Panmixia across elevation in thermally sensitive Andean dung beetles

Janzen's seasonality hypothesis predicts that organisms inhabiting environments with limited climatic variability will evolve a reduced thermal tolerance breadth compared with organisms experiencing greater climatic variability. In turn, narrow tolerance breadth may select against dispersal across strong temperature gradients, such as those found across elevation. This can result in narrow elevational ranges and generate a pattern of isolation by environment or neutral genetic differentiation correlated with environmental variables that are independent of geographic distance. We tested for signatures of isolation by environment across elevation using genome‐wide SNP data from five species of Andean dung beetles (subfamily Scarabaeinae) with well‐characterized, narrow thermal physiologies, and narrow elevational distributions. Contrary to our expectations, we found no evidence of population genetic structure associated with elevation and little signal of isolation by environment. Further, elevational ranges for four of five species appear to be at equilibrium and show no decay of genetic diversity at range limits. Taken together, these results suggest physiological constraints on dispersal may primarily operate outside of a stable realized niche and point to a lower bound on the spatial scale of local adaptation.     

Culture Independent Diversity of Bacterial Communities Indigenous to Lower Altitude at Laohugou Glacial Environment

Abstract

High-throughput sequencing approach of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to evaluate the bacterial diversity inhabit in melted water, snow, soil, and rocks samples at the lower altitudes of the Laohugou glacial environment. Bioinformatics tools were used to process millions of Illumina reads for alpha and beta diversities of bacterial communities. The diversity indices such as Chao, Shannon, and Simpson were different in the collected samples and solid samples (soil and rocks) showed higher taxon richness and evenness. Taxonomic diversity was unexpectedly higher and the major portion of sequences was assigned to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Higher variation in community structure was reported at the class level and Alphaproteobacteria was dominant. The solid niches were occupied by a higher number of phyla compared with liquid. The physicochemical variables acted as spatial gradients and associated with the bacterial structural communities of the glacial ecosystem. Findings showed that both Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in solid samples influenced the bacterial community structure in downstream liquid samples. Interestingly, the metagenomic biomarkers were higher in liquid samples. This study provides precious datasets to understand the bacterial community in a better way under the influence of spatial, physical and environmental factors.     

Eighteen Coral Genomes Reveal the Evolutionary Origin of Acropora Strategies to Accommodate Environmental Changes

The genus Acropora comprises the most diverse and abundant scleractinian corals (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) in coral reefs, the most diverse marine ecosystems on Earth. However, the genetic basis for the success and wide distribution of Acropora are unknown. Here, we sequenced complete genomes of 15 Acropora species and 3 other acroporid taxa belonging to the genera Montipora and Astreopora to examine genomic novelties that explain their evolutionary success. We successfully obtained reasonable draft genomes of all 18 species. Molecular dating indicates that the Acropora ancestor survived warm periods without sea ice from the mid or late Cretaceous to the Early Eocene and that diversification of Acropora may have been enhanced by subsequent cooling periods. In general, the scleractinian gene repertoire is highly conserved; however, coral- or cnidarian-specific possible stress response genes are tandemly duplicated in Acropora. Enzymes that cleave dimethlysulfonioproprionate into dimethyl sulfide, which promotes cloud formation and combats greenhouse gasses, are the most duplicated genes in the Acropora ancestor. These may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from algal symbionts belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, or from coccolithophores, suggesting that although functions of this enzyme in Acropora are unclear, Acropora may have survived warmer marine environments in the past by enhancing cloud formation. In addition, possible antimicrobial peptides and symbiosis-related genes are under positive selection in Acropora, perhaps enabling adaptation to diverse environments. Our results suggest unique Acropora adaptations to ancient, warm marine environments and provide insights into its capacity to adjust to rising seawater temperatures.     

广州市主城区城市地形类型与风环境评价

对城市地形组合类型及其地形对风场影响的研究,有助于城市风场机理的认识与生态环境的优化。以高层建筑密集的广州市主城区为例,在确定城市宏观地形类型的基础上,基于最小成本路径（LCP）辨识了风道,并对风环境质量进行评价。主要结论有：（1）将城市地形简要概括划分为4个一级地形、11个二级地形类型。（2）以LCP路径与盛行风交角不超过22.5°的标准,筛选确定通风路径作为风道。根据LCP格网的密度与频次,结合不同风向下风速与风频,评价分析了风环境类型与空间分布。（3）根据自然与城市地形的配置,北风风环境质量远高于西北风和东风;东风由于风频与风速最低,因此通风条件较差。（4）珠江航道在三种风向下都是尺度最宽贯穿城市最好的风道;区域性的风道与风环境较好的地段集中在与主风向平行的主干道上,但以近似南北走向的居多;由于广州城市地形高度以珠江新城峰林为中心向外递减,以低地地形为主的主城区外围通风优于中心区域,特别是珠江新城峰林与网络状台地为主的老城区,通风环境较差。基于LCP的评价结果需要同其他方法相互验证,才能使其不断完善优化。     

基于MaxEnt模型的甘肃安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区北山羊生境评估

明晰甘肃安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区珍稀濒危物种北山羊的分布格局,并阐释气候变化和人类活动对北山羊的影响,对今后北山羊生境管理和物种保护具有重要意义。基于北山羊实测分布点记录和环境变量数据,结合MaxEnt模型和ArcGIS空间分析功能,利用CMIP6的8个气候模式均值预测中度发展路径（SSP2-4.5）下,基准期（1970-2000年）和未来气候（2041-2060年、2081-2100年）变化情景下,甘肃安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区北山羊的潜在适生区分布范围及变化,并综合贡献率和置换重要性值对北山羊生境选择关键环境因子进行了分析。研究结果表明：（1） MaxEnt模型的预测精度较高,三种气候条件下ROC曲线下面积（AUC,Area Under Curve）>0.97,且真实技巧统计（TSS,True Skill Statistic）>0.90,模拟结果可靠。（2）影响北山羊生境选择的主要环境因子为气候条件（降水量季节性变异系数和等温性）、海拔和人为干扰（距泉和居名点距离）。水是保护区北山羊生存的最基本要素,气候条件共同控制北山羊生境条件。此外,北山羊习性决定其生境宜选择高海拔和远离人类活动影响地区。（3）基准期保护区北山羊主要分布在北片和南片高海拔山区,面积365.77 km²（占整个保护区的4.31%）,北山羊适生区面积北片>南片、中高等适生区主要位于保护区北片。（4） CMIP6未来气候变化情景下,随着保护区生态环境改善和濒危物种保护措施的实施,北山羊潜在适生区面积呈增加趋势,但是受北山羊近亲繁殖的影响,整体上北山羊数量和适生区面积增加并不显著且有向南部及高海拔地区转移趋势。     

城市主城区立体模型的构建与风环境模拟——以广州主城区为例

以22 km×21 km的广州主城区为例,以40 m建筑间距作为风道宽度低限、用容积高度对建筑高度赋值和垂向拔高为建模特色,概括构建了城市尺度的立体模型。在此基础上,分别模拟了广州主城区中性流条件下,弱风（2 m/s）和强风（5 m/s）、近地面10、25、50 m三个高度的风环境。模拟表明：来流5 m/s下主城区存在不同风速等级、不同平面形态以及不同高度面的风道;白云山、珠江新城等面积较大的地形或建筑高地形成了减速明显的背风区条带,并相互组合形成了重要的风口和具有较高基面的强风道;在不同高度上主城区风速均由周边向城市中心降低;风道风速强烈地依赖于风道走向,风道风速与走向夹角呈三次函数递减,两者拟合优度R²为0.512。模拟结果很好地呈现了城市尺度宏观地形白云山和建筑密集区相互间的作用,反映了城市尺度模型构建与模拟的优势。     

基于增强回归树与区域增温敏感性指数的城市升温效应空间分异

热岛效应已成为城市化进程中备受关注的城市生态环境问题。有关城市热岛效应的研究对区域在地表升温过程中的空间分异关注尚不足。通过设计区域增温敏感性指数,借助增强回归树（boosted regression tree,BRT）机器学习算法,量化城市不同区域在地表升温过程中的敏感性差异。结果表明：（1）上海市各辖区增温敏感性从高至低依次是：黄浦区、杨浦区、虹口区、静安区、普陀区、徐汇区、长宁区、宝山区、闵行区、浦东新区、嘉定区、奉贤区、松江区、青浦区、金山区、崇明区;（2）区域增温敏感性在不同的温度梯度下具有明显差异,在高温梯度下区域间指数值的差异最大;（3）地表覆被的增温敏感性存在明显的区域分异特性;（4）基于BRT的增温敏感性指数具有较好的指示意义和较高的灵敏度。在城市热环境持续恶化背景下,探讨城市异质空间中地表温度变化的敏感性可为城市热环境调控提供科学依据。     

基于生态系统服务价值变化的环境与经济协调发展研究——以陕西省为例

为探讨生态环境与经济发展间的协调程度,选取2000、2005、2010和2015年4期的陕西省107个县（区）数据,利用单位面积生态系统服务价值和人均GDP构建环境经济协调度指数。结合空间自相关分析和空间杜宾模型等方法,分析了环境经济协调度指数的时空演变特征及驱动因素。研究表明：（1）从时间上看,陕西省环境经济协调度指数整体呈现缓慢下降趋势;从空间上看,大部分县（区）已处于基本协调和中度协调状态,并形成了陕北地区优于陕南地区,陕南地区优于关中地区的空间格局。（2）陕西省环境经济协调度指数具有显著的空间正相关性,高高集聚和低低集聚效果比较明显。（3）退耕还林工程、城镇化水平、产业结构、降水量是提升协调度指数的关键因素,气温则是制约协调度发展的约束要素。未来应因地制宜实施差异化的发展战略,以实现环境与经济协调发展。     

肠杆菌科细菌耐药基因表达的遗传和环境调控

细菌耐药性是21世纪国际关注的重要问题,也是全球面临的重大挑战。肠杆菌科细菌是医院感染的重要病原菌之一。近年来,随着抗生素的大量使用,多种肠杆菌科耐药菌,尤其是多重耐药肠杆菌开始大量出现,对人类健康形成了日益严重的威胁。细菌可以通过耐药基因突变或水平转移的方式获得耐药性,通常情况下,可以通过已知的耐药机制预测相应的耐药表型。然而,最近有研究表明,遗传背景和环境因素能够影响耐药基因的表达,给定的基因型并不一定总是产生预期的耐药表型。这种基因型-表型分离的现象极大程度上限制了从遗传学角度预测耐药表型的能力。文中结合最新文献,从遗传背景和环境条件两个方面探讨了多种肠杆菌科细菌耐药基因的表达调控机制,以期为遗传学预测耐药表型以及临床指导用药提供一定的支持。