMCID: PMC9953212 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) express plant preferences for temperature, light, continentality, soil moisture, pH, and soil nutrients, and have been largely used to deduce environmental characteristics from plant communities. However, EIVs might also be used to investigate the importance of filtering mechanisms in shaping plant communities according to species ecological preferences, a so far overlooked use of EIVs. In this paper, we investigated how community-weighted means (CWM), calculated with EIVs, varied along an elevational gradient in a small mountain in Central Italy. We also tested if species abundances varied according to their ecological preferences. We found that the prevalence of thermophilous species declines with elevation, being progressively replaced by cold-adapted species. Heliophilous species prevail at low and high elevations (characterized by the presence of open habitats), whereas in the middle of the gradient (occupied by the beech forest), sciophilous species predominate. Variations for moisture and soil nutrient preferences followed a similar pattern, probably because of the high moisture and nutrient levels of forest soils with a lot of humus. No distinct pattern was detected for EIVs for pH and continentality since these factors are subject to more local variations. These results highlight the possible role of EIVs to investigate how environmental gradients shape plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Di Biase
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Noelline Tsafack
- cE3c–Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Loretta Pace
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.P.); (S.F.)
| | - Simone Fattorini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.P.); (S.F.)
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Chesshire PR, McCabe LM, Cobb NS. Variation in Plant-Pollinator Network Structure along the Elevational Gradient of the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121060. [PMID: 34940148 PMCID: PMC8704280 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The structural patterns comprising bimodal pollination networks can help characterize plant-pollinator systems and the interactions that influence species distribution and diversity over time and space. We compare network organization of three plant-pollinator communities along the altitudinal gradient of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona. We found that pollination networks become more nested, as well as exhibit lower overall network specialization, with increasing elevation. Greater weight of generalist pollinators at higher elevations of the San Francisco Peaks may result in plant-pollinator communities less vulnerable to future species loss due to changing climate or shifts in species distribution. We uncover the critical, more generalized pollinator species likely responsible for higher nestedness and stability at the higher elevation environment. The generalist species most important for network stability may be of the greatest interest for conservation efforts; preservation of the most important links in plant-pollinator networks may help secure the more specialized pollinators and maintain species redundancy in the face of ecological change, such as changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige R. Chesshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Biodiversity Outreach Network (BON), Mesa, AZ 86011, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Neil S. Cobb
- Biodiversity Outreach Network (BON), Mesa, AZ 86011, USA;
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Zhu J, Xu J, Cao Y, Fu J, Li B, Sun G, Zhang X, Xu C. Leaf reflectance and functional traits as environmental indicators of urban dust deposition. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:533. [PMID: 34773986 PMCID: PMC8590267 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03308-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND How to quickly predict and evaluate urban dust deposition is the key to the control of urban atmospheric environment. Here, we focus on changes of plant reflectance and plant functional traits due to dust deposition, and develop a prediction model of dust deposition based on these traits. RESULTS The results showed that (1) The average dust deposition per unit area of Ligustrum quihoui leaves was significantly different among urban environments (street (18.1001 g/m2), community (14.5597 g/m2) and park (9.7661 g/m2)). Among different urban environments, leaf reflectance curves tends to be consistent, but there were significant differences in leaf reflectance values (park (0.052-0.585) > community (0.028-0.477) > street (0.025-0.203)). (2) There were five major reflection peaks and five major absorption valleys. (3) The spectral reflectances before and after dust removal were significantly different (clean leaves > dust-stagnant leaves). 695 ~ 1400 nm was the sensitive range of spectral response. (4) Dust deposition has significant influence on slope and position of red edge. Red edge slope was park > community > street. After dust deposition, the red edge position has obviously "blue shift". The moving distance of the red edge position increases with the increase of dust deposition. The forecast model of dust deposition amount established by simple ratio index (y = 2.517x + 0.381, R2 = 0.787, RMSE (root-mean-square error) = 0.187. In the model, y refers to dust retention, x refers to simple ratio index.) has an average accuracy of 99.98%. (5) With the increase of dust deposition, the specific leaf area and chlorophyll content index decreased gradually. The leaf dry matter content, leaf tissue density and leaf thickness increased gradually. CONCLUSION In the dust-polluted environment, L. quihoui generally presents a combination of characters with lower specific leaf area, chlorophyll content index, and higher leaf dry matter content, leaf tissue density and leaf thickness. Leaf reflectance spectroscopy and functional traits have been proved to be effective in evaluating the changes of urban dust deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyou Zhu
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jingliang Xu
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yujuan Cao
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jing Fu
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Benling Li
- Production and Operation Management Department, China Communications Construction Company, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Guangpeng Sun
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xinna Zhang
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chengyang Xu
- Research Center for Urban Forestry, The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem of State Forestry and Grassland Administration , Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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Di Biase L, Pace L, Mantoni C, Fattorini S. Variations in Plant Richness, Biogeographical Composition, and Life Forms along an Elevational Gradient in a Mediterranean Mountain. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10102090. [PMID: 34685898 PMCID: PMC8539301 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite the increasing interest in elevational patterns in biodiversity, few studies have investigated variations in life forms and biogeographical composition, especially in the Mediterranean biome. We investigated elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition (chorotypes) and life forms (Raunkiaer classification) along an elevational gradient in a Mediterranean mountain (Central Italy). We found a general hump-shaped pattern of species richness, which can be explained by harsher conditions at the lowest and highest elevations. This pattern is distinctly related to prevalence at mid elevations of species with European and Euro-Asiatic distribution, which are favored by a temperate climate. Phanerophytes and geophytes (which are mainly associated with woods) were concentrated at mid elevations where woodlands prevail. Hemicryptophytes increased with elevation, consistently with their ability to cope with high altitude climatic conditions. Mediterranean species declined with elevation because they are negatively affected by decreasing temperatures. Chamaephytes showed a U-shaped pattern, suggesting they are able to cope with arid and cold conditions at the extremes of the gradient. Endemics increased with elevation because of their association with mountainous areas as key places for endemism evolution. These results illustrate how elevational patterns in species richness, biogeographical composition and life forms are interrelated and demonstrate reciprocal insights for understanding current vegetation settings.
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Diversity Patterns of Dung Beetles along a Mediterranean Elevational Gradient. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090781. [PMID: 34564221 PMCID: PMC8466803 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most studies of biodiversity-elevational patterns do not take species abundance into consideration. Hill numbers are a unified family of indices that use species abundance and allow a complete characterization of species assemblages through diversity profiles. Studies on dung beetle responses to elevation were essentially based on species richness and produced inconsistent results because of the non-distinction between different habitats and the use of gradients dispersed over wide areas. We analyzed dung beetle diversity in a Mediterranean mountain (central Italy) for different habitats (woodlands vs. grasslands) and taxonomic groups (scarabaeids and aphodiids). Scarabaeids were the most abundant. Since scarabaeids are able to construct subterranean nests, this indicates that the warm and dry summer climatic conditions of high elevations favor species capable of protecting their larvae from desiccation. Dung beetles were more abundant and diversified in grasslands than in woodlands, which is consistent with their preference for open habitats. In the woodlands, diversity increased with increasing elevation because of increasing tree thinning, whereas, in the grasslands, diversity decreased with elevation because of increasingly harsher environmental conditions. These results indicate a trade-off in the beetle response to elevation between the positive effects of increasing the availability of more suitable habitats and the decrease of optimal environmental conditions.
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