The biogeographic history of Phoenicurus redstarts reveals an allopatric mode of speciation and an out-of-Himalayas colonization pattern

Montane areas host high levels of diversity and endemism, and these features are tied to habitat stratification along an elevational gradient. As such, montane areas are often thought of as model systems in which sympatric speciation can occur. To test this idea, we selected Phoenicurus redstarts, an avian genus with an extensive distribution across Eurasia, as well as Northwest Africa; nine of the 14 species in the genus have distributions which include the Himalayas. We used sequences of the mtDNA ND2 and cytochrome-b genes and intron 9 of the Z chromosome specific ACO1 gene to reconstruct a phylogeny of the genus. The resulting trees were used to reconstruct a biogeographic history of Phoenicurus, and to date diversification events. We also analysed the relationship between node age and sympatry to determine the geographic mode of speciation in the genus. Our data suggest a very late Miocene, Himalayan origin for Phoenicurus. Diversification and colonization of other parts of Eurasia, as well as Northwest Africa, continued through the Pleistocene, with a rapid pulse of speciation in the late Pliocene. Allopatric speciation was the dominant mode of speciation in Phoenicurus, despite extensive distributional overlaps in the Himalayas where ecological conditions are amenable to speciation in sympatry. Our results, along with several other studies, suggest an emerging pattern where the Himalayas served as a source area for montane specialist avian lineages that subsequently colonized other Palaearctic regions.     

Community structure,spatial distribution,diversity and functional characterization of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

A total of 266 endophytic fungal isolates were recovered from 1019 tissue segments of Glycyrrhiza glabra collected from four different locations in the North-Western Himalayas. The endophytes grouped into 21 genera and 38 different taxa. The host had strong affinity for the genus Phoma, followed by Fusarium. The species richness was highest at the sub-tropical location, followed by the sub-temperate location and the temperate locations, respectively. The tissue specificity of endophytes was also evident. Some endophytes showed potential antimicrobial activity against phyto-pathogens indicating that they may be helpful to the host in evading pathogens. All the endophytic taxa produced the plant growth promoting hormone, indole acetic acid (IAA), though in varying concentrations. None of these endophytes caused any symptoms of disease in co-cultivation with the tissue cultured plants. Further, all the endophytes had a positive influence on the phenolic and flavonoid content of the host. Three endophytes, Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, Bionectria sp. and Aspergillus terreus also increased the host root (rhizome) and shoot growth visibly. Such endophytes are potential candidates for developing endophyte-based technologies for sustainable cultivation and enhanced productivity of G. glabra. This is the first report of community structure and biological properties of fungal endophytes associated with G. glabra.     

Fern species richness along a central Himalayan elevational gradient, Nepal

Aim The study explores fern species richness patterns along a central Himalayan elevational gradient (100–4800 m a.s.l.) and evaluates factors influencing the spatial increase and decrease of fern richness. Location The Himalayas stretch from west to east by 20°, i.e. 75–95° east, and Nepal is located from 80 to 88° east in this range. Methods We used published data of the distribution of ferns and fern allies to interpolate species elevational ranges. Defining species presence between upper and lower elevation limit is the basis for richness estimates. The richness pattern was regressed against the total number of rainy days, and gradients that are linearly related to elevation, such as length of the growing season, potential evapotranspiration (PET, energy), and a moisture index (MI = PET/mean annual rainfall). The regressions were performed by generalized linear models. Results A unimodal relationship between species richness and elevation was observed, with maximum species richness at 2000 m. Fern richness has a unimodal response along the energy gradients, and a linear response with moisture gradients. Main conclusions The study confirms the importance of moisture on fern distributions as the peak coincides spatially with climatic factors that enhance moisture levels; the maximum number of rainy days and the cloud zone. Energy‐related variables probably control species richness directly at higher elevations but at the lower end the effect is more probably related to moisture.     

西昆仑、西喀喇昆仑和西北喜马拉雅地区植被的地域分异及其指示意义

 在青藏高原的西北部,喜马拉雅山、喀喇昆仑山和昆仑山汇聚成一个高大山系组。中国-巴基斯坦公路横跨这个山系组,沿线植被的组成及分布显示出极其明显的地域分异：西昆仑山和喀喇昆仑山以荒漠为主,西北喜马拉雅山以山地森林为主;西昆仑山前平原上是暖温带灌木、半灌木荒漠,西北喜马拉雅山前印度河平原上是亚热带稀树草原;山系组腹地谷坡明显较外部山坡干燥,西昆仑山东北坡有完整的山地草原和高山草甸带,以及断续的山地云杉（Picea）和刺柏（Juniperus）疏林灌丛,而西南坡山地荒漠海拔高达3600～4000 m,草原和草甸带     

东喜马拉雅地区雀儿豆属的修订

本文依据形态特征对分布于东喜马拉雅地区的雀区豆属植物进行了研究,认为荚果圆柱形,长圆形并且果皮具海绵状结构非该类植物所特有;垫状生活型则是植物对高山带,荒砾质带生态适应的结果。     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Cedrus (Pinaceae) inferred from sequences of seven paternal chloroplast and maternal mitochondrial DNA regions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cedrus (true cedars) is a very important horticultural plant group. It has a disjunct distribution in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya. Its evolution and biogeography are of great interest to botanists. This study aims to investigate the phylogeny and biogeography of Cedrus based on sequence analyses of seven cytoplasmic DNA fragments. METHODS: The methods used were PCR amplification and sequencing of seven paternal cpDNA and maternal mtDNA fragments, parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of the DNA dataset, and molecular clock estimate of divergence times of Cedrus species. KEY RESULTS: Phylogenies of Cedrus constructed from cpDNA, mtDNA and the combined cp- and mt-DNA dataset are identical in topology. It was found that the Himalayan cedar C. deodara diverged first, and then the North African species C. atlantica separated from the common ancestor of C. libani and C. brevifolia, two species from the eastern Mediterranean area. Molecular clock estimates suggest that the divergence between C. atlantica and the eastern Mediterranean clade at 23.49 +/- 3.55 to 18.81 +/- 1.25 Myr and the split between C. libani and C. brevifolia at 7.83 +/- 2.79 to 6.56 +/- 1.20 Myr. CONCLUSIONS: The results, combined with palaeogeographical and palaeoecological information, indicate that Cedrus could have an origin in the high latitude area of Eurasia, and its present distribution might result from vicariance of southerly migrated populations during climatic oscillations in the Tertiary and further fragmentation and dispersal of these populations. It is very likely that Cedrus migrated into North Africa in the very late Tertiary, while its arrival in the Himalayas would not have been before the Miocene, after which the phased or fast uplift of the Tibetan plateau happened.     

西喜马拉雅地区气候变化与果蝇分布界限的移动(英文)

在长时间尺度上研究环境变化条件下的种群动态,有助于确定不同物种如何对新的生物和非生物条件做出反应。采纳类似的采集方法在相同的地点,分别于1961－1962年和2003－2004年在西喜马拉雅地区对果蝇种类进行了两次野外调查,对两次调查获得的种类的相对丰富度和优势度指数进行了比较。最近50年的气象数据显示西喜马拉雅平均气温（Tave）发生了显著变化,对该地区的果蝇种类组成及分布界限产生了影响。本研究发现在低海拔的地带Drosophila nepalensis及其他一些冷适应种类的数量明显下降;而Drosophila ananassae及其他一些暖适应种类则进入了低海拔和中海拔地带。D. nepalensis的丰富度与所调查地点的平均气温负相关(r = -0.93±0.03),而对于D. ananassaez则是相反趋势(r=0.90±0.05)。据此认为长期（42年）的气候变化已对西喜马拉雅地区的果蝇种类的分布格局产生了影响。     

Areas of endemism and patterns of diversity for aphids of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas

Aim  The study aimed to identify areas of endemism for aphids in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas (QTPH), and to test congruence between patterns of endemism and patterns of overall species richness identified in a previous study.
Location  The QTPH.
Methods  A distribution data base of 326 endemic aphids in the QTPH was compiled. The study area was divided into a grid of 2°× 2° operative geographical units. Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) was used to identify areas of endemism, and the diversity patterns of endemic species were then mapped using GIS.
Results  We identified 326 endemic species belonging to 138 genera within Adelgidae and 14 subfamilies of Aphididae. Five areas of endemism were found using PAE analysis: the eastern Himalayas, the western Himalayas, north-western Yunnan, southern Tibet and the eastern QTPH. Maps of patterns of endemism identified four major centres for endemic aphids, namely the western Himalayas, the eastern Himalayas (or Sikkim-Assam Himalayas), north-western Hengduan Mountains and the mountains of southern Gansu Province, and three minor centres, southern Tibet, south-eastern Tibet and the eastern Qinghai Province in the north-eastern QTPH.
Main conclusions  Our study identifies major centres of aphid endemism. Furthermore, there is a noticeable congruence between patterns of endemism and patterns of species richness. The patterns of endemism were most likely influenced by the recent uplift of the QTPH.     

北极-第三纪成分在喜马拉雅-横断山的发展及演化

通过古植物学及古地史资料,论述了北极地区在第三纪早期气候变迁对喜马拉雅-横断山地区植物区系形成的影响,并通过一些喜马拉雅-横断山地区的特征类群;杜鹃属,槭树属,柳属,桦木属和桤木属以及一些草本类群虎耳草科的落新妇族,金腰属和虎耳草属,忍冬科的莛子镳属的分布式样和起源分化的分析,说明了喜马拉雅-横断山区系中有相当一部分是这些北方起源的,北极-第三纪成分迁移是现代喜马拉雅-横断山植物区系成分的一个重要来源,并且讨论了喜马拉雅-横断山植物区系同北方植物区系可能的迁移路线,指出西南-秦岭-东北通道即西南沿四川盆地经秦岭和黄河至东北和西伯利亚和“中亚高地通道”即向西经帕米尔高原同北方交流,向东经西南-秦岭-东北通道迁移交流是喜马拉雅-横断山植物区系成分同北方交流的主要路线,由于第四纪冰期间冰期反复作用,各类成分在该地区保存,汇集,分化发展,使得该喜马拉雅-横断山地区成了北极-第三纪中心消失以后,在近代形成的温带和高山植物区系新的发展和分化中心。