Bacterial Diversity in the Metal-Rich Terrestrial Deep Subsurface Sediments of Krishna Godavari Basin,India

Abstract

Krishna Godavari (KG) basin, located in the eastern continental margin of India, is a geological region well known for the abundance of economically important minerals. However, less is known about the microbial ecology of its subsurface sediments. The present study is the first report on the comprehensive culture-independent census of bacterial communities of deep subsurface of KG basin and their relationship with the geochemical environment. Elemental and mineralogical characterization of the sediments highlighted the presence of carbon and nitrogen deprived conditions along with the abundance of metalliferous minerals, especially rich in valuable elements like zirconium, vanadium, cesium, and rare earth elements. Diversity analysis based on Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform revealed the predominance of Firmicutes (44.24%), Proteobacteria (34.17%), Bacteroidetes (15.18%), and Actinobacteria (3.81%) in the deep subsurface of this basin. ‘Abundant’ and ‘rare’ sub-communities analysis indicated that a large number of phyla like Acidobacteria, Armatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, and Deinococcus-Thermus were exclusively present as a rare community. Statistical analyses demonstrated that geochemical parameters, especially depth, pH, and metal content, showed significant influence on the microbial community structure. The present study should help future investigations for microbial mediated sustainable utilization of mineral-rich sediments of the region.     

Ontogenetic shifts in phenotype–environment associations in Nile perch,Lates niloticus (Perciformes: Latidae) from Lake Nabugabo,Uganda

Habitat‐associated trait divergence may vary across ontogeny if there are strong size‐related shifts in selection pressures. We quantified patterns of phenotypic divergence in Nile perch (Lates niloticus) from ecologically distinct wetland edge and forest edge habitats in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, and we compared patterns of divergence across three size classes to determine whether trends are consistent through Nile perch ontogeny. We predicted that inter‐habitat variation in biotic (e.g. vegetation structure) and abiotic (e.g. dissolved oxygen concentration) variables may create divergent selective regimes. We compared body morphology using geometric morphometrics and found substantial differences between habitats, although not all trends were consistent across size classes. The most striking aspects of divergence in small Nile perch were in mouth orientation, head size, and development of the caudal region. Medium‐sized Nile perch also showed differences in mouth orientation. Differences in large individuals were related to eye size and orientation, as well as caudal length. The observed patterns of divergence are consistent with functional morphological predictions for fish across divergent trophic regimes, high and low predation environments, and complex and simple habitats. Although this suggests adaptive divergence, the source of phenotypic variation is unknown and may reflect phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic differences. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 449–465.     

High‐latitude Hirnantian (latest Ordovician) brachiopods from the Eusebio Ayala Formation of Paraguay,Paraná Basin

Abstract: Examination of newly collected brachiopods from the Eusebio Ayala Formation of Paraguay reveals the occurrence of Arenorthis paranaensis sp. nov., Plectothyrella? itacurubiensis sp. nov., Hindella sp. and Eostropheodonta conradii (Harrington). Associated graptolites of the N. persculptus Zone indicate that the age of the fossiliferous beds is Hirnantian. The overall generic composition of the fauna is similar to that of the atypical Hirnantia Fauna of the Bani Province. The record in Paraguay of Arenorthis, hitherto only known from North Africa, together with species of Plectothyrella? and Eostropheodonta different from those recorded in the Kosov Province, emphasizing the affinities between the Paraguayan fauna and the low‐diversity African assemblages. Stratigraphic and faunal evidence indicates that biogeographical links between South America and Africa already existed by the end of the Ordovician when most of the intra‐cratonic basins of Gondwana were flooded during the postglacial sea level rise.     

A geographic mosaic of evolutionary lineages within the insular endemic newt Euproctus montanus

Islands are hotspots of biodiversity, with a disproportionately high fraction of endemic lineages, often of ancient origin. Nevertheless, intra‐island phylogeographies are surprisingly scarce, leading to a scanty knowledge about the microevolutionary processes induced on island populations by Plio‐Pleistocene climatic oscillations, and the manner in which these processes contributed to shape their current genetic diversity. We investigated the phylogeography, historical demography and species distribution models of the Corsican endemic newt Euproctus montanus (north‐western Mediterranean). As for many island endemics, the continuous distribution of E. montanus throughout its range has hitherto been considered as evidence for a single large population, a belief that also guided the species' categorization for conservation purposes. Instead, we found a geographic mosaic of ancient evolutionary lineages, with five main clades of likely Pliocene origin (2.6–5.8 My), all but one restricted to northern Corsica. Moreover, the copresence between main lineages in the same population was limited to a single case. As also suggested by growing literature on intra‐island phylogeographic variation, it seems that the extensive use of simplifying assumption on the population structure and historical demography of island populations—both in theoretical and applicative studies—should be carefully reconsidered, a claim that is well exemplified by the case presented here.     

高寒退化草地狼毒种群株丛间格局控制机理

在黑河上游祁连山北坡高寒退化草地,应用Ripley's K函数检测种间格局控制关系的技术方法,按狼毒个体分枝数设置Ⅰ级株丛(1-10枝)、Ⅱ级株丛(11-20枝)、Ⅲ级株丛(21-30枝)、Ⅳ级株丛(31-40枝)、V级株丛(40以上)5个株丛,研究了各株丛之间的格局控制关系和空间关联性.结果表明:Ⅲ和Ⅳ级狼毒株丛对其他狼毒株丛有一定的格局控制作用,尤其是Ⅳ级狼毒株丛对其他狼毒株丛格局控制的程度和尺度最大;Ⅳ级狼毒株丛在20cm尺度内和Ⅰ、Ⅱ以及Ⅴ级狼毒株丛表现出正关联,Ⅲ级狼毒株丛在0-10cm尺度上和Ⅰ级狼毒株丛表现为正关联.狼毒种群中两个形体大小越相近的株丛之间存在格局控制关系的可能性相对较小,尤其是在种群内处于劣势地位或受其他株丛格局控制的株丛之间存在格局控制关系的可能性更小,Ⅳ级狼毒株丛表现出较强的格局控制作用,同时对其他狼毒个体有保护作用,在种群内具有重要作用和地位.     

Individual dispersal,landscape connectivity and ecological networks

Connectivity is classically considered an emergent property of landscapes encapsulating individuals' flows across space. However, its operational use requires a precise understanding of why and how organisms disperse. Such movements, and hence landscape connectivity, will obviously vary according to both organism properties and landscape features. We review whether landscape connectivity estimates could gain in both precision and generality by incorporating three fundamental outcomes of dispersal theory. Firstly, dispersal is a multi‐causal process; its restriction to an ‘escape reaction’ to environmental unsuitability is an oversimplification, as dispersing individuals can leave excellent quality habitat patches or stay in poor‐quality habitats according to the relative costs and benefits of dispersal and philopatry. Secondly, species, populations and individuals do not always react similarly to those cues that trigger dispersal, which sometimes results in contrasting dispersal strategies. Finally, dispersal is a major component of fitness and is thus under strong selective pressures, which could generate rapid adaptations of dispersal strategies. Such evolutionary responses will entail spatiotemporal variation in landscape connectivity. We thus strongly recommend the use of genetic tools to: (i) assess gene flow intensity and direction among populations in a given landscape; and (ii) accurately estimate landscape features impacting gene flow, and hence landscape connectivity. Such approaches will provide the basic data for planning corridors or stepping stones aiming at (re)connecting local populations of a given species in a given landscape. This strategy is clearly species‐ and landscape‐specific. But we suggest that the ecological network in a given landscape could be designed by stacking up such linkages designed for several species living in different ecosystems. This procedure relies on the use of umbrella species that are representative of other species living in the same ecosystem.     

水生态空间红线概念、划定方法及实证研究

我国面临着多方面、复杂的水生态问题:洪涝、干旱、水质污染、水生生境丧失以及人水关系日益疏远等等。解决这些问题,不能依赖单一目标的灰色工程方法,而必须从维护和保育水生态系统的完整性出发,来系统地解决问题。为此,如何定义一个相对完整的水生态系统的边界、划定维护其安全和健康的底线,即水生态空间红线,是用生态方法综合解决水问题的基础性的工作。研究提出了以保护水生态系统的综合生态服务为核心的水生态空间红线概念;提出了以水生态安全格局构建为基础的水生态空间红线划定方法和"水生态问题分析-水生态过程模拟和评价-水生态安全等级划分-水生态安全格局判定-水生态空间红线的划定"技术流程,分别划定水资源供给保护、水文调节保护、水生命支持和水文化保护四种类型的水生态保护空间红线,在此基础上,整合为综合的水生态空间红线,它呈现为对水生态过程具有关键意义的点、线、面和空间联系所构成的空间格局,并以雁栖湖流域为例进行了实证研究。     

基于土地利用变化的贵州坝子土地利用功能演变研究

贵州省为典型喀斯特山区,强烈的人类活动主要分布在坝地地区,研究坝子土地利用功能演变对土地可持续利用具有重要价值。基于土地利用变化,根据三生功能理论构建土地利用功能分类体系,以贵州省1990年、2000年、2010年和2016年四期遥感影像为数据源,借助ArcGIS10.2软件平台构建土地利用功能转移矩阵和坝子功能冷热点分布图。研究表明:(1)贵州省坝子土地利用功能已由以传统农业生产功能为主转为以传统农业生产功能-农村居住生活功能为主,坝子土地利用由单一功能向多功能转变;(2)1990—2016年,坝子的功能类型增加10种类型,其中8类是复合类型,坝子功能向多样性转变;(3)单一功能与复合功能坝子比例变化曲线呈"X"型,到2016年,复合功能坝子比例大于单一功能坝子;(4)1990—2000年,坝子土地利用功能变化缓慢,2000年以后坝子土地利用功能变化强烈;(5)传统农业生产功能转移最为强烈,主要转移为城镇居住生活功能、农村居住生活功能、工业生产功能及与之相关的复合功能和自然生态功能;(6)各种功能类型坝子冷热点的空间分布变化复杂,从总体上看各功能的空间分布由集聚变为分散。     

阿克苏河流域土壤湿度反演与监测研究

以新疆阿克苏河流域为研究区,以GF-1 WFV和Landsat8 OLI两种高分辨率遥感影像为数据源,结合102个不同深度层的土壤湿度实测数据,选择垂直干旱指数(PDI)、改进型垂直干旱指数(MPDI)和植被调整垂直干旱指数(VAPDI),对土壤湿度指数反演的效果进行比较和验证。结果表明,两种数据源下的PDI、MPDI、VAPDI与土壤湿度实测含水量的决定系数较高,尤其是0—10 cm的相关性最强,平均决定系数达到0.68,说明基于光学遥感影像近红外和红光波段反射率构建的反演指数对近地表层土壤湿度信息更敏感,但对地下较深层次的土壤湿度反演精度略低;MPDI和VAPDI能够在一定程度上克服混合像元对土壤湿度光谱信息的影响,反演的精度要比PDI高,尤其是高植被覆盖度区,采用垂直植被指数(PVI)修正的VAPDI反演精度最佳;基于两种遥感数据源的土壤湿度空间异质性基本一致,但空间分辨率较高的GF-1 WFV模拟的土壤湿度空间分异更加精细和明显。研究结果可为"一带一路"背景下干旱半干旱地区大范围和动态监测土壤湿度、开展定量节水灌溉等提供理论基础和实践参考。