Morphometric and phylogenetic analysis of theDaviesia ulicifolia complex (Fabaceae, Mirbelieae)

Daviesia ulicifolia is a widespread species that exhibits complex variation throughout its range. Using ordination and cluster analysis of morphometric characters we resolved ten terminal taxa for phylogenetic analysis. A data set including these and five closely related species was coded for a combination of morphometric and qualitative characters and analysed using parsimony. This revealed thatD. ulicifolia is paraphyletic by inclusion ofD. acicularis, D. arenaria andD. microcarpa. One terminal cluster is more similar to an outgroup species (D. arthropoda) than toD. ulicifolia and should be treated as a new species. Given recent theoretical and empirical studies showing paraphyly to be both expected and observed at species level, we propose that all existing species in this group continue to be recognised taxonomically. We suggest subdividingD. ulicifolia into several subspecies.     

协惯量分析与典范对应分析在植物群落排序中的应用比较

采用协惯量分析(PCA-CA COIA)和典范对应分析(CCA)两种排序方法, 对北京小龙门林场的黄檗 (Phellodendron amurense)群落进行了分析, 并用Spearman秩相关系数检验了对应排序轴的相关性。两种排序方法得出的结果基本一致, 两者的第一排序轴都反映了海拔高度和坡向对群落分布的影响, 而各自第二、第三排序轴所代表的环境意义有所差异, 并出现了交叉, 但是两者的前3个排序轴均反映了海拔、坡位、土壤厚度和凋落物层厚度的变化趋势, 说明在环境因子个数较少或共线性效应不明显的情况下, 协惯量分析也能达到CCA的分析效果, 并且在排序轴特征值解释量上高于典范对应分析。     

Typology of macrofaunal assemblages: a tool for the management of running waters in The Netherlands

A survey was carried out at 156 sites, situated in streams in the province of Overijssel (The Netherlands), to describe the macroinvertebrate assemblages and their environments. Fifty-six environmental variables were measured once at each sampling site. The main aim was to describe a typology of stream for this region.Different multivariate analysis techniques (clustering and ordination) were used in combination with ecological information on individual taxa to derive and describe site groups in terms of taxonomic composition and mean environmental conditions. The resulting site groups were termed cenotypes.Eleven cenotypes were distinguished. Differences between cenotypes were attributed to (combinations of) environmental key factors, namely, dimensions (width and depth), morphological (profile shape) and hydraulic stream characteristics, duration of drought and load of organic material.The typology offers a basis to be used for regional stream management and nature conservation. Efforts to improve stream ecosystems should be directed at the physical and hydraulic conditions.Typological studies are needed (especially in semi-natural landscapes) if we are to better understand, manage and conserve freshwater biota.     

Is xenodontine snake reproduction shaped by ancestry,more than by ecology?

One of the current challenges of evolutionary ecology is to understand the effects of phylogenetic history (PH) and/or ecological factors (EF) on the life‐history traits of the species. Here, the effects of environment and phylogeny are tested for the first time on the reproductive biology of South American xenodontine snakes. We studied 60% of the tribes of this endemic and most representative clade in a temperate region of South America. A comparative method (canonical phylogenetic ordination—CPO) was used to find the relative contributions of EF and PH upon life‐history aspects of snakes, comparing the reproductive mode, mean fecundity, reproductive potential, and frequency of nearly 1,000 specimens. CPO analysis showed that PH or ancestry explained most of the variation in reproduction, whereas EF explained little of this variation. The reproductive traits under study are suggested to have a strong phylogenetic signal in this clade, the ancestry playing a big role in reproduction. The EF also influenced the reproduction of South American xenodontines, although to a lesser extent. Our finding provides new evidence of how the evolutionary history is embodied in the traits of living species.     

天山森林生态系统中朽木生地衣植物生态分布的DCA排序

应用DCA排序方法对天山森林生态系统中朽木生地衣植物的分布格局与海拔之间的相关性进行了分析.结果表明,不同海拔高度的不同类型的森林生态系统中分布着不同种类的朽木生地衣植物.分布于海拔800 m的主要地衣种类有脱落网衣(Lecidella elabens Fr., Kgl)、柳茶渍[Lecanora saligna (Schrad.) A. Zahlbr]等.分布于海拔900～1 100 m的有 刺小孢衣[Bryoria confusa (Awas.) Bodo & Hawksw]、叉小孢衣[Bryoria furcellata (Fr.) Bodo & Hawksw]等种类.分布于海拔1 300～1 760 m的有 粗皮石蕊[Cladonia scabriuscula (Del.) Leight.]、亚鳞石蕊[Cladonia subsquamosa (Nyl.) Vain]等种类;分布于海拔1 800～2 300 m的有 黑蜈蚣衣[Phaeophyscia nigricans (Flk.) Moberg]、美丽黑蜈蚣衣[Phaeophyscia rubropulchra (Degel.) Essl.]等种类.     

Converging forest community composition along an edaphic gradient threatens landscape‐level diversity

Aim Plant communities across the temperate zone are changing in response to successional processes and human‐induced disturbances. Here, we assess how upland forest under‐ and overstorey community composition has changed along an edaphic gradient. Location Northern Wisconsin, USA. Methods Forest sites initially sampled in the 1950s were resampled for overstorey composition and diversity, basal area, and understorey composition and diversity. We used clustering methods to identify groups of stands based on overstorey composition, and we used similarity indices, ordination and diversity indices to evaluate changes in species abundance and overall community structure. Results Sites clustered into four overstorey groups along the edaphic gradient: ‘hemlock’ sites dominated by hemlock in 1950, ‘mesic’ sites dominated by northern hardwoods, ‘dry’ sites with a significant pine inclusion in the canopy and diverse ‘dry‐mesic’ sites in the middle. Collectively, forests gained maple, ash and cherry while losing pines, birches and red oaks. The hemlock forest sites gained hardwoods, while the dry‐mesic sites shifted towards a more mesic hardwood composition. Only the driest sites have remained relatively stable in species composition. Main conclusions These trends reflect both ‘mesification’ and homogenization among northern forests. Highly diverse mid‐gradient and mesic hemlock‐dominated stands are transitioning to maple dominance. Fire suppression may be favouring invasions of more mesic plants into historically drier sites, while high deer abundance likely limits hemlock regeneration. If current trends continue, maples will dominate the majority of northern forests, with significant losses of local native species richness and substantial shifts in understorey composition.     

中国蜡梅属植物过氧化物同工酶的研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳系统,进行了蜡梅属8种植物过氧化物同工酶的研究。结果发现：该属8种植物的酶谱差异显著,每个种均有其特征酶谱。根据其种的酶谱酶带数目、Rf、宽度及其活性强弱的不同,可将各个种加以区别,但不支持保康蜡梅和突托蜡梅作为独立种的存在,也不支持蜡梅属分为蜡梅组和新蜡梅组的观点。同时,采用排序方法对蜡梅属8种植物酶谱的相似程度进行排序结果发现：与该属8种植物酶谱分类相吻合,并从分子水平上论证了它们的亲缘关系,即保康蜡梅为蜡梅的种内变异,以作蜡梅栽培品种处理;突托蜡梅作为浙江蜡梅的变种为佳,从而为蜡梅属植物种群的合理划分,提出了新的依据和手段。