The 29°N latitudinal line: an important division in the Hengduan Mountains, a biodiversity hotspot in southwest China

This paper aimed to explore the division of the southern and northern Hengduan Mountains based on gradients in species similarity and richness, and to analyze species richness in each sub-region. The Hengduan Mountain region was divided into nine latitudinal belts using one degree of latitude to define the belt after which distribution of seed plants within each latitudinal belt was recorded. Latitudinal patterns of species similarity were measured using the Jaccard similarity index for each pair of adjacent latitudinal belts. Non-metric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) was also used to analyze the similarity in species composition among the nine latitudinal belts. The latitudinal pattern of species similarity and the NMDS ordination both showed a great change in species composition across the 29°N latitudinal line, essentially dividing the Hengduan Mountain region into southern and northern sub-regions. Species richness, shown by the c-value of the species–area power function, and species–area ratio along a latitudinal gradient both showed a sharp decrease across the latitudinal belt from 29°0' to 29°59'N. The southern sub-region occupied 40% of the total area of the Hengduan Mountain region, but contained more than 80% of all the seed plants in the region. The higher species richness and endemism in the southern sub-region showed it to be the core of the Hengduan biodiversity hotspot, a result not unexpected because of the greater extremes of topography and wider diversity of habitats in the southern portion.     

武夷山典型植被类型土壤动物群落的结构特征

选择武夷山不同海拔高度的4个典型植被群落(EVB,COF,DWF和ALM),对其土壤动物群落的结构和变化进行研究,结果表明,植被沿海拔梯度变化对土壤动物类群数、密度和多样性产生了显著的影响。不同海拔高度样地中,密度-类群DG多样性指数和土壤动物数量沿海拔高度上升呈显著递减趋势;数量占优势的土壤动物类群膜翅目(F=6.35,P0.001)、蜱螨目(F=9.25,P0.01)、弹尾目(F=5.93,P0.05)和鞘翅目(F=4.42,P0.05)的密度在不同海拔样地之间存在显著的差异。除高山草甸外,土壤动物群落在土层中的垂直分布呈明显"表聚现象"。但高山草甸的弹尾目、膜翅目、双翅目(幼虫)和等足目等类群较多地聚集在10-25cm土层。不同海拔高度土壤动物的类群总数和总个体数量表现为2种季节变化模式:(1)常绿阔叶林和针叶林秋季大量发生;(2)亚高山矮林和高山草甸夏季大量发生且数量接近。     

Functional trade‐offs and the phylogenetic dispersion of seed traits in a biodiversity hotspot of the Mountains of Southwest China

The diversity of traits associated with plant regeneration is often shaped by functional trade‐offs where plants typically do not excel at every function because resources allocated to one function cannot be allocated to another. By analyzing correlations among seed traits, empirical studies have shown that there is a trade‐off between seedling development and the occupation of new habitats, although only a small range of taxa have been tested; whether such trade‐off exists in a biodiverse and complex landscape remains unclear. Here, we amassed seed trait data of 1,119 species from a biodiversity hotspot of the Mountains of Southwest China and analyzed the relationship between seed mass and the number of seeds and between seed mass and time to germination. Our results showed that seed mass was negatively correlated with seed number but positively correlated with time to germination. The same trend was found regardless of variation in life‐form and phylogenetic conservatism. Furthermore, the relation between seed mass and other seed traits was randomly dispersed across the phylogeny at both the order and family levels. Collectively, results suggest that there is a functional trade‐off between seedling development and new habitat occupation for seed plants in this region. Larger seeds tend to produce fewer seedlings but with greater fitness compared to those produced by smaller seeds, whereas smaller seeds tend to have a larger number of seeds that germinate faster compared to large‐seeded species. Apart from genetic constraints, species that produce large seeds will succeed in sites where resource availability is low, whereas species with high colonization ability (those that produce a high number of seeds per fruit) will succeed in new niches. This study provides a mechanistic explanation for the relatively high levels of plant diversity currently found in a heterogeneous region of the Mountains of Southwest China.     

How soil and elevation shape local plant biodiversity in a Mediterranean hotspot

Elucidating how evolutionary and ecological factors drive the assemblage of communities in biodiversity hotspots remains an important challenge. This currently impedes our ability to predict the responses of communities to the ongoing global changes in these major world’s biodiversity reservoirs. Here, we focus on the Sierra Nevada mountain range, a core region of the Baetic-Rifan biodiversity hotspot in the western Mediterranean, and explore the relative importance of soil properties and elevation in shaping phylogenetic and functional diversity of shrub communities. We recorded the total number of each species in community transects across elevation gradients and contrasting soil conditions, and measured some ecologically relevant functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf carbon:nitrogen ratio, plant height and blooming duration). Phylogenetic distances among species were inferred from a genus-level time-calibrated molecular phylogeny. Elevation was the main factor predicting phylogenetic and functional alpha diversity of plant communities. Species in high-elevation communities were phylogenetically distant but functionally similar, being relatively smaller and having relatively short blooming durations, whilst species in low-elevation communities showed the opposite pattern. Beta diversity in SLA and leaf C:N ratio based on species incidences were positively correlated with a soil pH and micronutrient gradient. Specifically, communities that develop on soils of high pH and low micronutrient concentrations showed low SLA values and high leaf C:N ratios, whilst communities on soils of lower pH and high micronutrient concentrations showed the opposite pattern. We conclude that soil properties and elevation simultaneously shape the structure of Mediterranean shrub communities by differentially acting on the different dimensions of the species niches. Elevation seems to filter plant height and phenology-related traits whereas nutrient-related functional traits are more related to soil properties. Our study illustrates the primary role of environmental heterogeneity for the maintenance of diversity in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems.     

哀牢山常绿阔叶林乔木树种的幼苗组成及时空分布特征

哀牢山自然保护区的常绿阔叶林面积达到504 km2,是我国亚热带常绿阔叶林保存面积最大的保护区之一.2008年,中国科学院两双版纳热带植物园在哀牢山自然保护区的中山湿性常绿阔叶林核心区建立了一块6 ha的森林动态监测样地.为了了解哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林树种幼苗组成和分布特征及其存活和死亡的规律,对样地中的幼苗分别进行了定位监测和动态研究.结果表明,重要值居前10位的林下幼苗中,有5种是重要值居前10位的树种.从雨季末期到旱季末期,幼苗的数量和种类都大量减少,因为可能是由于干旱胁迫的影响.在林窗中央和林窗边缘,新增的幼苗数量和种类都较多,死亡率较低,而林冠下新增的幼苗死亡率较高.可见,林窗的出现可能更有利于某些树种幼苗的定居,从而维持了森林树种的多样性.     

Aridity,soil and biome stability influence plant ecoregions in the Atlantic Forest,a biodiversity hotspot in South America

Our aims were to quantify and map the plant ecoregions of the Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot that covers ca 150 million ha in eastern South America. We used a data set on the distribution of 4378 shrub and tree species across 711 localities. Plant ecoregions were identified using analyses of species turnover for both species occurrences and relative abundances. We interpolated NMDS axes of compositional variation over the entire the Atlantic Forest extent, and then classified the compositional dissimilarity according to the number of biogeographical ecoregions previously identified through K‐means analyses. We assessed the ability of environmental, historical vegetation stability and the current human footprint to explain the occurrence of the identified ecoregions through multinomial logistic regression models. We identified 21 spatially cohesive occurrence and 14 abundance ecoregions. Aridity, soil and historical biome stability were retained in the best model explaining both occurrence and abundance ecoregions. Broad compositional zones were identified through UPGMA cluster analysis of ecoregions, and formed north and south compositional blocks. Our work confirms the existence of a broad north–south divide within the Atlantic Forest, previously suggested based on climatic and amphibious data. Differences between the occurrence and abundance maps suggest the location of transition zones to neighbouring domains and endemism centres. Due to the aggregate nature of our analyses, site‐level disturbance degree was not considered, implying that human impacts could be broader then we could detect. There was limited overlap between our results and previous Atlantic Forest regionalization efforts, indicating that multi‐taxa, physiognomic and environmental regionalization schemes based on expert opinion or vegetation maps are poor proxies for compositional ecoregions.     

Impact of a dam on benthic macroinvertebrates in a small river in a biodiversity hotspot: Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Suitable reservoirs and monitoring methods are needed to manage scarce water supplies in dry countries. We assessed here the impact on aquatic macroinvertebrates of the only dam on the Eerste River, which runs through the heart of a biodiversity hotspot, the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. The dam and associated activities, were the only forms of disturbance in this otherwise pristine area. We sampled over 20,000 macroinvertebrate individuals and illustrated some categorical effects of the impoundment and its effects on macroinvertebrate assemblages. Macroinvertebrate species diversity below the dam was only half of that in the pristine catchment area above the dam. Furthermore, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera diversity and abundance dropped to almost zero as a result of the impoundment. In contrast, the abundance of the Diptera family Chironomidae increased substantially below the dam. These changes in macroinvertebrate diversity mirrored those recorded in biologically less diverse areas, but are of major concern in this biodiversity hotspot with its rich endemic fauna. We conclude that such an impoundment, while important for human welfare, results in a high price being paid in terms of loss of local biodiversity.     

Adaptive responses drive the success of polyploid yellowcresses (Rorippa,Brassicaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains,a temperate biodiversity hotspot

Polyploids contribute substantially to plant evolution and biodiversity; however, the mechanisms by which they succeed are still unclear. According to the polyploid adaptation hypothesis, successful polyploids spread by repeated adaptive responses to new environments. Here, we tested this hypothesis using two tetraploid yellowcresses (Rorippa), the endemic Rorippa elata and the widespread Rorippa palustris, in the temperate biodiversity hotspot of the Hengduan Mountains. Speciation modes were resolved by phylogenetic modeling using 12 low-copy nuclear loci. Phylogeographical patterns were then examined using haplotypes phased from four plastid and ITS markers, coupled with historical niche reconstruction by ecological niche modeling. We inferred the time of hybrid origins for both species as the mid-Pleistocene, with shared glacial refugia within the southern Hengduan Mountains. Phylogeographic and ecological niche reconstruction indicated recurrent northward colonization by both species after speciation, possibly tracking denuded habitats created by glacial retreat during interglacial periods. Common garden experiment involving perennial R. elata conducted over two years revealed significant changes in fitness-related traits across source latitudes or altitudes, including latitudinal increases in survival rate and compactness of plant architecture, suggesting gradual adaptation during range expansion. These findings support the polyploid adaptation hypothesis and suggest that the spread of polyploids was aided by adaptive responses to environmental changes during the Pleistocene. Our results thus provide insight into the evolutionary success of polyploids in high-altitude environments.     

北方农牧交错带草地生物多样性与草地生产力和土壤状况的关系

于2010年选择内蒙古多伦和河北的围场、沽源3个旗县10个样地的草甸草原和典型草原,探讨了北方农牧交错带草地生物多样性与草地生产力和土壤状况的关系.结果表明:3个地区的草地均匀度指数与物种丰富度指数呈显著正相关(P＜0.05),且草地生物多样性指数(H)和均匀度指数与草地生产力之间呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),而与土壤含水量(0 ～30 cm)的相关性不显著(P＞0.05);草地生物多样性指数和均匀度指数与土壤全氮呈负相关(P＜0.05),且与中上层土壤全氮(10 ～20 cm)呈极显著负相关(P＜0.01),而与土壤有机质之间的相关性不显著(P＞0.05).表明提高草地多样性可以增加草地生态系统的生产力和稳定性.     

Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides (lichenized Ascomycota, Caliciaceae) in Hengduanshan Mountains

The chemical variability of Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides, a lichenized Ascomycota commonly found in the Hengduanshan Mountains, has been investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Gyrophoric acid (GA) is shown to be the constant major component, together with skyrin, graciliformin and rugulosin. Two chemical races are recognized, which show some correlations with substrates. The obtained data indicated that the chemistry of A. sphaerophoroides distributed in Hengduanshan Mountains is different from that growing in the other areas of the world according to previous reports. Meanwhile, a detailed morphological study has also been carried out, and the taxonomy, distribution, as well as ecology of this species are discussed.     

火干扰对大兴安岭北部原始林下层植物多样性的影响

在景观尺度自然火干扰历史研究的基础上,采用1个物种丰富度指数（物种数 S）、2个均匀度指数（Pielou均匀度指数Eh＇和Alatalo均匀度指数E）、3个物种多样性指数（Shannon-Wiener指数H＇,Hill多样性指数N1和N2）共6个？多样性指数,研究了长期火干扰与最近一次火干扰对大兴安岭北部原始林下木层、草本层及下层总体的植物多样性的影响.研究结果表明,本区下层植物的物种数、均匀度指数和多样性指数都以下木层显著大于草本层,因而下木层对下层植物总体生物多样性的贡献最大,也是主要影响因子.火干扰对下木层、草本层和下层总体的物种丰富度和物种多样性有显著影响,而对均匀度的影响不显著.长期的火干扰影响下,下木层、草本层和下层总体的物种数、各类均匀度指数和物种多样性指数都呈现如下格局：高频类＞中频类＞低频类,低强类＞中强类＞高强类.最近一次火干扰影响下,各个生物多样性指数都表现为一致的趋势：低强类＞中强类＞高强类;短期类＞长期类＞中期类.下层植物多样性与火干扰的关系是长期适应的结果.     

黄土高原羊圈沟小流域土地利用时空变化的土壤有机碳效应

土地利用变化是影响土壤有机碳储量和分布变化的重要驱动因素,为进一步探讨土地利用变化对土壤有机碳的影响,根据土壤样点数据、土地利用类型图,分析了黄土丘陵沟壑区羊圈沟小流域2006—2011年土地利用变化及其对表层土壤有机碳密度和储量的影响,主要结论如下:(1)小流域土地利用发生较大变化,主要集中在乔木林地和灌木林地面积的增加,分别为39.697、46.404 hm2;以及草地面积的减少,为64.030 hm2;(2)土地利用方式的变化会导致土壤有机碳密度及储量的变化,其中转变用地类型的土壤有机碳储量增加587.25 kg,以荒草地转出类型增加的土壤表层有机碳储量最多,为441.64 kg;灌木林地转出类型减少的土壤表层有机碳储量最多,为-21.01 kg。草地-灌木林地、草地-乔木林地、坡耕地-草地、坡耕地-灌木林地、坡耕地-乔木林地、坡耕地-坝地、梯田-草地、梯田-灌木林地、梯田-乔木林地、梯田-坝地、坝地-草地、坝地-灌木林地、坝地-乔木林地等转换用地类型的表层土壤碳密度增加值高于保持用地类型碳密度的增加值,说明这些地类的转换有利于表层土壤有机碳储量的增加,即有利于表层土壤碳汇的形成;而其他地类转换造成了表层土壤的碳排放,应该引起足够的重视;(3)土壤固碳应着眼于长期效应,频繁的土地利用类型转化可能会降低土壤碳截流效果,黄土丘陵区植被重建的长期利用和保持更有利于土壤有机碳的积累。     

Soil carbon stocks,deforestation and land‐cover changes in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot (India)

Habitat loss and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock variations linked to land‐cover change were estimated over two decades in the most densely populated biodiversity hotspot in the world, in order to assess the possible influence of conservation practices on the protection of SOC. For a study area of 88 484 km², 70% of which lie inside the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (WGBH), land‐cover maps for two dates (1977, 1999) were built from various data sources including remote sensing images and ecological forest maps. SOC stocks were calculated from climatic parameters, altitude, physiography, rock type, soil type and land‐cover, with a modelling approach used in predictive learning and based on Multiple Additive Regression Tree. The model was trained on 361 soil profiles data, and applied to estimate SOC stocks from predictor variables using a Geographical Information System (GIS). Comparison of 1977 and 1999 land‐cover maps showed 628 km² of dense forests habitat loss (6%), corresponding to an annual deforestation rate of 0.44%. This was found consistent with other studies carried out in other parts of the WGBH, but not with FAO figures showing an increase in forest area. This could be explained by the different forest definitions used, based on ecological classification in the former, and on percentage tree cover in the latter. Unexpectedly, our results showed that despite ongoing deforestation, overall SOC stock was maintained (～0.43 Pg). But a closer examination of spatial differences showed that soil carbon losses in deforested areas were compensated by sequestration elsewhere, mainly in recent plantations and newly irrigated croplands. This suggests that more carbon sequestration in soils could be achieved in the future through appropriate wasteland management. It is also expected that increasing concerns about biodiversity loss will favour more conservation and reinforce the already prevailing protective measures, thus further maintaining C stocks.     

典型河床底质组成中底栖动物群落及多样性

底栖动物是河流生态系统中食物链的重要环节。通过对长江、黄河、东江和拒马河等河流野外调查和采样分析研究了河床底质组成对底栖动物群落结构的影响规律。研究结果发现,不同河床底质组成中的底栖动物结构差别很大,不同地理位置而相同底质条件和水力条件的河流底栖动物群落组成相似,说明河床底质是影响河流底栖动物群落结构的关键因素,受地理位置和大气候的影响不大;利用多项生物指标分析了不同河床底质组成中底栖动物群落的多样性,卵石河床且有水生植物生长的河流底栖动物物种组成最丰富,大河中沙质河床不稳定,未采集到底栖动物;不同底质类型河床中的优势种群亦不同。并分析了采样所得底栖动物物种数与采样面积之间的关系,符合前者随后者呈幂指数增加的规律,当实测采样面积为1～2m^2时物种数变化不大,建议一般情况下最小采样面积应为1m^2。     

Floristic patterns of epiphytes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,a biodiversity hotspot

To assess the main factors driving epiphytic angiosperm distribution throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we compiled 57 floristic surveys and analysed species composition under the influence of environmental variables, space and vegetation type using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), similarity (Sorensen) and Mantel's tests. The indicator value index (IndVal) was used to find indicator species of each Brazilian Atlantic Forest vegetation type. Group sharpness analysis was performed in order to determine the appropriate group partition level. CCA showed a separation of the epiphytic flora reflecting temperature and rainfall gradients. Mantel's test showed that environment and space were highly correlated with floristic similarity. Cluster analysis, indicating floristic similarity, resolved five groups, mainly grouped by region. Clear differentiation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest epiphytic flora on a north–south axis with a strong correlation with temperature and rainfall gradients was found. The role of space and environment on species composition varied according to distinct epiphytic species groups. In particular, for Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae, the main factor associated with floristic similarity was space. Indicator species were found for all vegetation types apart from the Seasonal Semideciduous Forest that seemed to represent a subset of a more humid forest type. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 587–601.     

福建省主要海湾潮下带大型底栖无脊椎动物组成与分布特征

根据2010年8月对福建省12个主要海湾潮下带大型底栖无脊椎动物的调查资料,分析了大型底栖无脊椎动物的种类组成、生物多样性和群落结构分布特征及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明: 12个海湾共采集到大型底栖动物382种,包括环节动物170种、甲壳动物75种、软体动物78种、棘皮动物19种,以及其他类群40种.物种数、丰度、生物量和生物多样性指数空间差异较大: 罗源湾物种数最高,为92种,旧镇湾最低,为25种,所有海湾平均(55±21)种;所有海湾在物种组成上均为多毛类占优势,其平均物种数百分比为(51.8±5.5)%;诏安湾平均丰度最高,为(1330±1094) ind·m^-2,其次为福清湾、厦门湾、湄洲湾,泉州湾最低;兴化湾平均生物量最高,为(821.2±2387.7) g·m^-2,其次为福清湾、厦门湾,深沪湾最低;丰富度指数和Shannon多样性指数在罗源湾、湄洲湾、深沪湾、厦门湾和东山湾呈现较高值,而在福清湾和旧镇湾呈现较低值,两者的全域均值分别为(0.80±0.09)和(2.73±0.64).以相似度20%为界,可将研究区域的大型底栖无脊椎动物划分为14个群组,其中罗源湾内各站位间群落相似度最高,湾内差异最小,其次为三沙湾、福清湾、深沪湾和诏安湾,而其他海湾不同站位的群落组成差异较大.物种数、多样性指数和环境因子间的相关性分析和主成分分析显示,造成研究区大型底栖动物群落结构组成和分布差异的主要环境因子依次为沉积物铜、水深和底层水体活性磷酸盐.     

Conservation of invertebrate biodiversity on a mountain in a global biodiversity hotspot,Cape Floral Region

Mountains present particular challenges for biodiversity conservation. Table Mountain is a significant mountain in a global biodiversity hotspot, the Cape Floristic Region. It has outstanding angiosperm diversity and endemism. Yet, aerial and foliage invertebrates in the area have been poorly studied, despite their importance as pollinators and predators. These plant and invertebrate assemblages are under great pressure from human disturbance. Aerial and foliage invertebrates were sampled with a range of techniques. Sites were chosen to make comparisons between vegetation structure and type, elevation and aspect. In total, 216 species from 63 families and 14 orders were recorded. Vegetation structure (fynbos or forest) and elevation were the most important environmental variables for both aerial and foliage invertebrates. Peak time for aerial invertebrate abundance was spring and summer in the fynbos and spring in the forests, while the foliage invertebrates showed very little seasonal variation. There was no correlation between the diversity of aerial and foliage invertebrates. When these results were compared with others on epigaeic invertebrates, it became clear that epigaeic and aerial invertebrates are not correlated, while epigaeic and foliage invertebrates were only partially correlated, but not sufficiently so to consider one as a reliable estimator of the other. The management pointer from this study is that sites at all elevations are vital for the conservation of biodiversity on Table Mountain. Both the aerial and epigaeic/foliage invertebrate assemblages will need to be monitored separately to maintain the mountain’s conservation status.