Understanding and predicting frost‐induced tropical tree mortality patterns

Extreme climatic and weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity across the world causing episodes of widespread tree mortality in many forested ecosystems. However, we have a limited understanding about which local factors influence tree mortality patterns, restricting our ability to predict tree mortality, especially within topographically complex tropical landscapes with a matrix of mature and secondary forests. We investigated the effects of two major local factors, topography and forest successional type, on climate‐induced tropical tree mortality patterns using an observational and modeling approach. The northernmost Neotropical dry forest endured an unprecedented episode of frost‐induced tree mortality after the historic February 2011 cold wave hit northwestern Mexico. In a moderately hilly landscape covering mature and secondary tropical dry forests, we surveyed 454 sites for the presence or absence of frost‐induced tree mortality. In addition, across forty‐eight 1 ha plots equally split into the two forest types, we examined 6,981 woody plants to estimate a frost‐disturbance severity metric using the density of frost‐killed trees. Elevation is the main factor modulating frost effects regardless of forest type. Higher occurrence probabilities of frost‐induced tree mortality at lowland forests can be explained by the strong influence of elevation on temperature distribution since heavier cold air masses move downhill during advective frosts. Holding elevation constant, the probability of frost‐induced tree mortality in mature forests was twice that of secondary forests but severity showed the opposite pattern, suggesting a cautious use of occurrence probabilities of tree mortality to infer severity of climate‐driven disturbances. Extreme frost events, in addition to altering forest successional pathways and ecosystem services, likely maintain and could ultimately shift latitudinal and altitudinal range margins of Neotropical dry forests.     

Photosynthetic and Respiratory Acclimation to Experimental Warming for Four Species in a Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem

Global temperature has been Increased by 0.6 ℃ over the past century and is predicted to Increase by 1.4-5.8 ℃ by the end of this century. It is unclear what impacts global warming will have on tallgrass species. In the present study, we examined leaf net photosynthetic rate （P.） and leaf respiration rate in darkness （Rd） of Aster erlcoldes （L.） Nesom, Ambrosia psllostachya DC., Helianthus mollis Lam., and Sorghastrum nutans （L.） Nash In response to experimental warming in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem of the Great Plains, USA, in the autumn （fall） of 2000 and through 2001. Warming has been Implemented with infrared heaters since 21 November 1999. The P. increased significantly In spring, decreased in early fall, and did not change in summer and late fall in the four species under warming compared with control. The Rd of the four species increased significantly until mid-summer and then did not change under warming. Measured temperature-response curves of P. showed that warming Increased the optimum temperature of P. （Topt） by 2.32 and 4.59 ℃ for H. mollis and S. nutans, respectively, in August, whereas there were no changes in May and September, and A. ericoldes and A. psllostachya also showed no changes in any of the 3 months. However, P. at optimum temperature （Popt） showed downregulation in September and no regulation in May and August for all four species. The temperature-response curves of Rd Illustrate that the temperature sensitivity of Rd, Q10, was lower in the warmed plots compared with the control plots, except for A. ericoides in August, whereas there were no changes In May and September for all four species. The results of the present study indicate that photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation varies with species and among seasons, occurring In the mid-growing season and not in the early and late growing seasons.     

基于MaxEnt模型预测气候变化下杉木在中国的潜在地理分布

为研究杉木在中国的分布特征及其对气候变化的响应模式,本研究基于现有分布记录,应用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型和地理信息系统方法,结合气候、地形等环境要素,预测杉木在当前和未来气候变化下的潜在适生区。结果表明: 影响杉木分布的最主要因素是年平均降水量,在当前气候下,杉木适生区合计面积328万km²,占全国陆地总面积的34.5%,低、中和高适生区分别占18.3%、29.7%与52.0%。在未来气候情景下,杉木生长的适宜性在我国总体上呈上升趋势,适生区面积随气候变化增大,且明显向北扩张,南方湿润亚热带地区形成集中连片高适生区。模型经受试者工作特征曲线检验,训练集平均受试者工作特征曲线下面积为0.91,可信度高。     

Isoprene is more affected by climate drivers than monoterpenes: A meta‐analytic review on plant isoprenoid emissions

Isoprene and monoterpenes (MTs) are among the most abundant and reactive volatile organic compounds produced by plants (biogenic volatile organic compounds). We conducted a meta‐analysis to quantify the mean effect of environmental factors associated to climate change (warming, drought, elevated CO₂, and O₃) on the emission of isoprene and MTs. Results indicated that all single factors except warming inhibited isoprene emission. When subsets of data collected in experiments run under similar change of a given environmental factor were compared, isoprene and photosynthesis responded negatively to elevated O₃ (?8% and ?10%, respectively) and drought (?15% and ?42%), and in opposite ways to elevated CO₂ (?23% and +55%) and warming (+53% and ?23%, respectively). Effects on MTs emission were usually not significant, with the exceptions of a significant stimulation caused by warming (+39%) and by elevated O₃ (limited to O₃‐insensitive plants, and evergreen species with storage organs). Our results clearly highlight individual effects of environmental factors on isoprene and MT emissions, and an overall uncoupling between these secondary metabolites produced by the same methylerythritol 4‐phosphate pathway. Future results from manipulative experiments and long‐term observations may help untangling the interactive effects of these factors and filling gaps featured in the current meta‐analysis.     

Differences between temperate and tropical birds in seasonal acclimatization of thermoregulatory traits

Phenotypic flexibility can be an important determinant of fitness in variable environments. The climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) predicts that phenotypic flexibility in thermoregulatory traits will be greater in temperate species than tropical species as a means of coping with increased temperature seasonality at higher latitudes. However, support for the CVH has been mixed, and recent studies suggest that tropical birds are capable of substantial phenotypic flexibility. To test the generality of the CVH, we used flow‐through respirometry to quantify seasonal acclimatization in thermoregulatory traits in suites of temperate (n = 6) and tropical (n = 41) birds. We used W/S ratios (winter/summer trait values) to quantify the direction and magnitude of seasonal change (W/S ratio of 1 means no seasonal change). Temperate species exhibited coordinated changes in thermoregulatory traits in winter, including large increases in thermoneutral zone (TNZ) breadth and reductions in heat loss below the lower limit of the TNZ. Conversely, tropical species exhibited idiosyncratic seasonal thermoregulatory responses, and mean W/S ratios were close to 1 for all traits, indicative of little seasonal change and consistent with predictions of the CVH. Nevertheless, mean W/S ratios did not differ significantly between temperate and tropical species for either M_b or BMR, demonstrating that tropical birds can also exhibit substantial thermoregulatory flexibility. Our results highlight the need for complementary acclimation experiments to determine if latitudinal differences in seasonal acclimatization are due to inherent differences in capacity for flexibility.     

Seasonal variation in natural mortality factors of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in open‐field tomato cultivation

The seasonal variation in natural mortality of phytophagous insects is determined by the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in agroecosystems. Knowledge regarding these factors throughout the year represents a key concern for IPM programmes. Seasonal population fluctuations of tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, led to an investigation of its natural mortality factors during the rainy season when the population level is low and during the dry season when population peaks occur. The aim of this study was to verify the seasonal variation in T. absoluta mortality factors in tomato crops. Immature stages of T. absoluta were obtained from laboratory‐rearing in the laboratory. These were taken to the field and monitored over two years. The mortality causes for each stage of insect development from egg to adult were assessed daily. Multiple biotic and abiotic mortality factors affected the immature T. absoluta stages such as rainfall, physiological disturbances, diseases, parasitoids and predators. The key T. absoluta mortality factor during summer–spring was predation. In addition, larvae predation correlated positively with temperature, wind velocity, photoperiod and rainfall. Nevertheless, during winter–fall, the key mortality factor was parasitism. Therefore, the critical stage for mortality was 3rd‐ and 4th‐instar larvae, being more vulnerable to natural control factors. Finally, the results showed the importance of vertical and horizontal action on natural mortality factors.     

国家人勇担国家责，积极推动中国生物经济与生物产业发展

作为国家级研究机构,中国科学院各级研究所一直以来的重要使命就是心系国家事、肩扛国家责、永做国家人,站在国际科学发展前沿的高度,紧抓国家社会发展中重大需求的科学与技术问题,布局研究所及其项目和吸引人才。本文以个人视角,回顾了2004年回国接任微生物研究所所长后,开始思考工业生物技术的发展,布局天津研发中心,经过多年努力,在院党组的领导与支持下,中国科学院天津工业生物技术研究所建成,已经取得了重要成果;还回顾了建所初衷和早期成长发展历程以及与微生物研究所的关系。通过思考科学、技术、工程(医学)之间的关系,提出从事基础科学研究的科研人员进行转化应用的路径,即“想法-假说-实验-概念-论文-技术-样品-产品-商品”的9层逻辑关系,希望科学家能够做出解决实际问题的实用工作,并展望了未来工业生物技术的远景。     

Drivers of Collembola assemblages along an altitudinal gradient in northeast China

Altitudinal changes in the diversity of plants and animals have been well documented; however, soil animals received little attention in this context and it is unclear whether their diversity follows general altitudinal distribution patterns. Changbai Mountain is one of few well‐conserved mountain regions comprising natural ecosystems on the Eurasian continent. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the diversity and community composition of Collembola along ten altitudinal sites representing five vegetation types from forest to alpine tundra. Among 7834 Collembola individuals, 84 morphospecies were identified. Species richness varied marginally significant with altitude and generally followed a unimodal relationship with altitude. By contrast, the density of Collembola did not change in a consistent way with altitude. Collembola communities changed gradually with altitude, with local habitat‐related factors (soil and litter carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, litter carbon content, and soil pH) and climatic variables (precipitation seasonality) identified as major drivers of changes in Collembola community composition. Notably, local habitat‐related factors explained more variation in Collembola assemblages than climatic variables. The results suggest that local habitat‐related factors including precipitation and temperature are the main drivers of changes in Collembola communities with altitude. Specifically, soil and litter carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio correlated positively with Collembola communities at high altitudes, whereas soil pH correlated positively at low altitudes. This documents that altitudinal gradients provide unique opportunities for identifying factors driving the community composition of not only above‐ but also belowground invertebrates.     

Comparison of the most demanding scenarios during different in-season training sessions and official matches in professional basketball players

The purpose of this study was to compare physical demands during the most demanding scenarios (MDS) of different training sessions and official matches in professional basketball players across playing positions. Thirteen professional basketball players were monitored over a 9-week competitive season using a local positioning system. Peak physical demands included total distance, distance covered at > 18 km·h^-1, distance and number of accelerations (≥ 2 m∙s^-2) and decelerations (≤ -2 m∙s^-2) over a 60-second epoch. Analysis of variance for repeated measures, Bonferroni post-hoc tests and standardised Cohen’s effect size (ES) were calculated. Overall, almost all physical demands during the MDS of training were lower (-6.2% to -35.4%) compared to official matches. The only variable that surpassed competition demands was distance covered at > 18 km·h^-1, which presented moderate (ES = 0.61, p = 0.01) and small (ES = 0.48, p > 0.05) increases during training sessions four and three days before a competition, respectively. Conversely, the two previous practices before match day presented trivial to very large decreases (ES = 0.09–2.66) in all physical demands. Furthermore, centres achieved the lowest peak value in total distance covered during matches, forwards completed the greatest peak distance at > 18 km·h^-1, and guards performed the greatest distance and number of high-intensity accelerations and decelerations. In conclusion, physical demands during the MDS of different training sessions across the microcycle failed to match or surpass peak values during official matches, which should be considered when prescribing a training process intended to optimise the MDS of match play.