The geographic ranges of mammalian species in South America: spatial patterns in environmental resistance and anisotropy

We analyse the geographical distribution of South American mammalian species using two biogeographic indices: environmental resistance (R ₅₀) and anisotropy (A₅₀). R₅₀ quantifies the loss of biotic resemblance occurring from any point in the map to the rest of the continent. A ₅₀ quantifies the extent to which the perimeter: area ratio of the geographical ranges of all species whose distributions overlap at any particular location depart from the perimeter: area ratio of a circle. We test for the latitudinal Rapoport effect that predicts an increase in the range-sizes of mammalian species, and hence a decrease in the values of R ₅₀, towards the south. We test for the effect of mountains on species’ ranges, given that Janzen's argument that ‘mountain passes are higher in the tropics’ implicitly predicts greater anisotropy in the tropics. Continental spatial patterns of variation in R ₅₀ and A₅₀ suggest a biogeographic division of South America consistent with most classical zoogeographical classifications proposed for the continent. Rapid change in mammalian range-sizes and shapes occurs at the limit between the Guayano-Brazilian and Andean-Patagonean subregions. R ₅₀ data do not support the latitudinal Rapoport effect: the most widespread species locate in the eastern portions of Brazil, the most restricted ones are in association with the Andes. A ₅₀ data support Janzen's prediction: the effect of mountains on species’ distributions is greater in equatorial and central regions of the Andes rather than in the south. R ₅₀-and A₅₀-contour maps reveal that, mainly due to the effects of the lie of the land and likely differences in the history of the fauna, the continent has a biogeographic texture which must have major constraints on local ecological patterns and processes. This stresses the importance of considering the role of biogeographic structure in the analyses of geographical gradients in species’ distributions.     

红树植物木榄种群高度结构的分形特征

 采用计测等值线分形维数的方法,探讨山口国家级红树林自然保护区内的木榄(Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)种群高度结构的特征。结果表明,木榄种群的高度结构具有分形的特征,其计盒维数介于1.61～1.90之间,信息维数介于1.63～1.84之间,分形维数的高低主要与幼树个体的数量、个体的集聚程度和高度层次结构的复杂程度等密切相关。计盒维数定量描述种群占据垂直空间的能力和程度,而信息维数揭示种群高度层次细节的尺度变化强度和个体高度分布的非均匀性程度。分析表明,等值线法能够有效地表征木榄种群高度结构的分     

Endemic freshwater finfish of Asia: distribution and conservation status

Freshwater finfish species richness and level of endemism in East, and South and South‐East Asia that included 17 nations were studied using available databases, and included nation‐wise distribution, habitat types, and conservation status. The number of endemic finfish species in the region was 559, belonging to 47 families. Families Cyprinidae and Balitoridae accounted for 43.5% and 16.2% of the total number of endemic species in the region, respectively, followed by Sisoridae (25), Gobiidae (20), Melanotaeniidae (19), and Bagridae (16), and the other 41 families had at least one endemic species. Nation‐wise the most number of endemic freshwater finfish species occur in India (191), followed by China (88), Indonesia (84), and Myanmar (60). In India, the endemic species accounted for 26.4% of the native freshwater fish fauna, followed by South Korea (16.9%), the Philippines, (16.3%) and Myanmar (15.7%). Statistically significant relationships discerned between the number of indigenous and endemic species richness to land area (X_la in 10³ km²) of the nations in the region were, Y_in = 218.961 Ln(X_la) – 843.1 (R² = 0.735; P < 0.001) and Y_e = 28.445 Ln X_la?134.47 (R² = 0.534; P < 0.01), respectively, and between indigenous and endemic species richness was Y_e = 0.079X_n? 1.558 (R² = 0.235; P < 0.05). The overall conservation status of endemic finfish in Asia was satisfactory in that only 92 species were in some state of vulnerability, of which 37 species (6.6%) are endangered or critically endangered. However, the bulk of these species (83.7%) were cave‐ and or lake‐dwelling fish. However, nation‐wise, the endemic freshwater finfish fauna of the Philippines and Sri Lanka, based on the imperilment index, were found to be in a highly vulnerable state. Among river basins, the Mekong Basin had the highest number of endemic species (31.3%). The discrepancies between databases are highlighted and the need to consolidate information among databases is discussed. It is suggested that the Mekong Basin be considered as a biodiversity hotspot, and appropriate management strategies be introduced in this regard.     

Effects of macrophyte heterogeneity and food availability on structural parameters of the macroinvertebrate community in a Pampean stream

Environmental heterogeneity in natural ecosystems influences several parameters at the population and community levels. In freshwater ecosystems, habitat heterogeneity can be provided by macrophyte species with different structural shapes. Previous studies suggest that aquatic plants with more complex architectures will support higher number, biomass, and taxon richness of macroinvertebrates than plants with simpler shape. We investigated the influence of macrophyte structural heterogeneity (quantified by fractal dimension) and food availability (represented by epiphytic biomass) on several parameters (number of individuals, biomass, body size distribution, taxon richness, and diversity) of the macroinvertebrate community in a Pampean stream. Four submerged macrophyte species (Egeria densa, Elodea ernstae, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Stuckenia striata) and associated macroinvertebrates were sampled in late spring, summer, and autumn. Plants were photographed and fractal dimension was estimated from the images by the box-counting method. Fractal dimension was independent of plant surface area per unit of macrophyte biomass and differed significantly among species. Mean fractal dimension varied between 1.29 and 1.62, and increased following the sequence E. densa → S. striata → E. ernstae → C. demersum. Macrophyte species with higher fractal dimension supported a greater abundance of macroinvertebrates, especially those of small body size (500–1,000 μm); but fractal dimension was unrelated to macroinvertebrate biomass, richness, and diversity. However, overall animal biomass was significantly associated to the epiphytic abundance. Consequently, macrophyte heterogeneity influences macroinvertebrate density and body size distribution, while animal biomass depends on epiphytic food resources provided by plants.     

Global trends,biases and gaps in the scientific literature about freshwater fish eggs and larvae

Syntheses of knowledge are important to reveal trends, biases and gaps in the scientific literature, indicating main data shortfalls and research needs. In this regard, the authors conducted a broad systematic review on the literature about freshwater fish eggs and larvae to investigate (a) temporal trends in the global scientific production, (b) the scope and habitat types, (c) the spatial distribution of studies, (d) the fish species contemplated and their respective conservation status and (e) the factors associated with the spatial distribution of studies. They analysed 654 studies published between 1950 and 2020. The number of studies has increased over time, but with a weak trend. Most studies investigated basic questions about biology and ecology and were carried out chiefly in rivers and lakes. These studies covered 95 freshwater ecoregions (22.3% of all ecoregions) and recorded 871 fish species (4.8% of all freshwater fish currently described). Most species were assessed by the IUCN and classified into six threat categories, but approximately 35% were not evaluated. The main drivers affecting the spatial distribution of studies were ecoregion area, road density, river volume and the number of hydroelectric plants. Results point to significant biases and gaps in the global scientific literature on fish eggs and larvae, especially associated with habitat type, spatial distribution and target species, emphasizing the need to address specific topics. Such biases and gaps indicate the existence of important data shortfalls, which compromise management and conservation planning, as information on fish eggs and larvae is basic and critical for the assessment of fish recruitment and population dynamics.     

云贵鹅耳枥种群分布格局的分形特征

应用分形理论中的计盒维数和信息维数探讨了贵阳喀斯特山地贵鹅耳枥种群分布格局的分形特征。结果表明,贵鹅耳枥种群的分布格局具有分形特征,其计盒维数为1．1853－1．7419,信息维数为1．1961－1．7051。集群型的贵鹅耳枥种群的计盒维数和信息维数均比随机型的高。计盒维数定量地反映了贵鹅耳枥种群占据生态空间的能力,信息维数则揭示了该种群格局强度的尺度变化程度和表征了种群个体分布的非均匀性。这两种维数方法都适用于贵鹅耳枥种群分布格局分形特征的定量描述。     

Scale-dependent relationships between the spatial distribution of a limiting resource and plant species diversity in an African grassland ecosystem

One cornerstone of ecological theory is that nutrient availability limits the number of species that can inhabit a community. However, the relationship between the spatial distribution of limiting nutrients and species diversity is not well established because there is no single scale appropriate for measuring variation in resource distribution. Instead, the correct scale for analyzing resource variation depends on the range of species sizes within the community. To quantify the relationship between nutrient distribution and plant species diversity, we measured NO₃^- distribution and plant species diversity in 16 paired, modified Whittaker grassland plots in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Semivariograms were used to quantify the spatial structure of NO₃^- from scales of 0.4–26 m. Plant species diversity (Shannon-Weiner diversity index; H ) was quantified in 1-m² plots, while plant species richness was measured at multiple spatial scales between 1 and 1,000 m². Small-scale variation in NO₃^- (<0.4 m) was positively correlated with 1-m² H , while 1,000-m² species richness was a log-normal function of average NO₃^- patch size. Nine of the 16 grassland plots had a fractal (self-similar across scales) NO₃^- spatial distribution; of the nine fractal plots, five were adjacent to plots that had a non-fractal distribution of NO₃^-. This finding offered the unique opportunity to test predictions of Ritchie and Olff (1999): when the spatial distribution of limiting resources is fractal, communities should display a left-skewed log-size distribution and a log-normal relationship between net primary production and species richness. These predictions were supported by comparisons of plant size distributions and biomass-richness relationships in paired plots, one with a fractal and one with a non-fractal distribution of NO₃^-. In addition, fractal plots had greater large-scale richness than paired non-fractal plots (1,0–1000 m²), but neither species diversity (H ) nor richness was significantly different at small scales (1 m²). This result is most likely explained by differences in the scale of resource variation among plots: fractal and non-fractal plots had equivalent NO₃^- variation at small scales but differed in NO₃^- variation at large scales (as measured by the fractal dimension). We propose that small-scale variation in NO₃^- is largely due to the direct effects of plants on soil, while patterns of species richness at large scales is controlled by the patch size and fractal dimension of NO₃^- in the landscape. This study provides an important empirical step in understanding the relationship between the spatial distribution of resources and patterns of species diversity across multiple spatial scales.     

Lake shoreline in the contiguous United States: quantity,distribution and sensitivity to observation resolution

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Spatial structure of fish assemblages in a tropical estuarine lagoon: combining multivariate and geostatistical techniques

The spatial structure and seasonal changes of estuarine fish assemblages in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) were analysed based on four seasonal comprehensive surveys conducted in 1993-1994 and 1997. Geostatistical and multivariate techniques were used to: (a) determine seasonal changes in spatial distribution of the species richness, and (b) identify assemblages of estuarine fish and their relation to abiotic factors. Potential biotic interactions affecting the assemblage structure were also explored. A total of 11075 individuals representing 39 species were collected, with Eugerres plumieri, Diapterus rhombeus, Micropogonias furnieri, Mugil incilis, Cathorops spixii, Elops saurus and Anchovia clupeoides as dominant species between seasons. Spatial distribution of fish richness differed between rainy and dry seasons in each year, whereas species mapping showed spatial patchiness in 1993-1994 and gradients during 1997. Strong evidence of species saturation was found in all seasons, suggesting biotic interactions limiting species richness at a threshold density of ca. 50 ind./5000 m². Marine, marine-estuarine and freshwater species were classified in each season according to their capability to cope with salinity fluctuations. Associations defined by functional feeding guilds were also identified. Empirical and statistic evidence showed that fish assemblages differed between seasons within each year, and each assemblage was always dominated by a small number of species, notably E. plumieri in both years 1993-1994 and 1997. Between-season differences in fish assemblage structure in the CGSM seem to be driven by abiotic factors; however, evidence of species saturation could suggest the existence of density-dependent factors operating together.     

涪陵磨盘沟桫椤种群格局的分形特征-信息维数

应用分形理论中的信息维数探讨了涪陵磨盘沟桫椤种群分布格局的分形特征.结果表明桫椤种群的分布格局具有分形特征,信息维数适用于涪陵磨盘沟桫椤种群分布格局分形特征的定量描述.6个不同植物群落中桫椤种群的信息维数大小依次为桫椤+毛叶木姜子(1.584)>桫椤+血桐-火炭木(0.947)>桫椤+盐肤木-腹水草(0.828)>桫椤+黄牛奶树(0.779)>桫椤+黄杞-南川楼梯草(0.635)>桫椤+白栎+异叶榕(0.535),这种差异反映了桫椤在各群落中更新状况的差异.集群型的信息维数比随机型的高,信息维数揭示了桫椤种群格局强度的尺度变化程度和表征了种群个体分布的非均匀性.     

Gill surface area of water-breathing freshwater fish

Summary To provide a hitherto lacking review which focuses on gill surface area of freshwater fish, we collected and analysed morphometric data from the literature. The scaling exponent of gill area ranges from 0.36 to 1.13, with a mean value of 0.76. The absolute values for the largest gill areas are about 5 times as high as those of the smallest. This range resembles that of marine fish, if specially adapted steady swimmers, such as tunnies and some sharks, are excluded. Generally it appears that the gill areas of freshwater fish are smaller than those of comparable marine species. To establish whether a relationship exists between gill area and swimming activity or oxygen content of water, the activity of each species and the oxygen content of its habitat were estimated and checked against the gill area. ANOVA revealed that activity explains the presence of the smallest gill areas only, while oxygen content does not correlate with gill area at all. The morphometric variables determining gill area (total length of filaments, average lamellar density, average lamellar area) are highly correlated; total gill area correlates mainly with lamellar density and to a lesser degree with filament length; lamellar area varies independently. Different populations of the same species exhibit striking differences with respect to gill areas, total length of filaments, average lamellar density and average lamellar area. These differences point to a substantial morphological plasticity of the gill system.     

The Quasi-Fractal Structure of Fish Brain Neurons

The box-counting method for calculating the fractal dimension (D) with the ImageJ 1.20s software is used as a tool for quantitative analysis of the neuronal morphology in the fish brain. The fractal dimension was determined for several types of neurons in the brain of two teleost species, Pholidapus dybowskii and Oncorhynchus keta. These results were compared with those obtained for some neurons of the human brain. The fractal (fractional) dimension (D), as a quantitative index of filling of two-dimensional space by the black and white image of a cell, is shown to vary from 1.22 to 1.72 depending on the type of neuron. The fractal dimension reaches its maximum in less specialized neurons that carry out a number of different functions. On the other hand, highly specialized neurons display a relatively low fractal dimension. Thus, the fractal dimension serves as a numerical measure of the spatial complexity of the neuron and correlates with the morphofunctional organization of the cell.     

A revision of the bioregionalisation of freshwater fish communities in the Australian Monsoonal Tropics

The Australian freshwater fish fauna is very unique, but poorly understood. In the Australian Monsoonal Tropics (AMT) biome of northern Australia, the number of described and candidate species has nearly doubled since the last attempt to analyse freshwater fish species composition patterns and determine a bioregionalisation scheme. Here, we utilise the most complete database of catchment‐scale freshwater fish distributions from the AMT to date to: (a) reanalyze spatial patterns of species richness, endemism and turnover of freshwater fishes; (b) propose a biogeographic regionalisation based on species turnover; (c) assess the relationship between species turnover and patterns of environmental change and historic drainage connectivity; and (d) identify sampling gaps. Biogeographic provinces were identified using an agglomerative cluster analysis of a Simpson's beta (β_sim) dissimilarity matrix. A generalised dissimilarity model incorporating eighteen environmental variables was used to investigate the environmental correlates of species turnover. Observed and estimated species richness and endemism were calculated and inventory completeness was estimated based on the ratio of observed to estimated species richness. Three major freshwater fish biogeographic provinces and 14 subprovinces are proposed. These differ substantially from the current bioregionalisation scheme. Species turnover was most strongly influenced by environmental variables that are interpreted to reflect changes in terrain (catchment relief and confinement), geology and climate (runoff perenniality, stream density), and biotic responses to climate (net primary productivity). Past connectivity between rivers during low sea‐level events is also influential highlighting the importance of historical processes in explaining contemporary patterns of biodiversity in the AMT. The inclusion of 49 newly discovered species and candidate species only reinforced known focal points of species richness and endemism in the AMT. However, a number of key sampling gaps remain that need to be filled to fully characterise the proposed bioregionalisation.     

Influence of aquatic macrophyte habitat complexity on invertebrate abundance and richness in tropical lagoons

1. Aquatic plants are a key component of spatial heterogeneity in a waterscape, contributing to habitat complexity and helping determine diversity at various spatial scales. Theoretically, the more complex a habitat, the higher the number of species present. 2. Few empirical data are available to test the hypothesis that complexity increases diversity in aquatic communities (e.g. Jeffries, 1993 ). Fractal dimension has become widely applied in ecology as a tool to quantify the degree of complexity at different scales. 3. We investigated the hypothesis that complexity in vegetated habitat in two tropical lagoons mediates littoral invertebrate number of taxa (S) and density (N). Aquatic macrophyte habitat complexity was defined using a fractal dimension and a gradient of natural plant complexities. We also considered plant area, plant identity and, only for S, invertebrate density as additional explanatory variables. 4. Our results indicate that habitat complexity provided by the different architectures of aquatic plants, significantly affects both S and total N. However, number of individuals (as a result of passive sampling) also helps to account for S and, together with plant identity and area, contributes to the determination of N. We suggest that measurements of structural complexity, measured through fractal geometry, should be included in studies aimed at explaining attributes of attached invertebrates at small (e.g. plant or leaf) scales.     

地统计学在水生植物群落格局研究中的应用

为了研究水生植物群落的镶嵌分布格局和随着尺度变化的空间特征,应用地统计学中半方差法、半方差理论模型和分形理论,研究了湖北省保安湖沿岸带水生植物群落分布格局,在沿岸带设置了一个160m×160m的方形样方,采用覆盖法将整个样方划分为32×32个格子,记录各格子内出现的物种数,格子内如果有某物种,则将该格子对应的区域化随机变量赋值为1,否则赋值为0。另将群落各格内区域化随机变量赋值为各物种在该采样点随机变量值的总和,运用地统计软件GS+for Windows分析苦草、狐尾藻、金鱼藻和群落的32×32格随机变量表,计算得到它们各向同性模型和不同方向上的分维,从苦草和狐尾藻的各向同性指数模型来看,它们属于聚集性分布,其空间结构比率较高,这表明在小尺度上它们变化较小;从金鱼藻和群落的各向同性线性模型来看,属于中等程度的聚集分布,其空间结构比率很低,这表明它们在小尺度上变化较大。从各向异性模型来看,群落优势种的分维值都较高,说明在调查的群落内,各物种分布比较均匀,根据确定系数判定群落格局的优势方向是西北-东南,与其他群落格局分析方法相比较,该方法在确定群落组分空间依赖范围和相关性大小。以及区分聚集强度上具有一定优势,为定量描述不同尺度下的水生植物群落特征提供了一个新途径。     

东海水域中上层鱼类资源的空间异质性

定量描述鱼类分布的空间变异,有利于从生态学意义上理解其空间分布及其与环境的关系,本文利用地理信息系统将东海区中上层鱼类资源密度空间化,运用空间自相关指数Geary c和变异函数理论分析其空间自相关和空间变异,东海区中上层鱼类资源空间分布平均场的Geary c指数为0．25,各向同性随机变异占总变异的19．1％,表明其空间分布具有较高的自相关特性,空间分布上各向变异不一致,其中45°和135°方向上变异曲线斜率急剧变化,表明这两个方向上存在重要的环境动力过程,各年份平均资源密度与相关变异(C)正相关,而与随机变异(C0)不存在相关,表明年际密度变化主要由空间自相关引起,变异曲线分维数(D)与密度呈负相关,说明密度的增加是由于鱼类在空间上的集聚程度增高引起的。     

Growth and nitrate uptake properties of plants grown at different relative rates of nitrogen supply. II. Activity and affinity of the nitrate uptake system in Pisum and Lemna in relation to nitrogen availability and nitrogen demand

Abstract Net nitrate uptake rates were measured and the kinetics calculated in non-nodulated Pisum sativum L. cv. Marma and Lemna gibba L. adapted to constant relative rates of nitrate-N additions (R_A), ranging from 0.03 to 0.27 d^?1 for Pisum and from 0.05 to 0.40 d^?1 for Lemna, V_max of net nitrate uptake (measured in the range 10 to 100 mmol m^?3 nitrate, i.e. ‘system I’) increased with R_A in the growth limiting range but decreased when R_A exceeded the relative growth rate (RGR), K_m was not significantly related to changes in R_A. On the basis of previous ¹³N-flux experiments, it is concluded that the differences in V_max at growth limiting R_A are attributable to differences in influx rates. Linear relationships between V_max and tissue nitrogen concentrations were obtained in the growth limiting range for both species, and extrapolated intercepts relate well with the previously defined minimal nitrogen concentrations for plant growth (Oscarson, Ingemarsson & Larsson, 1989). Analysis of V_max for net nitrate uptake on intact plant basis in relation to nitrogen demand during stable, nitrogen limited, growth shows an increased overcapacity at lower R_A values in both species, which is largely explained by the increased relative root size at low R_A. A balancing nitrate concentration, defined as the steady state concentration needed to sustain the relative rate of increase in plant nitrogen (R_N), predicted by R_A, was calculated for both species. In the growth limiting range, this value ranges from 3.5 mmol m^?3 (R_A 0.03 d^?1) to 44 mmol m^?3 (R_A 0.21 d^?1) for Pisum and from 0.2 mmol m^?3 (R_A 0.05 d^?1) to 5.4 mmol m^?3 (R_A 0.03 d^?1) for Lemna. It is suggested that this value can be used as a unifying measure of the affinity for nitrate, integrating the performance of the nitrate uptake system with nitrate flux and long term growth and demand for nitrogen.     

黄河三角洲芦苇湿地底栖无脊椎动物与环境因子的关系研究——以石油开采区与淡水补给区为例

分别于2018年5月和8月对黄河三角洲芦苇湿地19(淡水补给区11处,石油开采区8处)处采样点的底栖无脊椎动物和水体理化指标进行调查采样,运用统计方法分析两个区域物种组成、优势种、多样性、群落结构以及与环境因子的关系。结果表明:两季共采集到底栖无脊椎动物54种,主要以水生昆虫、腹足纲和软甲纲为主,淡水补给区和石油开采区各类群组成差异明显。独立样本T检验表明淡水补给区和石油开采区水体理化指标间差异显著(P<0.05)。双因子方差分析显示,昆虫纲和腹足纲密度在两区域差异显著(P<0.05),软甲纲和腹足纲密度在季节上差异明显(P<0.05)。底栖无脊椎动物优势种共10种,淡水补给区指示物种8种,而石油开采区未发现有指示物种。聚类和非参数多维排序(nM DS)显示,底栖无脊椎动物群落结构相似性较低; RDA结果表明:淡水补给区底栖无脊椎动物群落结构主要受Cond,TDS,Sal,pH,Eh,HCO₃^-,SO₄^2-等环境因子的影响。石油开采区底栖无脊椎动物群落结构影响较大的环境因子为HCO...     

Some aspects of the synanthropization of nine species of the Turdidae family in Kaliningrad

Numbers, dynamics of distribution for ten years, and relations between density and the rate of urbanization in nine species of Turdidae are calculated. During the last ten years the area of spatial distribution of most species increased by 2–15 times. A positive relationship between the numbers of birds and the rate of urbanization is revealed in the Redstart (R_{N 142} = 0.16; p = 0.049) and the Black Redstart (R_{N 134} = 0.25; p = 0.03), a negative relationship was observed in the Nightingale (R_{N 134} = ?0.23; p = 0.006) and the Robin (R_{N 43} = ?0.28; p = 0.06). The numbers of Whinchat, Wheatear, and thrushes does not depend on the rate of urbanization.     

Non-native and translocated fish species in Serbia and their impact on the native ichthyofauna

A total of 22 fish species have been introduced into the inland waters of Serbia, either intentionally or accidentally. This paper provides a summary of data concerning time and reason of introduction, mode of expansion, degree of acclimatization, impact on native fish and estimated area of recent distribution. Four of the non-native fish species currently occupy more than 51% of Serbian territory while 5 of them occupy between 21–50% of territory. This paper reviews impacts of introduced freshwater fish in Serbia based on collected data.