Hydrologic sources of carbon cycling uncertainty throughout the terrestrial–aquatic continuum

Linking hydrologic interactions with global carbon cycling will reduce the uncertainty associated with scaling-up empirical studies and facilitate the incorporation of terrestrial–aquatic linkages within global and regional change models. Much of the uncertainty in estimates of carbon fluxes associated with precipitation and hydrologic transport results from the extensive spatial and temporal heterogeneity in both intrinsic functioning and anthropogenic modification of hydrological cycles. To better understand this variation we developed a landscape ecological approach to coupled hydrologic–carbon cycling that merges local mechanisms with multiple-scale spatial heterogeneity. This spatially explicit framework is applied to examine variability in hydrologic influences on carbon cycling along a continental scale water availability gradient with an explicit consideration of human sources of variability. Hydrologic variation is an important component of the uncertainty in carbon cycling; accounting for this variation will improve understanding of current conditions and projections of future ecosystem responses to global change.     

基于“源-汇”理论的流域非点源污染控制景观格局调控框架——以厦门市马銮湾流域为例

基于“源-汇”理论对景观格局进行调控与优化是一种较为经济、有效的流域非点源污染控制新方法,目前尚处在探索阶段.在景观生态学及相关理论与前人已有研究的基础上,以流域整体为对象,从2个层次构建基于“源-汇”理论的流域非点源污染控制景观格局调控框架: 1)流域层次:在分析流域“源-汇”景观合理的基本组合与空间布局方式的基础上,建立了流域景观格局整体调控与优化方法;2)景观斑块类型层次:将关键“源”景观作为重点调控与优化对象,建立了包含景观单位面积污染负荷、景观坡度、起传输作用的狭长“源”景观、临河“源”景观单位岸线长度污染负荷等4项关键“源”景观识别准则,并遵循镶嵌“汇”景观、局部增补带型“汇”景观、提高原有“汇”景观消纳污染物的能力等3项调控与优化原则,针对农村地区与城区不同的关键“源”景观类型,制定了9类调控与优化方法.最后将该框架应用到厦门市马銮湾流域,基于GIS平台及研究区遥感图像与数字高程模型,制定了马銮湾流域景观格局整体调控与优化模式及3个片区关键“源”景观调控与优化方案.     

基于理想生态系统模式与三维景观指数的徽派村落空间特征解析——以呈坎为例

徽派村落是中国传统村落的典型代表,蕴含了丰富的地域文化和生态内涵,是中国古代人与自然和谐相处的典范,其研究与保护在生态学、地理学、建筑学和美学等领域具有重要的科学价值.本文以呈坎村为例,综合风水理论、心理场理论等,从生态学视角提出理想人居环境的理想生态系统模式,并引入三维景观指数,对徽派村落空间结构进行解析,定量分析村落理想生态系统各景观要素组合结构的生态功能体现.结果表明: 呈坎村立体结构为“山-林-屋-水-林”的景观空间组合模式,形成了以人为中心、自然景观立体环绕的圈层结构,符合理想人居模式.传统基于投影距离的方法造成了景观指数偏差(如对面积与边长的低估).平均斑块面积三维指数比二维指数高6.7%;林地的面积比重三维指数比二维指数高1.0%,其他景观类型的面积比重均有所下降,其中建设用地和耕地等人工斑块的面积比重下降最多.面积与周长指标被低估,形状指标和多样性指标被高估,导致景观格局分析中自然斑块的优势度被低估、人工斑块的优势度被高估.三维景观指数表明,呈坎村落生态系统中各自然要素及组合体现出了较好的生态功能,关键要素和景观生态系统具有较高的稳定性、连接度和聚集性;定量印证了以呈坎为代表的徽派村落是理想的生态系统.     

Establishment of X chromosome inactivation and epigenomic features of the inactive X depend on cellular contexts

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is an essential epigenetic process that ensures X‐linked gene dosage equilibrium between sexes in mammals. XCI is dynamically regulated during development in a manner that is intimately linked to differentiation. Numerous studies, which we review here, have explored the dynamics of X inactivation and reactivation in the context of development, differentiation and diseases, and the phenotypic and molecular link between the inactive status, and the cellular context. Here, we also assess whether XCI is a uniform mechanism in mammals by analyzing epigenetic signatures of the inactive X (Xi) in different species and cellular contexts. It appears that the timing of XCI and the epigenetic signature of the inactive X greatly vary between species. Surprisingly, even within a given species, various Xi configurations are found across cellular states. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying these variations, and how they might influence the fate of the Xi.     

Context dependence in complex adaptive landscapes: frequency and trait‐dependent selection surfaces within an adaptive radiation of Caribbean pupfishes

The adaptive landscape provides the foundational bridge between micro‐ and macroevolution. One well‐known caveat to this perspective is that fitness surfaces depend on ecological context, including competitor frequency, traits measured, and resource abundance. However, this view is based largely on intraspecific studies. It is still unknown how context‐dependence affects the larger features of peaks and valleys on the landscape which ultimately drive speciation and adaptive radiation. Here, I explore this question using one of the most complex fitness landscapes measured in the wild in a sympatric pupfish radiation endemic to San Salvador Island, Bahamas by tracking survival and growth of laboratory‐reared F2 hybrids. I present new analyses of the effects of competitor frequency, dietary isotopes, and trait subsets on this fitness landscape. Contrary to expectations, decreasing competitor frequency increased survival only among very common phenotypes, whereas less common phenotypes rarely survived despite few competitors, suggesting that performance, not competitor frequency, shapes large‐scale features of the fitness landscape. Dietary isotopes were weakly correlated with phenotype and growth, but did not explain additional survival variation. Nonlinear fitness surfaces varied substantially among trait subsets, revealing one‐, two‐, and three‐peak landscapes, demonstrating the complexity of selection in the wild, even among similar functional traits.     

Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape

Adaptation to contrasting environments across a heterogeneous landscape favors the formation of ecotypes by promoting ecological divergence. Patterns of fitness variation in the field can show whether natural selection drives local adaptation and ecotype formation. However, to demonstrate a link between ecological divergence and speciation, local adaptation must have consequences for reproductive isolation. Using contrasting ecotypes of an Australian wildflower, Senecio lautus in common garden experiments, hybridization experiments, and reciprocal transplants, we assessed how the environment shapes patterns of adaptation and the consequences of adaptive divergence for reproductive isolation. Local adaptation was strong between ecotypes, but weaker between populations of the same ecotype. F1 hybrids exhibited heterosis, but crosses involving one native parent performed better than those with two foreign parents. In a common garden experiment, F2 hybrids exhibited reduced fitness compared to parentals and F1 hybrids, suggesting that few genetic incompatibilities have accumulated between populations adapted to contrasting environments. Our results show how ecological differences across the landscape have created complex patterns of local adaptation and reproductive isolation, suggesting that divergent natural selection has played a fundamental role in the early stages of species diversification.     

Evidence of divergent selection for drought and cold tolerance at landscape and local scales in Abies alba Mill. in the French Mediterranean Alps

Understanding local adaptation in forest trees is currently a key research and societal priority. Geographically and ecologically marginal populations provide ideal case studies, because environmental stress along with reduced gene flow can facilitate the establishment of locally adapted populations. We sampled European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) trees in the French Mediterranean Alps, along the margin of its distribution range, from pairs of high‐ and low‐elevation plots on four different mountains situated along a 170‐km east–west transect. The analysis of 267 SNP loci from 175 candidate genes suggested a neutral pattern of east–west isolation by distance among mountain sites. F_ST outlier tests revealed 16 SNPs that showed patterns of divergent selection. Plot climate was characterized using both in situ measurements and gridded data that revealed marked differences between and within mountains with different trends depending on the season. Association between allelic frequencies and bioclimatic variables revealed eight genes that contained candidate SNPs, of which two were also detected using F_ST outlier methods. All SNPs were associated with winter drought, and one of them showed strong evidence of selection with respect to elevation. Q_ST–F_ST tests for fitness‐related traits measured in a common garden suggested adaptive divergence for the date of bud flush and for growth rate. Overall, our results suggest a complex adaptive picture for A. alba in the southern French Alps where, during the east‐to‐west Holocene recolonization, locally advantageous genetic variants established at both the landscape and local scales.