Water source niche overlap increases with site moisture availability in woody perennials

Classical niche partitioning theory posits increased competition for and partitioning of the most limiting resource among coexisting species. Coexisting plant species may vary in rooting depth, reflecting niche partitioning in water source use. Our goal was to assess the soil water partitioning of woody plant communities across northern Arizona along an elevational moisture gradient using stem and soil water isotopes from two sampling periods to estimate the use of different water sources. We hypothesized that niche overlap of water sources would be higher and monsoon precipitation uptake would be lower at sites with higher moisture availability. Pairwise niche overlap of coexisting species was calculated using mixing model estimates of proportional water use for three sources. Across the moisture gradient, niche overlap increased with site moisture index (precipitation/potential evapotranspiration) across seasons, and site moisture index explained 37% of the variation in niche overlap of intermediate and deeper sources of water. Desert trees utilized more winter source water than desert shrubs, suggesting the partitioning of water sources between functional groups. However, seasonal differences in surface water use were primarily found at intermediate levels of site moisture availability. Our findings support classical niche partitioning theory in that plants exhibit higher overlap of water sources when water is not a limiting resource.     

Spatial structure and niche patterns of a rodent community in the south Bukhara desert (Middle Asia)

The distribution of niches in resource space and the niche patterns of a 13 species community of Middle Asian desert rodents were studied by use of discriminant function analysis Nineteen quantitative parameters of the environment (soil structure and vegetation), measured at 600 sample plots within twenty four one ha grids, were considered The first three canonical axes of resource space account for 83% of the variance, the first axis represents a general landscape gradient from sand to clay soils, the second axis reflects a gradient of increasing productivity, and the third axis reflects a gradient of increasing protectability of the environment The distribution of niches in resource space is not even, there are two distinct spatial guilds consisting of psammophilous and sclerophilous species There is a negative correlation between niche position (distance from species centroid to the center of the resource space) and maximal population biomass At the same time there are no correlations between the niche breadth and the niche position due to the absence of species with really broad niches Rodent biomass increases along the productivity axis and reaches a peak in the middle part of the substrate axis Rodent species diversity increases along the substrate axis from sand to clay soils Changes of species diversity along productivity axis have humpshaped patterns Maximum species diversity was recorded at low level of productivity on the sandy soils and shifted to intermediate levels of productivity on sandy-loam and clay soils     

Temporal variation in spatial organization of a rodent community in the southwestern Kyzylkum desert (Middle Asia)

The distribution of niches in resource space and the niche patterns of a 14-species community of Middle Asian desert rodents were studied during two years - at low and high rodent density - using discriminant function analysis Nineteen quantitative environmental parameters (soil structure and vegetation), measured in 550 plots within 22 1 -ha grids, were considered The first three canonical axes of resource space account for 72% of the variance The first two axes represent complex environmental gradients the first axis represents a general landscape gradient from sand to clay soils, the second axis reflects a gradient of in creasing productivity The third axis reflects with in-habitat environmental variation All community parameters, as well as parameters of individual species niches, were unstable between years At the same time, different parameters vary in different extent Position of niche centroids along macro-habitat axes, as. well as macrohabitat niche breadth, were relatively stable between years, but these parameters for microhabitat axis and values of niche overlap were much more variable A strong correlation between changes m relative between-habitat niche breadth and differences in average niche overlap with relative changes in species abundances indicate density dependence of these parameters Changes in niche overlap is a consequence of between-year differences in guild patterns Guild structure was pronounced at high density when the level of niche overlap was intermediate At low density, when the level of niche overlap decreased, guild structure was incon-spicous Different levels of diversity differed in their sensitivity to density changes α-diversity was relatively constant as a result of between-year stability of niche centroid positions However level of ß-diversity varied significantly between years reflecting changes in the level of niche overlap, because a decrease in niche overlap leads to an increase in the rate of species turnover     

Effects of bird species-level environmental preference on landscape-level richness-heterogeneity relationships

The niche-based argument that species are filtered from environments in which they cannot sustain viable populations is the basis of the Richness-Heterogeneity Relationship (RHR). However, the multi-dimensionality of niches suggests that the RHR may take different shapes along different environmental axes, with potential confounding effects if filtering along the axes is not equally strong. Here, we explore how different structural and landscape variables drive the RHR as the accumulative outcome of environmental preferences at the species-level while considering the intercorrelation between heterogeneity levels along three niche axes. We used occurrence data of avifauna from 226 sites situated along a grassland-to-woodland gradient in a Midwestern USA study area. In each site, we quantified horizontal (habitat cover type), vertical (vegetation height structure), and spatial (habitat configuration) heterogeneity and explored the shape of the observed RHR at the landscape scale, as well as the correlations among heterogeneity levels at different axes. We then fitted species distribution models to environmental variables from the three axes separately and compared the stacked probabilities of occurrences of all species to the observed species richness. We found that predictions of richness patterns improved when more than one heterogeneity axis was included in RHR models, and that habitat suitability along different axes is not equally strong. Furthermore, a unimodal RHR along the vegetation height axis, which the species distribution models revealed to be a weak predictor for most species, may arise through intercorrelation with heterogeneity along the two other axes, along which we recorded stronger signals of environmental preference at the species level. Our results emphasize the importance of selecting relevant niche axes in studies of species richness patterns because ultimately, these patterns reflect the various environmental preferences of individual species.     

Habitat Use by Sonoran Desert Tortoises

ABSTRACT The distribution of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) spans a wide range of biotic and abiotic conditions in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with physical and behavioral differences distinguishing tortoises inhabiting the Mojave Desert from those inhabiting the Sonoran Desert. Relative to tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, populations in the Sonoran Desert have not been well-studied. To assess how habitat use of desert tortoises in the Sonoran Desert was influenced by topography, vegetation, geomorphology, and soil, we surveyed 40 randomly located 3-ha sites for presence of adult tortoises within a site-occupancy framework. We modeled both occupancy and detection probability as a function of environmental features, and compared those results with a logistic regression model that assumed detection probability was equal to 1. Results from both approaches agreed, suggesting that habitat selection of tortoises in the Sonoran Desert was influenced primarily by topographic and geomorphologic features rather than by vegetation. Specifically, tortoises were more likely to occupy sites that were steep (we detected tortoises on 29% of sites with mean slope <5° and 92% of sites with mean slope >15°) and predominantly east-facing (53% of sites with <5% of site facing E and 92% of sites with >20% facing E), and less likely to occupy north-facing slopes (100% of sites with <10% of site facing N and 14% of sites with >60% facing N). Our results contrast with patterns of habitat use in the Mojave Desert where tortoises primarily occupy valley bottoms. Habitat use of tortoises in Sonoran and Mojave Desert populations differ considerably, contributing to the mounting body of evidence suggesting that these geographically distinct populations may represent separate species.     

Trait-based community assembly of understory palms along a soil nutrient gradient in a lower montane tropical forest

Two opposing niche processes have been shown to shape the relationship between ecological traits and species distribution patterns: habitat filtering and competitive exclusion. Habitat filtering is expected to select for similar traits among coexisting species that share similar habitat conditions, whereas competitive exclusion is expected to limit the ecological similarity of coexisting species leading to trait differentiation. Here, we explore how functional traits vary among 19 understory palm species that differ in their distribution across a gradient of soil resource availability in lower montane forest in western Panama. We found evidence that habitat filtering influences species distribution patterns and shifts community-wide and intraspecific trait values. Differences in trait values among sites were more strongly related to soil nutrient availability than to variation in light or rainfall. Soil nutrient availability explained a significant amount of variation in site mean trait values for 4 of 15 functional traits. Site mean values of leaf nitrogen and phosphorus increased 37 and 64%, respectively, leaf carbon:nitrogen decreased 38%, and specific leaf area increased 29% with increasing soil nutrient availability. For Geonoma cuneata, the only species occurring at all sites, leaf phosphorus increased 34% and nitrogen:phosphorus decreased 42% with increasing soil nutrients. In addition to among-site variation, most morphological and leaf nutrient traits differed among coexisting species within sites, suggesting these traits may be important for niche differentiation. Hence, a combination of habitat filtering due to turnover in species composition and intraspecific variation along a soil nutrient gradient and site-specific niche differentiation among co-occurring species influences understory palm community structure in this lower montane forest.     

Preliminary assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and community structure in an urban ecosystem

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species richness, composition, spore density and diversity indices were evaluated in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, USA at 20 sampling sites selected to represent the four predominant land-use types found in the greater urban area: urban-residential, urban non-residential, agriculture and desert. AMF spores were extracted and identified from soil samples and from trap cultures established using soil collected at each site. Data were analyzed according to land use, land-use history, soil chemistry and vegetation characteristics at each site. Current agricultural sites were associated with decreased spore densities and historically agricultural sites with decreased species richness. Overall species composition was similar to that previously reported for the Sonoran desert, but composition at each sampling site was influenced by the vegetation from which samples were collected. Sites with the highest degrees of similarity in AMF species composition were also similar to each other in native plants or land use. Conversely, sites with the lowest similarity in AMF composition were those from which the majority of samples were collected from non-mycorrhizal plants, predominately ectomycorrhizal plants or bare soil. Spores of Glomus microggregatum were most abundant in urban sites, while those of G. eburneum were most abundant in desert and agricultural sites. Further studies are needed to determine the functional implications of shifts in AMF communities in urban ecosystems, including effects on plant primary productivity.     

The influence of Prosopis canopies on understorey vegetation: Effects of landscape position

Abstract. The influence of canopy trees and shrubs on under‐storey plants is complex and context‐dependent. Canopy plants can exert positive, negative or neutral effects on production, composition and diversity of understorey plant communities, depending on local environmental conditions and position in the landscape. We studied the influence of Prosopis velutina (mesquite) on soil moisture and nitrogen availability, and understorey vegetation along a topographic gradient in the Sonoran Desert. We found significant increases in both soil moisture and N along the gradient from desert to riparian zone. In addition, P. velutina canopies had positive effects, relative to open areas, on soil moisture in the desert, and soil N in both desert and intermediate terrace. Biomass of understorey vegetation was highest and species richness was lowest in the riparian zone. Canopies had a positive effect on biomass in both desert and terrace, and a negative effect on species richness in the terrace. The effect of the canopy depended on landscape position, with desert canopies more strongly influencing soil moisture and biomass and terrace canopies more strongly influencing soil N and species richness. Individual species distributions suggested interspecific variation in response to water‐ vs. N‐availability; they strongly influence species composition at both patch and landscape position levels.     

白尾地鸦的巢址选择

2017年4和5月,在位于新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘的和田地区民丰县对白尾地鸦（Podoces bidduphi）的巢址选择进行研究。共记录白尾地鸦巢12个,测量了巢参数,用Mann-Whitney U检验分析巢样方与对照样方的差异,用主成分法分析影响白尾地鸦巢址选择的主要因子。结果显示：1）白尾地鸦巢多筑于绿洲边缘的柽柳（Tamarix）灌丛,巢距地面高（109.1 ± 13.2）cm,巢深（8.5 ± 0.5）cm,巢厚（3.8 ± 0.4）cm,内径（13.9 ± 0.9）cm,外径（21.6 ± 1.3）cm;2）巢样方的植被物种数和植被盖度远高于对照样方;3）影响白尾地鸦巢址选择的主要因素为植被物种数及干扰,其中干扰主要指距道路以及距居民点的距离。综上所述,白尾地鸦的巢址选择受食物等生存需求和躲避干扰等安全因素的双重影响,是生存与繁殖权衡的结果。     

古浪县北部荒漠植被主要植物种的生态位特征

利用Shannon-Wiener生态位宽度公式和Pianka生态位重叠公式,计测分析了甘肃省古浪县北部荒漠植被主要植物种在不同植被演替阶段的生态位宽度和生态位重叠。结果表明:在流动沙地上花棒的生态位宽度最大,其次是沙蒿;在半固定沙地上白刺的生态位宽度最大;在固定沙地上,不论是封育植被还是未封育植被中均是花棒的生态位最宽。同一植物种的生态位随着植被演替阶段的变化而发生变化,这种变化反映了不同演替阶段下的植被恢复效果。优势种的生态位重叠大,生态位宽的物种对重叠值也大,相同物种对在不同演替阶段的生态位重叠不一致。有些物种生态位宽度窄,但重叠值大,是由荒漠植被区物种分布存在生境斑块现象造成的。     

Conversion of sagebrush shrublands to exotic annual grasslands negatively impacts small mammal communities

Aim The exotic annual cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is fast replacing sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) communities throughout the Great Basin Desert and nearby regions in the Western United States, impacting native plant communities and altering fire regimes, which contributes to the long‐term persistence of this weedy species. The effect of this conversion on native faunal communities remains largely unexamined. We assess the impact of conversion from native perennial to exotic annual plant communities on desert rodent communities. Location Wyoming big sagebrush shrublands and nearby sites previously converted to cheatgrass‐dominated annual grasslands in the Great Basin Desert, Utah, USA. Methods At two sites in Tooele County, Utah, USA, we investigated with Sherman live trapping whether intact sagebrush vegetation and nearby converted Bromus tectorum‐dominated vegetation differed in rodent abundance, diversity and community composition. Results Rodent abundance and species richness were considerably greater in sagebrush plots than in cheatgrass‐dominated plots. Nine species were captured in sagebrush plots; five of these were also trapped in cheatgrass plots, all at lower abundances than in the sagebrush. In contrast, cheatgrass‐dominated plots had no species that were not found in sagebrush. In addition, the site that had been converted to cheatgrass longer had lower abundances of rodents than the site more recently converted to cheatgrass‐dominated plots. Despite large differences in abundances and species richness, Simpson’s D diversity and Shannon‐Wiener diversity and Brillouin evenness indices did not differ between sagebrush and cheatgrass‐dominated plots. Main conclusions This survey of rodent communities in native sagebrush and in converted cheatgrass‐dominated vegetation suggests that the abundances and community composition of rodents may be shifting, potentially at the larger spatial scale of the entire Great Basin, where cheatgrass continues to invade and dominate more landscape at a rapid rate.     

Vegetation changes along a precipitation gradient in Central Argentina

Changes in vegetation along a precipitation gradient in Central Argentina were studied. Floristic samples were taken along an east-west transect of about 300 km. Correlation analysis between precipitation and ordination axes was used to provide an environmental interpretation of vegetation variability.Floristic analysis produced an ordination of plant communities from evergreen forests (precipitation >500 mm) to desert shrublands and therophyte communities (precipitation <200 mm). Results showed a trend of floristic and structural impoverishment towards the west. There is a replacement of species along the transect and a shift in dominant growth forms. The first ordination axis is significantly, negatively correlated with annual precipitation.     

Preliminary assessment of plant community structure and arbuscular mycorrhizas in rangeland habitats of Cholistan desert, Pakistan

Plant species dominance and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) were evaluated in four different habitats of Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The sites were selected on the basis of variations in topography, floristic composition and biotic interference. The phytosociological data revealed obvious differences in the floristic composition, plant species diversity, AM colonization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore densities in the rhizospheres. The vegetation pattern and composition was governed by topography and edaphic characteristics of a particular site. Grasses were dominant and main components of vegetation at all the study sites and were invariably mycorrhizal. Some plant species were mycorrhizal at one site but non-mycorrhizal at the other. The AMF survey reported here offers an important starting point from which to analyse AMF community structure in different phytosociological habitats and land uses of Cholistan desert.     

论古尔班通古特沙漠植物多样性的一般特点

古尔斑通古特沙漠处于中亚荒漠与内亚（亚洲中部）荒漠之间的过渡,其气候虽以干旱少雨、蒸发强烈、多风、日照强、温度变化剧烈的大陆性荒漠气候为特点,但由于降水季节分配较均匀,冬春有一定雨雪,植被相对较为茂密,以固定和半固定沙漠为主,共采集记录到２０８种高等植物,１８个植物群落类型,ｌｌ类植物生活型。植物多样性还包括下列一般特点：区系地理成分多样,但中亚成分占优势;有少量古老种,特有现象微弱,黎科植物占明显优势;早生植物为主;长营养期１年生植物有一定比例;短命和类短命植物获得发育等。由于近几十年来的过牧（牲畜的“冬窝子”）和滥采滥挖燃料及有经济价值的植物,植物多样性受破坏严重。当前的紧迫任务是加强保护,对有些物种还须采取措施,进行抢救。     

荒漠植物性状权衡策略及功能多样性研究进展

荒漠植物是干旱区具有独特功能性状与资源权衡表征的地带性植物。植物功能性状及其多样性格局与资源权衡策略对群落结构优化和生态系统功能改善起着关键作用。该综述主要从荒漠植物组织、器官功能性状特征、功能性状权衡策略、功能多样性组分及测度3个方面梳理了荒漠植物性状权衡策略与功能多样性研究的进展脉络：1）荒漠植物独特的根、茎、叶功能性状特征揭露了植被对环境变化的响应以及对生态系统功能的影响,基于植物功能性状的研究有助于解决许多生态学的关键性问题;2）作为植物功能性状之间存在的最普遍的联系,权衡策略是经过自然筛选后形成的性状组合,关键性状已经被发掘并创造性的提出了"经济谱"概念。荒漠植物研究过程中,应分析其根、茎、叶的特征属性筛选关键性状,着眼于关键性状间及整株植物性状间的权衡策略;3）功能多样性是影响生态系统运行和发挥作用的生物多样性的重要组成部分,荒漠植物功能多样性能预测和指示群落中物种对于荒漠生态系统功能发挥和过程变化的影响。功能多样性的组分可以从不同角度反映群落的生态位占据状况和资源利用程度,指数的选择要体现在群落内部物种的功能特征之间的差异程度,同时要考虑这些物种自身在群落内的优势程度。本研究为未来荒漠植物功能性状及多样性研究梳理了一些新的研究方向和内容,期望为荒漠植物生理生态学研究的选题和发展提供一些新的思路。     

Geographic variation in habitat structure for the wood warblers in Maine and Minnesota

The habitats occupied by species of wood warblers (Emberizidae) were compared at two study areas, Itasca State Park, Minnesota and Mount Blue State Park, Maine. Univariate comparisons of each variable of habitat structure show geographic differences for each species of warbler. Habitats available were also different because small trees were always more dense in Maine than in Minnesota. The Black-throated Green Warbler had the most dissimilar habitat with 9 of 11 variables different at the two sites.Cluster analysis identified four generalized habitat groups containing (1) species occupying territories with high percent shrub cover, (2) forest species from Maine, (3) forest species from Minnesota and (4) open country species. Reciprocal averaging ordination was used to identify habitat gradients at each site. The first axis of the Maine and Minnesota ordinations was a gradient from open country with dense ground cover to forest vegetation. The second axes differed, however. In Minnesota, the gradient separated medium deciduous trees from large conifers, whereas in Maine, vegetation graded from medium and large deciduous trees to coniferous habitats. Spearman rank correlation indicated that the warblers were similarly arranged along both habitat axes at each site despite differences in axis loadings of habitat variables.A combined reciprocal averaging ordination separated forest and shrub-forest edge species in Maine from the same two species groups in Minnesota along a smaller to larger tree axis. The results clearly demonstrate that habitat structure is not consistent throughout the range of many widely distributed species. It is suggested that the similar arrangement of species along the habitat axes probably results from an individualistic distribution of opportunistic bird species. Variation is probably induced at a site level by intraspecific competition for territories, small-scale vegetation dynamics, and resource fluctuation that occurs both within and between seasons.     

民勤沙区几种荒漠植物群落的现实生态位研究

民勤沙区属于典型的干旱荒漠气候,植被以灌木荒漠为主,盖度一般只有5%~15%.植物群落内生态位宽度悬殊,植物种之间的生态位相似比例很小.生态位宽度和生态位相似比例小是受制于干旱荒漠生境条件的结果,是干旱荒漠生态环境中稀疏荒漠植物的主要特征之一.植物的现实生态位宽度与年际降水量关系密切,在地貌、土壤颗粒、土壤水分、土壤养分等影响因子中,土壤水分是主导因子.当地地下水位深20 m左右,植物无法利用,植物种之间对资源的竞争主要表现为对水分资源的竞争,降水资源是植物种之间竞争的关键资源.同一种植物在不同群落中的生态位宽度变幅较大,不同群落内部植物种竞争关系的差异是由物种的生态位和由相对稳定的地貌、土壤条件以及随年际变动的降水条件共同作用的结果.群落中的优势种植物的生态位最宽,当优势种生态位减小时,一年生短命植物往往会进入群落中.荒漠植物的冠层单一,以冠幅占样方面积比作为植物的特征值计算其生态位特征值比较准确可靠.     

Scale-dependent niche axes of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are mutualistic with most species of plants and are known to influence plant community diversity and composition. To better understand natural plant communities and the ecological processes they control it is important to understand what determines the distribution and diversity of AMF. We tested three putative niche axes: plant species composition, disturbance history, and soil chemistry against AMF species composition to determine which axis correlated most strongly with a changing AMF community. Due to a scale dependency we were not able to absolutely rank their importance, but we did find that each correlated significantly with AMF community change at our site. Among soil properties, pH and NO₃ were found to be especially good predictors of AMF community change. In a similar analysis of the plant community we found that time since disturbance had by far the largest impact on community composition. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A phytogeographical characterization of the vine flora of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts

Aim This study presents a phytogeographical characterization of the vine flora of two lower North American desert regions as a biogeographical framework for further ecological inquiry into desert vines. Location The phytogeography of the vine flora of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts was c haracterized based on 263 known species. Methods Checklists of the vines of each desert were developed. Represented genera were then grouped into 10 phytogeographical elements based on worldwide distribution patterns. To compare the floristic composition of the desert floras, an index of species similarity was calculated. Results About a third more species of vines occur in the Sonoran Desert than in the Chihuahuan Desert. Based on the analysis, cosmopolitan genera are the only group more numerous in absolute terms in the Chihuahuan Desert than in the Sonoran Desert. Tropical elements are represented in about the same proportion in each desert as the number of species, however, nearly twice as many pantropical and neotropical genera are represented in the Sonoran Desert as in the Chihuahuan Desert. Proportionately, more genera of temperate elements occur in the Chihuahuan Desert than in the Sonoran desert, although the absolute number of genera is slightly higher in the latter. Main conclusions As these deserts are relatively recent ecological formations and as vines evolved in forest ecosystems, the composition of the desert vine floras is the result of the interaction between historical vegetation types, their constituent taxa and climatic and geological history. The main differences in the vining floras of the present‐day Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts appear to be the result of greater historical influence in the Sonoran Desert of (1) tropical vegetation types and (2) the emergence of the Gulf of California. The Chihuahuan Desert vine flora seems to be the result of (1) a more pronounced historical temperate vegetation, (2) the lack of an important isolating event, such as the creation of the Baja California peninsula, and (3) a cooler climate with shorter growing seasons.