中国北方气候干湿变化及干旱演变特征

利用中国北方15个省(区、市)320个气象站1960—2014年逐月降水量资料,运用标准化降水指数(SPI)、标准差和相关分析等方法,基于不同时间尺度,对近55年来中国北方及不同干湿区气候干湿时空变化特征进行分析,并从干旱站次比、干旱强度等方面分析了年际干旱的时空变化特征。结果表明:(1)1960—2014年中国北方地区整体呈变干趋势,年际干旱站次比和干旱强度在同步波动中均呈下降趋势。(2)1960—2014年北方地区春季和冬季呈湿润化趋势,冬季湿润化趋势最明显,夏季和秋季呈干旱化趋势,夏季干旱化趋势最显著,夏季降水对年干湿状况的变化起决定性作用。(3)湿润区和半湿润区有干旱化趋势,而干旱区和半干旱区均呈湿润化趋势发展;湿润区和半湿润区年际干旱站次比、干旱强度呈上升趋势,而干旱区和半干旱区则相反。(4)中国北方东部季风区的湿润区和半湿润区以及处于季风区和非季风区分界线两侧的半湿润区和半干旱区气候干湿变化均呈显著同步波动变化趋势,而中国北方东部季风区的湿润区和半湿润区与中国北方西部非季风区的干旱区气候干湿变化呈显著反向波动变化趋势,夏季具有同样的规律,而冬季和春季四大干湿区干湿变化具有较好的同步一致性。     

Tree-ring structure and climatic effects in young Eucalyptus globulus Labill. grown at two Portuguese sites: preliminary results

Dendrochronological analyses of Eucalyptus are generally rare and mostly restricted to Australia. This work reports an attempt to identify annual ring patterns in young blue gum trees (Eucalyptus globulus Labil) grown in Europe through studying the radial variation of vessel characteristics. Common radial trends were seen such as increasing vessel areas, decreasing vessel abundances and a cyclic variability of vessel characteristics associated to the seasons. Low water availability was related to reduced ring widths in combination with more and smaller vessels. Even with the given juvenility of the investigated eucalypt trees the pith to bark trends of vessel parameters might be useful in dendroecological studies, particularly with respect to drought scenarios. The employed method of using vessel parameters to identify rings seem to be the only accurate way of identifying annual rings in E. globulus.     

Breeding ground temperature rises,more than habitat change,are associated with spatially variable population trends in two species of migratory bird

Habitat loss and climate change are key drivers of global biodiversity declines but their relative importance has rarely been examined. We attempted to attribute spatially divergent population trends of two Afro-Palaearctic migrant warbler species, Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, to changes in breeding grounds climate or habitat. We used bird counts from over 4000 sites across the UK between 1994 and 2017, monitored as part of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey. We modelled Willow Warbler and Common Chiffchaff population size and growth in relation to habitat, climate and weather. We then used the abundance model coefficients and observed environmental changes to determine the extent to which spatially varying population trends in England and Scotland were consistent with attribution to climate and habitat changes. Both species' population size and growth correlated with habitat, climate and weather on their breeding grounds. Changes in habitat, in particular woodland expansion, could be linked to small population increases for both species in England and Scotland. Both species' populations correlated more strongly with climate than weather, and both had an optimum breeding season temperature: 11°C for Willow Warbler and around 13.5°C for Common Chiffchaff (with marginally different predictions from population size and growth models). Breeding ground temperature increases, therefore, had the potential to have caused some of the observed Willow Warbler declines in England (where the mean breeding season temperature was 12.7°C) and increases in Scotland (mean breeding season temperature was 10.2°C), and some of the differential rates of increase for Common Chiffchaff. However, much of the variation in species' population abundance and trends were not well predicted by our models and could be due to other factors, such as species interactions, habitat and climate change in their wintering grounds and on migration. This study provides evidence that the effect of climate change on a species may vary spatially and may switch from being beneficial to being detrimental if a temperature threshold is exceeded.     

Recent population declines in Afro‐Palaearctic migratory birds: the influence of breeding and non‐breeding seasons

Aim

Recent, rapid population declines in many Afro‐Palaearctic migratory bird species have focussed attention on changing conditions within Africa. However, processes influencing population change can operate throughout the annual cycle and throughout migratory ranges. Here, we explore the evidence for impacts of breeding and non‐breeding conditions on population trends of British breeding birds of varying migratory status and wintering ecology.

Location

Great Britain (England & Scotland).

Methods

Within‐ and between‐species variation in population trends is quantified for 46 bird species with differing migration strategies.

Results

Between 1994 and 2007, rates of population change in Scotland and England differed significantly for 19 resident and 15 long‐distance migrant species, but were similar for 12 short‐distance migrant species. Of the six long‐distance migrant species that winter in the arid zone of Africa, five are increasing in abundance throughout Britain. In contrast, the seven species wintering in the humid zone of Africa are all declining in England, but five of these are increasing in Scotland. Consequently, populations of both arid and humid zone species are increasing significantly faster in Scotland than England, and only the English breeding populations of species wintering in the humid zone are declining.

Main conclusions

Population declines in long‐distance migrants, especially those wintering in the humid zone, but not residents or short‐distance migrants suggest an influence of non‐breeding season conditions on population trends. However, the consistently less favourable population trends in England than Scotland of long‐distance migrant and resident species strongly suggest that variation in the quality of breeding grounds is influencing recent population changes. The declines in humid zone species in England, but not Scotland, may result from poorer breeding conditions in England exacerbating the impacts of non‐breeding conditions or the costs associated with a longer migration, while better conditions in Scotland may be buffering these impacts.

     

Brain size and resource specialization predict long-term population trends in British birds

Large-scale population declines have been documented across many faunal assemblages. However, there is much variation in population trends for individual species, and few indications of which specific ecological and behavioural characteristics are associated with such trends. We used the British Common Birds Census (1968-1995) to identify specific traits associated with long-term abundance trends in UK farmland birds. Two factors, resource specialization and relative brain size, were significantly associated with population trend, such that species using atypical resources and with relatively small brains were most likely to have experienced overall declines. Further analyses of specific brain components indicated that the relative size of the telencephalon, the part of the brain associated with problem solving and complex behaviours, and the brain stem might be better predictors of population trend than overall brain size. These results suggest that flexibility in resource use and behaviour are the most important characteristics for determining a species' ability to cope with large-scale habitat changes.     

Ecogeographic variation in human nasal passages

Theoretically, individuals whose ancestors evolved in cold and/or dry climates should have greater nasal mucosal surface area relative to air volume of the nasal passages than individuals whose ancestors evolved in warm, humid climates. A high surface-area-to-volume (SA/V) ratio allows relatively more air to come in contact with the mucosa and facilitates more efficient heat and moisture exchange during inspiration and expiration, which would be adaptive in a cold, dry environment. Conversely, a low SA/V ratio is not as efficient at recapturing heat and moisture during expiration and allows for better heat dissipation, which would be adaptive in a warm, humid environment. To test this hypothesis, cross-sectional measurements of the nasal passages that reflect surface area and volume were collected from a sample of CT scans of patients of European and African ancestry. Results indicate that individuals of European descent do have higher SA/V ratios than individuals of African descent, but only when decongested. Otherwise, the two groups show little difference. This pattern of variation may be due to selection for different SA/V configurations during times of physical exertion, which has been shown to elicit decongestion. Relationships between linear measurements of the skeletal nasal aperture and cavity and cross-sectional dimensions were also examined. Contrary to predictions, the nasal index, the ratio of nasal breadth to nasal height, is not strongly correlated with internal dimensions. However, differences between the nasal indices of the two groups are highly significant. These results may be indicative of different adaptive solutions to the same problem.     

Investigating connectivity and seasonal differences in wind assistance in the migration of Common Sandpipers

Many migratory bird species have undergone recent population declines, but there is considerable variation in trends between species and between populations employing different migratory routes. Understanding species-specific migratory behaviours is therefore of critical importance for their conservation. The Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos is an Afro-Palaearctic migratory bird species whose European populations are in decline. We fitted geolocators to individuals breeding in England or wintering in Senegal to determine their migration routes and breeding or non-breeding locations. We used these geolocator data in combination with previously published data from Scottish breeding birds to determine the distributions and migratory connectivity of breeding (English and Scottish) and wintering (Senegalese) populations of the Common Sandpiper, and used simulated random migrations to investigate wind assistance during autumn and spring migration. We revealed that the Common Sandpipers tagged in England spent the winter in West Africa, and that at least some birds wintering in Senegal bred in Scandinavia; this provides insights into the links between European breeding populations and their wintering grounds. Furthermore, birds tagged in England, Scotland and Senegal overlapped considerably in their migration routes and wintering locations, meaning that local breeding populations could be buffered against habitat change, but susceptible to large-scale environmental changes. These findings also suggest that contrasting population trends in England and Scotland are unlikely to be the result of population-specific migration routes and wintering regions. Finally, we found that birds used wind to facilitate their migration in autumn, but less so in spring, when the wind costs associated with their migrations were higher than expected at random. This was despite the wind costs of simulated migrations being significantly lower in spring than in autumn. Indeed, theory suggests that individuals are under greater time pressures in spring than in autumn because of the time constraints associated with reproduction.     

Ontogenetic plasticity in nonhuman primates: I. Secular trends in the Cayo Santiago macaques

Although secular trends toward increasing body size are apparent in many human populations, little is known about their occurrence in nonhuman primates. The Cayo Santiago skeletal collection of Macaca mulatta includes 101 adult animals (greater than or equal to 10 years of age) born at different times in the past 3 1/2 decades, so that variation in size may be examined relative to birth year. No secular trends in orbital height were observed in this sample, but in both sexes lengths of adult long bones increased significantly over time, while cranial dimensions and length of the second molar in female also showed significant variation with birth year. These changes were consistent with the history of provisioning of the animals and with fluctuations in population size. Low-order correlations were observed between birth year and body proportions, especially the crural index in males, a pattern that has also been observed in human populations. These findings argue that, in addition to biomechanics and heritage, diet may affect allometric relationships and that an inherent plasticity or malleability of the growth process may be characteristic of nonhuman as well as human primates.     

Effects of fragmentation and hybridization on geographical patterns of song variation in the endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata

The song learning process may lead to small‐scale geographical variation in vocalizations of oscine birds. This variation can be further enhanced by the effects of habitat fragmentation or hybridization. Populations of the endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata are now patchily distributed in the southern South American thorny shrubland forests and are small as a consequence of the pressure exerted by increased habitat transformation and illegal trade. We study the Yellow Cardinal's vocalizations throughout its distribution and assess how habitat characteristics and fragmentation, as well as hybridization with the Common Diuca Diuca diuca, have affected song patterns of different populations. We expected to find song differences among populations and songs to be more similar to those of the Common Diuca in areas where hybridization occurs. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in song between the four populations studied and confirmed that songs are more similar to those of Common Diuca where hybridization takes place. These results, in conjunction with genetic studies, can help to establish management units that preserve genetic and cultural variation in this endangered species.     

Ecological factors affecting wetland occupancy by breeding Anatidae in the southwestern mediterranean

Conservation of Anatidae in North Africa is hindered by lack of information concerning population size, population trends, and species-habitat relationships. In this work, we used a 2-year survey data in 25 wetlands distributed throughout Morocco to model duck spatial distribution and to assess the relevance of a set of environmental and anthropogenic factors in predicting site occupancy, by means of Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). Mallards and Ferruginous ducks were the most commonly detected species, whereas White-Headed Ducks and Common Pochards were the least detected ones. An inter-annual variation in site occupancy was recorded for Ruddy Shelducks, Red-Crested Pochards and White-Headed Ducks. Geographical location (measured mainly as distance to the coastline and altitude) was the major predictor of the occurrence probability of Ruddy Shelducks, Marbled Teals and Red-Crested Pochards, while human presence and habitat features were the most relevant factors in shaping Mallard’s distribution. However, none of the considered environmental and anthropogenic factors explained the distribution patterns of the Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard and Gadwall. The results of this study clearly show that there are still gaps in our knowledge on factors driving wetland occupancy by breeding Anatidae in Morocco. The pursuit of the investigations, while considering other explanatory factors such as water quality (limnological data), diet, predation, and conservation status, is of great importance to more profoundly understand the dynamics of Moroccan duck populations.     

Diachronic variation in cranial thickness of Near Eastern populations

Cephalometric radiographs were taken of 111 skulls of skeletal remains of populations living in Israel and Jordan during the last 12,000 years. From these radiographs, skull length and height, and cranial thickness were measured. For each sex and period, high correlations were found between cranial thickness at vertex, bregma, and lambda. Cranial thickness at nasion was correlated with sinus width but not sinus height. All measurements were correlated with skull length but not skull breadth. Using multivariate analysis, no significant differences in cranial thickness were found between the sexes. Significant diachronic trends were found in lambda and sinus width, and they were independent of variation in skull length.     

A late Quaternary marine palynological record (oxygen isotope stages 1 to 7) for the humid tropics of northeastern Australia based on ODP Site 820

A late Quaternary marine palynological record from the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) site 820, adjacent to the humid tropics region of northeastern Australia, has demonstrated marked variation in orbital scale cyclicity, and also trends associated with both climate and human impact. However, some uncertainties in interpretation have resulted from concerns about the records chronology and continuity. Here we present, for the first time, the complete palynological data from detailed analysis of the top 67 m of sediment and examine it in relation to the marine isotope sequence from the core. It is proposed that the record is relatively continuous through the last 250,000 years although the latter part of oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 5, as well OIS 4 may be missing. Despite the variation on orbital scales, most palynological changes are not in phase with those from the marine isotope record suggesting a lack of direct Milankovitch forcing on vegetation. This lack of correspondence combined with major trends towards more open and sclerophyllous vegetation in association with increased burning supports a previous proposal that major control is being exercised by El Niño-Southern Oscillation variability whose influence may have been initiated by changes in oceanic circulation in the region within the mid Pleistocene. The lack of impact on the distribution of complex rainforest suggests that increased climate variability did not involve an overall decrease in total precipitation.     

Individual Winter Movement Strategies in Two Species of Murre (Uria spp.) in the Northwest Atlantic

Individual wintering strategies and patterns of winter site fidelity in successive years are highly variable among seabird species. Yet, an understanding of consistency in timing of movements and the degree of site fidelity is essential for assessing how seabird populations might be influenced by, and respond to, changing conditions on wintering grounds. To explore annual variation in migratory movements and wintering areas, we applied bird-borne geolocators on Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia, n = 19) and Common Murres (U. aalge, n = 20) from 5 colonies in the Northwest Atlantic for 2–4 consecutive years. Thick-billed Murres ranged widely and among-individual wintering strategies were highly variable, whereas most Common Murres wintered relatively near their colonies, with among-individual variation represented more by the relative use of inshore vs. offshore habitat. Within individuals, some aspects of the wintering strategy were more repeatable than others: colony arrival and departure dates were more consistent by individual Common than Thick-billed Murres, while the sizes of home ranges (95% utilization distributions) and distances travelled to wintering area were more repeatable for both species. In consecutive years, individual home ranges overlapped from 0–64% (Thick-billed Murres) and 0–95% (Common Murres); and the winter centroids were just 239 km and 169 km apart (respectively). Over the 3–4 year timescale of our study, individuals employed either fixed or flexible wintering strategies; although most birds showed high winter site fidelity, some shifted core ranges after 2 or 3 years. The capacity among seabird species for a combination of fidelity and flexibility, in which individuals may choose from a range of alternative strategies, deserves further, longer term attention.     

Skeletal biological distance studies in American physical anthropology: recent trends

Biological distance analysis, the dominant type of skeletal biological research during the 19th century, has become less visible in recent years. Although the proportion of American Journal of Physical Anthropology articles and published abstracts focusing on biodistance has remained fairly constant over the three decades between 1955 and 1985, the proportion of biodistance contributions relative to other skeletal biology studies has decreased. Emphasis in skeletal biology has shifted from the analysis of biological variation to investigations of health and diet, and within biodistance studies methodological issues have assumed prominence over purely analytical approaches. This paper investigates trends in biological distance analysis through a survey of articles and meetings abstracts published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology from 1955 to 1985. The survey provides the historical context for five symposium papers on skeletal biological distance presented at the 1986 meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.     

Characterization and prevalence of pigments in the muscle of hawkfish (Cheilodactylus bergi)

Melanin pigment was prevalent in skeletal muscle of 338 out of 1079 Cheilodactylus bergi sampled from the Argentine-Uruguay Common Fisheries Zone. A higher proportion of males than of females was pigmented, and only in males did that proportion increase with body length. No parasites were found in the muscle.     

Survival of Afro‐Palaearctic passerine migrants in western Europe and the impacts of seasonal weather variables

Populations of migratory songbirds in western Europe show considerable variation in population trends between species and regions. The demographic and environmental causes of these large‐scale patterns are poorly understood. Using data from Constant Effort mist‐netting studies, we investigated relationships between changes in abundance, adult survival and seasonal weather conditions among 35 western European populations of eight species of migratory warblers (Sylviidae). We used cross‐species and within‐species comparisons to assess whether annual variation in survival was correlated with weather conditions during passage or winter. We estimated survival using CJS mark‐recapture models accounting for variation in the proportion of transient individuals and recapture rates. Species wintering in the humid bioclimatic zone of western Africa had significantly higher annual survival probabilities than species wintering in the arid bioclimatic zone of Africa (the Sahel). Rainfall in the Sahel was positively correlated with survival in at least some populations of five species. We found substantially fewer significant relationships with indices of weather during the autumn and spring passage periods, which may be due to the use of broad‐scale indices. Annual population changes were correlated with adult survival in all of our study species, although species undergoing widespread declines showed the weakest relationships.     

A Unified Anatomy Ontology of the Vertebrate Skeletal System

The skeleton is of fundamental importance in research in comparative vertebrate morphology, paleontology, biomechanics, developmental biology, and systematics. Motivated by research questions that require computational access to and comparative reasoning across the diverse skeletal phenotypes of vertebrates, we developed a module of anatomical concepts for the skeletal system, the Vertebrate Skeletal Anatomy Ontology (VSAO), to accommodate and unify the existing skeletal terminologies for the species-specific (mouse, the frog Xenopus, zebrafish) and multispecies (teleost, amphibian) vertebrate anatomy ontologies. Previous differences between these terminologies prevented even simple queries across databases pertaining to vertebrate morphology. This module of upper-level and specific skeletal terms currently includes 223 defined terms and 179 synonyms that integrate skeletal cells, tissues, biological processes, organs (skeletal elements such as bones and cartilages), and subdivisions of the skeletal system. The VSAO is designed to integrate with other ontologies, including the Common Anatomy Reference Ontology (CARO), Gene Ontology (GO), Uberon, and Cell Ontology (CL), and it is freely available to the community to be updated with additional terms required for research. Its structure accommodates anatomical variation among vertebrate species in development, structure, and composition. Annotation of diverse vertebrate phenotypes with this ontology will enable novel inquiries across the full spectrum of phenotypic diversity.     

Marine invertebrate skeleton size varies with latitude,temperature and carbonate saturation: implications for global change and ocean acidification

There is great concern over the future effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms, especially for skeletal calcification, yet little is known of natural variation in skeleton size and composition across the globe, and this is a prerequisite for identifying factors currently controlling skeleton mass and thickness. Here, taxonomically controlled latitudinal variations in shell morphology and composition were investigated in bivalve and gastropod molluscs, brachiopods, and echinoids. Total inorganic content, a proxy for skeletal CaCO₃, decreased with latitude, decreasing seawater temperature, and decreasing seawater carbonate saturation state (for CaCO₃ as calcite (Ω_cal)) in all taxa. Shell mass decreased with latitude in molluscs and shell inorganic content decreased with latitude in buccinid gastropods. Shell thickness decreased with latitude in buccinid gastropods (excepting the Australian temperate buccinid) and echinoids, but not brachiopods and laternulid clams. In the latter, the polar species had the thickest shell. There was no latitudinal trend in shell thickness within brachiopods. The variation in trends in shell thickness by taxon suggests that in some circumstances ecological factors may override latitudinal trends. Latitudinal gradients may produce effects similar to those of future CO₂‐driven ocean acidification on CaCO₃ saturation state. Responses to latitudinal trends in temperature and saturation state may therefore be useful in informing predictions of organism responses to ocean acidification over long‐term adaptive timescales.     

Potential roles of scaling and post-anthesis developmental changes in the evolution of floral forms of Eucnide (Loasaceae)

Six of the fourteen species of Eucnide (Loasaceae) are investigated to understand the potential roles of size scaling and post-anthesis ontogenetic changes in the evolution of the floral diversity that characterizes the genus. Principal components analysis of quantitative aspects of mature flowers showed that most of the measured floral features strongly covary and that size was responsible for most of the quantitative variation among the investigated species. Size scaling trends were further investigated by using bivariate comparisons. Scaling trends are strongest among species of sect. Eucnide . Stamen and style length, the most strongly scaled features, have a nearly isometric relationship (slope = 1) in the evolution of the genus. Given this strict scaling which would probably promote self-pollination, it appears that cross-pollination in the genus is most likely to be associated with the evolution of large flowers, compounded by protogyny and differential elongation of stamens and style during post-anthesis ontogeny. Common changes during post-anthesis development include failure of the corolla to spread and variations in the relative elongation patterns of the corolla, stamens, and style.     

Variation of coat color in house mice throughout Asia

Coat color variation due to melanin pigment synthesis in house mice Mus musculus in Asia is described and found to be consistent with Gloger's rule, which states that individuals of endothermic animals are darker in humid habitats than those in drier habitats. Three properties of coat color (hue, value and chroma) were measured, and a lightness variable was derived from a principal components analysis using 428 skin specimens representing three subspecies from 85 localities. Dorsal coat color ranged from yellow through brown to black, whereas ventral coat color ranged from white to black. Dorsal coat color varied less than the ventral color. In our samples, the variation in coat color in natural populations was far less than that observed in the laboratory. We found a significant correlation between the lightness variable of dorsal coat color and precipitation. Dark coat color was observed in more humid and closed habitats (darker background color), and pale coat color in drier, more open habitats (lighter background color). This result might imply the role of concealment as a selective force affecting dorsal coat color that was observed in house mice. We also discussed other selective forces that could affect the coat color variation in house mice, such as resistance to bacterial degradation and thermoregulation. In addition, the color spectra of the dorsal pelage among the three subspecies were different, the major distinction being the environmental background color of the habitats in which they are distributed.