Reconsidering connectivity in the sub‐Antarctic

Extreme and remote environments provide useful settings to test ideas about the ecological and evolutionary drivers of biological diversity. In the sub‐Antarctic, isolation by geographic, geological and glaciological processes has long been thought to underpin patterns in the region's terrestrial and marine diversity. Molecular studies using increasingly high‐resolution data are, however, challenging this perspective, demonstrating that many taxa disperse among distant sub‐Antarctic landmasses. Here, we reconsider connectivity in the sub‐Antarctic region, identifying which taxa are relatively isolated, which are well connected, and the scales across which this connectivity occurs in both terrestrial and marine systems. Although many organisms show evidence of occasional long‐distance, trans‐oceanic dispersal, these events are often insufficient to maintain gene flow across the region. Species that do show evidence of connectivity across large distances include both active dispersers and more sedentary species. Overall, connectivity patterns in the sub‐Antarctic at intra‐ and inter‐island scales are highly complex, influenced by life‐history traits and local dynamics such as relative dispersal capacity and propagule pressure, natal philopatry, feeding associations, the extent of human exploitation, past climate cycles, contemporary climate, and physical barriers to movement. An increasing use of molecular data – particularly genomic data sets that can reveal fine‐scale patterns – and more effective international collaboration and communication that facilitates integration of data from across the sub‐Antarctic, are providing fresh insights into the processes driving patterns of diversity in the region. These insights offer a platform for assessing the ways in which changing dispersal mechanisms, such as through increasing human activity and changes to wind and ocean circulation, may alter sub‐Antarctic biodiversity patterns in the future.     

生态功能区划理论研究进展

作为生态系统管理的重要手段,开展科学合理的生态功能区划,已成为世界各国走向可持续发展所面临的关键挑战之一。生态功能区划针对一定区域内自然地理环境分异性、生态系统多样性、以及经济与社会发展不均衡性的现状,结合自然资源保护和可持续开发利用的思想,整合与分异生态系统服务功能对区域人类活动影响的生态敏感性,将区域空间划分为不同生态功能区的研究过程。生态功能区划反映了基于景观特征的主要生态模式,强调了不同时空尺度的景观异质性。通过梳理生态功能区划的概念与内涵、形成与发展及其理论基础,提出了生态功能区划是以恢复区域持续性、完整性的生态系统健康为目标,基于区域的自然地理背景,界定生态功能分区及其子系统的边界,结合区域水陆生态系统、社会经济与土地利用的现状评价与问题诊断,识别生态系统空间格局的分布特征、生态过程的关键因子以及动态演替的驱动因子,明确影响生态系统服务功能的景观格局与结构、景观过程与功能以及景观动态变化,构建生态功能区划的指标体系与技术体系,实现生态功能多级区划,并为决策者更为全面和综合地开展生态系统管理提供科学依据。     

Unravelling migratory connections: the next level

Migration is widespread among birds, and the strength of the link between the breeding and wintering grounds, migratory connectivity, influences many ecological and evolutionary processes. Despite its importance, migratory connectivity is poorly estimated for most species. Traditionally, visual observations and bird ringing have been used to monitor migration, but these methods require more effort for relatively little return. Genetic markers and stable isotope signatures have increasingly been used to study connectivity. Each approach has its distinct strengths and weaknesses, and as is often the case, a combination may yield the most insight. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Rundel and colleagues (2013) present a novel Bayesian statistical framework in which genetics and stable isotope data can be combined to improve the assignment of individuals to different winter or breeding regions. The development of such new statistical methods combined with the increasing number and ease of access of isotopic and genetic data sets will greatly enhance our understanding of migratory connectivity. Add to this the developments of miniature devices to track movements of individuals, and the field is destined to make major progression in the decades to come.     

近海海洋生态连通性研究进展

生态连通性是空间生态学和保护生物学的重要概念和研究手段。国外越来越多的研究表明,开展近海海洋生态连通性研究对促进海洋生态系统保护和修复具有十分重要的现实意义。阐述了近海海洋生态连通性的概念与机制,回顾了目前近海海洋连通性的研究进展并分析了存在的问题,总结了近海海洋生态连通性研究的框架和具体方法,最后提出我国开展近海海洋生态连通性研究的建议,以期对今后国内开展海洋生态连通性相关研究工作有所启示。     

Advancing our understanding of the connectivity,evolution and management of marine lobsters through genetics

The genomic revolution has provided powerful insights into the biology and ecology of many non-model organisms. Genetic tools have been increasingly applied to marine lobster research in recent years and have improved our understanding of species delimitation and population connectivity. High resolution genomic markers are just beginning to be applied to lobsters and are now starting to revolutionise our understanding of fine spatial and temporal scales of population connectivity and adaptation to environmental conditions. Lobsters play an important role in the ecosystem and many species are commercially exploited but many aspects of their biology is still largely unknown. Genetics is a powerful tool that can further contribute to our understanding of their ecology and evolution and assist management. Here we illustrate how recent genetic advancements are (1) leading to a step change in our understanding of evolution and adaptation, (2) elucidating factors driving connectivity and recruitment, (3) revealing insights into ecological processes and can (4) potentially revolutionise management of this commercially important group. We discuss how improvements in sequencing technologies and statistical methods for genetic data analyses combined with increased sampling efforts and careful sampling design have transformed our understanding of lobsters biology in recent years. We also highlight possible future directions in the application of genomic tools to lobster research that can aid management, in particular, the close-kin-mark-recapture method. Finally, we identify gaps and challenges in lobster research, such as the lack of any reference genomes and predictions on how lobsters will respond to future environmental conditions.

     

A cross-scale framework to support a mechanistic understanding and modelling of marine climate-driven species redistribution,from individuals to communities

Climate-driven species redistribution is pervasive and accelerating, yet the complex mechanisms at play remain poorly understood. The implications of large-scale species redistribution for natural systems and human societies have resulted in a large number of studies exploring the effects on individual species and ecological communities worldwide. Whilst many studies have investigated discrete components of species redistribution, the integration required for a more complete mechanistic understanding is lacking. In this paper, we provide a framework for synthesising approaches to more robustly understand and predict marine species redistributions. We conceptualise the stages and processes involved in climate-driven species redistribution at increasing levels of biological organisation, and synthesize the laboratory, field and modelling approaches used to study redistribution related processes at individual, population and community levels. We then summarise links between scales of biological organisation and methodological approaches in a hierarchical framework that represents an integrated mechanistic assessment of climate-driven species redistributions. In a rapidly expanding field of research, this framework provides direction for: 1) guiding future research, 2) highlighting key knowledge gaps, 3) fostering data exchange and collaboration between disciplines and 4) improving shared capacity to predict and therefore, inform the proactive management of climate impacts on natural systems.     

风电项目对潜在生态廊道的影响——基于MSPA-MCR模型

风电作为构建新型电力系统的主体,能够有效助力电力系统脱碳,是实现“双碳”目标的主力军。但风电规模化建设与生态环境保护之间的矛盾日益突出,风电项目对生态环境,尤其是对区域生态廊道及生态安全格局的影响急需厘清。以福建平潭陆上风电项目所在区域为研究单元,运用形态学空间格局分析法和最小累积阻力模型、重力模型等判别重要生态源地及潜在生态廊道,评估风电项目对潜在生态廊道连通性、重要性和结构性等影响。研究表明：(1)研究区生态源地主要位于生态价值高的森林公园及风景名胜区内。受风电项目影响,源地呈现破碎化趋势,核心区占景观要素百分比由79.53%下降至76.64%。(2)风电项目导致生态廊道畅通性降低,生态廊道的走向及长度发生显著变化,大大增加了生物迁徙的空间阻力。(3)风电项目弱化了生态源地之间关联性。核心廊道和次级廊道均减少了6条,且重要性强的生态廊道完全避开风电项目所在位置。风电项目建设之后生态网络流通性变差,网络更为单一、整体生态效能降低。本研究不仅从生态环境敏感脆弱区域的生态安全角度给风电项目建成区周边生态修复提供科学参考,也为未来风电项目选址及环境质量评估提供了重要的方法支撑。     

Identifying spatial components of ecological and evolutionary processes for regional conservation planning in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Abstract. Conservation seeks ultimately to protect and maintain biodiversity indefinitely. Most biodiversity features targeted in past conservation planning have been largely aspects of ecological and biogeographical pattern rather than process. However, the persistence of biodiversity can only be ensured through consideration of the ecological and evolutionary processes that underpin biodiversity, as well as its present spatial pattern. This paper identifies spatial surrogates of ecological and evolutionary processes for regional conservation planning in one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, the Cape Floristic Region. We identified six types of spatial components (namely edaphic interfaces, upland–lowland interfaces, sand movement corridors, riverine corridors, upland–lowland gradients and macroclimatic gradients) as surrogates for key processes such as ecological and geographical diversification, and species migration. Spatial components were identified in a GIS using published data and expert knowledge. Options for achieving targets for process components have been seriously compromised by habitat transformation. Between 30 and 75% of the original extent of the spatial components currently remain functional. Options for achieving upland–lowland and macroclimatic gradients are very limited in the lowlands where most of the habitat has been transformed by agriculture. We recommend that future studies place their research on ecological and evolutionary processes in a spatially explicit framework. Areas maintaining adaptive diversification (e.g. environmental gradients, ecotones) or containing historically isolated populations should be identified and protected. The spatial dimensions of eco-logical processes such as drought and fire refugia also need to be determined and such insights incorporated in conservation planning. Finally, connectivity within these areas should be ensured to maintain species migration and gene flow.     

Incorporating ecological connectivity into ecological functional zoning: A case study in the middle reaches of Yangtze River urban agglomeration

Ecological functional zoning is critical for multiobjective sustainable management of social-ecological systems. However, the framework of ecological functional zoning needs to be further improved. In terms of the index system, the existing “element-structure–function” index system mainly considers the structural characteristics that have a negative impact on ecological processes, e.g., disturbances, while ignoring positive impacts, e.g., connectivity, which may weaken the role of key nodes in the ecosystem and is not conducive to regional ecological protection. In terms of research methodology, the widely used self-organizing feature mapping neural network (SOFM) produces a number of clusters that easily exceed expectations, thus increasing management difficulties. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new combining methods. Here, an improved index system combining ecological connectivity and ecological functions and a traditional index system including only ecological functions were constructed, and a zoning method combining a self-organizing feature mapping neural network and fuzzy mean clustering (SOFM-FCM) was used for functional zoning of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration. The advantages of functional zoning incorporating ecological connectivity were verified by comparing the results of both zoning procedures before and after improvement. The results indicate that the study area could be divided into ecological conservation areas, biodiversity conservation areas, urban development areas, and grain production areas. The zoning schemes before and after the improved framework were reliable compared with the national planning scheme, but there was 20.6% inconsistency in the results after the improved framework. This was mainly manifested by the shift from biodiversity conservation areas to ecological conservation areas and from urban development areas to food production areas. This shift was more conducive to improving spatial continuity and landscape multifunctionality, thus maximizing ecological conservation, pushing back smart urban growth, and achieving food security. This study expands the research perspective concerned with ecological functional zoning, and these results can provide an important reference for regional ecological protection and related research.     

基于图论的两栖类生物栖息地网络规划——以黑斑侧褶蛙为例

生物多样性保护和生物栖息地网络建设是目前我国国土空间规划的重要内容,提升生物栖息地网络的景观功能连接度对生物多样性保护具有重要作用.目前,已有研究对生物栖息地网络规划进行了探索,但在实际规划层面仍缺乏可操作性强的技术方法支撑.本研究采用图论方法,聚焦国土空间规划中生物多样性保护和生态网络建设涉及的进行生物栖息地斑块重要...     

Management under uncertainty: guide-lines for incorporating connectivity into the protection of coral reefs

The global decline in coral reefs demands urgent management strategies to protect resilience. Protecting ecological connectivity, within and among reefs, and between reefs and other ecosystems is critical to resilience. However, connectivity science is not yet able to clearly identify the specific measures for effective protection of connectivity. This article aims to provide a set of principles or practical guidelines that can be applied currently to protect connectivity. These ‘rules of thumb’ are based on current knowledge and expert opinion, and on the philosophy that, given the urgency, it is better to act with incomplete knowledge than to wait for detailed understanding that may come too late. The principles, many of which are not unique to connectivity, include: (1) allow margins of error in extent and nature of protection, as insurance against unforeseen or incompletely understood threats or critical processes; (2) spread risks among areas; (3) aim for networks of protected areas which are: (a) comprehensive and spread—protect all biotypes, habitats and processes, etc., to capture as many possible connections, known and unknown; (b) adequate—maximise extent of protection for each habitat type, and for the entire region; (c) representative—maximise likelihood of protecting the full range of processes and spatial requirements; (d) replicated—multiple examples of biotypes or processes enhances risk spreading; (4) protect entire biological units where possible (e.g. whole reefs), including buffers around core areas. Otherwise, choose bigger rather than smaller areas; (5) provide for connectivity at a wide range of dispersal distances (within and between patches), emphasising distances <20–30 km; and (6) use a portfolio of approaches, including but not limited to MPAs. Three case studies illustrating the application of these principles to coral reef management in the Bohol Sea (Philippines), the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) and Kimbe Bay (Papua New Guinea) are described.     

Temporal dynamics of natural enemy–pest interactions in a changing environment

Agroecosystems contain complex networks of interacting organisms and these interaction webs are structured by the relative timing of key biological and ecological events. Recent intensification of land management and global changes in climate threaten to desynchronize the temporal structure of interaction webs and disrupt the provisioning of ecosystem services, such as biological control by natural enemies. It is therefore critical to recognize the central role of temporal dynamics in driving predator–prey interactions in agroecosystems. Specifically, ecological dynamics in crop fields routinely behave as periodic oscillations, or cycles. Familiar examples include phenological cycles, diel activity rhythms, and crop-management cycles. The relative timing and the degree of overlap among ecological cycles determine the nature and magnitude of the ecological interactions among organisms, and ultimately determine whether ecosystem services, such as biological control, can be provided. Additionally, the ecological dynamics in many cropping systems are characterized by a pattern of frequent disturbances due to management actions such as harvest, sowing and pesticide applications. These disturbance cycles cause agroecosystems to be dominated by dispersal and repopulation dynamics. However, they also serve as selective filters that regulate which animals can persist in agroecosystems over larger temporal scales. Here, we review key concepts and examples from the literature on temporal dynamics in ecological systems, and provide a framework to guide biological control strategies for sustainable pest management in a changing world.     

种子的长距离风传播模型研究进展

 植物种子的长距离传播在物种迁移、生物入侵、保护生物学等领域有重要的生态和进化意义。种子传播有很多方式,开阔草原等地区的草本植物和许多热带和温带的树木都是通过风传播种子的。风传播的方式最适合进行种子长距离传播现象的模拟研究。种子的风传播模型是传播生态研究的一个重要领域,尤其是种子的长距离风传播模型,对于外来入侵植物的扩散和破碎化景观中植物种群的基因交流等生态过程研究举足轻重,然而国内鲜见这方面的研究成果。本文综述了种子长距离风传播现象研究的背景和意义,分析了风传播种子模型的基本形式和构成原理,并分别就现象模型和机理模型的相关研究进展进行了总结,同时指出了未来发展的几个重要方向。种子的风传播模型可以分为现象模型和机理模型两类,现象模型按种子传播核心的形式包括短尾模型、偏峰长尾模型和混合传播核心模型,后两者对于长距离传播数据的模拟可以取得很好的效果。机理模型按照模拟机制可分为欧拉对流扩散模型和拉格郎日随机模型两类。本文重点介绍了种子的长距离风传播现象的形成机理和两类机理模型的参数构成和处理方式。适合种子脱落的天气和适合传播的天气的同步性可能是形成种子长距离风传播的一个重要前提,林缘和地表存在的上升气流及大风和暴风中形成的速度梯度都可能对于种子的长距离传播有重要的作用。机理模型的操作因子主要包括生物方面的因子、气象方面的因子和地形方面的因子。同时对目前几个应用比较成功的机理模型进行了简要的介绍和评价,包括倾斜羽毛模型、对流-扩散-下降模型、无掩蔽模型、背景模型、WINDISPER及其改进模型和PAPPUS模型。最后指出,目前在风传播种子的长距离模型研究中,对草本植物种子的传播模拟的投入明显不如树木种子的长距离传播模拟,对于破碎化景观中种子长距离的风传播的研究还存在很大的差距,而对提高机理模型预测能力的高分辨率物理环境数据输入技术的需求则为多学科交叉提供了很好的机会。     

Acylated homoserine lactones in the environment: chameleons of bioactivity

Over the last 15 years, it has become increasingly apparent that a single class of compounds, the acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), elicit effects on many levels of biological and ecological organization. Despite the fact that the distribution of AHL production in the prokaryotic phylogenetic tree is restricted to a small set of genera, representatives of these genera are abundant in the environment and are responsible for processes of much interest to humans. As well as driving interactions between clones, AHLs have been shown to mediate interactions between different species of bacteria and between bacteria and higher organisms, either through the phenotypes they regulate or directly through their own chemical behaviour. Understanding the biological activity of AHLs and the ecological consequences of these activities may provide us with an opportunity to manipulate the composition and function of complex biological assemblages. Ultimately, this broadens the biotechnological focus of AHL-based research beyond the attenuation of virulence in humans and plant pathogens.     

Designing criteria suites to identify discrete and networked sites of high value across manifestations of biodiversity

Suites of criteria specifying ecological, biological, social, economic, and governance properties enable the systematic identification of sites and networks of high biodiversity value, and can support balancing ecological and socioeconomic objectives of biodiversity conservation in terrestrial and marine spatial planning. We describe designs of suites of ecological, governance and socioeconomic criteria to comprehensively cover manifestations of biodiversity, from genotypes to biomes; compensate for taxonomic and spatial gaps in available datasets; balance biases resulting from conventionally-employed narrow criteria suites focusing on rare, endemic and threatened species; plan for climate change effects on biodiversity; and optimize the ecological and administrative networking of sites. Representativeness, replication, ecological connectivity, size, and refugia are identified as minimum ecological properties of site networks. Through inclusion of a criterion for phylogenetic distinctiveness, criteria suites identify sites important for maintaining evolutionary processes. Criteria for focal species are needed to overcome data gaps and address limitations in knowledge of factors responsible for maintaining ecosystem integrity.     

Building Disease-Specific Drug-Protein Connectivity Maps from Molecular Interaction Networks and PubMed Abstracts

The recently proposed concept of molecular connectivity maps enables researchers to integrate experimental measurements of genes, proteins, metabolites, and drug compounds under similar biological conditions. The study of these maps provides opportunities for future toxicogenomics and drug discovery applications. We developed a computational framework to build disease-specific drug-protein connectivity maps. We integrated gene/protein and drug connectivity information based on protein interaction networks and literature mining, without requiring gene expression profile information derived from drug perturbation experiments on disease samples. We described the development and application of this computational framework using Alzheimer''s Disease (AD) as a primary example in three steps. First, molecular interaction networks were incorporated to reduce bias and improve relevance of AD seed proteins. Second, PubMed abstracts were used to retrieve enriched drug terms that are indirectly associated with AD through molecular mechanistic studies. Third and lastly, a comprehensive AD connectivity map was created by relating enriched drugs and related proteins in literature. We showed that this molecular connectivity map development approach outperformed both curated drug target databases and conventional information retrieval systems. Our initial explorations of the AD connectivity map yielded a new hypothesis that diltiazem and quinidine may be investigated as candidate drugs for AD treatment. Molecular connectivity maps derived computationally can help study molecular signature differences between different classes of drugs in specific disease contexts. To achieve overall good data coverage and quality, a series of statistical methods have been developed to overcome high levels of data noise in biological networks and literature mining results. Further development of computational molecular connectivity maps to cover major disease areas will likely set up a new model for drug development, in which therapeutic/toxicological profiles of candidate drugs can be checked computationally before costly clinical trials begin.     

Regional Index of Ecological Integrity: A need for sustainable management of natural resources

An ecosystem is a complex composition of physical, chemical and biological components. This complex system remains in a healthy state if the system can maintain the ecological equilibrium among its components. Anthropogenic disturbances are the prime stressors that affect this equilibrium through creating fragmentation, ecosystem sensitivity, loosening landscape connectivity and disrupting ecological integrity. As different types of ecosystem are interconnected, a comprehensive monitoring and evaluating criteria is needed for measuring its integrity at regional level for conservation planning. A Regional Index of Ecological Integrity can be a suitable approach for sustainable management of regional ecosystem. Therefore, this paper presents (i) the characteristics of ecological integrity, (ii) the spatial processes induced by anthropogenic stressors and (iii) an approach to develop a composite Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI). The prime objective is to establish a thought and a way to develop a composite index of ecological integrity at the regional level. Here, we demonstrate different compositional, structural and functional indicators/indices related to fragmentation, representativeness of protected area, ecosystem sensitivity, and landscape connectivity for the development of a Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI).     

A scalar analysis of landscape connectivity

Landscape connectivity is critical to the maintenance of spatially-structured populations and consists of both a structural component, which describes the shape, size and location of landscape features; and a biological component, which consists of both the response of individuals to landscape features, and the patterns of gene flow that result from those individual responses. Traditional studies of landscape connectivity have attempted to discern individual behavioral responses to landscape features, but this methodology is intractable for many species. This paper is an attempt to relate the components of landscape connectivity through the explicit treatment of their spatial and temporal scales. Traditional measures of structural and biological components of connectivity are reviewed and more recently developed methods for the analysis of scale for each are introduced. I then present a framework for the comparison of scalar phenomena based on Watt's unit pattern, describe the potential outcomes of the comparison and discuss the implications of each. Several testable hypotheses emerge from the analysis that may serve as a useful framework for the investigation of landscape connectivity in the future .     

Differential sources of host species heterogeneity influence the transmission and control of multihost parasites

Controlling parasites that infect multiple host species often requires targeting single species that dominate transmission. Yet, it is rarely recognised that such ‘key hosts’ can arise through disparate mechanisms, potentially requiring different approaches for control. We identify three distinct, but not mutually exclusive, processes that underlie host species heterogeneity: infection prevalence, population abundance and infectiousness. We construct a theoretical framework to isolate the role of each process from ecological data and to explore the outcome of different control approaches. Applying this framework to data on 11 gastrointestinal parasites in small mammal communities across the eastern United States reveals variation not only in the magnitude of transmission asymmetries among host species but also in the processes driving heterogeneity. These differences influence the efficiency by which different control strategies reduce transmission. Identifying and tailoring interventions to a specific type of key host may therefore enable more effective management of multihost parasites.     

基于景观遗传学的滇金丝猴栖息地连接度分析

结合景观遗传学,应用最小费用距离模型对物种栖息地进行连接度分析,能够为生物多样性保护和自然保护区管理提供更加真实准确及可实践操作的指导。选取滇金丝猴这一珍稀濒危物种,结合景观遗传学,应用最小费用距离模型对其栖息地进行了连接度和潜在扩散廊道分析。并且通过连接度的分析和制图绘制出了更为准确的种群间潜在扩散廊道,确定了受人工障碍影响的廊道及敏感区域。结果表明,研究区内的5个亚群中,仅S3亚群内的5个猴群保持着较好的连接度,总体来说,各亚群内的连接度相对于各亚群间连接度保持的较好。除S3亚群中猴群间的潜在扩散廊道较为理想外,其余种群间的潜在扩散廊道均受人工斑块的影响,多数廊道被人工障碍阻断,或面临即将被阻断的情况,对于滇金丝猴的扩散交流影响较大。敏感区域多集中在中南部的3个亚群间,这些敏感区域应作为景观恢复及保护区规划的重要优先区域。