Differences in Morphometry and Activity among Tabanid Fly Assemblages in an Andean Tropical Montane Cloud Forest: Indication of Altitudinal Migration?

Evidence suggests that variations along ecological gradients shape organism traits such as behavior or morphometry. We studied the effect of altitude on the flight activity of tropical tabanid fly assemblages of one species of Stypommisa Enderlein along a 1 km altitudinal gradient on the northwestern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. Our objectives were as follows: (1) to test the hypothesis that highland individuals present larger flight body structures; and (2) to compare the flight activity patterns of flies’ assemblages among altitudes and correlate it with weather factors. We sampled specimens in Malaise traps at 1180, 1680 and 2180 m of altitude from 0600 to 1830 h for 20 d at each site. Seven weather variables were measured every hour and flight activity was inferred from relative tabanid fly abundances/hour in traps. We measured morphometrical parameters that included tabanid fly body size, thorax volume, wing area and wing loading. Flight activity patterns revealed a bimodal distribution at 1680 m, and two asynchronous unimodal distributions, one at 1180 and one at 2180 m. GLM analyses revealed that temperature, mist and rainfall were the best predictors of fly activity differences among altitudes. Morphometrical analyses showed that body size and thorax volume increased with increasing altitude. Synchronous groups of flies at different altitudes (those between 1180–1680_(pm) m, and 1680_(am)–2180 m) were morphologically similar, suggesting that flies could be capable of migrating from highlands to lowlands at defined hours of the day depending on forest weather conditions.     

Emergence, basking behaviour, mean selected temperature and critical thermal minimum in high and low altitude subspecies of the tropical lizard Mabuya striata

Emergence, basking behaviour, selected temperature, and critical thermal minimum were studied in warm and cold acclimated groups of two subspecies of the lizard Mabuya striata. The high-altitude M. s. punctatissima emerges earlier than the low-altitude M. s. striata. Under conditions of warm acclimation, M. s. punctatissima has a longer initial bask. The two subspecies do not differ in either mean selected temperature or critical thermal minimum, although in both cases values for cold acclimated lizards are lower than for warm acclimated lizards. I have previously demonstrated differences between the subspecies in the pattern of thermal acclimation of rate of oxygen consumption. I thus consider that M. striata is static in some aspects of its thermal biology but labile in others.     

The influence of altitude and topography on genetic structure in the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactulym)

A primary goal of molecular ecology is to understand the influence of abiotic factors on the spatial distribution of genetic variation. Features including altitudinal clines, topography and landscape characteristics affect the proportion of suitable habitat, influence dispersal patterns, and ultimately structure genetic differentiation among populations. We studied the effects of altitude and topography on genetic variation of long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum), a geographically widespread amphibian species throughout northwestern North America. We focused on 10 low altitude sites (< 1200 m) and 11 high-altitude sites in northwestern Montana and determined multilocus genotypes for 549 individuals using seven microsatellite loci. We tested four hypotheses: (1) gene flow is limited between high- and low-altitude sites; and, (2) gene flow is limited among high-altitude sites due to harsh habitat and extreme topographical relief between sites; (3) low-altitude sites exhibit higher among-site gene flow due to frequent flooding events and low altitudinal relief; and (4) there is a negative correlation between altitude and genetic variation. Overall F(ST) values were moderate (0.08611; P < 0.001). Pairwise F(ST) estimates between high and low populations and a population graphing method supported the hypothesis that low-altitude and high-altitude sites, taken together, are genetically differentiated from each other. Also as predicted, gene flow is more prominent among low-altitude sites than high-altitude sites; low-altitude sites had a significantly lower F(ST) (0.03995; P < 0.001) than high altitude sites (F(ST) = 0.10271; P < 0.001). Use of Bayesian analysis of population structure (BAPS) resulted in delineation of 10 genetic groups, two among low-altitude populations and eight among high-altitude populations. In addition, within high altitude populations, basin-level genetic structuring was apparent. A nonequilibrium algorithm for detecting current migration rates supported these population distinctions. Finally, we also found a significant negative correlation between genetic diversity and altitude. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that topography and altitudinal gradients shape the spatial distribution of genetic variation in a species with a broad geographical range and diverse life history. Our study sheds light on which key factors limit dispersal and ultimately species' distributions.     

Status and Breeding Sites of Three Presumed Endangered Scottish Saproxylic Syrphids (Diptera, Syrphidae)

From 1987 to 1999 efforts were made to understand the status and breeding sites of three presumed endangered flies in Britain: Blera fallax (Linnaeus), Hammerschmidtia ferruginea (Fallén) and Callicera rufa Schummel (Diptera, Syrphidae). Historical data on flight periods, localities and breeding sites were collated from the literature and captured specimens in museums and other collections. Using these data, life cycles were investigated, and cited and other localities searched for adults and early stages. Looking for early stages was more productive than looking for adults. B. fallax is the most endangered. It has declined in abundance, is restricted to two localities and, in 1999, breeding sites were destroyed at one of these localities. In contrast C. rufa is widespread and not uncommon throughout northern Scotland. H. ferruginea is not as endangered as B. fallax but adverse factors such as habitat destruction affect most of its sites.     

Long-distance dispersal of tree seeds by wind

Some mechanisms that promote long-distance dispersal of tree seeds by wind are explored. Winged seeds must be lifted above the canopy by updrafts to have a chance of further dispersal in high velocity horizontal winds aloft or in landscape-scale convection cells. Shear-induced turbulent eddies of a scale up to one-third of canopy height provide a lifting mechanism. Preliminary data suggest that all seeds of a given species may be viable candidates for uplift and long-distance dispersal, despite the evidence that slow-falling seeds are dispersed farther under any given wind conditions. Turbulence is argued more often and more extensively to advance long-distance dispersal than to retard it. Seeds may take advantage of Bernoulli sailing to move with faster than average winds. Elasticity of branches and trees may play a role in regulating the release of seeds into unusually favorable winds. Dispersal is at least biphasic, and the study of long-distance dispersal calls for mixed models and mixed methods of gathering data.     

老龄阔叶红松林下层木空间分布的生境关联分析

基于老龄阔叶红松林30 hm2(500 m×600 m)固定监测样地,分析了老龄阔叶红松林下层(1 cm≤DBH≤5 cm)14个主要树种(个体数>300)的空间分布与空间距离、地形因子及郁闭度之间关联性。结果显示:(1)14个种都显示出了聚集分布,绝大多数种呈现出了在小距离级上呈显著正空间自相关大距离级上呈现显著负空间自相关的趋势。(2)6个种显示与空间距离显著相关即存在本身的聚集效应,占被检验种的42.86%;7个种显示出与环境(地形、郁闭度)有显著相关性即存在显著的生境偏好,占50%。个体数大于1000的7优势种中有5个种空间分布与生境显著相关,5个种与空间距离显著相关。(3)色木槭、千金榆显示出了对低海拔、向阳坡生境类型的偏好,簇毛槭、花楷槭、毛榛显示出对高海拔、坡度陡、向阴坡生境类型的偏好。这表明,老龄阔叶红松林下层木多数树种为聚集分布,其聚集性的空间分布受生境及自身聚集效应的重要影响。多个树种对同种生境的偏好体现了植物利用资源的相似性和生态位的重叠,对不同生境的偏好体现了物种间的排斥性,这是长期适应不同微环境,利用不同空间资源的结果,也是生态位分离的反映。     

Can terrestrial ectotherms escape the heat of climate change by moving?

Whether movement will enable organisms to alleviate thermal stress is central to the biodiversity implications of climate change. We use the temperature-dependence of ectotherm performance to investigate the fitness consequences of movement. Movement to an optimal location within a 50 km radius will only offset the fitness impacts of climate change by 2100 in 5 per cent of locations globally. Random movement carries an 87 per cent risk of further fitness detriment. Mountainous regions with high temperature seasonality (i.e. temperate areas) not only offer the greatest benefit from optimal movement but also the most severe fitness consequences if an organism moves to the wrong location. Doubling dispersal capacity would provide modest benefit exclusively to directed dispersers in topographically diverse areas. The benefits of movement for escaping climate change are particularly limited in the tropics, where fitness impacts will be most severe. The potential of movement to lessen climate change impacts may have been overestimated.