Evolutionary changes in craniomandibular shape in the great cats (Neofelis Griffith and Panthera Oken)

Evolutionary shape changes in skull and mandibular anatomy was analysed in 223 specimens of pantherine felids (Neofelis nebulosa, Panthera leo, Panthera onca, Panthera pardus, Panthera tigris, Panthera uncia) compared to a small‐felid outgroup, consisting of 86 specimens of nine different species, using digital surface morphometry on 25 (skull) and 17 (mandible) landmarks. Shape evolution in the pantherine species is complex and nonlinear, and involves both large‐scale and small‐scale shape changes. Shape changes frequently differ among the ingroup species, but the four large Panthera species (leo, onca, pardus, tigris) bear some resemblance to each other. The leopard and jaguar bear the closest resemblance to each other, and several shape changes are common to the lion and tiger, but have probably evolved convergently as a result of large size. The lion has undergone the largest and most numerous shape changes from a small‐felid outgroup. Certain shape changes in the skull and, in some respects, the mandible of the clouded leopard bear resemblance to those in the four large Panthera species. The snow leopard is often regarded as the most primitive of the extant Panthera, and skull and mandibular shape changes often diverge markedly from those observed in the other five ingroup taxa; its overall skull shape is rather similar to the small‐felid outgroup. This indicates that the shape changes in the clouded leopard are convergent with those of the four large Panthera species. Landmark integration showed no significant correlation with molecular phylogeny, chiefly owing to the snow leopard being placed among the four large Panthera species. A traditional phylogenetic topology with the snow leopard as the basal‐most species of Panthera yielded a weak but nonsignificant phylogenetic signal. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 766–778.     

Dynamic micro-geographic and temporal genetic diversity in vertebrates: the case of lake-spawning populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Conservation of species should be based on knowledge of effective population sizes and understanding of how breeding tactics and selection of recruitment habitats lead to genetic structuring. In the stream‐spawning and genetically diverse brown trout, spawning and rearing areas may be restricted source habitats. Spatio–temporal genetic variability patterns were studied in brown trout occupying three lakes characterized by restricted stream habitat but high recruitment levels. This suggested non‐typical lake‐spawning, potentially representing additional spatio–temporal genetic variation in continuous habitats. Three years of sampling documented presence of young‐of‐the‐year cohorts in littoral lake areas with groundwater inflow, confirming lake‐spawning trout in all three lakes. Nine microsatellite markers assayed across 901 young‐of‐the‐year individuals indicated overall substantial genetic differentiation in space and time. Nested gene diversity analyses revealed highly significant (≤P = 0.002) differentiation on all hierarchical levels, represented by regional lakes (F_LT = 0.281), stream vs. lake habitat within regional lakes (F_HL = 0.045), sample site within habitats (F_SH = 0.010), and cohorts within sample sites (F_CS = 0.016). Genetic structuring was, however, different among lakes. It was more pronounced in a natural lake, which exhibited temporally stable structuring both between two lake‐spawning populations and between lake‐ and stream spawners. Hence, it is demonstrated that lake‐spawning brown trout form genetically distinct populations and may significantly contribute to genetic diversity. In another lake, differentiation was substantial between stream‐ and lake‐spawning populations but not within habitat. In the third lake, there was less apparent spatial or temporal genetic structuring. Calculation of effective population sizes suggested small spawning populations in general, both within streams and lakes, and indicates that the presence of lake‐spawning populations tended to reduce genetic drift in the total (meta‐) population of the lake.     

Mobility is related to species traits in noctuid moths

1. Mobility is important for the understanding of how species survive in fragmented landscapes and cope with increasing rates of habitat and climate change. However, mobility is a difficult trait to explore and is poorly known in most taxa. Species traits have been studied in relation to range shifts, extinction risks, and responses to habitat area and isolation, and have also been suggested as good estimators of mobility. Here we explore the relation between mobility and species traits in noctuid moths. 2. We sampled noctuid moths by an automatic light‐trap on an island far out in the Baltic Sea. We compared traits of the non‐resident species on the island with traits of a species pool of assumed potential migrants from the Swedish mainland. 3. Mobility was significantly related to adult activity period, length of flight period, and the interaction between host‐plant specificity and distribution area. Widely distributed host‐plant generalists were more mobile than host‐plant specialists with more restricted distribution, and species with an adult activity period in August to September moved to the island to a higher extent than species with an adult activity period in May to July. Our results remained qualitatively robust in additional analyses, after controlling for phylogeny and including all species recorded on the island, except for the trait ‘length of flight period’. 4. Our results highlight the importance of the relation between mobility and species traits. Noctuid moths with certain traits move over longer distances than earlier known. This finding is important to include when predicting range dynamics in fragmented and changing landscapes, and when conservation measures of species are devised.     

Nitrogen addition reduces soil respiration in a mature tropical forest in southern China

Response of soil respiration (CO₂ emission) to simulated nitrogen (N) deposition in a mature tropical forest in southern China was studied from October 2005 to September 2006. The objective was to test the hypothesis that N addition would reduce soil respiration in N saturated tropical forests. Static chamber and gas chromatography techniques were used to quantify the soil respiration, following four‐levels of N treatments (Control, no N addition; Low‐N, 5 g N m^?2 yr^?1; Medium‐N, 10 g N m^?2 yr^?1; and High‐N, 15 g N m^?2 yr^?1 experimental inputs), which had been applied for 26 months before and continued throughout the respiration measurement period. Results showed that soil respiration exhibited a strong seasonal pattern, with the highest rates found in the warm and wet growing season (April–September) and the lowest rates in the dry dormant season (December–February). Soil respiration rates showed a significant positive exponential relationship with soil temperature, whereas soil moisture only affect soil respiration at dry conditions in the dormant season. Annual accumulative soil respiration was 601±30 g CO₂‐C m^?2 yr^?1 in the Controls. Annual mean soil respiration rate in the Control, Low‐N and Medium‐N treatments (69±3, 72±3 and 63±1 mg CO₂‐C m^?2 h^?1, respectively) did not differ significantly, whereas it was 14% lower in the High‐N treatment (58±3 mg CO₂‐C m^?2 h^?1) compared with the Control treatment, also the temperature sensitivity of respiration, Q₁₀ was reduced from 2.6 in the Control with 2.2 in the High‐N treatment. The decrease in soil respiration occurred in the warm and wet growing season and were correlated with a decrease in soil microbial activities and in fine root biomass in the N‐treated plots. Our results suggest that response of soil respiration to atmospheric N deposition in tropical forests is a decline, but it may vary depending on the rate of N deposition.     

The cap-shaped Cambrian fossil Maikhanella and the relationship between coeloscleritophorans and molluscs

The recent discovery of large shells. growing by accretion, in the scleritome of the coeloscleritophoran Ha lkieria Poulsen, 1967, prompts the reconsideration of a number of cap-shaped shells in the Lower Cambrian. The scaly shells of Maikhanella Zhegallo, 1982. from Mongolia provide a good starting point, mce they occur together with spicules of siphogonuchitid type and appear to be composed of merged spicules. The shells are phosphatired and consist of two main elements: spicules, typically filled with phosphate. and an intermediate matrix. The associated loose spicules belong to forms that have served as the basis for erection of the genera Siphogonuchites Qian. 1977, and Lopochites Qian, 1977. Maikhanella is prohdbly a junior synonym of one or both of the latter two genera, but taxonomic revision is suspended until the type material of these siphogonuchitid genera has been restudied. and all three genera are left as sciotaxa. Various cap-shaped shells and plates in the Chinese Meishucunian are reinterpreted as shells belonging to coeloscleritophornn scleritoines. Maikhanella shells were formed through the embedding of spicules in secondary calcareous shell zubstance. The skeletogenesis has several similarities with that of molluscs, and together with the polyplacophoran-like features of the Halkieria scleritome this forces a reconsideration of the phylogenetic relationships between coeloscleritophorans and molluscs     

Contemporary carbon accumulation in a boreal oligotrophic minerogenic mire – a significant sink after accounting for all C-fluxes

Based on theories of mire development and responses to a changing climate, the current role of mires as a net carbon sink has been questioned. A rigorous evaluation of the current net C-exchange in mires requires measurements of all relevant fluxes. Estimates of annual total carbon budgets in mires are still very limited. Here, we present a full carbon budget over 2 years for a boreal minerogenic oligotrophic mire in northern Sweden (64°11′N, 19°33′E). Data on the following fluxes were collected: land–atmosphere CO₂ exchange (continuous Eddy covariance measurements) and CH₄ exchange (static chambers during the snow free period); TOC (total organic carbon) in precipitation; loss of TOC, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and CH₄ through stream water runoff (continuous discharge measurements and regular C-concentration measurements). The mire constituted a net sink of 27±3.4 (±SD) g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2004 and 20±3.4 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2005. This could be partitioned into an annual surface–atmosphere CO₂ net uptake of 55±1.9 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2004 and 48±1.6 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2005. The annual NEE was further separated into a net uptake season, with an uptake of 92 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2004 and 86 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2005, and a net loss season with a loss of 37 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2004 and 38 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ during 2005. Of the annual net CO₂-C uptake, 37% and 31% was lost through runoff (with runoff TOC>DIC≫CH₄) and 16% and 29% through methane emission during 2004 and 2005, respectively. This mire is still a significant C-sink, with carbon accumulation rates comparable to the long-term Holocene C-accumulation, and higher than the C-accumulation during the late Holocene in the region.     

Morphological, vocal and genetic divergence in the Cettia acanthizoides complex (Aves: Cettiidae)

We used morphological, vocal and molecular (one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci) data to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of the taxa acanthizoides , concolor , and brunnescens in the Cettia acanthizoides (J. Verreaux, 1871) complex. We conclude that all three are valid taxa, and that acanthizoides of China and concolor of Taiwan are best treated as conspecific, whereas brunnescens of the Himalayas is better considered as a separate species. The degree of morphological, vocal, and genetic differentiation is variably congruent among all taxa; the recently separated acanthizoides and concolor differ slightly in plumage and structure but are indistinguishable in vocalizations, whereas the earlier diverged brunnescens and acanthizoides/concolor differ only slightly more in morphology but to a much greater degree in vocalizations. We stress the essential nature of taxonomic revisions as a prerequisite for the biodiversity estimates required for conservation planning.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 437–452.     

Description of a new species of Phylloscopus warbler from Vietnam and Laos

A new species of Phylloscopus warbler, which we name Phylloscopus calciatilis Limestone Leaf Warbler, is described from central and northern Vietnam and central and northern Laos; it probably also breeds in southernmost China. In morphology, the new species is very similar to Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti , but it is smaller with a proportionately larger bill and rounder wing. Its song and calls are diagnostic. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the new species is most closely related to P. ricketti and Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator , and it is inferred to be sister to the latter. The mitochondrial divergences between these three species are at the low end of the variation found in other species of Phylloscopus and Seicercus warblers, but greater than in other taxa generally treated as subspecies. Possible introgressive hybridization between the new species and P. ricketti is discussed, but more data are needed to establish whether it does occur and, if it does, to what extent. The new species appears to have a restricted breeding range in limestone karst environments, where it is locally common and therefore not under any immediate threat. In view of the recognition of the new species, all previous records of P. ricketti sensu lato need to be re-evaluated.     

Grazing by a native and an exotic crayfish on aquatic macrophytes

1. We compared grazing by native noble crayfish ( Astacus astacus ) and the exotic signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus ) on seedling or well-established macrophytes.
2. In a pool experiment, seedlings of emergent Scirpus lacustris and floating-leaved Potamogeton natans were heavily grazed by adult signal crayfish, whereas established plants of the same species sustained only minor damage.
3. In a preference experiment two submerged macrophytes ( Chara vulgaris and Elodea canadensis ), and both seedlings and established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans , were presented pairwise to signal and noble crayfish. There was no significant difference in preference by the two crayfish species. Chara vulgaris was preferred to all other plants presented, established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans were never preferred, and seedlings of P. natans were preferred to established P. natans .
4. An aquarium experiment was conducted in which the consumption of Chara by signal and noble crayfish was measured in relation to water temperature. Signal crayfish consumed significantly more Chara than noble crayfish, especially at higher temperatures.
5. Our results indicate that the signal crayfish is the more voracious grazer especially at higher temperatures. There may be negative effects on vegetation (emergents and floating-leaved, as well as submerged species) when the signal crayfish is introduced. Chara species are particularly susceptible, since they are preferred by crayfish and the genus includes a large number of rare species. Stocking of crayfish therefore could lead to the decline or removal of submerged species in order of crayfish feeding preferences and could prevent the spread or cause a decline of emergent and floating-leaved vegetation.