Ecology and evolution of host-parasite associations: mycophagous Drosophila and their parasitic nematodes

Associations between mycophagous Drosophila and nematode parasites occur throughout the temperate and boreal regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. The nematode Howardula aoronymphium has substantial adverse effects on host survival and fertility on North American Drosophila. Long-term data show that rainy summers lead to a high prevalence of parasitism in the fall and the following spring, resulting in up to a 1-yr time lag between present rainfall and increased prevalence of H. aoronymphium parasitism. A biogeographic analysis of the relative abundance of different Drosophila species has shown that H. aoronymphium may facilitate the coexistence of different species of Drosophila that compete for larval food resources. The actual host range of parasites in nature is determined by the intrinsic suitability of potential hosts for parasite infection and reproduction and various ecological factors. For H. aoronymphium in eastern North America, intrinsically suitable hosts fall within a restricted clade within the genus Drosophila. However, the temperature sensitivity of H. aoronymphium prevents it from using several host species that occur outside the geographical range of the nematodes. Finally, the host range, virulence, and geographical range of Drosophila-parasitic nematodes appear to be highly dynamic over evolutionary timescales.     

Biodiversity and body size are linked across metazoans

Body size variation across the Metazoa is immense, encompassing 17 orders of magnitude in biovolume. Factors driving this extreme diversification in size and the consequences of size variation for biological processes remain poorly resolved. Species diversity is invoked as both a predictor and a result of size variation, and theory predicts a strong correlation between the two. However, evidence has been presented both supporting and contradicting such a relationship. Here, we use a new comprehensive dataset for maximum and minimum body sizes across all metazoan phyla to show that species diversity is strongly correlated with minimum size, maximum size and consequently intra-phylum variation. Similar patterns are also observed within birds and mammals. The observations point to several fundamental linkages between species diversification and body size variation through the evolution of animal life.     

The evolution of insect/vertebrate associations

The evolution of close vertebrate associations has occurred in seven orders of insects, resulting in a great diversity of interactions which range from commensalism to true parasitism. The evolution of each taxon of vertebrate associates is discussed in turn, some new ideas on the development of certain groups are presented and, on a broader scale, a general model for the evolution of ectoparasitic insects is proposed. It argues that all vertebrate associates have evolved along one of two macroevolutionary pathways which differ only in the sequencing of adaptations facilitating host association and host feeding. These pathways lead to parasite types which differ greatly in their life history and intimacy of host association.
Some microevolutionary processes influencing the diversification of ectoparasites are discussed, in particular the process of insect/vertebrate coevolution and the forms this may take. Host specificity, one consequence of coevolution, is recognised as an important factor influencing the structure of ectoparasite communities, and a hypothesis is presented that competition between ectoparasite species, mediated by host defensive responses, is also important in determining community structure.     

Infectious disease,behavioural flexibility and the evolution of culture in primates

Culturally transmitted traits are observed in a wide array of animal species, yet we understand little about the costs of the behavioural patterns that underlie culture, such as innovation and social learning. We propose that infectious diseases are a significant cost associated with cultural transmission. We investigated two hypotheses that may explain such a connection: that social learning and exploratory behaviours (specifically, innovation and extractive foraging) either compensate for existing infection or increase exposure to infectious agents. We used Bayesian comparative methods, controlling for sampling effort, body mass, group size, geographical range size, terrestriality, latitude and phylogenetic uncertainty. Across 127 primate species, we found a positive association between pathogen richness and rates of innovation, extractive foraging and social learning. This relationship was driven by two independent phenomena: socially contagious diseases were positively associated with rates of social learning, and environmentally transmitted diseases were positively associated with rates of exploration. Because higher pathogen burdens can contribute to morbidity and mortality, we propose that parasitism is a significant cost associated with the behavioural patterns that underpin culture, and that increased pathogen exposure is likely to have played an important role in the evolution of culture in both non-human primates and humans.     

Taxonomy and Biogeography of Apomixis in Angiosperms and Associated Biodiversity Characteristics

Apomixis in angiosperms is asexual reproduction from seed. Its importance to angiospermous evolution and biodiversity has been difficult to assess mainly because of insufficient taxonomic documentation. Thus, we assembled literature reporting apomixis occurrences among angiosperms and transferred the information to an internet database (http://www.apomixis.uni-goettingen.de). We then searched for correlations between apomixis occurrences and well-established measures of taxonomic diversity and biogeography. Apomixis was found to be taxonomically widespread with no clear tendency to specific groups and to occur with sexuality at all taxonomic levels. Adventitious embryony was the most frequent form (148 genera) followed by apospory (110) and diplospory (68). All three forms are phylogenetically scattered, but this scattering is strongly associated with measures of biodiversity. Across apomictic-containing orders and families, numbers of apomict-containing genera were positively correlated with total numbers of genera. In general, apomict-containing orders, families, and subfamilies of Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Orchidaceae were larger, i.e., they possessed more families or genera, than non-apomict-containing orders, families or subfamilies. Furthermore, many apomict-containing genera were found to be highly cosmopolitan. In this respect, 62% occupy multiple geographic zones. Numbers of genera containing sporophytic or gametophytic apomicts decreased from the tropics to the arctic, a trend that parallels general biodiversity. While angiosperms appear to be predisposed to shift from sex to apomixis, there is also evidence of reversions to sexuality. Such reversions may result from genetic or epigenetic destabilization events accompanying hybridization, polyploidy, or other cytogenetic alterations. Because of increased within-plant genetic and genomic heterogeneity, range expansions and diversifications at the species and genus levels may occur more rapidly upon reversion to sexuality. The significantly-enriched representations of apomicts among highly diverse and geographically-extensive taxa, from genera to orders, support this conclusion.     

Biodiversity hotspots through time: an introduction

International targets set for reducing the rate of biodiversity loss--the 2010 target--and ensuring environmental stability (Millennium Development Goals) have helped to focus the efforts of the scientific community on providing the data necessary for their implementation. The urgency of these goals, coupled with the increased rate of habitat alteration worldwide, has meant that actions have largely not taken into account the increasing body of data about the biodiversity change in the past. We know a lot about how our planet has been altered and recovered in the past, both in deep time and through prehistory. Linking this knowledge to conservation action has not been widely practised, by either the palaeoecology or the conservation communities. Long-term data, however, have much to offer current conservation practice, and in the papers for this volume we have tried to bring together a variety of different perspectives as to how this might happen in the most effective way. We also identify areas for productive collaboration and some key synergies for work in the near future to enable our knowledge of the past to be used for conservation action in the here and now. Lateral thinking, across knowledge systems and with open-mindness about bridging data gaps, will be necessary for our accumulating knowledge about our planet's past to be brought to bear on our attempts to conserve it in the future.     

An invasive species reverses the roles in a host-parasite relationship between bitterling fish and unionid mussels

The impact of multiple invading species can be magnified owing to mutual facilitation--termed 'invasional meltdown'--but invasive species can also be adversely affected by their interactions with other invaders. Using a unique reciprocal host-parasite relationship between a bitterling fish (Rhodeus amarus) and unionid mussels, we show that an invasive mussel reverses the roles in the relationship. Bitterling lay their eggs into mussel gills, and mussel larvae parasitize fish. Bitterling recently colonized Europe and parasitize all sympatric European mussels, but are unable to use a recently invasive mussel, Anodonta woodiana. The parasitic larvae of A. woodiana successfully develop on R. amarus, whereas larvae of European mussels are rejected by bitterling. This demonstrates that invading species may temporarily benefit from a coevolutionary lag by exploiting evolutionarily naive hosts, but the resulting relaxed selection may facilitate its exploitation by subsequent invading species, leading to unexpected consequences for established interspecific relationships.     

Biodiversity and a taxonomy of Chilean taxonomists

The Chilean taxonomic community is reduced, with the largest fraction of taxonomists devoted to well known groups, such as vertebrates. Some invertebrates and plant taxa have no Chilean taxonomist working on them, all factors that hamper the inventory of the Chilean biota.     

Biodiversity and environmental stability

Although levels of biological diversity may seem to be equivalent in different areas, diversity is created and maintained by a range of different ]processes: overlap of habitat on gradients; a dynamic mosaic of communities; and accumulation and evolution of taxa in extremely stable areas. These different communities will respond in very different ways to disturbance. The most fragile are those whose component taxa are genetically adapted to the stability of a predictable environment. These areas are often under pressure from local rural populations and require intensive local conservation management actions. In other areas, where diversity is adapted to dynamism, communities are more resilient to disturbance and conservation can be best effected by policy instruments.     

Biodiversity and application of microalgae

The algae are a polyphyletic, artificial assemblage of O₂-evolving, photosynthetic organisms (and secondarily nonphotosynthetic evolutionary descendants) that includes seaweeds (macroalgae) and a highly diverse group of microorganisms known as microalgae. Phycology, the study of algae, developed historically as a discipline focused on the morphological, physiological and ecological similarities of the subject organisms, including the prokaryotic bluegreen algae (cyanobacteria) and prochlorophytes. Eukaryotic algal groups represent at least five distinct evolutionary lineages, some of which include protists traditionally recognized as fungi and protozoa. Ubiquitous in marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats and possessing broad biochemical diversity, the number of algal species has been estimated at between one and ten million, most of which are microalgae. The implied biochemical diversity is the basis for many biotechnological and industrial applications.     

环境DNA宏条形码在生物多样性研究与监测中的应用

环境DNA宏条形码(eDNA metabarcoding)技术通过提取水体、土壤、空气中的环境DNA,使用引物PCR扩增与高通量测序,进行物种鉴定与生物多样性评估.作为一种新的监测技术,相比于传统监测技术更加快捷、准确以及对自然环境的破坏小,因此在一定程度上改变了我们调查地球生物多样性的方式.本文综述了环境DNA宏条形...     

Biodiversity and biogeography of the atmosphere

The variation of life has predominantly been studied on land and in water, but this focus is changing. There is a resurging interest in the distribution of life in the atmosphere and the processes that underlie patterns in this distribution. Here, we review our current state of knowledge about the biodiversity and biogeography of the atmosphere, with an emphasis on micro-organisms, the numerically dominant forms of aerial life. We present evidence to suggest that the atmosphere is a habitat for micro-organisms, and not purely a conduit for terrestrial and aquatic life. Building on a rich history of research in terrestrial and aquatic systems, we explore biodiversity patterns that are likely to play an important role in the emerging field of air biogeography. We discuss the possibility of a more unified understanding of the biosphere, one that links knowledge about biodiversity and biogeography in the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.     

The Legislation for Biodiversity Conservation in China

Effectivebiodiverdityconservationneedsasoundlegalsystemthatincludesthelegisla-tionininternational,nationalandlocallevels.TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)thatenteredintoforceonDecember29,1993,isaninternationallegalinstrument.Asaframeconvention,ithasformedalegalsystem,togetherwiththeotherinternationalagree-mentssuchastheConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportanceEspeciallyasWater-fowlHabitat(Ramsar1971),theConventionConcerningtheProtectionoftheWorldCul-turalandNaturalHeritage(P…     

Biodiversity of marine nematodes in Australian sandy beaches from tropical and temperate regions

The universal occurrence and abundance of nematodes provides opportunities to investigate ecological factors that may influence biodiversity. Clarke and Warwick (2001) have proposed diversity indices average taxonomic distance(AvTD), variation in taxonomic distinctness (VarTD) for computing marine nematode biodiversity based on classification trees. Faith [Biological Conservation 61 (1992) 1] had previously proposed a diversity index based on phylogenetic trees, though not applied to nematodes. Clarke and Warwick (2001) also considered an index AvPD analogous to AvTD. These indices have been applied to five very large collections of free-living nematodes from three exposed sandy beaches in Australia. Two were from a beach close to Darwin in northern Australia, two from the temperate southeast coast of Australia and one from the south of the Australian mainland. The collections extend over a considerable range of latitude, from 12°26S to 38°33S and the controversial hypothesis that latitudinal gradients per se influence the biodiversity of marine nematode assemblages is examined. AvTD did not vary among collections and its value for any collection was indistinguishable from that of random samples of the same size drawn from the total species pool. VarTD showed no variation for three of the collections, but was slightly higher than expected for the mid-latitude beach, attributed to unevenness in the classification trees. AvTD and VarTD were not greatly affected by differences in sampling intensity. PD varied directly with the number of species found but observed PD did not differ from the PD of random samples of the same number of species taken from the total species pool. Thus, the observed variation in PD is wholly accounted for by variations in species richness. The number of species found increased with decreasing latitude. It appears that species richness by itself is an adequate index of biodiversity for the free-living nematodes of these sandy beaches, and more complex indices such as AvTD, VarTD and PD are unnecessary.     

农业生态系统杂草多样性保持的生态学功能

杂草是农业生态系统中的重要生物组成部分 ,也是影响农林作物生长和导致产量下降的重要因素之一。过去人们一直努力将杂草从农业生态系统地中清除出去 ,对杂草的研究往往也更多地注重其危害性和防治途径。近年来保护农业生产区域中杂草等野生植物的多样性以及发挥其在维持生态平衡中的作用逐渐为人们所重视[1～4] 1) ,2 ) 。本文对国内外有关农业生态系统中杂草多样性保护及其生态学功能的研究报道作一简要概述 ,以供参考。1　农业生态系统杂草多样性保护早在 1 982年Ｈｉｂｉｇ提出不使用除草剂、不铲除杂草等办法保持农田周围、草地、园林…     

生产力与生物多样性之间的相互关系研究概述

生态系统生产力与生物多样性是人们普遍关心的二个中心问题。文章论述二者的相互关系及进行研究的主要内容,评述已有研究的几种假说,指出在进行生态学比较时,应该考虑生产力的因素相似而多样性不同的生态系统系列,才能客观地分析其原因。     

Biodiversity and biodiversity conservation in Yunnan, China

Yunnan, an inland province at a low latitude and high elevation, lying between 21°09–29°15 N and 97°32–106°12 E in southwestern China, has a vast territory with diversified and unique nature resources. There are more than 18000 high plant species (51.6% of China's total) and 1836 vertebrate species (54.8% of China's total) living in Yunnan on a land area of 39.4 × 10⁴km², i.e., only 4.1% of China's total. Among 15000 seed plants found in Yunnan there are 151 rare and endangered plant species (42.6% of China's protected plants). Out of 335 China priority protected wild animals, Yunnan has 243 species, accounting for 72.5% of China's total, 15% of which are species endemic to Yunnan. However, Yunnan's biodiversity is faced with the menace of excessive exploitation of resources and changes in environmental conditions caused by the activities of an expanding human population. This paper discusses the background, the composition, and the structure of Yunnan's biodiversity. Its biodiversity fragility and the threatened situation are also discussed. Suggestions and recommendations on the strategy and actions of Yunnan biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are proposed.