Genetic basis of a-b,b-c and c-d ridge counts on human soles

The mechanism of inheritance of ridge count of plantar inter-digital areas has been studied among Brahmans of Sagar town of Central India. The correlation coefficient between ridge counts in various family relationships lend support to the concept of an additive genetic model.     

Interface processes between protected and unprotected areas: A global review and ways forward

Land‐use changes and the expansion of protected areas (PAs) have amplified the interaction between protected and unprotected areas worldwide. In this context, ‘interface processes' (human–nature and cross‐boundary interactions inside and around PAs) have become central to issues around the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This scientific literature review aimed to explore current knowledge and research gaps on interface processes regarding terrestrial PAs. At first, 3,515 references related to the topic were extracted through a standardized search on the Web of Science and analyzed with scientometric techniques. Next, a full‐text analysis was conducted on a sample of 240 research papers. A keyword analysis revealed a wide diversity of research topics, from ‘pure' ecology to sociopolitical research. We found a bias in the geographical distribution of research, with half the papers focusing on eight countries. Additionally, we found that the spatial extent of cross‐boundary interactions was rarely assessed, preventing any clear delimitation of PA interactive zones. In the 240 research papers we scanned, we identified 403 processes that were studied. The ecological effects of PAs were well documented and appeared to be positive overall. In contrast, the effects of PAs on local communities were understudied and, according to the literature focusing on these, were very variable according to local contexts. Our findings highlight key research advances on interface processes, especially regarding the ecological outcomes of PAs, the influence of human activities on biodiversity, and PA governance issues. In contrast, main knowledge gaps concern the spatial extent of interactive zones, as well as the interactions between local people and conservation actions and how to promote synergies between them. While the review was limited to terrestrial PAs, its findings allow us to propose research priorities for tackling environmental and socioeconomic challenges in the face of a rapidly changing world.     

Species richness and composition of Neuroptera in the forests fregments of the Taurus Mountains Range,Turkey

In this study, diversity, species richness and composition of Neuroptera has been studied in the forest edges and fragments in the Taurus Mountain Range, southern Turkey. Sampling for species collection was carried out from April 2017 to September 2018 at different distances from the forest center, i.e., (0–500 m), forest mid-interior (501–1000 m), and forest edge (1001–3000 m). A total of 975 adults were collected frequently belonging to the families Ascalaphidae, Coniopterygidae, and Hemerobiidae from the forest edges while Chrysopidae and Myrmeleontidae were most common along the mid-interior regions of the forest. Majority of adutls caught from the mid-interior region comprised of female adults while the males of most species were abundant along the forest edges. Although the forest center shows the largest value for the Dominance species-diversity index and the smallest value for the Shannon index, forest edge was found highest for the Simpson index. The abundance of Neuroptera decreased with wind speed but increased with the temperature in the edge regions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that some environmental and habitat variables, e.g. wind speed, temperature, and distance to the forest center, mid-interior and edge, accounted for species distribution patterns in Neuroptera. In the forest center, a linear correlation between wind speed, temperature and specimen abundance was recorded, while these factors were found negatively correlated with specimens abundance in the mid-interior regions of the forest.     

甘肃省生境质量变化的图谱特征

生境质量是影响地区生态系统服务价值和保护地球生态系统中生物多样性的重要因素。以地处三大自然区交汇带的甘肃省为研究对象,在定量估算地区2000—2018年生境质量水平基础上,基于图谱变化分析理论和InVEST模型,探索地区生境质量时空分异格局及其图谱转移状态和变化强度。结果表明: 2000—2018年,甘肃省生境质量总体维持中等水平并略有提升,在空间上自北向南呈逐级递增的阶梯式变化特征,在数量上则高低并存;从图谱转移视角分析,甘肃省生境质量格局较为稳定,未发生状态转移的图谱单元占主导,而在发生了生境质量状态转移的图谱单元中,“较高较低”、“较高高”、“较高低”这6类状态间的互换转移最显著,空间分布也较为集聚; “北剧南和”是甘肃省生境质量变化强度的主要格局,自北向南依次为“强变区”、“复合区”、“温缓区”和“平和区”4类变化强度区。     

Panmixia across elevation in thermally sensitive Andean dung beetles

Janzen's seasonality hypothesis predicts that organisms inhabiting environments with limited climatic variability will evolve a reduced thermal tolerance breadth compared with organisms experiencing greater climatic variability. In turn, narrow tolerance breadth may select against dispersal across strong temperature gradients, such as those found across elevation. This can result in narrow elevational ranges and generate a pattern of isolation by environment or neutral genetic differentiation correlated with environmental variables that are independent of geographic distance. We tested for signatures of isolation by environment across elevation using genome‐wide SNP data from five species of Andean dung beetles (subfamily Scarabaeinae) with well‐characterized, narrow thermal physiologies, and narrow elevational distributions. Contrary to our expectations, we found no evidence of population genetic structure associated with elevation and little signal of isolation by environment. Further, elevational ranges for four of five species appear to be at equilibrium and show no decay of genetic diversity at range limits. Taken together, these results suggest physiological constraints on dispersal may primarily operate outside of a stable realized niche and point to a lower bound on the spatial scale of local adaptation.     

Best environmental predictors of breeding phenology differ with elevation in a common woodland bird species

Temperatures in mountain areas are increasing at a higher rate than the Northern Hemisphere land average, but how fauna may respond, in particular in terms of phenology, remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess how elevation could modify the relationships between climate variability (air temperature and snow melt‐out date), the timing of plant phenology and egg‐laying date of the coal tit (Periparus ater). We collected 9 years (2011–2019) of data on egg‐laying date, spring air temperature, snow melt‐out date, and larch budburst date at two elevations (~1,300 m and ~1,900 m asl) on a slope located in the Mont‐Blanc Massif in the French Alps. We found that at low elevation, larch budburst date had a direct influence on egg‐laying date, while at high‐altitude snow melt‐out date was the limiting factor. At both elevations, air temperature had a similar effect on egg‐laying date, but was a poorer predictor than larch budburst or snowmelt date. Our results shed light on proximate drivers of breeding phenology responses to interannual climate variability in mountain areas and suggest that factors directly influencing species phenology vary at different elevations. Predicting the future responses of species in a climate change context will require testing the transferability of models and accounting for nonstationary relationships between environmental predictors and the timing of phenological events.     

THE PROCESSING OF UNCONFINED,NATURALLY ENTRAINED LEAVES IN TWO LOW-ORDER SOUTHERN AFRICAN MOUNTAIN STREAMS

Summary

Breakdown of unconfined and confined leaves of the riparian tree Brabejum stellatifolium L. was investigated in two low order mountain streams (Window Stream and Langrivier) in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. At both sites, 5000 unconfined leaves were released in April and another 5000 in December 1990. The leaves were marked and half of them presoaked in river water prior to release. Leaves reaching a net 100 m below the point of release were removed periodically. On termination of the experiments, the study reaches were cleared of the remaining marked leaves. The distance which these leaves had travelled, and the retentive feature at which they were found were recorded. All leaves were weighed after recovery. In December 1990, leaves confined in coarse-mesh bags were placed on the stream beds of the two sites. Decay rates of unconfined leaves differed between streams and seasons but not between wetted and dry leaves or those of contrasting initial size and weight. In winter, breakdown of unconfined leaves was rapid (t₅₀ of 6.6d and 23.9d for Langrivier and Window Stream respectively). In summer, breakdown of unconfined leaves was slower (t₅₀ of 58d, Langrivier), but more rapid than leaves confined in mesh bags (t₅₀ of 77d, Langrivier). Distance travelled downstream had no significant effect on leaf breakdown. Different retentive features resulted in different rates of decay. Leaf weight loss in winter and summer at both sites was greatest in riffles (17–80%) and runs (21–78%). In all cases, stranded (exposed and out of the water) leaves lost the least weight (4–38%).     

THE BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF A SOUTH AFRICAN MOUNTAIN STREAM AND ITS RESPONSE TO FIRE

Summary

The effects of a late-summer prescribed burn on the temperature and benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of a south-western Cape mountain stream were investigated over a period of 12 months. Temperature and discharge regimes appear well-defined and relatively predictable from year to year. As in other mediterranean-type ecosystems, seasonal changes in the structure of the invertebrate community and the relative abundance of different feeding groups appear to be associated primarily with changes in the physical environment. Distinctive summer and winter communities were identified, with chironomids dominating the fauna in summer and simuliids dominant in winter. Although the riparian vegetation was only slightly damaged by the fire, a heavy, aseasonal leaf-fall occurred shortly afterwards. The canopy remained sparse for approximately four months. Stream temperature in the post-burn year was not demonstrably affected by increased exposure to solar radiation, however, probably because the canopy remained open during the winter months. The fire appeared to have little effect on the invertebrate fauna. Apart from five rare elements of the biota, all species recorded in the pre-burn year were present in the post-burn year and in similar densities. It is concluded that the riparian vegetation is of major importance in maintaining the integrity of the stream environment.