Point pattern analysis of different age-classes of Larix principis-rupprechtii in Luya Mountain Reserve, Shanxi Province, China

Larix principis-rupprechtii forest is an important vegetation formation and has a large distribution area in Luya Mountain Reserve,China.Spatial pattern analysis on individual trees in different age-classes of Larix principisrupprechtii was made in this paper.Here,we employed the technique of point pattern analysis,which could analyze patterns under all scales along a gradient.It was based on spatial mapped points of individual distribution.The results of this study showed that the densities of the five age-classes varied in the order:age-class 3＞age-class 4＞age-class 5＞age-class 2＞age-class 1.Although age-classes 1 and 2 have much fewer individuals than other three age-classes do,the population was stable at present.However,it would be necessary to take some measures for improving population regeneration for a long-time view.The individuals of all age-classes focused on clumping distribution in space;however,their distribution pattern varied with the change of scale.This mainly depended on biological features of Larix principis-rupprechtii and forest environments,but it also meant that the scale was an important factor in controlling spatial distribution pattern of tree individuals.The feature of clumping distribution became more significant with the increase of age.The relationships between individuals in different age-classes were almost all significantly correlated with each other.These associations became more significant within the older age-classes.This suggested that the individuals of different age-classes were interdistributed,by which the population could get benefits in resource utilization.The technique of point pattern analysis is effective and easy to be used in species pattern study.Its results are more closer to the reality,especially for community structure.     

Point pattern analysis of different age-classes of Larix principis-rupprechtii in Luya Mountain Reserve, Shanxi Province, China

Larix principis-rupprechtii forest is an important vegetation formation and has a large distribution area in Luya Mountain Reserve, China. Spatial pattern analysis on individual trees in different age-classes of Larix principis-rupprechtii was made in this paper. Here, we employed the technique of point pattern analysis, which could analyze patterns under all scales along a gradient. It was based on spatial mapped points of individual distribution. The results of this study showed that the densities of the five age-classes varied in the order: age-class 3 > age-class 4 > age-class 5 > age-class 2 > age-class 1. Although age-classes 1 and 2 have much fewer individuals than other three age-classes do, the population was stable at present. However, it would be necessary to take some measures for improving population regeneration for a long-time view. The individuals of all age-classes focused on clumping distribution in space; however, their distribution pattern varied with the change of scale. This mainly depended on biological features of Larix principis-rupprechtii and forest environments, but it also meant that the scale was an important factor in controlling spatial distribution pattern of tree individuals. The feature of clumping distribution became more significant with the increase of age. The relationships between individuals in different age-classes were almost all significantly correlated with each other. These associations became more significant within the older age-classes. This suggested that the individuals of different age-classes were interdistributed, by which the population could get benefits in resource utilization. The technique of point pattern analysis is effective and easy to be used in species pattern study. Its results are more closer to the reality, especially for community structure. Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2004, 24(1): 35–40 [译自: 生态学报]     

Point pattern analysis of Phyllostachys bissetti ramet population in West China Rainy Area

In this paper, point pattern analysis was conducted to study the spatial distribution of Phyllostachys bissetii ramet population and the spatial association between different age-class P. bissetii ramet populations in West China Rainy Area. The ramet population had a clumped distribution at the scale 0-0.32 m, a regular distribution at the scale 0.64-4.48 m, and a random distribution at the scale > 4.48 m. Different age-class ramet populations mainly had a random distribution at the scale 0-8.00 m, though a slight difference was observed among different age-classes. The spatial association between age-class I and age-classes II and III at the scale 1.76 - 4.16 m and 0.32-4.16 m approached to or reached to negative, respectively, while the spatial association between age-classes I and IV at the scale 0.32-3.04 m was significantly negative, indicating that the spatial negative association between younger and elder ramet populations increased with enlarged age-class difference. The spatial pattern of P. bissetii ramet population and the spatial association between different age-class ramet populations were depended on spatial scale, ramet age, and environmental factors.     

华西雨屏区白夹竹分株种群的点格局分析

采用点格局分析方法对华西雨屏区白夹竹分株种群的分布格局以及不同龄级分株之间的相互关系进行分析.结果表明：白夹竹分株种群在0～0.32 m空间尺度上呈集群分布,0.64～4.48 m空间尺度上呈均匀分布,>4.48 m空间尺度上呈随机分布.各龄级分株种群在0～8.00 m空间尺度上主要呈随机分布,龄级间略有差别.其中,Ⅰ龄级与Ⅱ、Ⅲ龄级分别在1.76～4.16 m、0.32～4.16 m尺度上接近或达到空间负关联,与Ⅳ龄级在0.32～3.04 m尺度上呈显著空间负关联,表现为随着龄级差距的加大,幼龄分株与高龄级分株的空间负关联增加.白夹竹分株种群的空间格局及不同龄级分株之间的相互关系由尺度、分株龄级及环境因素共同决定.     

山西霍山白桦种群不同龄级立木的点格局分析

以山西霍山地区的先锋树种之一白桦( Betula platyphylla)为研究对象,在霍山七里峪林场典型地段设置一个50 m×50 m的样方,应用点格局分析方法对其不同龄级(Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级)个体的分布格局及相互关系进行了研究.结果表明:(1)白桦种群不同龄级的个体间密度也不相同,中间龄级Ⅱ级(7 cm＜ DBH≤14 cm)和Ⅲ级(14 cm ＜DBH≤21 cm)的密度较大,幼龄和老龄个体密度小,年龄结构为衰退型;(2)除Ⅰ级(DBH≤7 cm)外,其余3个龄级集群分布特征比较明显,且随着龄级的增加,集群特征有更明显的趋势;(3)除Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅳ级(DBH ＞21 cm)之外,其余龄级间基本都是小尺度下负关联,并随尺度的增大关联性逐渐变得不显著.     

北京松山自然保护区天然油松林不同龄级立木的空间点格局

采用点格局分析法对油松不同龄级个体的分布格局及其相互关系进行了研究.结果表明,油松不同龄级密度差异较大,高龄级密度较大（龄级Ⅰ密度为15 株·hm^-2,龄级Ⅲ密度为924 株·hm^-2）.油松各龄级的分布格局以及龄级间的空间关联与尺度（40 m内）密切相关,在小尺度上油松各龄级趋于聚集分布,龄级间有较强的相关关联;当空间尺度大于临界值（30 m或40 m）时,油松各龄级趋于随机分布,龄级间的空间关联性减弱.     

五鹿山白皮松林不同龄级立木的点格局分析

白皮松是五鹿山自然保护区的重要保护植物。本文采用能够分析各种尺度下空间格局的分析方法—点格局分析法,以山西五鹿山自然保护区白皮松种群个体在空间分布的点图坐标为基础,对其进行了研究,结果表明：五鹿山白皮松不同龄级密度差异较大,中间龄级密度较大;6个龄级集群分布不明显,且随着龄级的增加集群分布特征逐渐减弱更加趋向于随机分布;龄级1和龄级2之间呈显著正关联,有利于种群的发展,其余各龄级之间在小尺度上关联性强,随着尺度的增大关联性减弱,说明龄级间的关联性与尺度密切相关。     

Survival during adverse seasons reveals size-dependent competitive ability in a deposit-feeding amphipod, Monoporeia affinis

Previous food competition experiments indicated that small Monoporeia affinis (Lindström) amphipods are competitively superior to large conspecifics. If this is the case, large individuals such as adults should be more sensitive than their smaller conspecifics to food shortage during winter. Thus, our hypothesis was that the competitive relationships should be reflected in the winter survival between the different age- (size-) classes. We investigated the effects of starvation on the survival and loss of mass of three age- (size-) classes: juveniles (0+, young-of-the-year) and (1+, one-year-old), and adults (2+, two-year-old) amphipods in a 10-week experiment during the winter season. During the starvation period, the survival of the 0+ and 1+ age-classes decreased gradually with no marked variation between the age-classes over time, while that of the 2+ age-class decreased dramatically after 4 weeks. The survival and swimming activity of adult (2+) amphipods were significantly lower than in the 0+ and 1+ age-classes. The individual dry mass ( W ) of amphipods decreased with a rate equal to −0.0062 W ^0.95 per day throughout the experiment, with no differences between age-classes in the allometric scaling of the energetic costs. We found no dramatic decrease in the individual dry mass of 2+ age-class similar to that in their survival. Using the survival results from our study to rank the age-classes in terms of competitive ability gave the same rank order as from an earlier competition experiment. These results suggest that a starvation survival experiment prior to adverse seasons could be used to assess the competitive relationships within and between species exploiting the same resource.     

Comparative analysis of introgression at three marker classes: a case study in a stocked population of brown trout

Comparative analysis of protein loci, microsatellite and mtDNA markers revealed generally comparable estimates for introgression and apparent admixture rates in stocked brown trout populations at two sites in the River Doubs (Rhône dainage, Switzerland), which are 10 km apart and which belong to the same management unit. At one site, a significant deviation between mtDNA and nuclear markers could be explained by stocking of F1 hybrids originating from crosses between hatchery females and males from the local population. Substantial differences between diagnostic protein loci and protein loci having non-fixed private alleles indicated that caution must be exercised when using genetic markers not strictly diagnostic for the distinction of the populations under investigation. Congruent estimates of introgression and apparent admixture rates between diagnostic protein loci and presumed diagnostic microsatellite loci suggest that the latter can be regarded as reliable genetic markers for the estimation of introgression in Mediterranean brown trout populations stocked with trout of Atlantic origin. Significant differences in introgression and apparent admixture rates between the two sites and between age-classes of one study site were observed. Introgression is suggested to depend on environmental factors. Significantly lower introgression rates in age-class 2+ years as compared to juvenile trout might further indicate that introduced Atlantic brown trout and hybrids decrease in proportion between age-classes 1+ and 2+ years.     

松嫩平原碱化草甸旱地生境芦苇种群的芽流和芽库动态

在松嫩平原碱化草甸,旱地生境芦苇种群的根茎分布在土层约1m的不同深度,一般可生活6个年度,个别根茎可存活7～9年,乃至更长的时间.通过芦苇根茎芽调查,创建了植物种群的芽流模型.提出了采用当年1龄级根茎芽的输入率与其它龄级休眠芽库存率之和估计芦苇种群芽库贮量动态的方法.结果表明,随着生长季的进程,芦苇种群芽库输入率呈不断增加趋势,而萌发输出率呈不断减少的趋势,死亡输出率则大体保持相同的较低水平.至休眠前期的9月底,芽库输入率已为输出率的2.04倍.在松嫩平原碱化草甸旱地生境,芦苇种群各龄级根茎的休眠芽有一个稳定的萌发输出过程.定量分析结果表明,芦苇种群不同龄级根茎的休眠芽每年都有11%的比率萌发形成1龄级新根茎.1龄级根茎顶端翌年发育为分蘖株后,可为直接相连接的老龄级根茎就近输送养分,从而实现老龄级根茎芽的活力.     

The effect of positive assortative mating at one locus on a second linked locus

Summary Considerations proceed from a model of positive assortative mating based on genotype at one locus, with an arbitrary number of alleles, assuming no selection, mutation, or migration, hypothetically infinite population size, and discrete non-overlapping generations. From these conditions, inferences are made about the genotypic structure at a linked locus, as well as about the corresponding 2-locus gametic structure.The following main results are presented: in the course of the generations, the genotypic structure at the second locus and the 2-locus gametic structure always tend to a limit responsive to the initial conditions concerning the joint genotypic structure at the two loci and the degree of assortativity and linkage. A complete, analytical representation of the limits is given. In particular, if assortative mating is only partial and at the same time linkage is not complete, a population is not able to maintain a permanent deviation of the gametic structure from linkage equilibrium, and thus the genotypic structure at the second locus tends to Hardy-Weinberg proportions. On the other hand, if initial linkage disequilibrium is combined with partial assortative mating and complete linkage (or with complete assortative mating and unlinked loci) the population maintains this disequilibrium and thus the genotypic structure at the second locus need not tend to Hardy-Weinberg proportions. It turns out that the conditions not only of complete linkage, but also of unlinked loci together with complete assortativity, imply no change in gametic structure from the initial structure.In order to demonstrate the influence of several parameters on the speed of convergence to and the magnitude of the respective limits, several graphs are included.     

CAN REINFORCEMENT OCCUR WITH A LEARNED TRAIT?

We use birdsong as a case study to ask whether reinforcement can occur via the spread of a genetically determined female preference for a socially inherited (learned) male trait. We envision secondary contact between two neighboring populations with different song dialects. An individual's ability to learn song is confined by a genetic predisposition: if predispositions are strong, there will be no phenotypic overlap in song between populations, whereas weak predispositions allow phenotypic overlap, or "mixed" song. To determine if reinforcement has occurred, we consider if an allele for within-population female mating preference, based on song, can spread, and whether population specific songs can concurrently be maintained at equilibrium. We model several scenarios, including costs to mating preferences, mating preferences in hybrids, and hybrids having the ability to learn pure songs. We find that when weak predispositions are fixed within a population reinforcement based on song cannot occur. However, when some individuals have strong predispositions, restricting phenotypic overlap between populations in the trait, reinforcement is only slightly inhibited from a purely genetic model. Generalizing beyond the example of song, we conclude that socially learned signals will tend to prohibit reinforcement, but it may still occur if some individuals acquire trait phenotypes genetically.     

Introgressive hybridization as a mechanism for species rescue

Rapid evolution on ecological time scales can play a key role in species responses to environmental change. One dynamic that has the potential to generate the diversity necessary for evolution rapid enough to allow response to sudden environmental shifts is introgressive hybridization. However, if distinct sub-species exist before an environmental shift, mechanisms that impede hybridization, such as assortative mating and hybrid inferiority, are likely to be present. Here we explore the theoretical potential for introgressive hybridization to play a role in response to environmental change. In particular, we incorporate assortative mating, hybrid inferiority, and demographic stochasticity into a two-locus, two-allele population genetic model of two interacting species where one locus identifies the species and the other determines how fitness depends on the changing environment. Simulation results indicate that moderately high values for the strength of assortative mating will allow enough hybridization events to outweigh demographic stochasticity but not so many that continued hybridization outweighs backcrossing and introgression. Successful introgressive hybridization also requires intermediate relative fitness at the allele negatively affected by environmental change such that hybrid survivorship outweighs demographic stochasticity but selection remains strong enough to affect the genetic dynamics. The potential for successful introgression instead of extinction with greater environmental change is larger with monogamous rather than promiscuous mating due to lower stochasticity in mating events. These results suggest species characteristics (e.g., intermediate assortative mating and mating systems with low variation in mating likelihood) which indicate a potential for rapid evolution in response to environmental change via introgressive hybridization.     

Selection, Generalized Transmission and the Evolution of Modifier Genes. I. the Reduction Principle

Modifier gene models are used to explore the evolution of features of organisms, such as the genetic system, that are not directly involved in the determination of fitness. Recent work has shown that a general "reduction principle" holds in models of selectively neutral modifiers of recombination, mutation, and migration. Here we present a framework for models of modifier genes that shows these reduction results to be part of a more general theory, for which recombination and mutation are special cases. The deterministic forces that affect the genetic composition of a population can be partitioned into two categories: selection and transmission. Selection includes differential viabilities, fertilities, and mating success. Imperfect transmission occurs as a result of such phenomena as recombination, mutation and migration, meiosis, gene conversion, and meiotic drive. Selectively neutral modifier genes affect transmission, and a neutral modifier gene can evolve only by generating association with selected genes whose transmission it affects. We show that, in randomly mating populations at equilibrium, imperfect transmission of selected genes allows a variance in their marginal fitnesses to be maintained. This variance in the marginal fitnesses of selected genes is what drives the evolution of neutral modifier genes. Populations with a variance in marginal fitnesses at equilibrium are always subject to invasion by modifier genes that bring about perfect transmission of the selected genes. It is also found, within certain constraints, that for modifier genes producing what we call "linear variation" in the transmission processes, a new modifier allele can invade a population at equilibrium if it reduces the level of imperfect transmission acting on the selected genes, and will be expelled if it increases the level of imperfect transmission. Moreover, the strength of the induced selection on the modifier gene is shown to range up to the order of the departure of the genetic system from perfect transmission.     

The evolution of intratetrad mating rates

Intratetrad mating, the fusion of gametes formed in a single meiosis, has unusual consequences for genetic diversity, especially in genome regions linked to mating type loci. Here we investigate the fate of modifier alleles that alter the rate of intratetrad mating, under models of heterozygote advantage and of genetic load resulting from recurrent mutation. In both cases, intratetrad mating is favored if the recombination rate between the selected locus and mating type is less than the frequency of lethal recessive alleles at that locus in the population. Positive feedback often accelerates the invasion of modifiers to the intratetrad mating rate. Recombination rate and intratetrad mating rate exert indirect selection on one another, resulting in a cascading decline in outcrossing, even in the absence of any cost of sex. However, under recurrent mutation, alleles for obligate intratetrad mating invade only very slowly, perhaps explaining why outcrossing can persist at low frequencies in a largely intratetrad mating population.     

Temporal aspects of the fine-scale genetic structure in a population of Cinnamomum insularimontanum (Lauraceae)

Cinnamomum insularimontanum Hayata (Lauraceae) is an insect-pollinated, broad-leaved evergreen tree with bird-dispersed seeds. We used allozyme loci, Wright's fixation index, spatial autocorrelation statistics (Moran's I), and coancestry measures to examine changes in genetic structure among four age-classes within a recently founded study population (60 x 100 m area) in southern Korea. There were no significant differences in expected heterozygosity among age classes. However, significant genetic differentiation among age classes was detected (P<0.0001). Fixation indices within age classes showed significant deficits of observed heterozygosity, which may be caused by partial selfing. The homogeneity of genetic structure among four age-classes may reflect similar spatial patterns of seed immigration from surrounding populations occurring year after year. Finally, the average Moran's I and coancestry estimates indicated essentially random spatial distributions of alleles for each of the four age-classes and between seedlings and 2-4 year juveniles vs adult trees. These findings are very similar to those observed in the same study area for another member of the Lauraceae, Neolitsea sericea, which has a very similar life history and ecological characteristics (ie, bird-dispersed fruits, insect pollination, and a similar age structure). Together, these results suggest that the fleshy drupes of lauraceous species represent an adaptation to aid in the independent dispersal of seed by birds, which in turn may increase the genetic diversity of founders colonizing new habitats.     

Genetic patterns across an invasion's history: a test of change versus stasis for the Eurasian round goby in North America

Biological invasions comprise accidental evolutionary experiments, whose genetic compositions underlie relative success, spread and persistence in new habitats. However, little is known about whether, or how, their population genetic patterns change temporally and/or spatially across the invasion's history. Theory predicts that most would undergo founder effect, exhibit low genetic divergence across the new range and gain variation over time via new arriving propagules. To test these predictions, we analyse population genetic diversity and divergence patterns of the Eurasian round goby Neogobius melanostomus across the two decades of its North American invasion in the Laurentian Great Lakes, comparing results from 13 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences. We test whether ‘genetic stasis’, ‘genetic replacement’ and/or ‘genetic supplement’ scenarios have occurred at the invasion's core and expansion sites, in comparison with its primary native source population in the Dnieper River, Black Sea. Results reveal pronounced genetic divergence across the exotic range, with population areas remaining genetically distinct and statistically consistent across two decades, supporting ‘genetic stasis’ and ‘founder takes most’. The original genotypes continue to predominate, whose high population growth likely outpaced the relative success of later arrivals. The original invasion core has stayed the most similar to the native source. Secondary expansion sites indicate slight allelic composition convergence towards the core population over time, attributable to some early ‘genetic supplementation’. The geographic and temporal coverage of this investigation offers a rare opportunity to discern population dynamics over time and space in context of invasion genetic theory vs. reality.     

Population bottlenecks increase additive genetic variance but do not break a selection limit in rain forest Drosophila

According to neutral quantitative genetic theory, population bottlenecks are expected to decrease standing levels of additive genetic variance of quantitative traits. However, some empirical and theoretical results suggest that, if nonadditive genetic effects influence the trait, bottlenecks may actually increase additive genetic variance. This has been an important issue in conservation genetics where it has been suggested that small population size might actually experience an increase rather than a decrease in the rate of adaptation. Here we test if bottlenecks can break a selection limit for desiccation resistance in the rain forest-restricted fly Drosophila bunnanda. After one generation of single-pair mating, additive genetic variance for desiccation resistance increased to a significant level, on average higher than for the control lines. Line crosses revealed that both dominance and epistatic effects were responsible for the divergence in desiccation resistance between the original control and a bottlenecked line exhibiting increased additive genetic variance for desiccation resistance. However, when bottlenecked lines were selected for increased desiccation resistance, there was only a small shift in resistance, much less than predicted by the released additive genetic variance. The small selection response in the bottlenecked lines was no greater than that observed in the control lines. Thus bottlenecks might produce a statistically detectable change in additive genetic variance but this change has no impact on the response to selection.     

Age-specific breeding success in a wild mammalian population: selection, constraint, restraint and senescence

The Selection, Constraint, Restraint and Senescence Hypotheses predict how breeding success should vary with age. The Selection Hypothesis predicts between-individual variation arising from quality differences; the other hypotheses predict within-individual variation due to differing skills or physiological condition (Constraint), residual reproductive lifespan (Restraint), or somatic and reproductive investment (Senescence). Studies tend to focus on either the initial increase in breeding success or later decrease; however, both require consideration when unravelling the underlying evolutionary processes. Additionally, few studies present genetic fitness measures and rarely for both sexes. We therefore test these four hypotheses, which are not mutually exclusive, in a high-density population of European badgers Meles meles. Using an 18-year data set (including 22 microsatellite loci), we show an initial improvement in breeding success with age, followed by a later and steeper rate of reproductive senescence in male than in female badgers. Breeding success was skewed within age-classes, indicating the influence of factors other than age-class. This was partly attributable to selective appearance and disappearance of badgers (Selection Hypothesis). Individuals with a late age of last breeding showed a concave-down relationship between breeding success and experience (Constraint Hypothesis). There was no evidence of abrupt terminal effects; rather, individuals showed a concave-down relationship between breeding success and residual reproductive lifespan (Restraint Hypothesis), with an interaction with age of first breeding only in female badgers. Our results demonstrate the importance of investigating a comprehensive suite of factors in age-specific breeding success analyses, in both sexes, to fully understand evolutionary and population dynamics.     

Population increase of forest birds in the Czech Republic between 1982 and 2003

Capsule Populations of most forest bird species increased between 1982 and 2003, probably due to increased forest cover and changes in forest age-class composition.

Aims To determine population changes of forest birds in the Czech Republic and to determine their possible causes.

Methods Population data were collected via the Breeding Bird Monitoring Programme, which is based on skilled volunteers counting birds at point transects using a standardized technique. Population trends and indices for the period 1982–2003 were calculated for 47 species using log-linear models. Published data on development of forest cover and forest age composition in the Czech Republic were used to indicate environmental change over the same period.

Results Populations of most forest species increased between 1982 and 2003. There was also an increase in forest cover and an increase in the proportion of older forest age-classes. The increase in forest specialist birds was positively correlated with the average increase in forest coverage.

Conclusions The populations of Czech forest birds have increased in the last two decades. This contrasts with widely reported declines of farmland bird populations throughout Europe. The correlation between populations of specialized forest species and extent of forest habitat suggests that changes in land-use are an important factor. However, increasing cover of mature forests could have a similar effect on the populations of specialist species.