Reciprocal interactions between plants and soil in an upland grassland

Through the production of litter, plants with different life history strategies are predicted to both affect and be affected by the properties of soil. Competitive species are expected to increase the fertility of, and have a positive growth feedback with, soil, whereas stress-tolerant species should decrease fertility but show no growth feedback. We maintained monocultures of competitive (Lolium perenne and Agrostis capillaris) and stress-tolerant (Festuca ovina and Nardus stricta) grasses on an unproductive grassland for six years. The Nardus soil developed significantly greater inorganic nitrogen than the Agrostis and Festuca soil, and significantly greater soil moisture content than the Festuca soil. However, there were no differences in organic matter content, phosphate or bulk density between the soil types. In a greenhouse assay, each species was grown in soil cores from the different monocultures as well as natural turf. There were significant differences in growth between plant species and soil types. As expected, L. perenne produced the greatest amount of biomass. However, plants grown on Nardus soil were twice as large and had a 21% lower root allocation than plants grown on any of the other soil types. Lolium perenne, A. capillaris and F. ovina had significant negative growth feedbacks with their own soil (−0.460, −0.821 and −0.792, respectively) and N. stricta had a significant positive feedback (0.560). This study highlights the difficulties of predicting how plant traits will affect soil properties.     

Influence of silicon and chitosan on growth and physiological attributes of maize in a saline field

Soil salinity is the main constraint for crop productivity in many parts of the world. Application of silicon (Si) and chitosan (Chi) can improve crop growth under saline soil conditions. The current study was aimed to examine the effects of Si and Chi on mitigation of salinity, morphological and physiological attributes as well as the antioxidant system of maize (Zea mays L.) under saline soil conditions. A field experiment was conducted that comprised of nine treatments as follows: (i) Control (no amendment), (ii) Silicon 40 kg ha⁻¹ (Si1), (iii) Chitosan 15 kg ha⁻¹ (Chi1), (iv) Si1 + Chi1, (v) Silicon 80 kg ha⁻¹ (Si2), (vi) Chitosan 30 kg ha⁻¹ (Chi2), (vii) Si2 + Chi2, (viii) Si1 + Chi2 and (ix) Si2 + Chi1. Application of Si and Chi substantially improved the morphological and physiological attributes as well as antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) of maize plants, and combined application of Si and Chi was more effective when compared with Si and Chi treatments separately. Membrane stability index was improved by 25%, relative water content by 26%, chlorophyll a by 69% and b by 56% with combined application of Si and chitosan (Si2 + Chi2) compared with control. The SOD, POD and CAT increased by 36%, 38% and 65% with Si2 + Chi2 compared with control. The results suggest that Si and Chi application is the possible option for alleviating salinity stress in maize plant. Further research is suggested to examine Si and Chi effects on various crop''s growth.     

Microhabitat associations and seedling bank dynamics in a neotropical forest

We conducted a rigorous test of tropical tree seedling microhabitat differentiation by examining microhabitat associations, survival and growth of established seedlings of ten tropical tree species representing a four-factor gradient in seed size. Eight microhabitat variables describing soil and light conditions were measured directly adjacent to each of 588 seedlings within twelve 10×100 m belt transects at Paracou, French Guiana, and at 264 reference points along the transects. From these measurements, we defined three principal components describing soil richness, soil softness and canopy openness. Six of ten species (in 9 of 30 total cases) were distributed non-randomly with respect to microhabitat along at least one principal component. However, few species demonstrated clear microhabitat specialization. All shifts in distribution relative to reference points were in the same direction (richer, softer soil). Furthermore, of 135 pairwise comparisons among the species, only 7 were significantly different. More than three-fourths of all seedlings (75.3%) survived over the 2-year monitoring period, but survival rates varied widely among species. In no case was the probability of survival influenced by any microhabitat parameter. Relative height growth rates for the seedlings over 2 years varied from –0.031 cm cm^–1 year^–1 (Dicorynia guianensis, Caesalpiniaceae) to 0.088 cm cm^–1 year^–1 (Virola michelii, Myristicaceae). In only 4 of 30 cases was height growth significantly associated with one of the three principal components. Because the conditions in this study were designed to maximize the chance of finding microhabitat differentiation among a group of species differing greatly in life history traits, the lack of microhabitat specialization it uncovered suggests that microhabitat partitioning among tropical tree species at the established seedling stage is unlikely to contribute greatly to coexistence among these species.     

The use of a functional approach as surrogate of Collembola species richness in European perennial crops and forests

Collembolans are known indicators of soil disturbance, used in several soil biodiversity monitoring programmes. As for other groups of soil microarthropods, taxonomic determination of Collembola species requires a huge effort and expert knowledge. In this study, we evaluated whether identification of Collembola species to the morphotype level, using an eco-morphological index which classifies individuals based on their adaptation to the soil, can be used as a surrogate of species richness in extensive monitoring schemes. The same evaluation was performed for higher taxa surrogates, using taxonomic categories at the genus and family levels. Additionally, sampling effort for perennial crops and forest systems was determined. Species data were collected from 35 sites sampled within different projects with the same number of samples (16 per site). Results showed that, on average, 8–12 samples are enough to have a good estimate of species richness for this type of systems, averaging 80–90%, but varying considerably with site habitat heterogeneity and local Collembola species pool. GLM models (using species richness as response variable) fitted for family, genus or morphotype levels (explanatory variables) were all significant (p < 0.05) but only the latter two had a pseudo R² higher than 0.75. This indicates that when a rapid, cost-effective assessment of Collembola richness in different sites is required, this eco-morphological trait approach, as well as the determination to the genus level, could be used.     

Plant functional assembly is mediated by rainfall and soil conditions in a seasonally dry tropical forest

Understanding how species assembly is influenced by the interplay of climate, local environmental conditions and human-caused disturbances remains a central question in ecology and conservation. Here, we assess how plant species abundance is determined by combinations of functional traits (ecological strategies) and interacting gradients of rainfall, soil conditions (fertility and field capacity) and chronic anthropogenic disturbance in a Caatinga dry tropical forest, Brazil. We tested for trait–environment relationships using multivariate methods (RLQ) accounting for groups of species sharing similar responses to gradients and similar expression of multiple traits (i.e. response groups). Overall, species’ abundances changed predictably in response to rainfall and soil fertility, and were mediated by functional traits, i.e. species with particular trait combinations tended to respond similarly to multifactorial conditions. Briefly, three ecological strategies emerged: species with low wood density and soft (i.e. lower dry matter content), thick leaves converged into a trait syndrome characterizing a drought-avoidance strategy through water storage. They were particularly abundant under extremely low precipitation and relatively high soil field capacity. Under conditions of increasing rainfall and decreasing soil field capacity, species with high wood density were favored, consistent with a drought-tolerance strategy. However, these species fell into two groups relative to leaf-investment: more conservative leaves (low SLA) on relatively fertile soils vs. thinner and softer (i.e. high SLA) leaves on unfertile soils. In seasonally dry tropical forests, low SLA on relatively fertile soils may represent a water conservation strategy. Unexpectedly, no ecological strategy emerged in response to disturbance. The patterns we uncovered help to understand the interplay between precipitation, soil fertility and anthropogenic disturbance in plant species filtering in seasonally dry tropical forests. Moreover, our results underline that impacts of future climate change will depend on how rainfall patterns covary with finer-scale environmental factors such as soil fertility and field capacity.     

The invasive alien plant species Solidago gigantea alters ecosystem properties across habitats with differing fertility

Question: Invasive alien plants can affect biomass production and rates of biogeochemical cycling. Do the direction and intensity of such effects depend upon the functional traits of native and alien species and upon the properties of the invaded habitat, with the same alien species having differing impacts in different habitats? Location: Lowlands of Switzerland. Methods: Fourteen grassland and wetland sites invaded by Solidago gigantea and widely differing in biomass production and soil P availability were surveyed. To determine whether the impact of the species was related to site fertility, we compared the invaded and native vegetation in terms of biomass, species composition, plant traits and soil properties. Results: S. gigantea generally increased the above‐ground biomass production of the vegetation and soil C content, while reducing nutrient concentrations in biomass and N availability in the soil. However, it had no significant effect on plant species richness, soil respiration, soil pH and P availability. Leaves of S. gigantea had a greater C content than those of native species; other leaf traits and root phosphatase activity did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a conservative nutrient‐use strategy allows S. gigantea to invade a broad range of habitats. The observed effects of invasion did not vary according to biomass production of the invaded sites, but some effects did depend on soil P availability, being more pronounced at more P‐rich sites. Thus, the full range of invaded habitats should be considered in studying the potential impact of plant invasions on ecosystem processes.     

Independent effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms on plant diversity and newcomer plant establishment

Questions: How do arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms affect the structure and diversity of a ruderal plant community? Is the establishment success of newcomer plants enhanced by these soil organisms and their interactions? Methods: We grew a native ruderal plant community composed of different functional groups (grasses, legumes and forbs) in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endogeic earthworms in mesocosms. We introduced seeds of five, mainly exotic, plant species from the same functional groups after a disturbance simulating mowing. The effects of the soil organisms on the native ruderal plant community and seedling establishment of the newcomer plants were assessed. Results: After disturbance, the total above‐ground regrowth of the native plant community was not affected by the soil organisms. However, AMF increased plant diversity and shoot biomass of forbs, but decreased shoot biomass of grasses of the native plant community. Earthworms led to a reduction in total root biomass. Establishment of the introduced newcomer plants increased in the presence of AMF and earthworms. Especially, seedling establishment of the introduced non‐native legume Lupinus polyphyllus and the native forb Plantago lanceolata was promoted in the presence of AMF and earthworms, respectively. The endogeic earthworms gained more weight in the presence of AMF and led to increased extraradical AMF hyphal length in soil. However, earthworms did not seem to modify the effect of AMF on the plant community. Conclusion: The present study shows the importance of mutualistic soil organisms in mediating the establishment success of newcomer plants in a native plant community. Mutualistic soil organisms lead to changes in the structure and diversity of the native plant community and might promote newcomer plants, including exotic species.     

Root exudates and their ecological consequences in forest ecosystems: Problems and perspective北大核心CSCD

Researches on rhizosphere ecological processes and the underlying mechanisms have become one of the most active and sensitive hotspots in soil science. Root exudates have specialized roles in mediating the nutrient cycling and signal transduction within root-soil-microbe interactions. They are the key driving factors in regulating the functions of rhizosphere micro-ecosystem, and serve as a major premise for the concept and ecological processes in rhizosphere. However, due to the instinctive advantages of crops, such as short life cycles and convenient operation, most previous studies on root exudation mainly focused on agricultural ecosystems and were primarily targeted at providing practical guidelines. In contrast, there have been relatively few investigations on root exudates of trees, which highly limited the comprehensive knowledge of the potential mechanisms of root exudates in mediating soil biogeochemical processes in forest ecosystems. Hence, in this review, based on the main findings in our previous studies and the emerging frontiers in rhizosphere ecology, we specifically reviewed the ecological consequences and key remaining challenges in researches on root exudation in forests. Finally, we identify several topics and research outlooks for guiding future work to facilitate studies on root exudation and its ecological consequences in forest ecosystems. © Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology     

Reproductive traits of two closely related species-pairs on adjacent,different soil types in South African Fynbos

High levels of edaphic endemism and soil-related beta-diversity in Agulhas Plain fynbos communities suggest that reproductive traits of plants growing on different fynbos soils would be related to differences in soil regime. We investigated reproductive traits in two closely related Proteaceae species-pairs growing on adjacent soil types: Protea obtusifolia and Leucadendron meridianum occurring in shallow pockets of limestone-derived soils, and P. susannae and L. coniferum on the adjacent, uniformly deep colluvial sands.We found that species growing on the limestone soil comprised smaller plants, with fewer cones and seeds per plant, than species on the colluvial sands. These differences suggest that the small soil pockets of limestone soil limit plant size, in turn limiting the number of reproductive structures. Annual variation in cones and seed was the same in all species. There were no consistent trends in degree of serotiny, or sex allocation across soil types. The higher cone and seed predation levels of both limestone species than the colluvial sands species were ascribed to the higher plant densities of the former leading to lower insect search times. It was concluded that there were no overall patterns in reproductive traits that could be ascribed to differences in soil regime, other than through size-related effects. Fire regime is likely to have played a more important role in determining reproductive traits.Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Towm     

Functional identity of overstorey tree height and understorey conservative traits drive aboveground biomass in a subtropical forest

The niche complementarity hypothesis has received empirical support but species differ in functional strategies for their contribution to ecosystem function, as predicted by the mass ratio hypothesis. Our understanding of how functional identity of conservative and acquisitive strategies of trees predicts aboveground biomass across forest strata (i.e. overstorey and understorey) remains unclear. Aboveground biomass, community-weighted mean (CWM − functional identity) of trait values (6 leaf and 2 stem traits), and soil physicochemical properties were estimated for 125 plots in a 5-ha subtropical forest in Eastern China. We used multiple linear regressions models to relate aboveground biomass to CWM indices at overstorey and understorey strata separately, and whole-community level. We finally employed the structural equation model to test for the effects of overstorey on understorey strata, in addition to the effects of soil physicochemical properties. Forest strata optimal models showed that overstorey strata had high aboveground biomass when they are dominated by functional identity of tree height, whereas high aboveground biomass in understorey strata was driven by functional identity of dense-wooded conservative strategy. Whole-community optimal model showed that communities dominated by functional identity of leaf dry matter content and mean leaf area had high aboveground biomass. Aboveground biomass was negatively related to soil nutrients across forest strata and whole-community level. The structural equation model showed that CWM of overstorey tree height did not affect understorey functional identity and aboveground biomass, when soil physicochemical properties were accounted. Soil nutrients had positive effect on functional identity of overstorey tree height whereas negative effect on functional identity of understorey dense-wooded strategy. This study highlights the fundamental roles of forest strata where overstorey and understorey strata contribute to their corresponding aboveground biomass with contrasting functional strategies across a range of soil nutrients. High aboveground biomass was potentially driven by functional identity of tree height through making use of plentiful soil nutrients at overstorey strata, whereas by conservative strategy at understorey strata through enduring nutrient-poor soils. To better understand the roles of functional identity of conservative and acquisitive strategies in driving ecosystem functions, it is worth to analyse forest strata separately.     

中国鸟类的生活史和生态学特征数据集

中国现有1,445种鸟类, 是世界上鸟类物种数最多的国家之一。物种特征反映了生物有机体的功能和适合度, 在生态学、进化生物学和保护生物学研究中具有重要作用。但是, 目前还没有关于我国鸟类生活史、生态学和地理分布等物种特征的完整数据库。通过系统查阅文献和各种数据资料, 本文共收集整理出了中国1,445种鸟类17个功能特征数据: 体重、体长、嘴峰长、翅长、尾长、跗蹠长、食性、窝卵数、卵大小、卵体积、巢址、巢的类型、集群状况、迁徙状况、是否特有种、地理分布范围和分布省份等。在这些特征中, 除迁徙状况、是否特有种、地理分布范围和分布省份外, 其余特征数据均存在不同程度的缺失, 数据的完整度为60.83%‒100%。本数据库是目前关于中国鸟类最新和最全的物种特征数据库, 期望能为我国鸟类生态学、进化生物学、生物地理学、保护生物学等研究提供支持。     

Phenotypic and genetic correlations of pork myoglobin content with meat colour and other traits in an eight breed-crossed heterogeneous population

Meat colour is one of the most important meat quality traits affecting consumption desire. Genetic improvement for meat colour traits is not so easy because pigs can be phenotyped only after slaughter. Besides the parameters from the optical instrument, other indexes that reflect the material basis of meat colour should be measured accurately and used in the genomic analysis. Myoglobin (Mb) is the main chemical component determining meat colour. However, to what extent the Mb content contributes to meat colour, and whether it can be used as a trait for pig breeding to improve meat colour, and the correlations of Mb content with complex porcine traits are largely unknown. To address these questions, we measured the muscle Mb content in 624 pigs from the 7th generation of a specially designed eight breed-crossed pig heterogeneous population, evaluated its phenotypic and genetic correlations with longissimus thoracis colour score at 24 h after slaughter. More than that, we also systematically phenotyped more than 100 traits on these animals to evaluate the potential correlations between muscle Mb content and economically important traits. Our results showed that the average muscle Mb content in the 624 pigs was 1.00 mg/g, ranging from 0.51 to 2.17 mg/g. We found that higher Mb content usually correlated with favourable meat colour, higher marbling score, less moisture content, and less drip loss. Genetic correlation analysis between muscle Mb content and 101 traits measured in this study shows that Mb content is also significantly correlated with 31 traits, including marbling, shear force, firmness, and juiciness. To our knowledge, this is one of the largest studies about the correlations of muscle Mb content with as many as 100 various traits in a large-scale genetically diversified population. Our results showed that the Mb content could be a selection parameter for the genetic improvement of meat colour. The selection for higher Mb content will also benefit marbling, shear force, firmness, and overall liking but might not affect the growth, carcass, and fat deposition traits.     

水分和养分添加对羊草功能性状和地上生物量的影响

研究水分和养分添加对植物功能性状的影响, 对于揭示植物对环境变化的响应和适应规律至关重要。该文采用盆栽试验的方法, 进行不同水平水分处理(增水50%, 减水50%, 以498 mm降水量作为对照)和养分添加(无养分添加, 单施氮肥, 单施磷肥, 氮磷共施), 研究羊草(Leymus chinensis)的10种功能性状和地上生物量对水分和养分添加的响应。得出以下结论: (1)双因素方差分析结果表明, 水分主效应对羊草株高、分蘖数、茎生物量、叶生物量、叶面积、叶质量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响; 养分主效应对羊草分蘖数、茎生物量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响; 水分和养分的交互作用对羊草分蘖数、茎生物量、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率存在显著影响。(2)各功能性状对降水量的响应在不同养分添加水平是不同的, 分蘖数和叶面积在单施氮肥和氮磷共施条件下随降水量增加而增加, 而在无养分添加和单施磷肥条件下无显著变化; 茎生物量在无养分添加、单施氮肥和单施磷肥条件下随降水量增加而增加, 而在氮磷共施条件下无增加趋势; 比叶面积在单施氮肥条件下增水处理显著低于对照组, 而在其他养分添加条件下无明显变化。(3)短期氮磷处理显著影响羊草叶片光合生理性状, 而对叶形态性状影响不显著。(4)羊草地上生物量随降水量的增加呈现上升趋势, 并且在单施氮肥条件下, 增水处理使地上生物量达到最高, 为522.55 g·m ^-2。总之, 羊草的功能性状对降水量增加表现出明显的响应, 响应格局在不同养分条件下不同, 反映了其对水肥环境变化的适应。     

小麦根系特征对干旱胁迫的响应

干旱胁迫时, 小麦(Triticum aestivum)根系率先产生应激响应, 同时向地上部发出信号, 诱导地上部发生生理反应, 从而提高植株抗旱能力。根系构型包括平面几何性状和立体几何结构(即拓扑构型), 具有遗传稳定性和可塑性。干旱胁迫影响根系理化特性, 如根源化学信号、根系细胞酶类和根系渗透作用的响应。根系通过调整其解剖学结构和水分吸收动力等来适应干旱胁迫。该文从根系构型、理化特性和解剖学结构3个方面, 系统阐述了小麦根系特征对干旱胁迫的响应, 并探讨了其与干旱胁迫的关系和当前研究中存在的问题, 以期为相关研究提供参考。     

Comparison between the soil seed banks of a burnt and an unburnt Quercus pyrenaica Willd. forest

Soil samples from burnt and unburnt sites dominated by Quercus pyrenaica Willd. forest in León province (NW Spain) were collected, separated into an upper layer (0–2 cm depth) from a lower layer (2–5 cm), put in a greenhouse, and seeds allowed to germinate.A total of 670 identified seedlings comprising 56 species and belonging to 24 families were recorded. Most seedling were herbaceous perennials (hemicryptophytes: 59%), followed by annuals (therophytes: 23%). Many species that germinated from buried seeds were not observed as plants at any site, and came from exogenous communities. The principal means of seed dissemination were anemochory (45%) and autochory (23%).The number of species as well as seedlings was not significantly different between soils from the burnt and unburnt sites, but seedlings were more numerous in samples from the unburnt sites, as the number of seedlings was always highest in the upper soil layer. Germination behaviour of four particular species was characterized.Seedlings from the seed bank temporarily were found in the early stages of recovery of the burnt Quercus pyrenaica forests.     

Improved Deschampsia cespitosa growth by nitrogen fertilization jeopardizes Quercus petraea regeneration through intensification of competition

Plant–plant interactions show differential responses to different combinations of available resources that has been under-explored.The short-term functional response of Quercus petraea seedlings and Deschampsia cespitosa tufts grown alone or in mixture was monitored in contrasting combinations of soil inorganic nitrogen × light availabilities in a greenhouse experiment. Growth, biomass allocation, functional traits and resource acquisition were quantified. Intensity and importance of interactions were calculated by organ biomass-based indices.Competition exerted by D. cespitosa on oak was primarily driven by light availability and secondly, for each light level, by nitrogen supply, leading to a strong hierarchy of resource combinations for each considered plant organ. Under high light, oak preferentially allocated biomass to the roots, underlining the indirect role of light on the belowground compartment. Unexpectedly, Deschampsia cespitosa grew better in the presence of oak seedlings under high nitrogen supply whatever the light availability.Oak short-term nitrogen storage instead of investment in growth might be a long-term strategy to survive D. cespitosa competition. Why Deschampsia had a higher biomass in the presence of oak under nitrogen fertilization is an intriguing question. The role of root exudates or change in balance between intra- vs interspecific interactions may hold the answer. There may be an active mechanism of competition rather than only competitive resource exploitation.Forest managers sometimes practice adding nitrogen fertilizer to improve oak seedling growth in plantations or natural regeneration. Here, the higher biomass in mixture to the benefit of the competitor clearly questions this practice: oak may provide extra nitrogen to competitors during the early period of plant–plant interaction or it may influence the balance between intra- vs interspecific interactions. The identification and quantification of active competition may result in new practices for a broad diversity of plant–plant interactions such as tree regeneration, intercrop management and weed control in agriculture.     

Convergent elevation trends in canopy chemical traits of tropical forests

The functional biogeography of tropical forests is expressed in foliar chemicals that are key physiologically based predictors of plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions including climate. However, understanding the degree to which environmental filters sort the canopy chemical characteristics of forest canopies remains a challenge. Here, we report on the elevation and soil‐type dependence of forest canopy chemistry among 75 compositionally and environmentally distinct forests in nine regions, with a total of 7819 individual trees representing 3246 species collected, identified and assayed for foliar traits. We assessed whether there are consistent relationships between canopy chemical traits and both elevation and soil type, and evaluated the general role of phylogeny in mediating patterns of canopy traits within and across communities. Chemical trait variation and partitioning suggested a general model based on four interconnected findings. First, geographic variation at the soil‐Order level, expressing broad changes in fertility, underpins major shifts in foliar phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). Second, elevation‐dependent shifts in average community leaf dry mass per area (LMA), chlorophyll, and carbon allocation (including nonstructural carbohydrates) are most strongly correlated with changes in foliar Ca. Third, chemical diversity within communities is driven by differences between species rather than by plasticity within species. Finally, elevation‐ and soil‐dependent changes in N, LMA and leaf carbon allocation are mediated by canopy compositional turnover, whereas foliar P and Ca are driven more by changes in site conditions than by phylogeny. Our findings have broad implications for understanding the global ecology of humid tropical forests, and their functional responses to changing climate.     

中国哺乳动物形态、生活史和生态学特征数据集

物种特征是生物对生存环境适应和响应的表现, 反映了物种的生态位、适合度和生态功能。特征数据库的建立和共享是研究生物多样性维持与丧失、物种进化与适应、生态过程与生态系统功能、物种对气候变化和人类干扰响应、种内与种间关系等的基础。中国是世界哺乳动物物种数最多的国家之一, 然而目前中国还没有包含哺乳动物形态、生活史、生态学和地理分布等物种特征的数据库。我们系统查阅了文献和各种数据资料, 共收集整理出中国有分布记录的754种哺乳动物(包括近些年野外绝灭种、分布存疑种)的体重、脑容量、体长、尾长、前臂长(翼手目)、后足长、耳长、性成熟时间、妊娠期、窝崽数、年窝数、世代长度、食性、活动模式、是否特有种、濒危等级、海拔范围、栖息地类型、栖息地宽度、动物地理界、生物群系、分布型、动物地理区划和分布省份或水域等24个生态特征数据。在这些特征中, 除了分布省份或水域及是否特有种外, 其余特征数据均存在不同程度的缺失, 数据的完整度为30%‒100%。本数据库收录的哺乳动物种数为目前中国哺乳动物种数的上限, 为中国哺乳动物研究提供了基础数据, 推进中国哺乳动物多样性信息共享和深度挖掘。