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Khan N, Ullah R, Okla MK, Abdel-Maksoud MA, Saleh IA, Abu-Harirah HA, AlRamadneh TN, AbdElgawad H. Ecological factors affecting minerals and nutritional quality of " Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott": an underutilized wild leafy vegetable in rural communities. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1276307. [PMID: 38450233 PMCID: PMC10916005 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1276307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Dryopteris filix-mas (hereafter D. filix-mas), a wild leafy vegetable, has gained popularity among high mountain residents in the Hindukush-Himalaya region due to its exceptional nutritional profile, and their commercial cultivation also offers viable income alternatives. Nevertheless, besides phytochemicals with medicinal applications, ecological factors strongly affect their mineral contents and nutritional composition. Despite this, little has been known about how this wild fern, growing in heterogeneous ecological habitats with varying soil physiochemical properties and coexisting species, produces fronds with optimal mineral and nutritional properties. Given its nutritional and commercial significance, we investigated how geospatial, topographic, soil physiochemical characteristics and coexisting plants influence this widely consumed fern's mineral and nutrient content. We collected soil, unripe fern fronds, and associated vegetation from 27 D. filix-mas populations in Swat, NW Pakistan, and were analyzed conjointly with cluster analysis and ordination. We found that the fronds from sandy-loam soils at middle elevation zones exhibited higher nitrogen contents (9.17%), followed by crude fibers (8.62%) and fats (8.09%). In contrast, juvenile fronds from the lower and high elevation zones had lower moisture (1.26%) and ash (1.59%) contents, along with fewer micronutrients such as calcium (0.14-0.16%), magnesium (0.18-0.21%), potassium (0.72-0.81%), and zinc (12% mg/kg). Our findings indicated the fern preference for middle elevation zones with high organic matter and acidic to neutral soil (pH ≥ 6.99) for retaining higher nutritional contents. Key environmental factors emerged from RDA analysis, including elevation (r = -0.42), aspect (r = 0.52), P-3 (r = 0.38), K+ (r = 0.41), EC (r = 0.42), available water (r = -0.42), and field capacity (r = -0.36), significantly impacting fern frond's mineral accumulation and nutrient quality enhancement. Furthermore, coexisting plant species (r = 0.36) alongside D. filix-mas played a pivotal role in improving its mineral and nutritional quality. These findings shed light on the nutritional potential of D. filix-mas, which could help address malnutrition amidst future scarcity induced by changing climates. However, the prevalent environmental factors highlighted must be considered if the goal is to cultivate this fern on marginal lands for commercial exploitation with high mineral and nutrient yields in Hindukush-Himalaya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrullah Khan
- Department of Botany, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Rafi Ullah
- Department of Botany, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Department of Botany, Dr. Khan Shaheed Govt: Degree College Kabal Swat, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad K. Okla
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mostafa A. Abdel-Maksoud
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim A. Saleh
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem A. Abu-Harirah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Tareq Nayef AlRamadneh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Hamada AbdElgawad
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Lin Y, Wu H, Liu D, Li Y, Kang Y, Zhang Z, Wang W. Patterns and drivers of soil surface-dwelling Oribatida diversity along an altitudinal gradient on the Changbai Mountain, China. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10105. [PMID: 37214606 PMCID: PMC10196937 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Distribution patterns of biodiversity and environmental interactions are dominant themes in ecology. In montane ecosystems, biodiversity is closely associated with altitudinal gradients. However, studies of biodiversity in montane ecosystems are focused on plants and vertebrates, with relatively less on invertebrates. Here, the present study used a Vortis arthropod suction sampler to explore the biodiversity patterns of soil surface-dwelling Oribatida and their drivers along an altitudinal gradient (600, 800, 1600, 2000, and 2300 m) from typical temperate forests, evergreen coniferous forests, subalpine birch forests to alpine tundra on the north slope of Changbai Mountain, Northeast China. Trichoribates berlesei, Platynothrus peltifer, and Oribatula tibialis were the dominant soil surface-dwelling species on Changbai Mountain. Generally, alpha diversity and beta diversity of soil surface-dwelling Oribatida decreased with the rising altitude, with a peaking density value at 2000 m. The result of beta diversity showed that the structures of community were more influenced by the species turnover component than the nestedness component. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination showed that the community structure of soil surface-dwelling Oribatida varied significantly along the altitudinal gradient. The variance partitioning showed that the elevation and climatic conditions determined the soil surface-dwelling Oribatida community. Spatial filtering represented by geographic and elevation distances was particularly associated with soil surface-dwelling Oribatida community variation between altitudes on Changbai Mountain. However, the variation of the Oribatida community between adjacent altitudes was only associated with geographic distance. Our study provides supportive evidence for the biodiversity analyzing of soil surface-dwelling Oribatida in montane ecosystems along an altitudinal gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Lin
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Haitao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Dong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Yaxiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Yujuan Kang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhongsheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Wenfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Institute of Northeast Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchunChina
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König LA, Medina-Vega JA, Longo RM, Zuidema PA, Jakovac CC. Restoration success in former Amazonian mines is driven by soil amendment and forest proximity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210086. [PMID: 36373924 PMCID: PMC9661946 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mining contributes importantly to tropical deforestation and land degradation. To mitigate these effects, mining companies are increasingly obliged to restore abandoned mine lands, but factors driving restoration success are hardly evaluated. Here, we investigate the influence of ecological factors (restoration age, soil properties and surrounding forest area) and management factors (diversity and density of planted species, mine zone) on the recovery rate of forest structure and tree diversity on 40 post-mining restoration areas in Southern Amazonia, Brazil, using a 9-year annual monitoring dataset consisting of over 25 000 trees. We found that recovery of forest structure was closely associated with interactions between soil quality and the planted tree communities, and that tree diversity recovery was positively associated with the amount of surrounding forests. We also observed that forest structure and diversity recover more slowly in mine tailings compared to pit surroundings. Our study confirms the complexity of mine land restoration but also reveals that planting design and soil improvement can increase restoration success. For resource-efficient mine restoration, we recommend the focusing of efforts on tailings, which are hardest to restore, and reducing efforts in pit surroundings and areas close to surrounding forest because of their potential for restoration by natural regeneration. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A. König
- Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR), Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Forest Ecology and Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - José A. Medina-Vega
- Forest Ecology and Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - Regina M. Longo
- Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Professor Doutor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini, 1516, 13087-571 Campinas, Brazil
| | - Pieter A. Zuidema
- Forest Ecology and Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Catarina C. Jakovac
- Forest Ecology and Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Plant Sciences Department, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rodovia Admar Gonzaga, 1346, 88040-900, Florianópolis, Brazil
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Kučera J, Svitok M, Gbúrová Štubňová E, Mártonfiová L, Lafon Placette C, Slovák M. Eunuchs or Females? Causes and Consequences of Gynodioecy on Morphology, Ploidy, and Ecology of Stellaria graminea L. (Caryophyllaceae). Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:589093. [PMID: 33912199 PMCID: PMC8072285 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.589093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant speciation results from intricate processes such as polyploidization, reproductive strategy shifts and adaptation. These evolutionary processes often co-occur, blurring their respective contributions and interactions in the speciation continuum. Here, relying on a large-scale study, we tested whether gynodioecy triggers the divergent evolution of flower morphology and genome between sexes, and contributes to the establishment of polyploids and colonization of ecological niches in Stellaria graminea. We found that gynodioecy in S. graminea leads to flower morphology divergence between females and hermaphrodites, likely due to sexual selection. Contrary to our expectations, gynodioecy occurs evenly in diploids and tetraploids, suggesting that this reproductive strategy was not involved in the establishment of polyploids. Both diploid and tetraploid females have a larger genome size than hermaphrodites, suggesting the presence of sex chromosomes. Finally, ecology differs between cytotypes and to a lesser extent between sexes, suggesting that the link between environment and presence of females is indirect and likely explained by other aspects of the species' life history. Our study shows that gynodioecy leads to the consistent evolution of sexual traits across a wide range of populations, cytotypes and environments within a given species, and this likely contributes to the phenotypic and genetic distinctiveness of the species from its sister clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaromír Kučera
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marek Svitok
- Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Eliška Gbúrová Štubňová
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Slovak National Museum, Natural History Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Marek Slovák
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Rakotomalala M, Vrancken B, Pinel-Galzi A, Ramavovololona P, Hébrard E, Randrianangaly JS, Dellicour S, Lemey P, Fargette D. Comparing patterns and scales of plant virus phylogeography: Rice yellow mottle virus in Madagascar and in continental Africa. Virus Evol 2019; 5:vez023. [PMID: 31384483 PMCID: PMC6671560 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vez023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) in Madagascar Island provides an opportunity to study the spread of a plant virus disease after a relatively recent introduction in a large and isolated country with a heterogeneous host landscape ecology. Here, we take advantage of field survey data on the occurrence of RYMV disease throughout Madagascar dating back to the 1970s, and of virus genetic data from ninety-four isolates collected since 1989 in most regions of the country to reconstruct the epidemic history. We find that the Malagasy isolates belong to a unique recombinant strain that most likely entered Madagascar through a long-distance introduction from the most eastern part of mainland Africa. We infer the spread of RYMV as a continuous process using a Bayesian statistical framework. In order to calibrate the time scale in calendar time units in this analysis, we pool the information about the RYMV evolutionary rate from several geographical partitions. Whereas the field surveys and the phylogeographic reconstructions both point to a rapid southward invasion across hundreds of kilometers throughout Madagascar within three to four decades, they differ on the inferred origin location and time of the epidemic. The phylogeographic reconstructions suggest a lineage displacement and unveil a re-invasion of the northern regions that may have remained unnoticed otherwise. Despite ecological differences that could affect the transmission potential of RYMV in Madagascar and in mainland Africa, we estimate similar invasion and dispersal rates. We could not identify environmental factors that have a relevant impact on the lineage dispersal velocity of RYMV in Madagascar. This study highlights the value and complementarity of (historical) nongenetic and (more contemporaneous) genetic surveillance data for reconstructing the history of spread of plant viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mbolarinosy Rakotomalala
- Centre Régional de Recherche du Nord-Ouest du FOFIFA, BP 289, Mahavoky Avaratra, Mahajanga 401, Madagascar
| | - Bram Vrancken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 1040, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Agnès Pinel-Galzi
- IRD, Cirad, Université Montpellier, IPME, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 34934 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Perle Ramavovololona
- Département de Biologie et d'Ecologie Végétales, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906
| | - Eugénie Hébrard
- IRD, Cirad, Université Montpellier, IPME, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 34934 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | | | - Simon Dellicour
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 1040, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Spatial Epidemiology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 264 / 3,50 av FD Roosevelt, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lemey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 1040, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Denis Fargette
- IRD, Cirad, Université Montpellier, IPME, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 34934 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Li Z, Jiang X, Wang J, Meng X, Heino J, Xie Z. Multiple facets of stream macroinvertebrate alpha diversity are driven by different ecological factors across an extensive altitudinal gradient. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:1306-1322. [PMID: 30805161 PMCID: PMC6374682 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental filtering and spatial structuring are important ecological processes for the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. However, the relative importance of these ecological drivers for multiple facets of diversity is still poorly understood in highland streams. Here, we examined the responses of three facets of stream macroinvertebrate alpha diversity to local environmental, landscape-climate and spatial factors in a near-pristine highland riverine ecosystem. Taxonomic (species richness, Shannon diversity, and evenness), functional (functional richness, evenness, divergence, and Rao's Quadratic entropy), and a proxy of phylogenetic alpha diversity (taxonomic distinctness and variation in taxonomic distinctness) were calculated for macroinvertebrate assemblages in 55 stream sites. Then Pearson correlation coefficient was used to explore congruence of indices within and across the three diversity facets. Finally, multiple linear regression models and variation partitioning were employed to identify the relative importance of different ecological drivers of biodiversity. We found most correlations between the diversity indices within the same facet, and between functional richness and species richness were relatively strong. The two phylogenetic diversity indices were quite independent from taxonomic diversity but correlated with functional diversity indices to some extent. Taxonomic and functional diversity were more strongly determined by environmental variables, while phylogenetic diversity was better explained by spatial factors. In terms of environmental variables, habitat-scale variables describing habitat complexity and water physical features played the primary role in determining the diversity patterns of all three facets, whereas landscape factors appeared less influential. Our findings indicated that both environmental and spatial factors are important ecological drivers for biodiversity patterns of macroinvertebrates in Tibetan streams, although their relative importance was contingent on different facets of diversity. Such findings verified the complementary roles of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and highlighted the importance of comprehensively considering multiple ecological drivers for different facets of diversity in biodiversity assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoming Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulic in Northwest Arid Region of ChinaXi’an University of TechnologyXi’anChina
| | - Jun Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xingliang Meng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jani Heino
- Biodiversity CentreFinnish Environment InstituteOuluFinland
| | - Zhicai Xie
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
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Zhang H, Si Y, Wang X, Gong P. Patterns of Bacillary Dysentery in China, 2005-2010. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2016; 13:164. [PMID: 26828503 PMCID: PMC4772184 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13020164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the incidence of bacillary dysentery in China has been declining progressively, a considerable disease burden still exists. Few studies have analyzed bacillary dysentery across China and knowledge gaps still exist in the aspects of geographic distribution and ecological drivers, seasonality and its association with meteorological factors, urban-rural disparity, prevalence and distribution of Shigella species. Here, we performed nationwide analyses to fill the above gaps. Geographically, we found that incidence increased along an east-west gradient which was inversely related to the economic conditions of China. Two large endemically high-risk regions in western China and their ecological drivers were identified for the first time. We characterized seasonality of bacillary dysentery incidence and assessed its association with meteorological factors, and saw that it exhibits north-south differences in peak duration, relative amplitude and key meteorological factors. Urban and rural incidences among China’s cities were compared, and disparity associated with urbanization level was invariant in most cities. Balanced decrease of urban and rural incidence was observed for all provinces except Hunan. S. flexneri and S. sonnei were identified as major causative species. Increasing prevalence of S. sonnei and geographic distribution of Shigella species were associated with economic status. Findings and inferences from this study draw broader pictures of bacillary dysentery in mainland China and could provide useful information for better interventions and public health planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Center for Earth System Science, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yali Si
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Center for Earth System Science, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Joint Center for Global Change Studies, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Center for Disease Surveillance and Information Services, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Peng Gong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Center for Earth System Science, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Joint Center for Global Change Studies, Beijing 100875, China.
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Thiffault N, Grondin P, Noël J, Poirier V. Ecological gradients driving the distribution of four Ericaceae in boreal Quebec, Canada. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:1837-53. [PMID: 26140200 PMCID: PMC4485965 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understory species play a significant role in forest ecosystem dynamics. As such, species of the Ericaceae family have a major effect on the regeneration of tree species in boreal ecosystems. It is thus imperative to understand the ecological gradients controlling their distribution and abundance, so that their impacts can be taken into account in sustainable forest management. Using innovative analytical techniques from landscape ecology, we aimed to position, along ecological gradients, four Ericaceae found in the boreal forest of Quebec (Canada) (Rhododendron groenlandicum, Kalmia angustifolia, Chamaedaphne calyculata, and Vaccinium spp), to regionalize these species into landscape units relevant to forest management, and to estimate the relative importance of several ecological drivers (climate, disturbances, stand attributes, and physical environment) that control the species distribution and abundance. We conducted our study in boreal Quebec, over a study area covering 535,355 km2. We used data from 15,339 ecological survey plots and forest maps to characterize 1422 ecological districts covering the study region. We evaluated the relative proportion of each ericaceous species and explanatory variables at the district level. Vegetation and explanatory variables matrices were used to conduct redundancy, cluster, and variation partitioning analyses. We observed that ericaceous species are mainly distributed in the western part of the study area and each species has a distinct latitudinal and longitudinal gradient distribution. On the basis of these gradients, we delimited 10 homogeneous landscape units distinct in terms of ericaceous species abundance and environmental drivers. The distribution of the ericaceous species along ecological gradients is closely related to the overlaps between the four sets of explanatory variables considered. We conclude that the studied Ericaceae occupy specific positions along ecological gradients and possess a specific abundance and distribution controlled by the integration of multiple explanatory variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Thiffault
- Direction de la recherche forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec 2700 rue Einstein, Québec, G1P 3W8, Quebec, Canada ; Centre d'étude de la forêt, Faculté de foresterie, de géographie et de géomatique, Université Laval 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Québec, G1V 0A6, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre Grondin
- Direction de la recherche forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec 2700 rue Einstein, Québec, G1P 3W8, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean Noël
- Direction de la recherche forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec 2700 rue Einstein, Québec, G1P 3W8, Quebec, Canada
| | - Véronique Poirier
- Direction de la recherche forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec 2700 rue Einstein, Québec, G1P 3W8, Quebec, Canada
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