Intercontinental comparison of phylogenetic relatedness in introduced plants at the transition from naturalization to invasion:A case study on the floras of South Africa and ChinaOA

Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying potentially invasive species and preventing their expansion are of critical importance in invasion ecology.Phylogenetic relatedness between invasive and native species has been used in predicting invasion success.Previous studies on the phylogenetic relatedness of plants at the transit...     

Pre-and post-pollination barriers between two exotic and five native Sagittaria species:Implications for species conservationOA

Anthropogenic introduction of species has resulted in a breakdown of geographical barriers and hybridization in previously allopatric species.Thus,examining hybridization proneness of exotic species contributes to revealing its potential threat.Moreover,reproductive barriers may be strengthened or weakened due to long-term geographical isolation for these newly sympatric species.However,few studies have evaluated multiple barriers between alien and native species.In this study,we quantified the ...     

Patterns of phylogenetic relatedness of non-native plants across the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum in ChinaOA

Human activities have caused the exchange of species among different parts of the world.When introduced species become naturalized and invasive,they may cause great negative impacts on the environment and human societies,and pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure.Knowledge on phylogenetic relatedness between native and non-native species and among non-native species at different stages of species invasion may help for better understanding the drivers of species invasion...     

Oreocharis xieyongii,an unusual new species of Gesneriaceae from western Hunan,ChinaOA

A new species,Oreocharis xieyongii T.Deng,D.G.Zhang & H.Sun,from Hunan Province,central China,is described.The combination of purple zygomorphic corolla with longer adaxial lobes and exserted stamens defines the species and discriminates it from all other current Oreocharis species.Morphological traits of the new species were compared to those of two similar species,Oreocharis xiangguiensis and 0.rubrostriata.Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the new species is nested within the Oreochari...     

Wind-dispersed seeds blur phylogeographic breaks:The complex evolutionary history of Populus lasiocarpa around the Sichuan BasinOA

The strength of phylogeographic breaks can vary among species in the same area despite being subject to the same geological and climate history due to differences in biological traits.Several important phylogeographic breaks exist around the Sichuan Basin in Southwest China but few studies have focused on wind-dispersed plants.Here,we investigated the phylogeographic patterns and the evolutionary history of Populus lasiocarpa,a wind-pollinated and wind-dispersed tree species with a circum-Sichua...     

Variations and interrelationships of foliar hydraulic and photosynthetic traits for Larix gmelinii北大核心CSCD

Aims: Variations and potential trade-offs of leaf hydraulic and photosynthetic traits are essential for assessing and predicting the effect of climate change on tree survival, growth and distribution. Our aims were to examine variations and interrelationships of leaf hydraulic and photosynthetic traits in response to changes in site conditions for Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii)-a dominant tree species in Chinese boreal forests. Methods: This study was conducted at the Maoershan Forest Ecosystem Research Station. A transect of 27 year-old Dahurian larch plantation was established that consisted of five plots extending from the valley to the ridge of a slope. The predawn leaf water potential (ψpre), area- and mass-based leaf hydraulic conductance (Karea and Kmass, respectively), resistance to embolism capacity (P50), leaf mass per area (LMA), net photosynthetic rate (A), and leaf nitrogen content (N) were measured in August 2016. Important findings: The ψpre, Karea, Kmass, P50, A, LMA, and N all varied significantly among the plots (p < 0.05), indicating significant intra-specific variations in these traits in response to the changes in site conditions. The P50 was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with ψpre, Karea or Kmass, suggesting that a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety exist within the species to some degree. There were significant (p < 0.05) pairwise correlations between A, LMA, and N. Nevertheless, there was no significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the measured photosynthetic traits and hydraulic traits. We concluded that the intra-specific variations and multiple interrelationships of the leaf hydraulic and photosynthetic traits for the larch reflect the plasticity of its leaf traits and strategies of its survival and growth as a result of its acclimation to diverse site conditions.     

Intraspecific floral colour variation in three Pedicularis speciesOA

Flower constancy describes the phenomenon that pollinators tend to successively visit flowers of a single species during foraging, reducing reproductive interference in natural communities. The extent of flower constancy is largely determined by the floral traits of co-flowering species. Both higher inter-specific and lower intraspecific differences of floral traits should contribute to a higher level of flower constancy.However, previous studies mainly focused on interspecific difference, and t...     

Animal personality and the ecological impacts of freshwater non-native species

While the ecological impacts of invasive species have been demonstrated for many taxonomic groups, the potential effects of behavioural variation among nonnative individuals （i.e. personality） on these impacts have been largely overlooked. This is despite the fact that recent studies have demonstrated that, by nature, the three first stages of biological invasions （i.e. transport, establishment and spread） can lead to personalitybiased populations. Freshwater ecosystems provide a unique oppor tunity to investigate this issue, notably because the ecological impacts of nonnative species have been extensively documented and because animal personality has been widely studied using freshwater model species. Here, we aim at developing some per spectives on the potential effects of animal personality on the ecological impacts of freshwater nonnative species across levels of biological organizations. At the individual level, personality types have been demonstrated to affect the physiolo gy, metabolism, life history traits and fitness of individuals. We used these effects to discuss how they could subsequently impact invaded popula tions and, in turn, recipient communities. We also discussed how these might translate into changes in the structure of food webs and the functioning of invaded ecosystems. Finally we discussed how these perspectives could interact with the management of invasive species .     

Are allometric model parameters of aboveground biomass for trees phylogenetically constrained?OA

Knowledge of which biological and functional traits have,or lack,phylogenetic signal in a particular group of organisms is important to understanding the formation and functioning of biological communities.Allometric biomass models reflecting tree growth characteristics are commonly used to predict forest biomass.However,few studies have examined whether model parameters are constrained by phylogeny.Here,we use a comprehensive database(including 276 tree species) compiled from 894 allometric bio...     

Micronutrient input into a mangrove ecosystem in Jobos Bay,Puerto Rico,by the exotic green iguana Iguana iguana

Biological invasions are an important and growing component of global environmental change （Vitousek et al., 1996）. Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost each year to invasive species damage and management （Pimentel et al., 2001）. Scientists have responded by conducting research to understand the biology of the invasive species itself, in the hope that such information will allow effective control, and examining the impact of the invader on native taxa to determine the nature and magnitude of its effect.     

Mobility affects copulation and oviposition dynamics in Pieris brassicae in seminatural cages

When, how often and for how long organisms mate can have strong consequences for individual fitness and are crucial aspects of evolutionary ecology. Such determinants are likely to be of even greater importance in monandrous species and species with short adult life stages. Previous work suggests that mobility, a key dispersal? related trait, may affect the dynamics of copulations, but few studies have investigated the impact of individual mobility on mating latency, copulation duration and oviposition latency simultaneously. In this paper, we monitored the copulation dynamics of 40 males and 40 females, as well as the oviposition dynamics of the females of the Large White butterfly Pieris brassicae, a facultative long-distance disperser butterfly. Individuals from a breeding were selected to create a uniform distribution of mobility and we recorded the timing, number and duration of all copulations in a semiexperimental system. We showed that mobility, measured as the time spent in flight under stressful conditions (a proxy of dispersal tendency), correlates with all aspects of copulation dynamics: mobile males and females mated earlier and for shorter periods than less mobile individuals. In turn, late mating females increased the time between copulation and oviposition. These results feed the previously described mobility syndrome of R brassicae, involving morphological and physiological characters, with life-history traits. We suggest that the reduction of mating latency and copulation duration has an adaptive value in dispersing individuals, as their life expectancy might be shorter than that of sedentary individuals.     

The geographical diversification in varanid lizards:the role of mainland versus island in driving species evolution

Monitor lizards(Varanidae)inhabit both the mainland and islands of all geological types and have diversified into an exceptionally wide range of body sizes,thus providing an ideal model for examining the role of mainland versus island in driving species evolution.Here we use phylogenetic comparative methods to examine whether a link exists between body size driven diversification and body size-frequency distributions in varanid lizards and to test the hypothesis that island lizards differ from mainland species in evolutionary processes,body size,and life-history traits(offspring number and size).We predict that:1)since body size drives rapid diversification in groups,a link exists between body size-driven diversification and body size-frequency distributions;2)because of various environments on island,island species will have higher speciation,extinction,and dispersal rates,compared with mainland species;3)as a response to stronger intraspecific competition,island species will maximize individual ability associated with body size to outcompete closely-related species,and island species will produce smaller clutches of larger eggs to increase offspring quality.Our results confirm that the joint effect of differential macroevolutionary rates shapes the species richness pattern of varanid lizards.There is a link between body size-driven diversification and body sizefrequency distributions,and the speciation rate is maximized at medium body sizes.Island species will have higher speciation,equal extinction,and higher dispersal rates compared with mainland species.Smaller clutch size and larger hatchling in the island than in mainland species indicate that offspring quality is more valuable than offspring quantity for island varanids.     

苏门白酒草的繁殖特征与入侵性的关系以及某些进化含义

Conyza sumatrensis （Retz.） E. Walker, a member of Asteraceae, is a highly invasive species. However, its reproduction biology remains poorly known. To understand the role of reproductive traits in successful invasion of the species, we studied several traits of its reproductive system： the miniature capitulum and gynomonoecious sexual system, the biology and phenology of capitula and florets, pollen/ovule ratio, the mating system （selfcompatibility）, flower visitors, physical traits and dispersal potential of achenes, germination potential of achenes from manually pollinated capitula, and the association of these traits with invasiveness. Our study showed that the reproductive traits of autonomous seed production, versatile mating system of self- and cross-pollination, and generalized pollination system might contribute to the species＇ successful invasive capability. The invasiveness was further enhanced by the high and rapid production of achenes, as well as the high percentage, rapid germination rate and high dispersal capability of achenes. It was concluded that in annual or winter-annual weeds, autonomous seed production contributed significantly to the invasiveness of the species.     

Leaf hydraulics coordinated with leaf economics and leaf size in mangrove species along a salinity gradientOA

Independence among leaf economics,leaf hydraulics and leaf size confers plants great capability in adapting to heterogeneous environments.However,it remains unclear whether the independence of the leaf traits revealed across species still holds within species,especially under stressed conditions.Here,a suite of traits in these dimensions were measured in leaves and roots of a typical mangrove species,Ceriops tagal,which grows in habitats with a similar sunny and hot environment but different soi...     

土壤微生物增强了外来植物紫茎泽兰对本地植物种的竞争力

【Background】The soil microbial community plays an important role in plant establishment, growth and nutrition. Invasion success may be linked to plant microbe interactions. 【Method】Under glasshouse conditions, we compared the effect of soil microbial communities to the growth and interactions between the exotic weed Ageratina adenophora and native plants. The microbial communities were from soil invaded by A.adenophora (IS) vs. that dominated by native weeds (NS). 【Result】A.adenophora which received inoculum from IS had higher arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization rate than that from NS, especially when Medicago falcata or Setaria viridis grew near A.adenophora. Microbial inoculum from IS accelerated the growth of A.adenophora, when planted in polyculture with the native plant S.viridis, but the native species growth was not affected. A.adenophora, receiving an inoculum from IS, inhibited the growth of its two neighboring native species, while no such effect was observed when using inoculum from NS. A.adenophora responded positively to the inoculum taken from IS in all planting combinations, but responded negatively to inoculum from NS both in monoculture and in polyculture with M.falcata. 【Conclusion and significance】Soil microbes, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi present in soil in the rhizosphere of A.adenophora enhanced the competiveness of this invasive weed against native species, which may be an important invasion mechanism of exotic plants.     

Sex differences in the expression of GH/IGF axis genes underlie sexual size dimorphism in the yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

正Dear Editors,Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in size,shape,color,physiology,and behavior,between male and female individuals of the same species(Mei and Gui,2015).Some studies have indicated that the traits of sexual dimorphism in vertebrates are the consequences of sex-biased gene expression and are controlled by multiple critical genes during growth and development(Williams and Carroll,2009).However,the exact molecular mechanism underlying sexual dimorphism remains unclear.Sexual dimorphism with respect to size has been observed in many     

Molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution in wild animals and plants

Wild animals and plants have developed a variety of adaptive traits driven by adaptive evolution, an important strategy for species survival and persistence. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution is the key to understanding species diversification, phenotypic convergence, and inter-species interaction. As the genome sequences of more and more non-model organisms are becoming available, the focus of studies on molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution has shifted from the can...     

Rapid evolution of T2/S-RNase genes in Fragaria linked to multiple transitions from self-incompatibility to self-compatibilityOA

The T2/RNase gene family is widespread in eukaryotes,and particular members of this family play critical roles in the gametophytic self-incompatibility(GSI) system in plants.Wild diploid strawberry(Fragaria)species have diversified their sexual systems via self-incompatible and self-compatible traits,yet how these traits evolved in Fragaria remains elusive.By integrating the published and de novo assembled genomes and the newly generated RNA-seq data,members of the RNase T2 gene family were syst...     

Progress of chromosome engineering mediated by asymmetric somatic hybridization

Plant somatic hybridization has progressed steadily over the past 35 years. Many hybrid plants have been generated from fusion combinations of different phylogenetic species, some of which have been utilized in crop breeding programs. Among them, asymmetric hybrid, which usually contains a fraction of alien genome, has received more attention because of its importance in crop improvement. However, few studies have dealt with the heredity of the genome of somatic hybrid for a long time, which has limited the progress of this approach. Over recent ten years, along with the development of an effective cytogenetical tool ＂in situ hybridization （ISH）＂, asymmetric fusion of common wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） with different grasses or cereals has been greatly developed. Genetics, genomes, functional genes and agricultt, ral traits of wheat asymmetric hybrids have been subject to systematic investigations using gene cloning, genomic in situ hybridization （GISH） and molecular makers. The future goal is to fully elucidate the functional relationships among improved agronomic traits, the genes and underlying molecular mechanisms, and the genome dynamics of somatic introgression lines. This will accelerate the development of elite germplasms via somatic hybridization and the application of these materials in the molecular improvement of crop plants.