Conservationists have long debated whether fragmented habitats are best conserved by protecting a single large patch(SL)or several small patches(SS),i.e.,the SLOSS debate.Although this SLOSS debate has provided import...Conservationists have long debated whether fragmented habitats are best conserved by protecting a single large patch(SL)or several small patches(SS),i.e.,the SLOSS debate.Although this SLOSS debate has provided important insights into biodiversity conservation,research has predominantly focused on only one dimension of diversity(i.e.,taxonomic),failing to consider how phylogenetic and functional diversity might inform conservation strategies.In this study,we determined whether grasslands in the agro-pastoral ecotone of the Tabu River Basin,Inner Mongolia should be conserved by protecting a single large patch or several small patches.For this purpose,we quantified the relationships between three dimensions of biodiversity(taxonomic,phylogenetic,and functional diversity)and grassland patch area.We found species richness and the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity increased with patch area,whereas the standardized effect size of functional diversity decreased.Taxonomic measures of diversity indicated that the best strategy for conserving Tabu River Basin grasslands is to protect several small habitat patches;in contrast,phylogenetic and functional measures of diversity indicated that conserving a single large habitat patch was best.Our study emphasizes the necessity of considering multiple dimensions of diversity when designing conservation strategies for fragmented landscapes to achieve comprehensive biodiversity conservation.展开更多
Mountain ecosystems offer natural gradients for exploring biodiversity patterns;however,the elevational patterns of plant species and phylogenetic diversity in the eastern Pamir Plateau remain poorly understood.As a b...Mountain ecosystems offer natural gradients for exploring biodiversity patterns;however,the elevational patterns of plant species and phylogenetic diversity in the eastern Pamir Plateau remain poorly understood.As a biogeographical junction of the Central Asian mountain ranges,the eastern Pamir Plateau in China is geographically connected to the main part of the Pamir Plateau in Tajikistan,resulting in significant climatic and topographical heterogeneity and unique regional vegetation communities.In this study,we established 5 elevational transects and 91 plots (1500–4870 m) in the eastern Pamir Plateau to investigate the patterns and environmental drivers of plant diversity at both regional and local spatial scales.We examined diversity patterns and community composition using regression models and community structure analysis and quantified the relative importance of environmental factors using a random forest model.The results showed a distinct differentiation along elevation gradients,with overall plant diversity,herbaceous plant diversity,and phylogenetic diversity index increasing with elevation,whereas woody plant diversity declined.The phylogenetic structure indices (including net relatedness index and nearest taxon index) exhibited heterogeneous elevational responses,indicating that community assembly was jointly driven by environmental filtering and niche differentiation.Soil nutrients,water availability,and temperature were the primary environmental drivers,with soil factors predominantly influencing herbaceous plant diversity,while climatic variables dominated woody plant diversity.These findings demonstrate that plant diversity along elevational gradients of the eastern Pamir Plateau exhibits the characteristic patterns of a unique arid mountain ecosystem,where enhanced soil fertility and moderate moisture at higher elevations partly offset energy limitations,thereby maintaining plant diversity through functional convergence of closely related lineages.This pattern of biodiversity maintenance contrasts with the divergence-driven community assembly processes commonly observed in humid mountain systems.Overall,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity maintenance in the eastern Pamir Plateau.Given its geographical continuity with the Pamir Plateau in Tajikistan,our findings can provide a basis for alpine conservation efforts across arid Central Asia.展开更多
Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the She...Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers of α-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation in α-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.展开更多
Dear Editor,Understanding patterns of species diversity is a primary research focus in macroecology,with its distribution patterns having been described and theoretically validated on a global scale(Peters et al.,2016...Dear Editor,Understanding patterns of species diversity is a primary research focus in macroecology,with its distribution patterns having been described and theoretically validated on a global scale(Peters et al.,2016;Sonne et al.,2025).Numerous studies have found that species richness of different taxa tends to decrease with increasing elevation and is modulated by latitudinal gradients(Peters et al.,2016;Dolson et al.,2024).This principle provides a crucial scientific basis for regional conservation planning.However,it still exhibits significant variations across different mountain ranges and taxa.展开更多
Despite Morocco's reliance on sunflower as an oilseed crop,little is known about its agronomic performance when sown in autumn or early winter.This knowledge gap is critical,as spring-sown varieties have shown dec...Despite Morocco's reliance on sunflower as an oilseed crop,little is known about its agronomic performance when sown in autumn or early winter.This knowledge gap is critical,as spring-sown varieties have shown declining performance in recent years under intensifying climate stress.Therefore,targeted breeding strategies could discover genotypes suitable for autumn or early winter sowing,with cold tolerance as a key selection criterion.Currently,‘Ichraq'is the only autumn-planted sunflower variety officially registered in Morocco,although efforts to release additional tolerant varieties are underway.This study evaluated 31 genotypes(MGB1to MGB31)selected from various environments under autumn planting conditions and conserved in the Moroccan Gene Bank.These genotypes were planted in early winter at a mountainous site known for its pronounced winter cold.Eighteen Morphological,physiological and agronomic parameters including initial vigor,leaf area,seed yield,oil content etc.,were assessed using both univariate and multivariate statistical approaches.Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences across most traits,indicating substantial genetic variation.Notably,seed oil content ranged from 23.28%(MGB26)to 43.88%(MGB5),and seed yield from1400 kg/ha(MGB7)to 5400 kg/ha(MGB8).Principal component analysis(PCA)identified that the first principal component,accounting for over 24%of the total phenotypic variance,exhibits a strong positive loading of yield-related traits and chlorophyll content,while displaying a pronounced negative loading for oil content variables.This opposing gradient indicates a clear trade-off between vegetative productivity and oil accumulation across the evaluated genotypes.Hierarchical cluster analysis resolved the germplasm into two principal clusters with high within-group similarity,each further partitioned into relatively homogeneous subgroups.Notably,several genotypes outperformed the control variety Ichraq,underscoring their potential for autumn or early winter cultivation.Nonetheless,essential multi-environment trials remain to validate their phenotypic stability and to ascertain their value as genetic resources for sunflower breeding programs in Morocco and other Mediterranean agro-ecosystems.展开更多
In this paper,we propose a random access scheme termed sign-compute diversity slotted ALOHA(SCDSA).The SCDSA scheme combines diversity transmission with compute-and-forward.Without considering the capture effect and m...In this paper,we propose a random access scheme termed sign-compute diversity slotted ALOHA(SCDSA).The SCDSA scheme combines diversity transmission with compute-and-forward.Without considering the capture effect and multiple user detection techniques,our scheme can reach a high throughput of 0.98 without feedback under finite frame size settings,where the upper bound on performance is 1.Moreover,a lower bound on throughput performance is derived,which is tight in some parameter settings and can be used to approximate theoretical performance.Simulation results validate our analysis and confirm the advantages of our proposed scheme.展开更多
Subtropical evergreen sub-montane forests in Punjab,Pakistan,are vital for carbon sequestration and play an essential role in supporting local communities.While the global importance of tree species diversity in enhan...Subtropical evergreen sub-montane forests in Punjab,Pakistan,are vital for carbon sequestration and play an essential role in supporting local communities.While the global importance of tree species diversity in enhancing aboveground carbon(AGC)storage is well established,there remains limited empirical evidence from Pakistan’s forest ecosystems.This study investigated how taxonomic and functional diversity,alongside topographical variables,influence AGC across four districts in Punjab.Taxonomic metrics such as the Importance Value Index(IVI)and genus richness were computed,along with functional diversity indices including functional richness(FRic),functional dispersion(FDis),functional divergence(FDiv),and functional evenness(FEve).AGC was estimated using species-specific allometric equations,and linear mixed-effects models were applied to identify the most influential predictors.Acacia modesta and A.nilotica emerged as the dominant species in the studied sites.While species richness and biomass increased with elevation,Shannon diversity showed a negative relationship with elevation.AGC values ranged from 100 to 350 Mg ha⁻¹across the study sites.Among diversity metrics,FRic(0.042)and FDis(0.342)were significantly associated with higher AGC,whereas taxonomic diversity measures showed weaker correlations.Although elevation was a strong predictor of diversity patterns,it did not have a significant direct effect on carbon storage.These findings underscore the importance of incorporating functional trait diversity and topographic variability into forest management strategies to enhance carbon sequestration,strengthen ecosystem resilience and support sustainable rural livelihoods.展开更多
Lichens exhibit exceptional ecological adaptability,thriving in diverse habitats ranging from temperate forests to extreme environments.They colonize various substrates,including tree bark,rocks,soil,and artificial su...Lichens exhibit exceptional ecological adaptability,thriving in diverse habitats ranging from temperate forests to extreme environments.They colonize various substrates,including tree bark,rocks,soil,and artificial surfaces,playing critical roles as bioindicators of air quality and environmental change.Despite their ecological and economic importance,regions like Pakistan remain underexplored for lichen diversity,leaving significant gaps in knowledge about local lichen flora.This study hypothesizes that the ecological diversity and environmental gradients in the Hazara Division,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,significantly influence the distribution,composition,and community structure of lichens.Field surveys were conducted from March 2021 to December 2023 across 48 locations in the Hazara Division,covering diverse altitudes,aspects,and vegetation types.Epiphytic lichens were sampled using standardized transect methods with vertical grids on tree stems.Specimens were collected,shade-dried,and identified using chemical spot tests.Multivariate analyses,including TWINSPAN,CCA,and DCA,were employed to examine species-environment relationships.A total of 97 lichen species were identified across 44 genera and 19 families.Physciaceae was the dominant family(24 species).Foliose lichens represented 55%of the total species,highlighting morphological diversity.Among the recorded species,11 were new to Pakistan,and 30 were newly documented for the Himalayan region of Hazara.The study documented 52 host tree species across 36 genera,with Quercus being the most dominant genus.Multivariate analyses identified seven distinct lichen communities.Altitude and road distance emerged as the strongest drivers of lichen distribution,with specific species exhibiting distinct responses to environmental gradients.In DCA ordination the Eigen value was maximum for axis 1,(0.67)followed by axis 2(0.56).The maximum gradients was 5.87 recorded axis 1.Canonical Correspondence Analysis captured 15.09%of the total variation,with significant contributions from altitude,temperature,and substrate type.The per mutation result for all axis were pseudo(F=1.1,P=0.01).The result showed that species,stand and environmental variables were in linear combination with each other.This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of lichen diversity and ecology in the Hazara Division,unveiling significant species-environment relationships and ecological patterns.The findings underscore the importance of multivariate analysis in lichen studies and highlight the region's potential for further ecological and conservation research.展开更多
Building reliable intent-based,task-oriented dialog systems typically requires substantial manual effort:designers must derive intents,entities,responses,and control logic from raw conversational data,then iterate unt...Building reliable intent-based,task-oriented dialog systems typically requires substantial manual effort:designers must derive intents,entities,responses,and control logic from raw conversational data,then iterate until the assistant behaves consistently.This paper investigates how far large language models(LLMs)can automate this development.In this paper,we use two reference corpora,Let’s Go(English,public transport)and MEDIA(French,hotel booking),to prompt four LLM families(GPT-4o,Claude,Gemini,Mistral Small)and generate the core specifications required by the rasa platform.These include intent sets with example utterances,entity definitions with slot mappings,response templates,and basic dialog flows.To structure this process,we introduce a model-and platform-agnostic pipelinewith two phases.The first normalizes and validates LLM-generated artifacts,enforcing crossfile consistency andmaking slot usage explicit.The second uses a lightweight dialog harness that runs scripted tests and incrementally patches failure points until conversations complete reliably.Across eight projects,all models required some targeted repairs before training.After applying our pipeline,all reached≥70%task completion(many above 84%),while NLU performance ranged from mid-0.6 to 1.0 macro-F1 depending on domain breadth.These results show that,with modest guidance,current LLMs can produce workable end-to-end dialog prototypes directly fromraw transcripts.Our main contributions are:(i)a reusable bootstrap method aligned with industry domain-specific languages(DSLs),(ii)a small set of high-impact corrective patterns,and(iii)a simple but effective harness for closed-loop refinement across conversational platforms.展开更多
Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges...Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).展开更多
Haemosporidian parasites are widespread among birds globally,with impacts ranging from severe disease to negligible effects,particularly in host species that have coevolved with their parasites.Despite their ecologica...Haemosporidian parasites are widespread among birds globally,with impacts ranging from severe disease to negligible effects,particularly in host species that have coevolved with their parasites.Despite their ecological importance,the divereity and prevalence of these parasites in the Afrotropical region remain poorly understood,especially in urban environments.Our study investigated the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites in Afrotropical avian hosts,focusing on differences between urban and non-urban habitats.We screened 95birds from various species in Nigeria and investigated whether urbanization is associated with chan ges in the prevalence and richness of lineages of three haemosporidian parasites(Haemoproteus,Plasmodium,and Leucocytozoon).We found a haemosporidian prevalence of 36.8%with genus-specific differences between urban and non-urban habitats.The probability of Haemoproteus infection was higher in urban than non-urban habitats,but Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon did not differ between these habitats.Moreover,Haemoproteus lineages were exclusively found in urban habitats,while most Plasmodium lineages were restricted to non-urban habitats.Notably,we expanded the knowledge on diversity of haemosporidian lineages and avian hosts in the Afrotropics,with the first-ever record of hPYNJOC1 and pLUME2 lineages for the region,and the addition of new hosts for four Haemoproteus and two Plasmodium lineages.Our findings highlight the complexity of host-parasite relationships and the need for further research into the dynamics of haemosporidian parasites in Afrotropical avian hosts inhabiting diverse habitats.Overall,our study contributes to a better understanding of the prevalence,diversity,and distribution of haemosporidian parasites in the Afrotropics,emphasizing the importance of continued surveillance and monitoring to inform strategies for avian conservation and management.展开更多
Wetlands are vital ecosystems that perform essential functions such as climate regulation,environmental purification,material circulation and energy flow.They play an essential role in global biogeochemical cycles,dri...Wetlands are vital ecosystems that perform essential functions such as climate regulation,environmental purification,material circulation and energy flow.They play an essential role in global biogeochemical cycles,driven primarily by microorganisms.Understanding the distribution of wetland microorganisms across different temperature zones is key to comprehending their ecological roles.A meta-analysis of 704 wetland soil samples on microbial communities was conducted,using statistical methods like analysis of variance,principal component analysis,non-metric nultidimensional scaling,and structural equation modeling to examine biogeography and diversity across temperature zones.Our findings revealed a clear latitudinal diversity gradient pattern,with the highest microbial abundance in the tropics and the lowest in the southern temperate zone,which differed significantly from other temperature zones.Proteobacteria(37.76%-51.04%),Acidobacteria(5.11%-30.70%)and Bacteroidetes(3.43%-16.16%)dominanted the bacterial communities.Notably,the southern temperate zone showed significant variations,with a higher prevalence of Acidobacteria(30.07%).To investigate the causes of this variability,we screened 177 core microbiome and identified latitude as the core environmental factor influencing microbial community composition.Moreover,soil microorganisms exhibited strong nitrogen cycling potentials(particularly nirD and nirB)and carbon cycling potentials(especially accA),with gene abundances showing little variation across temperature zones.Wetland bacterial communities also demonstrated high stability,with average variation degree index values ranging from 0.1 to 0.3.Our results improve the understanding of the diversity and biogeographic mechanisms of wetland bacterial communities and hold significant implications for the management and conservation of wetlands.展开更多
Habitat loss driven by land-use change is a major factor shaping the dynamics of urban bird community structures.However,the potential mechanisms by which the spatial configuration and composition of blue-green infras...Habitat loss driven by land-use change is a major factor shaping the dynamics of urban bird community structures.However,the potential mechanisms by which the spatial configuration and composition of blue-green infrastructure,recognized as biodiversity hotspots in urban landscapes,influence urban bird beta diversity remain insufficiently understood.This study was conducted in the built-up area of Yinchuan,an internationally recognized wetland city in Northwest China.From December 2023 to June 2024,we systematically surveyed bird communities during both the breeding and wintering periods across 29 blue-green space mosaics.We quantified taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity,along with their turnover component and nestedness-resultant component,based on both pairwise beta diversity and multiple-site beta diversity.We further assessed the relative importance of landscape variables and spatial geographic distance in shaping beta diversity patterns and used hierarchical modeling of species communities(HMSC)to explore the responses of bird occurrence and functional traits to landscape variables.Our results revealed that species turnover was the dominant driver of taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity.Seasonal differences were observed in the effects of spatial geographic distance and landscape structure on beta diversity and its components,with landscape variables showing higher explanatory power than geographic isolation.In the breeding period,landscape diversity and waterbody area had positive effects on bird occurrence,whereas in the wintering period,most landscape features—except for landscape diversity—exerted neutral or negative influences.Regarding functional traits,we found that reproductive traits,flight ability,and foraging characteristics responded significantly to landscape structure,and that some small-bodied species active in aerial and canopy layers were more adaptable to habitat fragmentation.This study provides novel insights into the assembly processes and driving mechanisms of urban bird communities and offers scientific support for the notion that designing and maintaining blue-green infrastructure can contribute to urban biodiversity conservation.展开更多
University students,fashion models,street musicians,recent graduates…hundreds of aspiring singers gathered on the campus of the University of Nairobi in Kenya for a music audition.Some had guitars slung across their ...University students,fashion models,street musicians,recent graduates…hundreds of aspiring singers gathered on the campus of the University of Nairobi in Kenya for a music audition.Some had guitars slung across their backs,others drummed rhythms on hand drums,and a few performed melodies they had written on their phones.展开更多
[Objectives]To analyze the microbial community structure and diversity in the rhizosphere soil of peach trees in the Tangshan area of Hebei Province,identify the dominant microbial groups,and explore their potential e...[Objectives]To analyze the microbial community structure and diversity in the rhizosphere soil of peach trees in the Tangshan area of Hebei Province,identify the dominant microbial groups,and explore their potential ecological functions.[Methods]Amplification sequencing analysis of bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of a peach orchard in Qian'an County,Tangshan City,Hebei Province,was performed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology.[Results]The indices of Sobs,Chao,ACE,and Shannon for soil bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of peach trees were all higher than those for fungi,indicating a more uniform and diverse bacterial community structure.At the phylum level,the bacteria with relatively high abundance included Pseudomonadota(28.29%),Acidobacteriota(18.10%),Bacillota(12.17%),and Actinomycetota(11.73%).In contrast,the fungi with relatively high abundance were Ascomycota(64.64%),Basidiomycota(14.22%),and Mortierellomycota(14.09%).At the genus level,the bacteria with relatively high abundance comprised Sphingomonas(5.00%),Priestia(3.38%),Nitrospira(2.05%),etc.The fungi with relatively high abundance included Fusarium(13.13%),Mortierella(12.86%),Tausonia(6.97%),Neocosmospora(4.77%),etc.[Conclusions]This study offers a foundational dataset and theoretical reference for the regulation of rhizosphere microecology and the management of soil health in peach orchards in Tangshan.展开更多
The Fujian oyster(Crassostrea angulata) is an economically significant shellfish species distributed mainly along the Fujian coast, Southeast China. However, its genetic diversity and structure remain unclear. The mai...The Fujian oyster(Crassostrea angulata) is an economically significant shellfish species distributed mainly along the Fujian coast, Southeast China. However, its genetic diversity and structure remain unclear. The main distribution area of the C. angulata is located in Fujian, South China. In total, 420 C. angulata were collected from 14 natural habitats(populations) along the Fujian coast, and their genetic diversity and structure were analyzed in the mitochondrial COI and nuclear gene ITS2 sequences. Results reveal that all the 14 populations of C. angulata exhibited high levels of genetic diversity, with a total of 57(haplotype diversity: 0.811±0.016) and 124(haplotype diversity: 0.912±0.007) haplotypes revealed by COI and ITS2, respectively. Notably, significant intermediate level of genetic differentiations between the Ningde Zhujiang(ZJ) population(FS T by COI: 0.035–0.142, P<0.05;FS T by ITS2: 0.078–0.123, P<0.05) with other populations were observed for the first time, which is also supported by the results of molecular variance analysis(FC T by COI: 0.105, P<0.05;FC T by ITS2: 0.086, P<0.05) and the clustering of the ZJ population into distinct branches in the interpopulation genetic differentiation tree. Furthermore, the evolutionary tree and haplotype network analyses do not support the formation of a clear geographical genealogical structure among these 14 populations. In addition, the population dynamics analysis suggests that the C. angulata may have undergone expansion during the third ice age of the Pleistocene. These results provide a reference for the preservation and further genetic improvement of C. angulata.展开更多
Biological invasion is one of the leading causes of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services.Wetlands situated within human-dominated landscapes are particularly vulnerable to these invasions...Biological invasion is one of the leading causes of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services.Wetlands situated within human-dominated landscapes are particularly vulnerable to these invasions.However,extent of plant invasions in many wetlands remains insufficiently known for guiding effective management.This study aimed to analyze the status of plant invasions in the Lake Cluster of the Pokhara Valley(LCPV),a Ramsar site encompassing nine wetlands in the rapidly urbanizing region of central Nepal.A total of 89 plots(20 m×5 m)along the lakeshore were surveyed to record the richness and coverage of both native and naturalized plant species.Water samples were also collected from each plot to measure nitrogen and phosphorus levels.Data were analyzed using analysis of variance,generalized linear models,multiple regression,and canonical correspondence analysis.The results revealed significant variation in native and naturalized species richness and composition across the wetlands.Naturalized species richness was positively correlated with native species richness.Species richness was the highest in the smallest wetlands site(i.e.,Kamalpokhari)and the species composition of the largest wetland site with the highest tourist visitation(i.e.,Phewa lake)was distinctly different from the rest of the other wetlands.Species composition similarity increased when only the naturalized species were accounted,relative to the scenario when only native species were considered,suggesting increased homogenization due to plant invasions.No significant effects of nitrogen or phosphorus levels on species richness or coverage were found.Understanding these local drivers that affect naturalized plant diversity in the LCPV can inform management strategies to protect these wetlands from further invasion by alien species.展开更多
The latitudinal diversity gradient(LDG)is one of the most notable biodiversity patterns in biogeography.The metabolic theory of ecology(MTE)explains ecological patterns,including the LDG.However,little is known about ...The latitudinal diversity gradient(LDG)is one of the most notable biodiversity patterns in biogeography.The metabolic theory of ecology(MTE)explains ecological patterns,including the LDG.However,little is known about whether the LDG remains stable over time as climate warming progresses and whether MTE remains applicable to clarify this pattern.In this study,forest data spanning temperate,subtropical,and tropical zones across China were used to analyze long-term changes in the LDG of tree species over 2005-2020.Based on the MTE framework,spatial scales were considered to assess temperature dependence of typical forest trees species.Our results show that species richness decreased with increasing latitude,and that temperature was the primary driver of this change.Although temperature in China has significantly increased over the past two decades,the LDG of tree species has remained stable.However,there was a decrease in species richness in tropical regions over time.With predictions of the MTE,the logarithm of typical forest tree species richness exhibited negative linear relationships with the inverse of ambient temperature,indicating temperature dependence of species richness.However,the relationship remained stable and was strongly influenced by spatial scale,intensifying as spatial scale increased.The findings emphasize the important role of temperature in shaping the LDG.The effects of spatial scale,in particular,should be considered when biodiversity management plans are developed for future climate change.展开更多
To ascertain the genetic diversity of gray leaf spot pathogen on Dictamnus dasycarpus popoulation in Heilongjiang Province,a total of 57 strains of Paracercospora dictamnicola were isolated and purified from the disea...To ascertain the genetic diversity of gray leaf spot pathogen on Dictamnus dasycarpus popoulation in Heilongjiang Province,a total of 57 strains of Paracercospora dictamnicola were isolated and purified from the diseased samples collected from five Chinese herbal medicine planting areas in Heilongjiang Province between the years of 2021 and 2022.Repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction(Rep–PCR)was used to amplify 57 isolates of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different regions of Heilongjiang Province.The polymorphic bands amplified by three sets of primers accounted for more than 80%.Cluster analysis results showed that at a similarity coefficient of 0.67,the gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus in Heilongjiang Province could be divided into five major genetic groups.Genetic diversity parameter analysis indicated that there were certain differences in genetic richness among the geographic populations of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different regions.Analysis of molecular variance(AMOVA)revealed that genetic variation among strains mainly originated within populations.The genetic differentiation and relationships of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different geographic regions of Heilongjiang Province indicated that genetic differentiation and kinship among populations were somewhat related to their geographic distance.The greater the geographic distance,the higher the genetic differentiation coefficient,and the lower the genetic uniformity among populations.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
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Key Project(2023ZD24)the Erdos City Major Science and Technology Special Project(ZD20232305)+3 种基金the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Plan Project(2025KYPT0012)the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Plan Project(2022ZD007)the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Education Department Project(NMGIRT2409)the Inner Mongolia First-Class Disciplines Scientific Research Special Project(YLXKZX-ND-047).
文摘Conservationists have long debated whether fragmented habitats are best conserved by protecting a single large patch(SL)or several small patches(SS),i.e.,the SLOSS debate.Although this SLOSS debate has provided important insights into biodiversity conservation,research has predominantly focused on only one dimension of diversity(i.e.,taxonomic),failing to consider how phylogenetic and functional diversity might inform conservation strategies.In this study,we determined whether grasslands in the agro-pastoral ecotone of the Tabu River Basin,Inner Mongolia should be conserved by protecting a single large patch or several small patches.For this purpose,we quantified the relationships between three dimensions of biodiversity(taxonomic,phylogenetic,and functional diversity)and grassland patch area.We found species richness and the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity increased with patch area,whereas the standardized effect size of functional diversity decreased.Taxonomic measures of diversity indicated that the best strategy for conserving Tabu River Basin grasslands is to protect several small habitat patches;in contrast,phylogenetic and functional measures of diversity indicated that conserving a single large habitat patch was best.Our study emphasizes the necessity of considering multiple dimensions of diversity when designing conservation strategies for fragmented landscapes to achieve comprehensive biodiversity conservation.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFE0214200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42201072)。
文摘Mountain ecosystems offer natural gradients for exploring biodiversity patterns;however,the elevational patterns of plant species and phylogenetic diversity in the eastern Pamir Plateau remain poorly understood.As a biogeographical junction of the Central Asian mountain ranges,the eastern Pamir Plateau in China is geographically connected to the main part of the Pamir Plateau in Tajikistan,resulting in significant climatic and topographical heterogeneity and unique regional vegetation communities.In this study,we established 5 elevational transects and 91 plots (1500–4870 m) in the eastern Pamir Plateau to investigate the patterns and environmental drivers of plant diversity at both regional and local spatial scales.We examined diversity patterns and community composition using regression models and community structure analysis and quantified the relative importance of environmental factors using a random forest model.The results showed a distinct differentiation along elevation gradients,with overall plant diversity,herbaceous plant diversity,and phylogenetic diversity index increasing with elevation,whereas woody plant diversity declined.The phylogenetic structure indices (including net relatedness index and nearest taxon index) exhibited heterogeneous elevational responses,indicating that community assembly was jointly driven by environmental filtering and niche differentiation.Soil nutrients,water availability,and temperature were the primary environmental drivers,with soil factors predominantly influencing herbaceous plant diversity,while climatic variables dominated woody plant diversity.These findings demonstrate that plant diversity along elevational gradients of the eastern Pamir Plateau exhibits the characteristic patterns of a unique arid mountain ecosystem,where enhanced soil fertility and moderate moisture at higher elevations partly offset energy limitations,thereby maintaining plant diversity through functional convergence of closely related lineages.This pattern of biodiversity maintenance contrasts with the divergence-driven community assembly processes commonly observed in humid mountain systems.Overall,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity maintenance in the eastern Pamir Plateau.Given its geographical continuity with the Pamir Plateau in Tajikistan,our findings can provide a basis for alpine conservation efforts across arid Central Asia.
基金supported by the Department of Biotechnology,Ministry of Science and Technology,Govt.India,under grant No.BT/Coord.Ⅱ/10/02/2016/22.03.2018the Indian Council of Social Science Research,New Delhi,India,for providing a short-term doctoral fellowship(RFD/Short-Term/2022-23/ENV/ST/66)。
文摘Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors(e.g.,climate and human)that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation.We used data from 1700.1-ha forest plots in the Shettihalli tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,India,to analyse tree community composition and the drivers of α-diversity(Shannon)andβ-diversity(LCBD).Compositional patterns were visualized using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS),and hybrid feature selection with structural equation modeling(SEM)was employed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on diversity.NMDS identified four distinct forest types in the Shettihalli landscape:semi-evergreen,dry deciduous,moist deciduous,and plantation forests,each with distinct plant composition.Shannon diversity and ecological uniqueness was significantly higher in semi-evergreen forest than in deciduous forest plots.The SEMs explained about 79%and 39–45%of the variation in α-diversity andβ-diversity.Our analysis indicated that current diversity patterns result from multiple processes,with structure,disturbance,and edaphic parameters exerting the strongest direct and indirect effects onα-diversity.β-diversity,in contrast,was largely influenced by climate,topography,stand structure,and edaphic factors.Overall,our findings indicate that various factors(e.g.,climate,topography,and human disturbance)interact to shape tree diversity patterns in tropical forests.These findings will help develop unique conservation and management strategies for distinct forest types in tropical forest ecosystems.
基金supported by the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects(Grant Nos.ZK[2022]540 and[2023]099)the Survey of Amphibian and Reptile Resources in Leigongshan Nature Reserve and Literature Publishing Services(P5226002023000019).
文摘Dear Editor,Understanding patterns of species diversity is a primary research focus in macroecology,with its distribution patterns having been described and theoretically validated on a global scale(Peters et al.,2016;Sonne et al.,2025).Numerous studies have found that species richness of different taxa tends to decrease with increasing elevation and is modulated by latitudinal gradients(Peters et al.,2016;Dolson et al.,2024).This principle provides a crucial scientific basis for regional conservation planning.However,it still exhibits significant variations across different mountain ranges and taxa.
文摘Despite Morocco's reliance on sunflower as an oilseed crop,little is known about its agronomic performance when sown in autumn or early winter.This knowledge gap is critical,as spring-sown varieties have shown declining performance in recent years under intensifying climate stress.Therefore,targeted breeding strategies could discover genotypes suitable for autumn or early winter sowing,with cold tolerance as a key selection criterion.Currently,‘Ichraq'is the only autumn-planted sunflower variety officially registered in Morocco,although efforts to release additional tolerant varieties are underway.This study evaluated 31 genotypes(MGB1to MGB31)selected from various environments under autumn planting conditions and conserved in the Moroccan Gene Bank.These genotypes were planted in early winter at a mountainous site known for its pronounced winter cold.Eighteen Morphological,physiological and agronomic parameters including initial vigor,leaf area,seed yield,oil content etc.,were assessed using both univariate and multivariate statistical approaches.Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences across most traits,indicating substantial genetic variation.Notably,seed oil content ranged from 23.28%(MGB26)to 43.88%(MGB5),and seed yield from1400 kg/ha(MGB7)to 5400 kg/ha(MGB8).Principal component analysis(PCA)identified that the first principal component,accounting for over 24%of the total phenotypic variance,exhibits a strong positive loading of yield-related traits and chlorophyll content,while displaying a pronounced negative loading for oil content variables.This opposing gradient indicates a clear trade-off between vegetative productivity and oil accumulation across the evaluated genotypes.Hierarchical cluster analysis resolved the germplasm into two principal clusters with high within-group similarity,each further partitioned into relatively homogeneous subgroups.Notably,several genotypes outperformed the control variety Ichraq,underscoring their potential for autumn or early winter cultivation.Nonetheless,essential multi-environment trials remain to validate their phenotypic stability and to ascertain their value as genetic resources for sunflower breeding programs in Morocco and other Mediterranean agro-ecosystems.
文摘In this paper,we propose a random access scheme termed sign-compute diversity slotted ALOHA(SCDSA).The SCDSA scheme combines diversity transmission with compute-and-forward.Without considering the capture effect and multiple user detection techniques,our scheme can reach a high throughput of 0.98 without feedback under finite frame size settings,where the upper bound on performance is 1.Moreover,a lower bound on throughput performance is derived,which is tight in some parameter settings and can be used to approximate theoretical performance.Simulation results validate our analysis and confirm the advantages of our proposed scheme.
文摘Subtropical evergreen sub-montane forests in Punjab,Pakistan,are vital for carbon sequestration and play an essential role in supporting local communities.While the global importance of tree species diversity in enhancing aboveground carbon(AGC)storage is well established,there remains limited empirical evidence from Pakistan’s forest ecosystems.This study investigated how taxonomic and functional diversity,alongside topographical variables,influence AGC across four districts in Punjab.Taxonomic metrics such as the Importance Value Index(IVI)and genus richness were computed,along with functional diversity indices including functional richness(FRic),functional dispersion(FDis),functional divergence(FDiv),and functional evenness(FEve).AGC was estimated using species-specific allometric equations,and linear mixed-effects models were applied to identify the most influential predictors.Acacia modesta and A.nilotica emerged as the dominant species in the studied sites.While species richness and biomass increased with elevation,Shannon diversity showed a negative relationship with elevation.AGC values ranged from 100 to 350 Mg ha⁻¹across the study sites.Among diversity metrics,FRic(0.042)and FDis(0.342)were significantly associated with higher AGC,whereas taxonomic diversity measures showed weaker correlations.Although elevation was a strong predictor of diversity patterns,it did not have a significant direct effect on carbon storage.These findings underscore the importance of incorporating functional trait diversity and topographic variability into forest management strategies to enhance carbon sequestration,strengthen ecosystem resilience and support sustainable rural livelihoods.
文摘Lichens exhibit exceptional ecological adaptability,thriving in diverse habitats ranging from temperate forests to extreme environments.They colonize various substrates,including tree bark,rocks,soil,and artificial surfaces,playing critical roles as bioindicators of air quality and environmental change.Despite their ecological and economic importance,regions like Pakistan remain underexplored for lichen diversity,leaving significant gaps in knowledge about local lichen flora.This study hypothesizes that the ecological diversity and environmental gradients in the Hazara Division,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,significantly influence the distribution,composition,and community structure of lichens.Field surveys were conducted from March 2021 to December 2023 across 48 locations in the Hazara Division,covering diverse altitudes,aspects,and vegetation types.Epiphytic lichens were sampled using standardized transect methods with vertical grids on tree stems.Specimens were collected,shade-dried,and identified using chemical spot tests.Multivariate analyses,including TWINSPAN,CCA,and DCA,were employed to examine species-environment relationships.A total of 97 lichen species were identified across 44 genera and 19 families.Physciaceae was the dominant family(24 species).Foliose lichens represented 55%of the total species,highlighting morphological diversity.Among the recorded species,11 were new to Pakistan,and 30 were newly documented for the Himalayan region of Hazara.The study documented 52 host tree species across 36 genera,with Quercus being the most dominant genus.Multivariate analyses identified seven distinct lichen communities.Altitude and road distance emerged as the strongest drivers of lichen distribution,with specific species exhibiting distinct responses to environmental gradients.In DCA ordination the Eigen value was maximum for axis 1,(0.67)followed by axis 2(0.56).The maximum gradients was 5.87 recorded axis 1.Canonical Correspondence Analysis captured 15.09%of the total variation,with significant contributions from altitude,temperature,and substrate type.The per mutation result for all axis were pseudo(F=1.1,P=0.01).The result showed that species,stand and environmental variables were in linear combination with each other.This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of lichen diversity and ecology in the Hazara Division,unveiling significant species-environment relationships and ecological patterns.The findings underscore the importance of multivariate analysis in lichen studies and highlight the region's potential for further ecological and conservation research.
基金This publication is part of the TrustBoost project,that has received funding from MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033,from FEDER,UEIt is a coordinated project by a multidisciplinary team from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid(UPM)and University of Granada(UGR),with two subprojects that address TrustBoost’s objectives:“Enhancing Trustworthiness in Conversational AI through Multimodal Affective Awareness”(Trust Boost-UPM,ref.PID2023-150584OB-C21)“Breaking the Duality of Conversational AI:Going beyond Guided Conversations While Ensuring Compliance with Domain Rules and Constraints”(Trust Boost-UGR,ref.PID2023-150584OB-C22).
文摘Building reliable intent-based,task-oriented dialog systems typically requires substantial manual effort:designers must derive intents,entities,responses,and control logic from raw conversational data,then iterate until the assistant behaves consistently.This paper investigates how far large language models(LLMs)can automate this development.In this paper,we use two reference corpora,Let’s Go(English,public transport)and MEDIA(French,hotel booking),to prompt four LLM families(GPT-4o,Claude,Gemini,Mistral Small)and generate the core specifications required by the rasa platform.These include intent sets with example utterances,entity definitions with slot mappings,response templates,and basic dialog flows.To structure this process,we introduce a model-and platform-agnostic pipelinewith two phases.The first normalizes and validates LLM-generated artifacts,enforcing crossfile consistency andmaking slot usage explicit.The second uses a lightweight dialog harness that runs scripted tests and incrementally patches failure points until conversations complete reliably.Across eight projects,all models required some targeted repairs before training.After applying our pipeline,all reached≥70%task completion(many above 84%),while NLU performance ranged from mid-0.6 to 1.0 macro-F1 depending on domain breadth.These results show that,with modest guidance,current LLMs can produce workable end-to-end dialog prototypes directly fromraw transcripts.Our main contributions are:(i)a reusable bootstrap method aligned with industry domain-specific languages(DSLs),(ii)a small set of high-impact corrective patterns,and(iii)a simple but effective harness for closed-loop refinement across conversational platforms.
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia(RCEECA),the construction and joint research for the China-Tajikistan“Belt and Road”Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use(2024YFE0214200)the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Partnership and International Technology Cooperation Plan of Science and Technology Projects(2023E01018,2025E01056)the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)(2024VBC0006).
文摘Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).
基金APLORI Foundations funded this study as part of the Ph D project awarded to A.G.Awoyemifunded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation(PID2019-107423GA-I00/SRA+1 种基金State Research Agency/10.13039/501100011033)supported by a postdoctoral contract from the University of Granada(‘Contrato Puente’UGR)。
文摘Haemosporidian parasites are widespread among birds globally,with impacts ranging from severe disease to negligible effects,particularly in host species that have coevolved with their parasites.Despite their ecological importance,the divereity and prevalence of these parasites in the Afrotropical region remain poorly understood,especially in urban environments.Our study investigated the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites in Afrotropical avian hosts,focusing on differences between urban and non-urban habitats.We screened 95birds from various species in Nigeria and investigated whether urbanization is associated with chan ges in the prevalence and richness of lineages of three haemosporidian parasites(Haemoproteus,Plasmodium,and Leucocytozoon).We found a haemosporidian prevalence of 36.8%with genus-specific differences between urban and non-urban habitats.The probability of Haemoproteus infection was higher in urban than non-urban habitats,but Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon did not differ between these habitats.Moreover,Haemoproteus lineages were exclusively found in urban habitats,while most Plasmodium lineages were restricted to non-urban habitats.Notably,we expanded the knowledge on diversity of haemosporidian lineages and avian hosts in the Afrotropics,with the first-ever record of hPYNJOC1 and pLUME2 lineages for the region,and the addition of new hosts for four Haemoproteus and two Plasmodium lineages.Our findings highlight the complexity of host-parasite relationships and the need for further research into the dynamics of haemosporidian parasites in Afrotropical avian hosts inhabiting diverse habitats.Overall,our study contributes to a better understanding of the prevalence,diversity,and distribution of haemosporidian parasites in the Afrotropics,emphasizing the importance of continued surveillance and monitoring to inform strategies for avian conservation and management.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52070019).
文摘Wetlands are vital ecosystems that perform essential functions such as climate regulation,environmental purification,material circulation and energy flow.They play an essential role in global biogeochemical cycles,driven primarily by microorganisms.Understanding the distribution of wetland microorganisms across different temperature zones is key to comprehending their ecological roles.A meta-analysis of 704 wetland soil samples on microbial communities was conducted,using statistical methods like analysis of variance,principal component analysis,non-metric nultidimensional scaling,and structural equation modeling to examine biogeography and diversity across temperature zones.Our findings revealed a clear latitudinal diversity gradient pattern,with the highest microbial abundance in the tropics and the lowest in the southern temperate zone,which differed significantly from other temperature zones.Proteobacteria(37.76%-51.04%),Acidobacteria(5.11%-30.70%)and Bacteroidetes(3.43%-16.16%)dominanted the bacterial communities.Notably,the southern temperate zone showed significant variations,with a higher prevalence of Acidobacteria(30.07%).To investigate the causes of this variability,we screened 177 core microbiome and identified latitude as the core environmental factor influencing microbial community composition.Moreover,soil microorganisms exhibited strong nitrogen cycling potentials(particularly nirD and nirB)and carbon cycling potentials(especially accA),with gene abundances showing little variation across temperature zones.Wetland bacterial communities also demonstrated high stability,with average variation degree index values ranging from 0.1 to 0.3.Our results improve the understanding of the diversity and biogeographic mechanisms of wetland bacterial communities and hold significant implications for the management and conservation of wetlands.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32401409)the Central Government’s Special Fund for National Key Protected Wildlife Conservation Projects in Yinchuan City(HXCG-ZC2023148,XZ-2024-16)。
文摘Habitat loss driven by land-use change is a major factor shaping the dynamics of urban bird community structures.However,the potential mechanisms by which the spatial configuration and composition of blue-green infrastructure,recognized as biodiversity hotspots in urban landscapes,influence urban bird beta diversity remain insufficiently understood.This study was conducted in the built-up area of Yinchuan,an internationally recognized wetland city in Northwest China.From December 2023 to June 2024,we systematically surveyed bird communities during both the breeding and wintering periods across 29 blue-green space mosaics.We quantified taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity,along with their turnover component and nestedness-resultant component,based on both pairwise beta diversity and multiple-site beta diversity.We further assessed the relative importance of landscape variables and spatial geographic distance in shaping beta diversity patterns and used hierarchical modeling of species communities(HMSC)to explore the responses of bird occurrence and functional traits to landscape variables.Our results revealed that species turnover was the dominant driver of taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity.Seasonal differences were observed in the effects of spatial geographic distance and landscape structure on beta diversity and its components,with landscape variables showing higher explanatory power than geographic isolation.In the breeding period,landscape diversity and waterbody area had positive effects on bird occurrence,whereas in the wintering period,most landscape features—except for landscape diversity—exerted neutral or negative influences.Regarding functional traits,we found that reproductive traits,flight ability,and foraging characteristics responded significantly to landscape structure,and that some small-bodied species active in aerial and canopy layers were more adaptable to habitat fragmentation.This study provides novel insights into the assembly processes and driving mechanisms of urban bird communities and offers scientific support for the notion that designing and maintaining blue-green infrastructure can contribute to urban biodiversity conservation.
文摘University students,fashion models,street musicians,recent graduates…hundreds of aspiring singers gathered on the campus of the University of Nairobi in Kenya for a music audition.Some had guitars slung across their backs,others drummed rhythms on hand drums,and a few performed melodies they had written on their phones.
文摘[Objectives]To analyze the microbial community structure and diversity in the rhizosphere soil of peach trees in the Tangshan area of Hebei Province,identify the dominant microbial groups,and explore their potential ecological functions.[Methods]Amplification sequencing analysis of bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of a peach orchard in Qian'an County,Tangshan City,Hebei Province,was performed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology.[Results]The indices of Sobs,Chao,ACE,and Shannon for soil bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of peach trees were all higher than those for fungi,indicating a more uniform and diverse bacterial community structure.At the phylum level,the bacteria with relatively high abundance included Pseudomonadota(28.29%),Acidobacteriota(18.10%),Bacillota(12.17%),and Actinomycetota(11.73%).In contrast,the fungi with relatively high abundance were Ascomycota(64.64%),Basidiomycota(14.22%),and Mortierellomycota(14.09%).At the genus level,the bacteria with relatively high abundance comprised Sphingomonas(5.00%),Priestia(3.38%),Nitrospira(2.05%),etc.The fungi with relatively high abundance included Fusarium(13.13%),Mortierella(12.86%),Tausonia(6.97%),Neocosmospora(4.77%),etc.[Conclusions]This study offers a foundational dataset and theoretical reference for the regulation of rhizosphere microecology and the management of soil health in peach orchards in Tangshan.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32172979)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2021J05159)the 2023 Special Program for Promoting High-Quality Development of Marine and Fishery Industry in Fujian Province(No.PJHYF-L-2023-2)。
文摘The Fujian oyster(Crassostrea angulata) is an economically significant shellfish species distributed mainly along the Fujian coast, Southeast China. However, its genetic diversity and structure remain unclear. The main distribution area of the C. angulata is located in Fujian, South China. In total, 420 C. angulata were collected from 14 natural habitats(populations) along the Fujian coast, and their genetic diversity and structure were analyzed in the mitochondrial COI and nuclear gene ITS2 sequences. Results reveal that all the 14 populations of C. angulata exhibited high levels of genetic diversity, with a total of 57(haplotype diversity: 0.811±0.016) and 124(haplotype diversity: 0.912±0.007) haplotypes revealed by COI and ITS2, respectively. Notably, significant intermediate level of genetic differentiations between the Ningde Zhujiang(ZJ) population(FS T by COI: 0.035–0.142, P<0.05;FS T by ITS2: 0.078–0.123, P<0.05) with other populations were observed for the first time, which is also supported by the results of molecular variance analysis(FC T by COI: 0.105, P<0.05;FC T by ITS2: 0.086, P<0.05) and the clustering of the ZJ population into distinct branches in the interpopulation genetic differentiation tree. Furthermore, the evolutionary tree and haplotype network analyses do not support the formation of a clear geographical genealogical structure among these 14 populations. In addition, the population dynamics analysis suggests that the C. angulata may have undergone expansion during the third ice age of the Pleistocene. These results provide a reference for the preservation and further genetic improvement of C. angulata.
基金The Hariyoban Program,WWF-Nepal(under grant agreement#GX67)the Rector’s Office,Tribhuvan University provided partial financial support for this work。
文摘Biological invasion is one of the leading causes of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services.Wetlands situated within human-dominated landscapes are particularly vulnerable to these invasions.However,extent of plant invasions in many wetlands remains insufficiently known for guiding effective management.This study aimed to analyze the status of plant invasions in the Lake Cluster of the Pokhara Valley(LCPV),a Ramsar site encompassing nine wetlands in the rapidly urbanizing region of central Nepal.A total of 89 plots(20 m×5 m)along the lakeshore were surveyed to record the richness and coverage of both native and naturalized plant species.Water samples were also collected from each plot to measure nitrogen and phosphorus levels.Data were analyzed using analysis of variance,generalized linear models,multiple regression,and canonical correspondence analysis.The results revealed significant variation in native and naturalized species richness and composition across the wetlands.Naturalized species richness was positively correlated with native species richness.Species richness was the highest in the smallest wetlands site(i.e.,Kamalpokhari)and the species composition of the largest wetland site with the highest tourist visitation(i.e.,Phewa lake)was distinctly different from the rest of the other wetlands.Species composition similarity increased when only the naturalized species were accounted,relative to the scenario when only native species were considered,suggesting increased homogenization due to plant invasions.No significant effects of nitrogen or phosphorus levels on species richness or coverage were found.Understanding these local drivers that affect naturalized plant diversity in the LCPV can inform management strategies to protect these wetlands from further invasion by alien species.
基金supported by the Key Program of National Science of China(Grant No.:42030509 and 42141005)。
文摘The latitudinal diversity gradient(LDG)is one of the most notable biodiversity patterns in biogeography.The metabolic theory of ecology(MTE)explains ecological patterns,including the LDG.However,little is known about whether the LDG remains stable over time as climate warming progresses and whether MTE remains applicable to clarify this pattern.In this study,forest data spanning temperate,subtropical,and tropical zones across China were used to analyze long-term changes in the LDG of tree species over 2005-2020.Based on the MTE framework,spatial scales were considered to assess temperature dependence of typical forest trees species.Our results show that species richness decreased with increasing latitude,and that temperature was the primary driver of this change.Although temperature in China has significantly increased over the past two decades,the LDG of tree species has remained stable.However,there was a decrease in species richness in tropical regions over time.With predictions of the MTE,the logarithm of typical forest tree species richness exhibited negative linear relationships with the inverse of ambient temperature,indicating temperature dependence of species richness.However,the relationship remained stable and was strongly influenced by spatial scale,intensifying as spatial scale increased.The findings emphasize the important role of temperature in shaping the LDG.The effects of spatial scale,in particular,should be considered when biodiversity management plans are developed for future climate change.
基金Supported by the Green Plant Protection Project of Heilongjiang Province(2130108)Key R&D Program Project of Heilongjiang Province(2023ZX02B0502)Heilongjiang Province Rice Modern Agriculture Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation System Project(2025)。
文摘To ascertain the genetic diversity of gray leaf spot pathogen on Dictamnus dasycarpus popoulation in Heilongjiang Province,a total of 57 strains of Paracercospora dictamnicola were isolated and purified from the diseased samples collected from five Chinese herbal medicine planting areas in Heilongjiang Province between the years of 2021 and 2022.Repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction(Rep–PCR)was used to amplify 57 isolates of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different regions of Heilongjiang Province.The polymorphic bands amplified by three sets of primers accounted for more than 80%.Cluster analysis results showed that at a similarity coefficient of 0.67,the gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus in Heilongjiang Province could be divided into five major genetic groups.Genetic diversity parameter analysis indicated that there were certain differences in genetic richness among the geographic populations of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different regions.Analysis of molecular variance(AMOVA)revealed that genetic variation among strains mainly originated within populations.The genetic differentiation and relationships of gray leaf spot pathogen on D.dasycarpus from different geographic regions of Heilongjiang Province indicated that genetic differentiation and kinship among populations were somewhat related to their geographic distance.The greater the geographic distance,the higher the genetic differentiation coefficient,and the lower the genetic uniformity among populations.
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.
