Do different rates of gene flow underlie variation in phenotypic and phenological clines in a montane grasshopper community?

Species responses to environmental change are likely to depend on existing genetic and phenotypic variation, as well as evolutionary potential. A key challenge is to determine whether gene flow might facilitate or impede genomic divergence among populations responding to environmental change, and if emergent phenotypic variation is dependent on gene flow rates. A general expectation is that patterns of genetic differentiation in a set of codistributed species reflect differences in dispersal ability. In less dispersive species, we predict greater genetic divergence and reduced gene flow. This could lead to covariation in life‐history traits due to local adaptation, although plasticity or drift could mirror these patterns. We compare genome‐wide patterns of genetic structure in four phenotypically variable grasshopper species along a steep elevation gradient near Boulder, Colorado, and test the hypothesis that genomic differentiation is greater in short‐winged grasshopper species, and statistically associated with variation in growth, reproductive, and physiological traits along this gradient. In addition, we estimate rates of gene flow under competing demographic models, as well as potential gene flow through surveys of phenological overlap among populations within a species. All species exhibit genetic structure along the elevation gradient and limited gene flow. The most pronounced genetic divergence appears in short‐winged (less dispersive) species, which also exhibit less phenological overlap among populations. A high‐elevation population of the most widespread species, Melanoplus sanguinipes, appears to be a sink population derived from low elevation populations. While dispersal ability has a clear connection to the genetic structure in different species, genetic distance does not predict growth, reproductive, or physiological trait variation in any species, requiring further investigation to clearly link phenotypic divergence to local adaptation.     

秦巴山地NPP及对气候变化响应的多维地带性与暖温带-亚热带界线

秦巴山地位于我国的南北过渡带,对我国生态地理格局产生重要影响。为了探索秦巴山地植被净第一性生产力(NPP,Net Primary Productivity)的时空格局及其气候响应的多样性和复杂性,为我国暖温带-亚热带界线的具体分布提供新的佐证,基于2000—2015年的MOD17A3的地表植被NPP数据和秦巴山地93个气象站点数据,从经度、纬度、海拔、坡向多个维度研究了秦巴山地地表植被NPP的分布及与气候因子的关系。结果表明:从2000—2015年,(1)秦巴山地中低山地区,自北向南随纬度降低,地表植被多年平均NPP呈现增加的趋势,体现了纬度地带性;年均NPP与温度的关系由负相关变为正相关,转折点出现在汉江;与降水的相关性减弱。(2)自西向东多年平均NPP值先增加后减少,秦岭一线地表植被年均NPP与温度由正相关变为负相关,与降水主要呈正相关,相关性先增加后减少。(3)随高度的增加,秦巴山地多年NPP值及增长率均呈现先增加后减少的趋势。(4)秦岭和大巴山多年平均NPP均呈现增加趋势,但是秦岭增长较大巴山更明显;2000m以下,秦岭南坡增长率明显高于北坡,大巴山北坡增长率明显高于南坡;2000—3000m,秦岭南北坡差异较小,但是大巴山差异明显;中山地区(1000—2500m),秦岭年均NPP与气温呈负相关,而大巴山则呈现正相关或弱相关;秦岭地区年均NPP与降水的相关性整体强于大巴山地区。这就意味着全球变暖、气温升高对秦岭植被尤其是中低山地区的植被产生不利影响,但是对大巴山则有利,而前者植被生长主要与降水增加有关。这也说明了基于汉江为界的秦岭和大巴山无论是地表植被NPP的均值还是其南北坡差异以及对气候因子的响应呈现了明显的差异,而汉江作为中山地区植被NPP与气温相关性由正相关性到负相关的转折点,与降水的关系由弱相关到正相关的转折点,更合适作为南北分界线。     

秦岭地区中段死亡斑羚空间分布规律初探

In recent years, Chinese goral (Nemorhaedus griseus) carcasses were frequently found in the mid-Qinling Mountains. In order to assess the spatial distribution pattern of goral carcasses, data of the individuals from Shaanxi's Fourth Giant Panda Survey was used in this study to analyse how the gorals/goral carcasses sites were related to altitude, slope, aspect, river, and road through quantitative analyses. The results showed:(1) the correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and topographic factors was relatively significant. Goral carcasses tend to be found at relatively low altitude (1 200-2 400 m) and mild slope (6°-25°). The chi-square test also showed that the aspect of the goral carcasses sites was significantly different from the goral sites. Most of the goral carcasses were found at south-facing/half southfacing slopes. (2) The correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and the distance to river was significant. The kernel density analysis and Z-test further showed that there were significant differences between the gorals/goral carcasses sites and the distance to river. Most of the goral carcasses sites were close to river (< 100 m). (3) The correlation between the sites of goral carcasses and the distance to road was not significant. Kernel density analysis and Z-test showed that there was no significant difference between the sites of gorals/goral carcasses and the distance to road. This study proposed several suggestions about how to strengthen the protection of gorals in the future.     

太行山南麓坡面土壤碳氮空间变异性及其影响因素

太行山南麓是我国华北平原的重要生态屏障,研究该区域土壤养分的空间变异性对土石山区林业生态建设具有重要意义。本研究以太行山南麓典型坡面(人工林坡地和自然荒坡地)为对象,采用网格法布设采样点,运用经典统计学、地统计学和约束性排序相结合的方法对土壤养分的空间变异性进行分析。结果表明: 1)太行山南麓的土壤全碳(TC)含量为6.80～57.05 g·kg^-1,全氮(TN)含量为0.74～3.93 g·kg^-1;土壤TC、TN变异系数为25.0%～52.8%,均属于中等程度变异,该变异由随机性因素和结构性因素共同引起;养分的空间聚集性均随着滞后距的增加而下降。2)土壤养分含量从坡上到坡下均有增加的趋势,养分的高值区出现在坡下部分。3)土壤总容重、砾石含量、植被覆盖度、土壤含水量是影响太行山南麓土壤TC、TN空间变异的主要因素。4)土壤含水量是影响自然荒坡地土壤养分的主控因素,但不是影响人工林坡地的主控因素。     

滇西并流河谷区土壤酶活性化学计量学特征与环境因子的关系

横断山河谷区具有极高的景观异质性,气候与植被类型多样化程度较高。为探讨土壤C、N、P、S四种生物元素在滇西怒江、澜沧江、金沙江及元江并流河谷区的区域循环特征,在各河谷的森林、草地、农田中分别取浅层(0～10 cm)土样,测定了土壤中C、N、P、S的循环酶,即β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、N-乙酰-β-D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、酸性磷酸酶(AP)、硫酸脂酶(SU)活性,分析了土壤酶活性及其化学计量学特征与环境因素之间的关系。结果表明: 不同流域和不同土地类型下AP、NAG活性均有显著差异;4种酶活性之间均呈显著正相关,BG、NAG、SU活性由东南向西北随采样点的海拔升高而逐渐升高;在各流域土壤中,酶活性的生态化学计量比均为AP∶SU > BG∶SU > NAG∶SU > BG∶NAG > BG∶AP > NAG∶AP;与各流域内的林地和草地相比,农田土壤BG∶NAG较高,而NAG∶AP较低(元江流域除外);农田土壤中AP∶SU、BG∶SU、NAG∶SU在元江流域小于草地和林地,在澜沧江流域和金沙江流域则大于林地而小于草地。土壤酶活性及其化学计量学特征受到土壤理化性质、气候及区位的综合影响,其中土壤理化性质的影响最大。农业活动对C∶N∶P相关酶化学计量学特征具有显著影响,降低了土壤中N分解酶与其他酶活性的计量比,表现为增加了BG∶NAG,降低了NAG∶AP,农业活动对其他酶化学计量学特征的影响较小。     

Geoclimatic factors influence the population genetic connectivity of Incarvillea arguta (Bignoniaceae) in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains biodiversity hotspot

Geoclimatic factors related to the uplift of the Himalaya and the Quaternary climatic oscillations influence the population genetic connectivity in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains (HHM) biodiversity hotspot. Therefore, to explore the relative roles played by these two factors, we examined the population dynamics and dispersal corridors of Incarvillea arguta (Royle) Royle incorporating ensemble species distribution modelling (SDM). Thirty‐seven populations were genotyped using plastid chloroplast DNA and low copy nuclear gene (ncpGS) sequences. Phylogeographic analysis was carried out to reveal the genetic structure and lineage differentiation. Ensemble SDMs were carried out for distributional change in the last glacial maximum, present, and future. Finally, the least cost path method was used to trace out possible dispersal corridors. The haplotypes were divided into four clades with strong geographical structure. The late Miocene origin of I. arguta in the western Himalaya ca. 7.92 Ma indicates lineage diversification related to the uplift of the HHM. The variability in habitat connectivity revealed by SDM is due to change in suitability since the Pleistocene. A putative dispersal corridor was detected along the drainage systems and river valleys, with strong support in the eastern Hengduan Mountains group. Our results support the signature of geoclimatic influence on population genetic connectivity of I. arguta in the HHM. We proposed that the major drainage systems might have assisted the rapid dispersal of isolated riverine plant species I. arguta in the HHM. The population genetic connectivity, using the fine‐tuned ensemble SDMs, enables scientists and policymakers to develop conservation strategies for the species gene pool in the HHM biodiversity hotspots.     

Lower Jurassic corals from the Pamir Mountains,Central Asia

The paper describes new Lower Jurassic corals from the South-Eastern Pamir Mountains (Tajikistan) and interprets their relationships with contemporaneous West Tethyan corals. Taxonomic similarities with Pliensbachian European and North African faunas indicate a Pliensbachian age for this fauna, which was previously considered to be of Hettangian/Sinemurian age. Together with the taxa earlier described from the Pamirs, this fauna consists of 30 species of 25 genera, including Triassic holdover genera such as Stylophyllopsis, Phacelostylophyllum and Eocomoseris. The bulk of the fauna represents new Jurassic genera: Alichurastrea, Eomicrophyllia, Guembelastreomorpha, Gurumdynia, Pinacomorpha, Protostephanastrea, Psenophyllia, Sedekastrea and Stylimorpha. Earlier coral studies of the region concerned the genera: Archaeosmilia Melnikova, 1975, Archaeosmiliopsis Melnikova, 1975, Cylismilia Roniewicz, 1988, Pachysmilia Melnikova, 1989, and Prodonacosmilia Melnikova in Melnikova and Roniewicz, 1976. Two species that were considered to belong to the genus Cylismilia, are redescribed and reclassified in the genera Psenophyllia, and Archaeosmilia Melnikova, respectively.     

模拟氮沉降对长白山苔原灌草混合群落中植物光合特性的影响

由于草本植物持续上侵长白山灌木苔原,形成了强烈的灌草群落种间竞争。本研究以牛皮杜鹃-小叶章群落（Comm.Rhododendron aureum-Deyeuxia purpurea）为对象,根据小叶章的入侵程度设置4种盖度差异显著的样方（无、轻度、中度、重度入侵）,并设3个施氮水平（自然状态、添加11.8 kgN·hm^-2·a^-1及添加23.6 kgN·hm^-2·a^-1）,进行原位氮沉降模拟实验,监测灌木牛皮杜鹃和草本植物小叶章光合特性的差异和变化趋势,研究小叶章入侵苔原带的内在生理机制。结果显示：（1）小叶章净光合速率大于牛皮杜鹃,小叶章盖度越高、其叶绿素含量越高,而牛皮杜鹃叶绿素含量降低,随着小叶章入侵程度的增加,其净光合速率增强;（2）施氮可以提高牛皮杜鹃和小叶章的叶绿素含量和净光合速率,促进植物生长,但小叶章的增幅更大,从而增强了小叶章的竞争优势;（3）施氮和小叶章入侵具有复合作用,小叶章盖度越大,对其施氮导致小叶章净光合速率与叶绿素含量的增幅越大,而牛皮杜鹃的增幅减小。所以小叶章的成功入侵可能与其具有较高的净光合速率有关,并且施氮有利于提高小叶章的净光合速率,随着氮沉降的继续增加,更有利于小叶章的生长并提高其竞争力。     

Introgressive hybridization of Senecio hercynicus and S. ovatus (Compositae,Senecioneae) along an altitudinal gradient in Harz National Park (Germany)

Introgressive hybridization of Senecio hercynicus and S. ovatus (Compositae, Senecioneae) was studied in a hybrid zone on the southern slopes of Mt Brocken (Harz Mountains, Germany). A total of 415 plants representing 10 stands along an altitudinal gradient were investigated using multivariate statistical analyses of morphological characters and molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA[RAPD]). Both types of traits detected pure S. hercynicus stands on the summit plateau, pure S. ovatus stands at the lowest elevations, and hybrid swarms at intermediate elevations. While morphological and molecular patterns coincided, some individuals in hybrid stands combined morphological patterns typical of S. ovatus with RAPD patterns typical of S. hercynicus, and vice versa. In general, introgression was symmetrical within stands, though one stand combined S. ovatus characters with the glandular hair typical for S. hercynicus, and two stands combined a S. hercynicus typical RAPD genotype with morphological characters shifted towards S. ovatus. Because pure stands of S. hercynicus occurred only on the summit plateau of Mt Brocken, and markers typical for S. ovatus were detectable in stands up to 1040 m a.s.l., future fusion or assimilation of the rare form, S. hercynicus, by the more widespread S. ovatus appears possible at Mt Brocken.