Didymosphenia geminata invasion in South America: Ecosystem impacts and potential biogeochemical state change in Patagonian rivers

The diatom Didymosphenia geminata has emerged as a major global concern, as both an aggressive invader of rivers and streams in the southern hemisphere, and for its ability to form nuisance blooms in oligotrophic systems in its native range. South American D. geminata blooms were first documented in Chilean Patagonia in May 2010, and have spread to over five regions and three provinces, in Chile and Argentina respectively. The Patagonian invasion represents a distinct challenge compared to other regions; not only are affected systems poorly characterized, but also a general synthesis of the nature and magnitude of ecosystem impacts is still lacking. The latter is essential in evaluating impacts to ecosystem services, forms the basis for a management response that is proportional to the potentially valid threats, or aids in the determination of whether action is warranted or feasible. Based on a revision of the recent literature, some of the most significant impacts may be mediated through physical changes: substantially increased algal biomass, trapping of fine sediment, altered hydrodynamics, and consequent effects on biogeochemical states and processes such as redox condition, pH and nutrient cycling in the benthic zone. Surveys conducted during the early invasion in Chile show a strong correlation between benthic biomass and associated fine sediments, both of which were one–two orders of magnitude higher within D. geminata blooms. Experimental phosphorous amendments showed significant abiotic uptake, while interstitial water in D. geminata mats had nearly 10–20 fold higher soluble reactive phosphorous and a pronounced pH cycle compared to the water column. A dominant and aggressive stalk-forming diatom with this combination of characteristics is in sharp contrast to the colonial cyanobacteria and bare gravel substrate that characterize many Patagonian streams. The potential displacement of native benthic algal communities with contrasting functional groups, increased primary producer biomass, and fine benthic sediment accumulation, all may have a significant effect on stream nutrient cycling and ecosystem function, in Patagonia and elsewhere where nuisance blooms have been reported.     

Vicariance and endemism in a Neotropical savanna hotspot: distribution patterns of Cerrado squamate reptiles

Aim To test predictions of the vicariance model, to define basic biogeographical units for Cerrado squamates, and to discuss previous biogeographical hypotheses. Location Cerrado; South American savannas south of the Amazon, extending across central Brazil, with marginal areas in Bolivia and Paraguay and isolated relictual enclaves in adjacent regions. Methods We compiled species occurrence records via field sampling and revision of museum specimens and taxonomic literature. All species were mapped according to georeferenced locality records, and classified as (1) endemic or non‐endemic, (2) typical of plateaus or depressions, and (3) typical of open or forested habitats. We tested predictions of the vicariance model using biotic element analysis, searching for non‐random clusters of species ranges. Spatial congruence of biotic elements was compared with putative areas of endemism revealed by sympatric restricted‐range species. Effects of topographical and vegetational mosaics on distribution patterns were studied according to species composition in biotic elements and areas of endemism. Results We recorded 267 Cerrado squamates, of which 103 (39%) are endemics, including 20 amphisbaenians (61% endemism), 32 lizards (42%) and 51 snakes (32%). Distribution patterns corroborated predictions of the vicariance model, revealing groups of species with significantly clustered ranges. An analysis of endemic species recovered seven biotic elements, corroborating results including non‐endemics. Sympatric restricted‐range taxa delimited 10 putative areas of endemism, largely coincident with core areas of biotic elements detected with endemic taxa. Distribution patterns were associated with major topographical and vegetational divisions of the Cerrado. Endemism prevailed in open, elevated plateaus, whereas faunal interchange, mostly associated with forest habitats, was more common in peripheral depressions. Main conclusions Our results indicate that vicariant speciation has strongly shaped Cerrado squamate diversity, in contrast to earlier studies emphasizing faunal interchange and low endemism in the Cerrado vertebrate fauna. Levels of squamate endemism are higher than in any other Cerrado vertebrate group. The high number of recovered endemics revealed previously undetected areas of evolutionary relevance, indicating that biogeographical patterns in the Cerrado were poorly represented in previous analyses. Although still largely undocumented, effects of vicariant speciation may be prevalent in a large fraction of Cerrado and Neotropical biodiversity.     

Bird communities in traditional wood-pastures with changing management in Eastern Europe

Wood-pastures are fragile ecosystems because they were formed by, and depend on specific, low-intensity multifunctional management. Although their ecological and cultural significance is high, wood-pastures are rapidly deteriorating all over Europe, mainly due to changing land use. We still lack a basic understanding of the ecological value of wood-pastures, and in which features they differ from other landscape elements. In this paper we investigated the ecological value of wood-pastures for passerine birds by (i) comparing bird assemblages of wood-pastures with those of closed forests and open pastures and (ii) exploring the relationships between variables describing wood-pastures and species traits of the bird assemblages. Our study region (Southern Transylvania, Romania) provides a unique opportunity to understand the importance of a traditional cultural and ecological environment for many different organisms. Wood-pastures had a higher overall number of bird species, and a higher spatial turnover in bird community composition than closed forests and open pastures. We found significant associations between bird species traits and habitat structural elements in wood-pastures such as large trees, oak- and pear trees and shrubs. Our findings suggest that traditional wood-pastures in Southern Transylvania have distinct and rich passerine bird communities. This richness is inextricably linked to the multifunctional, low-intensity land use traditionally applied in the wood-pastures that promotes high niche diversity. For effective conservation of the biodiversity of wood-pastures, a detailed understanding is needed of how different management regimes may influence the key structural elements of wood-pastures relevant for biodiversity and these should be protected.     

DNA barcoding of the fire ant genus Solenopsis Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Riyadh region,the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The ant genus Solenopsis Westwood, 1840 is the largest in Myrmicinae subfamily having almost 200 described species worldwide. They are commonly distributed in the tropics and temperate areas of the world. Some invasive Solenopsis species are very dreadful. We have already reported a fire ant species, Solenopsis saudiensis Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011, identified using traditional morphometric approaches of species identification. Present study was carried out to develop DNA Barcoding to identify Solenopsis saudiensis and to elucidate genetic structure of the various S. saudiensis populations across their distribution range in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The comparison of DNA barcodes showed no genetic diversity among six populations and a queen from S. saudiensis analyzed from the Riyadh region. This genetic resemblance probably reflects their adaptation toward a specific habitat, thus constituting a single and strong gene pool. Our comprehensive field survey did not provide any evidence of Solenopsis species except S. saudiensis in the Riyadh region. Solenopsis saudiensis populations were only found around date palm trees indicating their strong association with date palm groves. Moreover, S. saudiensis has 83–86% sequence identity to other Solenopsis spp. from other parts of the world. Interestingly, the highest sequence identity of (86%) was with that of Solenopsis molesta Say, 1836, the thief ant, from the USA. This study provides a working laboratory procedure and a reference library for the identification of Solenopsis saudiensis.     

东南亚生物多样性热点地区的形成与演化

东南亚地处热带,生物多样性极为丰富,可分为4个热点地区:印度-缅甸区的中南半岛、巽他区(含马来半岛、婆罗洲、苏门答腊岛)、菲律宾区(菲律宾群岛)、华莱士区(苏拉威西岛、爪哇岛、马鲁古群岛、小巽他群岛等)。中南半岛在泥盆纪便已是欧亚大陆的一部分,在印度板块撞击欧亚大陆之后受挤压而出;巽他区来自于冈瓦纳古陆和澳洲古陆;菲律宾群岛部分来自于劳亚古陆的碎片向南漂移,部分来自于太平洋西南岛弧的向北迁移;华莱士区则是劳亚古陆碎片、太平洋西南岛弧以及澳洲古陆北侧碎片的组合。巽他区地处赤道,常年温湿;菲律宾区、华莱士区、中南半岛则都受到不同程度的季风气候决定的干湿季变动。地质历史和季风气候影响程度的不同,奠定了东南亚4个生物多样性热点地区的雏形。华莱士区保存有大量的早期被子植物原始类群如睡莲目(Nymphaeales)和木兰藤目(Austrobaileyales),是现代被子植物起源地和冰期避难所之一。巽他区(婆罗洲)和中南半岛是亚洲热带植物的现代分布中心和"进化前沿",是整个东南亚地区重要的种源;而华莱士区的爪哇岛和小巽他群岛主要是物种迁入和中转的种库。这样的物种形成历史与迁移格局,塑造了东南亚4个生物多样性热点地区物种多样性水平与地理范围的基本格局。巽他区和印度-缅甸区曾在冰期通过陆桥相连,使得东南亚成为周边植物扩散交汇的一个"十字路口"。但是,人们对东南亚生物多样性热点地区的物种长距离扩散规律及植物地理学分区仍存在分歧;东南亚与邻近生物多样性热点地区如新几内亚岛、西高止山脉-斯里兰卡、中国横断山区的历史联系,还尚待深入解析。利用现代分子生物学技术,覆盖整个东南亚地区进行全域取样开展代表性类群的物种迁移与生物地理学研究,有望进一步揭示东南亚生物多样性热点地区的形成过程与演化趋势。     

1980—2018年祁连山南坡土地利用变化及其驱动力

祁连山是我国第一阶梯和第二阶梯的分界线,生态环境脆弱,对过渡地带土地利用变化及其驱动力研究具有重要的生态意义。本研究以祁连山南坡为研究区,基于1980—2018年遥感影像数据,运用空间自相关分析法、ArcGIS空间分析方法和主成分分析法分析了土地利用的时空变化特征及其驱动力。结果表明: 1980—2018年,草地是研究区土地利用类型的主体,建设用地所占比重最小,水域、草地表现为下降趋势,未利用土地、建设用地和耕地均呈现出增长态势,林地变化较小。不同地类单一土地利用动态度从大到小依次为:建设用地＞水域＞耕地＞未利用土地＞林地＞草地,综合土地利用动态度为0.9%。不同土地利用类型空间分布表现出空间集聚性特征。耕地增加的区域和林地、草地减少的区域主要分布在门源县城所处大通河谷地西北侧,天峻县东北部大通河上游地区存在工矿建设用地占用草地的现象。土地利用变化驱动力主要为人口数量、科技、城市化、经济发展水平和政策。本研究结果可为政府合理规划和利用土地资源提供依据,对祁连山南坡生态环境保护和社会经济可持续发展具有重大意义。     

微花蛛毛苣苔在中国云南的发现及其补充描述

中越边境喀斯特地区是全球生物多样性热点地区,也是生物多样性保护的关键区域,近年来在该地区发现了多个蛛毛苣苔属植物的新种。微花蛛毛苣苔于2001年在越南北部喀斯特地区首次采集到标本,直到2018年才被发表出来,由于发表时仅基于一号花发育未成熟的标本,所以该物种的诸多形态特征仍不清楚。作者开展中越边境喀斯特地区植物多样性调查时,在我国云南东南部发现了微花蛛毛苣苔,并采集到花发育成熟的植株,对其进行了解剖观察和测量,现对该物种进行补充描述,并提供墨线图和野外生态照片以资辨认。微花蛛毛苣苔与腺花蛛毛苣苔在光滑无毛而反折的花萼以及被腺毛的花冠等形态上最相似,但不同之处在于微花蛛毛苣苔的叶上面幼时被褐色蛛丝状绵毛,后变近无毛,花序顶生,花冠长9～12 mm,蒴果直,不旋扭,长1.2～2.8 cm。微花蛛毛苣苔在滇东南的发现,说明中国南部喀斯特地区和越南北部喀斯特地区构成了一个完整的植物区系地理单元。     

Evidence of horizontal gene transfer between land plant plastids has surprising conservation implications

Background and AimsHorizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important evolutionary mechanism because it transfers genetic material that may code for traits or functions between species or genomes. It is frequent in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes but has not been demonstrated between plastid genomes of different green land plant species.MethodsWe Sanger-sequenced the nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and 2) and the plastid rpl16 G2 intron (rpl16). In five individuals with foreign rpl16 we also sequenced atpB-rbcL and trnL_UAA-trnF_GAA.Key ResultsWe discovered 14 individuals of a moss species with typical nuclear ITSs but foreign plastid rpl16 from a species of a distant lineage. None of the individuals with three plastid markers sequenced contained all foreign markers, demonstrating the transfer of plastid fragments rather than the entire plastid genome, i.e. entire plastids were not transferred. The two lineages diverged 165–185 Myr BP. The extended time interval since lineage divergence suggests that the foreign rpl16 is more likely explained by HGT than by hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting.ConclusionsWe provide the first conclusive evidence of interspecific plastid-to-plastid HGT among land plants. Two aspects are critical: it occurred at several localities during the massive colonization of recently disturbed open habitats that were created by large-scale liming as a freshwater biodiversity conservation measure; and it involved mosses whose unique life cycle includes spores that first develop a filamentous protonema phase. We hypothesize that gene transfer is facilitated when protonema filaments of different species intermix intimately when colonizing disturbed early succession habitats.     

卧龙自然保护区典型生态系统服务时空变化研究

自然保护区作为生态系统服务的产生区和生物多样性保护的重点区,评估其关键生态系统服务,对提高保护区管理水平和生态保护与建设效率有重要意义。利用CASA模型、RUSLE模型、InVEST模型及水量平衡原理等方法分别定量评估了卧龙自然保护区2000年和2015年碳固定（NPP）、土壤保持、生境质量和水源涵养4种生态系统服务并分析了其时空分布及其变化特征,揭示了不同地形位梯度和土地利用类型上生态系统服务的差异,识别了生态系统服务的热点区域。研究结果揭示了2000-2015年4种生态系统服务及其变化的时空异质性：1）研究期间保护区4种生态系统服务供给量均有所增加,且增益面积大于减损面积;2）空间上,NPP、土壤保持和生境质量3种服务表现为东南高、西北低,水源涵养空间分布无明显规律,4种服务的空间分布特征均变化不大且保持相对稳定;3）4种生态系统服务空间分布及变化与地形位和土地利用类型有关。4种服务的高值和增益的优势分布区均位于较低地形位指数梯度上,以保护区东南部最为突出;林地和草地是对保护区生态系统服务贡献较大的土地利用类型,尤以林地突出;4）热点分析表明保护区东南部是主要的生态系统服务供给热点区,研究期间Ⅳ类热点区面积显著增加。结合研究区域生态系统特征和生态恢复与管理政策,探讨分析了目标生态系统服务时空变化的自然生态和社会经济驱动力,为本区域生态系统恢复和生物多样性保护提供依据和建议。