Biogeographical network analysis of plant species distribution in the Mediterranean region

The delimitation of bioregions helps to understand historical and ecological drivers of species distribution. In this work, we performed a network analysis of the spatial distribution patterns of plants in south of France (Languedoc‐Roussillon and Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur) to analyze the biogeographical structure of the French Mediterranean flora at different scales. We used a network approach to identify and characterize biogeographical regions, based on a large database containing 2.5 million of geolocalized plant records corresponding to more than 3,500 plant species. This methodology is performed following five steps, from the biogeographical bipartite network construction to the identification of biogeographical regions under the form of spatial network communities, the analysis of their interactions, and the identification of clusters of plant species based on the species contribution to the biogeographical regions. First, we identified two sub‐networks that distinguish Mediterranean and temperate biota. Then, we separated eight statistically significant bioregions that present a complex spatial structure. Some of them are spatially well delimited and match with particular geological entities. On the other hand, fuzzy transitions arise between adjacent bioregions that share a common geological setting, but are spread along a climatic gradient. The proposed network approach illustrates the biogeographical structure of the flora in southern France and provides precise insights into the relationships between bioregions. This approach sheds light on ecological drivers shaping the distribution of Mediterranean biota: The interplay between a climatic gradient and geological substrate shapes biodiversity patterns. Finally, this work exemplifies why fragmented distributions are common in the Mediterranean region, isolating groups of species that share a similar eco‐evolutionary history.     

Vertebral evolution and ontogenetic allometry: The developmental basis of extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes

Snakes exhibit a diverse array of body shapes despite their characteristically simplified morphology. The most extreme shape changes along the precloacal axis are seen in fully aquatic sea snakes (Hydrophiinae): “microcephalic” sea snakes have tiny heads and dramatically reduced forebody girths that can be less than a third of the hindbody girth. This morphology has evolved repeatedly in sea snakes that specialize in hunting eels in burrows, but its developmental basis has not previously been examined. Here, we infer the developmental mechanisms underlying body shape changes in sea snakes by examining evolutionary patterns of changes in vertebral number and postnatal ontogenetic growth. Our results show that microcephalic species develop their characteristic shape via changes in both the embryonic and postnatal stages. Ontogenetic changes cause the hindbodies of microcephalic species to reach greater sizes relative to their forebodies in adulthood, suggesting heterochronic shifts that may be linked to homeotic effects (axial regionalization). However, microcephalic species also have greater numbers of vertebrae, especially in their forebodies, indicating that somitogenetic effects also contribute to evolutionary changes in body shape. Our findings highlight sea snakes as an excellent system for studying the development of segment number and regional identity in the snake precloacal axial skeleton.     

黄土高原生态分区及概况

黄土高原地域广阔,水土流失区域差异显著。为了有效治理水土流失,评估水土流失治理技术和模式及生态恢复建设工程的成效性,需要对黄土高原进行区域划分。依据自然条件、水土流失治理技术和模式的区域性特征及差异,基于国家基础地理信息系统数据的县级行政界,对其进行合并,进行生态分区的划分,并分别统计其气候、地形地貌、植被特征及水土流失现状,以期为黄土高原水土流失治理技术和模式的改良优化提供依据。主要结论如下:(1)黄土高原分为黄土高塬沟壑区,黄土丘陵沟壑区,沙地和农灌区,土石山区及河谷平原区。其中黄土高塬沟壑区和黄土丘陵沟壑区分别划分为两个副区。(2)黄土高原的气候、植被、水土流失具有明显的分区差异。降水和植被覆盖度自东南向西北递减,二者在空间分布上具有很好的一致性,降水量大的分区,植被覆盖度也高。在年际变化方面,丘陵沟壑区B2副区降水量呈增加趋势,其他分区呈减小趋势,变化均不显著。80年代以来,黄土高原和各生态分区的植被覆盖度均逐渐增加,黄土丘陵沟壑区的增加量最大。各分区的面平均气温均呈非显著增加趋势,90年代以来增温明显。(3)1970年以来,黄土高原侵蚀产沙强度减弱趋势显著,至2002—2015年,多年平均输沙模数在0.13—3924 t km~(-2) a~(-1)之间,侵蚀强度最大为中度侵蚀(2500—5000 t km~(-2) a~(-1)),但面积较小,主要分布于第二高塬沟壑区的泾河流域。     

Fate mapping study of the endoderm in the posterior part of the 1.5-day-old chick embryo

Various endodermal sites posterior to the caudal-most somite were marked in ovo with the vital dye Dil, and the fate of marked endoderm was analyzed after 2 or 3 days' reincubation. The endoderm in this area became gut epithelium posterior to the caudal jejunum and yolk sac. The area occupied by the cells that were to contribute to the dorsal part of the digestive tube lay centrally around the area overlaid by axial and paraxial mesoderm, with the preventral digestive area lying outside with considerable overlapping, which was surrounded by the preyolk sac area. During the formation of the posterior digestive tube, the endoderm was elongated anteroposteriorly to a considerable degree. Cells that contributed to the cloaca and those that produced descendants in the large intestine occupied similar areas posterior to the center of the sinus rhomboidalis, which were included in the pre-ileal area extending more anteriorly. Prejejunal cells generally localized in a more anterior position than pre-ileal cells. Pre-allantoic cells were located in a rather small area around the posterior primitive streak.     

海河流域生态功能区划

从海河流域自身的特征出发,运用RS、GIS技术,采用定性和定量分析相结合的方法,对海河流域生态功能区进行划分.结果表明:海河流域可划分为5个生态区、24个生态亚区和114个生态功能区;以流域尺度上占主导地位的4项生态功能(水源涵养、水土保持、防风固沙和生物多样性保护)为依据,确定了对海河流域具有重要意义的11个重要生态功能区域.该区划结果明确了对海河流域生态安全具有重要意义的区域,可用于指导海河流域自然资源的有序开发利用和产业的合理布局,为海河流域生态环境保护提供了科学依据,对维护海河流域生态安全具有重要意义.     

鄂尔多斯东胜地区不同生态功能区的土壤侵蚀敏感性

利用ETM影像数据和GIS技术,对鄂尔多斯东胜地区进行生态功能分区.以水土流失通用方程 (universal soil loss equation, USLE) 理论为基础,并依据土壤侵蚀敏感性驱动力的相似性和差异性,分析了降水、土壤质地、地形和地表覆盖因子对该区域不同生态功能分区土壤侵蚀与水土流失敏感性的影响.研究结果表明:典型草原丘陵区土壤侵蚀敏感性指数SSj为4.2,典型草原平原区为4.0,典型草原沙化区为4.6,荒漠草原区土壤侵蚀敏感性指数为5.0;4个生态功能区的土地沙漠化都属于土地沙漠化高度敏感区,其由高到低的排序为荒漠草原区 > 典型草原沙化区 = 典型草原平原区 > 典型草原丘陵区;就土壤侵蚀程度而言,典型草原平原区属于土壤侵蚀轻度敏感区,荒漠草原区、典型草原沙化区、典型草原丘陵区属于土壤侵蚀中度敏感区.将其土壤侵蚀化程度由高到低排序:荒漠草原区 > 典型草原沙化区 > 典型草原丘陵区 > 典型草原平原区;就土壤盐渍化而言,典型草原丘陵区属于土地盐渍化不敏感区,其它3个区属于土地盐渍化轻度敏感区.在综合评价其土壤侵蚀敏感性区域差异基础上,阐述了鄂尔多斯东胜地区水土流失敏感性区域土地利用格局的调整与优化取向.     

青海湟水流域植物区系研究

湟水流域位于青海省的东部,约处于北纬35°56′～37°38′,东经100°35′～103°05′。属于青藏高原和黄土高原的过渡地带,海拔1650～4395m,全区面积约16600km~2,属于大陆性气候和高原大陆性气候类型。本区共有野生种子植物83科、400属、1234种。分别占本区所属的青藏高原植物亚区唐古特地区总科数的92.22％、总属数的78.74％、总种数的54.00％。研究表明,湟水流域植物区系特征为:①在唐古特地区中种类相对较丰富;②温带成分占92.80％,以绝对优势确定了本区系为明显的温带性质(属于以北温带成分,特别是欧亚大陆温、寒地带典型成分为优势的,兼具温性、寒温和高寒类型的温带区系性质,或可称为在温带区系中的过渡区系所具有的“复合型”区系特征);③木本类型少,大多数种类为多年生草本植物,缺乏古老和原始类群,一些中国特有种衍生于其广布的亲缘种中,表明本区系具有年轻和衍生的性质;④我国西南高山区系和华北区系对该区系具有双重影响;⑤为青藏高原植物亚区唐古特植物地区同华北植物地区相互过渡的代表区系之一;⑥特有属和特有种少。在中国种子植物区系分区中,本区属于青藏高原植物亚区中的唐古特地区。     

生态地理区划研究进展

生态地理区划是国内外地理学和宏观生态学研究的热点问题之一.国外学者对生态地理区划概念、原则和指标体系和方法等进行了大量的研究和讨论,并就全球、国家和区域尺度的生态地域系统进行划分.其研究经历了从单生态因子分异的规律性认识、生态系统聚合、人类作为生态系统一部分的单要素划分到层次约束、相互包容与不包容的等级斑块思维的整体性功能、过程和结构性划分的发展路线.我国生态地理区划在借鉴自然区划的基础上发展较为迅速,并在区划的原则、方法、理论等方面取得重要进展,就全国或地区的生态地理综合区划及要素区划等进行了深入的探讨.但仍然处于探索阶段,理论方法和技术体系不完善.中国未来生态地理区划应重点展开基础理论研究,构建严密的区划体系和理论体系,更加关注人文要素在区划中的重要影响,注重新方法和技术的应用,并加强对典型生态地域系统区划研究.为区域经济发展与生态环境保护、改良和合理利用提供科学依据.     

世界生态旅游区划

生态旅游区划是揭示全球尺度生态旅游资源与生态旅游业空间布局的重要手段,有助于从整体上把握世界生态旅游的发展。本文在探讨生态旅游区划定义与理论依据的基础上,提出生态旅游区划的理论基础是地域分异规律与生态学原理,并根据全局谋划、综合分析、主导因索、与行政区协调、兼顾自然区划等原则。将世界生态旅游地域系统划分为6个生态旅游洲、29个生态旅游大区、71个生态旅游区以及若干生态旅游地。文章还对各洲的生态旅游特点进行了阐述。