Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ...Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ecosystem functions,and offers a unique window into multifaceted plant diversity patterns.This review synthesizes research on Himalayan plant diversity,including species,phylogenetic,functional,and genetic dimensions,highlighting knowledge gaps and solutions.Research on Himalayan plant diversity has developed significantly.However,gaps remain,especially in studies on phylogenetic and functional diversity.The region's vegetation ranges from tropical rainforests to alpine ecosystems,with species richness typically following a hump-shaped distribution along elevation gradients.The eastern Himalaya exhibits higher plant diversity than the central and western regions.Low-elevation communities were found to be more functionally diverse,whereas high-elevation communities displayed greater ecological specialization.Communities at mid-elevations tend to show greater phylogenetic diversity than those at higher and lower elevations.The eastern and western flanks of the Himalaya retain high levels of genetic diversity and serve as glacial refugia,whereas the central region acts as a hybrid zone for closely related species.Himalayan plant diversity is shaped by historical,climatic,ecological and anthropogenic factors across space and time.However,this rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened by environmental change and growing anthropogenic pressures.Unfortunately,research efforts are constrained by spatial biases and the lack of transnational initiatives and collaborative studies,which could significantly benefit from interdisciplinary approaches,and other coordinated actions.These efforts are vital to safeguarding the Himalayan natural heritage.展开更多
Understanding the genetic diversity–area relationship(GAR)is essential for comprehending how species adapt to environmental changes,as genetic diversity is an indicator of a species’adaptive potential.Variation in e...Understanding the genetic diversity–area relationship(GAR)is essential for comprehending how species adapt to environmental changes,as genetic diversity is an indicator of a species’adaptive potential.Variation in environmental adaptation capacity exists among species and animal taxa with different distribution areas,highlighting the importance of understanding the GAR.To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the GAR in terrestrial vertebrates,we assessed both haplotype diversity–area and nucleotide diversity–area relationships using 25,453 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI)sequences from 142 amphibian species,574 bird species,and 342 mammal species.We found that both measures of genetic diversity increased with species range size across major animal groups.Nevertheless,the GAR did not differ among animal groups,while haplotype diversity performed better than nucleotide diversity in profiling the GAR,as indicated by higher R2 values.The difference in the modeling fit may stem from the distinct biological and mathematical significance of nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity.These results suggest that the GAR follows similar rules among different animal taxa.Furthermore,haplotype diversity may serve as a more reliable indicator for assessing the potential effects of area size changes on animal populations and provide better guidance for conserving genetic diversity.展开更多
Topographic complexity supports the maintenance of a high diversity of microhabitats,which may act as important‘safe havens’-or microrefugia-for biodiversity.Microrefugia are sites with specific environmental condit...Topographic complexity supports the maintenance of a high diversity of microhabitats,which may act as important‘safe havens’-or microrefugia-for biodiversity.Microrefugia are sites with specific environmental conditions that facilitate the persistence of species during environmental changes and exhibit unique ecoevolutionary dynamics.However,our knowledge about how topographic complexity and related ecoevolutionary selective forces influence the functional and phylogenetic signatures of species assemblages in microrefugia is very limited.Although the conceptual framework on the systematic integration of plant functional traits into the study of refugia is well established,more empirical studies on functional trait composition and functional diversity in refugia are urgently needed for more effective conservation.Here we analyzed the distribution of various plant functional traits and phylogenetic patterns in microhabitats(south-and north-facing slopes,and bottoms)of 30 large topographic depressions(i.e.doline microrefugia)and microhabitats of the surrounding plateaus in two distant forested karst regions.We found that plant assemblages in the understory of dolines and their surroundings are characterized by unique functional values and combinations of traits.Doline bottoms had the highest functional diversity among doline microhabitats and supported plant assemblages with considerably different trait compositions from the plateaus.Bottoms also had the highest phylogenetic diversity.These results suggest that topographic complexity in forested dolines has a significant effect on the distribution of plant functional traits in the understory.High functional and phylogenetic diversity in doline bottoms can have important consequences for the long-term survival of plant populations,highlighting that these microhabitats may provide a higher resilience and support an adaptive community-level response to natural and anthropogenic stressors.Understanding mechanisms that drive the survival of species within microrefugia is required to determine the best conservation and management strategies.展开更多
The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for...The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for the life form category'chamaephytes'.Unfortunately,this incorrect term was used throughout the article following the nomenclature of this official database:in one instance in the main text,in Fig.3 and its caption,in Fig.5,and in two instances in the supplementary material.展开更多
On the morning of May 31st,the parallel forum"Seeking Harmony without Uniformity in Mutual Learning:Diversity of Civilisations from the Sinologists'Perspective"was held in Dunhuang.The forum was hosted b...On the morning of May 31st,the parallel forum"Seeking Harmony without Uniformity in Mutual Learning:Diversity of Civilisations from the Sinologists'Perspective"was held in Dunhuang.The forum was hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding and organised by Beijing Language and Culture University.Leading Sinologists and Chinese culture researchers from Europe,Asia and Latin America gathered to discuss the theme of civilisational diversity and explore pathways for coexistence and mutual enrichment.展开更多
Red anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) granular sludge (AnGS) has been reported insuccessfully operating Anammox systems, and its color is associated with sludge activity.However, in long-term operating systems, An...Red anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) granular sludge (AnGS) has been reported insuccessfully operating Anammox systems, and its color is associated with sludge activity.However, in long-term operating systems, AnGS exhibits different sensory colors, physicalstructures, community structures, and denitrification performance, but the relationship betweenthem has not yet been elucidated.The AnGS of the Anammox system, which has beenin operation for more than a decade, can be divided into twomain categories: red and white.The specific Anammox activity (SAA) in conventional red AnGS increased continuously asthe particle size increased from <0.51 mm to 6.02 ± 0.84 mm. The SAA of white AnGS wereslightly lower than those of red AnGS with similarly-size granules but significantly higherthan AnGS with smaller red granules. Compared with red AnGS, the extracellular polymericsubstances of white AnGS were significantly reduced,mainly due to the higher intracellulariron content, resulting in lower heme c concentration. Thus, heme c may prove not to bean evaluative tool for measuring Anammox activity. Red and white AnGS, whether throughself-aggregation or adsorption by hydroxyl apatite and other carriers, will face the fate ofinternal voids during particle size growth. White AnGS exhibited amore complex microbialcommunity than red AnGS. Candidatus Brocadia was abundant in red AnGS and the abundanceincreased with increasing granule size. Candidatus Kuenenia and Candidatus Jetteniamade significant contributions to denitrification in white AnGS. This study provides a newperspective on particle selection for anammox engineering applications.展开更多
The acceleration of global urbanization has caused habitat loss,fragmentation,and decrease of habitat quality,often leading to a decline in biodiversity.However,most previous urbanization studies focused on taxonomic ...The acceleration of global urbanization has caused habitat loss,fragmentation,and decrease of habitat quality,often leading to a decline in biodiversity.However,most previous urbanization studies focused on taxonomic diversity,with relatively less research on functional and phylogenetic diversity.In this study,we examined the phylogenetic and functional diversity and underlying influencing factors of bird communities in 37 urban parks in Nanjing,China.We conducted a systematic survey of bird communities in Nanjing urban parks and selected six park characteristics that are generally considered to affect bird diversity.Model selection based on corrected Akaike Information Criterion(AICc)and model averaging showed that park area,habitat diversity and building index(a proxy for the degree of urbanization)were significant factors affecting avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in Nanjing urban parks.Specifically,habitat diversity and park area were positively correlated with bird diversity,while the building index was negatively correlated with bird diversity.Moreover,the phylogenetic and functional structures of urban bird communities exhibited a clustered pattern,indicating that environmental filtering might play a role in shaping community composition.In addition,building index had certain impact on the construction of bird phylogenetic communities in urban parks.Our results suggest that expanding park areas,increasing habitat diversity and reducing building indexes may be effective measures to increase the avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in our system.展开更多
Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored varia...Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored variations in composition, diversity, cover,and life forms of vascular plants along a complete altitudinal gradient(1300-4000 m a.s.l) in Sierra de Velasco, an arid mountain in northwestern Argentina.We evaluated the influence of environmental variables on plant diversity and cover. Field sampling was conducted in the northern sector of the Sa. de Velasco,on the western slope in eight 50 m wide altitudinal bands at 400 m elevation intervals. We used rectangular plots(20 × 4 m;n:10/altitudinal band) to register the vascular plants of all the growth forms, and linear transects(20 m long.;n:30/altitudinal band) to quantify the vegetation cover using the point intercept method. Diversity was calculated using hill numbers.Data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS), indicator species analysis,generalized linear models(GLMs), and variance partitioning analysis. A total of 232 species from 51families and 158 genera were registered. Species composition showed greater similarity at intermediate elevations. Plant diversity and cover exhibited a unimodal distribution, peaking at intermediate elevations(2100-2500 m). In contrast, life forms' distribution showed divergent patterns. Therophytes and succulents predominated at low altitudes,phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes at medium altitudes, and chamaephytes and geophytes at high altitudes. The altitudinal patterns of plant diversity and cover were primarily driven by climatic factors.Conservation efforts in the Sierra de Velasco should focus on the middle and upper zones due to their high biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change.展开更多
[Objectives]To explore biodiversity characteristics of Yuncheng Salt Lake and provide protection countermeasures.[Methods]According to the field survey data of 978 plant quadrats and cluster analysis,species diversity...[Objectives]To explore biodiversity characteristics of Yuncheng Salt Lake and provide protection countermeasures.[Methods]According to the field survey data of 978 plant quadrats and cluster analysis,species diversity indicators such as Margalef richness index and Shannon-Wiener index were selected to deeply explore the structure and diversity characteristics of higher plant communities in Yuncheng Salt Lake.[Results]There were 117 species belonging to 97 genera and 35 families of higher plants in Yuncheng Salt Lake,of which Asteraceae and Gramineae were dominant families,and the North Temperate Distribution Genus accounted for 27.35%of the total genera;according to profile coefficient method,the optimal cluster number was 7,which was divided into 7 plant community types,including Artemisia capillaris community and Suaeda glauca(Bunge)community;the Lolium perenne community was the highest(d=2.537),the Artemisia scoparia community was the best(E=0.658),the Suaeda salsa(L.)Pall community was the lowest(H′=1.779),and the spatial distribution of species showed a significant aggregation pattern.[Conclusions]We put forward some countermeasures for biodiversity protection,including constructing dynamic monitoring system,implementing adaptive management strategy and promoting multi-party collaborative governance,so as to provide scientific theoretical basis and practical guidance for ecological restoration and sustainable development of Yuncheng Salt Lake.展开更多
Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta div...Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta diversity we concerned.To obtain a comprehensive understanding of assemblage dissimilarity and its implications for biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas,we explored the elevational patterns and determinants of beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components of pairwise and multiple types and taxonomic and phylogenetic dimensions simultaneously.Patterns of beta diversity and their components of different types and dimensions were calculated based on 96 sampling quadrats along an 1800-5400 m elevational gradient.We examined whether and how these patterns differed from random expectations using null models.Furthermore,we used random forest methods to quantify the role of environmental variables representing climate,topography,and human disturbance in determining these patterns.We found that beta diversity and its turnover component,regardless of its types and dimensions,shown a hump-shaped elevational patterns.Both pairwise and multiple phylogenetic beta diversity were remarkably lower than their taxonomic counterpart.These patterns were significantly less than random expectation and were mostly associated with climate variables.In summary,our results suggested that assemblage dissimilarity of seed plants was mostly originate from the replacement of closely related species determined by climate-driven environmental filtering.Accordingly,conservation efforts should better cover elevations with different climate types to maximalize biodiversity conservation,rather than only focus on elevations with highest species richness.Our study demonstrated that comparisons of beta diversity of different types,dimensions,and components could be conductive to consensus on the origin and mechanism of assemblage dissimilarity.展开更多
Understanding the evolutionary processes that influence the distribution of genetic diversity in natural populations is a key issue in evolutionary biology. Both species' distribution ranges and environmental grad...Understanding the evolutionary processes that influence the distribution of genetic diversity in natural populations is a key issue in evolutionary biology. Both species' distribution ranges and environmental gradients can influence this diversity through mechanisms such as gene flow, selection, and genetic drift. To explore how these forces interact, we assessed neutral and adaptive genetic variation in three widely distributed and two narrowly distributed bird species co-occurring along the Cauca River canyon in Antioquia, Colombia—a region of pronounced environmental heterogeneity. We sampled individuals across eight sites spanning the canyon's gradient and analyzed genetic diversity and structure using microsatellites and toll-like receptors (TLRs), a gene family involved in innate immunity. Widely distributed species consistently exhibited higher genetic diversity at both marker types compared to their narrowly distributed counterparts. Although we did not find a significant relationship between microsatellite heterozygosity and TLR heterozygosity, we evidenced a negative trend for widely distributed species and a positive trend for narrowly distributed species. This result suggests that there is a stronger effect of genetic drift in narrowly distributed species. Our results highlight the role of distribution range in maintaining genetic diversity and suggest that environmental gradients, by interacting with gene flow and selection, may influence patterns of adaptive variation.展开更多
Understanding plant diversity within geographical ranges and identifying key species that drive community variation can provide crucial insights for the management of grasslands.However,the contribution of both local ...Understanding plant diversity within geographical ranges and identifying key species that drive community variation can provide crucial insights for the management of grasslands.However,the contribution of both local sites and plant species to beta diversity in grassland ecosystems has yet to be accurately assessed.This study applied the ecological uniqueness approach to examine both local contributions to beta diversity(LCBD)and species contributions to beta diversity(SCBD)across six major geographical ranges in alpine grasslands.We found that LCBD was driven by species turnover,with climate,plant communities,and their interactions influencing LCBD across spatial scales.LCBD values were high in areas with low evapotranspiration,high rainfall variability,and low species and functional richness.Precipitation seasonality predicted large-scale LCBD dynamics,while plant community abundance explained local LCBD variation.In addition,we found that SCBD were confined to species with moderate occupancy,although these species contributed less to plant biological traits.Our findings are crucial for understanding how ecological characteristics influence plant beta diversity in grasslands and how it responds to environmental and community factors.In addition,these findings have successfully identified key sites and priority plants for conservation,indicating that using standardized quadrats can support the assessment of the ecological uniqueness in grassland ecosystems.We hope these insights will inform the development of conservation strategies,thereby supporting regional plant diversity and resisting vegetation homogenization.展开更多
The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,resear...The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,research on how different herbivore assemblages affect plant functional diversity is limited.Therefore,this study systematically explored the effects of three typical herbivore assemblages(yak grazing,Tibetan sheep grazing,and mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep)on species richness,plant functional diversity,and soil physicochemical properties in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.This study further investigated the primary mechanisms driving the changes in plant functional diversity.The results indicate four key aspects of this system:(1)Grazing significantly enhanced plant functional diversity,particularly when the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep was applied at a ratio of 1:2.This ratio showed the most substantial improvement in the functional dispersion index and Rao's quadratic entropy index.(2)Compared to enclosed treatments,grazing increased species richness andβ-diversity,contributing to higher plant functional diversity.(3)Grazing treatments affected various plant traits,such as reducing plant community height and leaf thickness while increasing specific leaf area.However,the impact on plant functional diversity was most pronounced under the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep at a ratio of 1:2.(4)Speciesα-diversity was positively correlated with plant functional diversity.Changes in plant functional diversity were primarily regulated by variations in soil physicochemical properties.Specifically,increases in soil available nitrogen significantly promoted changes in plant functional diversity,while increases in soil available potassium and bulk density had a significant inhibitory effect on these changes.Long-term grazing significantly reduced the height of plant communities in alpine meadows,while a balanced mixture of yak and Tibetan sheep grazing,especially at a ratio of 1:2,enhanced plant functional diversity the most.This suggests that,under these conditions,the use of external environmental resources by the plant community is optimized.展开更多
The ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying montane biodiversity patterns remain unresolved.To understand which factors determined community assembly rules in mountains,biogeographic affinity that represents...The ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying montane biodiversity patterns remain unresolved.To understand which factors determined community assembly rules in mountains,biogeographic affinity that represents the biogeographic and evolutionary history of species should incorporate with current environments.We aim to address two following questions:1)How does plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity with disparate biogeographic affinitiesvary along the subtropical elevational gradient?2)How do biogeographic affinityand environmental drivers regulate the community assembly?We collected woody plant survey data of 32 forest plots in a subtropical mountain of Mt.Guanshan with typical transitional characteristics,including 250 woody plant species belonging to 56 families and 118 genera.We estimated the effects of biogeographic affinity,climate and soil properties on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of plant communities employing linear regression and structural equation models.We found that the richness of temperate-affiliated species increased with elevations,but the evenness decreased,while tropical-affiliatedspecies had no significantpatterns.Winter temperature directly or indirectly via biogeographic affinityshaped the assemblage of woody plant communities along elevations.Biogeographic affinityaffected what kind of species could colonize higher elevations while local environment determined their fitnessto adapt.These results suggest that biogeographic affinityand local environment jointly lead to the dominance of temperate-affiliated species at higher elevations and shape the diversity of woody plant communities along elevational gradients.Our findingshighlight the legacy effect of biogeographic affinityon the composition and structure of subtropical montane forests.展开更多
The utilization of palynological data for plant diversity reconstructions offers notable advantages in addressing the discontinuity of plant fossils in the stratigraphic record. However, additional studies of modern p...The utilization of palynological data for plant diversity reconstructions offers notable advantages in addressing the discontinuity of plant fossils in the stratigraphic record. However, additional studies of modern processes are required to validate or refine the accuracy of diversity results obtained from palynological data. In this study, we used a modern pollen dataset of China to compare the accuracy of plant diversity reconstructions using five different palynological diversity indices(i.e., the pollen species number, Berger-Parker index, Simpson diversity index, Hill index, and Shannon-Wiener index) over a large spatial scale. We then identified climate factors that are most strongly correlated with these patterns of plant diversity. We found that the index that most accurately reflects plant diversity is the Shannon-Wiener index. Our analyses indicated that the most effective indices at reflecting plant diversity are the Shannon-Wiener index and Berger-Parker index. Numerical analysis revealed that palynological diversity(measured using the Shannon-Wiener index) was strongly correlated with climatic parameters, in particular average temperature in the coldest month and annual precipitation,suggesting these factors may be primary determinants of plant diversity distribution. We also found that a threshold value of the normalized Shannon-Wiener index(NH = 0.4) approximately aligns with the contour line specifying 400 mm annual precipitation, serving as a rudimentary indicator for assessing plant diversity in arid versus humid climates. This study suggests that pollen diversity indices have remarkable potential for quantitatively reconstructing paleoclimatic parameters.展开更多
European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversi...European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversity observed in some beech forests,we analyzed the drivers of plant community completeness in 155 vegetation plots.Data were collected in mature,closed-canopy beech forests in Tuscany,central Italy.Site-specific species pools were estimated based on species co-occurrences.We used Generalized Least Squares linear modeling to assess the effects of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on the community completeness of whole communities and on the set of specialist species of beech forests.We also tested the response of the total cover of the herb layer to the selected predictors and related both the predictive and response variables to species composition in a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination.The community completeness of whole communities and that of beech forest specialists were negatively affected by total beech cover and positively influenced by slope.Moreover,the community completeness of whole communities was negatively impacted by elevation and positively influenced by disturbance frequency.The cover of the herb layer decreased with increasing beech cover,elevation,and precipitation.High community completeness and high cover of the herb layer were associated with the presence of thermophilic species of mixed deciduous woods in low-elevation beech forests.Our results suggest that a low plant community completeness and a low cover of the herb layer are mainly due to the competition by beech itself when it forms pure forests in its ecological optimum.Such competition is better exerted at upper elevations and in sites with low slopes,where beech litter accumulation is a limiting factor for understory species.Such evidence suggests that species absence in mature beech forests is mainly due to natural drivers and should therefore not be considered an indicator of ecological degradation of the forest.展开更多
Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod d...Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod diversity within managed spruce(Picea abies) forests in the Czech Republic,comparing results to nearby nature reserves(NRs).Gastropod species richness and composition were evaluated at both plot(50 m×50 m) and mesohabitat scales across gradients of CWD and beech(Fagus sylvatica) tree representation.Our results indicate significantly reduced species richness in managed forests(median 7 species per plot) compared to NRs(median15 species),attributed to lower soil pH,calcium availability,and moisture due to the dominance of spruce and the limited availability of CWD.Species richness was positively influenced by CWD volume,with two amounts identified:a minimum of 4 m^(3)·ha^(-1) to prevent significant biodiversity loss and 20 m^(3)·ha^(-1)to support sensitive and dendrophile species.At the within-plot scale,CWD was the species richest mesohabitat,playing a particularly important role in acidic and nutrient-poor environments.Furthermore,beech basal area positively correlated with species richness,mitigating the negative impact of spruce.The findings highlight the critical need for changes in forest management,including increased retention of CWD and integration of deciduous trees,to support biodiversity in intensively managed forests.These measures are particularly urgent given the susceptibility of spruce monocultures to climate change and pest outbreaks.Gastropods,as sessile indicators of environmental change,may serve as effective umbrella species for conservation efforts targeting forest soil biodiversity.展开更多
Urban and peri-urban forests and trees play an important role by providing ecosystem services. Vegetation in sacred and cult places is among the useful forests and trees, but their characteristics are not well-documen...Urban and peri-urban forests and trees play an important role by providing ecosystem services. Vegetation in sacred and cult places is among the useful forests and trees, but their characteristics are not well-documented. It’s necessary to assess the potential of biodiversity conservation in sacred and cult places. This research aimed to enhance knowledge of the woody diversity in cult places in Ziguinchor. To achieve this, woody vegetation surveys were conducted to determine floristic composition and, diversity and structural parameters of woody vegetation. A total of 89 species belonging to 71 genera and 33 families were recorded, Fabaceae and Moraceae dominated in cemeteries and parishes, while Arecaceae and Euphorbiaceae were prevalent in mosques. Tree diversity varied according to cult places. Parishes recorded significatively higher diversity (2.2 ± 0.18) than cemeteries (1.59 ± 0.13) and mosques (1.07 ± 0.36). Cult places inflenced significatly the structural parameters. Tree density was higher in cemeteries (482.26 ± 302.71 indiv/ha) compared to parishes (197.61 ± 67.14 indiv/ha) and mosques (32.34 ± 4.89 indiv/ha). Mosques were characterized by higher canopy cover (25.43 ± 11.65 m2/ha), larger (83.72 ± 20.09 cm) and taller (16.28 ± 1.28 m) trees. Natural regeneration was also strongest in cemeteries (91.69% ± 3.715%), followed by parishes (62.22% ± 8.56%) and mosques (38.82% ± 14.5%). The cult places play an important ecological role in biodiversity conservation in urban and peri-urban areas.展开更多
Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.is an endemic shrub flower in China with 2n=10.This study used 228 cultivars from four populations,i.e.,Jiangnan,Japan,Northwest,and Zhongyuan,as materials to explore the genetic diversity le...Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.is an endemic shrub flower in China with 2n=10.This study used 228 cultivars from four populations,i.e.,Jiangnan,Japan,Northwest,and Zhongyuan,as materials to explore the genetic diversity levels among different populations of tree peony varieties.The results showed that 34 bands were amplified using five pairs of cp SSR primers,with an average of 6.8 bands per primer pair.The average number of different alleles(N_(a)),effective alleles(N_(e)),Shannon's information index(I),diversity(H),and polymorphic information content(PIC)were 3.600,2.053,0.708,0.433,and 0.388,respectively.The PIC value was between 0.250 and 0.500,indicating a moderate level of polymorphism for the five cp SSR primer pairs.The genetic diversity levels of peony cultivars varied among different populations,with the Northwest population showing relatively lower levels(I=0.590,H=0.289,and PIC=0.263).A total of 52 haplotypes were identified in the four examined populations,and the number of haplotypes per population ranged from 11 to 22.Forty-four private haplotypes were detected across populations,and the Northwest population exhibiting the highest count of private haplotypes with 17.The mean number of effective number of haplotypes(N_(eh)),haplotypic richness(R_(h)),and diversity(H)were 8.351,6.824,and 0.893,respectively.Analysis of molecular variance indicated that genetic variation within tree peony germplasm was greater than that between germplasm resources,and the main variation was found within individuals of peony germplasm.Cluster analysis,principal coordinate analysis,and genetic structure analysis classified tree peonies from different origins into two groups,indicating a certain degree of genetic differentiation among these four tree peony cultivation groups.This study provides a theoretical basis for the exploration,utilization,and conservation of peony germplasm resources,as well as for research on the breeding of excellent varieties.展开更多
基金funded by the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(ZDBS-LY-7001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170398,42211540718,W2433074,32071541)+6 种基金the CAS“Light of West China”Programthe Xingdian Talent Support Program of Yunnan Province(XDYC-QNRC-2022-0026)the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan(202201AT070222)the Fund of Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics(CWR-2024-04)funding from the China Scholarship Council(202304910135,202304910138)for their oneyear study at the University of Toronto,Canadathe Pakistan Science Foundation&NSFC for the joint venture under the project(PSF-NSFC/JSEP/BIO/COAU(04))surpported by the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(2023ZKZD36).
文摘Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ecosystem functions,and offers a unique window into multifaceted plant diversity patterns.This review synthesizes research on Himalayan plant diversity,including species,phylogenetic,functional,and genetic dimensions,highlighting knowledge gaps and solutions.Research on Himalayan plant diversity has developed significantly.However,gaps remain,especially in studies on phylogenetic and functional diversity.The region's vegetation ranges from tropical rainforests to alpine ecosystems,with species richness typically following a hump-shaped distribution along elevation gradients.The eastern Himalaya exhibits higher plant diversity than the central and western regions.Low-elevation communities were found to be more functionally diverse,whereas high-elevation communities displayed greater ecological specialization.Communities at mid-elevations tend to show greater phylogenetic diversity than those at higher and lower elevations.The eastern and western flanks of the Himalaya retain high levels of genetic diversity and serve as glacial refugia,whereas the central region acts as a hybrid zone for closely related species.Himalayan plant diversity is shaped by historical,climatic,ecological and anthropogenic factors across space and time.However,this rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened by environmental change and growing anthropogenic pressures.Unfortunately,research efforts are constrained by spatial biases and the lack of transnational initiatives and collaborative studies,which could significantly benefit from interdisciplinary approaches,and other coordinated actions.These efforts are vital to safeguarding the Himalayan natural heritage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32130013,32070434)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2601601)+1 种基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK05010112,2019QZKK0304-02)Hainan Tropical Rainforest Conservation Research Project,ZDYF2023RDYL01(supported by the Hainan Institute of National Park,HINP,KY-24ZK02).
文摘Understanding the genetic diversity–area relationship(GAR)is essential for comprehending how species adapt to environmental changes,as genetic diversity is an indicator of a species’adaptive potential.Variation in environmental adaptation capacity exists among species and animal taxa with different distribution areas,highlighting the importance of understanding the GAR.To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the GAR in terrestrial vertebrates,we assessed both haplotype diversity–area and nucleotide diversity–area relationships using 25,453 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI)sequences from 142 amphibian species,574 bird species,and 342 mammal species.We found that both measures of genetic diversity increased with species range size across major animal groups.Nevertheless,the GAR did not differ among animal groups,while haplotype diversity performed better than nucleotide diversity in profiling the GAR,as indicated by higher R2 values.The difference in the modeling fit may stem from the distinct biological and mathematical significance of nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity.These results suggest that the GAR follows similar rules among different animal taxa.Furthermore,haplotype diversity may serve as a more reliable indicator for assessing the potential effects of area size changes on animal populations and provide better guidance for conserving genetic diversity.
基金funded by the National Research,Development and Innovation Office(NKFIH FK 142428 grant)The contribution of Z.B.was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and by the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research,Development and Innovation Fund(ÚNKP-23-5-SZTE-697)+2 种基金K.F.was supported by the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research,Development and Innovation Fund(ÚNKP-23-3-SZTE-441)C.T.was supported by the NKFIH K 146137 grantA.E-V.was supported by the long-term research development project of the Czech Academy of Sciences(RVO 67985939).
文摘Topographic complexity supports the maintenance of a high diversity of microhabitats,which may act as important‘safe havens’-or microrefugia-for biodiversity.Microrefugia are sites with specific environmental conditions that facilitate the persistence of species during environmental changes and exhibit unique ecoevolutionary dynamics.However,our knowledge about how topographic complexity and related ecoevolutionary selective forces influence the functional and phylogenetic signatures of species assemblages in microrefugia is very limited.Although the conceptual framework on the systematic integration of plant functional traits into the study of refugia is well established,more empirical studies on functional trait composition and functional diversity in refugia are urgently needed for more effective conservation.Here we analyzed the distribution of various plant functional traits and phylogenetic patterns in microhabitats(south-and north-facing slopes,and bottoms)of 30 large topographic depressions(i.e.doline microrefugia)and microhabitats of the surrounding plateaus in two distant forested karst regions.We found that plant assemblages in the understory of dolines and their surroundings are characterized by unique functional values and combinations of traits.Doline bottoms had the highest functional diversity among doline microhabitats and supported plant assemblages with considerably different trait compositions from the plateaus.Bottoms also had the highest phylogenetic diversity.These results suggest that topographic complexity in forested dolines has a significant effect on the distribution of plant functional traits in the understory.High functional and phylogenetic diversity in doline bottoms can have important consequences for the long-term survival of plant populations,highlighting that these microhabitats may provide a higher resilience and support an adaptive community-level response to natural and anthropogenic stressors.Understanding mechanisms that drive the survival of species within microrefugia is required to determine the best conservation and management strategies.
文摘The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for the life form category'chamaephytes'.Unfortunately,this incorrect term was used throughout the article following the nomenclature of this official database:in one instance in the main text,in Fig.3 and its caption,in Fig.5,and in two instances in the supplementary material.
文摘On the morning of May 31st,the parallel forum"Seeking Harmony without Uniformity in Mutual Learning:Diversity of Civilisations from the Sinologists'Perspective"was held in Dunhuang.The forum was hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding and organised by Beijing Language and Culture University.Leading Sinologists and Chinese culture researchers from Europe,Asia and Latin America gathered to discuss the theme of civilisational diversity and explore pathways for coexistence and mutual enrichment.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Programme of China(No.2023YFC3206903)the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51938010)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(No.SJCX23_1717).
文摘Red anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) granular sludge (AnGS) has been reported insuccessfully operating Anammox systems, and its color is associated with sludge activity.However, in long-term operating systems, AnGS exhibits different sensory colors, physicalstructures, community structures, and denitrification performance, but the relationship betweenthem has not yet been elucidated.The AnGS of the Anammox system, which has beenin operation for more than a decade, can be divided into twomain categories: red and white.The specific Anammox activity (SAA) in conventional red AnGS increased continuously asthe particle size increased from <0.51 mm to 6.02 ± 0.84 mm. The SAA of white AnGS wereslightly lower than those of red AnGS with similarly-size granules but significantly higherthan AnGS with smaller red granules. Compared with red AnGS, the extracellular polymericsubstances of white AnGS were significantly reduced,mainly due to the higher intracellulariron content, resulting in lower heme c concentration. Thus, heme c may prove not to bean evaluative tool for measuring Anammox activity. Red and white AnGS, whether throughself-aggregation or adsorption by hydroxyl apatite and other carriers, will face the fate ofinternal voids during particle size growth. White AnGS exhibited amore complex microbialcommunity than red AnGS. Candidatus Brocadia was abundant in red AnGS and the abundanceincreased with increasing granule size. Candidatus Kuenenia and Candidatus Jetteniamade significant contributions to denitrification in white AnGS. This study provides a newperspective on particle selection for anammox engineering applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32271734)。
文摘The acceleration of global urbanization has caused habitat loss,fragmentation,and decrease of habitat quality,often leading to a decline in biodiversity.However,most previous urbanization studies focused on taxonomic diversity,with relatively less research on functional and phylogenetic diversity.In this study,we examined the phylogenetic and functional diversity and underlying influencing factors of bird communities in 37 urban parks in Nanjing,China.We conducted a systematic survey of bird communities in Nanjing urban parks and selected six park characteristics that are generally considered to affect bird diversity.Model selection based on corrected Akaike Information Criterion(AICc)and model averaging showed that park area,habitat diversity and building index(a proxy for the degree of urbanization)were significant factors affecting avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in Nanjing urban parks.Specifically,habitat diversity and park area were positively correlated with bird diversity,while the building index was negatively correlated with bird diversity.Moreover,the phylogenetic and functional structures of urban bird communities exhibited a clustered pattern,indicating that environmental filtering might play a role in shaping community composition.In addition,building index had certain impact on the construction of bird phylogenetic communities in urban parks.Our results suggest that expanding park areas,increasing habitat diversity and reducing building indexes may be effective measures to increase the avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in our system.
文摘Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored variations in composition, diversity, cover,and life forms of vascular plants along a complete altitudinal gradient(1300-4000 m a.s.l) in Sierra de Velasco, an arid mountain in northwestern Argentina.We evaluated the influence of environmental variables on plant diversity and cover. Field sampling was conducted in the northern sector of the Sa. de Velasco,on the western slope in eight 50 m wide altitudinal bands at 400 m elevation intervals. We used rectangular plots(20 × 4 m;n:10/altitudinal band) to register the vascular plants of all the growth forms, and linear transects(20 m long.;n:30/altitudinal band) to quantify the vegetation cover using the point intercept method. Diversity was calculated using hill numbers.Data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS), indicator species analysis,generalized linear models(GLMs), and variance partitioning analysis. A total of 232 species from 51families and 158 genera were registered. Species composition showed greater similarity at intermediate elevations. Plant diversity and cover exhibited a unimodal distribution, peaking at intermediate elevations(2100-2500 m). In contrast, life forms' distribution showed divergent patterns. Therophytes and succulents predominated at low altitudes,phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes at medium altitudes, and chamaephytes and geophytes at high altitudes. The altitudinal patterns of plant diversity and cover were primarily driven by climatic factors.Conservation efforts in the Sierra de Velasco should focus on the middle and upper zones due to their high biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change.
基金Supported by Central Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Fund Project Free Exploration Basic Research(YDZJSX20231A002)Yuncheng Salt Lake Ecological Environment Background Investigation and Research Project.
文摘[Objectives]To explore biodiversity characteristics of Yuncheng Salt Lake and provide protection countermeasures.[Methods]According to the field survey data of 978 plant quadrats and cluster analysis,species diversity indicators such as Margalef richness index and Shannon-Wiener index were selected to deeply explore the structure and diversity characteristics of higher plant communities in Yuncheng Salt Lake.[Results]There were 117 species belonging to 97 genera and 35 families of higher plants in Yuncheng Salt Lake,of which Asteraceae and Gramineae were dominant families,and the North Temperate Distribution Genus accounted for 27.35%of the total genera;according to profile coefficient method,the optimal cluster number was 7,which was divided into 7 plant community types,including Artemisia capillaris community and Suaeda glauca(Bunge)community;the Lolium perenne community was the highest(d=2.537),the Artemisia scoparia community was the best(E=0.658),the Suaeda salsa(L.)Pall community was the lowest(H′=1.779),and the spatial distribution of species showed a significant aggregation pattern.[Conclusions]We put forward some countermeasures for biodiversity protection,including constructing dynamic monitoring system,implementing adaptive management strategy and promoting multi-party collaborative governance,so as to provide scientific theoretical basis and practical guidance for ecological restoration and sustainable development of Yuncheng Salt Lake.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number 31901109)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(grant number 2021A1515110744).
文摘Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta diversity we concerned.To obtain a comprehensive understanding of assemblage dissimilarity and its implications for biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas,we explored the elevational patterns and determinants of beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components of pairwise and multiple types and taxonomic and phylogenetic dimensions simultaneously.Patterns of beta diversity and their components of different types and dimensions were calculated based on 96 sampling quadrats along an 1800-5400 m elevational gradient.We examined whether and how these patterns differed from random expectations using null models.Furthermore,we used random forest methods to quantify the role of environmental variables representing climate,topography,and human disturbance in determining these patterns.We found that beta diversity and its turnover component,regardless of its types and dimensions,shown a hump-shaped elevational patterns.Both pairwise and multiple phylogenetic beta diversity were remarkably lower than their taxonomic counterpart.These patterns were significantly less than random expectation and were mostly associated with climate variables.In summary,our results suggested that assemblage dissimilarity of seed plants was mostly originate from the replacement of closely related species determined by climate-driven environmental filtering.Accordingly,conservation efforts should better cover elevations with different climate types to maximalize biodiversity conservation,rather than only focus on elevations with highest species richness.Our study demonstrated that comparisons of beta diversity of different types,dimensions,and components could be conductive to consensus on the origin and mechanism of assemblage dissimilarity.
基金funded by the Empresas Públicas de Medellín and Universidad de Antioquia.
文摘Understanding the evolutionary processes that influence the distribution of genetic diversity in natural populations is a key issue in evolutionary biology. Both species' distribution ranges and environmental gradients can influence this diversity through mechanisms such as gene flow, selection, and genetic drift. To explore how these forces interact, we assessed neutral and adaptive genetic variation in three widely distributed and two narrowly distributed bird species co-occurring along the Cauca River canyon in Antioquia, Colombia—a region of pronounced environmental heterogeneity. We sampled individuals across eight sites spanning the canyon's gradient and analyzed genetic diversity and structure using microsatellites and toll-like receptors (TLRs), a gene family involved in innate immunity. Widely distributed species consistently exhibited higher genetic diversity at both marker types compared to their narrowly distributed counterparts. Although we did not find a significant relationship between microsatellite heterozygosity and TLR heterozygosity, we evidenced a negative trend for widely distributed species and a positive trend for narrowly distributed species. This result suggests that there is a stronger effect of genetic drift in narrowly distributed species. Our results highlight the role of distribution range in maintaining genetic diversity and suggest that environmental gradients, by interacting with gene flow and selection, may influence patterns of adaptive variation.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1304302)the Qaidam basin and Qilian Mountains germplasm resources collection project(Grant No.SJCZFY2022-1-6)。
文摘Understanding plant diversity within geographical ranges and identifying key species that drive community variation can provide crucial insights for the management of grasslands.However,the contribution of both local sites and plant species to beta diversity in grassland ecosystems has yet to be accurately assessed.This study applied the ecological uniqueness approach to examine both local contributions to beta diversity(LCBD)and species contributions to beta diversity(SCBD)across six major geographical ranges in alpine grasslands.We found that LCBD was driven by species turnover,with climate,plant communities,and their interactions influencing LCBD across spatial scales.LCBD values were high in areas with low evapotranspiration,high rainfall variability,and low species and functional richness.Precipitation seasonality predicted large-scale LCBD dynamics,while plant community abundance explained local LCBD variation.In addition,we found that SCBD were confined to species with moderate occupancy,although these species contributed less to plant biological traits.Our findings are crucial for understanding how ecological characteristics influence plant beta diversity in grasslands and how it responds to environmental and community factors.In addition,these findings have successfully identified key sites and priority plants for conservation,indicating that using standardized quadrats can support the assessment of the ecological uniqueness in grassland ecosystems.We hope these insights will inform the development of conservation strategies,thereby supporting regional plant diversity and resisting vegetation homogenization.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A2007 and 32160343)the Open Project of Key Laboratory of the Alpine Grassland Ecology in the Three Rivers Region(Qinghai University),Ministry of Education of China(2023-SJY-KF-02)the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences。
文摘The response of plant functional diversity to external disturbances not only effectively predicts changes in the ecosystem but it also reflects how plant communities use external environmental resources.However,research on how different herbivore assemblages affect plant functional diversity is limited.Therefore,this study systematically explored the effects of three typical herbivore assemblages(yak grazing,Tibetan sheep grazing,and mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep)on species richness,plant functional diversity,and soil physicochemical properties in alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.This study further investigated the primary mechanisms driving the changes in plant functional diversity.The results indicate four key aspects of this system:(1)Grazing significantly enhanced plant functional diversity,particularly when the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep was applied at a ratio of 1:2.This ratio showed the most substantial improvement in the functional dispersion index and Rao's quadratic entropy index.(2)Compared to enclosed treatments,grazing increased species richness andβ-diversity,contributing to higher plant functional diversity.(3)Grazing treatments affected various plant traits,such as reducing plant community height and leaf thickness while increasing specific leaf area.However,the impact on plant functional diversity was most pronounced under the mixed grazing by yaks and Tibetan sheep at a ratio of 1:2.(4)Speciesα-diversity was positively correlated with plant functional diversity.Changes in plant functional diversity were primarily regulated by variations in soil physicochemical properties.Specifically,increases in soil available nitrogen significantly promoted changes in plant functional diversity,while increases in soil available potassium and bulk density had a significant inhibitory effect on these changes.Long-term grazing significantly reduced the height of plant communities in alpine meadows,while a balanced mixture of yak and Tibetan sheep grazing,especially at a ratio of 1:2,enhanced plant functional diversity the most.This suggests that,under these conditions,the use of external environmental resources by the plant community is optimized.
基金financialsupport from the Jiangxi Natural Science Foundation(20242BAB25345)to Z.Z.the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(2023ZKZD36)to J.Z.
文摘The ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying montane biodiversity patterns remain unresolved.To understand which factors determined community assembly rules in mountains,biogeographic affinity that represents the biogeographic and evolutionary history of species should incorporate with current environments.We aim to address two following questions:1)How does plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity with disparate biogeographic affinitiesvary along the subtropical elevational gradient?2)How do biogeographic affinityand environmental drivers regulate the community assembly?We collected woody plant survey data of 32 forest plots in a subtropical mountain of Mt.Guanshan with typical transitional characteristics,including 250 woody plant species belonging to 56 families and 118 genera.We estimated the effects of biogeographic affinity,climate and soil properties on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of plant communities employing linear regression and structural equation models.We found that the richness of temperate-affiliated species increased with elevations,but the evenness decreased,while tropical-affiliatedspecies had no significantpatterns.Winter temperature directly or indirectly via biogeographic affinityshaped the assemblage of woody plant communities along elevations.Biogeographic affinityaffected what kind of species could colonize higher elevations while local environment determined their fitnessto adapt.These results suggest that biogeographic affinityand local environment jointly lead to the dominance of temperate-affiliated species at higher elevations and shape the diversity of woody plant communities along elevational gradients.Our findingshighlight the legacy effect of biogeographic affinityon the composition and structure of subtropical montane forests.
基金co-supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF0800800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41988101-01,42130205)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0707)。
文摘The utilization of palynological data for plant diversity reconstructions offers notable advantages in addressing the discontinuity of plant fossils in the stratigraphic record. However, additional studies of modern processes are required to validate or refine the accuracy of diversity results obtained from palynological data. In this study, we used a modern pollen dataset of China to compare the accuracy of plant diversity reconstructions using five different palynological diversity indices(i.e., the pollen species number, Berger-Parker index, Simpson diversity index, Hill index, and Shannon-Wiener index) over a large spatial scale. We then identified climate factors that are most strongly correlated with these patterns of plant diversity. We found that the index that most accurately reflects plant diversity is the Shannon-Wiener index. Our analyses indicated that the most effective indices at reflecting plant diversity are the Shannon-Wiener index and Berger-Parker index. Numerical analysis revealed that palynological diversity(measured using the Shannon-Wiener index) was strongly correlated with climatic parameters, in particular average temperature in the coldest month and annual precipitation,suggesting these factors may be primary determinants of plant diversity distribution. We also found that a threshold value of the normalized Shannon-Wiener index(NH = 0.4) approximately aligns with the contour line specifying 400 mm annual precipitation, serving as a rudimentary indicator for assessing plant diversity in arid versus humid climates. This study suggests that pollen diversity indices have remarkable potential for quantitatively reconstructing paleoclimatic parameters.
基金funded by the Tuscany region(project Nat-NET)Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan(NRRP),Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No.3138 of 16 December 2021,rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEUProject code CN_00000033,Concession Decree No.1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,CUP B63C22000650007,Project title“National Biodiversity Future Center-NBFC”.
文摘European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)forests can have a high variability in plant species richness and abundance,from monospecific stands to highly species-rich communities.To understand what causes the low plant diversity observed in some beech forests,we analyzed the drivers of plant community completeness in 155 vegetation plots.Data were collected in mature,closed-canopy beech forests in Tuscany,central Italy.Site-specific species pools were estimated based on species co-occurrences.We used Generalized Least Squares linear modeling to assess the effects of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on the community completeness of whole communities and on the set of specialist species of beech forests.We also tested the response of the total cover of the herb layer to the selected predictors and related both the predictive and response variables to species composition in a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination.The community completeness of whole communities and that of beech forest specialists were negatively affected by total beech cover and positively influenced by slope.Moreover,the community completeness of whole communities was negatively impacted by elevation and positively influenced by disturbance frequency.The cover of the herb layer decreased with increasing beech cover,elevation,and precipitation.High community completeness and high cover of the herb layer were associated with the presence of thermophilic species of mixed deciduous woods in low-elevation beech forests.Our results suggest that a low plant community completeness and a low cover of the herb layer are mainly due to the competition by beech itself when it forms pure forests in its ecological optimum.Such competition is better exerted at upper elevations and in sites with low slopes,where beech litter accumulation is a limiting factor for understory species.Such evidence suggests that species absence in mature beech forests is mainly due to natural drivers and should therefore not be considered an indicator of ecological degradation of the forest.
基金fnancially supported by the Czech Science Foundation(P504/23-05132S)by the Masaryk University Institutional Grant for Doctoral Students(MUNI/A/1667/2024).
文摘Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod diversity within managed spruce(Picea abies) forests in the Czech Republic,comparing results to nearby nature reserves(NRs).Gastropod species richness and composition were evaluated at both plot(50 m×50 m) and mesohabitat scales across gradients of CWD and beech(Fagus sylvatica) tree representation.Our results indicate significantly reduced species richness in managed forests(median 7 species per plot) compared to NRs(median15 species),attributed to lower soil pH,calcium availability,and moisture due to the dominance of spruce and the limited availability of CWD.Species richness was positively influenced by CWD volume,with two amounts identified:a minimum of 4 m^(3)·ha^(-1) to prevent significant biodiversity loss and 20 m^(3)·ha^(-1)to support sensitive and dendrophile species.At the within-plot scale,CWD was the species richest mesohabitat,playing a particularly important role in acidic and nutrient-poor environments.Furthermore,beech basal area positively correlated with species richness,mitigating the negative impact of spruce.The findings highlight the critical need for changes in forest management,including increased retention of CWD and integration of deciduous trees,to support biodiversity in intensively managed forests.These measures are particularly urgent given the susceptibility of spruce monocultures to climate change and pest outbreaks.Gastropods,as sessile indicators of environmental change,may serve as effective umbrella species for conservation efforts targeting forest soil biodiversity.
文摘Urban and peri-urban forests and trees play an important role by providing ecosystem services. Vegetation in sacred and cult places is among the useful forests and trees, but their characteristics are not well-documented. It’s necessary to assess the potential of biodiversity conservation in sacred and cult places. This research aimed to enhance knowledge of the woody diversity in cult places in Ziguinchor. To achieve this, woody vegetation surveys were conducted to determine floristic composition and, diversity and structural parameters of woody vegetation. A total of 89 species belonging to 71 genera and 33 families were recorded, Fabaceae and Moraceae dominated in cemeteries and parishes, while Arecaceae and Euphorbiaceae were prevalent in mosques. Tree diversity varied according to cult places. Parishes recorded significatively higher diversity (2.2 ± 0.18) than cemeteries (1.59 ± 0.13) and mosques (1.07 ± 0.36). Cult places inflenced significatly the structural parameters. Tree density was higher in cemeteries (482.26 ± 302.71 indiv/ha) compared to parishes (197.61 ± 67.14 indiv/ha) and mosques (32.34 ± 4.89 indiv/ha). Mosques were characterized by higher canopy cover (25.43 ± 11.65 m2/ha), larger (83.72 ± 20.09 cm) and taller (16.28 ± 1.28 m) trees. Natural regeneration was also strongest in cemeteries (91.69% ± 3.715%), followed by parishes (62.22% ± 8.56%) and mosques (38.82% ± 14.5%). The cult places play an important ecological role in biodiversity conservation in urban and peri-urban areas.
基金supported by Innovation Scientists and Technicians Troop Construction Projects of Henan Province(Grant No.212101510003)the Central Plains Scholar Workstation Project(Grant No.224400510002)+1 种基金the Youth Science Foundation of Henan Province(Grant No.202300410136)the Experimental Development Foundation of Henan University of Science and Technology(Grant No.SY2324004)。
文摘Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.is an endemic shrub flower in China with 2n=10.This study used 228 cultivars from four populations,i.e.,Jiangnan,Japan,Northwest,and Zhongyuan,as materials to explore the genetic diversity levels among different populations of tree peony varieties.The results showed that 34 bands were amplified using five pairs of cp SSR primers,with an average of 6.8 bands per primer pair.The average number of different alleles(N_(a)),effective alleles(N_(e)),Shannon's information index(I),diversity(H),and polymorphic information content(PIC)were 3.600,2.053,0.708,0.433,and 0.388,respectively.The PIC value was between 0.250 and 0.500,indicating a moderate level of polymorphism for the five cp SSR primer pairs.The genetic diversity levels of peony cultivars varied among different populations,with the Northwest population showing relatively lower levels(I=0.590,H=0.289,and PIC=0.263).A total of 52 haplotypes were identified in the four examined populations,and the number of haplotypes per population ranged from 11 to 22.Forty-four private haplotypes were detected across populations,and the Northwest population exhibiting the highest count of private haplotypes with 17.The mean number of effective number of haplotypes(N_(eh)),haplotypic richness(R_(h)),and diversity(H)were 8.351,6.824,and 0.893,respectively.Analysis of molecular variance indicated that genetic variation within tree peony germplasm was greater than that between germplasm resources,and the main variation was found within individuals of peony germplasm.Cluster analysis,principal coordinate analysis,and genetic structure analysis classified tree peonies from different origins into two groups,indicating a certain degree of genetic differentiation among these four tree peony cultivation groups.This study provides a theoretical basis for the exploration,utilization,and conservation of peony germplasm resources,as well as for research on the breeding of excellent varieties.
