Correlates of rate heterogeneity in avian ecomorphological traits

Heterogeneity in rates of trait evolution is widespread, but it remains unclear which processes drive fast and slow character divergence across global radiations. Here, we test multiple hypotheses for explaining rate variation in an ecomorphological trait (beak shape) across a globally distributed group (birds). We find low support that variation in evolutionary rates of species is correlated with life history, environmental mutagenic factors, range size, number of competitors, or living on islands. Indeed, after controlling for the negative effect of species' age, 80% of variation in species‐specific evolutionary rates remains unexplained. At the clade level, high evolutionary rates are associated with unusual phenotypes or high species richness. Taken together, these results imply that macroevolutionary rates of ecomorphological traits are governed by both ecological opportunity in distinct adaptive zones and niche differentiation among closely related species.     

Body size as a primary determinant of ecomorphological diversification and the evolution of mimicry in the lampropeltinine snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Evolutionary correlations between functionally related character suites are expected as a consequence of coadaptation due to physiological relationships between traits. However, significant correlations may also exist between putatively unrelated characters due to shared relationships between those traits and underlying variables, such as body size. Although such patterns are often dismissed as simple body size scaling, this presumption may overlook important evolutionary patterns of diversification. If body size is the primary determinant of potential diversity in multiple unrelated characters, the observed differentiation of species may be governed by variability in body size, and any biotic or abiotic constraints on the diversification thereof. Here, we demonstrate that traits related to both predatory specialization (gape and diet preference) and predatory avoidance (the development of Batesian mimicry) are phylogenetically correlated in the North American snake tribe Lampropeltini. This is apparently due to shared relationships between those traits and adult body size, suggesting that size is the primary determinant of ecomorphological differentiation in the lampropeltinines. Diversification in body size is apparently not linked to climatic or environmental factors, and may have been driven by interspecific interactions such as competition. Additionally, we find the presence of a ‘key zone’ for the development of both rattle‐ and coral snake mimicry; only small snakes feeding primarily on ectothermic prey develop mimetic colour patterns, in or near the range of venomous model species.     

Metabolic traits predict the effects of warming on phytoplankton competition

Understanding how changes in temperature affect interspecific competition is critical for predicting changes in ecological communities with global warming. Here, we develop a theoretical model that links interspecific differences in the temperature dependence of resource acquisition and growth to the outcome of pairwise competition in phytoplankton. We parameterised our model with these metabolic traits derived from six species of freshwater phytoplankton and tested its ability to predict the outcome of competition in all pairwise combinations of the species in a factorial experiment, manipulating temperature and nutrient availability. The model correctly predicted the outcome of competition in 72% of the pairwise experiments, with competitive advantage determined by difference in thermal sensitivity of growth rates of the two species. These results demonstrate that metabolic traits play a key role in determining how changes in temperature influence interspecific competition and lay the foundation for mechanistically predicting the effects of warming in complex, multi‐species communities.     

长苞铁杉天然林群落种内及种间竞争关系研究

通过各种竞争指数的比较筛选,得到较能客观反映长苞铁杉种内、种间竞争关系的竞争指数,定量地分析了长苞铁杉种内和种间竞争强度。结果表明:长苞铁杉种内竞争随胸径的增大而逐渐减少;种间与种内竞争关系顺序为:长苞铁杉-长苞铁杉>猴头杜鹃-长苞铁杉>青冈栎-长苞铁杉>其它树种-长苞铁杉。竞争强度与对象木的胸高直径服从双曲线回归关系,利用模型预测了长苞铁杉种内、种间的竞争强度。     

Asymmetries in male aggression across an avian hybrid zone

Recent studies suggest that competitive asymmetries are causingthe hybrid zones between hermit and Townsend's warblers to move,such that Townsend's warblers are replacing hermit warblers.Here we examine the contribution of male aggression to thiscompetitive asymmetry by measuring aggressive responses to mounts.We presented male mounts of the two parental species to Townsend'sand hermit warblers outside the zone and to hybrids within the zone.Outside the zone, Townsend's males are more aggressive to both conspecificand heterospecific mounts than are hermit males. This asymmetry shouldmove the zone in the direction inferred from previous studies.Hybrids fall between parentals in their aggressiveness, whichshould accelerate the movement of the zone. Remarkably, we foundno relationship between phenotype and aggression in individualmales at a locality within the hybrid zone. The forces of selectionand dispersal that maintain narrow hybrid zones should generatesuch a correlation if aggressive differences between the parental speciesare genetically controlled. We resolve this conflict by proposinga behavioral model of competitive sorting within localities.If birds are sorted across the hybrid zone according to competitiveabilities, and competitive interactions within neighborhoodsare more or less complete, then the correlation between phenotypeand aggression within any given neighborhood will be eliminated.We tested this model by examining the relationship between phenotypeand aggression across the zone. Warblers in hybrid neighborhoodson the Townsend's side of the zone are more aggressive thanwarblers in hybrid neighborhoods on the hermit side, indicatingthat competitive sorting is occurring.     

种间竞争在实蝇入侵中的作用

实蝇是一类危害热带、亚热带水果蔬菜的重要害虫.调查表明,实蝇由入侵引起的种间竞争,一个突出现象就足实蝇种间的入侵具有显著的等级特征,种间竞争性替代具有强烈的方向性,其竞争作用可导致入侵实蝇种群的火绝或者数量的巨大改变.目前有关实蝇种问竞争的等级性模式既未得到进一步研究验证,也未明确其中隐含的作用机制.深入研究实蝇种间竞争的作用机制为检疫性实蝇的风险评估和管理提供参考,同时也为认识农林害虫群落的演替规律提供理论依据.     

The influence of light conditions and interspecific competition on the root foraging traits and seedling growth of two tree species

Abstract

Enriched nutrient patches within natural soil represent an important source of nutrients for tree growth. In the present study, pot experiments in a heterogeneous nutrient environment were conducted to investigate the influence of light conditions and interspecific competition on the root foraging traits and seedling growth of Pinus massoniana and Schima superba. The root foraging scale and the whole-seedling biomass of both species were decreased by shading. The result of this treatment was a lower sensitivity to nutrient heterogeneity in plants that underwent the shading treatment than in plants that were exposed to full-light conditions. The above-ground biomass and whole-seedling biomass of S. superba were not affected by competition with P. massoniana. In contrast, the above-ground biomass and whole-seedling biomass of P. massoniana were negatively affected by competition with S. superba. The more rapid rate of root extension and the more efficient resource uptake of S.superba appear to explain this effect. The species-specific patterns of the influence of environmental factors on foraging ability and seedling growth should be given thorough consideration and should be applied to afforestation and to the management of tree plantations.     

The effects of microwave radiation on avian dominance behavior

Seventeen birds from 12 flocks were exposed to microwave radiation under various combinations of power density and duration; three birds from two additional flocks served as sham-exposed controls. Experiments were conducted outdoors at Manomet, Massachusetts (41°56′N, 70°35′W) under normal winter ambient temperatures. Although irradiated birds maintained their positions within a flock hierarchy with one exception, some appeared to have a change in their level of aggression after exposure.     

濒危植物宝华玉兰种内与种间竞争

利用Hegyi单木竞争指数模型对江苏镇江宝华山国家森林公园特有濒危植物宝华玉兰种内、种间竞争强度进行定量分析。结果表明:宝华玉兰竞争压力主要来自种间,占总竞争的90.7%。宝华玉兰种内竞争、种间竞争强度大小顺序为:紫楠>野核桃>建始槭>宝华玉兰种内>毛竹>化香>枫香>皂荚>朴树。整个林分竞争木对对象木的竞争强度与对象木的胸径大小近似服从幂函数关系,而伴生树种竞争木对对象木的竞争强度与对象木的胸径大小近似服从对数函数关系。种间竞争强度和对象木的胸径大小呈显著负相关。利用模型预测,当宝华玉兰的胸径达到30cm后,竞争强度几乎没有变化。研究认为,将无性系分株换算为一株与其胸高断面积之和相等的个体更为合理。     

濒危植物七子花种内与种间竞争的数量关系

七子花为国家2 级重点保护植物, 现野生资源极少。利用Hegyi 单木竞争指数模型对分布在浙江天台山的七子花种群的种内、种间竞争关系进行定量分析。结果表明:七子花种内竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小, 种内竞争较之与其伴生树种间的竞争剧烈。七子花种内、种间竞争强度大小顺序为:种内 > 苦枥木 > 红脉钓樟 > 青钱柳 > 青榨槭 > 暖木 > 细齿绸李 > 柳杉 > 赤杨叶。竞争强度与对象木的胸径大小服从幂函数关系, 利用模型可预测七子花种内、种间的竞争强度, 从预测结果可知当七子花的胸径达到20 cm 后, 竞争强度变得很小, 且变化幅度不大。     

Patterns of ecomorphological convergence among mainland and island Anolis lizards

Differing selective pressures on islands versus the mainland may produce alternative evolutionary outcomes among closely related lineages. Conversely, lineages may be constrained to produce similar outcomes in different mainland and island environments, or mainland and island environments may not differ significantly. Among the best‐studied island radiations are Caribbean Anolis lizards. Distinct morphotypes, or ‘ecomorphs’, have been described, and the same ecomorphs have evolved independently on each Greater Antillean island. The mainland Anolis radiation has received much less attention. We use a large morphological data set and a novel phylogenetic hypothesis to show that mainland Anolis did not evolve the same morphotypes as island Anolis, despite some island species being more closely related to mainland species than to island species that share their morphotype. A maximum of four of the six Caribbean ecomorphs were found to exist on the mainland, and just 15 of 123 mainland species are assignable to a Caribbean ecomorph. This result was insensitive to differing taxon samples and alternative phylogenetic hypotheses. Mainland convergence to a Caribbean ecomorph occurs only among species assigned to the grass‐bush ecomorph. Thus, the ecomorphs that have evolved convergently multiple times in the Caribbean have not evolved in parallel on the mainland. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that mainland and island environments offer different selective pressures. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 852–859.     

大别山五针松种内和种间竞争强度

通过对安徽省岳西县大别山五针松群落内的53株对象木及2079株竞争木的调查,运用Hegyi单木竞争模型分析了大别山五针松的种内和种间竞争强度。结果表明,大别山五针松的种内和种间竞争强度分别为17.11%和82.89%,说明竞争主要来自种间。大别山五针松的伴生种较多,种内与主要伴生种间的竞争关系为短柄枹大别山五针松种内黄山松满山红茅栗金缕梅紫茎四照花灯台树鹅耳枥。竞争强度随对象木胸径的增大而减小,当对象木的胸径小于25cm时,所受到的竞争强度较大;当胸径在25cm以上时,竞争强度变化很小,二者符合幂函数关系(CI=AD-B),所得的预测模型能很好的预测大别山五针松种内和种间竞争强度。     

山西稀有濒危植物脱皮榆种内和种间竞争

通过对山西太岳山一块100 m×100 m样地中128株脱皮榆对象木及1093株竞争木的调查,运用Hegyi的单木竞争指数计算分析了脱皮榆的种内和种间竞争强度。结果表明:(1)脱皮榆种群所受到的竞争强度随着对象木胸径的增大而逐渐减小;(2)调查样地内尽管其他物种种类较多,但数量较少,与脱皮榆种间竞争相对较弱,脱皮榆种内与种间竞争关系的顺序为:脱皮榆-脱皮榆>千金榆-脱皮榆>五角枫-脱皮榆>茶条槭-脱皮榆>其他树种-脱皮榆;(3)竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系,当脱皮榆胸径在25 cm以上时,竞争强度变化不大,所得的预测模型能很好地预测脱皮榆种内种间竞争强度。     

Equilibrium and non‐equilibrium phases in the radiation of Hakea and the drivers of diversity in Mediterranean‐type ecosystems

Mediterranean‐type ecosystems (MTEs) contain exceptional plant diversity. Explanations for this diversity are usually classed as either “equilibrium,” with elevated MTE diversity resulting from greater ecological carrying capacities, or “non‐equilibrium,” with MTEs having a greater accumulation of diversity over time than other types of ecosystems. These models have typically been considered as mutually exclusive. Here, we present a trait‐based explanatory framework that incorporates both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium dynamics. Using a large continental Australian plant radiation (Hakea) as a case study, we identify traits associated with niche partitioning in coexisting species (α‐traits) and with environmental filtering (β‐traits), and reconstruct the mode and relative timing of diversification of these traits. Our results point to a radiation with an early non‐equilibrium phase marked by divergence of β‐traits as Hakea diversified exponentially and expanded from the southwest Australian MTE into biomes across the Australian continent. This was followed from seven million years ago by an equilibrium phase, marked by diversification of α‐traits and a slowdown in lineage diversification as MTE‐niches became saturated. These results suggest that processes consistent with both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium models have been important during different stages of the radiation of Hakea, and together they provide a richer explanation of present‐day diversity patterns.     

天柱山黄山松种内与种间竞争的研究

采用改进的竞争指数模型研究安徽天柱山黄山松的种内和种间竞争强度。结果发现:(1)随对象木胸径的增大,黄山松种群因自然稀疏过程中密度调节作用,植株距离增加,种内竞争强度降低;(2)黄山松群落内其它物种虽然较多,但个体普遍较小,结果种间竞争相对较弱,种内与种间竞争关系顺序为:黄山松—黄山松>杉木—黄山松>枹栎—黄山松>其它树种—黄山松;(3)竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系(CI=AD-B),当黄山松胸径达到20cm以上时,竞争强度变化不大,所得的预测模型能很好地预测黄山松种内和种间的竞争强度;(4)改进的竞争指数模型能很好地度量黄山松的种内和种间竞争强度,改进的确定邻体范围的方法能有效地确定黄山松的竞争范围。     

濒危植物峨眉含笑的种内、种间竞争

研究植物种内、种间竞争关系是探究植物濒危原因的重要方式之一, 根据竞争来源和竞争预测模型可以制定具有针对性的保护策略。本文以雅安周公山峨眉含笑(Michelia wilsonii)野生种群为研究对象, 使用逐步扩大范围法确定峨眉含笑的竞争范围半径, 运用Hegyi单木竞争模型计算竞争指数(competition index, CI), 分析其种内、种间竞争关系。结果表明: 峨眉含笑的最适竞争范围半径是10 m, 能较好地反映其种内竞争强度; 峨眉含笑的竞争压力主要来自种内, 种内竞争指数(348.72, 62.52%)远大于种间竞争指数(209.03, 37.48%); 小树、中树阶段个体的竞争强度较大, 平均竞争指数(3.97、3.14)远高于总体平均竞争指数(2.68); 内有21种竞争木, 其中杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、华中樱桃(Prunus conradinae)、细刺枸骨(Ilex hylonoma)是峨眉含笑的主要竞争树种; 胸径与竞争指数间服从指数函数关系(CI = 3.8907e^-0.048x, R² = 0.1087, P < 0.01), 随着对象木胸径的增大, 竞争指数不断降低, 当胸径达到30 cm后, 竞争强度基本稳定。综上, 小树、中树阶段的峨眉含笑个体受到极强的种内竞争, 初入老树阶段的个体受到较强的种间竞争。为更好地保护峨眉含笑的天然种群, 降低竞争对种群更替的影响, 在林分管理中需要促进小树、中树的个体更新, 减轻植株间的竞争消耗, 加速峨眉含笑的生长和维持种群稳定。     

天然东北红豆杉(Taxus cuspidata)种内和种间竞争

竞争是植物种内和种间关系的主要形式之一。通过对黑龙江穆棱东北红豆杉自然保护区的95株东北红豆杉对象木及980株竞争木的调查,运用Hegyi的单木竞争指数计算分析了东北红豆杉的种内和种间竞争强度。东北红豆杉的种内竞争强度不大,占总竞争的4%。竞争压力更多的来自于种间竞争,占总竞争的96%。与东北红豆杉竞争激烈的树种主要是冷杉、紫椴、色木槭和红松等地带性植被的优势种。随着东北红豆杉胸径的增大,所受到的竞争压力逐渐减小,胸径在20cm以前所受到的竞争压力最大,竞争强度与对象木胸径符合幂函数（CI=AD^-B）关系。     

Interspecific competition counteracts negative effects of dispersal on adaptation of an arthropod herbivore to a new host

Dispersal and competition have both been suggested to drive variation in adaptability to a new environment, either positively or negatively. A simultaneous experimental test of both mechanisms is however lacking. Here, we experimentally investigate how population dynamics and local adaptation to a new host plant in a model species, the two‐spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), are affected by dispersal from a stock population (no‐adapted) and competition with an already adapted spider mite species (Tetranychus evansi). For the population dynamics, we find that competition generally reduces population size and increases the risk of population extinction. However, these negative effects are counteracted by dispersal. For local adaptation, the roles of competition and dispersal are reversed. Without competition, dispersal exerts a negative effect on adaptation (measured as fecundity) to a novel host and females receiving the highest number of immigrants performed similarly to the stock population females. By contrast, with competition, adding more immigrants did not result in a lower fecundity. Females from populations with competition receiving the highest number of immigrants had a significantly higher fecundity than females from populations without competition (same dispersal treatment) and than the stock population females. We suggest that by exerting a stronger selection on the adapting populations, competition can counteract the migration load effect of dispersal. Interestingly, adaptation to the new host does not significantly reduce performance on the ancestral host, regardless of dispersal rate or competition. Our results highlight that assessments of how species can adapt to changing conditions need to jointly consider connectivity and the community context.