秦岭牛背梁植物物种多样性垂直分布格局

基于秦岭山脉中段牛背梁自然保护区南北坡垂直样带51个样方的调查资料,利用植被数量分析方法(TWINSPAN和DCA)对牛背梁植物群落进行了分类和排序,并分析了植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度的分布格局。结果表明,牛背梁的植被群落具有明显的海拔梯度格局,从低海拔到高海拔依次分布有：锐齿槲栎(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)林,桦木(Betula spp.)林．巴山冷杉(Abis Jargesii)林和亚高山灌丛。海拔梯度是牛背梁山区制约植物群落分布的主要因子,而坡向和坡度则起到次要作用。对物种多样性的分析表明,物种总数、木本植物物种多样性和草本植物物种多样性在南北坡具有不同的海拔梯度格局。物种总数在南坡呈现单峰分布格局,而在北坡分布趋势不明显;木本植物物种多样性在南北坡具有相似的分布格局：在低海拔沿海拔梯度变化不明显,而在高海拔则随海拔上升而急剧下降;草本植物物种多样性在南北坡沿海拔梯度变化的规律不明显。β多样性沿海拔梯度先减少后增加,形成两端高中间低的格局,说明中海拔地区生境条件较为均一,低海拔地区的人为活动增加了生境的异质性,而高海拔地区的生态过渡特性增加了物种的更替速率以及群落的相异性。     

长白山北坡植物群落组成、结构及物种多样性的垂直分布

通过沿海拔梯度的系统调查,运用TWINSPAN分类方法,划分出长白山北坡的主要植物群落类型,对这些群落的组成和结构进行了分析。利用物种丰富度、α多样性和β多样性等指标,研究了群落多样性随海拔梯度的变化趋势。结果表明,乔木层植物可分为4个群落类型：从低海拔到高海拔依次为红松(Pinus koraiensis)针阔混交林、红松针阔叶树种与云冷杉组成的过渡群落、云冷杉暗针叶林以及岳桦林(Betula ermanii)。乔木层优势种重要值的分析清楚地反映出长白山北坡植被垂直带谱的优势成分。径级频度分布的分析表明该区域主要群落的自我更新状况良好。植物物种多样性随海拔梯度的变化趋势为：随海拔升高,乔木层和灌木层的物种丰富度呈下降趋势,但草本层的变化趋势不明显;乔木层和灌木层的α多样性(Shannon-Wiener指数)呈下降趋势,草本层则变化不明显;无论是木本层还是草本层的Pielou均匀度指数均没有明显的变化;乔木层、灌木层和草本层植物的β多样性(Cody指数)均随着海拔的升高而下降。     

中国山地植物多样性的垂直变化格局

在生物多样性的研究中,山地植物群落的物种多样性随海拔梯度的变化是一个重要课题,但至今并未达成普遍共识。本研究以表示物种丰富度的Patrick指数（S）和表示物种多样性的Shannon-Wicner指数（H）为主要测度指标,归纳总结了我国山地植物多样性的垂直格局,并就影响这些格局形成的因素进行了初步的探讨。     

泰山南北坡植物物种多样性垂直梯度格局的比较

以泰山南北坡14块样方的调查资料为基础,分析了泰山植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度的分布格局。结果表明:在相同海拔范围内,南坡物种丰富度大于北坡,泰山物种丰富度随海拔的升高而减少。整个群落及不同层次的物种多样性沿海拔梯度在泰山南北坡呈现不同的分布格局。在人为干扰程度低的情况下,北坡的群落物种丰富度在各个层次均较高,而多样性指数在各个层次不一样,北坡乔木层的多样性指数较南坡低,但灌木层和草本层则是北坡明显大于南坡。整体上,物种多样性指数与海拔的相关性,北坡要比南坡好。     

广西猫儿山植物群落物种组成、群落结构及树种多样性的垂直分布格局

沿海拔梯度设置16个样地,对广西猫儿山植物群落物种多样性的垂直分布格局进行了初步研究。结果表明：(1)16个样地中共调查到乔木44科79属184种,其中常绿阔叶树121种、落叶阔叶树61种、针叶树2种;(2)随着海拔的上升,整个乔木层以及不同生活型的最大树高均呈显著下降趋势,而乔木树种的最大胸径、胸高断面积之和以及立木密度都呈现出先增大后减小的趋势;(3)物种丰富度在海拔1350m以下变化不明显,但1350m以上随着海拔的升高明显下降。在研究的海拔范围内,物种丰富度呈非常显著的单峰分布格局,最大的丰富度出现在中海拔群落中;(4)α多样性沿海拔梯度的变化趋势与物种丰富度相似,但没有后者显著。Shannon-Wiener指数(H’)和海拔之间有明显的负相关性,均匀度Pielou指数(E)在取样范围内并没有随着海拔梯度的变化表现出明显的规律;(5)1350m以下的相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数(CJ)大于1350m以上相邻群落之间的Jaccard指数,最小值出现在中海拔的植被过渡带。Cody指数也有类似的趋势,原因在于物种丰富度的变化;(6)在本研究的海拔范围内,海拔比坡度和坡向对群落的结构特征、物种丰富度以及α多样性的影响更大。而在局部尺度上,人为干扰以及小地形而导致的生境异质性对群落的物种多样性和结构特征有着重要的影响。     

祁连山北坡中段植物群落多样性的垂直分布格局

利用DCCA排序和海拔高程排序相结合的方法 ,对祁连山北坡中段植物群落物种多样性垂直分布格局进行了初步研究。结果表明 :1)植物群落草本层和灌木层物种丰富度和多样性在环境梯度上呈单峰曲线变化趋势 ,乔木层的物种丰富度和多样性在环境梯度上无变化。物种丰富度和多样性对环境梯度变化敏感程度的次序是草本层 >灌木层 >乔木层 ;2 )植物群落各层次均匀度在环境梯度上没有表现出一定的变化规律 ,均匀度可能更多地受制于群落自身动态的影响 ,而独立于生境的资源水平 ;3)草地群落物种多样性在DCCA环境梯度上曲线的拟合效果优于按海拔高程排序效果 ,灌木群落则相反 ;4)低海拔、中低海拔和中海拔地带的草本层物种丰富度和Shannon Wiener多样性指数 (H′)显著高于灌木层 (p <0 .0 1) ;高海拔地带草本层仅丰富度指数显著高于灌木层 (p <0 .0 5 )。在整个海拔范围内 ,草本层和灌木层的均匀度无显著差异。就资源的可利用性而言 ,研究区域植物群落物种多样性在垂直环境梯度上的变化规律表达了物种多样性与资源生产力的单调关系内涵。     

贡嘎山东坡非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局

为了解贡嘎山地区物种多样性的垂直分布格局,2010年4—9月利用夹日法对贡嘎山东坡非飞行小型兽类的物种多样性进行了详细调查。调查在海拔1200—4000m之间按400m间隔设置了8个采集样地,累计布夹28800夹次,捕获非飞行小型兽类个体701个,观察记录到松鼠个体25个,共调查记录小兽个体726个,分属于3目6科16属25种。非参数估计的物种丰富度Chao2和Jackknife2指数以及物种累积曲线评估表明本次调查取样充分,能很好地反映该地区非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局。结果表明:非飞行小型兽类物种多样性的垂直分布格局为单峰模型;物种丰富度和物种多度在中海拔地区最高,在低海拔和高海拔地区较低;相反,物种均匀度在中海拔地区较低,在低海拔和高海拔地区较高;而物种优势度则随着海拔的升高而逐渐增加;Shannon-Wiener、Fisher-α、Margalef三个综合性物种多样性指数均显示物种多样性在中海拔地区最高;与其它多样性指数相比,Simpson指数未能很好地反映出不同海拔段群落物种多样性的垂直分布差异;而与Shannon-Wiener和Simpson指数相比,Fisher-α和Margalef指数对不同物种组成的群落多样性区分较好。同时,基于不同海拔段物种组成的聚类分析结果也表明物种多样性在中海拔地区最高。物种多样性在中海拔地区最高的垂直分布模式提示我们在贡嘎山地区的生物多样性保护和生态管理中应特别重视中海拔地段,因为该地段中居于生态食物链中间位置的小兽物种最丰富,是山地生物多样性保护的关键。此外,规范统一的调查方法将有利于研究数据的整合和减少人为因素带来的误差。     

重庆大巴山国家级自然保护区森林植物多样性垂直格局

以重庆大巴山国家级自然保护区西南方向沿海拔梯度选择的20个样地为研究对象,通过等级聚类分析,结合物种重要值、物种丰富度、区系分化强度和α、β多样性指数等方面的分析,以揭示其森林植物多样性沿海拔梯度的分布特征。结果表明:(1)在20个样方中,共记录到维管植物97科226属335种;随着海拔上升,各样地植物科、属、种总数大体上呈先增加后降低的趋势。(2)植物群落在垂直梯度上差异显著;综合群落生长型和等级聚类分析结果,将群落沿海拔梯度划分为4个类型:海拔1 000m以下为常绿阔叶林和偏暖性针阔混交林,1 000~1 600m为常绿落叶阔叶混交林,1 600~2 100m为偏暖湿性针阔混交林,海拔2 100m以上为暗针叶林。(3)α多样性指数具有垂直变化规律;Simpson优势度和Pielou均匀度随海拔变化较小,乔木层Shannon-Wiener指数随海拔升高有明显降低的趋势,混交林类型的物种多样性和区系分化强度较高。(4)β多样性指数在低海拔区段起伏较大;随着海拔升高,乔木层Cody指数的变化格局总体上呈逐渐降低的趋势,相邻群落间物种异质性逐渐减小,物种的替代速率下降,最终达到相对稳定的状态。     

东喜马拉雅勒布沟非飞行小型兽类物种多样性垂直分布格局

物种多样性沿海拔梯度的垂直分布格局在生物多样性研究与保护中受到广泛关注,中峰格局是物种多样性垂直分布四类格局中最为普遍的格局。中喜马拉雅沟谷的研究表明,小型兽类的垂直分布格局符合中峰模型。中喜马拉雅和东喜马拉雅具有相似的自然地理和气候条件,由此,推断东喜马拉雅沟谷的小型兽类垂直分布格局可能也符合中峰格局。为此,在东喜马拉雅勒布沟对非飞行小型兽类开展实地调查,选取研究海拔范围为2 300~5 000 m,沿海拔梯度连续设置9个300 m海拔段45个样方采集点,累计布夹16 200次,共采集标本372号,分属 3目5科10种。研究结果显示：该沟谷非飞行小型兽类物种丰富度在2 600~2 900 m海拔段出现峰值,随后随着海拔的升高递减,即从最低海拔到中海拔段上升至峰值后开始递减至趋于平缓,即显示出中峰格局特点。喜马拉雅山脉东西走向导致其南翼各沟谷拥有相似的地理和气候特征,如各沟谷都南北走向,受印度洋暖流气候影响,拥有相似的植被垂直带分布等,这使得非飞行小型兽类物种多样性垂直分布呈现出相似的特点,推论：在大尺度背景下,地理和气候条件可能是影响物种多样性垂直分布格局的关键因素。     

吊罗山热带天然林物种多样性的海拔分布格局

海拔梯度是影响物种多样性格局的关键因素。为探究吊罗山热带天然林物种多样性的海拔分布格局,该研究对吊罗山245～1 130 m海拔内的6个热带天然林样地进行植被调查,从群落物种组成、物种多样性、区系组成和叶性质等方面分析沿海拔梯度吊罗山热带天然林物种多样性与群落特征变化规律。结果表明：(1)随海拔升高、温度降低、湿度升高、人为干扰减少,吊罗山热带天然林物种组成以及Margalef、Shannon-Wiener、Simpson、Pielou多样性指数均呈现先升高后降低的格局;中海拔群落水热条件最为适宜、人为干扰适中、α物种多样性最高。(2)随海拔升高,优势种重要值占比呈现先降低后升高的格局,且优势种具有明显的更替现象,中海拔群落呈现低地雨林与山地雨林的过渡性质。(3)群落间S?rensen群落相似度和海拔高度差呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。(4)区系组成以热带区分布为绝对优势,并以热带亚洲(印度-马来西亚)分布为主;热带区分布比例和海拔呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),温带区分布比例和海拔呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。(5)叶性质呈现出以中型叶、单叶、革质叶、全缘叶为主的...     

Mammals on mountainsides: elevational patterns of diversity

The four major papers in this special feature present and interpret data from field studies on the distributions and diversity of small mammals in elevational gradients on mountains in the Philippines, Borneo, southern Mexico and western United States. In the introductory paper, Lomolino places these studies in the context of historical, methodological and conceptual themes in contemporary biogeography. In this final paper, I focus on some important similarities and interesting differences among the four case studies. All of the studies provide evidence for the influence of ecological factors, such as climate, productivity and habitat heterogeneity, on mammalian diversity. All also provide evidence for the influence of historical dispersal, extinction, and speciation events. Perhaps the most interesting result is the documentation of a frequent, but not universal, peak in species diversity at some elevation intermediate between the base and peak of a mountain. Efforts to understand the mechanistic basis for this pattern — and why it differs from the continuous decrease in diversity from the equator to the poles — promise to contribute to developing a general theoretical explanation for the major patterns of biodiversity on earth.     

Factors that shape the elevational patterns of plant diversity in the Yatsugatake Mountains,Japan

Elevation is involved in determining plant diversity in montane ecosystems. This study examined whether the distribution of plants in the Yatsugatake Mountains, central Japan, substantiated hypotheses associated with an elevational diversity gradient. Species richness of trees, shrubs, herbs, ferns, and bryophytes was investigated in study plots established at 200‐m elevational intervals from 1,800 to 2,800 m. The changes in plant diversity (alpha and beta diversities, plant functional types, and elevational ranges) with elevation were analyzed in relation to climatic factors and elevational diversity gradient hypotheses, that is, mass effect, mid‐domain effect, and Rapoport''s elevational rule. In addition, the elevational patterns of dominance of plant functional types were also analyzed. A comparison of alpha and beta diversities revealed that different plant groups responded variably to elevation; the alpha diversity of trees and ferns decreased, that of herbs increased, whereas the alpha diversity of shrubs and bryophytes showed a U‐shaped relationship and a hump‐shaped pattern. The beta diversity of shrubs, herbs, and bryophytes increased above the subalpine–alpine ecotone. In accordance with these changes, the dominance of evergreen shrubs and graminoids increased above this ecotone, whereas that of evergreen trees and liverworts decreased. None of the plant groups showed a wide elevational range at higher elevations. These elevational patterns of plant groups were explained by climatic factors, and not by elevational diversity gradient hypotheses. Of note, the changes in the dominance of plant groups with elevation can be attributed to plant–plant interactions via competition for light and the changes in physical habitat. These interactions could alter the elevational diversity gradient shaped by climatic factors.     

Focal species diversity patterns can provide diagnostic information on plant invasions

In Europe, coastal sandy habitats are considered highly endangered among those included in the EC Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive). Among the different threats which affect coastal communities, the spread of alien plants has been claimed to induce changes in community diversity and structure. We therefore set out to analyse diversity patterns of native and focal species (diagnostic and characteristic of coastal dune habitats of European conservation interest) in sandy coastal habitats invaded by Carpobrotus aff. acinaciformis, a widespread alien plant. Focal species are a major conservation target for the Habitats Directive and their decline should be considered a serious threat for the whole habitat. The study was performed in the Central Western coast of Italy. We randomly sampled the vegetation of the holocenic dune by 2 m × 2 m plots. First we split the collected data in two sets: invaded and non-invaded. We compared overall native and focal species richness patterns of the two sets by rarefaction curves. Then, in order to describe the singular aspects of species diversity (e.g. richness, Shannon index, Simpson index, Berger–Parker index), we also compared Rènyi's diversity profiles and we tested the significance of the differences between invaded and non invaded sets using a bootstrap procedure. Rarefaction curves of the non-invaded set rise quickly and reach higher accumulation values than the invaded set, but differences between the two curves were not significant. With respect to Rènyi's profiles, the profile for the invaded dataset was always below the non-invaded one, but differences in diversity were significant only when specifically considering the focal species (Shannon, Simpson and Berger–Parker indices). In the analysed case, the invasion is significantly associated with changes in focal species diversity, instead those differences are not evident on the all native species pool. In the case of recent invasions, a consistent decline on focal species diversity may represent an early alarm sign of diversity loss and may help define specific conservation actions to prevent the decrease of overall diversity.     

A global comparative analysis of elevational species richness patterns of ferns

Aim Elevational gradients offer an outstanding opportunity to assess factors determining patterns of species richness, but along single transects potential explanatory factors often covary, making it difficult to distinguish between competing hypotheses. Many previous studies on plants have interpreted their results as supporting the mid‐domain effect (MDE) as a major determinant of species richness, even when climatic factors showed similarly high explanatory power. We compared fern species richness along 20 elevational transects to quantify the relative contribution of climate and MDE as drivers of elevational richness patterns. Location Twenty transects world‐wide. Methods Ferns were sampled in 1039 plots of 400–2500 m² each. Mean annual precipitation and temperature, epiphytic bryophyte cover (as a proxy for air humidity) and MDE predictions were included as independent variables. For each transect, we calculated multiple linear models and partitioned the variance to assess the relative contribution of the independent variables, selecting the most parsimonious models based on Akaike weights and multi‐model inference. Results Along most individual gradients, nearly all variance of fern species richness that could be attributed to either space or MDEs was collinear with climatic factors. Yet, the comparison across transects showed that elevational richness patterns are most parsimoniously accounted for by climatic conditions, especially by low water availability at low elevations and in dry regions in general, and by low temperatures at high elevations and in extra‐tropical regions. Main conclusions Fern species richness is most closely related to climatic factors, and while MDE, surface area and metapopulation processes may somewhat modify the patterns, their importance has been overstated in the past. Future research challenges include determining whether the richness–climate relationship reflects: (1) a direct relationship through the physiological tolerance of the plants, (2) an indirect influence of climate on ecosystem productivity, or (3) an evolutionary legacy of longer or faster diversification processes under certain climatic conditions.     

新疆阿勒泰地区爬行动物区系及多样性海拔分布格局

中国阿勒泰地区是北半球中纬度地区的特殊区域, 与俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦、蒙古接壤, 境内有平原、沙漠和山地三大地貌特征。2014-2016年, 我们先后3次对阿勒泰地区爬行动物资源开展了实地调查, 共采集到392号爬行动物标本。经鉴定隶属1目6科16种, 结合文献资料, 共计1目8科23种, 均为古北界物种, 其中中亚型17种, 古北型6种, 表现出中亚亚界与欧洲-西伯利亚亚界间的过渡性质。爬行动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数随海拔分布呈带有一个中峰的低海拔高原格局, 在第2海拔段(500-600 m)达到峰值; 均匀度指数总体呈现递增格局, 第15海拔段(1,800-1,900 m)达到最大值; 丰富度则呈现一种波动的递减格局, 峰值在第10海拔段(1,300-1,400 m)。3种环境因子对这种格局的独立解释力较低, 但综合作用的解释力较强, 其中海拔与年均温这两个因子的综合作用对物种多样性影响程度最大。     

Contrasting patterns in elevational diversity between microorganisms and macroorganisms

Aim Data and analyses of elevational gradients in diversity have been central to the development and evaluation of a range of general theories of biodiversity. Elevational diversity patterns have, however, been severely understudied for microbes, which often represent decomposer subsystems. Consequently, generalities in the patterns of elevational diversity across different trophic levels remain poorly understood. Our aim was to examine elevational gradients in the diversity of macroinvertebrates, diatoms and bacteria along a stony stream that covered a large elevational gradient. Location Laojun Mountain, Yunnan province, China. Methods The sampling scheme included 26 sites spaced at elevational intervals of 89 m from 1820 to 4050 m elevation along a stony stream. Macroinvertebrate and diatom richness were determined based on the morphology of the specimens. Taxonomic richness for bacteria was quantified using a molecular fingerprinting method. Over 50 environmental variables were measured at each site to quantify environmental variables that could correlate with the patterns of diversity. We used eigenvector‐based spatial filters with multiple regressions to account for spatial autocorrelation. Results The bacterial richness followed an unexpected monotonic increase with elevation. Diatoms decreased monotonically, and macroinvertebrate richness showed a clear unimodal pattern with elevation. The unimodal richness pattern for macroinvertebrates was best explained by the mid‐domain effect (r² = 0.72). The diatom richness was best explained by the variation in nutrient supply, and the increase in bacterial richness with elevation may be related to an increased carbon supply. Main conclusions We found contrasting patterns in elevational diversity among the three studied multi‐trophic groups comprising unicellular and multicellular aquatic taxa. We also found that there may be fundamental differences in the mechanisms underlying these species diversity patterns.